Under X ban, InfoFi cleanup: Cookie DAO shuts down Snaps, can it be reborn through new products

The tightening of X platform’s policies on the InfoFi application has become a fait accompli. On January 15th, local time, Cookie DAO announced the suspension of operations for its Snaps platform and all related creator activities. This is not a voluntary choice but a forced response—X revoked API access permissions for the InfoFi app. In this sector cleanup, Cookie DAO’s response has been relatively proactive, but the $COOKIE token still could not escape unscathed.

The Real Reasons Behind X’s Policy Adjustment

According to the latest news, X’s official product lead explicitly stated that applications that “reward users for posting” are no longer allowed to use the API. The driving force behind this is straightforward: such applications generate大量AI-generated spam content (AI slop) and reply spam, severely polluting the platform ecosystem. X’s stance is also very firm— even if these projects pay millions of dollars for enterprise API access, X would rather give up revenue to clean up the environment.

This means the entire InfoFi model’s era on X has come to an end.

Chain Reaction in the InfoFi Sector

The closure of Cookie DAO is not an isolated event. According to market data, the entire InfoFi sector declined across the board following this policy shock:

From the data, the decline of $COOKIE was relatively milder compared to Kaito. This reflects differences in response strategies—Cookie DAO made adjustments earlier.

Cookie DAO’s Response Strategy

Compared to Kaito’s passive response, Cookie DAO demonstrated a more proactive stance:

• Immediate Action: Announced the closure of Snaps and all related activities to maintain the integrity of data layers and product systems.
• Ongoing Communication: Actively discussing with the X team to evaluate whether Snaps can continue operating in a new form.
• Product Focus Shift: Other Cookie products are unaffected by this adjustment; the team continues to push forward with Cookie Pro (a real-time market intelligence product for the crypto industry) built over the past six months.
• Compliance Priority: Emphasizes that it always complies with X’s relevant rules, with data sourced from official channels, and remains a Twitter Enterprise API client.

Key Information Analysis

Cookie DAO’s statement reveals several important signals:

First, this is not a passive shutdown but an active choice. By closing Snaps to “maintain the integrity of the Cookie data layer and its product system,” it is essentially safeguarding its core business.

Second, the focus has shifted to data and intelligence products. The advancement of Cookie Pro indicates that Cookie DAO is transitioning from an “incentivized creation” model to a “data service” model— a more stable and policy-aligned direction.

Third, communication with X is ongoing. Although Snaps was immediately shut down, Cookie DAO has not completely abandoned the future of Snaps; it is merely waiting for further guidance from X. This attitude reflects respect for policy and leaves room for maneuver.

Key Points to Watch in the Future

Whether Cookie DAO can truly “rejuvenate” depends on whether Cookie Pro can gain recognition in the crypto industry. From the statement, this has been the team’s focus over the past six months and is the main response to policy changes.

In contrast, Kaito’s “Kaito Studio” has pivoted to cross-platform marketing tools (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok), representing a more aggressive diversification strategy. Cookie DAO’s approach is more focused—sticking to data and intelligence as its core competitive advantage.

Which path is more feasible remains to be seen over time. But from the short-term market reaction, Cookie DAO’s relatively resilient performance suggests that the market somewhat approves of its response strategy.

Summary

X’s policy tightening on InfoFi marks the end of an era. Cookie DAO’s closure of Snaps is a forced move, but its response has been relatively calm—protecting core business by shutting down non-essential products and seeking new growth points through the promotion of Cookie Pro.

This is not a failure but a repositioning. The real test lies ahead: whether Cookie Pro can become a “standard” data tool in the crypto industry will determine if Cookie DAO can truly emerge from this policy storm. In the short term, the $COOKIE token may still face pressure, but in the long run, the key lies not in policy but in the product.