How to buy ConstitutionDAO (PEOPLE) in Singapore

What is ConstitutionDAO?

ConstitutionDAO was a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) formed in November 2021 with a singular, time-bound mission: to pool funds via cryptocurrency to bid at Sotheby’s for one of the remaining original first-print copies of the U.S. Constitution. The effort galvanized a massive, internet-native community nearly overnight, raising over $40 million in ETH from more than 17,000 contributors.

The project minted a governance token called PEOPLE to represent contributors’ participation. Importantly, ConstitutionDAO was explicit that PEOPLE did not confer ownership of the document or equity in an entity; rather, it was intended to signal participation and later be used for governance if the bid succeeded. Despite the unprecedented fundraising success, the DAO was ultimately outbid by hedge fund manager and Citadel CEO Ken Griffin. ConstitutionDAO subsequently wound down, offering refunds to contributors.

Even though it did not win the auction, ConstitutionDAO demonstrated the power and speed of DAOs to coordinate capital and community for real-world objectives, catalyzing broader interest in community-driven asset acquisition and collective action on-chain.

How does ConstitutionDAO work? The tech that powers it

• Smart contracts and tokenization:

  • ConstitutionDAO used Ethereum smart contracts to accept ETH contributions transparently and non-custodially.
  • Contributors received PEOPLE tokens proportional to their contributions. The token was designed for governance and participation, not ownership or profit-sharing.
  • The contracts enforced contribution accounting and later facilitated refunds.

• Treasury and custody planning:

  • For the Sotheby’s auction, the DAO needed off-chain legal and custodial scaffolding because auction houses and museums interface with legal entities, not wallets. ConstitutionDAO planned to partner with a nonprofit custodian (e.g., a museum) and form an LLC-like wrapper to handle bidding, custody, and compliance while the DAO governed high-level decisions on-chain.

• Governance and coordination:

  • The DAO used a mix of on-chain signals and off-chain coordination tools:
    • On-chain: PEOPLE token balances were intended for snapshot-style signaling votes.
    • Off-chain: Discord, Twitter, Mirror posts, and Snapshot proposals for rapid coordination, given the tight auction timeline.
  • Core contributors acted as operational leads to negotiate with Sotheby’s, design the legal wrapper, and coordinate the bid.

• Refund mechanism:

  • After losing the auction, the DAO honored refunds by allowing contributors to redeem PEOPLE for their pro-rata ETH (minus gas and fees). This was handled via the smart contract pathway, demonstrating transparent capital return in a high-profile public setting.

• Security and transparency:

  • Funds were raised and tracked publicly on Ethereum, providing real-time transparency. While the DAO operated quickly, it adopted multisig controls for spending authorization to reduce key risk during the auction process.

In short, ConstitutionDAO combined Ethereum smart contracts for capital formation and token issuance with off-chain legal wrappers and social coordination tools to engage with a traditional auction environment—illustrating how DAOs can bridge on-chain capital with real-world institutions.

What makes ConstitutionDAO unique?

• Single-mission DAO at internet speed:

  • ConstitutionDAO was purpose-built for a specific, time-boxed outcome, attracting tens of thousands of contributors within days. Its speed of execution and scale of engagement set a new bar for DAO mobilization.

• Cultural moment for crypto:

  • The campaign became a global meme and mainstream news story that showcased crypto’s capacity for collective action, not just speculation. It brought a wave of new participants into Web3.

• Clarity around token purpose:

  • The team was explicit that PEOPLE was not an ownership claim, helping avoid misconceptions that tokens equated to fractional title in the Constitution. This clarity mattered for legal compliance and public understanding.

• Precedent for real-world asset bids:

  • ConstitutionDAO inspired subsequent experiments (e.g., groups organizing to buy sports teams, land, or art) and advanced the conversation about legal wrappers, custody, and governance for physical assets governed by DAOs.

ConstitutionDAO price history and value: A comprehensive overview

• PEOPLE token origin and evolution:

  • PEOPLE was initially distributed to contributors as a governance and participation token. After the auction loss and wind-down announcement, the DAO encouraged refunds. Many contributors redeemed; others kept or later traded PEOPLE on secondary markets.

• Post-wind-down trading:

  • Despite the DAO halting operations, PEOPLE found a second life as a freely tradable meme/community token on various exchanges. Its price action has since been driven by market sentiment, narrative cycles, and exchange listings rather than by DAO fundamentals, as ConstitutionDAO ceased active governance.

• Key considerations:

  • There is no claim on assets, revenues, or rights to the Constitution tied to PEOPLE.
  • Price volatility has been significant, typical of tokens propelled by narratives and community sentiment rather than cash flows or utility.
  • Liquidity and exchange support have varied over time; always verify current listings, contract addresses, and liquidity depth before transacting.

Note: If you are evaluating historical pricing, use reputable market data aggregators and cross-reference contract addresses to avoid impostor tokens.

Is now a good time to invest in ConstitutionDAO?

This is not financial advice, but here are factors to consider:

• Thesis alignment:

  • PEOPLE no longer represents an active DAO driving toward the original mission; any investment is effectively a bet on community and meme-driven dynamics rather than governance rights or asset-backed value.

• Risk profile:

  • High volatility and narrative-driven cycles can produce large swings. Liquidity can concentrate on a few venues, amplifying price impact.
  • Smart contract and counterparty risks exist whenever interacting on-chain or with centralized exchanges.

• Due diligence checklist:

  • Verify the official token contract.
  • Review liquidity, slippage, and exchange reliability.
  • Understand there is no revenue, claim, or governance utility linked to an operating ConstitutionDAO.
  • Consider position sizing appropriate for speculative assets.

• Alternative approach:

  • If you’re primarily interested in DAO participation for public goods, art, or real-world assets, explore active DAOs with clear mandates, audited contracts, transparent treasuries, and ongoing governance.

In sum, ConstitutionDAO was a landmark coordination experiment that showcased the power of on-chain communities to mobilize quickly around a real-world objective. While the original mission concluded, its legacy continues to inform how DAOs interface with traditional institutions and how communities can collectively act at internet scale. If considering PEOPLE exposure today, recognize it as a speculative community token rather than a claim on the original project or any physical asset.