The Net Society crew (minus Derek) dives into the evolving world of on-chain art, using Botto as a case study for how AI and decentralization are reshaping creativity. They break down the biggest takeaways from ETH Denver, from groundbreaking Web3 innovations to the shifting dynamics of the ecosystem. The conversation then turns to NFT loans, debating whether leveraging digital collectibles as collateral is the next step in crypto finance or a dangerous gamble. Security concerns take center stage with the Bybit hack, as they analyze its fallout and what it reveals about the broader landscape of exchange vulnerabilities. AI’s rapid development sparks a discussion on whether artificial intelligence is beginning to exhibit personality—and what that could mean for human interaction and trust. Finally, they wrap up with a market sentiment check, assessing crypto’s current trajectory and the forces shaping its next move.

Mentioned in the episode

Botto auction for “The Giraffe” https://x.com/krybharat/status/1895190523172004253

Sgt_slaughtermelon https://x.com/sgt_sl8termelon

Berachain https://x.com/berachain

Bybit hack https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/23/crypto-exchange-seeks-bybit-ethereum-stolen-digital-wallet

Show & Hosts

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

Production & Marketing

Editor: https://x.com/0xFnkl

Social: https://x.com/v_kirra

• (00:00) - The Future of On-Chain Art with Botto

The crew kicks off by dissecting the U.S. vs. Canada hockey showdown, exploring sports as a mirror of culture and national identity. They dive into the ethics and regulation of crypto, questioning if meme coin scandals and SEC shifts signal real reform or just more noise. The conversation turns to Christie’s "Augmented Intelligence" auction, examining AI art’s rising legitimacy and Sam Spratt’s "Masquerade" success as artists reshape digital art. They debate Botto’s generative art project, asking whether collective creation is transforming collector culture or diluting artistic quality. Finally, they explore the rapid acceleration of tech innovation, discussing quantum computing breakthroughs, AI-driven healthcare, and whether the venture capital landscape is evolving to fuel these transformative shifts. Plus, the tension between innovation and tradition in both art and finance, and what this means for the future.

Mentioned in the episode

Canada vs USA Hockey https://x.com/NHL/status/1892793095667716601

Christies Auction https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/augmented-intelligence/lots/3837

Kanbas acquires X.Masquerade https://x.com/Kanbas_/status/1889709922197049650

Botto sells out 1st generative project https://x.com/BottoDAO/status/1891938816031629424
Rare genetic disorder treated in the womb https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00534-0

Show & Hosts

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

Production & Marketing

Editor: https://x.com/0xFnkl

Social: https://x.com/v_kirra

• (00:00) - USA & Canada Hockey

The crew kicks off with the sale of Meebits, breaking down its acquisition and whether it can become a major digital IP. They dive into the resurgence of social tokens, questioning if influencer-backed assets and meme coins are a real evolution or just another hype cycle. The conversation shifts to Ethereum’s identity crisis—is it still a compute layer, or is it becoming a monetary asset like Bitcoin? They explore staking, L2 token dynamics, and whether Ethereum’s future is dictated by market forces. Finally, they tackle the rise of AI-powered solo founders, discussing how billion-dollar projects are emerging from small teams and what that means for crypto’s traditionally network-driven ecosystem. Plus, the shifting role of marketing, Web2’s struggles, and the ideological tensions shaping the space.

Mentioned in the episode

Meebits is acquired by the MeebCo https://x.com/sergitosergito/status/1890437464675791296

Vitalik sparks conversation on communism https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/1889771554512200166

Cursor AI https://x.com/cursor_ai

Suno AI music maker https://x.com/SunoMusic

Follow

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

• (00:00) - The Sale of Meebits

The crew kicks off with Kanye’s rumored token and the broader trend of celebrity coins before diving into crypto’s market cycle—are we at the start of an institutional-led bull run, or is retail still stuck in a liquidity trap? They break down the growing role of institutional capital, massive token unlocks, and whether crypto-native projects need a new liquidity model. The conversation shifts to Uniswap v4’s innovations, exploring how it could reshape DeFi, lending, and automated trading. Finally, they tackle the rise of localized blockchains, debating whether cities, banks, and states launching their own L2s and stablecoins is inevitable—or just another crypto pipe dream.

Mentioned in the episode

Will Kanye launch a coin https://x.com/Polymarket/status/1887912402768859352

Botto p5.js https://x.com/jamiegourlay/status/1887872827275067646

Utah advances Bitcoin reserve bill https://deepnewz.com/regulation/utah-advances-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-bill-second-state-after-arizona-to-move-e6a96d67

Follow

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

• (00:00) - Kanye and Celebrity Coins

The crew dives into the reemergence of meme coin mania, drawing parallels to the ICO era and questioning whether Web2 founders are using tokens as a new form of capital raise. They break down the DeepSeek AI controversy, exploring its potential impact on compute costs, geopolitics, and OpenAI’s dominance. The conversation shifts to OpenSea’s token launch and what it means for NFTs, royalties, and creator-first marketplaces. Finally, they tackle the rise of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), debating whether we’re entering the era of "Internet Capital Markets" or if it’s just another buzzword.

Mentioned in the episode

DeepSeek R1 https://x.com/deepseek_ai/status/1881318130334814301

Uniswap V4 https://x.com/Uniswap/status/1885329579495080248

SEC’s Rescinding of SAB 121 https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/01/23/sec-withdraws-controversial-crypto-tax-accounting-bulletin

Tether announcement https://x.com/Tether_to/status/1885340138328244393

Follow

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

• (00:00) - The Meme Coin Resurgence: ICOs 2.0?

This episode might require your tin foil hat. As regulatory clarity emerges in the U.S., the full Net Society crew discusses what it means for NFTs, meme coins, and the broader crypto landscape. Are we headed for another speculative boom, or is this the foundation for more sustainable innovation? The conversation explores the intersection of AI and crypto, diving into how agent-based interactions are reshaping online experiences and why stablecoins might play a bigger role in e-commerce than we think. The group also tackles existential questions around AI's rapid acceleration, societal shifts, and whether digital scarcity still holds value in an era of abundance. They also explore the implications of declassifying government documents—what secrets might be revealed, and how could they reshape public perception? Plus, the latest on Kim Asendorf’s groundbreaking new project PXL DEX.

Mentioned in the episode

Operator by OpenAI https://openai.com/index/introducing-operator/

AI Crypto & America https://medium.com/collab-currency/ai-crypto-and-america-f0c859a4ad86

Telepathy Tapes Podcast https://thetelepathytapes.com/

PXL DEX by Kim Asendorf https://opensea.io/collection/pxl-dex

Follow

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

• (00:00) - NFTs, Memecoins, and the New Gold Rush?

The Net Society crew (minus Derek) dives into the intersections of AI, crypto, and culture. Chris reflects on using AI tools to finish his latest book, sparking a discussion on technology’s role in creative workflows and the future of software engineers. The team explores the Crypto Ball, Bitcoin as a reserve asset, and predictions for Ethereum and CryptoPunks, addressing rumors about Yuga Labs selling their CryptoPunks holdings and what it means for NFTs. They also unpack how second-screen habits are reshaping media consumption and discuss Hollywood’s reinvention amid new challenges.

Mentioned in the episode

Chris finishes writing his current book https://x.com/ChrisF_0x/status/1880009373675921873

Cursor AI code editor https://x.com/cursor_ai

Thread on AI replacing software engineers https://x.com/signulll/status/1879589762073579857?s=46&t=3cJ-BS7Y1NeBdjntkS2hZQ

Geeks, MOPS, and sociopaths in subculture evolution https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths

Challengers soundtrack https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challengers_(soundtrack)

Follow

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

• (00:00) - The Role of AI in Creative and Workflows

In this episode of Net Society, Pri returns to the mic, and just as we get one co-host back, Aaron decides to ghost us for a hackathon. Pri shares her bold predictions for 2025, catching up on what she missed last week and sparking a lively discussion on how shifts in venture capital, regulatory clarity, and experimental funding could reshape tech and crypto markets. The team also unpacks Derek’s newly released essay, "AI, Crypto, and America," diving into how transformative technologies might redefine the American dream. Finally, they explore the buzz around Rodeo, the crypto art platform shaking up how collectors and artists connect, and the debates it's igniting in the digital art world. As always, it’s a spirited conversation blending insights, technology, and plenty of fun.

Mentioned in the episode

Bittensor https://bittensor.com/

AI, Crypto, and America (Derek) https://medium.com/collab-currency/ai-crypto-and-america-f0c859a4ad86

AI Predictions 1, 3, and 6 year https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jan/10/ai-predictions/

Follow

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

• (00:00) - Catching Up Pri’s Predictions for 2025

The NET Society crew (minus Pri) kicks off 2025 with bold predictions on crypto and AI, exploring Ethereum's growing dominance, the NFT market's revival, and the rise of staking-based ETFs. They discuss the evolution of meme coins, programmable NFTs, and the interplay between Bitcoin and Ethereum, while considering whether Bitcoin could surpass gold’s market cap. On the AI front, the team examines the push toward self-custody models and decentralized inference systems, all set against the backdrop of cheaper blockspace and the rise of consumer crypto. A fast-paced look at the trends shaping the future of tech and culture.

Mentioned in the episode
Zerebro https://x.com/0xzerebro
Zereborn https://magiceden.io/marketplace/zereborn
$MIRA and ZERO Token story https://cryptobriefing.com/zero-token-launch-controversy/

Follow

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

• (00:00) - Introduction

The NET Society crew (minus Pri) examines the evolving art of prompt engineering, as Aaron unveils plans for a New York meetup aimed at sharpening how we interact with AI systems. The discussion explores the current inefficiencies, the rise of chain-of-thought prompting, and whether future AI agents will outpace human-led creativity. Shifting gears, they reflect on the NFT market’s 2024 revival, from reanimated PFP projects to the search for more dynamic and programmable digital art. The conversation heats up with speculation on an OpenSea token and the ongoing marketplace wars, questioning whether a “PageRank moment” is on the horizon. Closing out, the team looks toward 2025, imagining a future where AI, art, and decentralized systems collide in unexpected ways. An insightful snapshot of technology, creativity, and the digital future in motion.

Mentioned in the episode

Clown Vamp exhibition in NYC https://x.com/ClownVamp/status/1869787639727206756

Pudgy Penguins launches token https://x.com/pudgypenguins/status/1869004982328213543

OpenSea launches OpenSea Foundation account https://x.com/opensea/status/1870121815982649823

Follow

Net Society: https://x.com/net__society

Derek Edwards: https://x.com/derekedws

Chris F: https://x.com/ChrisF_0x

Priyanka Desai: https://x.com/pridesai

Aaron Wright: https://x.com/awrigh01

• (00:00) - The Evolution of Prompt Engineering