NET Society

The Net Society crew is back with a packed conversation spanning immersive tech, AI breakthroughs, and the evolving art market. They open with the latest in metaverse development, exploring how new world models could reshape interfaces, AR adoption, and virtual environments. From there, the discussion shifts to robotics, asking how close we are to shaking hands with machines and the societal quirks that might come with it. The release of GPT-5 takes center stage next, with early impressions on its programming capabilities and what it means for the future of software creation. A spirited debate follows on the role of Figma and other design tools in an AI-driven workflow, before turning to the announcement of the Art Blocks 500 and what it signals for generative art’s legacy. The crew closes with thoughts on renewed NFT market energy, the missing middle in on-chain culture, and how future communities might thrive without falling into old tokenized traps.Mentioned in the episodeGenie 3 AI model release https://x.com/GoogleDeepMind/status/1952732150928724043GPT-5 release from OpenAI https://x.com/OpenAI/status/1953504357821165774Art Blocks 500 https://x.com/artblocks_io/status/1953120356945842542Show & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiProduction & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - Is the Metaverse Back? (07:35) - AR, XR and Soft Handed Robots (15:13) - GPT-5 Release and Early Impressions (21:06) - Figma, Design Tools and the AI Stack (34:54) - Art Blocks 500 and What’s Next (43:36) - NFT Market Check and ETH Tailwinds (49:28) - Rethinking Tokenized Communities (57:08) - Welcome & Disclaimer

The Net Society crew returns with a wide-ranging conversation on digital art, crypto markets, and shifting policy winds. They kick things off with market sentiment and recent activity in the Art Blocks Discord, then dive into a discussion about what’s due for a comeback in the space. The group unpacks the consumer crypto playbook and shares thoughts on the potential of projects like Rekt. A deep dive into the SEC’s evolving stance on tokens and a new White House crypto report sparks a thoughtful look at tokenized equity, ICOs, and regulatory timelines. The episode closes with a celebration of artist conviction, spotlighting the work of Eric De Giuli, Kim Asendorf, and others.Mentioned in the episodeArt Blocks acquires Trame Paris https://x.com/artblocks_io/status/1950239952773795963Digital Assets White House market report https://x.com/derekedws/status/1950629069189771398Eric De Giuli (EDG) https://x.com/eeedg__Kim Asendorf https://x.com/kimasendorfAndreas Gysin https://x.com/andreasgysinNoper https://x.com/bagdeleteINFINITEYAY https://x.com/infiniteyayClaire Silver https://x.com/ClaireSilver12Show & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiProduction & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - Off-Chain Summer and Market Sentiment (03:03) - Art Blocks Discord Resurgence (05:53) - What's Dead and What Isn't (12:26) - Consumer Crypto and Rekt Analysis (18:35) - Policy Shifts and the SEC's Crypto Framework (37:41) - The Future of Tokenized Equity (43:48) - Artist Conviction: EDG, Kim, Infinite Objects (51:58) - Welcome & Disclaimer

The crew dives into shifting market vibes, from meme stock rallies to the resurgence of NFTs, and unpacks how institutional vehicles are shaping digital asset exposure. They debate the risks of NFT treasury structures, liquidity challenges, and what it means for collectors when markets heat up. From the alien vs. ape punk showdown to reflections on “off-chain summer,” the conversation explores where digital culture, finance, and community are headed next.Mentioned in the episodeGamesquare acquires Ape Punk https://x.com/GSQHoldings/status/1948368197473677664Only jobs left meme https://www.linkedin.com/posts/blockchainheadhunter_blockchainheadhunter-activity-7336748981680513024-zRJrSonso + alien punk tweet https://x.com/saintsonso/status/1948387453855035867Show & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiProduction & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - Market Vibes and Meme Stocks (05:09) - Financial Nihilism and AI Influence (09:22) - NFT Momentum and Institutional Interest (16:14) - Risks of NFT Treasury Vehicles (26:25) - Liquidity, Pricing, and Market Dynamics (40:58) - Aliens vs Apes: Punk Collection Debates (47:12) - Off-Chain Summer and Future of Digital Assets (51:12) - Welcome & Disclaimer

Derek is out this week, but Aaron, Chris, and Pri dive into a wide-ranging conversation that starts with GM energy and WAGMI nostalgia before moving into market momentum, off-chain activity, and the forces driving renewed optimism in digital assets. They debate Coinbase’s cultural identity and the broader phenomenon of corporations acting like modern religions through brand world-building, then pivot to the challenges of tokenized media, the state of consumer crypto, and the tension between speculation and real innovation. The discussion zooms out to examine neoliberalism, network states, and shifting global dynamics, before closing with thoughts on AI’s inward turn, the evolution of curation, and how information platforms might transform the way we engage with content.Mentioned in the episodeGet your BASE juice https://x.com/base/status/1945883117698593093Chris loves Ryan Reynolds https://x.com/Mintmobile/status/1932879714479206600Backyard missiles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWlOZa3YfycDeepnewz https://deepnewz.com/Show & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiProduction & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - GM Energy and WAGMI Nostalgia (02:20) - Market Momentum and Off-Chain Activity (06:07) - Coinbase, Culture, and Corporate Identity (20:27) - Corporations as Religion and Brand World-Building (30:04) - Tokenized Media, Consumer Crypto, and Speculation (40:09) - Neoliberalism, Network States, and Global Shifts (56:59) - AI, Curation, and the Future of Information Platforms (01:09:15) - Welcome & Disclaimer

In this episode of Net Society, the crew reflects on the Toledo Museum show and what it signals for digital art’s place in contemporary culture. They discuss how institutional interest is rising just as public sentiment cools, explore the macro drivers behind recent crypto market momentum, and consider what Gary Vee’s renewed NFT talk means for broader adoption. The conversation moves into questions of scale, conviction, and why generative art isn’t dead, despite what the timeline says. Finally, they unpack the shifting landscape of building in public, solo dev workflows, and how AI is redrawing the boundaries of collaboration.Mentioned in the episodeToledo Museum of Art https://x.com/toledomuseumVeeFriends https://x.com/veefriendsShow & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiProduction & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - Toledo Museum Show and Full Circle Reflections (08:59) - Mainstream Curiosity and the Adoption Lag (12:22) - Macro Trends and Crypto Market Drivers (19:18) - NFTs, Gary Vee, and the Scaling Gap (25:14) - Generative Art Is Dead? (34:34) - Time, Patience, and Long-Term Conviction (38:12) - AI Tools, Solo Building, and the Future of Teams (57:47) - Welcome & Disclaimer

The Net Society crew is together in person this week during NFT NYC with special guest Erick Calderon, aka Snowfro, founder of Art Blocks and creator of the Chromie Squiggle. What starts as a reflection on the energy of NFT NYC and the evolution of NFT culture opens up into a wide-ranging discussion. The group digs into the maturation of the space, the idea of homeostasis versus equilibrium, and why digital art’s native display might just be your phone screen. From there, they explore the tension between abundance and scarcity in collectibles, the blurred lines between art, product, and entertainment, and what it will take to bring collecting to a global scale without tipping into cringe. Along the way, they wrestle with the role of physical galleries, the memory of the speculative mania of 2021, and how to stay at the forefront of the next wave of innovation.Mentioned in the episodeSpecial guest Snowfro https://x.com/ArtOnBlockchainGlitch x Snowfro https://x.com/glitchmarfa/status/1938206917001613430Joe Pease https://x.com/joepeaseDie With The Most Likes https://x.com/toadswibackShow & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiProduction & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - NFT NYC Week and First Reflections (05:47) - Snowfro on Maturity, Homeostasis, and the NFT Journey (20:21) - Digital Art Display, Internet Culture, and Hypocrisy (38:10) - The Role of Physical Galleries vs Digital Presentation (43:11) - Scale, Abundance, and the Future of Collecting (48:06) - Art vs Collectible vs Product: The Blurred Lines (56:11) - Final Thoughts on Craft, Value, and the NFT Singularity (58:48) - Welcome & Disclaimer

The Net Society crew goes fully freeform this week in an episode aptly titled The Podcast About Nothing. What starts as a conversation about die with the most likes's Gristle Buddeez quickly unravels into reflections on novelty in NFT art, the implications of the Genius stablecoin bill for DeFi, and how AI models are getting a little too chatty. From there, it spirals into heatwaves in New York, NBA playoff drama, and the Telegram founder’s 100-child inheritance plan. The gang rounds it out with thoughts on brand-driven advertising, the $10B Lakers valuation, and whether private equity is the new Steve Aoki of sports franchise buyers.Mentioned in the episodeGenius stablecoin bill https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/17/genius-stablecoin-bill-crypto.htmlNFT NYC https://x.com/NFT_NYCTelegram founder says his 100+ children will get a share of his estate https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/20/tech/durov-100-children-inheritance-scli-intlShow & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiProduction & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - Winging It and Gristle Buddies (04:42) - Novelty Fatigue and Creative Stagnation (06:13) - Clarity Act and the Future of DeFi (13:26) - Digital Art Mile and NYC Heat (15:26) - NBA Playoffs, AI Chatbots, and Weird UX (20:36) - 100 Kids and the Tech-Futurist Ethos (39:01) - Branding, Basketball, and Billion-Dollar Franchises (51:52) - Welcome & Disclaimer

Derek is out this week, so the Net Society crew is joined by special guest Colby Mugrabi, founder of mmERCH, for a deep dive into the intersection of fashion, fandom, and crypto infrastructure. The episode opens with the gang dissecting Stripe’s acquisition of Privy and a wave of stablecoin developments, before zooming out to examine what these signals mean for digital assets and institutional adoption. They explore the evolving role of NFTs, drawing parallels between fashion houses and iconic collections like Meebits. Colby shares the vision behind mmERCH 2.0, a new layer of networked experience powered by wearable tech and gamified incentives. The conversation moves toward the future of on-chain consumer behavior, the limits of app fatigue, and how tokens might become the new links of the internet. The crew closes with a speculative look at hardware breakthroughs, AR glasses, and whether the post-phone era is already here.Mentioned in the episodeSpecial guest Colby Mugrabi https://x.com/MinnieMuse_ethShopify accepting USDC https://x.com/base/status/1933236681836282171mmERCH https://x.com/mmERCHLife After Lifestyle by Toby Shorin https://subpixel.space/entries/life-after-lifestyle/New Snapchat Spectacles https://www.spectacles.com/spectacles-24Show & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiProduction & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - Stablecoins and Stripe’s Crypto Play (06:46) - NFTs, Market Momentum, and Institutional Shifts (11:02) - Meebits, Fashion, and IP Revival (19:05) - mmERCH 2.0 and the Rise of Experience Networks (30:59) - Superfans, Wearable Wallets, and Gamified Fandom (42:09) - AR, Smart Glasses, and Future Hardware (46:57) - Tokens, Networks, and the End of the Phone Era (57:46) - Welcome & Disclaimer

The Net Society crew dives into the headline-grabbing showdown between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, unpacking what it reveals about power, influence, and the shifting relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington. They explore whether tech leaders are now more powerful than governments and what a “Valley-backed” political realignment could look like. From there, the conversation shifts to ADIN, Tribute Labs new AI-powered investment tool, and how it represents the dawn of algorithmic venture capital. They break down the architecture behind ADIN’s autonomous agents, why Moneyball is the perfect analogy for the future of private markets, and how AI might soon outperform traditional investors. The episode closes with a look at the Circle IPO, the ETH finance landscape, PolyMarket’s deal with X, and a final sidestep into coaching changes and playoff narratives from the world of sports.Mentioned in the episodeElon tweets about Trump in Epstein files https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1930703865801810022Tired of attention economy tweet https://x.com/BoonaETH/status/1930834503917813830ADIN https://x.com/ADINonlineCircle IPO https://x.com/circle/status/1930595433220386997X and Polymarket partnership https://x.com/X/status/1931001329129844987Show & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiProduction & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - Elon vs Trump and the Political Power Games (07:08) - Silicon Valley’s Real Influence on Policy (19:02) - Inside ADIN: Algorithmic Venture and Autonomous Agents (31:02) - Moneyball for Private Markets (40:02) - Human-AI Decision Loops and the Future of Work (45:40) - Circle IPO, ETH Finance Tools, and PolyMarket’s Big Win (50:39) - Neoliberalism, Coach Tibbs, and Sports Talk Closeout (50:45) - Welcome & Disclaimer

The Net Society crew returns for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of crypto, AI, and digital culture. They explore the installation phase of crypto, the role of blockchain in gaming, and whether asset ownership is the real unlock. The conversation shifts to Worldcoin’s user growth and the broader question of identity in an AI-driven world, before zooming out to examine how Web2 giants like Meta and OpenAI could reshape crypto’s future. They close by debating the post-iPhone landscape, new interaction models, and the promise of AI as the next layer of infrastructure.Mentioned in the episodeWorldcoin https://x.com/worldcoinSam Altman and Jony Ive introduce io https://openai.com/sam-and-jony/World model https://odyssey.world/Show & HostsNet Society: https://x.com/net__societyDerek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedwsChris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0xPriyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesaiAaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01Production & MarketingEditor: https://x.com/0xFnklSocial: https://x.com/v_kirra(00:00) - The Installation Phase and Crypto’s Business Logic (05:06) - Gaming on Blockchain: Hype vs. Reality (12:23) - Worldcoin, Identity, and the Human-Bot Divide (25:33) - Web2 Giants Entering Crypto: A Tectonic Shift (38:06) - Post-iPhone World: New Devices and Interaction Models (53:58) - Welcome & Disclaimer