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Did Musk once strongly promote OpenAI's ICO fundraising plan? That "what if" from 2018
【Crypto World】Do you remember the ICO craze that once caused a sensation? According to recently released internal call records, Elon Musk briefly embraced token financing in early 2018. At that time, he actually supported a plan for OpenAI to raise about $10 billion through an ICO — which was completely plausible amid the cryptocurrency frenzy of that year.
However, the story wasn’t that simple. Musk later changed his mind. He gradually realized that OpenAI might not be able to raise enough money through this route. More importantly, the 2017-2018 crypto boom made him see the reality clearly, and he ultimately decided to devote himself fully to Tesla’s AI development.
This piece of history is actually quite interesting — it reflects how, during that era, even top minds in the tech industry were pondering how to use tokenization models to promote the development of non-profit organizations. Looking back now, the ICO fundraising wave has faded, but this history precisely shows how explosive the cryptocurrency scene was during that period.
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A $10 billion ICO? Who didn't want that back then? But in the end, all got cut.
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Basically, it's about seeing clearly what the crypto world really is. Smart people should run.
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This guy really wants to try everything, but switching to Tesla AI was definitely the right call.
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That wave in 2018 was just pure money grabbing. If Musk managed to cut losses in time, it shows he has taste.
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So who ultimately raised the money? What's the ending of this story?
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Tokenizing non-profit organizations sounds like a joke, haha.
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Anyway, it doesn't matter now with OpenAI. They have plenty of funding, no need to dwell on the past.
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It seems even top brains have to take a fall in the crypto world—that's just tuition.
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Musk: I almost fell into it. Luckily, I woke up in time.
If I had known earlier, I would have fully invested in Tesla instead of trading cryptocurrencies.
Honestly, things even top minds can't see through, and us retail investors still want to buy the dip. We've really been kicked in the head by a donkey.
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OpenAI ICO raised 10 billion? Luckily it didn't happen, or else there would be a bunch of air coins now.
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That wave in 2018 really drove everyone crazy, even Musk wanted to give it a try.
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Honestly, it's just too much money to burn, no matter how they raise it, it's fine.
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So in the end, they still chose Tesla. Do you understand what reality is?
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Looking back at the ICO plan from back then, it was truly outrageous, hahaha.
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Raising 10 billion USD through tokens? The crypto world back then dared to dream anything.
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This guy later woke up; it's already good that he didn't turn OpenAI into the next Luna.
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But if they really could raise that much, the AI landscape today might be a different story.
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When the crypto world was in a frenzy, even Silicon Valley geniuses almost got caught in it.
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$10 billion ICO, not a single one was successful. That's hilarious.
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Honestly, he just doesn't buy into the ICO scene. Who still believes in that stuff now?
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In 2018, people dared to propose all kinds of wild ideas. Luckily, he turned back.
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This guy immediately invested in Tesla AI after that. He's still a realist.
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Even top minds had to pay tuition back then. The crypto circle taught them what a bubble really is.
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If OpenAI had taken the ICO route, they would have been doomed long ago.