Yuga Labs CEO Greg Solano has proposed the dissolution the ApeCoin DAO in favour of creating a new centralised entity called ApeCo.

The suggestion reflects a significant shift in governance strategy, moving away from a community-led model to a more controlled structure overseen by Yuga Labs. This plan involves transferring all assets and responsibilities from the DAO to ApeCo, which would take over management of projects such as ApeChain, the Bored Ape Yacht Club, and Otherside.

The proposal is currently open for review by ApeCoin tokenholders, who will decide through a formal vote whether the transition should proceed.

Why is Greg Solano proposing to dissolve ApeDAO?

In his official proposal, Solano described the ApeCoin DAO as “sluggish, noisy, and often unserious,” noting that whilst the DAO helped launch ApeCoin, it has struggled to deliver consistent, high-impact outcomes.

He criticised the DAO for funding what he described as “gridlock, governance theater, vanity proposals, and low-impact noise” and suggested that the decentralised governance model is no longer suitable for the ecosystem’s evolving needs.

Solano argues that a more centralised structure under ApeCo would enable faster decision-making and better allocation of resources, particularly towards core areas like ApeChain and the Bored Ape Yacht Club.

What’s next for ApeCoin DAO?

If the proposal is approved, the ApeCoin DAO would be formally dissolved, with all its assets—including APE tokens, smart contracts, intellectual property, and technical infrastructure—transferred to ApeCo. Governance rights held by tokenholders would be revoked, and the DAO’s forums, elections, and working groups would be shut down.

The plan includes funding an existing staking contract with 11.25 million APE and reserving 10 million APE for legal and operational expenses during the transition.

The proposal now awaits a community vote from ApeCoin holders and a formal on-chain vote will determine whether the DAO’s closure and ApeCo’s establishment will proceed.

Yuga Labs has proposed dissolving the ApeCoin DAO and replacing it with a new governing body, ApeCo. This would mark a decisive shift in the management structure of one of Web3’s most recognizable token communities.

Filed as an AIP proposal on June 5, the plan would sunset the DAO and transfer all major assets, including treasury funds, IP rights, smart contracts, and administrative operations, to a newly formed corporate entity led by Yuga.

The proposal arrives amid growing dissatisfaction with the DAO’s performance. Greg Solano, co-founder of Yuga Labs, described the organization as having become “sluggish, noisy and often unserious,” declaring “it’s time for ApeCoin to sunset the DAO and get back to winning.”

In a post on X, Solano argued that “people want to kill the ApeCoin DAO” and called for a “leaner, faster org to take the reins.”

The envisioned transition would entail migrating the DAO’s assets, which include approximately 169 million APE tokens currently valued at over $168 million, into ApeCo’s control. If approved, ApeCo would assume full responsibility for managing the grant program, directing ApeChain development, and overseeing key brand initiatives associated with the Bored Ape Yacht Club ecosystem.

ApeCoin DAO was launched in March 2022 to steward the community-driven evolution of the Ape ecosystem through decentralized governance. However, the DAO’s performance has drawn mounting criticism from core stakeholders, including Yuga, particularly around low voter engagement and operational stagnation.

The ApeCo proposal builds on an earlier governance revamp approved in January through AIP-582, which moved ApeCoin governance on-chain via ApeChain with 93% support.

That measure shifted the bulk of the treasury into the ApeChain ecosystem, but the new proposal effectively renders that effort moot by dissolving the DAO entirely and centralizing governance under a new legal entity.

Apes united?

Community response has mainly been supportive in the early stages, with most forum comments indicating approval. Some dissenting voices remain, including DAO contributor Lanzer, who rejected the claim that the DAO has failed and warned of reputational damage from dissolving the structure altogether.

If enacted, this would constitute one of the most sweeping rollbacks of a DAO to founder-led control in recent crypto history. The implications extend beyond the Ape ecosystem, raising renewed scrutiny on the long-term viability of token-holder governance in Web3.

The move also comes on the heels of the SEC’s decision in March to close its investigation into Yuga’s NFT offerings without pressing charges, removing one regulatory overhang as the company reasserts control over its ecosystem.

The AIP remains in the Idea stage and will require full approval before implementation through the DAO voting process. Large token holders, including major venture backers and ecosystem partners, retain the ability to amend or reject the proposal.

Should it pass, the operational logistics of transitioning smart contract ownership, treasury management, and grant disbursements will become immediate focal points.

Solano’s framing of the DAO’s shortcomings illustrates the broader sentiment that, while aspirational, decentralized governance may struggle to support fast-moving brand and protocol development.

ApeCo, as proposed, would operate with a smaller, professionalized structure focused on the execution and strategic growth of the Ape ecosystem’s assets, including Otherside and ApeChain.

The transition would mark a foundational shift in how one of crypto’s most prominent communities governs its capital and IP.

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