BlockbusterDAO: The Failed Attempt to Build Decentralized Netflix
In December 2021, crypto Twitter rallied around an ambitious plan: **buy Blockbuster and transform it into the first decentralized streaming service**.
The community aimed to raise $5M through the $BLKBSTER token to acquire Blockbuster's trademark from Dish Network. Their vision went beyond brand revival - they wanted to create a **decentralized Netflix** where:
- A DAO would decide which films to fund
- Revenue splitting would be community-driven
- Content curation would be democratized
**The Social Network** author Ben Mezrich endorsed the project, calling it "the perfect Web3 story." This celebrity backing sparked massive interest, with **over 40,000 people joining the Discord** within weeks.
However, Dish Network refused to even discuss selling the Blockbuster brand, effectively killing the project before it could begin.
While BlockbusterDAO never materialized, it became a notable example of how **DAOs can mobilize communities around ambitious ideas** - joining other failed attempts like buying the U.S. Constitution.
The project highlighted both the potential and limitations of decentralized organizing in traditional industries.
