Unsyndicated by Mason Nystrom

Unsyndicated by Mason Nystrom explores trends and innovations in cryptocurrency, web3, and decentralized finance, with a focus on the impact of technologies like AI, NFTs, and blockchain gaming on the economy and internet governance. It also covers venture capital movements in the crypto space, changes in consumer behavior due to tokens, and the evolution of internet infrastructure.

Cryptocurrency Web 3.0 Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) Blockchain Gaming Venture Capital Internet Governance Artificial Intelligence in Crypto Market Strategies Economic Impact of Technologies

The hottest Substack posts of Unsyndicated by Mason Nystrom

And their main takeaways

DePIN and DeREN: Toward a Better Classification of Decentralized Infrastructure Networks

137 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Infrastructure Marketplaces Hardware
  1. Decentralized infrastructure networks can be categorized into DePINs and DeRENs based on their unique properties.
  2. DePINs use non-fungible resources deployed in specific locations, while DeRENs use fungible resources that are location-independent.
  3. Successful networks in both categories unlock new demand or expand the market in unique ways, not just compete on price.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Joining Variant

294 implied HN points • 30 Jun 22
  1. Mason Nystrom is joining Variant as an Investment Partner.
  2. He will focus on investing in early-stage web3 consumer companies.
  3. Variant's focus is on supporting authentic founders across the entire web3 stack.

When Tokens Shape Behavior: Skeuomorphic vs Emergent Behavior

176 implied HN points • 18 Oct 22
  1. Consumer behavior can change rapidly due to new technologies, macro trends, or global events.
  2. Tokens in networks can influence and engineer new consumer behaviors intentionally or unintentionally.
  3. Skeuomorphic behavior mimics existing consumer actions, while emergent behavior introduces new formats and changes in consumer perception.

How Media Franchises & Brands Monetize Culture

157 implied HN points • 04 Oct 22
  1. PFP projects will likely monetize through selling physical and digital merchandise.
  2. Established media franchises make a significant part of their revenue from merchandise sales.
  3. Creating a cultural moment can propel PFP projects and NFT brands to become long-standing multi-billion dollar brands.

Tenderize: Web3 Infrastructure For Liquid Staking & Yield Generation

157 implied HN points • 01 Aug 22
  1. Tenderize offers a liquid staking protocol for web3 assets beyond Ethereum.
  2. Tenderize simplifies staking processes, allowing for easier delegation and liquidity.
  3. The time value of money is a key concept in Tenderize, providing immediate value and yield opportunities.

The Types of Value Graphs

58 implied HN points • 03 Nov 22
  1. Web3 platforms connect individuals based on ownership and value.
  2. Value graphs include social, interest, knowledge, location, activity, and ownership graphs.
  3. Blockchain networks create a global ownership graph showcasing economic and social connections.

The State of Crypto Gaming

117 implied HN points • 21 Feb 22
  1. Blockchain gaming is rapidly evolving with NFTs and in-game currencies.
  2. The global gaming market is expanding, driven by mobile gaming and new revenue models.
  3. NFTs are game changers, offering benefits like asset ownership and monetization opportunities.

The Flaws of Play to Earn

78 implied HN points • 05 Apr 22
  1. Play-to-earn games often have pay-to-win mechanics.
  2. Play-to-earn games require a significant upfront investment.
  3. Many players in play-to-earn games prioritize making money over enjoying the gameplay.

Web3 & NFT Q2'21 Report

137 implied HN points • 11 Jul 21
  1. The NFT market continues to grow despite media narratives of a bubble
  2. NFT avatars are a significant trend with projects generating millions in sales
  3. Web3 adoption is on the rise as various protocols are starting to hit their stride

Defining The Metaverse

78 implied HN points • 03 Mar 22
  1. The Metaverse is a concept with no clear definition yet, currently described as a massively-scaled, interconnected virtual world for socializing, working, and more.
  2. The definition of the Metaverse is not as important as its core properties, like composable data and shared experiences.
  3. Web3 technology will play a significant role in the infrastructure of the Metaverse, offering opportunities for interconnected experiences for users.

Web 3.0 Manifesto: Why Web 3.0 Matters

255 implied HN points • 17 Feb 20
  1. Web 3.0 is about democratizing the Internet and shifting control from corporations to the collective.
  2. The Internet has fundamentally changed the world, impacting economics, social interactions, and politics.
  3. Web 3.0 aims to prioritize individuals over wealthy elites, with a focus on democratization and decentralization.

The Unsyndicated Brief #1: Streetwear NFTs

98 implied HN points • 29 Aug 21
  1. The Hundreds entered the NFT world with unique perks for their NFTs, blending streetwear with exclusivity.
  2. Apple's App Store settlement allows developers to monetize outside the App Store, but convenience may still prevail.
  3. The fashion world is witnessing a new culture of brand ambassadors earning from NFTs, potentially reshaping the industry.

Defensible NFT Bazaars: How NFT Marketplaces Capture Value

19 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
🕹 Technology NFTs Marketplaces Liquidity Experiences Brand
  1. NFT marketplaces need to find ways to have unique liquidity to attract and retain users.
  2. Marketplaces can build defensibility through proprietary liquidity, enhanced NFT discovery experiences, and establishing strong branding.
  3. Creating unique NFT experiences, offering loyalty programs, and emphasizing trust and safety are key strategies for marketplace success.

3Box Labs & Ceramic Thesis: Building A Composable Data Layer

58 implied HN points • 16 Feb 22
  1. Data tends to concentrate in one place due to its gravity, leading to data monopolies.
  2. Ceramic Network enables composable data by making data public, portable, and easily accessible.
  3. User-centric data on Ceramic allows users to control their own information and allows applications to share data through open standards, fostering innovation.

The Life of an NFT Trader

58 implied HN points • 04 Jan 22
  1. Success in NFT trading can be challenging for retail investors
  2. OpenSea whitelisting impacts the potential return on NFT investments
  3. Top NFT traders tend to invest more in higher quality NFTs

The Nature of Venture

78 implied HN points • 20 Jul 21
  1. The nature of venture capital is evolving due to the commoditization of capital and the rise of crypto.
  2. Community pushback against traditional venture capital methods is increasing, showcasing a shift in power dynamics.
  3. Venture capitalists are facing more scrutiny and pressure from communities, leading to changes in deal terms and a need to prove the value they bring.

The Bear Case For Digital Real Estate

39 implied HN points • 18 Mar 22
  1. Digital land lacks the same network effects as physical land.
  2. Successful virtual worlds thrive on user-generated content and abundance.
  3. Computational limitations exist, affecting the simultaneous user capacity in virtual worlds.

Unsyndicated Brief #2: Rookie Cryptocurrencies

58 implied HN points • 14 Sep 21
  1. UCLA basketball player launched his own social token, $JROCK, on the Rally platform
  2. Facebook partnered with Ray-Ban to release smart glasses focusing on AR features
  3. Athletes like Jaylen Clark are exploring social tokens, bringing potential utility to their tokens

Time Scarce NFTs

58 implied HN points • 14 Sep 21
  1. In Runescape, skill capes were desirable because they were not tradeable and required time and effort to achieve.
  2. Time-scarce NFTs can enhance community by valuing labor or time over capital in acquiring digital assets.
  3. Integrating time or labor-intensive tasks into NFT acquisition can create unique NFT designs and more meaningful communities.

Approaches to Data Monetization

117 implied HN points • 12 Jul 20
  1. Data monetization can be approached through creating apps like 4th Wall that monetize data for charity.
  2. Building a two-sided marketplace for data is challenging due to the need for valuable data and demand from buyers.
  3. Regulatory reform, like the Data Dividend Project, is crucial to establish data property rights and compensate individuals for their data.

How to Get a Job in Web3

39 implied HN points • 10 Jan 22
  1. Working in Web3 (crypto) can impact many industries and offers opportunities for growth without a traditional career ladder.
  2. Surrounding yourself with exceptional people in Web3 can help you learn and grow faster.
  3. To get a job in Web3, focus on networking, stand out with quality applications, and leverage your strengths and unique skills.

Welcome to the Corona Recession

117 implied HN points • 16 Mar 20
  1. Consumer spending is a big part of the economy, so even a small decrease can lead to a recession.
  2. The Coronavirus pandemic will have long-lasting effects on social movements, remote work, and wealth distribution.
  3. There may be significant shifts in demographics, wealth distribution, and industries due to the impact of the pandemic.

Decentralizing the Front Page of the Internet

98 implied HN points • 12 Apr 20
  1. Reddit is rumored to be launching a Crypto wallet and token on Ethereum.
  2. Reddit's new token will introduce features like Community Points, Reputation, Memberships, and unique Voting system.
  3. The move for Reddit to launch a token raises questions about its financial strategy, value addition to the platform, and the utility of Community Points.

The Multichain NFT Market

39 implied HN points • 21 Oct 21
  1. The NFT market has officially surpassed $10 billion in secondary sales across various categories.
  2. Ethereum leads the NFT market with over $6 billion in secondary sales, followed by Axie Infinity's Ronin sidechain and Flow.
  3. The growth of the NFT market, despite fluctuations, is inevitable due to the availability of capital and willingness to build unique NFT products.

The NFT Asset Stack

39 implied HN points • 20 Aug 21
  1. The NFT landscape has evolved with multi-chain ecosystems like Ethereum and Flow becoming dominant.
  2. Different layers of the NFT asset stack include blockchains, storage solutions, consumer-facing applications, financialization layers, and aggregators.
  3. NFT assets are highly consumer-facing and attention-grabbing, advancing further into the cultural zeitgeist compared to DeFi.

Revolutionizing the Firm

78 implied HN points • 19 Jun 20
  1. Companies are legal constructs agreed upon by society for coordination and capital growth.
  2. Greater access to corporate governance can lead to improved decision-making and accountability.
  3. Experimentation with DAOs shows potential for new, more democratic forms of organization and governance.

Dollar Supremacy And The Rise of Fiat Stablecoins

78 implied HN points • 30 Mar 20
  1. The US dollar remains dominant globally, despite concerns about inflation.
  2. The rise of digital fiat currencies like a digital dollar and central bank digital currencies could streamline stimulus distribution.
  3. Fiat stablecoins have seen a resurgence during global crises to mitigate losses in volatile assets.

A Pragmatic Outlook on The Future of Work

58 implied HN points • 23 May 20
  1. Zoom and virtual conferences have become the norm for remote work.
  2. Prominent tech companies are embracing remote work as a long-term solution.
  3. Common critiques of remote work include communication challenges and social connection difficulties.

How PoolTogether is Reshaping the Lottery

58 implied HN points • 04 May 20
  1. PoolTogether offers a unique 'no-loss' lottery system where players can win without losing their money
  2. The platform presents a better alternative to traditional lotteries by using Ethereum smart contracts for transparency and efficiency
  3. PoolTogether's new feature 'Pods' allows users to pool funds and increase their chances of winning, promoting collaboration and trustless rewards distribution

Examining The DeFi Ecosystem And Its Existing User Base

58 implied HN points • 20 Apr 20
  1. DeFi user pain points include checking new protocols, dealing with price volatility, and managing earning/borrowing rates.
  2. DeFi is still experimental, with most users testing protocols rather than using them as savings accounts.
  3. Alethio's DeFi report highlights the DeFi ecosystem visuals, super users, and the impact of Black Thursday.

Liquidity vs. Ideology

58 implied HN points • 22 Mar 20
  1. In times of crisis, like Black Thursday, the decision between liquidity and ideology becomes a significant challenge in the crypto ecosystem.
  2. The addition of centralized stablecoins like USDC to the Dai collateral pool sparked debate on decentralization and the necessity of liquidity for protocols.
  3. Liquidity is key for the Maker protocol to grow, even if it means compromising on complete decentralization, as it attracts more users and strengthens the stability of the system.

NTX: NFT LIquidity

19 implied HN points • 15 Dec 21
  1. NFTX is a marketplace for buying and selling NFTs with unique features like vToken minting.
  2. NFTX provides benefits like earning yield on idle assets and instant liquidity for NFT owners.
  3. The NFTX protocol is governed by the NFTX DAO, which manages assets and aims to expand liquidity services.

2021 NFT Market Recap

19 implied HN points • 05 Dec 21
  1. The NFT market experienced significant growth in 2021 across various categories like gaming, sports, art, and collectibles.
  2. Ethereum continues to lead in NFT sales, but there is a growing trend towards multichain ecosystems.
  3. NFTs are transforming the way digital goods are bought, sold, and monetized, opening up new opportunities for creators, artists, and investors.

Solana NFTs

19 implied HN points • 03 Dec 21
  1. Solana's NFT ecosystem is rapidly growing with $650 million in total secondary sales volume.
  2. Top NFT projects on Solana include Degen Apes, Solana Monkey Business, and Aurory.
  3. While Ethereum still dominates total NFT secondary volumes, Solana is emerging as a major player in the NFT market.