The creation of a token is commonly called “minting”, and generally happens with a transaction with the blockchain network, when you “mint the NFT”.

The assumption that a blockchain has enough support to last for a long time is what gives these objects much of their value: will you be able to use it? get some appreciation? profits? thinking long enough, could it be a life changing inheritance?

Sometimes minting can yield more luck, when you get a rare or expensive piece of art. And sometimes less, when you get a less satisfying one.

Sometimes minting mechanics can break a community and create FUD and even adversaries, and sometimes the mint turns shameful depending on the rug.

Mints can be done by the creators, or can be done in a user initiated transaction, or can be done after the transaction, in a post-sale transaction + drop. They can also take more or less realtime input, from transaction time, to random number, to frontend input, to user input, and so on.

They can be done from a custom contract, created just for them, with varying levels of intricacy, from open source pfp generators, to ACK. Or from existing services that have their own contracts and systems, from an enterprise like opensea to the *hic et nunc *protocol.

Now, the poetry of minting is the creation of the object, which is a function of all the work put in by the project team, by the developers of tools and the blockchain, and the network, like gas fees).

If you assume that Ethereum will be here 100 years from now, then Ozzy’s CryptoBatz will be an enduring piece of his legacy and a rare piece of art. But if you believe that Ethereum will be here 1000 years from now, then those objects carry the legend of Ozzy, the Bat Biter, forever, to other planets and so on.

From that perspective, the minting of an NFT can be a legendary act. The lores around it, and their cultural impact POSSIBLY reverberating through time.

Anyway, observe the NFT become the supreme and everlasting link between the physical world and an idea, or the metaverse… like an art with properties ABC that give access to XYZ, a purposeful mint can help define a decentralized process of great consequences.

Sure, blockchain networks are full of pioneers and fantastic creators, but there are lots of bad actors coveting the bags of others, and they invest a lot of time and energy trying to do harm by scamming and tricking people that would otherwise be their frens. WAGMI, after all.

There are scams that are rugs, but not all rugs are created equal. They can go from awkward, like Doodled Dragons, where you have a cool art but there's no project continuation and a stinky exit; there are the shameful ones, like PudgyPenguins and the the little evils, like Big Daddy Apes, which delivers no NFT… which is sad, b/c FAM not fraud.

Now, there are legit cash grabs, like Hoskys, who are upfront about it in a clear way. And then there are ilegit cash grabs, like copycats and lazy knock offs, going from exact copy of the art to the lazy variations which builds nothing.

And finally, there is derivative art.

Derivatives take many forms: inspired by, based on and fan art. There are also remixes and mashups, and the growing trend of mutations.

To be exhaustive, best not forget there are also contemporary coincidences that may feel derivative, but just drunk from similar culture wells. And let’s just mention collabs too.

Either way, derivatives can get major frowns, specially from OG professional creators, OG holders and frens with big bags that can afford the hyped OG projects.

But here is the thing. You know it…

Everything is a remix. Nothing new under the sun.

If the community is legit and people want it, by all means… MEMES!

SEIZE THE MEMES OF PRODUCTION! & the end of copyright and off chain licenses

If we are serious about the decentralized and open metaverse run by the community, then copyrights, off chain licenses and “not affiliated with Larva Labs” must go.

And for that, we have to embrace unlicensed derivatives with the same vibe and conviction that we embrace the epic exploits of CloneX17707, especially if there’s a strong community benefitting from them and keeping harmless to the original project.

No bad mouthing, no call out, if you don’t like it because you own real alpha, then just don’t buy the derivative art… save diss energy to contribute to the fight agains real scams, frauds and evil rugs, as well as to expose copycats and lazy knock offs, help drive innovation.

There is always more charm, and more value, on art with cool stories. And authenticity and legitimacy can come in different shapes. Our bags are all worthy it, HODL.

WAGMI → BUIDL

And if you are really serious about WAGMI, and you own an OG punk or anything else, then you should proudly check out derivatives and even buy in to collect the decentralized variations, the community made mutations of sorts. Even try and get matching ones, or good looking pairs. Make your own story. BUIDL.

But to follow the vibes of the #RiseOfTheMachines, this is going to be a squad recruitment, where only worthy candidates will earn my perky etherminator NFTs.

The first batch of recruits is reserved to NFT creators.
So get ready to share your best alpha! I can't wait to see your work! Follow me on twitter for the call to action

https://twitter.com/cmd3r

First Batch - The Etherminators NFTs

You can also join me and the rest of the community on Discord, here is my invite.
We talk culture, fitness, tech and science and also just vibe and celebrate each other :)

https://discord.gg/qHrSzErS7h

CSM #3104 - The Amethyst Machinist

CSM #3503 - Slick Ventura

CSM #252 - Sarge Cuban

Start your own squad too, mint your etherminator today

You can mint an etherminator NFT at their website, etherminators.com.