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{"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"79c43060-fa8c-47b9-9749-e21ef46803bd","kind":"publish","page_slug":"masa","published_at":"2026-05-18T23:07:53.579Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"Masa","sections":[{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[]},{"content":"","heading":"","severity":"medium","sources":[]}],"sources_used":[],"summary":"Masa (also known as Masa Finance, later rebranded as Gopher) is a Web3 data and identity protocol that launched a soulbound token standard on Ethereum in 2023 before pivoting to a decentralized AI data network. The MASA token, sold via CoinList in March 2024 at $0.079 and hitting an all-time high of approximately $0.4697 on its April 11, 2024 listing date, subsequently collapsed by over 99.9% to trade near $0.00002 by mid-2026. ZachXBT publicly accused the project of concealing a six-figure security exploit in September 2024, which the team later confirmed only after the allegation was made public.","timeline":[{"date":"2021-01-01","event":"Masa Finance founded by Brendan Playford; initial focus on decentralized credit and identity protocol","source":"","source_url":"https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/04/masa-finance-gets-3-5m-pre-seed-to-build-its-decentralized-credit-protocol/"},{"date":"2022-05-04","event":"Masa Finance raises $3.5M pre-seed round to build decentralized credit protocol, reported by TechCrunch","source":"","source_url":"https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/04/masa-finance-gets-3-5m-pre-seed-to-build-its-decentralized-credit-protocol/"},{"date":"2023-01-17","event":"Masa launches mainnet of first soulbound identity protocol on Ethereum; introduces .soul names and web3 credit score SBTs","source":"","source_url":"https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230117005339/en/Masa-Launches-Mainnet-of-First-Soulbound-Identity-Protocol-in-Web3"},{"date":"2024-03-07","event":"MASA token public sale on CoinList at $0.079; raises $8.75M in 17 minutes, six times oversubscribed","source":"","source_url":"https://cryptoslate.com/press-releases/coinlist-to-host-the-masa-token-public-sale-as-it-unleashes-the-worlds-personal-data-network/"},{"date":"2024-03-28","event":"Masa announces LayerZero integration for cross-chain MASA token transfers via OFT standard","source":"","source_url":"https://cryptoslate.com/press-releases/masa-network-integrates-with-layerzero-to-power-its-cross-chain-ai-data-network/"},{"date":"2024-04-11","event":"MASA token TGE and mainnet launch; token reaches all-time high of approximately $0.4697; listed on Bybit, KuCoin, Gate, HTX, and PancakeSwap","source":"","source_url":"https://decrypt.co/225843/masa-announces-masa-token-listing-on-leading-exchanges-as-it-launches-its-ai-data-network-mainnet"},{"date":"2024-08-01","event":"Masa launches Bittensor Subnet 42 for real-time AI data aggregation","source":"","source_url":"https://cryptobriefing.com/masa-launches-llm-powered-ai-data-subnet-on-bittensor-bringing-hundreds-of-developers-into-the-ecosystem/"},{"date":"2024-09-20","event":"First security exploit occurs on MASA token contract on Base blockchain; six-figure losses incurred; incident not publicly disclosed by Masa team","source":"","source_url":"https://www.chaincatcher.com/en/article/2147928"},{"date":"2024-10-17","event":"Second security exploit occurs on MASA Base blockchain contract; ZachXBT publicly confronts Masa team, alleging the September exploit was concealed and framed as an 'upgrade'","source":"","source_url":"https://cryptobriefing.com/newsbriefs/?id=151238&title=decentralized-ai-network-masa-accused-of-hiding-six-figure-hack-as-upgrade"},{"date":"2024-10-18","event":"Masa team acknowledges both security incidents on September 20 and October 17; claims no material business impact and promises token credits to affected users","source":"","source_url":"https://www.bitget.com/news/detail/12560604287790"},{"date":"2024-10-17","event":"MASA token reaches then-all-time low of $0.004369","source":"","source_url":"https://coincodex.com/crypto/masa/"},{"date":"2024-12-01","event":"Masa launches Bittensor Subnet 59 (AI Agent Arena); secures additional strategic funding from DCG","source":"","source_url":"https://cryptoslate.com/press-releases/masa-secures-new-funding-from-dcg-to-expand-real-time-data-network-and-launch-ai-agent-arena-on-bittensor/"},{"date":"2025-09-01","event":"Masa rebrands to Gopher; announces planned 1:1 token swap from $MASA to $GOAI; announces transition to Cosmos SDK Layer-1 blockchain","source":"","source_url":"https://cryptorank.io/price/masa"},{"date":"2026-04-30","event":"MASA token hits new all-time low of approximately $0.00001305","source":"","source_url":"https://coincodex.com/crypto/masa/"},{"date":"2026-05-01","event":"Founder Brendan Playford posts on X regarding MASA-to-GOAI migration details and tokenomics; project remains in transition","source":"","source_url":"https://x.com/BrendanPlayford/status/1990843210885902808"}]},"v":1}