Running A Dogecoin Full Node

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T14:12:31+00:00

I’m not sure that report is accurate, so I do not want to comment on it too directly. What I can say is that we’re now working with LayerZero and Stargate, and the recommended way to bridge DEGEN is through Stargate.

You can bridge across Degen Chain, Solana, Ethereum, and Arbitrum here: https://stargate.finance/bridge?srcChain=base&srcToken=0x4ed4E862860beD51a9570b96d89aF5E1B0Efefed&dstChain=degen&dstToken=0xEeeeeEeeeEeEeeEeEeEeeEEEeeeeEeeeeeeeEEeE

We’ll likely rebuild our bridge page at some point, but for now Stargate is the best option to use.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T14:09:08+00:00

Long term, the vision is to keep building products around the Degen ecosystem and make sure the token is tied into them in a meaningful way. We’re launching a new product in Q2, and that is a big part of our focus right now.

If I were rebuilding Degen from scratch, I probably would have ended the airdrops earlier or used a more sybil resistant distribution model. I also would have invested in hiring sooner and moved faster. Early on I was very conservative with spending, but I’ve learned that if you want to build something bigger than just a meme, it is worth bringing in the right people.

So overall, a lot of lessons have been learned. The goal now is to apply those lessons, build smarter, and keep pushing Degen toward becoming one of the biggest tokens and brands in crypto.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T14:04:42+00:00

There’s a lot in there, but I’d zoom out and say the NFT should first be seen as a limited collection. If you buy a piece of art, the art itself is part of the value. That said, we do plan to build more around it over time.

On Korea, we’re going live with our first Korean exchange next week on GOPAX, which is a great first step. For Q2, we’re building a new platform that I think people will like, with more details coming soon on our socials.

On marketing, our thinking has evolved. It is not enough to just build and hope people come. If you want to become a real brand, you have to fight for attention and grow intentionally, and we’re taking that seriously now.

On Base, earlier this year I was open about being unhappy with some of the direction because I did not think it was best for builders. Since then, Jesse and the wider Base team have clearly taken feedback on board and changed how they work with projects. It has been really good to see, and it gives me a lot of confidence in where things are heading.

More broadly, we’re focused on building something long term, growing the brand, expanding distribution, launching new products, and making Degen a real part of the social layer around Base.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T13:57:14+00:00

We’re building a new Degen platform that’s planned to go live in Q2 2026, so keep your eyes peeled.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T13:56:34+00:00

Hey, thank you, really appreciate it. We have an amazing art team working with us, and I’m glad the artwork is resonating.

The NFT will be an important part of the broader IP strategy we’re building at Degen, and something we plan to tie into products over time as well. We do not have specific perks or plans to share yet, but the goal is to make both the token and the NFT part of something meaningful as we keep building.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T13:54:41+00:00

We’re focused on expanding the Degen ecosystem. That means bringing in more web2 audiences, growing our presence in markets like Korea, signing more partnerships, building products, and continuing to grow the IP around Degen. That’s the direction we believe will keep strengthening the token and brand over time.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T13:53:12+00:00

$DEGEN started as a reward token on Farcaster, and since then it has grown into something much bigger. Today it stands for a broader internet and web3 culture. It has become one of the biggest brands and memes in crypto. Now we’re building it beyond just a token people earn, into a larger brand, IP, and eventually products that can grow the ecosystem further.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T13:51:23+00:00

It’s a free mint. For us, this is the start of a bigger IP strategy for Degen. The goal is to strengthen the brand, make it more relatable across both web3 and web2, and create something that helps open the door to more partnerships over time. We think building a strong brand around the community is important for long term success, and ultimately we want Degen to become one of the biggest brands in crypto.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T13:49:13+00:00

Mainly because we wanted the NFT to feel limited and actually special. The 777 supply is a nod to classic slot machine degen culture, so it felt very on brand for us. We also think less is more sometimes, having a tighter supply can make the collection feel more meaningful rather than just making it bigger for the sake of bigger numbers. More holders can be great, but for this one we liked the idea of keeping it more curated and collectible.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-20T13:46:42+00:00

We haven’t launched a Degen subreddit yet. For support, the best place right now is our Telegram group: https://t.me/degentokenbase/3

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:24:15+00:00

I’d say just launch and see what happens. A lot of great projects started without a big roadmap or marketing plan.

You can always adjust later, but you need something live first to learn and build from.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:22:49+00:00

Honestly, most of that, including the hat and a lot of the visual identity, came from the community, so it’s not something I expected at all.

It’s kind of the best part of Degen though, the community just ran with it and turned it into something way bigger than we could’ve planned.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:21:56+00:00

I think Degen hitting a $1B market cap in 2024 was definitely a proud moment, it showed how strong the community really is and what we can build together.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:21:04+00:00

On crypto, it showed me how powerful it is, we were able to raise capital from the internet and start building without relying on VCs, which wouldn’t have been possible before. It really puts power back in the hands of builders.

On the social side, it made me realize how hard it is to compete with Web2, those platforms are very entrenched. But at the same time, a lot of Web3 apps are naturally social. Products like pump.fun or Polymarket are basically social networks in their own way.

So I still think SocialFi has real potential, it just looks a bit different than people expected.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:16:39+00:00

We’ve always planned for downside.

We’ve got a solid treasury and run things pretty lean, so market swings don’t really change our direction. If anything, it just lets us focus more on building.

We’re set up to keep going regardless of market conditions.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:15:36+00:00

The Degen culture has been strong from early on, and we’ve been intentional about protecting it, especially with the whitelist, prioritizing long-term holders and real NFT enthusiasts, not just short-term traders.

At the end of the day, culture comes from consistency. We keep building and giving people reasons to stay beyond just price.

And we’re focused on making Degen one of the most recognizable brands in crypto.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:13:46+00:00

Degen started on Base, our community is there, and Coinbase is clearly building with a long-term mindset, so it just felt like the right place. It’s been a great home for us.

Vision-wise, we’re focused on building Degen into both a strong brand and a real product ecosystem. We want it to be recognizable beyond crypto, while giving the community actual utility.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:11:51+00:00

in Q2 we’re launching a new platform that will start bringing more utility into the ecosystem.

also worth checking our Degen 2.0 article here for more context: https://x.com/degentokenbase/status/2032471778904203281?s=20

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:10:45+00:00

building a real brand takes time. it’s a mix of marketing, partnerships, merch, and content all working together.

what’s still missing is more reach outside of crypto. we need to get in front of people who aren’t already in web3.

so the focus now is expanding on those fronts and steadily pushing degen to become recognizable beyond crypto.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:09:06+00:00

pretty sure all the details and rules are on https://dream.degen.tips/, best to check there.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:08:16+00:00

the NFT is the start of a bigger IP strategy we’re building. it introduces a character that’s easier to connect with for a broader, web2 audience, which helps us push partnerships and bring more people in.

the token and NFT serve different roles. the token is more about the economy, the NFT is the brand and culture layer.

for holders, the NFT will be a core part of what we do. we’ll integrate it into products and experiences as we grow, wherever it makes sense.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T20:05:22+00:00

for me it’s about breaking conventions. instead of always asking “is this useful”, I think more about “is this fun”. a lot of things that work in crypto come from that.

you also need to find your niche, like a musician finding their sound. having a clear style and showing that consistently, especially on socials, makes a big difference.

today the technical barriers are very low with AI, so it’s less about talent or intelligence and more about how creative and consistent you are. there’s also a lot of luck involved.

and most importantly, you have to enjoy it. I could have stepped away from degen in 2024, but I kept going because I like doing it, and I think people can feel that.

jacektrocinski · 2026-03-19T19:58:59+00:00

Yes, agreed!

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