
Newsletter #205: NFT Vibes
This week’s featured collector is allinred
Allinred is a concept artist. Take a look at their collection at lazy.com/allinred
What do you think of the proposed Pudgy Penguins NFT ETF?
Last week’s poll reveals a mixed reaction to the proposed Pudgy Penguins NFT ETF. The majority of respondents, 45%, expressed indifference, selecting “Meh,” indicating a lack of strong enthusiasm or dislike. Meanwhile, 27% of participants indicated enthusiasm by choosing “I love it!” while an equal percentage, 27%, selected “I’m not sure,” suggesting uncertainty or a need for more information. Notably, none of the respondents explicitly disliked the idea, as indicated by the 0% selection for “I hate it!” This suggests that while interest is moderate, there is minimal outright opposition to the proposal.
Are NFT Vibes Improving?
The recent article, “Is a Crypto-Friendly Administration Igniting New Passion for NFTs?” by Jiayin Chen, explores how NFTs have become intertwined with current political dynamics, sparked by recent administrative changes in the U.S. government.
Chen highlights the volatile crypto market under the new U.S. presidency, noting Bitcoin’s dramatic fluctuation—from an all-time high of $108,000 to as low as $79,000—and Tesla’s temporary stock price surge. One particularly striking development was FTX’s surprising comeback from bankruptcy, repaying customers at 119 percent of their original claims, offering better returns than traditional savings accounts. This recovery symbolizes broader optimism brought by David Sacks, appointed crypto czar, and the administration’s bold plans for a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” aiming to position the U.S. as the world’s crypto hub.
A vital thread of the narrative is the unintended politicization of NFTs. Chen notes, “NFTs, still a major use case of cryptocurrency, have become somewhat inadvertently entangled with the political sentiments now dominating the crypto space.” A long-time anonymous collector describes the perception issue candidly: “The first thing Trump did after the election was issue his own coins and made hundreds of millions from it. It’s a bad look for the industry, and it made people see everyone in the space through the same lens.”
Despite political and reputational challenges, NFTs are witnessing a revival. High-profile sales like Sam Spratt’s “X.Masquerade” fetching $3 million and Christie’s successful “Augmented Intelligence” auction indicate renewed enthusiasm. Established NFT communities like CryptoPunks have continued to thrive; their sales exceeded $200 million even during quieter market periods. Niftynaut, a CryptoPunks collector, sharply notes the market saturation: “Most projects are destined for irrelevance. Outside of the true innovators, what we saw was an endless parade of derivative cash-grabs with no meaningful innovation, purpose, or creativity.”
Institutions are increasingly investing in digital art, reflected in initiatives from prominent museums like the Met and Tate Modern, along with investment entities such as Hivemind Capital’s Digital Culture Fund. Matt Zhang, Hivemind’s founder, observes an eventual maturity in market perception: “Over time, we expect digital art to become less tied to crypto cycles—especially as more collectors, museums, and institutions treat it as part of fine art.”
However, technical infrastructure remains a significant challenge. Jason Bailey (Artnome) highlights the risk to digital art preservation, warning of lost access when Web3 companies fail: “Every single image from those 1990s websites is broken because over time, people stop paying for storage…The same thing could happen with NFTs.”
Conclusively, the new administration’s classification of NFTs as “collectibles” regulated by the CFTC signals industry-friendly intentions, yet uncertainty remains. Bailey encapsulates the cautious optimism: “Right now, with heightened global instability and volatility, markets in general are reacting cautiously. However, there is also potential for progress.”
To fully grasp the complexities and implications discussed, readers are highly encouraged to explore the original insightful article in depth.
Learn more at ArtNet.
What do you think: are NFT vibes improving?
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