Deep Dive
1. Token Burn Announced (12 August 2025)
Overview:
MEET48 confirmed plans to burn 23.47M $IDOL (0.489% of total, 2.6% of circulating supply) to reduce token availability, framing it as a move to enhance scarcity and long-term value. The burn follows the platform’s first annual idol voting event, where token usage surged.
What this means:
This is bullish for $IDOL as reduced supply could support price stability if demand holds. However, the impact depends on sustained engagement – burns alone don’t guarantee value without continued utility. (MEET48)
2. Web3 Idol Event Success (5 August 2025)
Overview:
MEET48’s inaugural Web3 idol popularity contest saw 78M $IDOL tokens (1.63% of supply) used for voting over six weeks. Fans propelled real-life SNH48 idols and AI-generated group FiveSs into rankings, with winners securing exclusive career opportunities.
What this means:
The event validated $IDOL’s utility in fan engagement, driving on-chain activity (100M+ interactions). However, post-event price action (-5.32% in 24h as of 9 Sept) suggests profit-taking after the 56% weekly rally preceding the ceremony. (CoinMarketCap)
3. Exploit & Recovery Plan (22 July 2025)
Overview:
A July hack drained 169.98M $IDOL (3.54% supply) from an airdrop wallet. MEET48 responded with a 1.54% supply buyback, pledged further buybacks (totaling 3.54%), and allocated 3% of team tokens to a security fund.
What this means:
While the swift response mitigated reputational damage, the exploit highlights custodial risks in non-core protocol systems. The buyback commitment (equivalent to ~$775K at current prices) may stabilize sentiment but pressures treasury reserves. (MEET48)
Conclusion
MEET48 balances Web3 adoption milestones with operational growing pains. The idol voting surge and token burn signal strong fan-driven demand, but security vulnerabilities and post-event volatility underscore risks. Will the team’s buyback strategy restore confidence ahead of its next AI entertainment product launches?