On-chain analyst 💼 @impossiblefi & @rarible Product lead @varibletrends TCG nerd 👨🏻‍💻

Joined November 2024
Most of the money in tokenized collectibles still goes into packs, not into collectors trading with each other. Last 30 days: $282M on packs, $10.2M on resale. About $3.50 of every $100. Back in 2021, TCGplayer alone did $10M in one holiday weekend. We're still early. [1/2]
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Another weekend, another card show. More vendors than buyers, are we seeing buyers feeling burnt out from too many card shows? 🤔
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Amazing weekend at SGIC, met great people, did big deals and possibly saw the craziest cardboards.
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Latest pickups from Funslah (MFTCS). Had a great time vending and meeting so many new & familiar faces. Was also finally able to showcase our latest venture into slab guards, holonguard.
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Uncut CoroCoro comic long sheet, included in a 1997 issue. How any survived uncut is still a mystery to me. The closest I’m ever getting to uncut pokemon tcg sheets 🥲
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One of my favourite ANA promos. Mail in your boarding passes in 2000 and they'd mail these back. Unlike the other promos, these came as unpeeled sheets, and peeling is what damages them. PSA 10 pop: Marill 48, Togepi 60. Should I peel them? 🤔
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Amazing event, W panelists, thanks for the invite! @UltraWeb3Fest
Panel 18 is about Cards, Collectibles & Code: The Rise of On-Chain TCGs Moderated by @mrone_eth , Founder of @abcd_web3_ and @otgdeficommunit, this panel explores how blockchain is transforming trading card games. Bringing true ownership, verifiable scarcity, and new economic models to collectibles. Speakers: 🔹 Lau — Co-Founder, @NextRare_cards 🔹 @lilyuzuu — Head of Cards, @renaissxyz 🔹 @scottrips — Co-Founder, @dyli_io 🔹@ysonchain — Product Lead, @varibletrends @rarible
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Latest obsession: Pokemon comics/books. Graded 1st printing are soaring in prices. Only time will tell how these coro coro Scarlet & Violet exclusive comics will do.
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Spent the week on stage talking about collecting in web3 and what it opens up for collectors. Left with more questions than I came in with, which is the fun part. More to build. Back to the pipelines. Great company all week: @lilyuzuu @Shimal2i_eth @vtes369 @mrone_eth @scottrips
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TCG culture is no longer just about collecting cards. It now sits at the intersection of community, digital ownership, fandom, and on-chain commerce. At the ACTIV8 Retail Stage, ShimaI2i (@Shimal2i_eth) from 9 CAT GROUP (@9CATGROUP), Ryan Li (@lilyuzuu) from Renaiss (@renaissxyz), and YS (@ysonchain) from Rarible (@rarible) joined moderator KC Thee (@vtes369) from NextRare (@NextRare_cards), Inc. for the panel: “Collecting, Flipping or Investing? The Many Faces of TCG Culture” A discussion on how trading card culture is evolving across Web3, from collectors and marketplaces to digital assets, community value, and new forms of fan-driven ownership.
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Had a genuinely good time sharing a panel with @Shimal2i_eth & @lilyuzuu Thanks @vtes369 and @MalaysiaBCW for hosting the session!
Thank you @MalaysiaBCW for letting us yap about TCGs all day! Great to connect with fellow panelists @Shimal2i_eth @ysonchain @vtes369 , hope everyone secured some TCG alpha 🤐 @renaissxyz is heading to @UltraWeb3Fest today, hope to see you there!
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Vintage Pokémon postcards are underrated. Same scarcity and art that collectors chase in cards, almost none of the attention. Uncut 2000 New Year's set from Shogaku Ichinensei. It told six-year-olds to cut it up and mail it. Most did, making mint copies brutally hard to find.
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Built this over the last 2+ months. Variable is my answer to a question I couldn't answer: "what is the tokenised collectible market actually doing?" Would appreciate any input on the site, good, bad, anything you would like to add. Building in public from here. Dm's are open.
WE ARE LIVE. Introducing VARIBLE, the data and indexing platform built for the tokenized collectibles market. Tokenized trading cards and physical collectibles are growing across platforms, blockchains and categories. But the data is fragmented, it's hard to see what's trading, where activity is happening, and how the market is actually performing. VARIBLE brings it together in one place. At launch, we index 140,000+ collectibles across four tokenized trading-card platforms (and growing), covering Pokémon, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, sports cards and more. Discover: - The biggest sales across the market - Cards gaining trading momentum - Leading categories and IPs - Volume and market share by platform - Marketplace vs. primary gacha activity - Performance over 24h, 7 days and 30 days - The market vs. Bitcoin, Ethereum, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ - And the V-MKT Index: a single view of how the whole tokenized collectibles market performs over time. This is not another marketplace. It's the data layer for an emerging onchain asset class. Real cards. Real prices. Indexed. varible.rarible.com A @rarible project.
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keep an eye on this space, launching real soon 👀 @varibletrends
Pokémon cards outperforming both Bitcoin and gold? Over the past 30 days, the Pokémon Market Index has shown just how strong the collectibles market can be. Try out the Rarible Pokémon Gacha Station here: rarible.com/gacha?ref=raribl…
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.@hemi_xyz is a Layer 2 modular blockchain for superior scaling, security, and interoperability, built with plans on unifying Bitcoin & Ethereum into a single supernetwork. Hemi’s ecosystem, filled with 74 projects, over $1B in TVL, covers every aspect of a blockchain. These are some of the key sectors that power Hemi: DeFi Include all the tools you need for trading, lending, borrowing @zerolendxyz @swellnetworkio @MorphoLabs @SushiSwap @DesynLab @plumenetwork @BimaBTC and others Infrastructure @Optimism @PortaltoBitcoin @PythNetwork @RelayProtocol @redstone_defi and others Liquid Staking/Restaking Tokens @LorenzoProtocol @Pumpbtcxyz @Stake_Stone @Bedrock_DeFi @KelpDAO and others Restaking @symbioticfi @CygnusFi @Pell_Network Hemi’s Staking and others Community @absinthenetwork @Galxe @monprotocol @turtleclubhouse Tooling @blockscout Pure Finance Wallets @MetaMask @rainbowdotme @Rabby_io UniStat Identity @Demos_Global @ZNSConnect @humanode_io
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Highlights from the meetup with CZ in KL, Malaysia: A contingent from ImpossibleFi attended the meetup with @cz_binance hosted by @mxglobalmy — here are some key takeaways. What is the ideal role of government in the digital asset economy? The government should play a crucial role in facilitating the growth of the digital asset economy while ensuring consumer protection. CZ emphasized the need for a balanced regulatory approach, noting that currently, many governments oscillate between no regulation and overregulation. For instance, he advocates for a more relaxed regulatory stance, as rapid innovation is essential in the digital asset space. He mentioned that innovations like meme coins and exchanges emerged quickly, and governments should adapt to these changes rather than impose outdated regulations. What challenges do regulators face regarding cryptocurrencies? Regulators often apply traditional financial regulations to cryptocurrencies, which may not be appropriate. CZ pointed out that in many countries, securities regulators are tasked with regulating crypto, leading them to view it primarily through a securities lens. He cited Malaysia as an example, where the securities regulator tends to classify most cryptocurrencies as securities, despite the fact that most are not. CZ suggests that countries should consider establishing new regulatory agencies specifically for digital assets, as seen in Dubai with its newly formed regulatory body, IVERA, which aims to create a more tailored approach. How do global trade dynamics affect cryptocurrency? The ongoing trade wars and tariffs create uncertainty in traditional markets, but cryptocurrencies remain largely unaffected due to their decentralized nature. CZ explained that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies do not have a home country, which means they are not subject to the same taxation and restrictions as traditional assets. He noted that when traditional stock markets experience volatility, the crypto market is often impacted as well, as investors may sell off their crypto holdings to cover losses in stocks. However, he believes that in the long term, cryptocurrencies serve as a hedge against political and economic instability. What is needed to develop a robust ecosystem for digital assets? A robust ecosystem around digital assets requires user-friendly applications and interfaces that make interacting with blockchain technology accessible to the average person. CZ emphasized the importance of regulatory environments that foster innovation. He highlighted Malaysia's high internet penetration and young population as advantageous factors for developing a digital asset ecosystem. He also mentioned the need for more applications, stating that while there are many strong developers in Malaysia, there is still significant room for improvement in the quality and quantity of crypto-related applications. What is Giggle Academy, and what is its mission? @GiggleAcademy is an initiative aimed at providing free education to children, particularly in underserved regions. CZ explained that the goal is to create a digital platform that can help change lives through education. He believes that education is currently inadequate, with many schools failing to meet the needs of students. By leveraging technology, Giggle Academy aims to deliver engaging educational content that can reach millions of children. CZ's vision is to help children become financially literate and capable of securing jobs, thus breaking the cycle of poverty. How is AI being utilized in education at Giggle Academy? AI is being explored as a tool to enhance educational content and engagement in Giggle Academy. CZ mentioned that one of the most time-consuming aspects of creating educational materials is animation. By utilizing AI, they hope to streamline the animation process, allowing for faster content production. He noted that advancements in AI are rapidly improving its capabilities, which could significantly enhance the educational experience. For example, AI could help create interactive and engaging learning modules that keep children interested and motivated. How does Binance build consumer trust? Trust is built through transparency, security, and a user-centric approach. CZ shared examples from @binance's history, such as when the company returned funds to users after a significant market downturn following China’s ICO ban. Despite the financial strain, Binance chose to make users whole, which built tremendous trust. Additionally, during a hack in 2019, Binance communicated regularly with users, providing updates every two hours and engaging with the community. These actions demonstrate a commitment to user security and transparency, which are crucial for building long-term trust. What trends should the audience be aware of in the next 12 months? CZ advised the audience to focus on long-term projects with real utility rather than chasing short-term gains, such as meme coins promising quick profits. He emphasized that most investors should seek out projects with real use cases and a solid user base. He encouraged the audience to look for innovative applications that solve real-world problems, as these projects will drive the future of the digital asset economy. What misconceptions exist about capital controls and digital assets? A common misconception is that capital controls help retain money within a country, but CZ argued they often deter foreign investment. He explained that if investors perceive they cannot easily withdraw their funds, they are less likely to invest. He cited South Korea as an example, where despite capital controls, the crypto market remains active, leading to phenomena like the "kimchi premium," where Bitcoin prices are higher in Korea than elsewhere due to these restrictions. How should centralized and decentralized exchanges interact? CZ believes centralized and decentralized exchanges should collaborate rather than compete. He stated that users should be able to access DeFi assets through centralized exchanges and vice versa. This integration would create a more seamless trading experience. He emphasized that both types of exchanges serve different needs: centralized exchanges are often easier for newcomers, while decentralized exchanges offer more control for those who can manage their own assets securely. Is there a risk of promoting child labor through educational initiatives like Giggle Academy? CZ acknowledged the concern but clarified that many children not in school are already working out of economic necessity. He emphasized that the goal of Giggle Academy is to provide meaningful work opportunities while prioritizing education. He stated they would respect labor laws and ensure that any future job markets created through the platform would comply with regulations. The aim is to empower children with skills that can lead to legitimate job opportunities, ultimately benefiting their families.
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