A major controversy has broken out in the Base blockchain community after its official X (formerly Twitter) account promoted GrokCoin, a newly launched token. This move frustrated many developers who have been building on Base for months but feel ignored by the platform.
The issue has sparked a heated debate about who gets recognition in the crypto space—serious developers or hyped-up projects.
Why Did Base Promote GrokCoin?
GrokCoin has been making headlines lately, with some people questioning whether it is truly linked to Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok. Despite these doubts, Base—a Layer-2 blockchain on Ethereum—publicly supported the project.
In a post on X, Base wrote:
“In case you missed it, Grok launched a token on Base thanks to Bankr and Clanker’s trading mechanisms. Grok’s AI-controlled wallet is already stacking fees ($200K+ and counting). Why does it matter? AI is owning wallets, making markets, and generating revenue. Welcome to the future.”
This post sparked backlash from developers who have been working hard to build real applications on Base but have never received any promotion from the platform.
Developers Feel Ignored
One of the loudest critics was Kawz, the founder of the Solana-based project Time.fun. He was frustrated that Base wouldn’t promote his project but quickly supported GrokCoin, which he believes has no real value.
“I spent months building an app on Base and was never able to get the Base account to tweet about the product. Some shitposters convinced Grok to loosely give token details and launch a token, and it gets front-page coverage ++ farms degens with no utility,” Kawz said.
Other developers shared similar feelings. FloBro, a well-known blockchain trader, called out Base for only promoting certain projects while ignoring others.
“They just push their little circle & ignore everyone else. That’s why Base never had a meme season. They don’t get it,” FloBro commented.
Some Defend Base’s Decision
Not everyone disagreed with Base’s decision. Some community members said that GrokCoin’s unique launch process and potential connection to Elon Musk could bring more attention to Base.
A developer named Shazam explained that GrokCoin wasn’t just given special treatment—it was created through a community-driven process.
“I get why people are upset, but this was a unique launch. The Banker bot helped create Base wallets for X accounts, and the community had to send 5 million BNKR tokens to Grok’s wallet for it to create the coin. Plus, if Elon Musk owns Grok, it could bring more attention to Base and even Ethereum,” he explained.
A Bigger Issue in Crypto?
This debate is part of a larger problem in the crypto world: should blockchain platforms support long-term developers or promote viral trends that bring in more users?
This isn’t the first time developers have felt ignored by major blockchain networks.
- In 2021, Ethereum developers complained that NFT projects and meme coins got more attention than real-world applications.
- In 2023, Solana developers raised concerns about the network promoting celebrity-backed meme coins while serious projects struggled for visibility.
Now, Base faces similar criticism, and its leadership is under pressure to explain its promotional strategy. If independent developers continue feeling overlooked, they might move to other blockchains that support their work more fairly.
The question remains: Should blockchains focus on their builders or keep chasing hype?
