Vote initiated within the ApeCoin DAO to establish a platform where Ape token owners can interact and trade among themselves
ApeCoin DAO Approves Key Proposals, Paving the Way for Centralized Governance
The ApeCoin DAO has recently approved several significant proposals, including AIP-91, AIP-88, and AIP-96, which are shaping the Ape community by driving governance, ecosystem development, and the transition towards more centralized management.
Let's delve into the details of these proposals:
- AIP-91: Although the specific content of AIP-91 is not fully detailed, it is known that this proposal aims to refine governance, ecosystem funding, and strategic initiatives within the ApeCoin DAO. These types of proposals typically help allocate funds and set rules for partnerships and community projects.
- AIP-88: This proposal, like AIP-91, contributes to the ongoing evolution of ApeCoin governance by providing operational guidelines or a framework for the DAO or ecosystem.
- AIP-96: Similarly, AIP-96 is part of a series of governance votes that have incrementally built the institutional framework or funding priorities for ApeCoin's community and development goals.
In a pivotal move, a proposal led by Yuga Labs was overwhelmingly approved (~98%) in June 2025, which aims to dissolve the ApeCoin DAO and transition governance to a new centralized entity called ApeCo. This shift aims to streamline operations, provide a more professionalized and centralized structure, and accelerate development, including the advancement of ApeChain, a Layer 3 blockchain optimized for gaming and NFTs, and other ecosystem initiatives.
However, this move has drawn criticism for reducing community control and decentralization, traditionally core to DAO ideals. The impact on the Ape community includes a shift towards a centralized but potentially more agile governing body (ApeCo), continued ecosystem growth supported by ApeCoin as a utility and governance token, and controversy and mixed sentiment within the community, balancing optimism about innovation and infrastructure improvements against concerns about centralization and loss of community voice.
In addition to these major proposals, AIP-88 and AIP-96 passed in the same week of intense voting as AIP-91. AIP-88, titled "Earn ApeCoin Revenue Through Our No-Code NFT Drop Platform & Launchpad," will integrate $APE with NiftyKit, a smart contract platform. AIP-96, titled "Funding for Public Goods (ETHGlobal & Gitcoin)," aims to fund hackathons and grant programs for individuals building for ApeCoin.
Holocronape, the individual who submitted AIP-91, expressed amazement at the support they received from the $Ape community, both in votes and private messages. The proposal for the creation of a marketplace for verified ape holders, AIP-91, was supported by 91.26% of the $Ape community, with a minority of 8.74% opposing the proposal.
These proposals, including AIP-91, AIP-88, and AIP-96, form part of a governance evolution culminating in the significant structural change via Yuga Labs' centralization proposal. This evolution impacts the ApeCoin ecosystem by potentially enabling faster development at the cost of some decentralization and empowers ApeCoin’s role as a cultural and economic platform in the broader Web3 and NFT spaces.
The approved AIP-91 proposal pursues refining governance, ecosystem funding, and strategic initiatives within the ApeCoin DAO, which often involves allocating funds and setting rules for partnerships and community projects – a key aspect of technology implementation.
In the long run, the transition towards ApeCo, a centralized entity, as proposed by Yuga Labs, will likely necessitate the adoption of advanced technological solutions for streamlining operations and accelerating development, such as ApeChain, a Layer 3 blockchain optimized for gaming and NFTs.
