Why did Kaspa launch as a fair launch instead of a pre-mine?

Kaspa launched as a fair launch because DAGLabs and Polychain concluded it was the only path that gave Kaspa a genuine chance to grow and meet its goals. DAGLabs originally planned to build OPoW-compatible mining hardware (ASICs) and sell hashrate as a way to fund itself while still supporting an open network — a middle ground between decentralization and business sustainability. That plan collapsed when OPoW ASIC technology proved too immature, and the assessment shifted: a pure fair launch, where no insider received coins before the public, was the right call. For a beginner, this matters because a fair launch means no hidden pre-mine and no privileged insiders who got free coins — it is one of the strongest signals that a proof-of-work coin was built for the long term rather than to enrich early backers.