BabyDoge acquires LimeWire as platform plans creator focused push

BabyDoge has acquired LimeWire and placed the internet-era file-sharing brand under new leadership, with the platform set to focus on decentralized storage, AI tools and direct services for digital creators. Summary BabyDoge has acquired LimeWire under undisclosed terms, with Abel Czupor taking over leadership from Julian and Paul Zehetmayr. LimeWire plans to focus on creator ownership, decentralized storage and AI powered content tools under its new leadership. LMWR will remain LimeWire’s native utility token and will be used for services including decentralized file storage and access to AI tools. The Zehetmayr brothers relaunched LimeWire in 2022 and spent five years rebuilding the brand and its technical infrastructure. The BabyDoge team announced the acquisition on Sept. 14, saying Abel Czupor will lead LimeWire following the departure of brothers Julian and Paul Zehetmayr, who spent the past five years rebuilding the platform and its underlying infrastructure. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. LimeWire said its existing LMWR token will remain the native utility token for the platform, including for decentralized file storage and access to its AI tools. BabyDoge acquisition puts LimeWire under new leadership Under the transaction, BabyDoge will provide infrastructure and community backing for LimeWire as Czupor takes over its next stage of development. Julian and Paul Zehetmayr acquired LimeWire’s intellectual property before relaunching the brand in 2022. At the time, the brothers planned to turn the former peer-to-peer file-sharing service into a music-focused NFT marketplace. As crypto.news previously reported, the relaunched platform was designed to let users buy and trade digital collectibles tied to music, including limited editions, unreleased demos, bonus tracks and digital merchandise. The Zehetmayrs said they spent five years rebuilding LimeWire around a working product and infrastructure capable of supporting millions of users. “The next chapter is about taking that foundation to a much larger audience and community,” the brothers said, adding that they believed Czupor and BabyDoge were positioned to continue developing the platform. LimeWire currently serves 8 million users each month, according to Czupor. BabyDoge, meanwhile, said its ecosystem has a community of more than 3 million users. Czupor described BabyDoge as a “DAO-style backer” of LimeWire’s online independence instead of a conventional corporate parent. You might also like: BabyDoge returns to range low: can accumulation spark another rally? The transaction gives BabyDoge control of a brand whose history predates the current crypto industry. LimeWire became one of the most widely used peer-to-peer file-sharing programs during the 2000s before legal action over copyright infringement forced the original service offline. The current LimeWire has no affiliation with the original Lime Wire LLC or Lime Group LLC. LimeWire plans creator-focused AI and storage services LimeWire’s new leadership plans to build around creator ownership, decentralized storage and AI-powered content tools.