These two innovations are reshaping how games are launched, distributed, and experienced in the blockchain ecosystem.

What Are B3 and Basement.Fun?

NPC Labs, founded by former Coinbase and Base team members, is leading this charge with a dual-pronged approach:

B3: The Scalable Blockchain Layer

B3 is a high-performance blockchain built on Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer 2 solution. B3 is specifically tailored to the needs of the gaming industry, offering:

• Interoperability: The ability to host and interact with other blockchains on top of it.

• Scalability: Designed to handle the high-frequency, low-cost transactions that gaming requires.

• Ecosystem Support: B3 supports a wide range of use cases, including grants and rewards for developers who launch games within its ecosystem.

B3 has already gained traction with projects like Parallel (from the Echelon ecosystem), demonstrating its potential to support large-scale blockchain-based games.

Basement.Fun: A Game-Changing Distribution Platform

While B3 provides the infrastructure, Basement.Fun serves as the distribution channel. This web-based platform enables developers to:

• Launch their games with ease, whether they’re built on B3 or not.

• Access tools and resources to establish their studios and distribute games efficiently.

• Earn Builder Points (BP), an incentivization mechanism for developers, especially those who launch on B3.

Importantly, Basement.Fun is open to all developers, even those not operating on B3, making it an inclusive platform that caters to diverse needs within the gaming community.

Why Does This Matter for Web3 Gaming?

Blockchain gaming has grown exponentially, yet the industry faces significant hurdles in bringing games to market. The infrastructure is there—blockchain networks, wallet abstractions, and tokenomics—but the distribution gap remains wide. Here’s why NPC Labs’ solutions are pivotal:

1. Addressing the Delta in Web3 Gaming:

Distribution is the missing piece in web3 gaming. While platforms like Steam dominate traditional gaming, web3 lacks a comparable distribution network. Basement.Fun steps into this role, providing a user-friendly platform for players to discover games and for developers to showcase their work.

2. The Firepower of Base:

Base, Coinbase’s Layer 2 solution, has quickly become one of the largest blockchains in terms of trading volume. By building on Base, B3 inherits its scalability and security, making it a powerful infrastructure for gaming projects.

3. Tailored Solutions for Developers:

• For developers wary of launching on new blockchains, Basement.Fun provides a blockchain-agnostic distribution platform.

• For studios looking for financial incentives, B3 offers grants and other rewards, encouraging them to build within the ecosystem.

4. Player-Centric Approach:

Basement.Fun focuses on creating a seamless user experience. Players can discover, play, and earn rewards through blockchain games without navigating the complexities typically associated with web3 gaming.

Who Is Behind NPC Labs?

NPC Labs boasts a team of industry veterans with deep expertise in blockchain and gaming:

• Daryl Xu (CEO): Former core contributor to Base and business development manager at Coinbase. His vision drives the company’s innovative approach to web3 gaming.

• Viktoriya Hying (COO): Former business development manager at Coinbase Base, she brings strategic insights and operational expertise to the team.

• Sean Geng (CTO): Former engineering manager at Coinbase, Geng is the technical powerhouse behind NPC Labs’ cutting-edge solutions.

The team’s connections in both blockchain and gaming have been instrumental in establishing partnerships and securing funding, including a $21 million round led by Pantera Capital.

How Do B3 and Basement.Fun Work?

B3: The Infrastructure

B3 operates as a Layer 3 ecosystem on Base, optimizing performance for gaming by:

• Reducing gas fees to near-zero levels.

• Enabling high transaction throughput essential for seamless gameplay.

• Utilizing chain abstraction to eliminate the need for players to switch networks, simplifying the user experience.

Basement.Fun: The Distribution Network

Basement.Fun functions as a hub for game discovery and play, featuring tools for:

• Quick and efficient game launches.

• Incentivizing developers with Builder Points (BP), especially for projects built on B3.

• Engaging players through fun and accessible games like “Art Squiggle Snake,” a standout title on the platform.

Why Should Developers and Players Care?

For Developers:

Basement.Fun and B3 provide a comprehensive toolkit for game creation and distribution. Whether a studio wants to launch on B3 for grants or leverage Basement.Fun for its wide reach, the ecosystem caters to various needs, making it a versatile choice for developers entering the web3 space.

For Players:

Basement.Fun offers a growing library of blockchain games that are easy to access and play. The platform emphasizes the “play-to-earn” model, allowing players to enjoy casual games while earning rewards—a compelling proposition for gamers looking to explore web3.

Where Can You Explore This Ecosystem?

Head over to Basement.Fun to dive into the world of blockchain gaming. The platform is live and already hosting engaging games like “Art Squiggle Snake,” with more titles expected to join the roster soon.

Final Thoughts: NPC Labs and the Future of Web3 Gaming

NPC Labs is tackling one of the most pressing challenges in web3 gaming: distribution. By combining the scalable infrastructure of B3 with the user-friendly distribution network of Basement.Fun, they are setting a new standard for blockchain gaming. Whether you’re a developer looking to launch your next big game or a player eager to explore the future of gaming, NPC Labs’ ecosystem offers a glimpse into what’s possible when innovation meets accessibility.

Resources:

• NPC Labs on Twitter

• Basement.Fun Official Website

• Basement.Fun Developer Tools

The future of gaming is here, and it’s happening on B3 and Basement.Fun and so many other placed. Are you ready to be part of it?

The Eureka Vision: Reply-to-play as the Future

Imagine this: you type “walk one mile east,” and a persistent world generates before your eyes. This isn’t a pipe dream; it’s Eureka’s long-term vision—a pioneering leap into the reply-to-play genre, where gameplay unfolds through intuitive, conversational commands. Eureka wants to bring immersive gaming to life, blurring the line between user intent and dynamic world-building.

At its core, Eureka is about distribution. While the dream of text-to-play games is being realized, the focus today is on launching games where players already are—on social media platforms. With its innovative reply-to-play model, Eureka is breaking down barriers to entry for gamers and developers alike.

Why Eureka Matters: Solving Gaming’s Biggest Bottleneck

Gaming’s Achilles’ heel has always been distribution. Where do developers find their next players? With privacy laws tightening and traditional advertising channels becoming less effective, the answer lies in meeting players where they spend most of their time—on social platforms.

Eureka’s approach is simple but revolutionary: launch games directly through social media channels. By doing so, developers can reach millions of potential players seamlessly, gaining traction faster and opening doors to monetization earlier in the game’s lifecycle. It’s a bold step forward in solving one of gaming’s most significant challenges.

The Mind Behind Eureka

Jordan, Eureka’s founder, is more than just a lifelong gamer. He’s someone who has always dreamed of creating a game that rekindles the joy and passion gaming once brought to millions. Before Eureka, Jordan worked as an architect, crafting awe-inspiring structures around the world. Leveraging his global connections and creative vision, he secured the initial funding to bring Eureka to life.

The Tech Behind the Magic

Eureka’s potential isn’t just in its vision—it’s in its cutting-edge technology. Here’s a glimpse of what makes it tick:

• Data Capture and Integration: Eureka seamlessly pulls data from social platforms like Twitter, transforming user inputs into interactive gameplay.

• Real-Time Feedback: Players receive instant responses to their in-game actions directly on social media.

• Persistent Game States: A player’s actions are tracked and stored, creating a rich, evolving world.

• AI-Driven Graphics: Eureka leverages AI to generate visuals for game events, with the goal of creating persistent, dynamic graphics in the future.

This unique combination of technologies enables Eureka to make gaming accessible and engaging directly through social platforms.

Experience Eureka Today

You don’t have to wait for the future to see Eureka in action. Head over to Eureka’s Twitter account and try it out yourself. Simply quote-reply to a Eureka tweet, and you’ll receive a response in seconds. While still in its early stages, this prototype demonstrates the immense potential of what Jordan and his team are building.

Join the Eureka Movement

Eureka is more than a game engine—it’s a movement. Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Play Today: Dive into the text-to-play experience on Twitter.
   https://x.com/eurekathegame

2. Get Your Eureka ID: Sign up now to become part of the journey.
   https://citizens.eureka.game/registrar?sponsor=195

3. Connect with Us: DM me or Jordan to learn more about the project or discuss collaboration opportunities.

Eureka is shaping the future of gaming. It’s not just about what’s possible—it’s about what’s next. Dive in today and be part of the revolution.

Let me know if you’d like to refine this further!

When I started in BD, I was a hustler. I was great at reaching out to prospects, sparking conversations, and generating excitement. But despite the activity, I realized something was missing. My work wasn’t translating into tangible results. The opportunities were there, but the outcomes weren’t.

That realization set me on a journey to refine my approach and focus on what truly matters. This blog is for anyone who wants to master the art of business development, whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your game.

What is Business Development?

At its core, BD is about creating opportunities and driving growth. But to be successful, you need to understand the nuances. Here’s how I define it:

1. Selling: Not just products or services, but value and vision.

2. Opportunity Creation: Finding ways to grow tied to specific KPIs.

3. Market Understanding: Staying attuned to trends, customer needs, and industry shifts.

4. Problem Solving: Turning weaknesses into strengths and unlocking growth through innovative solutions.

5. Adaptability: Continuously evolving your approach to match the market and customer demands.

BD isn’t just about getting people through the door; it’s about building a foundation for sustainable growth.

Why Business Development Matters?

Business development is the engine of any successful organization. Without it, growth stalls, and the future becomes uncertain. Here’s why it’s essential:

• Future-Proofing: BD creates a pipeline for long-term growth. The day BD stops, future revenue opportunities vanish.

• Market Insights: As a BD professional, you’re on the front lines, understanding customer pain points and where your product or service falls short.

• Relationship Building: BD is about trust. Strong relationships pave the way for collaboration, loyalty, and referrals.

My Journey: From Hustle to Impact

When I started in BD, I had the energy and the drive, but I lacked focus. I was reaching out to prospects and having conversations, but the results were inconsistent. Here’s what I learned along the way:

1. Focus on What Matters: I realized that time is my most valuable resource. To maximize impact, I needed to focus on activities that 10x’d my KPIs. Whether it’s closing deals, nurturing relationships, or creating value, every action needed a purpose.

2. Get Organized: One of my biggest challenges was disorganization. I wasn’t following up effectively, setting next steps, or approaching conversations with a concrete vision. Once I started using tools like CRMs and setting clear workflows, everything changed.

3. Learn to Say No: Not every opportunity is worth pursuing. Prioritizing high-impact prospects and focusing on quality over quantity became a game-changer.

When Does Business Development Happen?

BD isn’t a 9-to-5 job; it’s a mindset. Every interaction—whether online or in person—is an opportunity.

• Content Creation: Blog posts, social media threads, and videos work for you 24/7. They generate opportunities even when you’re offline.

• Conferences and Networking: IRL events are a great way to speedrun your network and make meaningful connections.

• Daily Engagement: Platforms like Telegram, LinkedIn, and Twitter are invaluable for building visibility and staying top-of-mind.

BD is an ongoing process, and consistency is key.

How to Excel in Business Development

To succeed in BD, you need to develop specific skills and traits. Here’s what sets top performers apart:

1. Speed and Responsiveness: Being quick to respond sets you apart in a fast-paced world.

2. Organization: Use tools like CRMs to track your outreach, manage follow-ups, and ensure no opportunity falls through the cracks.

3. Persistence: A “no” today can become a “yes” tomorrow. I follow the 1-3-6 rule:

   • First follow-up: 1 week after the initial message.

   • Second follow-up: 2 weeks later.

   • Third follow-up: 3 weeks after that.

4. Master Inbound and Outbound: Balance creating inbound opportunities through content with strong outbound efforts. Telegram is my personal go-to for outbound.

Traits of a Great BD Professional

Beyond tactics, success in BD comes down to who you are. The best BD professionals share these qualities:

• Reputation: Your network and prospects need to trust you. Be knowledgeable, transparent, and timely.

• Network: A strong and growing network accelerates your ability to find and close opportunities.

• Resilience: Every rejection is a step closer to success. Stay persistent and adaptable.

How to Structure BD Conversations

Every conversation is an opportunity to create value. Here’s how to approach them:

1. Qualify Your Outreach: Know your audience and why they’re a good fit.

2. Prepare: Set clear goals for the conversation.

3. Set Next Steps: Ensure both parties know what’s required to move forward.

4. Follow Up: This is where deals are won or lost. Be proactive and persistent.

Building Systems for Success

BD isn’t just about hustle—it’s about building systems that support your efforts. Here’s what worked for me:

• CRM Tools: Track your outreach, follow-ups, and progress in one place.

• Workflows: Structure your day around high-impact activities.

• Content Strategy: Use blogs, threads, and videos to generate leads passively.

Systems create consistency, and consistency drives results.

Call to Action: Level Up Your BD Game

Business development is a skill you can learn, refine, and master. If you’re ready to take your game to the next level:

• DM me on Telegram: Let’s strategize and unlock your potential.

  • https://t.co/jrp_gg

• Join the GG Group: Surround yourself with like-minded professionals and accelerate your growth.

  • https://t.co/web3gaminggroup

BD isn’t just about creating opportunities—it’s about creating meaningful impact. Now, go out there and build something extraordinary. 🚀

This blog is not about the price of coins on Clanker or how one can make money by using Farcaster. It showcases the power of community and on chain mechanisms that can create business models, and generate millions in volume. At the time of writing, Clanker has made about ~$10 Million in Fees in about 27 days. Yes, you read that right. Clanker launched on November 8th, 2024. It was born and immediately launched its first on-chain asset, $Clanker. You can see it happen here. 

So… why should you care? Depending on what you are looking for, there is a couple of things that you should be aware of: 

1. On the 27th of November, Clanker made around $1 Million dollars in fees

2. Its frictionless - anyone can create a token now on Farcaster 

3. It expands on the current launch pad craze happening, pump.fun was just the beginning 

Farcaster is a decentralized social network that connects / bridges a user's social data using decentralized hubs and ID systems on the ETH blockchain. The main client on the fatcaster protocol is warpcaster. Clanker is a new type of seamless token launchpad fueled by social media powered by an Ai Agent. Clanker allows for anyone to easily launch their own token on warpcaster by simply tagging @clanker and giving it a Token Symbol, Name, and Image.

Farcaster has been home to innovation in on chain social networks. The farcaster community has launched the DEGEN token, initially a reward mechanism for its community, evolved into a valuable digital asset with a market cap exceeding $1 Billion at its peak. Farcaster exemplifies how decentralized platforms can generate meaningful financial and social value. If you aren't already a part of the farcaster ecosystem, you can join here. 

Clanker is redefining how tokens are launched and distributed. Its focus on interoperability and user-friendly on-chain creation tools sets it apart in the crypto space. Distribution is at the heart of what made Clanker blow up in the first place. Clanker achieved $116 million in daily trading volume on November the 26th, accounting for 35% of Pump.fun’s value on that day. Clanker simplifies token creation and management, making it accessible to individuals and businesses alike.

While on my way to the airport to Mexico City, I decided that I should take action and actually launch a coin myself. My coin, $nonewmetas, reached a $130,000 market cap and had around $110,000 in trading volume. You can see the token page here. So how did Clanker make me money? 

Innovative Volume Based Business Models

Clankers generates revenue with a fee model, which takes 1% via the Uniswap pool it launches upon token generations. The revenue split allocated 40% to token requesters and 60% to Clanker. This example demonstrates how a high-volume transaction model can be both sustainable and profitable. In the case of my token, 1% fee from the Uniswap liquidity pool generated $1,000 in fees. Using these #'s I made around ~$400 dollars via my token launch, while it resulted in a ~$600 revenue for Clanker.

One of the most promising aspects of Clanker is its fee-based model, which incentivizes high transaction volumes and a loyal user base. Similar to Pump.fun, which has proven the viability of this approach, Clanker combines ease of use with financial scalability. Likely more importantly, Clanker's built in user rewards which distributing a portion of fees back to token requesters ensures active participation and community engagement. This business model fosters long-term growth and sustainability for all participants.

Where are all these fees going? @REKTGEMS breaks it down perfectly here... NFA / DYOR.

rektGEMS

@rektGEMS

The PumpdotFun of BASE has a governance and fee sharing token and it's called $PROXY

dexscreener.com/base/0xed6f2a7…

Here is the research I did on $PROXY and @_proxystudio. Full report was posted in my TG channel yesterday: t.me/c/2010769370/1…

I'm sure you have heard of $CLANKER…

66

6:34 PM • Nov 24, 2024

The biggest difference between clanker and pump.fun fun lie it their fee stucture and method of deployment. I believe pump.fun will continue to see increased volumes while clanker will likely only grow as fast as farcaster itself. This is both a pro and a con, people have already started building on top of Clanker - Clankertech. We have seen a pump.fun clanker website, clanker token livestreaming. While farcaster might be limiting it Clankers current growth, it's opens up the possibility for expontenial growth in the future.

The Synergy Between Farcaster and Clanker

The collaboration between Farcaster and Clanker introduces groundbreaking opportunities in decentralized social networking and token ecosystems. By enabling interoperability, Clanker enhances the utility and reach of Farcaster’s decentralized protocol, bridging the gap between platforms and creating a seamless user experience. This synergy not only amplifies the functionality of both platforms but also fosters a more interconnected and versatile ecosystem.

Additionally, Clanker simplifies on-chain launches, making it easier for users to experiment and innovate within the decentralized space. By introducing limited digital collectibles and tokens, the collaboration leverages scarcity to drive value, fostering a vibrant secondary market. This dynamic encourages user participation and cultivates a thriving community built on shared creativity and economic opportunity.

Conclusion: A New Era of Decentralized Innovation

The combination of Farcaster and Clanker represents the cutting edge of blockchain technology. By launching my own token, I witnessed firsthand how these platforms empower individuals to create value and foster innovation. As we move forward, the blockchain space will continue to push boundaries, offering new ways to connect, transact, and thrive in a decentralized world. I believe this is only the begining of collaborations between decentralized social, Ai Agents, and launchpad type of models. Whether you’re a developer, entrepreneur, or enthusiast, platforms like Farcaster and Clanker provide the tools and inspiration needed to succeed in this exciting new frontier.

Sources: 

https://dune.com/clanker_protection_team/clnkr100kindex

https://dune.com/clanker_protection_team/top-10-or-low-marketcap-high-volume-on-clanker

https://dune.com/clanker_protection_team/clanker-vs-others

https://dune.com/clanker_protection_team/awesome-clanker

https://defillama.com/protocol/clanker?groupBy=daily#information

First, I want to give a huge shoutout to my family. Their unwavering support in my career and travels has been the foundation of everything I’ve been able to achieve. They’ve stood by me, never questioning my choices, always pushing me to grow as a person and professional. You’ve elevated me to where I am today, and for that, I’m forever grateful.

I also want to take a moment to thank some incredible individuals who have profoundly impacted my journey. Atif, for believing in me and bringing me into thirdweb, where I’ve been able to work on the future of web3 developer tooling. As we build open-source, full-stack tools that are shaping the future of Web3 - I have been able to level up my technical and business skills. There is still a lot to achieve but I’m ready more than ever. Austin, my co-founder at Revv, for your partnership in creating something meaningful for creators and brands. Although things haven’t gone as planned, the amount of learnings and eye opening conversation have been extremely meaningful. And Max Torres, for mentoring me through big transitions, like my move to Puerto Rico, and showing me how to embrace new environments with confidence and clarity. His support in my profession journey reassures me that I’m moving in the right direction.

This year, I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the top consumer and gaming applications, blockchains, and networks. Through these experiences, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible innovation happening in the Web3 space. Tools like thirdweb are leading the charge by making blockchain accessible and functional for everyone, and I’m proud to be a part of that journey.

On the entrepreneurial side, Revv has been a labor of love. Rebuilding our user experience, connecting creators with the right brands, and ensuring every tool we offer has value has been both challenging and rewarding. As we continue to grow, I’m excited about how Revv can empower creators to pursue their passions sustainably.

I’m particularly grateful for Gaming Group (GG), a passionate community of builders, developers, and gamers driving innovation in the gaming space. GG has been a testament to how shared goals and creativity can create something extraordinary. Through this initiative, we’ve brought together some of the most forward-thinking minds in Web3 gaming, sparking collaborations that push boundaries and set new standards for what gaming experiences can be. GG has become a cornerstone of my journey and a vibrant part of the industry’s evolution.

Finally, as I step back and look at the broader picture, I see a future filled with opportunity—not just for me, but for the communities and industries I’m part of. The Web3 space is evolving rapidly, and I’m committed to pushing it forward, whether it’s through sales, content creation, or connecting people with ideas that spark innovation.

This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful not only for the people and projects in my life but also for the vision of what’s possible. To my friends, mentors, and community—you’ve inspired me to dream bigger and work harder. To those following along on my journey—this is just the beginning.

Here’s to growth, gratitude, and the future we’re building together.

Happy Thanksgiving. I appreciate every single one of you!

—JRP

In the ever-evolving landscape of the gaming industry, a seismic shift is underway, heralded by the advent of Web3 technologies. The fusion of traditional gaming with Web3 is not merely an enhancement but a revolutionary step towards redefining engagement, monetization, and the overall gaming experience. This article delves into the compelling reasons why Web3 gaming is poised to eclipse traditional gaming paradigms, addressing the challenges currently faced by the industry and outlining the transformative potential of Web3.

Understanding Web3 Gaming

Web3 gaming transcends traditional genres by integrating Web3 technologies to augment user engagement, open new revenue streams, and optimize the cost of acquisition while boosting the lifetime value of customers. This integration is crucial, particularly as fully autonomous on-chain games are still in nascent stages. The distinction here is profound; Web3 gaming leverages the transparency, security, and efficiency of blockchain technology, offering a glimpse into a future where gaming is not just an entertainment form but an ecosystem where players have tangible stakes.

The Plight of Traditional Gaming

Rising User Acquisition Costs

The most glaring issue plaguing traditional gaming, especially in the mobile domain, is the skyrocketing cost of user acquisition. As privacy laws become stringent, developers find it increasingly challenging to target potential players effectively, driving up marketing expenses. This trend disproportionately affects indie developers, who lack the financial buffer of their larger counterparts, potentially squeezing them out of the market.

Diminishing Player Satisfaction

Over the past two decades, player satisfaction has seen a steady decline, attributed largely to exploitative monetization practices such as microtransactions. These practices often reduce players to mere revenue sources, eroding the sense of community and belonging that gaming ecosystems should ideally foster.

The Promise of Web3 Gaming

Lower Acquisition Costs and Enhanced Engagement

Web3's transparent on-chain data presents a solution to the acquisition dilemma, enabling developers to identify and engage their target audience more effectively. This not only reduces acquisition costs but also enhances the lifetime value of the player base by fostering a more personalized gaming experience. Although this is not the case right now - as we gain more data from gamers and the general crypto community, these metrics are for sure heading to 0. This is a good thing for web3 gaming companies. Check out persona3.io to get some insight in the future of web3 advertising.

Empowering Players through Financialization

The introduction of tokens, NFTs, and secondary marketplaces within Web3 gaming ecosystems shifts the narrative, transforming players from passive consumers to active stakeholders. This financialization grants players ownership and a vested interest in the game's success, creating a more engaging and rewarding experience. Game developers open up a new form of revenue streams that allows them to gather the ability to focus on making the gaming experience better and not always extracting.

Before we move on, we have already seen we can't just play players to play but rather reward players for playing. Both are very different but we already see this economy arise in MMOs. It can be done but the tokenomics situation has always been tricky. Even if successful, there are chances of recessions.

Sustaining Indie Game Developers

Indie developers, often hailed as the innovation engine of the gaming industry, stand to benefit significantly from Web3 gaming. The community-centric nature of Web3 provides indie developers with a supportive environment to launch and sustain their games, offering a lifeline amidst the competitive pressures of the industry.

Indie game developers are what create monsters in emerging markets. We saw this in mobile and are seeing the same thing happen in gaming. Once we see one game take off, hoards of new game developers will join in on the fun.

Fostering Digital Ownership

The younger demographic's familiarity and comfort with digital asset ownership in games like Roblox and Fortnite lay the groundwork for Web3 gaming's acceptance. Web3 technology facilitates a more tangible form of digital ownership, allowing players to buy, sell, and trade assets freely, enhancing the gaming experience and potentially extending the lifespan of games.

Almost 2/3 young adults are already playing these games with many of them falling in love with their digital selves. Have you ever had your cousin, niece, brother, or sister show you their Roblox character? I have and it's amazing to see them adopt this new era of digital gaming quickly.

Enriching Game Economies

Web3 gaming introduces mechanisms that enrich game economies, such as asset borrowing among players, which can simplify onboarding into complex game worlds. This inclusivity broadens the appeal of games, attracting a wider audience and fostering a more vibrant community.

Think about this. Currently today, WoW does not allow you to rent out (even for free), assets to another player since they want them to grind. Ideally, the gamer pays money to advance in the game but the direction is very high. Instead of gating this, web3 allows players to rent assets in-game to allow for easier onboarding and better gaming experiences!

The Road Ahead

Despite the clear advantages and burgeoning interest in Web3 gaming, the transition from traditional paradigms is not instantaneous. Game development is a time-intensive process, and the Web3 gaming sector is still in its early stages. The comparison to the mobile gaming market's evolution is apt—initially met with skepticism and impatience, mobile gaming eventually flourished into a dominant industry force. Similarly, Web3 gaming is on the brink of its renaissance, awaiting the maturation of its ecosystem and the realization of its full potential.

Conclusion

The transition towards Web3 gaming is inevitable, driven by the need for innovation in player engagement, the democratization of game economies, and the empowerment of both players and developers. The journey towards a Web3-dominated gaming landscape is not a question of "if" but "when."

The foundational steps are being laid today, promising a future where gaming is not just an activity but a participatory and rewarding experience for all involved. The potential for Web3 gaming to redefine industry standards is immense, signaling a new era of interactive entertainment that is as equitable as it is exhilarating. My insights not only highlight the challenges facing traditional gaming but also chart a course towards a more inclusive, engaging, and sustainable gaming future.

Hey there, I'm Juan Rivera Perez, but you can call me JRP. I've embarked on a mission to demystify the writing process for those of you who, like me, have a sea of ideas but struggle to pen them down.

Writing, the cornerstone of our culture, bridges minds across time and space. Yet, it's not without its challenges, especially for those of us who find the act of writing less than intuitive.

The Struggle with Traditional Writing

I'll be the first to admit—I'm not your textbook writer. The thought of sitting down to translate my tangled web of thoughts into coherent prose is daunting. It's not that I lack ideas or the passion to share them; it's the medium that's the stumbling block. But here's a revelation: being a wordsmith isn't a prerequisite for sharing your wisdom with the world.

My Alternative Path: Speaking to Write

So, how do I navigate this conundrum? I speak. Yes, that's right—I've turned to verbalizing my thoughts as the first step in the writing process. My go-to tool for this? A Telegram chat dedicated to capturing my spoken notes. Thanks to Telegram Premium's auto-caption feature, my oral musings are transformed into written words without the traditional toil of typing.

This approach has been nothing short of a game-changer for me. What used to be a grueling three-hour writing marathon can now be accomplished in a fraction of the time. I spend about ten minutes articulating my thoughts aloud, followed by another half hour to an hour refining the auto-generated text. This process not only preserves my original tone and voice but often enhances the clarity and impact of my message.

The Role of AI in Refining Wordsmithing

The real magic happens when I feed these transcribed notes into ChatGPT. This AI marvel takes my raw, unpolished draft and sculpts it into something articulate and engaging. It's like having a co-writer who gets me—one who's able to distill my essence into written form better than I could ever hope to achieve on my own.

Is this method unconventional? Absolutely. Does it feel like cheating? In a way, yes, because it bypasses the traditional hurdles of writing. But the crux of the matter is this: it enables me to share my ideas effectively and authentically. And isn't that the ultimate goal of any writer?

This journey has been incredibly liberating and eye-opening. It underscores the notion that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to creativity. By embracing technology, I've found a way to bridge the gap between my thoughts and the written word, paving a new path for expression.

A Call to Action: Speak Your Truth

To anyone feeling daunted by the prospect of writing, I say this: give voice to your ideas, literally. We're living in an era where technology offers endless possibilities to overcome traditional barriers. Your voice deserves to be heard, your ideas deserve to be shared, and your unique perspective is invaluable.

This is just the beginning of my journey, and I'm excited to see where this fusion of voice and technology will take me. I invite you to join me on this adventure, to discover your iwn voice, and to explore new horizons in storytelling.

Stay tuned for more insights, and remember: your words have power, so speak them into existence.

Talk soon,

JRP

Greetings, visionaries, change-makers, and fellow citizens of progress,

I am Juan Rivera Perez, but you might know me better as JRP. Today, I'm reaching out to you through the digital expanse, not just as an individual but as a voice for a future we can collectively envision and shape. My announcement today might seem premature to some, given the timeline, but to me, it's a declaration of intent, a commitment to a journey that starts now: my candidacy for President in the year 2048.

A Reflection on Roots and Reasons

Why, you might ask, am I setting my sights on the presidency two decades from now? My story begins in Salinas, California, as a young Latino male with big dreams and an even bigger resolve to make a tangible impact on my community and beyond. My initial foray into the world of business wasn't just about personal success; it was about understanding the power of leadership and innovation in creating positive societal change. This belief has only deepened over time, leading me to the conviction that the qualities honed in business—vision, resilience, adaptability—are precisely what our political landscape desperately needs.

This announcement isn't about the certainty of victory; it's about the importance of purpose. Declaring my intention to run is my way of sharing the 'why' behind my actions—the passions that fuel me and the future I envision for us all. Politics, to me, is the ultimate arena of complexity and challenge, where every decision intersects with the myriad dimensions of human life. It's a space where right and wrong are not binaries but part of a nuanced spectrum, shaped by culture, values, and the relentless pursuit of balance.

The Foundations of My Platform

Reinventing Transparency Through Blockchain

In an era where trust in government is waning, I propose a radical shift towards transparency and efficiency through the application of blockchain technology. This isn't about jumping on the crypto bandwagon; it's about recognizing blockchain's potential to revolutionize how we govern and engage with our citizens. By integrating blockchain into our administrative processes, we can ensure not only greater transparency but also enhance security and efficiency, propelling our society into a future where governance is both open and accountable.

The Potential of Web3 and Digital Economies

The innovations emerging from Web3 and the gaming world, particularly concepts like Play to Earn, offer a glimpse into a future where universal basic income might not just be possible but practical. These digital economies demonstrate the power of technology to create systems that are not only productive but equitable. As president, I aim to harness these innovations, transforming them from niche experiments into foundational elements of our society, ensuring that we're leveraging technology to benefit every citizen.

Forging a Unifying Philosophy for Humanity

Perhaps my most ambitious goal is to cultivate a philosophy that can unite us all. I'm convinced that by viewing life as a game—a construct that is complex, interactive, and infinitely varied—we can gain insights into our collective challenges and opportunities. This philosophy, still in its formative stages, will be grounded in gratitude, respect, and the relentless pursuit of impact. It's a vision for a society where every individual is empowered to contribute to our shared progress, guided by principles that elevate our human experience.

The Path Forward

I do not underestimate the magnitude of the task ahead. Running for president is perhaps the most formidable challenge I will ever undertake. But it's a challenge I embrace wholeheartedly, driven by a conviction in what we can achieve together. This isn't just my campaign; it's an invitation to you—to dream, to dialogue, and to join in shaping a future that reflects our shared aspirations.

As we embark on this journey, I pledge to remain open to evolving ideas and responsive to the needs of our time. True leadership is adaptive, and the best visions are those that grow through engagement, critique, and collaboration.

Thank you for lending your time and your thoughts. Let's take these first steps into a future where, together, we can realize the full potential of our society.

With resolve and anticipation,

Juan Rivera Perez (JRP)

Hello, I'm Juan Rivera Perez, known to many as JRP. My story is one of audacious dreams, relentless perseverance, and a deep-seated desire to leave a mark on the world. It's about the journey of a young man who dared to risk it all, driven by the conviction that to innovate, impact, and empower was his destiny and identity.

Chapter 1: The Early Years - Cultivating a Dream

Seeds of Innovation

From a young age, I felt an insatiable urge to create and innovate. Growing up, I saw challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities to make a difference. This mindset was my compass, guiding me towards a path less traveled, where the risk was high but the potential for impact even higher.

A Leap of Faith

At 23, standing at a crossroads, I embraced what I called "do or die" mode. This wasn't about financial ruin—thanks to my parents, I always had a safety net. Instead, it was about putting everything on the line for my dreams. I knew that to achieve greatness, I had to be willing to risk it all.

Chapter 2: The Formative Years - Learning Through Doing

The Ag-Tech Mind Bender

My entrepreneurial spirit took flight in Salinas, California, a beacon of agricultural innovation. At 17, I landed an internship at an ag-tech startup, a pivotal moment that would define my trajectory. Here, in the heart of America's salad bowl, I found my calling. The experience taught me the value of tenacity, as I turned a career fair quest into a groundbreaking internship opportunity not just for me but for my friends as well.

In that startup environment, I thrived amidst the chaos of innovation. Tasked with a month's work and completing it in just a week, I discovered my strengths—quick thinking, problem-solving, and leadership. This early success was a harbinger of what was to come, fueling my ambition to dive deeper into the world of startups.

Chapter 3: The Leap

The Genesis of Revv

Armed with experience and an unwavering drive, I co-founded Rev, a startup that leverages web3 technology to transform how communities engage and grow. This venture was more than a business; it was my manifesto, a declaration of my commitment to innovation and community empowerment.

Embracing Risk in Puerto Rico

Moving to Puerto Rico was a strategic decision, influenced by the island's favorable tax laws under Act 60. With little in my bank account but a wealth of determination, I set out to build Revv from the ground up. This move was emblematic of my entire journey—calculated risks in pursuit of a greater vision.

Chapter 4: The Grind - Pursuing Innovation Against All Odds

Daily Challenges and Triumphs

The journey of an entrepreneur is fraught with challenges, but each obstacle is a lesson in disguise. From financial instability to the intricacies of developing a groundbreaking platform, every day presented a new opportunity to learn and grow.

My resolve was tested time and again, but my vision for Revv and its potential to empower communities worldwide kept me anchored. The startup grind, with its highs and lows, was a crucible that forged my character and honed my leadership skills.

Chapter 5: The Ascent - From Entrepreneur to President

Leading with Purpose

The skills and insights I gained from my entrepreneurial ventures prepared me for the ultimate role of my career: President in 2048. My presidency is grounded in the principles of innovation, impact, and empowerment that have guided me throughout my life.

As President, my goal is to translate my experiences into policies and initiatives that foster a culture of innovation and inclusivity. My administration is committed to empowering citizens and communities, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from our nation's progress.

Epilogue: A Call to Action

My story, from a visionary youth to President, is a testament to the power of dreams and the impact of relentless pursuit. It's an invitation to every young person who dares to dream: to innovate, to impact, to empower. Together, we can shape a future that reflects our highest aspirations.

Join me in this journey, not just as observers but as active participants in crafting a legacy of progress and empowerment. Let's dare to dream, to do, and to make a difference. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let ours be a step towards a brighter, more inclusive future.

In this newsletter, I will talk about my experience past, present, and future in hopes of inspiring others. Failing forward always.

My primary learning is that I am still exploring the world. I don’t honestly know who I am, what I want, and how I want to live my life. This is a positive take on my current situation. Although an opposing view in the past, I am more confident that growth will come. It may be slow, but it will depend on my daily effort.

My Past

In my past, some traits I had/have were straight-up toxic:

1. Huge Ego

2. Selfish / Selfless

3. Career / Money First Before Anything / Everything

4. Future Focused, Stuck In The Past

5. Dependent On Others For My Happiness

I am still dealing with many of these issues, but I am writing about them to overcome them. It hasn’t been easy, but it will happen. I have conviction in myself. I am excited to solve these issues.

On My Journey

I needed to hit two significant milestones before reaching this point.

1. Moving to New York

2. Satisfactory Career

I am the first one in my family to move out of state. I am the first one to be living in New York. This was a significant step because I never thought I would take it. Moving to New York was a big step towards betting on myself and exploring the world. Before my move, I was largely unaware of what the world could offer me—moving to New York opened pandora's box of travel, adventure, and exploration. This is only the beginning.

I recently started a new role at reNFT as Head Of Partnerships. Although it has been challenging to grow into the position, I am confident in my ability to achieve and execute. This job means a lot to me, and it is precisely where I need to be today to reach my goals for tomorrow. I am incredibly content with the position and enjoy the team. In the past, I spent all of my time grinding my career to get somewhere. I now believe I am somewhere. Therefore, I can chill out.

On Moving Forward

Moving forward, I need to change some

1. Building A Sense Community

2. Create My Life Around Habits

3. Quality / Quantity

4. Proactiveness Over Reactivity

Building A Sense Community

I realized that one of the things I feel the most is one of the things that hold me back the most; loneliness. Feeling lonely has been something I masked by my 24/7 grind. I now realize that I want to be a part of a community.

Create My Life Around Habits

I let a lot of things “slide” in my life. I didn’t have a structure that I followed, so my entire life felt spineless. I am working towards adding a system in my life through meditation, writing, social media creation, etc.

Quality / Quantity

My life revolved around doing everything without focusing on quality. I want to start learning to slow down, focus on quality, and be content with my work output.

Proactiveness Over Reactivity

Life is about being proactive, not reactive. This is easier said than done. I hope to be attentive to my actions and reactions in my life. I hope to use journaling to reflect and engage.

On Moving To Mexico

I am moving to Mexico on February 1st. In this move, a couple of things will be different than my current situation. I will be living in the exact location for 3 months! I haven’t experienced this for the last 7 months…

During my time in Mexico, I will be focused on building my community, creating my habits, and focusing on my actions. I will take this time to take time to focus on my own needs and grow personally.

Fin

I will be posting something Sunday and Wednesday. I will keep you all updated on what this looks like moving forward. I am excited and scared at the same time. Hasta luego.

Introduction - How I Got Here

As a young kid growing up in the 831, I always wanted to do something that would impact the world. I quickly noticed the internet's impact on my life and those around me. I would always be bummed out because I missed working in the early days of this once-in-a-lifetime technology that was starting to mature. For years I tried to look for a career that would have the same impact on society as the internet did. At first, I thought that the cannabis industry would fulfill my aspirations. I quickly realized that I would not be taken seriously for two reasons: 1. I didn't have money 2. I was young.

In my junior year, about 2 years ago, I discovered crypto through NBA Topshot. I dove deep into the rabbit hole. My gut was telling me that this "NFT" trend, could have enormous implications for our society. As I dug deeper, I discovered the entire web3 / crypto ecosystem and fell in love.

I quickly looked to find my footing and found the Axie Infinity ecosystem a viable option to gain skills within the industry. I started my guild with over 30 scholars. I used this experience to join a Net Marble F&C subsidiary, GamerSpeak, to help them start and run their guild program. At its peak, we had over 250 top-tier scholars competing on the Axie Infinity leaderboards. This was a fantastic opportunity as I had the chance to network with industry leaders, as well as learn more about the gaming/crypto ecosystem.

After graduating, I stuck with GamerSpeak for a while before looking for my next opportunity. While doing BD work for a GamerSpeak product, MyMetaFi, I met the team at reNFT. I instantly understood the problem they were looking to solve and jumped on board. The interview process was lengthy but understandable. Their team is packed with fucken legends. Shoutout to the team at reNFT.

What is reNFT?​

From the reNFT docs, "reNFT is a multi-chain NFT rental protocol and platform that can be white-labeled and integrated into any project to enable collateral-free in-house renting, lending, and reward sharing (scholarship automation). reNFT is built for developers who are working on web3 projects. It's our goal to make your life easier by rapidly enabling rental functionality. NFT rentals have many use cases, just like rental has in the real world. Currently, NFT rentals are gaining traction in the gaming industry, but they are also becoming popular in token-gated events and communities."

In my words, reNFT is a protocol that aims to provide developers with the tools needed to enable renting within their ecosystems. We also aim to provide users with a seamless platform to rent digital assets with other users. We provide 3 leading solutions; traditional rentals, reward share rentals, and collateralized rentals. Although we are getting a lot of traction within gaming, we are starting to see other industries reach out for our solutions.

reNFT is a future DAO that will act as a sort of index fund for all of the projects on the protocol. We are slowly moving towards an open sea platform run by the DAO and an open-sourced protocol that enables anyone to provide rentals to their community.

What I Love About reNFT

reNFT puts me at the front lines of NFT innovation and utility. Where a potential user finds enough value in a digital asset is a place reNFT can thrive. Although we see this in gaming, we also see it in ticketing, token gating, subscriptions, etc. The definition of "rentals" is quite broad, and we haven't explored all the different use cases.

Daily, I get to speak with individuals creating the future of web3, mainly in gaming but in every industry. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to be the "gatekeeper" of reNFT as head of partnerships (HOP).

My Learnings as HOP

I have had to learn a lot to feel confident in speaking with potential partners, clients, etc. Although I am still learning, I would like to speak about some of the major things I have noticed in HOP.

1. Top Tier Projects Focus On Their Core Projects

2. Understanding The Product Value Is A Must

3. Understand Market Players And Direction Is Key

4. Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Business

5. Quality Over Quantity

I am happy to write more about this in a separate article. I have a lot to say about this, so I most likely will. Comment below if this would be helpful.

Conclusion

reNFT is an excellent opportunity for me to learn and grow professionally. I can not imagine a better place to be to set up my future in the web3 industry. The road will be extended. The blockchain industry, gaming included, is no way near where it has to be to reach mass adoption. I believe tools such as reNFT is uniquely positioned to help the industry move forward in ways we have never seen. I am excited to be a part of this journey and am even more excited for the future!

Cheers!

Okay, I need to start writing because holy shit. I am sick and tired of saying I will do this or that. That is not the life I want to live. Over the past couple of months, I have had to ask myself that question: what is the life I want to live?

Now, this is not one of those new years posts where I will tell you all my goals and commitments. I am not writing this because it's the start of the new year. I have zero fucks to give to 2023.

Millions of people promise themselves that they will start a diet or begin their fitness journey. I chose not to create these goals for myself. They are meaningless since I probably won't meet them. The one thing that I would like to promise myself is the following: I will listen to myself more.

What does it mean to listen to myself?

Well, I don't know what that looks like yet. If I am hungry, I will eat. If I am tired, I will sleep. If I am sad, I will talk to myself. If I want to get fit, I will work out. If I want to be happier, I will take action to be happier. I am in charge of my fate. Listening to myself is what I believe will enable me to value who I am and what I think honestly.

I don't think I will achieve every single goal in 2023. I don't think I need to achieve any goal to be truly happy. If I can practice listening to myself, I believe this will lead me in the right direction.

I am tired of saying that I will do things. I am going to stop saying and start doing. If you see me, take action, it means I am listening to myself. I hope you follow me on this journey. I am as excited as I am scared.

The show will go on. Life will continue. Juan will continue to push.

My goals

Although my main goal is to listen to myself, I have more definitive goals that I would like to pursue.

Nothing has been thought out entirely, but I thought I would share. Again, I want to emphasize that I can give no fucks about these goals if I don't achieve my one main goal.

• Read more

• Write more

• Breathe more

• Be more active

• Be more curious

• Chill more

There you have it, my first GM New Year post. I do hope I can continue this tradition. It would be nice to see my mental models, thoughts, emotions, and writing improve over the years.

Happy New Year! GM 2023.

There are ~2.7 billion video gamers in the world today. The games industry is worth over $100 billion and is proliferating. This is more than the movie and music market worth combined. Impressive, isn’t it? Since the popularity of Pong in the 1970s, until the current advent of web3 gaming, the video game industry has gone through several evolutions — each improving upon the preceding generation of gaming.

Even with the current massive deceleration in the crypto space, blockchain games kept thriving, and the investment in the segment keeps growing. Whether it’s a bull or bear market, the industry keeps making waves.

With the introduction of Web3, games have changed in terms of what people can take away from the game, and one particular market segment has risen above all others, Play-To-Earn. From depositing coins into the arcade machine to spending countless hours swatting the controller pad in front of the television — the person-to-game relationship has generally stayed the same through the years. With P2E, players give their time and money — and are rewarded with an experience and with digital assets which could net them more money than what they initially put into.

Play-to-Earn (P2E)

Play-to-Earn (P2E) market has positioned itself as a prime blockchain integration and adoption market. Reaching its potential is a combined industry effort that will create tremendous opportunities for anyone involved. P2E gaming may not be the final and only iteration of web3 gaming, but it currently is the most prominent. This attention has brought an astonishing amount of new interest and players into the space — which looks poised to grow significantly more in the following years and decades.

Massively multiplayer online games such as Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnight, and Eve Online have proven that gamers are willing to participate and support in-game economies of games they like to play. These game economies are currently centrally run and owned. Web3 is the next internet generation, where players control their data and identities.

Tools that facilitate this type of user interaction and ownership are Fungible and Non-Fungible Tokens powered by blockchain technology. Fungible tokens are like dollars. Every dollar is the same. Non-fungible tokens are anything that is unique, like your phone or car.

In a web3 world, players could own their in-game characters and items and trade them with other players without needing a central server. This would create a more immersive and realistic gaming experience and open new revenue streams for game developers. There are already several web3 games in development, with many launching in 12–18 months. With the growth of the gaming industry and the potential of web3, the sky’s the limit for web3 gaming.

P2E gaming companies monetize their game in an entirely completely new way. A P2E game can generate revenue through multiple streams, including initial sales of their digital assets (Fungible and Non-Fungible Tokens), ownership of in-game tokens, and recurring transaction fees within the game. Their monetization strategy is interesting, as they have to deal with a decentralized method of asset distribution.

Web3 Gaming Beyond P2E

According to a recent Dapp Radar report, blockchain gaming activity has grown 2,000% from the previous year (2021). The overall reported statistics are impressive. More than half (52%) of all blockchain activity appears to come from game dapps, and during Q1 2022 alone, more than 1.1 million unique active wallets were connected daily to blockchain games. An impressive feat!

Although the current web3 gaming market is still very much focused on earning potential in-game, many other gaming companies are wary of the sustainability of P2E. They have chosen to simply integrate blockchain within their games to power some aspects of the gameplay.

It is still a relatively new industry that is only starting to be taken seriously by the establishment. One of the reasons why the gaming markets are so attractive is their nature to create in-game digital economies. Most modern games have a currency you need to buy or get perks within the game. In contrast, in the past, players could principally only derive fun from the playing experience. Web3 games allow players to derive financial value and financial assets from the game — completely negating what parents have been saying for years “You can’t make a living playing video games.” Due to their natural ability to simulate digital economies, the opportunity for a blockchain-enabled web3 component with games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Blockchain gaming can offer players a new level of immersion and game designers a new level of control.

Reaching Web3 Full Potential

Web3 gaming is just getting started! The heavy investment into space signals high confidence that some of the world’s best talent is now working on the next iteration of Web3 games. As these titles emerge, players will experience an increasingly higher quality Web3 gaming experience.

Also, for the current Web3 gaming P2E industry to reach its potential, critical infrastructure needs to be built. This tooling will allow us to facilitate value creation for players. We can take what we know helps facilitate value within physical economies to understand what tools we need.

Players need to have access to:

• Loaning Non-Fungible Tokens

• Renting Non-Fungible Tokens

• Buying Fungible Tokens or Non-Fungible Tokens

• Selling Fungible Tokens or Non-Fungible Tokens

These are a few essential functionalities that build the infrastructure needed for a completely digital economy to arise. Although not all current games use these functionalities, games with more complex digital economies built on the blockchain will require more.

Axie Infinity Example

Axie Infinity is a pokemon style game where players can buy, sell and trade their creatures (called “Axies”) on the Ethereum blockchain. In this game, players need specific cryptocurrencies ($AXS / $SLP) to perform specific tasks with their Axies. The game enabled players to breed and sell their Axies to other players.

Axie Infinity is the first P2E game that showed the world the possibilities of digital economies but has proven unsustainable. P2E gaming companies have learned from Axie Infinity and are now building the next era of web3 games.

Another popular functionality within the Axie Infinity ecosystem was letting someone rent, loan, or reward split with your Axie to play with. Playing with Axies was the only method to earn their in-game currency and thus spawned a budding ecosystem. Many web3 games have infused this renting model into their digital economies.

Although the reNFT protocol is not only for gaming, we are heavily invested in gaming, as we understand this will be the future of widely adopted blockchain integrations. We are creating a protocol (tooling) to enable rentals within any web3 games, thus unlocking new digital economy functionalities.

reNFT

reNFT reNFT is the FIRST & ultimate NFT rental protocol for your #Web3 project. A multi-chain protocol and platform that can be white-labelled and integrated into any project to enable collateral-free in-house renting, lending, and scholarship automation!

reNFT is built for developers who are working on web3 projects. It’s our goal to make your life easier by rapidly enabling rental functionality. NFT rentals have many use cases, just like rental has in the real world. Currently, NFT rentals are gaining traction in the gaming industry, but they are also becoming popular in token-gated events and communities. Click here to learn more about different rental use cases.

In conclusion

With the rise of blockchain technology, we see new types of games emerge. Web3 games have the potential to change the gaming industry forever. Although we have only seen one type of web3 game gain interest, Play-to-Earn, many more industry players from a web3 background are experimenting with blockchain technology.

Coupled with potentially a rebranding of specific concepts and the change in value proposition made possible by the earning of cryptocurrencies, digital assets, and passive income streams from renting NFTs, the future looks promising.

The next twelve months in blockchain will be significant, as the industry is poised to continue its rise as it enters a new era of gaming.

Blockchain technologies have been long siloed from any other industries. This is partially due to its complicated and unique onboarding process. NFTs were known to the broader world as a cash grab and scammy product. Reddit recently launched its NFTs labeled as digital collectibles. This is a historical moment where a traditional company has correctly executed a campaign utilizing web3 technology (NFTs and Blockchain Ledgers) to empower users and provide value to an existing and thriving ecosystem. This is important as more and more use cases will begin to arise in the future, and businesses, organizations, and individuals will look at Reddit as a prime example of what they would like to achieve.

Reddit Digital Collectibles

Reddit explains the collectible avatars as "limited-edition avatars made by independent artists, in partnership with Reddit, and provides owners with unique benefits on the Reddit platform."

Additionally, each collectible comes with avatar gear which users can mix and match with other gear they may hold. Users can buy these collectibles with fiat (government issues) currency at a set price. These collectibles were stored in a "vault" on the polygon blockchain. I tried buying an avatar on their site but had some trouble, a problem their other users didn't have trouble with.

NFTs Like Never Before

Several aspects make Reddit Digital Collectible NFT enjoyable to learn from. These include; Native Integration, Account Abstraction, and NFT Strategy and Distributions. It is these principles that businesses, organizations, and individuals will take and learn from when they launch their blockchain-powered projects.

Native Integrations

With over 50 million daily active users on its site, Reddit had the opportunity to sell its digital collectibles to its existing users through native integrations. Unlike other interactions such as Twitter and Instagram, although different, natively integrating all aspects of their NFT collection within Reddit has proven to be a big win for them. This NFT collection would not have been as successful as it was if Reddit users had to go to the open sea to purchase their collectibles.

Reddit chose to integrate NFTs into its ecosystem in a centralized manner. This, however, does not mean that users do not have the option to "exit." Users of Reddit can choose to exit from Reddit centralization to a fully on-chain blockchain, polygon. This is evident as users have the ability to sell their digital collectibles on a secondary marketplace that supports the polygon blockchain.

Account Abstraction - Vaults and Tokens

Going down the path of native integrations, Reddit had to create a system allowing this integration. Many of you know that you must have a crypto wallet to buy an NFT. Reddit needed a solution to store users NFTs, which led to the creation of vaults.

Vaults are centralized crypto wallets that assign ownership to users who own that NFT. Technically speaking, this is a custodial wallet that Reddit holds and assigns ownership to users. This ownership is still backed by the polygon blockchain. As mentioned above, users have the ability to exit into their own wallets. #notyourkeysnotyourtokens

These vaults are interesting as they allow users to interact with blockchain-enabled technology, fungible (ERC-20), and non-fungible (ERC - 721) tokens. Reddit has introduced non-fungible tokens into its ecosystem but will soon introduce fungible tokens into its ecosystem as well. This means that there is a possibility of a $Reddit token, as well as community-specific tokens that would technically have the ability to be sold on the secondary markets.

NFT Strategy and Distributions

Reddit is removing the traditional limited supply of NFT collections but instead focuses on the rarity of specific NFTs. This unlimited theoretical supply of NFTs is needed when dealing with Reddit's multidimensional user base. I foresee a future where Reddit experiments with NFT drops outside of avatars, which is enabled without the restriction of limited NFTs supply.

I believe that Reddit NFTs will be a historical case study on how web3 can power businesses and users on a massive scale without being web3.

Reddit Collectibles Today

Reddit NFTs have proven to be an initial success. So far, the total sales volume of Reddit NFT is close to $11 million. Furthermore, more than 96% of all Reddit NFTs are owned by unique individuals. This means that there are not many whales within their NFT ecosystem.

On top of this, a total of 2.8 million vaults "wallets" hold Collectible Avatar NFTs. For perspective, Opensea currently has around 2.4 million wallets holding NFTs. In a span of 4 months, the Reddit NFT launch has introduced more accounts into the blockchain ecosystem than Opensea has in its entire existence. That's major.

The Future For Reddit x Web3

Through Reddit content they have released, they have painted a picture of a Reddit powered by blockchain technology. It is evident that they believe blockchain can be used to enable and empower their users and their communities on top of their platform. It would be massive if Reddit could realize its goal of creating an ecosystem where communities are empowered and giving the tools necessary to make an impact within and outside of its groups. You can think about this as a sort of DAO model where a DAO is a community, NFT and Tokens are simply tools to carry that impact out.

Reddit has stated, "Communities are the lifeblood of the Internet. But on today's Internet, they are not in charge of their own destiny. Instead, they are controlled by the large platforms that hold all the power online. It is time for a change. Community Points are the first step toward a different future for online communities. These tokens live on the blockchain, which means they are truly owned by the community. Over time, your community will benefit from even greater control and independence — on and off of Reddit."

I am excited to see what comes next from Reddit experiments in web3. Their NFT launch has been successful, but it is not over. Will their success continue after their initial hype cycle? Can they build a product that genuinely empowers their communities? Can they create value as a centralized entity rather than a decentralized one? Many questions remain, but I have no doubt that they will continue to build.

Conclusion

Reddit Digital Collection NFTs shine light on the future of web3 adoptions. It might not be as decentralized as we all have hoped, at least not yet. Still, it proves to be a valuable technological tool that any business, organization, or individual can use to empower their support and grow their business.

Sources:

1: Reddit Announcement: https://www.redditinc.com/blog/blockchain-backed-collectible-avatars-coming-to-reddit-via-new-storefront?x-craft-preview=ztKUtu6OlE&token=FfF0rcfxuuWx3ybxM3KJuuLLrcrY-CeL

2: Reddit NFT Dune Analytics: https://dune.com/polygon_analytics/reddit-collectible-avatars

3: Reddit Vault Explanation: https://www.reddit.com/vault/

4: Reddit Statistics: https://www.oberlo.com/blog/reddit-statistics

5: Open sea Secondary Marketplace: https://opensea.io/category/reddit-collectible-avatars

Introduction to Venture Capital

I thought founders who raised funds from VC were the most die-hard and ultimate operators ever. I wanted to be exactly like them. I pursued this VC-driven dream every single year during my college career, ultimately starting over four different VC back-able start-ups. Reflecting on my experience in the start-up world, I now realize that my strengths lie in what I identify as a Venture Capitalist, not a founder. This is not to say that I won’t start my own company in the future… hint.

I only learned about what a VC firm and the industry looked like six months ago. I was a senior heading to Germany with my entrepreneurship professor for an international entrepreneurship conference. A couple of weeks before heading to Germany, Tom sends me this email below.

Shoutout to Tomas Katona for being one of my biggest supporters and critics; you have been 🐐’ed.

I was accepted into the DRF program, but breaking into venture capital has been challenging. During the DRF program, I learned about the lack of diversity in VC - both ethnic and place of education-wise. Furthermore, I realized that the average person who gets into VC joins in their late 20s. As a 22-year-old, this all was daunting to me. I did what I always did in the past, which allowed me to reach my goals; I ignored the obstacles and started grinding.

Where I am Today

Dorm Room Fund Fellowship: July - September

The DRF program was dope as fuck. It was my first introduction to VC and the network I needed to start. I was paired with a mentor from Griffin Gaming Partners, who asked me the tough questions and allowed me to ask the tough questions myself. DRF also allowed me to understand the obstacles I would face while at VC.

Many of the people working in VC come from Ivy League schools. You can think of this as the old saying goes, “Your network is your network.” This was evident as I met my fellow cohort. I don’t think this is necessarily bad, but it opened my eyes to what I needed to do to get into VC.

I took two main things from my time as a DRF fellow; the underground VC mindset and friends. I learned that to break into VC; I must act as a VC. From that day onward, I started talking to more founders in the blockchain space, and this was accelerated by Farcaster. Through this program, I met my first VC friend, Andre Guardia. After the program ended, we agreed to start a new community of web3 native founders.

Part-Time ”VC“: September - Present

After my fellowship with DRF, I understood what it meant to become a valuable venture capitalist. My mentor, Chris, told me that the best way to do anything you want is to start doing that today.

After internalizing this, I started to reach out to builders in the space to have conversations with them. I simply wanted to start to create connections and begin the job of a venture capitalist. I was upfront about this with those with who I spoke, and all welcomed me with open arms. This led to creating the web3 link with VC friend Andre Guardia.

As I continue to do this, I have made critical connections with venture firms to pass on founders I feel are venture capital ready. Along with this, I have joined various investment DAOs where I can give on my deal flow to provide builders with investment opportunities.

Web3 Link: September - Present

Web3 Link started as an opportunity to speak to founders and connect them to investors in our network. Although this is still at its core, the web3 link has a bigger goal. We aim to create a web3 native and powered community of founders. We aim to create a community that is an active and high signal in which founders can benefit and contribute. At its core, community leaders will connect founders with the resources they need to be successful. Stay tuned; we have some fascinating experiments we will try.

Republic Venture Associate: October - Present

I was recently accepted into the VFA program. This fellowship will allow me to deal with source founders in a valuable community. More importantly, the VFA network is vast and extensive. I hope to make the connections needed to bring value to founders!

Where I Am Going

Short-Term: Ongoing Building

I will continue to be focused on building; products, communities, and relationships. During this year, we build. I know many of you think the same thing. If you want to connect, my DMs are always open. I can’t wait to see what everyone builds.

Mid-Term: Part-Time “Real” VC

Although I am acting as a VC, I will be looking to join the space in the mid-term. I want to have an opportunity to continue to build as an operator before committing to a role as a venture capitalist. As I continue on my current path, I will continue to generate the network and skills to become a valuable member of their venture team. The day I join as a venture capitalist will be a day for celebration.

Long-Term: Launching My Own “Story-Focused” Fund

I would like to launch my venture fund, supporting early-stage companies with powerful stories that support the bottom 97% in genuinely impactful ways. This includes blockchain-enabled technologies, but we will be open to any story. I am starting to organize my vision today, and all of my experience will directly impact the structure of this fund. It is not a matter of if but when. I plan on writing another article about this to explain further.

Conclusion

The reason I feel so strongly about VC can be attributed to my past scholarship experience. The only reason I am where I am today is due to the financial help of scholarships. Without it, I would not have had the time to explore and fail these past four years. Giving out scholarships, or in this case, Capital is my way of making a significant amount impact as efficiently and effectively as possible.

I will continue my grind to build products, communities, and relationships in the venture, blockchain tech, and anywhere I find myself being curious about. The world is my

Venture puts me in the front seat of my destiny while giving others the same opportunity. I don’t think venture is the only way I could do this. I would like to go into politics one day, but that’s for a later blog post.

The road to finding a career I enjoy has been long and tricky. It’s not over; it is just getting started. People with similar backgrounds typically are not in the position I am in today.

In this article, I explain how my background and past experiences influenced my decision to find a type of work that empowers me. It will outline why I chose to exclusively pursue a career in the emerging market of web3 and my plans moving forward.

My Background

My parents moved to the United States in their early 20s to pursue a better life, and both worked in the fields. Many obstacles impeded my parent's ability to succeed in the US. They sacrificed their ambitions to create a stable enough lifestyle for their children to thrive.

I grew up in Salinas, California, where 80% + of the population is Latino. At home, we grew up between poverty and low income. Life in a low-income bracket can be complicated when you believe your family deserves better. I grew up knowing my family deserved better. I put it upon myself to rise above to provide this level of safety for them. My father instilled the values of education and constant learning, while my mother instilled values of giving back, never giving up, and empathy. As a child of immigrants, I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit be part of who I am.

I was the first in my family to attend a 4-year college directly. The path to was difficult. My parents didn’t have the money to send me to college, and I didn’t want to take on loans; it was too risky for a first-generation college student. I received over 20k in college scholarships during my high school senior year. I then received a full ride for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo during my freshman year. It was a fucken grind. Applying for scholarships all night long, during lunches, and during classes.

You can learn more about my background and story here, an article written about me at Cal Poly SLO. If you are looking for advice on applying for scholarships, my email is always open; I can help.

My Past Experience - Mapping My Entrepreneurial Roadmap

I want to map out my entrepreneurial path as I believe everything I have done in the past allows me to be where I am today. A majority of these events have been complete failures. All these events have been a learning opportunity for me to take the next step as an entrepreneur.

Pre 2014

Before my high school career, I didn’t do anything. I was finding myself, but I already knew that I wanted to create wealth for my family and create an impact on individuals who look like me. It wasn’t until I went to college that I started taking action.

Future Farmers of America (2014 - 2018)

Future Farmers of America or FFA jump-started my career as an entrepreneur. The FFA motto states, “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” The program was a four-year course where I had the opportunity to experience many types of events. During my time at FFA, I did the following events and positions.

• Opening Ceremony Events (Public Speaking)

• Prepared Public Speaking Event (Public Speaking)

• Impromptu Speaking Event (Public Speaking)

• Greenhand Officer (Public Speaking + Leadership)

• Chapter Officer (Public Speaking + Leadership)

• Sectional Officer (Public Speaking + Leadership + Networking)

• Raising A Hog For Market (Work Ethic + Networking)

• Various Leadership Conferences (Networking + Leadership)

These positions gave me the skills needed to go on to achieve what I have been able to do today. It was tough to balance everything; my parents couldn’t help me prepare and didn’t understand what I was doing. I felt very lonely moving forward. Luckily, I had mentors along the way, like Mrs. Souza.

iVote (2018)

iVote was the first actual entrepreneurial project that was created and led by me. It was the first time I was able to spread my entrepreneurial wings.

In 2016, Salinas was named “The Youth Murder Capital of California.” I experienced some of my fellow peers being shot and killed yearly. I create iVote to pre-register students to vote. My hope was that these students could help make the change of tomorrow. The club partnered with the Monterey County of Elections Department to support our efforts to get students registered and pre-registered to vote. We helped over 800 students to vote. The club is still active to this date.

HeavyConnect (2018)

HeavyConnect was the first startup I had officially joined. I joined the position during my incoming college freshman summer year. I got the job by attending a local tech fair and asking every company if they were hiring. I ended up joining and got my first taste of the startup world. I experienced many roles within the company, including marketing, sales, business development, and strategy.

Epion AI Health (2018)

Epion was the first startup I founded during my college career. I had no real idea if it would work, but I felt like I had found an issue. We were building a tool to help users find alternative health products through a quiz and AI. We were able to join many different competitions but never made it far enough to win any money.

Sencillo Marketing (2019)

As an incoming sophomore, I wanted to continue my entrepreneurial journey during the summer year. I began my marketing agency and managed to onboard three clients the throughout the summer. I learned the skills of staying organized and had a crash course on marketing and branding.

Celebrate! (2020 - 2021)

In my junior year, I started a company with a close friend to fix the problem surrounding giving gifts. Our platform would help you determine what gift to get your friend or family while ensuring it fits them best based on your love language. I helped lead a group of coders while focusing on product development.

San Luis Obispo Cannabis Career Fair (2021)

We started the SLO CCF to help local cannabis employers find employees for the upcoming season. Both my co-founder and I knew about the industry and wanted to help students venture into the industry themselves.iVote (2018)

Origen Infinity (2021)

This was my first real introduction to Web3. I started a guild or a group of people working towards a common goal. I went out to buy multiple assets in web3 games to lend them out to people in LATAM. At its peak, we had 30 people playing and earning money and using it for their daily lives! The venture didn’t plan out due to the misassumptions that these game economies were not sustainable.

GamerSpeak (2022)

Through my experience with Origen Infinity, I had the knowledge to help a traditional game consulting company with expertise in the community-building space pivot towards adding a guild model to their company. We are now working in stealth on a new and exciting product.

Dorm Room Fund + Genz VC + Republic Venture Associate (2022)

I was introduced to Venture through DRF and have continued to learn more about the venture industry. I have had the chance to connect with many amazing people. I genuinely believe venture is a space I would like to move into in the future. This was my first and only introduction to Venture. I fell in love with the opportunities it provides to help shape communities and industries.

Web3 Link (2022)

The Web3 Link is my first web3 startup/venture group. We aim to create an exclusive invite-only platform for the startup community filled with founders, community members, and funders. We want to create a system that will allow us to raise our funds in the future, as this will act as our deal pipeline.

I have outlined the in and outs of my journey to where I am today. It was not an easy one. It is still not over. I believe all of my successes and failures have led me on my current trajectory. I aim to make lots of noise and indelible impact.

The Decision For Web3

What The F*** Is Web3

Throughout my lifetime, I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit within me. I understood that if I ever wanted to accomplish my goals, I needed to follow where the entrepreneurial spirit was most valued. This always happens when emerging markets are born. Bitcoin began in 2012. Ethereum started in 2015. Today, the world classified the industry that embodied any technology built on the blockchain as Web3.

Web3 is any technology enabled by the blockchain. The blockchain is a new technology that allows anyone to participate in a network. You can think of the blockchain as a new type of internet/network.

When the internet was first created, you couldn’t access it because there we many obstacles to doing so. You needed to set up a router. You needed a computer. You needed an internet provider. Blockchain, a new type of internet/network, is in its infancy. You won’t need to buy anything new, but current hardware and software providers need to learn how to implement the technology as a part of their business.

Blockchains enable other technologies to be built. These technologies are fungible and non-fungible. Fungible tokens are like our money. Every dollar is the same; replacing one with the other doesn’t mean anything. Non-fungible tokens are all different. You can not replace one with the other.

Web3 In The Future

I believe that in 3 - 7 years, we will see a significant advancement in web3-enabled technologies. We are building on top of the internet in ways we have never seen before. The opportunities that come with web3 are global. Technology has the opportunity to make an impact on everyone who lives on the earth. I aim to not only teach people about web3 but also help create businesses that will create a better life for everyone.

Moving Forward

Educating

My goal in web3, from a social media standpoint, is to help onboard people like myself into web3. I plan on taking action in real life to create a social media funnel to help onboard as many people as possible while still making a true impact on those around me. I believe this is where I will spend most of my free time during the next 18 months.

VC / Business Development

Within web3, I have identified two areas in which I believe I can provide the most value. Venture Capital and Business Development. In reality, both of these jobs are very similar. They both work with clients to fill a need or solve a problem. They both are network and meeting people focused. These two traits simply fit me best. If I had to pick one, I’d choose venture capital. My good friend Leo said, “Venture is like a superpower. You invest some capital to allow someone to go change lives.”

Conclusion

As a first-generation low-income Latino, I didn’t have a direction I wanted to go in. All I knew was what I liked and the person I wanted to be when I grew up. I had the support of my mom and dad regardless of the path I chose. I am proud to say that my decision to pursue a career in web3 is meaningful to me. It means I have some sense of direction in this crucial part of my life. I hope this article inspired those with similar backgrounds as myself not to lose hope. Keep pushing to find yourself and what gets you up every morning. I am here to support you.

For all the Rick and Morty Fans, I can relate to Evil Morty. I just want to escape the trapped environment I have found myself in.

📲 Contact Information

📧 Email address: juanriveraperez00@gmail.com

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🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanriveraperez/

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