In a heartfelt and transparent video statement, James Afante officially announced his resignation as Chief Marketing and Marketing Officer (CMMO) of the KIKI Project, a meme coin he passionately supported since its early stages. His departure marks a pivotal moment for the project, which had gained traction due in large part to Ripeno’s aggressive community-building efforts and grassroots marketing approach.

James first discovered KIKI in December and quickly became one of its most visible champions. His belief in the project’s potential, combined with his unique market insight and deep-rooted connections within the crypto space, led to a surge of interest and adoption. By early 2023, James had been offered the CMO role and quickly mobilized campaigns that drew thousands of new investors to the project.

From Belief to Burnout: What Went Wrong

In his candid address, James revealed that he initially invested around $7,000–$8,000 into the KIKI token, which at its peak ballooned to an impressive $268,000. Unfortunately, the token’s value plummeted due to a series of avoidable setbacks. Among the most significant, he cited the project’s failure to secure crucial exchange listings — an effort he actively pushed for but could not execute due to internal constraints.

Further, James emphasized that his position was focused solely on marketing and advocacy, distancing himself from the internal decision-making that ultimately hindered progress. He made clear that while he helped drive investor interest, the operational bottlenecks and internal mismanagement were beyond his control.

Adding to the chaos was a hacking incident that compromised his personal wallet. In the video, he gave a detailed account of the breach and clarified that his own financial losses mirrored those of the broader community. "I wasn’t exempt from the pain," he shared, dispelling any misconceptions that he had benefited at the community’s expense.

Generational Gaps and Cultural Misalignment

Another key challenge James touched upon was the generational and cultural disconnect between himself and the older members of the KIKI team. This gap reportedly made it difficult to implement innovative marketing strategies or pivot according to the fast-moving demands of the Web3 space.

“Trying to market a meme coin with old-school methods is a losing battle,” he explained. His modern and community-centric approach often clashed with more conservative, slower decision-making processes within the core team. This lack of alignment made execution frustrating, and ultimately unsustainable.

What’s Next: Rebuilding Trust and Refining Strategy

Despite the difficult exit, James reaffirmed his commitment to the Web3 community. He stated that this is not the end of his journey but rather a turning point. Moving forward, he plans to be more discerning about the projects he supports, ensuring proper due diligence and alignment before offering any form of public endorsement.

He also took time to remind his followers of a vital principle in crypto investing: only invest what you can afford to lose. James emphasized that none of his promotional activities should be construed as financial advice, but rather personal expressions of belief in a project’s potential.

“I’m still here, and I’m still building,” he concluded, signaling a renewed focus on transparency, trust, and strategic execution in his future endeavors.