GMAN.ΞTH's growth as a web3 leader is rooted in community and a vision for the future. How have his support of friends and enthusiasm for web3 principles contributed to his success? Learn more about GMAN.ΞTH in this interview with WagginWendy.
When and how did you get involved in web3?
I started buying a little crypto in 2017 and lived through the serious crypto winter that followed. Luckily I held through the pain and had a little ETH when NFTs hit my radar screen in early 2021.
The first two NFT collections I minted were VeeFriends and Punks Comic. Starting off with two of the top projects of 2021 was a bit of luck I'm very grateful for.
How many Rug Radio Genesis NFTs do you hold, and what drew you to the project?
I currently hold 124 genesis NFTs. My original plan was to get 3 or 4 just to support the project my friend Loxley was working on, but it was WETH season and people kept selling me Scarce 2 Rugs (40% more Rug yield) for under floor price - and I just couldn't stop myself. LOL.
The market was in full bear mode so I believe I provided a good service as a liquidity provider for community members that needed it during those months . . . so it was win-win.
As far as getting interested in the project - it was one reason - Loxley. We met at Veecon last year and I was really impressed with his entrepreneurial story and . . . more importantly . . . how he thinks about web3. He was in the early days of helping Rug Radio architect their DAO infrastructure and was thinking about the core concepts that we are all excited about for the future - community, governance, incentive structures, etc. I had a surface understanding of how the new web3 rails were going to change the future of the internet, but it was the first time I had met someone who thought so deeply about these foundational concepts and was putting in massive effort to help bring them to life. He is also one of the best communicators in the space - I hope to see him on more stages in the coming years to educate others on these topics.
Can you tell me about your PFP, Punk #2061?
I've wanted a Punk since I first learned about NFTs but thought they were forever out of reach. In fact, I bought my first Ape because a friend told me they were the "poor man's punk"! LOL
I would often change my PFP on Twitter to support my favorite projects but it was pretty clear that it wasn't helping me on the timeline so I decided I needed to get a more permanent PFP - it was time for a Punk! I know some people love the more 'punkish' traits but I love my bearded cap wearer . . . my digital twin. :)
Punk #2061 is the closest thing I have to a forever NFT but if I ever get my grail Hoodie Punk then #2061 will lose his spot.
What’s your focus in web3, and what other types of work do you do?
I've owned a software business for 20+ years, but I quickly became obsessed with the web3 space in 2021 and knew I needed to build something in the space. That summer, I co-founded the first fast rarity tool called freshdrops, and it was a huge success attracting some of the biggest names in the space. I remember the day Pranksy bought a pass and thought . . . I think we made it. :) Freshdrops was taken over by my co-founder at the start of 2022 and is still providing some of the best rarity data for NFTs in the space.
Over the last couple months I've started to spend a lot of my time helping in a more substantial way inside the Rug Radio ecosystem as a technical advisor. Putting my 20 years of software development experience to work to help Rug Radio realize their vision of building a top-tier decentralized media company is very fulfilling. And . . . as a sizeable rug holder . . . you could say that incentives are aligned. :)
What would you like to see Rug Radio accomplish in the coming year?
I would love to see Rug Radio start to build out a scalable tech platform that equally benefits the network, creators (including creators outside of the Rug Radio network) and the audience. It's a big job but one that I am excited to help out with where I can. We are hard at work planning for the rest of the year, and I expect a plan will be presented a few weeks out.
What is your favorite non-web3 interest or hobby?
I love to travel - especially when it involves climbing up very big hills. My biggest trip so far was to Nepal where I did the Everest Basecamp Trek with 3 friends.
WagginWendy got to know GMAN.ΞTH not only through Rug Radio but through his steadfast support of Happy Goat, the first web3 native non-profit. Happy Goat operates an 1850-acre regenerative farm near Yosemite National Park and works to promote food justice, provide education and resources to residents, and fight climate change. Thank you, GMAN.ΞTH, for the opportunity to share your web3 journey!
Gm Gm, Really loving this piece and the work you do here. I also run a web3 news substack for underrepresented creators called Facesofweb3. Would you be open to a recommendation exchange? Our subscribers need to be able to find each other!
Great job, once again!