This week’s featured collector is inbombs
Inbombs is an artist that creates unique NFTs based on “original artworks and paintings.” Take a look at lazy.com/inbombs
Beeple’s Nakamigos Prank: Satire or Market Manipulation?
Last week’s poll—split 50% “Satire,” 20% “Prank,” and 30% “Something else”—mirrors the fault lines exposed by Beeple’s Nakamigos stunt and the chaos that followed his AI-faked Larva Labs “endorsement.” The bare plurality who read it as satire seem to applaud Beeple’s lampoon of a market that routinely rewards rumor over rigor, seeing the 140 % intraday pump and 25 % lingering gains as proof that speculative reflexes deserved a public skewering. Yet nearly as many voters landed in the gray zone, hinting that this “prank heard ’round the blockchain” isn’t easily reduced to comedy or crime; it’s a case study in how narrative power and financial risk now collide at meme speed. The minority who called it manipulation echo critics for whom Beeple’s influence turned performance art into a high-stakes shell game with real wallets on the line. Collectively, the numbers signal a maturing community: most accept that market-moving theatrics are part of crypto culture, but they also want clearer ethical guardrails before the next viral drop tests the difference between clever commentary and costly deceit.
After the Galleries Close: Why NFTs Could Be the Art Market’s Next Lifeline
This summer’s spate of U.S. gallery closures—Tim Blum, Venus Over Manhattan, CLEARING, and the 35-year-old Kasmin’s hand-off to Olney Gleason—has thrust the art market into yet another season of soul-searching. Even the Art Dealers Association of America hit pause on its 2025 fair, citing what director Kinsey Robb calls “a period of extraordinary change in the art world at large.” Against a backdrop of rising overhead, cooling demand, and what collector Jeff Magid describes as a market that feels “closed off” to newcomers, dealer Adam Lindemann’s blunt assessment rings loud: “Every gallery in the world will eventually close. The only question is when.” Yet history shows that each contraction—1990, 2008, 2016—has seeded the next wave of innovation.
For NFT collectors, this moment isn’t a death knell for brick-and-mortar spaces; it’s an invitation to help rebuild the ecosystem in more resilient form. Traditional galleries struggle with rent, storage, and a relentless exhibition calendar, while blockchain marketplaces operate with a fraction of those fixed costs and a 24/7 global audience. The technology’s baked-in provenance tools answer a problem now front-of-mind for both collectors and insurers: how to verify ownership instantly, even when a gallery’s lights go dark.
Crucially, NFTs can widen the funnel at precisely the point where the conventional system is narrowing. Artsy’s 2025 survey found that only 17 percent of collectors feel the market meets their needs—a statistic that should trouble anyone who cares about generational renewal. By minting limited digital editions priced well below six-figure physical works, artists and galleries can cultivate the “emerging buyers” segment Robb says the field desperately needs, while still offering scarcity and status through on-chain proof of authenticity.
Skeptics will note that the NFT boom of 2021 crashed just as sharply, and they’re right to insist on more sustainable models. Fortunately, the space has matured: major platforms now use energy efficient chains and some marketplaces are supporting creator royalties. Pair that with token-gated physical shows—where an NFT serves as both certificate and VIP pass—and you have a hybrid model that lowers risk for dealers while restoring a sense of community for collectors.
As Nick Olney puts it, the goal is “finding an equilibrium between being incredibly active and making sure you’re doing everything for a reason.” NFT infrastructure can provide exactly that: a lean, transparent layer that lets galleries focus on curating and career-building rather than chasing ever-larger square footage. For collectors who already understand digital scarcity, supporting artists through well-executed NFT drops isn’t merely a hedge; it’s a way to participate in the market’s next chapter—one where creativity, not overhead, sets the pace.
Read a deep dive on the decline of galleries at Artsy.net.
When physical galleries shutter, what’s the most realistic path forward for art collecting?
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