Will the DOOD token, associated with trending Doodles NFT, do what’s needed to set new opportunities for Africa’s young digital awakening? Or is it another crypto flash in the pan, designed to help only the folks already deep in crypto waters? How, you ask, the question that has been losing me sleep all summer.

Will DOOD Bridge the Digital Divide?

We've seen this movie before, haven't we? Enter the shiny new token that promises to change it all, to bring decentralization, and return the community. It’s often one that leaves the unbanked, as well as those under-resourced, feeling left out.

Sure, the notion that 68% of the total 10 billion DOOD token supply being distributed to the community sounds great. A third of that flowing straight to taxpayers via direct pay credits? Even better. But who exactly are these holders? Are they mainly Western investors, or are African participants for real?

Here's the harsh reality: Access to reliable internet and the latest smartphones isn't a given across the African continent. And the young entrepreneurs I met in Lagos and Nairobi were brimming with creative ideas. How many of them will truly be able to take part in the DOOD airdrop and learn their way around Solana/ Base blockchains?

Consider this: the excitement around DOOD mirrors the buzz around PENGU, another NFT-linked token. Will DOOD take the same trajectory? Or will it have a quick run up, then slowly die out and leave African investors who got in at the last minute holding the bag.

  • Accessibility: How easy is it for Africans to acquire DOOD? Are there local exchanges and on-ramps?
  • Education: Are we providing enough education about the risks and rewards of crypto investing?
  • Infrastructure: Is the internet infrastructure reliable enough to support widespread adoption?

Again, I’m not saying DOOD is incapable of being a force for good. The potential is there. Imagine DOOD giving out grants to artists in their community. It provides them with a platform to share their beautiful work and creative passion with the world. Now, picture it enabling faster, cheaper, and more secure cross-border payments, eliminating costly intermediaries and saving small businesses and their employees billions. Now, picture it plugged into the continent’s other African blockchain efforts, and you have the potential for a truly decentralized ecosystem. That's the dream.

Hype vs. Hope: A Delicate Balance

Doodles NFT sales have increased an incredible 368% w/o/w to $2.6 million in total sales. This buzz is exciting and energizing, but it gives us pause for concern as well. This mania is fueled by speculation and clearly not by the true value proposition of DOOD for the African community.

Moreover, the availability of listings on major exchanges such as Binance, KuCoin, and OKX provides incredible liquidity. They come with the potential for increased volatility. Keep in mind that article was predicting short-term price volatility as speculators try to cash in on a fast turnaround profit. What will happen when those traders cash out, leaving African investors exposed to heavy losses?

We need to be realistic. It’s not just this technical problem, it’s a people problem. It’s less about micromanagement and more about arming them with the information and tools they need to make smart data-driven decisions. It’s about making more equitable and inclusive decisions within our most critical infrastructure investments so that we’re not leaving people behind.

Can DOOD Spark Real Change in Africa?

Here’s where the "unexpected connection" comes in. I personally draw parallels between those early days of mobile banking in Africa, and where we are at with crypto now. Mobile banking had leapfrogged physical banking infrastructure, offering millions who had been excluded from financial services access via their phones. Could DOOD, and crypto more broadly, have this effect?

The answer, I think, is found in responsible innovation. If we can get over the hype. Now it’s time to develop production use cases that are tailored to the unique needs of the African continent.

I want to hear from you. Are you excited about the DOOD token? Do you believe it is going to empower African people to achieve greater agency and autonomy? Or do you share concerns that it’s simply another playground for a speculative asset that will most benefit the wealthy investor class?

Let's have a conversation. Let's share our perspectives. Let’s work together to ensure that all Americans share in the promise of blockchain technology. It shouldn’t be exclusive to the chosen few! I want to listen to the voices of those on the ground, those building and innovating on the continent. Let's amplify those voices.

Ultimately, DOOD’s success in Africa will depend on more than the token. More than anything, it will flourish because of the electric community that surges up from below it. The choice is ours: Will we let hype drive us, or will we harness the power of blockchain to create real, lasting change?

It's time for action, not just words. The deadline for registration to participate in the airdrop is coming up quickly. The biggest test may be yet to come—building a genuinely inclusive and equitable ecosystem.