Wall Street loves a good software-as-a-service (SaaS) story, and lately, Figma stock has been on everyone’s lips. The design platform that turned UX collaboration into a lifestyle has investors buzzing. But while traders are buying shares, the Web3 crowd is asking: Why not tokens instead of stock? Could tokenization flip the script on creative software, turning the next “Figma stock” moment into a Web3 play? Let’s explore.
Why Figma stock appeals to Wall Street
Figma stock represents everything the market craves: recurring revenue, loyal users, and a near-cult following in tech teams. In the same way Adobe became the monopoly of creative tools, Figma is becoming the go-to hub for design collaboration.
Investors see predictable growth. Designers pay subscriptions, companies pay enterprise fees, and Wall Street pockets dividends and capital gains. Simple.
But here’s the twist: the very users who build Figma’s success (designers, creators, and communities) don’t see any of those stock gains unless they’re already investors. The people fueling the brand aren’t sharing the pie.
The Web3 counter-offer: Tokens for creatives
Now, imagine a different model. Instead of buying Figma stock, users hold Figma tokens:
- Every time you design, you earn a slice.
- Every plugin or template earns micro-royalties.
- The community votes on feature rollouts instead of waiting for boardrooms to decide.
Suddenly, design isn’t just subscription revenue for a few shareholders but a tokenized ownership for millions of users. Web3 projects are already hinting at this model: DAOs for open-source design tools, token-based marketplaces for UI kits, and NFT licensing baked into templates.
Stocks are top-down, while tokens are bottom-up
Here’s the satirical truth: Figma stock feels like being invited to the after-party, but only if you’ve got a fat brokerage account. Tokens? They’re the chaotic house party where everyone’s invited, even if someone spills punch on the blockchain.
Wall Street prioritizes shareholder returns. Web3 prioritizes community incentives. Which future dominates may decide whether designers remain consumers of tools or become co-owners of platforms.
What it means for creatives
If you’re a designer, holding Figma stock makes you an investor in someone else’s vision. Holding Figma tokens (if they ever existed) could make you an investor in yourself.
Of course, tokens carry their own risks: volatility, rug pulls, and governance drama. Stocks aren’t immune either; IPO hype, regulatory pressure, or sudden downturns can erase value overnight.
But the larger question is cultural: Will design remain centralized like Adobe’s empire, or will it evolve into tokenized ecosystems where users shape the roadmap?
Final take: The design DAO dream
Figma stock tells one story: investors love design SaaS. But Web3 whispers another: the next big creative revolution might not trade on NASDAQ; it might be minted on-chain. For now, the safe bet is stock. The daring bet? Believing that tomorrow’s Figma won’t sell shares, but it’ll sell tokens.
We may never see “Figma tokens” traded alongside Figma stock on Wall Street, but the thought experiment matters. Let’s watch and see how the future unfolds!
