The birth of Pandamen stemmed from a deep love for the cultural symbol of pandas and profound reflection on the NFT space.
As one of the most iconic cultural symbols of China, pandas are beloved worldwide.
However, in 2022, we realized that there was almost no NFT collection featuring pandas in this style on the market.
We thought, with such a significant IP as pandas, it was unfortunate that they lacked their voice in the emerging digital world. This was not just a regret but also an opportunity.
Thus, an idea was born — to design a unique panda NFT collection that is both adorable and full of personality. We hoped to make the panda image shine in the NFT world and even fantasized about developing it into a major IP one day, encompassing merchandise like figurines, models, animations, and games.
To achieve this goal, we began conceptualizing the design in May 2022, dedicating significant time and effort to creating Pandamen's unique image from scratch.
The design process took over a month, and after countless revisions, we finally completed the first version.
We then spent additional time collaborating with friends to build a website, design smart contracts, and construct a comprehensive project framework. We hoped to win the market and users’ trust with professionalism and sincerity.
In September, we decided to launch a collection named
Pandamen Future Club
on Ethereum. We adopted the then-popular freemint (free minting) model to lower the entry barrier and attract more user attention.
At that time, we were full of confidence, imagining that Pandamen would establish a foothold in the market.
However, the reality that followed the project’s release took us by surprise.
Pandamen quickly caught the attention of hackers who stole some of our designs, imitated our Twitter, and replicated our website, creating fraudulent phishing sites that scammed numerous innocent users.
This had a severe negative impact on Pandamen, tarnishing its image and deterring many potential supporters.
Furthermore, the onset of the bear market drastically reduced the enthusiasm in the NFT space. The market turned cold, and public interest in NFTs plummeted.
Despite our efforts to persist and even seeking help from friends, we eventually had to put the project on hold. Since then, we have been contemplating how to relaunch this IP and live up to the expectations of our genuine supporters.
At the end of 2023, driven by passion, we spent additional time redesigning Pandamen into a pixelated NFT style.
At that time, the Bitcoin chain (Bitcoin Chain) enabled artists to inscribe their works onto the Ordinals protocol.
The unique scarcity and permanence of Bitcoin’s blockchain sparked a strong desire to etch Pandamen onto the chain forever.
Thus, we began preparing with friends, promoting the project, and collaborating with some communities, hoping to relaunch Pandamen's IP.
We thought that a successful reboot could also compensate our earliest and most loyal supporters.
In March 2024, we launched the platform. However, this attempt faced challenges once again.
The NFT market was still in a slump, and a series of rug pull incidents in the industry undermined user confidence in new projects.
Eventually, 59 Pandamen were inscribed and permanently preserved on the Bitcoin chain
(Bitcoin Pandamen)
.
These consecutive setbacks dealt a severe blow to our confidence, leaving us in a state of discouragement.
In October 2024, we launched a poll on the social platform Xiaohongshu, asking the community whether they preferred Pandamen to be airdropped on Base or Polygon.
The results were surprising and encouraging. We received overwhelming support and encouragement from the community. Ultimately, we chose the Polygon blockchain and embarked on a new journey.
This reboot also changed our original plans. Inspired by the community’s enthusiasm, we shifted our focus to community building to live up to the expectations of every supporter.
We redirected our efforts toward the Polygon blockchain, upgrading and innovating Pandamen in various ways. We added new elements and further refined the original designs.
The creation of Pandamen was filled with twists and challenges, accompanied by countless setbacks and failures.
Every difficulty made us feel the struggle, but it also deepened our appreciation for the trust and affection of our supporters.
These experiences taught us to approach every decision cautiously and helped us understand that building a truly recognized IP is not an overnight success; it requires persistent effort and countless attempts.
This time, we are more meticulous and cautious. We know that the recognition we have achieved is hard-earned through relentless effort.
We dare not slack off because we do not want to disappoint the early users who stood by us through our most difficult times—those who chose to believe in us despite the challenges.
They are part of the Pandamen story and the greatest motivation for us to keep going.
We have always upheld principles of openness and transparency. Since its inception, Pandamen has never changed its name or deleted any early content.
The reason for not changing the name is simple—we do not want to deceive anyone or be accused of being an irresponsible project.
This name carries our initial dreams and represents our love and persistence for this IP. Regardless of the difficulties we have encountered, this belief has remained steadfast.
We want every supporter to understand that Pandamen is a project created sincerely for everyone, not just a byword for short-term profit.
We believe that sincerity and transparency are the cornerstones of building trust with the community.
Every step we have taken—whether successful or not—is a mark of our growth and a testament to our commitment to our original intentions.
We want every supporter to know that Pandamen has always been here and has never given up.
We will continue to work hard, carrying this belief forward. No matter how difficult the future may be, we will persist in our original aspirations, steadily building Pandamen step by step and taking full responsibility for every supporter.
Thank you to every friend who has supported us along the way. Your trust and enthusiasm have kept us going.
We look forward to witnessing the beautiful future of Pandamen together!
For the future, we are already preparing more plans, including figurines, models, animations, games, and other derivative products.
We hope Pandamen will not only be an NFT project but also grow into a globally influential brand.
We have always believed that the panda represents not only cuteness and peace but also a cultural symbol. Pandamen will carry this meaning and step onto a larger stage.
