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June 30, 2022 | ± 5 minutes
CONTENTS:
It’s a different flavour of Colin Ma this week as he gives us a boots on the ground view of NFT NY.
Let’s go!
What was NFT NY like?
I was on the fence about going to the actual conference. I knew I wanted to fly into New York to network. Still, I envisioned just going to Satellite & Community Events. I hold a few NFTs that I knew would host parties – Azuki, Moonbirds, and the very memable Goblins, a collection that really gained popularity in the past few months.
After all, I wasn’t interested in the lectures. I wanted to go and meet the community of the projects I was bullish on. I wanted to network, learn about other NFT projects, and, to be perfectly honest, take advantage of some free booze.
Although I went to NFT NY, I still ended up not attending any talks. I peaked my head into a few, but they were mostly empty.
I missed all of the ones I was interested in, such as:
- Workshop – “How To Create Your Own NFT Marketplace?” hosted by NFT.Kred
- Investing in NFTs Across the Digital and Physical Worlds
- Utility NFTs: The Future of Web3
Instead, I spent more time going around booths to talk to different project members and learn about more creative uses of the blockchain. Fortunately, I was able to get some nice swag:
Understanding how fees are generated
In addition to some swag, I did learn about some interesting projects and concepts from booth hopping. Fractionilizing NFTs seems to be an idea that many companies are exploring and Tron had a cool expo.
I also learned about the benefits of lending against your NFT from Arcade (it’s actually NOT as degen as you think and is actually an interesting way to hedge your NFT investments).
I’ve also seen some companies I’m less bullish on. One of them was a company that made sculptures for NFT owners. While it’s a cool concept, it ain’t for everyone – the cost starts at around $20,000.
Overall, it was interesting to learn about the projects, but the true value is in the Community Events. I tried going to a few events unsuccessfully – Capsule House’s Event and Goblin Town’s Party, for example.
Fortunately, I got to attend a few Moonbird events, including one where renowned Magician David Blaine was walking around doing magic tricks.
Not only are these events more fun than the actual conference, but I also find that the quality of conversations is better. Admittedly, I’m unsure if it’s because they’re at night (while the conference is during the day) or because they’re looser because of a few drinks.
The best conversations were easily from these community events and moving forward, I don’t see myself attending more of the actual conferences. However, the surrounding events are definitely worth it – just make sure you are going with a few friends who are plugged into the community if you’re not plugged in yourself.
That’s it for this week’s Crypto Insider. Did you find it useful?
If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything about this issue (or about crypto/NFTs in general), feel free to respond to any email. We read everything, as always.
Thanks,
Colin
See what Colin is working on and follow him on Twitter at @seo_colinlma
Last but not least, our Podcast
In this episode, Horacio spoke with Brian Harstine, CEO of Acquire and Andrew Hill from Frost Brown Todd, one of the leading experts in blockchain and cryptocurrency law in the country. Brian and Andrew talk about the advantages of blockchain, legal issues in the space, and more:
