Stepping Down as a Mod – But Still Supporting K9 Finance

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Stepping Down as a Mod – But Still Supporting K9 Finance

Figured I should drop a post here since some of you may have noticed I haven’t been as active in the Telegram chat lately.

After some disagreements with other mods about what should be allowed in the chat, I felt it was time for me to step down from my role. If we’re going to allow what I personally see as war propaganda, then this just isn’t a place where I want to be, not as a mod, and not as a DAO member in the chat.

This isn’t just about K9. A month ago, I stepped away from another crypto community for the same reason. For me, crypto spaces should be about crypto, DeFi, Web3, and building the future. There are plenty of other places for those who want to discuss politics or global conflicts, but I won’t be part of that here.

That said, my support for K9 Finance DAO hasn’t changed. I still believe in what we’re building, and I’ll continue to support the project from the sidelines. Just because I won’t be active in Telegram doesn’t mean I’m stepping away from what K9 represents.

Wishing the team and the community all the best, keep building! :paw_prints::fire:

On a side note…
The last few days have felt weird for me. For the past year, K9 has been in my head 24/7, and now, after breakfast and coffee, I catch myself thinking, “hmm… what do I do now?” Something definitely feels missing…

But maybe it’s good to take a break. Today, I had a long hike in the forest for the first time in over a year and a half. :evergreen_tree: Felt good. Maybe I’ll do more of that. We’ll see. :blush:

Love you all!
Seizan Shib

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I cordially invite you to help me develop a budget for future projects and draft proposals in the shadows, with the same goal as always.

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Thank you for your work as a moderator with K9 DAO, Seizan. Your contributions were highly valued & the community will certainly miss your friendly voice around.

While disagreement within DAOs are normal (it is a new and difficult structure to navigate), I do feel (since this was posted to the DAO forum) to provide contextual clarity to an internal issue that has now been posted externally.

K9 is a global DAO, which means that there are global issues happening around the world that impact different people in different ways. It has always been a vital point in the community to be globally inclusive to all languages, cultures, and beliefs. This has been accomplished in a myriad of ways, but most specifically for this post I want to focus on the rules of the community channel. The Telegram rules serve as a guiding light for moderators to moderate the chat and ensure that conversation respects the rules.

I do feel it’s important to point out that K9 DAO certainly does not stand for “war propaganda”. K9 DAO’s principles lie in following rules, transparency, and open communication with the aforementioned rules.

There was a comment in the Telegram channel that one person may perceive as war propaganda, and another may not. As mentioned, global issues impact people globally in different ways. At the time, there was no specific rule in the chat to point someone to in order to warn or ban them for their comment.

Moving forward, I would suggest that the moderation team within the DAO evaluates the rules of the chat so that situations like this do not arise in the future. It is important that the community is inclusive for everyone.

Good rules should be black and white to follow and not open to interpretation.

Thank you again for being a great community member.

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First off, thank you for your kind words. What you and the team have built has truly changed my life, and that will never be forgotten.

I initially thought about DMing you, but in the spirit of transparency, which is a key pillar of K9 DAO, I figured it was best to respond here.

To prevent any misunderstanding, I want to make it very clear, I did not warn or ban anyone, nor did I even intend to.

“I’m a thinker, not a fast typer, and I often struggle to convert my thoughts into words, especially when it comes to deeper philosophical aspects. Even though my reaction to the message in chat was immediate and instinctive, finding the right words in the moment wasn’t possible. I hope this helps clarify things a bit.”

What Happened?

I saw a message in the Telegram chat that I believed crossed the line from general discussion into problematic content. The statement was something along the lines of:

“The hack was done by Ukraine” or “X was hacked by Ukraine”.

I did NOT warn or ban the person, because, as pointed out, this wasn’t explicitly covered in the rules. What I did do was:

  1. Deleted the message immediately.
  2. Replied with “No politics”, just to indicate why I deleted it. In hindsight, I could have worded that better.

I have thought a lot about this, and I would still make the same decision today. The only thing I would change is my wording, I should have come up with a better explanation than just “No politics.”

Why Was This Problematic?

:one: Unverified Claims & Potential Misinformation

  • Assigning blame for a cyberattack without proof spreads potential misinformation.
  • DeFi and Web3 are built on transparency and data, not speculation.
  • Allowing these claims sets a dangerous precedent for false narratives.

:two: It Turns a Crypto Chat Into a Political Battleground

  • Whether true or false, political accusations create division in the community.
  • Members come from different cultures, beliefs, and experiences—this just adds conflict.
  • A crypto chat should be about crypto—not global disputes.

:three: It Could Escalate Into Toxicity & Conflict

  • Accusations like this provoke emotional reactions and lead to heated arguments.
  • If left unchecked, others will respond with counter-claims, and soon the chat is no longer about K9 Finance.
  • Toxic discussions drive away investors and potential builders.

:four: It Puts K9 Finance at Risk

  • Crypto projects already face scrutiny from regulators and outsiders.
  • If the official chat is seen as allowing politically charged claims, it could damage our credibility.
  • This could hurt partnerships, growth, and long-term adoption.

:five: It’s Simply Off-Topic for a Crypto Community

  • K9 Finance is about DeFi, Web3, governance, and liquid staking.
  • Yes, global events affect the market, but K9’s chat is not the place to debate world affairs.
  • Keeping discussions focused on the project ensures we attract and retain the right people.

My Personal Take – Why I Had to Speak Up

I’m DeFi to the $BONE, I believe in the power of individuals. What I hate the most is when people ask, beg, or force others to act, instead of taking action themselves.

For me, this applies to every aspect of life:
:arrow_right: Think there’s too much or too little of something? Before complaining, ask yourself what YOU are doing about it in your daily life.

So yeah, in this case, I had to stand up and raise my voice.

Final Thought: Setting a Precedent for the Future

If one politically charged claim is allowed, what stops others?
:small_blue_diamond: What if tomorrow someone blames another country for an economic crisis?
:small_blue_diamond: What if people start accusing each other of supporting one side or another?
:small_blue_diamond: What if the chat shifts from DeFi to conspiracy theories and politics?

Where does it stop?

Clear rules ensure we stay focused, professional, and welcoming, regardless of personal beliefs. That’s why I made my decision, and why I stand by it.

Thanks again, and I’ll always support K9 Finance from the sidelines. :paw_prints:

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Thank you for everything you have done for k9. You are a true k9 supporter, and I hope to see you around in the future. May the world bring you peace and happiness in whatever you decide to do going forward.

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Thank you for everything Seizan. We truly appreciate your support with K9 and wish you all the best moving forward. Take care and good luck! :paw_prints:

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