Remember the ICO craze back in 2017? It was like the Wild West of crypto fundraising—projects popping up left and right, promising the moon, and raising millions by selling tokens to eager investors. As an ideal, it was brilliant: a democratized way for startups to access capital without traditional VCs gatekeeping everything. But then the scammers swooped in, turning it into a bad word. Rug pulls, fake teams, and vanishing funds gave ICOs a notorious reputation, and regulators cracked down hard.

Fast forward to today, and a tweet from Seb Montgomery (@SebMontgomery) is stirring things up again. Posted on September 27, 2025, he boldly states: "ICOs from 2017 were the best way to raise capital, as an ideal. They were then entered by scammers, and got a bad name. And there are many scammers in crypto. With that in mind, @MetaDAOProject ICOs are changing the fabric of Solana, and crypto. Change my mind, please, try." Accompanied by the classic "Change My Mind" meme, it's a direct challenge to the crypto community.

So, what's MetaDAO all about, and why does Seb think it's a game-changer? Let's break it down simply, especially if you're new to this space.

What Is MetaDAO?

MetaDAO is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) built on Solana, the high-speed, low-cost blockchain that's become a hotspot for DeFi and meme tokens. Unlike traditional DAOs where decisions are made by voting (which can be swayed by big holders or "whales"), MetaDAO uses something called futarchy. Futarchy is a governance model where prediction markets decide outcomes. Think of it like betting on whether a proposal will increase the project's value—if the market says yes, it passes; if no, it doesn't.

This setup makes MetaDAO's ICOs "unruggable," meaning investors are protected from scams. Here's how it works: Projects raise funds through an ICO on MetaDAO's platform, but the money is held in escrow. Founders start with zero tokens and only earn their share if the market approves through successful proposals. If things go south, holders can vote to return funds, minimizing losses. It's backed by heavy hitters like Paradigm, who led a $2.2 million seed round, and advised by futarchy pioneer Robin Hanson.

You can check out their platform directly at metadao.fi for more details.

How It's Changing Solana and Crypto

Solana has exploded with meme tokens thanks to platforms like pump.fun, where anyone can launch a token quickly and cheaply. But many end up as rugs or hype-driven flops. MetaDAO integrates with pump.fun's ecosystem, offering a more structured way to fund and govern projects. It's like upgrading from a meme launcher to a full-fledged internet capital market.

Recent examples include ICOs for:

• Umbra Privacy (@UmbraPrivacy)​: A privacy tool for Solana transactions, like incognito mode for your wallet.
• Avici Money (@AviciMoney)​: A distributed banking network, smarter than traditional wallets.
• Omnipair (@omnipair)​: A DEX project focused on efficient trading.
• MTNDAO (@mtndao)​: A startup summit DAO capturing value through futarchy.

These aren't just memes, but MetaDAO's model could supercharge meme token launches by adding governance and protection. Imagine a meme coin where the community uses prediction markets to decide marketing spends or partnerships—aligning everyone for long-term success instead of quick pumps.

As one reply to Seb's tweet from @connan_james put it, "I cannot [change your mind], personally I believe @MetaDAOProject ICO launchpad is the next NASDAQ." That's high praise, comparing it to the stock exchange for tech companies.

But not everyone's convinced. @Marveey001 countered: "Unless they’ve solved two core problems (1) filtering scammers at scale and (2) aligning long-term incentives beyond hype fundraising — it’s still just 'ICO 2.0.' Solana’s throughput doesn’t fix human greed." Seb responded thoughtfully, noting that while scammers aren't fully filtered, the system minimizes losses, and futarchy better aligns incentives than anything else he's seen.

Why This Matters for Meme Token Enthusiasts

At Meme Insider, we're all about the wild world of meme tokens—those viral, community-driven coins that can moon or crash in a heartbeat. MetaDAO's approach could bridge the gap between meme hype and sustainable growth. By connecting with Solana's meme ecosystem, it helps practitioners like you spot legit opportunities amid the noise. No more getting rugged; instead, market-driven decisions ensure only valuable ideas thrive.

If you're building or investing in memes, keep an eye on MetaDAO's upcoming ICOs. They've already facilitated multi-million raises, and with Solana's speed, this could become the standard for crypto fundraising.

Seb's challenge is out there: Change his mind. Based on what MetaDAO's shipping, it might be tough. What do you think? Head to the original thread on X and join the debate.

For more insights on meme tokens and blockchain innovations, stick with Meme Insider at meme-insider.com.