Next Plan

Brian Cheong
3 min readSep 22, 2023

We have previously shared with the community detailed information about Upbit’s delisting decision, as well as our project’s statement on the matter. The validity of our statement, Upbit’s decision, and the fairness of that decision are all separate issues.

With the sharp decline in prices and the spread of uncertainty in the market, many are pessimistic about the future of our project. Consequently, both MARO and ACN have seen significant price drops, inflicting deep wounds on our entire community. We would like to once again express our profound regret over this situation.

Over the years, as we developed our blockchain network and products on top of it, we deeply reflected on the growth mechanics and potential of the Maro blockchain and the Acorn protocol. Through this, we were able to confirm certain outcomes and gain a more profound belief in the potential of a blockchain-based economic system and its capabilities as a value exchange platform. With this belief, we continue to invest in product development and network enhancement.

Since the end of last year, we have taken a keen interest in generative AI technologies, contemplating their potential impact on labor productivity. We firmly believe that generative AI will provide heightened productivity for workers globally, leading to a rapid reshaping of the labor market. Aspects like data labeling and derived methodologies like RLHF (Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback) will be continuously required in model development and fine-tuning, with demands continuously rising. In this context, we see the Acorn protocol logic playing a pivotal role. We’ve been persistently testing this technology since early this year and plan to launch a related product this October. Alongside this, we intend to focus our resources on developing practical market solutions through collaboration with generative AI solution developers, data labeling firms, and other external partners.

The governance token of the Acorn protocol, the OAK token, has been undergoing internal testing since last year, waiting for the optimal launch timing. We were anticipating that the introduction of Acorn protocol’s DAO and the OAK token would be significant milestones for the entire project when the market reaches adequate liquidity and scale. However, in light of recent events, it seems we may need to postpone this. Beyond the planned OAK, we aim to refine the staking mechanism of ACN and introduce a more sustainable solution.

We are fully aware that due to the price decline of Maro, node operators might find their rewards insufficient. These operators play a crucial role in network maintenance and management. We’re deliberating on supplementary solutions to ensure a safer and more stable network, including adjusting gas fees and other incentives. An increase in network users and usage through the Acorn protocol will augment the revenue for Maro network operators and those who voted for them. We strive to bolster the project’s sustainability through these measures.

Lastly, to ensure the continuous growth and expansion of the project, we will intensify our efforts to negotiate with domestic and international exchanges and expand liquidity. We plan to collaborate with various investors and partners to build a better ecosystem. Much of this information is being prepared confidentially, but we will introduce it when it becomes publicly shareable.

The market is harsh, and many have diverse opinions about us. Moreover, this situation has indirectly spawned many other problems. Nevertheless, we are committed to overcoming these challenges, restructuring our business, and relentlessly striving for liquidity expansion and growth.

Survival holds the only meaning, and by enduring, we can earn another chance to prove ourselves. For that opportunity, we will keep moving forward. Separately, we once again apologize and express our regret for the series of events.

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