Kaito Launches KAITO Token, Valuing the AI-Driven Data Platform at $1B

The token debut follows the Yaps farming campaign, which began in December and allows users to earn rewards through social engagement.

AI data platform Kaito (KAITO) has launched its native token, revealing a valuation of $1 billion. The launch follows the Yaps farming campaign, which began in December and rewarded users for social engagement. Some users praised the airdrop's zero-cost farming model, while others expressed dissatisfaction with the token allocation.

Tokenomics and Market Impact

The KAITO token launched with 24% of its total supply in circulation, entering the market with a valuation of $400 million and reaching a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $1.7 billion. The distribution breakdown includes 10% allocated to airdrop participants, 25% to core contributors, 8.3% for early investors, and 32.2% dedicated to ecosystem growth.

Despite a strong market entry, concerns over token distribution have sparked discussions within the crypto community. Some users felt the initial community airdrop allocation was lower than anticipated, while others expressed dissatisfaction with the team and foundation controlling a significant portion of the supply.

Yap Farming Controversy

One of the most debated aspects of the launch was the Yaps farming mechanism. This system encouraged users to promote Kaito on social media, rewarding those with high engagement. However, the airdrop's allocation process left some participants dissatisfied, with the distribution appearing unpredictable.

A trader known as Cnig voiced his frustration, stating, “I'm out here tweeting like my life depends on it for these stupid Yaps… farmed 350-ish and got 1.1k $KAITO, which is the same as what my friends got with 60 Yaps. THEY NERFED MY ASS.”

This controversy highlights the growing trend of engagement-based airdrops, where rewards depend not only on participation but also on perceived long-term alignment with the project.

Kaito NFTs and Price Swings

Kaito's Genesis NFTs also played a role in the token launch, but they faced criticism for their whitelist system, which some users claimed favored insiders and left many without access.

Despite the complaints, the NFTs surged to 12 ETH ahead of the token snapshot, marking a 120x increase from the original 0.1 ETH mint price. However, prices dropped sharply after the token distribution, first by 67% to 4 ETH and then another 60% to 1.7 ETH.

Kaito has strong backing from major investors, having raised over $10 million in funding rounds led by Dragonfly and Sequoia Capital in 2022 and 2023. While the project has drawn criticism for its airdrop mechanics, its AI-powered data platform and ambitious roadmap suggest it could have long-term potential.