Volume 1: Solana copycat projects & ETH outrage

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

Another day, another doppelganger. A few hours ago @Sol_blocks announced they were launching a straight rip of @artblocks_io's NFT. It was universally condemned, but then came the usual "Solana is a scam chain" chorus. Why is this a basic take? 🧵👇 #Solana #NFTs #ETH

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

Firstly, I think we all agree that @Sol_blocks and @Solanapes wholesale copying is deplorable. It infringes copyright, the hard work of original creators and violates the NFT community's will. It's not good optics for Solana and it's not good for the Original Eth-based projects.

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

Some people, however, have been quick to conflate ALL Solana projects as copycats and quick to condemn Solana as the seedy marketplace for all bad and naughty counterfeit NFTs. Let's unpack some of these criticisms:

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

"All Solana NFTs are copycats." https://t.co/lzl5ArPKJU

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

"Solana is where ALL the fakes are, I boycott the entire blockchain."

just1n.eth @just1n_eth

@Solanapes #Solana is where they have the fake knock-off NFTs. You can sell fake Punks and fake Apes, but they are about as valuable as a knock-off Rolex or Louis Vuitton bag. This is not the way! I won't buy anything on Solana because of this copy-cat mentality.

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

"This ruins ALL Solana NFTs" (because its representative of all Sol NFTs?)

rich @NoKapRich

@Solanapes Way to single handedly ruin Solana NFT’s. Lol

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

All some damning stuff, Solana. So how did the Solana community respond to these copycats? @DegenApeAcademy denounced @Solanapes almost immediately:

Degenerate Ape Academy 🎓 @DegenApeAcademy

If you RT this and @Solanapes HASN'T minted out after one week from their launch, we'll gift one random retweeter a Degen Ape. Fuck art theft.

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

Some (@thesolmane) called it for what it was and urged avoiding it: https://t.co/FR9M0UFf8O

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

Here's my personal favorite community comment from @dlohdnaduf (I won't say why though ;)

SWOL S◎L @dlohdnaduf

@Solanapes Disgusting.. pathetic waste of your own time. Go mint on ADA.

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

What did a Bored Ape AND a Solana enthusiast @0x_fxnction have to say?

fxnction aka i gotabigdick.eth @0x_fxnction

As a BAYC member who understands the ethos if the community and also loves Solana, I will not be minting this. Stealing art (or anything) is not cool. Also, this making $SOL look bad and I own a lot. Not cool. Lol https://t.co/Yo7X4lQOdv

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

So, what's the takeaway? 1/ The Solana community is on the same page as the Eth project communities. They do not support and actively condemn these unscrupulous projects.

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

2/ These projects are put together by anon teams on a permissionless blockchain. Just because they mint on Solana does not mint they represent all Solana.

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

3/ Scam rips and trash can exist anywhere. Two days ago scam clone projects popped up on the Ethereum blockchain, copying beloved Solana original NFT projects @trippybunny and @SollamasNFT. Does this mean ETH is the scam chain now?

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

So where do we go from here? IMHO fighting pitched battles between blockchains and overgeneralizing is counterproductive. We should come together as a like-minded community to combat these projects no matter which blockchain or bags you prefer.

Stannis @StannisW

@CryptoFabCH @sainteclectic @apefollowape These type of projects will literally never, ever stop coming regardless. It takes too little effort to make them for the potential reward. At some point the most effective strategy is to simply ignore and move on to something worthwhile.

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

The bottom line is that these projects will quickly become worthless if the community treats them as such. This is exactly what happened with @Solanapes. Both BAYC apes AND the Sol community condemned them.

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

Solana auction sites did not list them and they were forced to pivot to another pathetic copy (text in picture NFTS). Hopefully @Sol_blocks will turn out the same way.

Cold Blooded Shiller @ColdBloodShill

LMAAAAOOO these guys really got smoked, couldn't launch with the ape copy so went into a text list of traits 😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/jhPjuEi6FX

The Saint Eclectic @sainteclectic

For those of you who have dismissed Solana as a scam chain because of the emergence of these projects I hope I've given you pause to consider otherwise and keep an open mind. We are on the same page as you. For the rest of us, lets stay vigilant and protect our community.