Newsletter #179: Deep Read

This week’s featured collector is Portalsrus

Portalsrus has a large collection of Solana NFTs. Take a look at lazy.com/portalsrus


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The results of last week’s poll: What’s your stance on the $6M NFT Creator Legal Defense Fund?

Last week’s poll shows strong support from NFT collectors for the $6M NFT Creator Legal Defense Fund, with 67% fully backing the initiative. This reflects widespread recognition of the legal risks NFT creators face, such as intellectual property disputes and regulatory uncertainties. Collectors likely see this fund as a crucial step in protecting creators and fostering long-term growth in the NFT space. The overwhelming support signals a collective understanding of the importance of legal infrastructure to safeguard innovation.

However, there are signs of caution, with 8% “cautiously optimistic” and 8% concerned the fund might backfire. These groups may worry about how the fund will be implemented or fear unintended consequences, such as attracting legal scrutiny. Another 17% remain neutral, potentially reflecting uncertainty about the fund’s impact on collectors. Notably, no respondents oppose the initiative, suggesting broad recognition that legal protections are necessary as the NFT ecosystem evolves.


(E)thesis: settlement, data availability, execution

A recently published long essay by Mike Neuder may interest NFT collectors because it addresses the foundational principles of Ethereum, the very platform that underpins much of the NFT ecosystem. As NFTs are digital assets that require secure, decentralized ownership and transfer, the essay’s deep dive into Ethereum’s role as a property rights system is highly relevant. It explains how Ethereum’s focus on decentralization ensures that NFTs can be truly owned and controlled by their holders without fear of censorship or seizure. For collectors who are invested in the future of NFTs, understanding Ethereum’s commitment to decentralization and the unique protections it offers enhances their insight into the long-term security and value of their digital assets. Additionally, the discussion around rollups and Layer 2 solutions presents valuable information on how Ethereum plans to scale, ensuring that NFTs can continue to thrive without compromising security or ownership rights.

Beyond NFTs, the essay delves deeply into Ethereum’s core mission: establishing secure, decentralized property rights in the digital realm. It argues that Ethereum’s decentralized architecture allows it to offer self-custodied, permissionless assets whose value can be transmitted globally without the risk of seizure or censorship. The essay highlights that Ethereum’s pursuit of decentralization is not a luxury reserved for extreme geopolitical scenarios but a fundamental necessity today. By maintaining decentralization, Ethereum protects against more subtle threats, such as state coercion or corporate influence, which could erode the system’s credibility and diminish its value as a true property rights network.

Readers will find value in this essay by gaining a nuanced understanding of why decentralization is the linchpin for Ethereum’s long-term success. It explains how blockchains, unlike traditional financial systems, are valuable precisely because they ensure strong, inalienable property rights. Centralization, the essay warns, allows powerful entities to manipulate blockchain outcomes, undermining their fundamental value. Ethereum’s decentralization ensures that it remains neutral, censorship-resistant, and immune to the economic control often imposed on centralized systems—qualities that will become more important as global financial systems face increasing regulation and surveillance.

One of the essay’s key insights is Ethereum’s unique ability to sustain its decentralization across various parts of the ecosystem, from its token distribution to its Proof-of-Work origins and the diversification of clients and Layer 2 solutions. This broad decentralization strengthens Ethereum’s claim to being the most credible platform for digital property rights. Additionally, the essay touches on how Ethereum’s open development culture—spread across individuals and teams worldwide—creates a robust human capital base that is difficult to replicate. This global collaboration is a critical asset, enhancing Ethereum’s resilience and fostering ongoing innovation.

In its final analysis, the essay reinforces Ethereum’s role as a digital property rights platform, making it uniquely valuable in a world where centralized systems are increasingly vulnerable to coercion. It positions Ethereum as the go-to choice for permissionless value storage and transfer, while other platforms like Solana may offer speed and convenience but at the cost of centralization and potential regulatory control. By providing the most robust property rights system, Ethereum offers a vision of the future where economic sovereignty is preserved for all participants in the global digital economy.

Read the full essay on Mike Neuder’s blog.


This week’s poll: How many NFTs do you own?


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