The Rise and Fall of DeGods: A New Era Begins After CEO’s Frank Departure

DeGods, an NFT collection that started on the Solana blockchain, has become a household name in the Web3 and NFT space. It was known for pushing boundaries, creating innovative experiences, and rapidly evolving as the market changed. DeGods caught attention not only due to its artistic design but also for its influential community and ambitious leadership under CEO Rohun Vora, who operated under the pseudonym “Frank DeGods.” Over the past three years, the collection has grown from its origins on Solana to a significant migration to Ethereum, reaching new heights while also facing significant challenges. Along the way, the DeGods team also introduced secondary collections like y00ts, further expanding their footprint in the NFT ecosystem. But now, with the sudden resignation of Vora, DeGods finds itself at a crossroads, stepping into an uncertain future.

DeGods CEO Rohun Vora Resigns After 3 Years Amid Controversies

On Monday, Rohun Vora, the CEO of the DeGods NFT project, announced his resignation after three years at the helm. Vora’s departure marks the end of his leadership over one of Solana’s most celebrated collections and his shift from the world of NFTs to new ventures. His resignation followed a turbulent period, driven by both personal reflection and external pressures.

In a heartfelt message shared on X, Vora admitted the emotional toll the journey had taken on him. Despite facing sleepless nights while building DeGods and its sister collection, y00ts, he expressed deep gratitude for the friendships he made in the community. He also sought to clarify that his decision to step down was not due to any legal issues, stating unequivocally that he had not committed any unlawful acts.

Vora acknowledged that the DeGods project, at times, became overly centered around his persona, particularly his “Frank DeGods” identity. While he recognized the criticism directed at him could be overblown, he also understood its role in creating click-driven content that fueled the NFT space’s intense spotlight. With this perspective, Vora hopes the project’s future will be free of the distractions associated with his personal brand, allowing fresh leadership to steer DeGods forward.

A Turbulent Road to the Resignation

Vora’s resignation comes after a series of setbacks and challenges for DeGods. In 2023, he made the controversial decision to migrate DeGods from Solana to Ethereum after the FTX collapse significantly impacted Solana’s blockchain. This shift, while ambitious, was marred by technical difficulties and a less-than-ideal Season 3 release. The Season 3 drop, heavily hyped by the community, ultimately left many collectors disappointed by underwhelming artwork, which led to a steep decline in the floor price of DeGods.

Adding to the upheaval, DeLabs, the studio behind DeGods, merged with Dust Labs in February 2024, signaling another significant shift within the project’s operations. At the same time, Kevin Henrikson, also known as Kevin DeGods, co-founder of DeLabs, departed. The changes led to speculation that the restructuring was an attempt to streamline operations and reposition the roadmap after the turbulent migration to Ethereum.

The DEGOD Token Launch and Community Backlash

In an attempt to stabilize and simplify the ecosystem, DeGods launched the DEGOD token in September 2024. However, the token release faced mixed reactions from the community, especially concerning its governance and tokenomics. Despite the initial optimism surrounding the token, it didn’t fulfill the promises many holders had hoped for, adding to the frustration within the DeGods community.

Debates around tokenomics, governance, and the direction of the project continued into 2025, putting more pressure on Vora and the DeGods team. The community’s discontent with these issues may have played a significant role in Vora’s decision to step down, though he hinted at focusing on ventures beyond NFTs—possibly in the rapidly evolving space of artificial intelligence.

New Leadership Emerges as Frank DeGods Moves On

Following Vora’s departure, leadership of the DeGods project has passed into the hands of @0x_chill and @pastagotsauce, two figures whose identities remain undisclosed. While the transition may seem abrupt to some, Vora expressed confidence that this new direction would give DeGods a fresh perspective without the baggage of his controversial persona. The duo’s leadership is poised to take the project into new territories, with a focus on revitalizing the community and enhancing the DeGods ecosystem.

Related: Pudgy Penguins NFTs and the $PENGU token are soaring

Frank DeGods and the Vape Cabal: A Controversial Chapter

Vora’s departure also brings to light another layer of controversy surrounding the DeGods brand: his involvement with the “Vape Cabal,” a meme coin group associated with buying and flipping coins. This group, which included several Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), has faced accusations of insider trading and of shilling coins to their audiences before dumping them. These allegations, although not confirmed, have added to the already controversial nature of Vora’s leadership, fueling skepticism around the ethics of some of the activities tied to DeGods.

Though Vora has remained silent on these accusations, the connection to the Vape Cabal has become part of the lore of his tenure. As DeGods moves forward under new leadership, these past controversies may continue to linger in the public’s mind.

Looking Ahead: The Future of DeGods

As DeGods turns the page to a new chapter, the project’s future is filled with both challenges and opportunities. The leadership transition offers a chance for the project to reinvent itself, focusing on rebuilding trust within the community and delivering on the promise of innovative NFT experiences. With the burden of leadership falling on new shoulders, DeGods will need to carefully navigate the rapidly changing NFT landscape and ensure that the lessons learned from the past lead to more success in the future.

Vora’s exit, while a significant turning point, could be just the catalyst needed to propel DeGods to new heights. The community will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the collection’s next steps, with the hope that the mistakes of the past will serve as stepping stones to a brighter, more sustainable future.

Conclusion

DeGods’ journey has been anything but smooth, but it has been undeniably influential in shaping the NFT space. The resignation of Frank DeGods marks the end of an era for the project, but it could also signal a new beginning. As the project moves forward under new leadership, it will need to address past missteps while continuing to innovate and inspire the NFT community. Whether or not DeGods can regain its former glory will depend on how well it adapts to the changing dynamics of the blockchain world and whether its community remains as strong and passionate as ever. Only time will tell what the future holds for DeGods, but for now, the project’s journey is far from over.

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