DeFi Llama Quells Internal Squabbles, Scraps Token Launch Plans

Pseudonymous member 0xngmi said the argument about the token launch has been resolved and the fork is cancelled

article-image

Source: Shutterstock / Nina Shu, modified by Blockworks

share

Blockchain data provider DeFi Llama has walked back claims about an internal conflict that led to the split of its website and Twitter handle.

0xngmi, a member of the project said to be responsible for 90% of DeFi Llama’s success, initially claimed on Twitter that the team was undergoing a “hostile takeover” as another member wanted to launch a token. Apparently, this was a move the rest of the team didn’t approve of.

But late on Monday, 0xngmi provided an update to say the argument had been resolved, the fork had been canceled, and the website would continue to work on a single domain.

Loading Tweet..

DeFi Llama confirmed the development via Twitter, apologizing for “poor communication” and “misunderstanding within the team.” 

“We would like to put what happened behind us. There is no LLAMA token currently planned, and any airdrop will be discussed with the community, as every important decision is,” the project said.

“We will take steps to operate in a more transparent manner to ensure this doesn’t happen again.” It added that each arm of LlamaCorp would cooperate with the other.

The team caused quite a stir over the weekend after 0xngmi and another individual contributor Tendeeno openly indicated on Twitter that DeFi Llama’s co-founder 0xLLam4 didn’t care about the opinions of the rest of the team.

Tendeeno had said DeFi Llama was the most successful project under the LlamaCorp umbrella, which includes other services like DL News and LlamaPay. Developments surrounding the conflict have not affected DL News, and it continues to be business as usual at the new outlet, according to a person familiar with the matter. 

However, DeFi Llama itself was not generating revenue, which is why the co-founder thought launching a token would solve this. 

Tendeeno said the team didn’t want this because “the project’s value and reputation would be wrapped up in this token.” He further claimed that the co-founder behind the hostile takeover had not contributed any work to DeFi Llama and had not paid employee salaries. 

DeFi Llama did not comment on the claims laid out in Tendeeno’s tweets.

Tendeeno added to the narrative late Monday, saying the team wants to move on without continuing the conversation publicly, “but rest assured everyone at DL is happy with the outcome.”


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 24 - 26, 2026

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

allora-image.png

Research

Decentralized AI coordination networks solve crypto's growing architectural mismatch: applications built on trustless infrastructure shouldn't depend on centralized intelligence providers. By turning model outputs into competitive marketplaces, protocols like Allora are building the permissionless intelligence layer that AI-powered DeFi and autonomous agents require.

article-image

Ethereum rolls out Fusaka, setting the stage for a stronger blob fee market and renewed deflationary potential

article-image

Futuristic DeFi is stuck inside the computer. An old idea might be its escape hatch

article-image

Money market indicators are flashing liquidity stress again as crypto underperforms equities

article-image

From passageways to penumbras: a history of private life

article-image

BTC’s Asia-session move and Ethena’s weaker yields reflect a market adjusting to tighter yen funding and softer derivatives carry

article-image

What Monad’s launch, MegaETH pre-market pricing, and the Berachain refund story say about today’s infra market