So MyAnimeList got Acquired by a Blockchain Company…
Article at a glance:
- MyAnimeList just got bought by a blockchain company—and if you’re like me and live by your anime list, this is bad news. Gaudiy, the new owners, specialize in Web3 and NFTs, and that’s a major red flag.
- Sure, MAL’s got its jank, but that’s part of its charm. Now, with talks of a UI overhaul and Gaudiy’s crypto background, we might be staring down NFT pop-ups next time we update our lists.
- Staff claims they won’t force blockchain crap on us… but do you really trust a Web3 company to resist monetizing MAL? I’ve already backed up my list—you should too.
Oh boy, here we go. First, it was bad news for Discord when it was revealed that their new CEO was a former Activision Blizzard exec, and now it’s time for MAL. Yes, MyAnimeList recently got acquired by a damn blockchain company called Gaudiy. And you may not realize it but for people like us, who watch a lot of anime at once, MyAnimeList is a VERY valuable resource. I don’t think people understand how much of a blow losing MAL will be. Yes, the site has its issues but it is very good for certain things.
But is MAL completely screwed? Well, like most things, there is a bit of nuance to this. And I intend to go over what’s likely to happen in the future. And well, just in case, I suggest everyone export their watch lists from MAL. It is pretty simple to do and then you can import the text file on alternative websites like AniList. But yeah, let’s talk about MyAnimeList getting acquired by a blockchain company.
MAL Acquired by Gaudiy
So yeah, MAL recently got completely bought out by this company called Gaudiy. What is Gaudiy? Well, they’re a web3, crypto, blockchain, and AI company. I don’t know about you but that raises a lot of red flags for me. Gaudiy also has a significant investment from Sony and Bandai Namco. And what does Gaudiy do, exactly? Well, their platform “connects fans with IPs” using “tokenomics and digital assets” so… NFTs…
This may sound like a small thing but the reason I and a lot of other people like MAL is because the website feels like a forum from the early 2010s. Yes, it is not perfect, I get it. But I also like the certain clutter and jank MAL has. It has not been oversimplified like most modern sites. But well, a new UI for MAL is being tested and the rumors about it don’t sound good. Now we find out that the website could also be a potential target for NFT integration. Could you imagine just wanting to update your anime list and getting bombarded with stuff telling you to buy NFTs???
Gaudiy and other MAL staff have said that they don’t intend on integrating web3 and blockchain into MAL but I don’t trust that. Sure, they may not do it immediately, but do you really think that a blockchain company would miss a chance to bait more people into the ecosystem? Gaudiy has said that they intend to address MAL’s longstanding issues like mobile support, server outages, and incomplete features first. That’s a great thing but man… I have my concerns.
That is all for now
Look, I don’t want to sound very doompost-y but all the web3 and blockchain stuff is something that I just can’t get behind. Imagine being asked to buy some weird NFTs every time you open MAL. I have used MAL for years and I can’t live without it, at this point. But if they show any signs of AI slop or NFT integration, I will move out. I have already exported my anime list and I suggest you do the same. With that said, I will take my leave here. See ya!
Oh and check out my Fate lore article here!
