DAO Maker enters the Chainmaker phase: Launchpad 3.0 staking model reshapes token economics

In the Launchpad track of the cryptocurrency market, the project incubation model is undergoing a profound transformation from a mere “fundraising entry” to an “ecosystem builder.” As an early explorer in this field, DAO Maker has recently sparked a reevaluation of its token economics and long-term value with the launch of its “Chainmaker” phase and the enhancement of the staking incentive mechanisms in Launchpad 3.0. Data shows that its native token DAO has experienced a price fluctuation of +103.92% over the past 7 days and +143.44% over the past 30 days. Behind this significant volatility lies an immediate market reaction to the project’s structural adjustments, or is it the beginning of an evolution in industry narratives? This article will analyze from dimensions of event overview, data logic, public sentiment divergence, and multi-scenario projections.

Launch of Chainmaker and Supply-Demand Restructuring in Launchpad 3.0

Since the first quarter of 2026, DAO Maker has gradually advanced its strategic transformation, announcing its entry into the “Chainmaker” phase. The core goal of this phase is to deeply bind its existing Launchpad business with its own on-chain infrastructure. As a key complement to this transformation, the platform has launched the upgraded version of Launchpad 3.0, focusing on strengthening the staking incentive mechanism. The new mechanism requires users to lock DAO tokens to gain higher-level project participation rights and introduces a dynamic reward pool aimed at increasing the long-term locked amount of tokens and creating sustained buying demand.

At the same time, the platform has recently launched multiple new projects, with the allocation of subscription quotas directly linked to users’ staking levels. This model has significantly increased the on-chain locked amount of DAO tokens in the short term, reducing the circulating supply in the secondary market, thus supporting prices.

Path Retrospective: Three Stages from Incubator to On-Chain Protocol

DAO Maker’s development history clearly depicts the role change of cryptocurrency incubation platforms.

The launch of the Chainmaker phase is not an isolated event. It is a reconstruction of the platform’s core business model based on product accumulation over the past few years. Traditional Launchpads typically serve only as a “bridge” between projects and investors, while Chainmaker’s positioning is to transform the platform itself into an on-chain ecosystem capable of capturing sustained value.

Data Insights: Locking, Circulation, and Price Volatility Logic

As of March 27, 2026, according to Gate market data, the price of DAO Maker (DAO) is $0.0708, with a 24-hour trading volume of $559,250 and a market capitalization of $174,200. Notably, its market share is 0.00077%, indicating that this asset still belongs to a niche segment of the market.

Recent data reveals several key structural changes:

• Price Volatility: The price change over the past 7 days is +103.92%, and +143.44% over 30 days, exhibiting volatility far exceeding the market average. This contrasts with the horizontal or mildly rising trend of the overall market during the same period, indicating that its price changes are more driven by the project’s fundamentals or narratives.
• Locking and Circulation: Although the maximum supply is unlimited, the circulating supply of 2.5092 million DAO accounts for 90.42% of the total supply of 2.7752 million DAO. This means that the future inflation pressure mainly depends on the new issuance mechanism, while the current market focus is whether the staking incentives of Launchpad 3.0 can continuously attract a large amount of circulating tokens into a locked state, thus effectively controlling the supply side.
• Trading Volume to Market Cap Ratio: The 24-hour trading volume is approximately 3.21% of the market cap ($0.55925M / $17.42M), which is moderate, reflecting a certain level of market interest without extreme speculation leading to excessive turnover.

DAO price trend, source: Gate market data

Viewpoint Clash: Value Closure and Sustainability Doubts

Regarding DAO Maker’s recent dynamics, mainstream market opinions show a clear polarization.

Mainstream View (Bullish Logic):

• Formation of Value Capture Closure: Supporters believe that the staking mechanism of Launchpad 3.0 constructs a complete value closure. Users buy and lock DAO to obtain shares in quality projects, project parties gain funding and users through the platform, and the platform uses part of the profits for buybacks or rewarding stakers. This model theoretically creates sustained buying pressure.
• Scarcity Narrative: With the dense launch of new projects, demand for staking DAO surged, leading to a decrease in effective on-chain circulation. This “artificially created scarcity” often amplifies token price performance in a bull market.

Controversial View (Cautious or Bearish Logic):

• Sustainability Doubts: Critics argue that the current price increase heavily relies on the pace of new project launches. Once the frequency of project launches slows down, or the market’s interest in new projects wanes, the incentive effect of staking will quickly diminish, potentially leading to large-scale unlocking of staked assets, creating selling pressure.
• Deviation of Valuation from Fundamentals: Some analysts point out that despite the significant price increase, it remains to be seen whether the platform’s core income (such as project launch fees, transaction fees) can support the current market cap expansion. Growth driven solely by the “staking mining” model has historically proven to be fragile.

Narrative Examination

When assessing DAO Maker’s current narrative, it is necessary to distinguish between its “commitment” and “reality.”

• DAO Maker has indeed announced the Chainmaker phase and upgraded to Launchpad 3.0, with a noticeable increase in the frequency of new project launches recently. Price and trading data (such as a 7-day increase of +103.92%) reflect the market’s positive feedback.
• Whether this transformation can fundamentally change DAO token’s value capture ability remains a market viewpoint. Current data mainly reflects short-term changes in supply and demand (locking reducing circulation, new projects bringing buying pressure).
• The success or failure of the Chainmaker phase ultimately depends on its ability to attract enough quality projects to build on the platform, rather than merely serving as a fundraising channel. The current price increase is more an anticipation of future expectations, and its long-term logic still requires subsequent 6-12 months of ecological development data for validation.

Track Changes: Challenges Facing Launchpad Paradigm

DAO Maker’s transformation may have a structural impact on the entire cryptocurrency Launchpad track.

First, it intensifies competition from “traffic entry” to “liquidity hub.” Traditional Launchpads attract projects by relying on their user base, while DAO Maker attempts to lock user assets through on-chain protocols, transforming the binding between users and the platform from a “one-time subscription relationship” to a “long-term economic community.”

Second, it raises the capital threshold for competition in the track. To maintain high staking rates and user stickiness, the platform needs to continuously provide attractive projects. This requires the platform to possess stronger project selection, post-investment management, and ecosystem building capabilities, rather than merely providing technical tools. If this model proves effective, it may prompt other leading Launchpad platforms to follow suit with similar economic model designs.

Three Possible Evolution Paths

Based on the current structural changes, DAO Maker’s future development may present the following scenarios:

Scenario One: Positive Cycle

• Trigger Conditions: Launchpad 3.0 continuously launches multiple high-quality projects, and the secondary market performance of the projects post-launch is outstanding. The yield of the staking reward pool remains stable, attracting more DAO into locking.
• Evolution Path: The on-chain locking rate continues to increase, further reducing circulating supply. Platform revenue grows, providing additional value support for DAO through buyback or burn mechanisms. Prices maintain a stable upward trend amid supply-demand imbalances, and project parties are more inclined to choose DAO Maker as their launch platform, forming positive ecological feedback.

Scenario Two: Incentive Decay

• Trigger Conditions: The pace of new project launches slows down, or the performance of the launched projects does not meet expectations, leading to an increase in the “opportunity cost” of participating in staking, causing yields to decline.
• Evolution Path: Some users begin to unlock their stakes in search of other investment opportunities. Circulating supply increases, putting pressure on prices. If prices continue to fall, it may trigger more “panic” unlocking of staked assets, forming a negative cycle. The platform will face dual pressures to maintain locked scales and attract new projects.

Scenario Three: Systemic Risk

• Trigger Conditions: The overall market enters a deep bear market, or regulatory authorities impose restrictive policies on the Launchpad model.
• Evolution Path: Against the backdrop of external liquidity drying up, no matter how the platform’s internal model is optimized, it will be difficult to withstand systemic sell-offs. High staking rates may become a “dammed lake,” and once users exit en masse due to risk aversion, it will severely impact token prices.

Conclusion

DAO Maker’s entry into the Chainmaker phase is a key step in its evolution from an incubator to an on-chain protocol. The recent significant price fluctuations clearly reflect the market’s immediate response to its new staking model and changes in supply-demand dynamics. In the short term, the incentive upgrades of Launchpad 3.0 and the dense launch of projects have indeed constructed a strong buying logic. However, the long-term sustainability of this model still hinges on whether the platform can continuously deliver quality projects and establish ecological value that transcends mere “staking incentives.” For the industry, the outcome of this experiment will provide important reference samples for the future evolution of the Launchpad track. The market is observing whether this method of reshaping economic relationships through on-chain protocols will open up a positive cycle or merely be a short-term narrative-driven fund game.