Welcome to GM, BFF, a newsletter hitting your inbox every week with key insights from web3, crypto, our community and beyond. Have ideas of what you want to see in this send next week? Email us at hello@mybff.com
It's not always obvious how blockchain can solve problems unrelated to tech or finance.
Take travel, for instance: How can Web3 improve the experience of visiting new countries, whether for work or vacation?
This week, BFF spoke with three founders who are answering this question in some elevated and exciting ways.
First: Dr. Hans Boateng, prolific personal finance thought leader and founder of The Royals NFT community. The Royals creates one-of-a-kind luxury travel experiences for its NFT holders in order to showcase African culture. Imagine flying first-class to Ghana, arriving to a VIP terminal in the airport and having all the immigration paperwork done for you. Not to mention, you have access to an individual concierge who coordinates your stay — and you get to attend an Afro Beats music festival.
"The idea is if you're traveling to any country, we want you to travel to that country as a royal — not as a tourist. We want to make sure that that experience is phenomenal," Dr. Hans said in this week's Twitter Space.
Then, we heard from Nina Kovalenko, founder of XPLORIUS, an NFT-gated community that brings together self-proclaimed "degens" who love to travel. XPLORIOUS is planning to host Web3 retreats in locations all around the world. The best part? Holders get to vote on where. "We will be making decisions with our community members," said Kovalenko.
Finally, we learned how social tokens and NFTs could help create safer experiences for travelers who are often not considered by guidebook companies — e.g. travelers with disabilities, BIPOC travelers, etc.
"Our platform is focusing on keeping women, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ travelers safe while traveling the world — particularly our VIP program," said Liburd.
Though each of these companies is still new and experimenting, a clear pattern is starting to emerge in Web3: Focus on building a community first. Then hammer out the details. The potential of NFT-gated memberships is truly endless, and your project doesn't need to have every part of the roadmap prescribed to get started.
A mission starts by orienting people around shared meaning, values and goals. Start there, and watch the possibilities unfold.
Read More On BFF Discover
Self-custody is sexy. BFF contributor Isabel Doonan explains why self-custody wallets were invented and why "not your keys, not your crypto" should be on all of our minds.
SBF arrested on eight criminal charges. Finally, U.S. prosecutors charged the former FTX CEO with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Coinbase unveils a crypto recovery tool. If you've ever accidently sent unsupported Ethereum tokens to the centralized exchange, there's now a tool to help you get them back.
Bipartisan bill attempts to crack down on crypto money laundering. The Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering act introduced Wednesday by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) would extend KYC requirements to crypto wallet providers, miners, validators and other network participants that could ever validate transactions.
SEC charges 'FinTwit' influencers. The Securities and Exchange Commission announced charges and a $100 million fine against eight influencers who used Twitter and Discord to manipulate securities. If you're a crypto thought leader, read up on how to avoid illegal behavior.
NFTs need a rebrand. Those who understand the long-term utility of NFT technology argue digital collectibles should be distanced from crypto's public relations drama.
Incoming Financial Service Committee Chair suggests a pause on tax provisions. Rep. Patrick McHenry asked Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to delay the crypto tax provisions in last year's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, arguing the definition of "broker" was too broad and would hurt miners and wallet manufacturers.
Trump drops an NFT collection on Polygon. The former president released an edition of 45,000 NFTs featuring his likeness dressed in fantasy superhero costumes.
Australian Open and NounsDAO team up. Ahead of its 2023 tennis tournament, the Australian Open is dropping a second collection of 2,452 ArtBall NFTs — this time in collaboration with NounsDAO, virtual art gallery platform OnCyber and Vayner Sports Pass. The mint will happen sometime between now and the tournament’s Jan. 16 start date.
Minted founder Mariam Naficy talks to Today about the pivot that saved her business.
Our Place cofounder Shiza Shahid was featured in Inc. discussing her cookware line that honors multiculturalism and celebrates a wide range of global food traditions.
Variant Fund general partner Li Jin described to Fast Company her vision for a UBI for creators — a “Universal Creative Income.”
Women Rise founder Maliha Abidi, now represented by major talent agency WME, has been selected to join Instagram’s alpha cohort of artists using its new buy-and-sell feature. Stay tuned for her IG drop! (P.S. Women Rise celebrated its first-year anniversary on Nov. 26, and the community will soon launch a new storytelling platform called "Qissa" (which means "The Story") and share stories of women and young girls from around the world.)
Thanks for reading! We’d love to hear from you. Feel free to let us know what you think of this newsletter and what you’d like to see from it in the future by emailing hello@mybff.com.
🚨 This newsletter and all the information in it does not constitute financial advice. If you don’t want to invest money or time in Web3, you don’t have to. As always: Do your own research.
Megan DeMatteo is BFF’s Guest Editor
