The doomsday clock for Climate Change is indeed ticking. Some Americans are stocking up on canned goods in anticipation of an apocalypse [PDF], while others are buying digital deeds to Cold War-era bunkers. Meatbags, a Solana-based NFT project, aims to purchase a decommissioned nuclear bunker in England and transform it into… well, something. Regardless, this better be a serious attempt at moving toward community-led, decentralized ownership. Or is it just another short-lived crypto mirage fueled by FOMO and techno-pessimism?

Bunker as Community: A Real Possibility?

Let’s not kid ourselves—the fantasy of turning an ICBM silo into a local tourist destination or Airbnb is really quite absurd. It does make for great click-bait and certainly gets the imagination going! This location was intentionally designed to survive nuclear fallout. It would turn Muir Woods into a new paradise for influencers seeking the ideal setting for their next “end of the world” apocalypse shoot. But beneath the surface, there's a more compelling narrative about community empowerment and the potential for blockchain to foster real-world impact.

Artists Derek and Miguel engage participants through improvisation and experimentation. Miguel, one of the creative forces behind Meatbags, has an unusual upbringing. He envisions the Billionaire Bunker Club DAO – comprised of NFT holders – as a truly democratic entity, where everyone has a voice in shaping the bunker's future. This isn't just about owning a piece of digital real estate; it's about being part of a collective with a shared vision.

At only $14 per NFT, this project is accessible for a wider range of participants. It’s most distinguishing feature, perhaps, is it’s greater affordability compared to most other NFT endeavors. The addition of SolanaPay and other credit card options makes it even easier to get started. It's a deliberate effort to build a community that's inclusive, not exclusive.

Might this bunker serve as a platform for artistic creativity, communal gathering, and in time, more socially beneficial projects and purposes? Imagine workshops on sustainable living, disaster preparedness training, or even a safe haven for vulnerable populations during times of crisis. And the potential is amazing! It all comes down to the community’s ability to organize, align, and execute to make this ambitious vision a reality.

ConstitutionDAO 2.0? Or LinksDAO's Successor?

The ghost of ConstitutionDAO looms large. And we all know the epic disappointment of seeing that project miss the mark for the US Constitution. Fortunately, Meatbags is aware of this dangerous precedent. In fact, they guarantee 100 percent refunds if they fail to lock down the Rutland bunker or an alternate site within six months. This transparency is crucial.

Imagine if, rather than making a one-off splash with ConstitutionDAO, Meatbags could be the bunker-world’s LinksDAO. LinksDAO, for those unfamiliar, was able to successfully purchase an actual golf club through this DAO-like structure. The key difference? Practical utility. A golf club offers tangible benefits to its members: a place to play golf, socialize, and network.

The challenge for Meatbags, then, is to achieve that same sense of utility, necessity and belonging. It will not be sufficient to just have a digital deed to a metaverse bunker. But NFT holders don’t just want to own a JPEG — they want to be involved in something valuable, something that improves their life. You will get special access to members-only events. Plus, you get voting rights on all major decisions and a cut in the bunker’s various revenue streams.

Anxiety Fueling Innovation or Just Fear?

Let's face it, a project centered around a nuclear bunker taps into a deep vein of anxiety about the future. Climate change, political instability, pandemics… the whole world seems like a much more unpredictable place. Meatbags offers a (perhaps tongue-in-cheek) response to this anxiety: a place to ride out the apocalypse in style.

Is this really a healthy response to all of our collective anxieties? Maybe not. One thing that is irrefutable is that fear is a fantastic motivator. If we focus that fear into motivating ourselves to positive action, we can create a connected community and develop that resilience. By investigating alternative models of distributed ownership, Meatbags might increase the crypto-bubble magic to actually transcend crypto pipe dream and materially exist.

The auction on April 24th will be a first real test of their mettle. Will they secure the Rutland bunker? If they do, the real work begins: building a thriving community, developing a clear vision for the bunker's future, and proving that a DAO can successfully manage a complex real-world asset.

It's a long shot, to be sure. But in a world increasingly defined by centralized power and top-down control, the idea of a community-owned nuclear bunker is undeniably intriguing. It's a bold experiment in decentralized governance, a testament to the power of collective action, and a reminder that even in the face of existential threats, humanity's capacity for innovation – and perhaps even a little bit of dark humor – remains undeterred.