The lifespan of great IP in the NFT world is much longer than you'd expect.
@cryptopunks has been around for 9 years.
This means as a new creator today you need to have a long-term vision. Otherwise you won't achieve the steadfastness of OG bluechips.
One interesting observation I made is that trait rarity not always dictates price.
Meaning certain traits might be more rare on paper but less valued by collectors. And other traits might be slightly more common but highly sought after because of their aesthetics.
That further means, especially early on, be very careful what you buy/sell. Because the market will reprice traits according to taste, and not solely based on rarity numbers.
On the other hand, if you have a good feeling for what people might value visually, you could be able to make some great buys before the prices increase.
This is one of the earliest concepts for the worldbuilding of Majin. The purpose of these illustrations is to visualize ideas for the brand. It’s also a way to test the color palette, get a better feeling for the “vibe”, place items or traits within the world of Majin, and to explore how we can communicate scale through art.
Again, this is just a concept so don’t get too attached to it. But a variation of the "black broken halo" will be one of the many traits in the collection.
"Kill Bill" is actually based on a Japanese manga from 1972. The original title was called "Lady Snowblood" (later also released as a movie).
And because Tarantino is a fan of Ghost in the Shell, he hired the Japanese animation studio that produced the Ghost in the Shell movie from 1995. They then created the animated backstory of O-Ren Ishii which is literally an anime sequence within the "Kill Bill" movie.
Another influence for "Kill Bill" was the manga "Lone Wolf and Cub" from 1970.
And the iconic yellow tracksuit of the "Kill Bill" main character (Uma Thurman) was taken from the Hong Kong movie "Game of Death" with Bruce Lee.
Japan and the East have forever inspired and fascinated the West. Either directly or indirectly.
This is a quick insight into how DeGods created their character for the y00t collection.
The big takeaway is that a lot of experimenting is necessary and sufficient time needs to be spent in exploring the art direction. Because collectors and holders historically have shown to appreciate originality, attention to detail, and passion.
Which means: the more you put into getting the style and characters right, the greater the chances for the collection to moon.
This early concept visualizes the relationship of a character with her companion.
These little friends are part of the collection and play a vital role in Majin. But be careful: they are not just rare and cute. They protect their owners and may at times display unexpected capabilities.
We create the universe first, and then place our NFTs, traits, grails, etc. in it.
The old recipe of launching a 10k collection into a void, and then coming up with lore and meaning after the fact won't work anymore. It's not convincing enough to compete with bluechips.
That's why we have to take it further. Yes, the metaverse might not become a reality, but just like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars built their own worlds, we aim to do the same, because it's a proven way to make an IP mainstream compatible and attractive to an audience beyond web3.
June 9, 2021: El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly passed the Bitcoin Law, making Bitcoin legal tender alongside the US dollar.
September 7, 2021: The law officially took effect. El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.
El Salvador did make Bitcoin legal tender in 2021, but they walked it back significantly in early 2025:
Businesses are no longer required to accept Bitcoin.
Bitcoin can no longer be used to pay taxes or government debts.
It remains voluntary in the private sector, but its mandatory legal tender status was heavily diluted due to pressure from the IMF and practical issues.