Solana Weekly #106 - From the Largest Community Airdrop on Solana to a Global Brand With Wen

Dive into a dynamic conversation with Swervor, core contributor to WEN, exploring Solana's evolution from early NFT mania to meme coin ecosystems, the importance of community, and WEN’s unique journey from the largest community airdrop on Solana to becoming a global brand. Key Discussion Points* NFTs & Solana’s Early Days* The 2021-2022 NFT craze on Solana (e.g., Okay Bears, SMB, Degen Apes) and its role in stress-testing the network.* Shared nostalgia for mint days, community bonding, and the cultural shift toward utility-driven NFTs.* How NFT communities laid the groundwork for Solana’s resilient, tight-knit ecosystem.* WEN: From Airdrop to Brand* The fairest airdrop in Solana history: 70% of WEN tokens distributed evenly to 1M+ wallets, including Saga phone holders, NFT communities, and Jupiter users.* Fractionalizing a poem (as an NFT) into a meme coin using Token-2022.* WEN’s pivot to building a mainstream IP: Merch, games, and partnerships targeting cat lovers globally.* Solana’s Community Edge* Why Solana’s community-first ethos outperforms competitors (Ethereum, Monad).* Shared trauma (FTX collapse, network outages) and how it strengthened loyalty.* Toly (Solana co-founder) and leadership’s hands-on involvement in fostering growth.* Future of Meme Coins & NFTs* Predictions: A return to quality projects post-Pump.Fun saturation.* Why WEN is positioned for longevity (treasury funding, real-world branding).Notable Quotes* “Solana’s community is its superpower—you can’t fake years of shared trauma and trust.”* “WEN isn’t just a meme coin; it’s a love letter to Solana’s ethos of fairness and innovation.”Actionable Takeaways* For builders: Prioritize fair distribution and community alignment (à la WEN’s airdrop).* For traders: Watch for projects blending memes with real-world utility (e.g., WEN’s merch/game partnerships).* For degens: Nostalgic NFT seasons might return—stay plugged into communities like Tensorians or SMB.Follow on X:@solanaweeklypod@wenwencoin@theswervorEpisode show notes and more at solanaweekly.fun Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe