By Key Points
- ZachXBT calls Zora Content Coins “viral” but lacking value
- Coinbase’s Jesse Pollak defends the on-chain creator economy
- Over 528K tokens launched with $179M in volume on Zora
- Airdrop and Binance listing expected to boost ZORA’s visibility
Zora Content Coins are making waves—but not everyone’s convinced it’s a good thing.
Crypto investigator ZachXBT has criticized Zora’s creator token movement, calling it more hype than substance. His sharp comments came in response to a post by Jesse Pollak, Head of Base and Coinbase Wallet, who celebrated a huge spike in user activity on Zora.
Pollak shared data from Dune Analytics showing that daily transacting users on Zora hit 290,300, with over 528,000 tokens created and a total volume of $179 million. He called the growth “wild,” especially given the surge on 4/20, a meme-friendly day in crypto culture.
Despite the buzz, ZachXBT wasn’t impressed. “All of these ‘viral’ coins yet not even a single $5 million+ runner,” he wrote on X.
coins going viral on 4/20 is wild pic.twitter.com/cKhwdFSuhb
— jesse.base.eth (@jessepollak) April 21, 2025
He challenged the idea that virality equals value, highlighting that even the most popular tokens haven’t crossed key financial benchmarks. His concern? That creator coins may mislead users and creators about their actual worth, especially in a market that’s already overloaded with speculation and hype.
Pollak countered that not all content is meant to be monetized at high levels, comparing the current Web3 ecosystem to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where only a few posts go viral or earn big. He said most content has zero direct value—and that’s okay.
Zora Daily Transacting Users. Source: Dune – Techtoken
Debate Highlights the Divide in Web3 Creator Economy
The exchange between ZachXBT and Pollak shines a spotlight on a growing divide in the crypto space.
ZachXBT warned that calling creator coins revolutionary while mimicking the behavior of meme coins could backfire. He said creators risk diluting their brands by launching endless tokens that don’t hold up financially.
all of these “viral” coins yet not even a single $5M+ runner
— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) April 21, 2025
He also pointed out that true financial impact is often liquid and measurable, comparing it to social media influencers who can command five-figure payments per post. He argued that if content is mostly worthless, why attach tokens to it at all?
Pollak responded that Web3 tools are meant to empower creators, not diminish their brands. He emphasized that algorithms and communities will naturally highlight the best content, as they do in traditional platforms.
this mindset is part of the problem and i’m surprised to see you champion it.
how much is our content worth? most of it is worth close to zero, a small percentage of it is worth something, and an even smaller amount is worth a large amount.
ask yourself this: how often do you…
— jesse.base.eth (@jessepollak) April 21, 2025
This argument mirrors broader Web3 developments. As seen with MetaPlanet’s Bitcoin strategy (read here), not every project needs to go viral to have long-term value. Similarly, major crypto moves—like Coinbase getting CFTC approval for XRP futures (details here)—show how institutions are balancing growth and regulation.
you do understand when you say “generate a $5m valuation” that is nowhere near the amount that’s actually liquid?
top creators on social media platforms will earn five figures or more per promotional post and viral videos
you yourself agree most content is worth zero so why…
— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) April 21, 2025
Airdrop Hype Builds Despite ‘Pump and Dump’ Accusations
While the debate continues, Zora is moving forward.
Tomorrow, Zora will airdrop 10% of its total supply to early users—a major moment for its community. On the same day, Binance Alpha will list ZORA, making it accessible to millions more users globally.
Despite that, recent actions by Base have stirred controversy. When the Base team created their own Zora token, “Base is for everyone,” it crashed quickly after launch. Some users accused the move of being a pump-and-dump, raising concerns over market manipulation.
Pollak hasn’t denied the volatility but insists the token experiment was meant to explore new forms of on-chain engagement. “Unlocking coins for more use cases is a key next unlock for the onchain economy,” he stated.
This aligns with other on-chain shifts, like the rising influence of Solana’s staking market (check here) and geopolitical events driving crypto behavior—such as the Trump vs Powell Bitcoin clash that recently sent BTC to $87K (read here).
With attention building around ZORA’s future, some believe it’s just the start of a new creator-driven asset class, while skeptics see it as another bubble waiting to burst.
Regulatory Uncertainty Adds Pressure to Creator Coins
As Zora Content Coins go mainstream, one question looms: Will regulators step in?
The current environment shows signs of tightening. Recently, Paul Atkins—a former SEC Chairman—hinted at more oversight coming to Web3 projects (details here). Tokens with weak fundamentals but heavy marketing may come under increased scrutiny.
ZachXBT’s criticism fits into this bigger narrative. If creator coins start attracting retail investors without delivering measurable results, they might trigger regulatory red flags. Pollak’s defense—emphasizing innovation and experimentation—may not be enough if regulators deem the activity misleading.
For now, creators, investors, and platforms will need to tread carefully. With the ZORA airdrop and Binance listing just hours away, the market will soon decide whether these tokens are game-changing tools for creative ownership—or just more noise in an already crowded space.
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