In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, host Dan sits down with Sovereign, CEO of the global movement CTRL, to explore his journey into Bitcoin, his leadership philosophy, and the groundbreaking work at CTRL. They discuss the transformative power of Bitcoin, Ordinals theory, and the cultural impact of digital collectibles. Sovereign shares insights on the challenges of centralized finance, the ethos behind CTRL, and their bold initiatives driving awareness and change in the financial landscape.

• Sovereign’s journey into Bitcoin and early insights

• The rise of Bitcoin Ordinals and its impact on digital ownership

• The origins and bold beginnings of the CTRL movement

• The mission, vision, and ethos behind CTRL

• Challenges of centralized finance and the push for decentralization

• Building a community and CTRL’s future plans

• Collaborations and innovations in Ordinals

• What’s next for CTRL and the future of digital sovereignty

"Bitcoin isn’t just a currency—it’s a revolution in ownership and autonomy." – Sovereign

"Decentralization isn’t about technology alone; it’s about shifting power back to individuals." – Dan

1. Bitcoin and Ordinals are redefining digital ownership and challenging traditional financial structures.

2. CTRL is more than a movement—it’s a bold initiative pushing for financial sovereignty and awareness.

3. Community-building and collaboration are essential for driving real change in decentralized finance.

4. The future of digital ownership lies in empowering individuals to take control of their assets and identities.

Sovereign is the CEO of CTRL, a global movement dedicated to reshaping financial and digital ownership paradigms. With a deep background in Bitcoin and decentralization, he is leading innovative projects that challenge centralized finance and promote individual autonomy in the digital age.

📢 X: https://t.me/hellometaversal 🔗

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true 🌐

Website: https://www.metaversal.gg

In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, host [Host Name] sits down with Amanda Schmidt, a visionary curator and art advisor, to explore the integration of digital art into the traditional art world. Amanda shares her journey, insights on NFTs, and the transformative potential they hold for artists and collectors. The conversation delves into her experience with digital ownership, her role in landmark NFT acquisitions, and her perspective on the future of art markets in the Web3 era.

• Amanda Schmidt’s background and achievements
• Her transition from traditional art to digital and NFTs
• Challenges and opportunities in the art fair industry
• Advising traditional collectors on digital art
• The Bright Moments experience and the art of minting
• Navigating the digital art ecosystem and collecting trends
• The future of art galleries, museums, and digital ownership

"NFTs aren’t just a medium; they’re a movement redefining ownership and access." – Amanda Schmidt

"Collectors who embrace digital art today are shaping the museums of tomorrow." – [Host Name]

1. NFTs and digital art are reshaping the traditional art world, creating new opportunities for artists and collectors.
2. Traditional collectors are gradually adopting digital art, but education and curation are crucial for bridging the gap.
3. Platforms like Bright Moments are pioneering new ways for artists to engage with audiences through blockchain technology.
4. The future of art galleries and museums will increasingly blend physical and digital experiences, changing how art is displayed and owned.

Amanda Schmidt is a curator and art advisor specializing in digital art and NFTs. With a background in traditional art markets and a deep understanding of blockchain technology, Amanda has played a key role in landmark NFT acquisitions and advising collectors navigating the evolving digital art landscape.

📢 X: https://t.me/hellometaversal

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true

🌐 Website: https://www.metaversal.gg

Key Topics Discussed:Notable Quotes:Key Takeaways:Guest Bio:Connect with Guest:

In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, hosts Dan sits down with Nir Efrat, CEO of Virtually Human Studio, to explore the evolution of digital ownership through the lens of Zed, a pioneering virtual horse racing platform.Key Topics DiscussedNir's 25-year journey through the gaming industryThe rise and fall of Zed Run during the NFT boomThe challenges of transitioning a Web3 product after market declineThe reimagined Zed Champions platform launching March 2025Expanding the ecosystem with Zed Pix for spectators and pickersAbstracting away blockchain technology to improve user experienceGlobal expansion strategy and competitive landscapeNotable Quotes"Many of the games at the time started by 'we're going to sell you some NFTs... and one day you can use it in a game, maybe.' Many of those promises never came to fruition." - Nir Efrat"I made the very strong revelation that the game might not be salvageable. However, there are lots of cool elements in the game... can we take elements that were exciting about the game and rebuild it in a way that will address all the other issues?" - Nir EfratKey Take AwaysSuccessful Web3 products must prioritize utility and experience over speculationFirst-time user experience is critical - complex onboarding processes deter new usersAbstracting away blockchain technology improves accessibility for mainstream usersStrategic company pivots require balancing logical analysis with empathy for existing teams and communitiesGuest BioNir Efrat is CEO of Virtually Human Studio, the company behind Zed. With a background spanning 25 years in gaming and digital entertainment, Nir brings a unique perspective on bridging traditional gaming and Web3. Previously, he held leadership roles at Take-Two Interactive, Dots, and King, and has expertise in mobile gaming, esports, and blockchain-based digital economies.Virtually Humans: ⁠https://www.vhslab.com/ ⁠X: ⁠https://t.me/hellometaversal⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true⁠Website: ⁠https://www.metaversal.gg⁠

In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, hosts sit down with Stephen Gay, Co-Founder and CEO, and John Finger, COO, of Mode Maison Labs, to explore how their innovative digital platform is transforming luxury retail. They discuss how Mode Maison Labs blends cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling to redefine digital ownership, the future of personalized and sustainable luxury goods, and the role of AI in shaping the industry. The conversation also covers the challenges of evolving traditional retail models and the potential impact of generative AI on commerce.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Stephen’s journey from Ralph Lauren to ModeMaison Labs

• Challenges in traditional retail storytelling

• The evolution and future of digital retail

• Understanding Digital Core and its impact

• The role of TMAC in digital product creation

• Ownership and the future of digital twins

• Royalty models in the digital world

• Building a talented team at ModeMaison Labs

• The importance of proprietary data

• Exploring world models in AI

• The future of AI in commerce and retail

• Personal reflections on ownership

Notable Quotes:

"Luxury is about storytelling, and digital ownership allows us to extend that story in new ways." — Stephen Gay

"AI is not just a tool; it’s a collaborator in redefining commerce." — John Finger

Key Takeaways:

1. Luxury retail is evolving—AI and digital platforms are enabling new forms of personalized and sustainable luxury.

2. Storytelling is at the heart of digital ownership, and companies like ModeMaison Labs are pioneering immersive experiences.

3. Generative AI will reshape commerce, offering new ways to design, sell, and own products.

4. Proprietary data is the future—companies investing in unique digital assets will have a competitive edge.

Guest Bio:

Stephen Gay is the Co-Founder and CEO of ModeMaison Labs, with a background in fashion and digital innovation. He previously worked at Ralph Lauren, where he honed his expertise in luxury brand storytelling.

John Finger is the COO of ModeMaison Labs, specializing in the intersection of technology, commerce, and digital ownership. His work focuses on creating seamless, AI-driven experiences for the future of retail.

Connect with ModeMaison Labs:

Website:modemaisonlabs.com

LinkedIn:ModeMaison Labs

Connect With Us:

X:https://t.me/hellometaversal

LinkedIn:Metaversal

Website:https://www.metaversal.gg

In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, host Dan sits down with Dr. Sian Proctor, astronaut, Afrofuturist artist, and space advocate, at the Time to Be Happy gallery to explore the intersection of space exploration, art, and digital ownership.

Topics Discussed

• Dr. Proctor's historic achievement as the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft

• The fusion of Afrofuturism, space exploration, and digital art

• Taking NFTs to space during the Inspiration4 mission

• Time to Be Happy gallery's innovative clock designs by Benzi

• The evolution of ownership across physical and digital realms

• Web3 technologies and their impact on creative collaboration

• Reimagining work, time, and happiness through artistic expression

  
  

  Notable Quotes

"I took an NFT to space because ownership in the digital age is just as powerful as exploration in the physical world." - Dr. Sian Proctor "Art isn't just what we create—it's how we see time, space, and our place in the universe." - Benzi

Key Take Aways:

1. Space exploration offers unique perspectives that can transform artistic expression and our understanding of ownership

2. Digital ownership through NFTs creates new possibilities for artists to extend their work beyond traditional boundaries

3. The intersection of physical galleries and digital art forms represents the evolving nature of creative spaces

4. Afrofuturism provides a powerful framework for imagining more inclusive technological futures

Dr. Sian Proctor is a groundbreaking astronaut who made history as the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft. Beyond her achievements in space, she is an acclaimed Afrofuturist artist, poet, and advocate for inclusive space exploration. With a background as a geoscience professor, Dr. Proctor bridges scientific knowledge with artistic expression, advocating for new ownership models in both physical and digital realms.

Connect with Dr Sian 

Website: https://drsianproctor.com/about

X: https://x.com/DrSianProctor

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sianproctor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsianproctor/

Connect with Benzi 

Website:https://www.benzistudio.com/time-to-be-happy 

X: https://x.com/benzistudio 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benzistudio/?hl=en 

Connect With Us:

Website:⁠ https://www.metaversal.gg⁠

X:https://t.me/hellometaversal

 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true 

In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, host Dan sits down with Steve McKeon, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Collab Currency, to explore the evolution of blockchain, Web3, and digital ownership.

Key Take Aways

• Steve's journey from academia to entrepreneurship

• The founding story of Skyward and Collab Currency

• Tokenization and real-world asset integration

• The evolving landscape of NFTs and their utility

• Meme coins as financialized entertainment

• Decentralized AI and its role in Web3

• Regulatory challenges facing the crypto ecosystem

• Personal reflections on early ownership experiences

  
  

  
  

1. The tokenization of real-world assets represents a significant frontier for blockchain technology

2. NFTs continue to evolve beyond digital art into utility-focused applications

3. Meme coins serve as a form of financialized entertainment within the crypto ecosystem

4. Decentralized AI presents new opportunities for ownership and value creation in Web3

   
   

   Guest Bio:

Steve McKeon is Co-founder and Managing Partner at Collab Currency. With a background spanning academia and entrepreneurship, Steve founded Skyward before launching Collab Currency. His expertise in blockchain economics and digital ownership has positioned him as a thought leader in the Web3 space.

Connect with Guest:

X: https://x.com/Collab_Currency

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smckeon/

Website: https://www.collabcurrency.com/ 

Connect with Us:

X:https://t.me/hellometaversal 

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true 

Website:https://www.metaversal.gg

In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, Dan sit down with Connor Moore, Co-founder and COO at MetaStreet, to explore the future of digital asset lending and NFT-backed loans.

Key Topics Discussed:

• NFT-backed loan markets and liquidity solutions

• MetaStreet's debt protocols and capital access in Web3

• Fractional ownership structures

• Real-world asset tokenization

• GPU-based lending products

• Risk management in digital asset lending

• Evolution of debt markets in crypto

Key Takeaways:

- MetaStreet is transforming liquidity access by enabling NFT holders to use digital assets as loan collateral

- The company has achieved record-breaking loan volumes and secured significant funding rounds

- Real-world asset tokenization represents the next frontier for blockchain-based lending

- GPU-based lending products demonstrate how Web3 financial models can extend beyond purely digital assets

Guest Bio:

Connor Moore is Co-founder and COO at MetaStreet. With expertise in digital asset markets, Connor has helped position MetaStreet at the forefront of the NFT-backed loan ecosystem, creating innovative debt protocols that reshape how capital flows through Web3 environments.

Connect with Guest:

X: https://x.com/_ConorMoore

https://x.com/metastreetxyz 

Website: https://metastreet.xyz/ 

Connect With Us:

X: https://t.me/hellometaversal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true

Website: https://www.metaversal.gg

In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, host Dan sits down with Jerome Faury, CEO at Immersive, to explore the evolution of payment systems from Web2 to Web3 and the future of crypto transactions.

Key topics discussed:

• Jerome's journey from early programming to payments innovation

• Immersive's origin story and founding vision

• SaaS-based payment systems evolution

• Strategic partnerships with Citibank, Mastercard, and major brands

• QR code innovations for Web3 payments

• Regulatory challenges and compliance strategies

• Tokenization experiments (including Coca-Cola)

• Global expansion and market dynamics

• Leadership philosophy and team building

  
  

  Key Takeaways

1. Bridging Web2 and Web3 payment systems is crucial for mainstream crypto adoption

2. Strategic partnerships with established financial institutions provide legitimacy for blockchain payment solutions

3. Regulatory compliance and engagement are essential for sustainable growth in the crypto payments space

4. Customer engagement and real-world use cases drive innovation in payment technologies

   
   

Guest Bio:

Jerome Faury is CEO at Immersive, a portfolio company specializing in crypto payment solutions. With a background in technology and payments dating back to the late 90s, Jerome brings extensive experience from developing early e-commerce solutions to creating SaaS-based payment systems. His work with major companies like Citibank and Mastercard has positioned him at the forefront of bridging traditional finance with Web3 innovations.

Connect with Jerome:

X: https://x.com/JFaury

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromefaury/

Website: https://immersve.com/company/

Connect With Us:

X:https://t.me/hellometaversal

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true

Website:https://www.metaversal.gg

The second instalment of our two-part conversation with Lumen Studios.

In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, we continue our conversation with Gillian Varney, CEO of Lumen Prize and Lumen Studios, and Jack Addis, Director of Lumen Studios, diving deeper into Lumen's impact on digital art and its future vision.

Key Topics Discussed:

- Lumen's rigorous judging process and international selection committee

- The growth from 700 to nearly 2,000 applicants in recent years

- Innovative artist works that challenge traditional digital art concepts

- Lumen Studios' global exhibitions and institutional collaborations

- Community engagement initiatives and the concept of "third spaces"

- The future vision of digital art in everyday spaces

Notable Quotes:

"To become a finalist was to be in the top 4 percent of all applications." - Gillian Varney

"I'm trying to really engage audiences with art through technology where they feel they can maybe have a hand in that and kind of understand something and learn something at the same time." - Jack Addis

Key Takeaways:

- Lumen's judging process involves multiple expert reviewers and a strict conflict of interest policy

- Award-winning works go beyond traditional digital art, including haptic technology and AI-driven sound-based imagery

- Lumen Studios has conducted over 70 commissions and exhibitions worldwide

There's a growing focus on making digital art accessible in community spaces and "third spaces"

Guest Bios: Gillian Varney is CEO of Lumen Prize and Lumen Studios. With a background in fine art storage, logistics, and art curation, Gillian brings a unique perspective on the intersection of traditional and digital art worlds.

Jack Addis is Director of Lumen Studios. With a background in digital art since age 18 and experience as an art technician, Jack has been instrumental in building Lumen's presence since 2015.

Connect with Lumen:

Lumen Prize Categories 2025 (Going live on January 31st, 2025): https://www.lumenprize.com/categories

Lumen Prize Website: https://www.lumenprize.com

Lumen Prize Twitter: https://x.com/lumenprize

Artists Mentioned:

Christian Kohl - Digital Art

Operator - Generative Art Award 2023

Keiken - Haptic Womb

Diego Trujillo Pisante - Lights AI Trained to Sounds of Mexico City

NonoTak - Eclipse Exhibition

Phaidon - Book Publishers

Connect With Us:

X: https://t.me/hellometaversal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true

Website: https://www.metaversal.gg

In this episode of Reimagine Ownership, hosts Dan sits down with Gillian Varney, CEO of Lumen Prize and Lumen Studios, and Jack Addis, Director of Lumen Studios, to explore the evolution of digital art and Lumen's rich legacy of supporting artists at the intersection of art and technology.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The history and evolution of digital art since the 1960s

• The challenges of selling and collecting digital art before blockchain technology

• Lumen's origin story and mission to support digital artists globally

• The democratization of digital art and making it accessible to new audiences

• The transformation of art ownership through blockchain technology

• Lumen's impressive reach across 65 countries and gender parity in submissions

• The sophisticated intersection of technology and various art forms, including choreography

Notable Quotes:

"Artists have always used new tools, and with the rise of any technology, creative people will take advantage and learn how to use that once it becomes available to them." - Jack Addis

"Digital art really maintains an intimate connection between the viewer and the work itself. And there's far less time spent on maintenance and care and storage and you can really get to the meat very quickly." - Gillian Varney

Key Takeaways:

1. Digital art has a rich history dating back to the 1960s, contrary to common perception of it being a recent phenomenon

2. Blockchain technology has revolutionized how digital artists can monetize and sell their work

3. Lumen has supported over 900 artists across 65 countries, maintaining a unique 50-50 gender parity in submissions

4. Digital art encompasses more than static images - it includes various forms like choreography merged with technology

Guest Bios: Gillian Varney is CEO of Lumen Prize and Lumen Studios. With a background in fine art storage, logistics, and art curation, Gillian brings a unique perspective on the intersection of traditional and digital art worlds.

Jack Addis is Director of Lumen Studios. With a background in digital art since age 18 and experience as an art technician, Jack has been instrumental in building Lumen's presence since 2015.

Connect with Lumen

• Lumen Prize Categories 2025 (Going live on January 31st, 2025):⁠ https://www.lumenprize.com/categories⁠

• Lumen Prize Website:⁠ https://www.lumenprize.com⁠

• Lumen Prize Twitter:⁠ https://x.com/lumenprize⁠

Artists Mentioned:

• Christian Kohl - Digital Art

• Operator - Generative Art Award 2023

• Keiken - Haptic Womb

• Diego Trujillo Pisante - Lights AI Trained to Sounds of Mexico City

• NonoTak - Eclipse Exhibition

• Phaidon - Book Publishers

Connect With Us:

X:https://t.me/hellometaversal

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/metaversal/?viewAsMember=true

Website:https://www.metaversal.gg