Nuclear Weapons to NFT Worlds: How One Builder Discovered That Web3 Success Isn't Just About the Money; It's About Rethinking How to Build Communities People Want to Join

Fun fact: Meta has burned through $13 billion trying to build the metaverse, losing about $1 billion monthly with virtually nothing to show for it. Metaverse Statistics 2025: Usage, Users, Market Size, Projections & Key Data - Skillademia Meanwhile, reports suggest that Meta's flagship social VR app Horizon Worlds is failing to attract users 75+ Latest Meta Statistics & Facts for 2025 despite all that cash. It's like watching someone spend a fortune on the world's most expensive party that nobody wants to attend.

The problem isn't just Meta. Across the industry, virtual worlds are struggling with the same challenge: how do you build digital communities that don't feel like expensive ghost towns?

While most companies are throwing money at better graphics and fancier headsets, there's a different school of thought emerging. Some builders are focusing less on the technology and more on the psychology of what makes people actually want to hang out together online.

Meet Russ Franklin, a former nuclear weapons guard who's been experimenting with community building since 2017. His path from military security to NFT pioneer to his current project, Hubzz, reads like a masterclass in opportunistic hustle. But it's his unconventional approach to building relationships that might hold the key to solving the metaverse's biggest problem.

What makes Russ' story compelling isn't his background or credentials. It's that he figured out how to get hired by some of the biggest names in Web3 using nothing but curiosity and a willingness to fix things nobody asked him to fix.

The Logo Critic Who Accidentally Became an Entrepreneur

Fresh out of the military, Russ was doing what most of us do when we're figuring out life: consuming random documentaries and falling down internet rabbit holes. He stumbled across stories about virtual worlds like Entropia Universe, where someone bought a digital planet for $300k, fractionalized it, and started making millions annually.

"It wasn't that I was pursuing that," Russ clarifies. "I just thought it was fascinating that was even possible on the internet."

When he discovered NFTs through Trust Wallet's six available options (back when OpenSea was still in beta), something clicked. But here's where it gets interesting: instead of immediately launching his own project, Russ did something most founders are too proud to do.

He started fixing other people's problems for free.

"I told a guy his logo sucked, and I redid it for him," Russ laughs. "But the reason why I redid it for him is because I wanted to be the icon people tapped on whenever they opened the application."

FOUNDER LESSON #1: Start by fixing problems for free, not building products for profit.

Don't start with a grand vision and a five-year plan. Start by finding broken stuff in your daily workflow and fixing it.

Example: Frustrated that DAO governance discussions happen across five different platforms? Build a simple tool that aggregates everything in one place. Start there, then expand.

The High Agency Hustle That Opened Every Door

"I would do a lot of this stuff for free because I'm the type of person where I see a problem and I just want to fix it," Russ explains. "I'd put together a proposal and they're like, 'Oh my gosh, we haven't even thought about this stuff.'"

This approach landed him early roles at Axie Infinity and even Nifty Gateway (before the Winklevoss twins acquired it for Gemini). Not because he had an Ivy League MBA or an uncle who works at Goldman Sachs, but because he saw problems and solved them before anyone asked. He also gained valuable experience working at Stacks, which became an important learning foundation for him.

FOUNDER LESSON #2: High agency beats high credentials every single time.

Stop waiting for permission to contribute. If you see something broken in a project you care about, build a solution and present it. The worst case? They say no. The best case? You just earned yourself a seat at the table.

Example: Notice that your favorite DeFi protocol has terrible user onboarding? Create a simple walkthrough guide, share it publicly, and send it to their team.

The NFT Showcase Epiphany

Fast forward through Russ' journey working with major IPs like Paramount Pictures and Legendary Studios. He was helping traditional companies understand NFTs and create release strategies, but something was bothering him.

"It's like, do you even have it? Tree falls in a forest, if no one's there to see it, did it really fall? Same thing with collectibles. You need a way to showcase, right?"

Look, Russ had one of those lightbulb moments that probably made him want to smack himself in the forehead. All these people dropping serious cash on NFTs weren't doing it to admire their purchases in private. They wanted to show them off! But somehow, every single platform in existence made displaying your expensive digital collectibles feel about as glamorous as filing your taxes.

FOUNDER LESSON #3: The biggest opportunities hide in assumptions everyone accepts without questioning.

The real insight isn't always about building something completely new. Sometimes it's about questioning assumptions that an entire industry has accepted without thinking.

Example: Everyone accepts that Web3 onboarding is complicated, but what if you built a tool that made wallet creation as simple as signing up for Instagram?

The Clubhouse Connection

The final piece came from an unexpected source: Clubhouse. Remember that audio-only social platform that exploded during the pandemic?

"It was originally inspired by Clubhouse," Russ admits. "The accessibility, the ease of access, and the fact that I could pop into a group chat at the end of my day and kind of feel like I'm a part of something."

But here's the genius part: instead of just copying Clubhouse, Russ combined that effortless social discovery with the NFT showcase problem he'd identified. What if you could drop into virtual spaces as easily as joining a Clubhouse room, but also display your digital collectibles and connect with people who shared your interests?

This became the core vision for Hubzz, his current project in development.

FOUNDER LESSON #4: Innovation comes from combining existing solutions, not reinventing everything.

Look at what works in other industries and ask: "How could this solve problems in my space?" The best ideas often come from cross-pollinating successful concepts.

Example: Love how TikTok's algorithm surfaces relevant content? Apply that same discovery mechanism to Web3 communities.

The Community Building Secret Nobody Talks About

"My benefit was that I had just been living in this space since 2017, so I had literally developed relationships. It literally takes two years to really get to know someone, like truly."

The insight hit him hard: real communities aren't built through marketing campaigns or airdrop mechanics. They're built through genuine relationships that develop over time. But most founders don't have the luxury of spending two years building relationships before launching their product.

Russ discovered something counterintuitive. Instead of trying to manufacture community through clever growth hacks, you flip the script entirely. You become obsessively focused on creating value for a small group of people who genuinely need what you're building.

But here's where Russ gets vulnerable about what this actually means: "You need to make sure that you're willing to be open and upfront and hopefully the project isn't just a cash grab. Everyone's like, yes, I want a piece of this world changing thing."

The authenticity part isn't just strategy; it's survival. People stick around not because you've gamified their attention, but because they're genuinely invested in what you're creating together.

FOUNDER LESSON #5: Authenticity and transparency aren't just nice-to-haves—they're survival requirements.

Don't try to manufacture community through gamification alone. Create genuine value first, then let community form around that value. But this only works if you're genuinely transparent about your intentions from the start.

Example: Instead of launching with a points system and hoping people stay engaged, build a tool that genuinely makes people's lives easier.

The Incentivization Framework That Doesn't Feel Gross

Most Web3 projects approach incentivization like a casino: flashy rewards designed to hook people just long enough to extract value. Russ is planning a different approach for Hubzz.

"The best gamification and tokenomics are the ones that surprise people with the reward. You don't even have to be so upfront with it. You just kind of leak 'we're definitely gonna make sure our early adopters are taken care of' and you need to fall through on it."

But here's the crucial part about fairness that most projects miss: "You can really get a sense for how you can be postured in a way that actually gets people to be like, this actually might be a good one because they're treating me a little better than the next guy."

It's not just about giving rewards; it's about being genuinely fair in how you distribute value back to the people who help you build.

FOUNDER LESSON #6: Design for fairness from day one. People can tell when you're being stingy or manipulative.

Don't reward people for showing up. Reward them for contributing in ways that make your platform better for everyone. But make sure your reward system actually feels fair—people can tell when you're being cheap.

Example: Building a creator platform? Make sure rewards feel proportional to the value created, not just engagement metrics.

The Language That Kills Adoption

"I've literally had to change up what I even call this platform. It's not a metaverse. It's a social virtual world. They're not NFTs. They're digital collectibles."

Why? Because saying "metaverse" in 2025 is like mentioning your NFT collection on a first date; people immediately start looking for the exit.

FOUNDER LESSON #7: Test your messaging with people outside Web3. If they immediately zone out, you're using insider language that limits your market.

Translate technical concepts into benefits people actually care about. Your grandmother should understand what you're building.

Example: Instead of "decentralized autonomous organization," say "community-owned platform." Same concept, less intimidating.

The Blueprint for Building Better

Russ' journey from nuclear weapons guard to Web3 community expert wasn't planned. It was a series of curiosity-driven decisions: following interesting problems, fixing things that annoyed him, building relationships through contribution rather than extraction.

Now, as he works on Hubzz (currently in the middle of a seed round), he's applying these lessons to create something different: a social virtual world that prioritizes authentic connections over flashy technology.

"I felt like if I didn't do it, maybe no one would. And that scared me a bit. And I believe that one person, with a vision, can change things."

The nuclear weapons guard who became a community builder learned that:

• Fixing problems for free opens more doors than perfect pitches

• High agency beats credentials every single time

• The biggest opportunities hide in accepted assumptions

• Innovation comes from combining solutions, not reinventing everything

• Authenticity and transparency aren't optional in Web3

• Fairness in reward systems builds lasting communities

• Language shapes who pays attention to your project

Your Turn: The Community Builder's Playbook

Want to build authentic Web3 communities without burning millions? Here's Russ' step-by-step blueprint:

Step 1: Find your problem-solving superpower

• Russ had an eye for broken design and wasn't afraid to tell hard truths

• What do you naturally notice that others miss?

Step 2: Start contributing before asking

• Work for free on projects you believe in

• Build reputation through helpful contributions, not self-promotion

Step 3: Question the "impossible" problems

• Look for pain points everyone accepts as "just how it works"

• The biggest opportunities hide in plain sight

Step 4: Be radically transparent

• Share your real motivations and limitations

• People can smell BS from miles away in Web3

Step 5: Design for fairness

• Create systems that feel fair to participants

• Share value with people who help you build

Step 6: Test messaging outside the bubble

• If Web2 people zone out, you're using too much jargon

• Your grandmother should understand what you're building

Step 7: Build for yourself first

• If you wouldn't use your own product daily, why would anyone else?

• Your frustrations are market research gold mines

Step 8: Play the infinite game

• Build for longevity, not quick exits

• Focus on creating lasting value over token price pumps

The magic isn't in the technology or the tokenomics. It's in the authentic desire to solve real problems for real people while being genuinely fair and transparent about how you operate.

Sometimes the best way to build the future is to start by improving your own present, one small fix at a time. Even if that fix starts with telling someone their logo looks like it was designed by a caffeinated squirrel.

---

Russ Franklin is the founder of Hubzz, which is currently in development. You can join their Discord, follow them on Twitter @HubzzHQ, or reach Russ directly @RussFranky. He's always open to discovery calls with people interested in the space.

Visit https://boom.money to learn more about the project or follow us on X @boom_wallet

 

From Floor-Sleeping Hacker to Accidental CEO: How One Question Built What Governments and Yuga Labs Trust

Here's a fun thought experiment: You probably agonize over whether to accept cookies on every website, but you'll happily answer "How satisfied are you with your mental health?" through a survey tool without asking who owns that data. Wild, right?

We're out here panicking about AI reading our emails while cheerfully handing over employee burnout surveys, customer complaints, and diversity feedback to platforms that treat your data like it's community property. Over 5.5 billion accounts were breached in 2024 alone; that's nearly 180 accounts compromised every second. But sure, let's keep using that free survey tool because it has cute templates.

Wilson Bright discovered this cosmic joke during a 48-hour hackathon. Picture this: He's sleeping on his co-working space floor (because nothing says "startup hustle" like premium carpet accommodation), using survey tools to validate ideas, when he has what I call a 'using shampoo as body wash for three months' moment; that instant when you realize you've been fundamentally misunderstanding something everyone else takes for granted.

"Wait," Wilson thought, probably at 3 AM with his fourth energy drink. "Do we actually own any of this data we're collecting?"

Spoiler alert: They didn't. Nobody did. The survey industry had somehow convinced the entire world to collect sensitive data through platforms that offered about as much privacy protection as a glass house in a hurricane.

That moment of pure "oh crap" spawned Block Survey, a privacy-first platform now trusted by everyone from city governments to Web3 giants like Yuga Labs. The kicker? Wilson never planned to build a business at all.

"We didn't imagine that we will build a business," Wilson admits. "It's a very simple story from the hackathon."

Yeah, "simple." Like how Jeff Bezos "simply" started selling books online.

The Accidental Privacy Crusader

Let's set the scene. It's a Blockstack hackathon themed "Society 3.0" with the cheeky subtitle "Can't Be Evil" (basically a middle finger to Google). Wilson and his caffeinated crew were doing what every good founder does: surveying people to see if their problems actually existed.

Then Wilson had his moment of clarity, or maybe it was just the sleep deprivation talking.

"Do we really own the ideas and insights we gather from people? Do we really have any privacy in this space?"

Their 2 AM research session revealed something that should terrify anyone who's ever sent a feedback form: Not. One. Survey tool offered complete data ownership. Basic encryption? Nope. Data security? What's that? User profiling and data sales? Oh, absolutely; that's where the money is.

It's like discovering your therapist has been live-tweeting your sessions.

FOUNDER LESSON #1: The biggest opportunities hide in the tools everyone uses but nobody questions.

Before building your next revolutionary app, audit the boring stuff in your daily workflow. That project management software driving you crazy? That email platform that loses messages? Your next million-dollar idea is probably disguised as a daily annoyance you've learned to tolerate.

Example: Frustrated with Discord's search that somehow can't find messages from yesterday in your DAO? That's not user error; that's a decentralized communication platform waiting to happen.

The World's Worst Value Proposition That Somehow Worked

When Block Survey launched on Product Hunt, their messaging was, by Wilson's own admission, absolutely terrible:

"Decentralized survey tool, own your data."

That's it. That's the pitch.

"Is it the right way for communicating value proposition? Certainly it is not," Wilson laughs. "But then the people who are tech savvy, who really understand this, they were able to pick it up and spread the word of mouth."

Here's the beautiful irony: Wilson's terrible messaging hit at exactly the right moment. This was peak "decentralization fixes everything" hype; imagine today's AI agent craze but with more blockchain buzzwords and fewer autonomous assistants. Anything labeled "decentralized" caught attention like free pizza at a crypto conference.

FOUNDER LESSON #2: Sometimes awful messaging with perfect timing beats perfect messaging with awful timing.

Don't wait for the perfect elevator pitch. If you're building during a trend wave, ride it with whatever gets people's attention. You can always refine your value proposition after you have users to actually talk to.

Example: Building productivity software in 2025? Lead with "AI agent-powered" even if it's just smart automation. Hook them with the buzzword, then blow their minds with actual value.

When Black Lives Matter Became Your Product Team

The real validation came from the most unexpected source possible. When Block Survey went live, community members immediately started using it for Black Lives Matter rally registration forms. Nonprofits adopted it for activist organizing. Foundations deployed it for sensitive community work.

"This helped us to see what resonated with them and how people may use it," Wilson explains.

Wilson realized he'd accidentally stumbled into the most crucial niche in data collection: surveys for stuff that actually matters. Employee diversity surveys where anonymity isn't just nice-to-have, it's survival. Mental health assessments. Sexual health studies. Activist organizing where surveillance could literally be life-threatening.

Without real encryption and privacy, these use cases simply couldn't exist. It's like trying to run a witness protection program through a public Discord server.

FOUNDER LESSON #3: Your weirdest early users are often your best product managers.

Don't force users into your predetermined boxes. Pay attention to the "misuse" cases; they're usually showing you markets you never imagined existed.

Example: Built a DAO governance platform and notice communities using it for neighborhood organizing? That's not user error; that's market research pointing toward a local democracy tool.

The Two-Audience Death Trap (Or: How to Almost Kill Your Startup)

Here's where Wilson learned entrepreneurship's most expensive lesson: trying to serve everyone means serving no one.

Block Survey attempted to court both Web2 traditionalists and Web3 natives simultaneously. It was like trying to DJ a wedding where half the guests want Taylor Swift and the other half only accepts death metal in Sanskrit.

"I see it's tough, really tough when you build for many," Wilson admits. "The challenges we were facing were, primarily when we were spreading across to build for the Web2 and the Web3 world, it's so much to take."

Web3 users expected wallet connections and got excited about decentralization. Web2 users saw "connect wallet" and immediately assumed they needed to memorize 12 random words in ancient Sumerian just to leave feedback about their office coffee machine.

Different communities. Different languages. Different existential fears about losing seed phrases.

Wilson's hard-earned advice? "Pick one niche. Master it completely. Then think about the next one."

FOUNDER LESSON #4: The riches are in the niches. Master one audience completely before attempting to serve multiple.

Trying to be everything to everyone is the fastest way to become nothing to anyone. Pick your beachhead market, dominate it so thoroughly that competitors weep, then consider expansion.

Example: Creating a tokenized project management platform? Target crypto startups OR traditional agencies first, not both. Master one workflow completely, build killer case studies, then adapt for the other market.

The Counter-Intuitive Customer Acquisition Strategy

Wilson's approach to landing his first 100 customers was brilliantly backwards: he asked for feedback instead of money.

"Someone told me in the community, if you ask for dollars, they will give you feedback. But then if you ask for feedback, they will give you dollars."

Pure gold, right there.

Wilson spent weeks sliding into DMs across Twitter, Discord, and Telegram with the least salesy message ever: "Hey, I built this thing. Want to try it? Is this actually a problem? Can you give me honest feedback? I'm not trying to sell you anything; I just want to know if I'm onto something or completely delusional."

The responses were... mixed. Some people were brutally honest (the internet being the internet). Others were genuinely helpful. But here's the magic: the people who engaged became early champions who helped refine the product and spread word-of-mouth organically.

FOUNDER LESSON #5: Lead with curiosity, not sales pitches. People love helping builders who genuinely want to learn.

Master the art of asking great questions before you master the art of making great pitches. When people feel heard and valued as advisors rather than targets, they're infinitely more likely to become customers.

Example: Instead of "Try our revolutionary Web3 CRM!" ask "What makes you want to throw your current customer management system out the window when dealing with wallet addresses?" Listen first, pitch second.

The Daily Shipping Addiction That Built Trust

Block Survey developed something most startups struggle with: relentless forward momentum. They shipped features every single day in the early stages.

Not because they were trying to "move fast and break things" (that's so 2019). Not because they had ADHD. But because they wanted to prove to users that this wasn't another abandoned side project.

"We wanted to build this trust with them that we are building seriously for them," Wilson explains. "We didn't differentiate paying versus free at all. All feedback that comes in, if it is novel, if it is unique, we said, okay, let's build it."

This evolved into weekly shipping cycles that continue today. Users see immediate benefits from new features instead of waiting months for "the big update."

FOUNDER LESSON #6: Consistency beats intensity. Small daily progress trumps sporadic big launches.

Establish a rhythm of shipping that your users can depend on. Whether it's weekly features, daily content, or monthly product updates, consistency builds confidence that you're not going anywhere.

Example: Building a DeFi newsletter platform? Ship small improvements weekly rather than massive redesigns quarterly. Users need to feel the product is alive and growing, not stuck in development hell.

The Only Metric That Tells the Truth

Wilson learned to ignore the vanity metrics that make founders feel good and focus on the one number that actually predicts success: retention.

"Someone told me, the number one metric you should focus on within a subscription business is retention. Can you focus on retention till you hit one million dollars? That's the only key metric you should focus on."

For surveys, where people typically use a tool once and vanish into the digital ether, retention meant something different. It meant building relationships.

Block Survey helps customers plan entire data collection calendars. They provide design assistance. They show research possibilities. They use surveys as engagement tools with their own customer base.

"This relationship building is the way," Wilson emphasizes.

Translation: treat your users like humans, not metrics.

FOUNDER LESSON #7: Retention reveals truth better than any other metric. It's easier to fool someone into trying your product than into staying.

You can growth-hack your way to impressive signup numbers, but you can't growth-hack your way to genuine value. If people aren't coming back, no amount of marketing wizardry will save you.

Example: Got 1,000 wallet connections but only 50 active users after a month? Stop all marketing immediately and start interviewing the 950 who left. Their feedback is worth infinitely more than 10,000 new signups.

The Crypto Wallet Nightmare That Almost Killed Everything

Block Survey faced the classic Web3 dilemma: their crypto-native features scared normal humans more than a haunted house staffed entirely by tax auditors.

Initially offering only wallet login, Web2 users dropped off faster than free donuts at a WeightWatchers meeting.

"They thought it's another crypto platform. They were asking, are tokens involved? If tokens are involved, they said they don't want to come in, because they were afraid."

The fear wasn't just about crypto; it was about seed phrase management. Users would lose their wallet keys and get absolutely furious when told their data was gone forever.

Imagine losing your house keys, but instead of calling a locksmith, you're told your house has been dissolved into the quantum realm and you'll need to rebuild it from memory.

Block Survey's solution? Passkeys that give you all the privacy benefits without the existential terror of memorizing 12 random words.

FOUNDER LESSON #8: Advanced features can become barriers. Always provide a simple on-ramp alongside powerful options.

Don't force users to understand your entire technical stack just to get basic value. Create progressive complexity where beginners can start simply and power users can access advanced features when they're ready.

Example: Building a DeFi lending app? Offer familiar email login alongside wallet connection. Let users graduate to full Web3 features after they understand your core value proposition.

The Pricing Psychology That Costs Real Money

Wilson learned about pricing through the school of hard knocks: underpricing doesn't just leave money on the table; it destroys trust.

"We've lost deals when we undervalued ourselves with respect to pricing and then there was no trust in it as well."

It's pricing psychology 101: if something costs $5, people assume it's worth $5. If something costs $500, they assume it must be worth at least $500 or you wouldn't have the audacity to charge that much.

FOUNDER LESSON #9: Premium pricing builds trust in markets where quality matters. The race to the bottom usually ends at the bottom.

Start high and discount selectively rather than starting low and trying to raise prices later. Your early customers aren't buying features; they're buying transformation.

Example: Launching Web3 consulting services? Don't compete on price with freelancers on crypto Twitter. Position as premium tokenomics strategy work and price accordingly. Lower prices often signal lower expertise.

The Three-Step Validation Framework That Actually Works

Wilson's advice for new founders boils down to three steps that sound simple but require actual courage:

1. Validate with 10 real people: DM people directly asking for brutal honesty. Don't build anything yet; just confirm the pain point actually exists in the wild.
   
   
2. Build for those 10 and obsess over keeping them: If they recognize the problem, build specifically for them and focus entirely on retention.
   
   
3. Turn them into your customer advisory board: These first customers become your champions, your roadmap advisors, and your unfair advantage.
   
   

FOUNDER LESSON #10: Your first 10 customers are worth more than your next 1,000. Treat them like the VIPs they actually are.

Don't rush past early users to chase growth metrics. These people will tell you what to build, how to position it, and who else desperately needs it.

Example: Building a DAO treasury management tool? Get 10 DAOs using it daily for a month. Learn their governance habits, frustrations, and secret motivations. Their insights will guide your product better than any market research report.

The Accidental Empire

Wilson's journey from floor-sleeping hackathon participant to privacy-first platform serving governments and Web3 giants proves something important: the best businesses often come from questioning the everyday tools everyone else accepts without thinking.

Block Survey now protects sensitive conversations for city departments, nonprofits, and crypto communities while pioneering AI integration that doesn't sacrifice privacy. What started as a simple question about data ownership became a platform that actually matters.

The founder who never intended to build a business learned that:

• Building for everyone is infinitely harder than building for someone specific
• Retention beats acquisition every single time
• Sometimes the worst messaging works when it hits the right people at exactly the right moment
• You can bridge Web2 and Web3, but only if you're willing to learn both languages fluently

For aspiring founders wondering how to "just start," Wilson's story offers the clearest blueprint possible:

Question the boring tools you use daily. The biggest opportunities are hiding in plain sight, disguised as daily frustrations you've learned to accept. Validate with real conversations, not surveys about surveys. Focus obsessively on retention over vanity metrics. Master one audience completely before expanding. Ask for feedback, not money. Ship consistently to build trust. Price for value, not volume.

Sometimes the best way to start is by accidentally solving your own problem. And sometimes the biggest opportunities are lurking in your current workflow, disguised as tools that "just work fine."

Your next business might be one sleep-deprived realization away.

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Wilson Bright is the co-founder and CEO of Block Survey. You can follow the company @blocksurvey and Wilson @wlsnbr on X (previously known as Twitter), or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Visit https://boom.money to learn more about the project or follow us on X @boom_wallet

 

From Invisible to Unstoppable: A Strategy For Breaking Into Web3 & Why "Just Start" Beats Perfect Plans

Breaking into Web3 can feel like needing a secret handshake, a connected team, or decades of experience you don't have. Here's the truth: the barriers are lower than you think, especially if you're willing to just start.

Melanie Carstens proves this daily. A Bitcoin-native creator, writer, and host, she built genuine impact with lean resources. Her story reveals how hustle, community spirit, and willingness to learn trump initial capital every time.

The Clean Slate Advantage

Melanie didn't begin in crypto. For twenty years, she worked in advertising, marketing, music management, and fine art, always passionate about creators. She witnessed firsthand how difficult creative careers could be. When NFTs offered solutions for creators, her interest sparked.

But here's the key: Melanie approached Web3 as a clean slate. She didn't expect past successes to automatically translate into crypto stardom. This mindset shift is crucial for anyone looking to break in.

Past success? It doesn't guarantee future wins here. Everyone starts fresh, and that's liberating.

FOUNDER LESSON #1: Embrace the clean slate.

Don't assume your real-world status gives you advantages in Web3. Everyone builds new reputations here, which levels the playing field beautifully.

Example: You're a successful graphic designer offering NFT art commissions? Your portfolio helps, but you'll need to prove you understand on-chain provenance, engage crypto art communities, and grasp token standards to build a new Web3 brand.

Learning Beats Spending: The Non-Financial Investment Strategy

When Melanie started, money was tight. Her investments were non-financial: learning, connecting, engaging.

"Just learn, do some reading, research what blockchains are about. Why are builders choosing particular blockchains?" she advises. This deep dive into Bitcoin and Stacks was her foundation.

Next came community immersion: not barging in, but moving slowly, understanding the ethos, discovering platforms, wallets, and creative spaces.

FOUNDER LESSON #2: Your biggest initial investment isn't money. It's time spent learning the ecosystem and genuinely connecting with communities.

Before launching your NFT collection or token, spend months listening in Discord, lurking in Twitter Spaces, reading documentation. Understand the culture, jargon, and pain points. Think ethnographic research, but with more memes.

Example: Content creator wanting to tokenize work? Don't immediately start minting. Spend time in creator DAOs, artist communities on NFT platforms like Opensea, Magic Eden, or Gamma. Listen to creator economy podcasts. Understand what creators and collectors truly value.

The Reputation Grind: Two Years of Pure Value

Melanie's strategy was elegantly simple: provide value before asking for anything.

For months, she observed the Stacks ecosystem, learning, then creating content. Artist releasing on Gamma? She'd thread about them. Platform update? She'd write it up. She offered skills freely, expecting nothing immediate.

"You want to build an on-chain reputation so people know who you are as a person as much as they know you as an artist," Melanie explains.

This consistent value creation led to transformation. Trust built. Community formed. Reputation solidified.

FOUNDER LESSON #3: Build reputation through consistent value, without expecting immediate rewards. This establishes trust and positions you as a long-term player.

Don't just shill your project. Share insights, amplify others' work, participate in discussions. Become known for contributing, not just taking. Your proof of work isn't just code; it's consistent helpfulness.

Example: Podcast host entering Web3? Don't immediately push token sales. Dedicate episodes to ecosystem builders, interview NFT artists, discuss important space topics. Build credibility like Melanie did with "Bitcoin and Beyond."

Your Roadmap: From Idea to Impact

Ready to apply Melanie's insights? Here's your step-by-step approach:

1. Establish Your Presence

Create a personal Twitter account focused on the space. Use it to connect with founders and platforms, join conversations. Show genuine interest and willingness to contribute. Opportunities emerge when brands need help and you're positioned to offer services.

2. Leverage Skills for Community Value

Consider what you can offer freely, even if small:

• Musicians: Create theme tracks for Twitter Spaces or host live shows
• Artists: Write threads about other creators or protocol updates
• Writers: Contribute to influential ecosystem voices

Start your own Twitter Space to unite community members, like Melanie and Nietta (an NFT artist on Stacks) did with "Art on Stacks."

3. Cultivate Intimacy Through Ownership

The space remains small, making visibility easier. Think campfire conversations—intimate story sharing.

Invite people into your world. Give back to those who engage. Mint small collections and send free NFTs to connections. When someone owns your work, relationships deepen.

4. Harness AI as Your Strategic Partner

Melanie strongly advocates using AI (specifically paid ChatGPT versions) as an invaluable artist tool.

The Process:

• Initial Prompt: "I am a musician/artist. I want to release music in Web3. What do you need from me to help me succeed?"
• Iterative Development: Copy AI questions to a document, provide detailed answers, feed back information. Keep asking "What else do you need?" until complete
• Foundation Building: Generate press releases, bios, social media profiles ensuring brand consistency
• Content Creation: Develop social media strategies and weekly articles for platforms like Substack

FOUNDER LESSON #4: Don't underestimate AI as a strategic partner. It helps define your brand, create content, and plot your Web3 entry with precision.

Use AI for compelling project narratives, social media content, even tokenomics brainstorming. It's like having an on-demand marketing team that never needs coffee breaks.

Example: Web2 blogger transitioning to Web3 Substack? Use AI for article outlines, tweet thread generation, and community engagement suggestions. This frees you for deep research and original insights.

Playing the Long Game: Commitment Over Quick Wins

Melanie's journey emphasizes that Web3 success isn't overnight; it's long-term commitment. While she hasn't monetized Web3 directly yet, she views her experience as invaluable education.

"Do you want quick money you'll spend quickly, or do you want to build something sustainable? That means developing a core audience of supporters who understand your brand," she reflects.

This longevity vision excites Melanie about the Bitcoin Creative Economy. Bitcoin offers the closest thing to perpetual art substrate, allowing artists to own work, profit directly, and build intimate communities without complex contracts. It fundamentally shifts how creatives operate.

FOUNDER LESSON #5: Play the long game. Focus on building loyal audiences and sustainable brands over quick profits. True rewards lie in relationships and fundamental shifts in creative ownership.

Resist chasing the next pump. Focus on genuine connections and lasting community value. This resilience differentiates you in volatile markets. Plant oak trees, not weeds.

Example: Building Web3 education platforms? Instead of rushing token launches, create high-quality courses, foster supportive learning communities, build partnerships. Strong educational reputations attract long-term users and sustainable growth.

Connect with Melanie Carstens

Melanie works at the intersection of media, culture, and Web3. She hosts "Bitcoin and Beyond," a weekly series spotlighting founders across Bitcoin layer 2, DeFi, NFTs, and open digital systems. She's also a "Let's Go Morning Show" panellist, contributing writer for The Edit, newsletter author, and partner curator at Gamma Active in the Stacks ecosystem since 2021.

Find Melanie:

• X (formerly known as Twitter): @melbelle_btc
• YouTube: Melanie Carstens
• "Bitcoin and Beyond": Thursdays, 12 p.m. ET on X and YouTube via DeOrganized Media

Ready to Just Start?

Melanie's story isn't just inspiration, it's a blueprint. The creative economy is shifting toward true ownership, direct relationships, and sustainable communities. You don't need perfect timing or unlimited resources.

You need courage to begin.

The space rewards authentic contribution over polished presentations. It values genuine community building over aggressive marketing. Most importantly, it offers second chances to everyone willing to learn and contribute.

Your Web3 journey starts with a single step: engaging authentically with one community, offering value to one creator, or sharing insights about one project you find interesting.

Don't just dream it. Start it.

When you're ready to build, visit boom.money to learn more or follow us on X @boom_wallet.