Introduction

Week 41 of Coffee with Captain brought us a mix of exciting developments and thought-provoking discussions. From the Dookey Dash eSports tournament to the potential revamp of ApeCoin DAO, we explored the evolving landscape of web3 gaming and governance. We also journeyed into the ongoing mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto, the misconceptions surrounding NFTs, and the future of AI and autonomous technology. The week was rounded off with discussions on crypto airdrops and the sale of the once-hyped 10KTF collection by Yuga Labs.

In case you missed any of the shows, below is a small recap of each day with links to the podcast on Apple and Spotify. Links to other streaming platforms can be found on our buzzsprout page. Check out the timestamp if you want to catch the specific interviews. 

Monday

Dookey Dash eSports Tournament Highlights + AIP 466’s Push for a Leaner DAO

The Coffee Crew discussed AIP 466, which aims to disband the ApeCoin DAO’s four working groups and shift towards hiring third-party services. This move is intended to cut down on the DAO’s $3 million annual expenses and ensure long-term sustainability. Cap and Steve agree that something overall needs to change with the structure of the DAO.

We also talked about the Dookey Dash tournament, which brought the excitement of eSports to the BAYC ecosystem. The grand prize was $20k in ApeCoin, sponsored by the ApeCoin DAO. Cap thinks there is an awesome way to integrate eSports into the BAYC ecosystem, potentially unlocking a new avenue for web3 gaming.

ENS: The More You Know

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, a young programmer who first got into Bitcoin at 17, had an ambitious idea: why stop at just digital money? He wanted a blockchain that could support decentralized applications—so he wrote a whitepaper for Ethereum, imagining a world where you could code ‘unstoppable apps’ on-chain. The story goes that Vitalik came up with the name ‘Ethereum’ after scrolling through a list of sci-fi-sounding words online—it just clicked, sounding futuristic, like the internet of tomorrow.

Despite initial skepticism, he gathered a small team of co-founders, including Joseph Lubin and Gavin Wood, and they launched a public crowdsale in 2014. That sale raised over $18 million in Bitcoin, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Early on, they ran their operations out of a shared house in Switzerland that they called the ‘Spaceship’—a nod to their mission to launch something groundbreaking. 

By 2015, Ethereum was live, and Vitalik’s vision started taking shape. Today, ETH is arguably the backbone of Web3, thanks to that initial vision and a lot of late-night coding sessions in that makeshift Swiss ‘Spaceship.’

Check this episode out on Apple and Spotify.

Tuesday

Satoshi Speculation Heats Up + Harpie’s Mission to Simplify Web3 Security

With HBO’s documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery” set to air, speculation about Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity intensified. Steve thinks it’s Hal Finney, citing several pieces of evidence to support his theory. My thoughts? I actually think it’s a group of people and some of the traditional suspects implicated had a role.

Daniel Chong, cofounder of Harpie, joined the Coffee Crew to discuss their crypto security software. Daniel hopes that in the future, people won’t need to spend a lot of time being educated in web3 security to be secure. He envisions Harpie being integrated into all access points of web3, making security seamless for users.

Harpie Hack of the Week

In the world of crypto, the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto has always been a mystery. But in 2020, that mystery became a weapon. A hacker managed to hijack an old email account tied to Satoshi, using it to impersonate the elusive Bitcoin creator. The hacker claimed to have inside knowledge of Satoshi’s identity, convincing people to send Bitcoin to a specific address supposedly linked to Satoshi’s original wallets. The ruse worked—over $1.2 million worth of Bitcoin was sent to this address. This incident served as a stark reminder: even in a decentralized space, vigilance is key. The allure of Satoshi’s name can still be exploited, proving that trust can be costly in the world of crypto. For listeners, it’s a lesson to always verify, never rely on reputations alone, and as we so often say, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Check this episode out on Apple and Spotify.

Wednesday

Why NFTs Are More Than Just JPEGs

The Coffee Crew discussed the knowledge gap when it comes to crypto, NFTs, and blockchain in general, prompted by Joe Rogan’s podcast conversation with Paul Rosolie. Steve emphasized that NFTs are more than just overpriced pictures, highlighting their applications in credentials, ticketing, gaming assets, loyalty programs, combating deep fakes, connected clothing, and proof of ownership/authenticity for physical products.

We also touched on ZachXBT’s controversial post linking 11 wallets to Murad Mahmudov, which sparked a debate about accountability versus privacy in the crypto space. Some people loved that Murad is being held accountable and others think Zach was wrong for doxxing his wallets. I don’t really have much of an opinion on the matter as Zach has always been a good actor in web3.

ENS: The More You Know

Murad Mahmudov is a well-known Bitcoin advocate and analyst who previously served as the Chief Information Officer at Adaptive Capital, a crypto hedge fund that aimed to leverage data-driven analysis for Bitcoin trading. However, in early 2020, Adaptive Capital shut down after the dramatic market crash that March. The fund faced significant challenges due to extreme volatility and liquidity issues, leading them to return funds to investors. This experience highlighted the risks of operating in such a volatile market, even for seasoned analysts.

Despite this setback, Mahmudov remains a respected voice in the crypto community, continuing to share insights on Bitcoin’s long-term value and its potential to reshape global finance. He’s also weighed in on the rise of memecoins, noting their role in driving new interest and liquidity into the market. His calls have seen early success, with him developing an almost cult-like following.

Check this episode out on Apple and Spotify.

Thursday

Revamping Airdrops + Tackling AI Biases

The Coffee Crew discussed how recent crypto airdrops have been underwhelming compared to 2021. Cap thinks there will be a shift in farming tokens with platforms like ApeChain and Abstract, focusing more on incentivizing active participation through dApps rather than “spam farming”.

AI with Bunchu

Bunchu joined the Coffee Crew explore the potential role of biases in AI models. Do AI models inherently have bias because of the training data? There are currently studies going on to figure that out.

The discussion touched on the importance of sample size, chain-of-thought reasoning in AI models, and the need for unbiased LLMs. Right now, you can include prompts like “present all sides” or “what are the positives and negatives” to help alleviate biased answers.

Ape Ecosystem Update with Lost

Lost shared insights with Coffee Crew on potential challenges of transitioning ApeCoin to an omnichain model. Cap asked what might be next in terms of leadership and administration at the DAO. Lost wants to move ApeCoin to ApeChain by upgrading the token contract to an omnichain contract, which allows for different use cases for the token. However, it presents an issue because there will be tokens on Ethereum, Arbitrum and ApeChain. So their platform will have to represent and account for all the tokens, but right now it’s not their yet.

Check this episode out on Apple and Spotify.

Friday

Tesla’s Robotaxi + Yuga Labs Sells 10KTF

The Coffee Crew discussed Tesla’s unveiling of the Optimus Robot and the new driverless Robotaxi, debating whether people are ready to embrace AI and autonomous technology or if fear of a dystopian future holds them back.

The conversation then shifted to Yuga Labs selling 10KTF, a once-hyped NFT collection. Steve never understood the ecosystem, but Cap did enjoy what 10KTF was doing with their story. Cap believes it may be years before we see a viable wearables economy, which made it difficult for 10KTF to reach its full potential.

ENS: The More You Know

Let’s dive into the story of 10KTF—a project that came out of nowhere and quickly became one of the most talked-about collections in the NFT world. It all started with an enigmatic figure named Wagmi-san, a fictional digital craftsman hinting at a hidden world where you could customize wearables for popular PFPs like Bored Apes, Cool Cats, and more. The whole thing had an air of mystery, with cryptic drops, interactive lore, and storytelling that kept the community hooked.

The mechanics behind 10KTF drove excitement, allowing holders to craft digital wearables for their avatars, like shoes, backpacks, and other accessories, creating a deeper connection between your PFP and the virtual world. Missions, battles, and crafting challenges kept collectors engaged, making it more than just a set of images. Each drop felt like a new chapter, a puzzle that only the most dedicated could piece together.

At first, no one knew who was behind it, which only added to the intrigue. But as the story unfolded, it became clear that WeNew Labs and digital artist Beeple were behind the curtain, crafting this unique blend of narrative and utility. Then came the twist that got everyone talking—Yuga Labs acquired 10KTF as part of their bigger play to expand their metaverse vision. But as time went on, the ecosystem became more and more confusing, the usage for the wearables seemed less clear, and less people interacted with the collection.

Now the collection has sold off, as Yuga continues to renew its focus on a few key themes.

Check this episode out on Apple and Spotify.

Wrap Up

Week 41 of Coffee with Captain showcased the dynamic nature of the web3 space, from governance challenges in DAOs to the evolving landscape of NFTs and digital assets. The discussions on AI biases and the future of autonomous technology highlighted the intersection of blockchain with other cutting-edge technologies. As the crypto world continues to mature, we’re seeing a shift in how projects approach user engagement and value creation, exemplified by the changing airdrop strategies and the sale of once-popular NFT collections. As always, Coffee with Captain continues to provide insights into the rapidly changing world of blockchain and its wider implications. If you missed Week 40, be sure to catch up here.

Be sure to check out:

• The Everything Token: A Book on Web3 and NFTs
• Making Coffee: Our Official Coffee Partner (Coffee with Captain sponsors)
• ENS: Ethereum Naming Service (Coffee with Captain sponsors)
• Harpie: The Onchain Firewall (Coffee with Captain sponsors)