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Avalon Lustick

Melissa

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<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The real New York knows about Apotheke on Doyers Street in Chinatown. Deep downtown, tucked away down a grimey street, an unassuming entrance and just steps from the Manhattan Bridge, Apotheke was <em>the</em> speakeasy and cocktail bar to frequent And guess what? I knew the bouncer so well, I never had to stand in a line, even during the busiest of nights.&nbsp;</p>
<p>My twenties were spent galavanting around the city as a fashion editor, moving from one fashion launch party to the next. Saturdays meant getting dressed up, meeting friends downtown, and eventually making our way to Apotheke for cocktails and late-night dancing to Jamie xx sets. It was a particular kind of New York nightlife that feels almost impossible to replicate now that I live in Miami. And, frankly, it was one of the best parts of partying in the 2010s.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I've been thinking a lot about nightlife lately, particularly what makes a place worth going to and it's all about the crowd at this point. There's no single formula for a good night out, but there's certainly an art to creating a room people actually want to spend time in.</p>
<p>Living in Miami, I've found the nightlife landscape to vary drastically by neighborhood. On one end, there's the high-gloss, high-priced world of LIV and E11EVEN. On the other, the more casual, sometimes chaotic neighborhood bar scene in Brickell and Wynwood, and now Little River. There are a few places in between that get it right, but I'm always open discovering somewhere that offers a little more atmosphere, personality, and a reason to stay past midnight.</p>
<h2>Enter Apotheke South Beach.</h2>
<p>New York-born <a href="https://www.apothekemixology.com/">Apotheke Mixology </a>celebrated the debut of its newest location with a series of exclusive opening events, offering Miami tastemakers, creatives, and nightlife insiders an early look ahead of its October 30 opening.</p>
<p>Tucked behind an unmarked entrance on Washington Avenue in the heart of Miami Beach's Art Deco District, the new outpost brings Apotheke's signature approach to mixology to South Florida. Expect botanical-infused cocktails, an intimate atmosphere, and the kind of late-night energy that made its Chinatown original a downtown institution.</p>
<p>Consider this a little piece of New York after dark, with a South Beach address.</p>

Apotheke Brings a Little New York After Dark to South Beach

 Apotheke Cocktail Lounge Just Opened in Miami Beach

<p data-start="1697" data-end="1779">Violet Verse began with a simple idea:&nbsp;<strong data-start="1736" data-end="1779">culture deserves better infrastructure.</strong></p>
<p data-start="1781" data-end="1951">Over three years live, AI is completely reshaping how we write, communicate, create, and make decisions. Now, the value of human expertise is becoming even more important in deciphering what is real, while figuring out how to make AI models better is increasingly difficult to access.</p>
<p data-start="1953" data-end="1988">Verso is the answer to this and extends that mission into AI.</p>
<p data-start="1990" data-end="2110">We&rsquo;re building a network where specialized knowledge can move from the margins into the systems shaping what comes next.</p>
<p data-start="1990" data-end="2110">&nbsp;</p>
<h2 data-start="1990" data-end="2110"><strong><a href="https://experts-network.vercel.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore the network here</a></strong></h2>
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<figcaption>Verso Network beta&nbsp;</figcaption>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

Here's how to contribute to AI and work remotely 

Introducing Verso: A Match Making Tool For Niche Applied AI Projects 

Three proof points across different domains: team structure, developer frameworks, and AI behavior

How I Diagram Everything: A Guide To Building Frameworks and Systems

<p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:307;83-389"><a href="https://www.nakedtomatousa.com/">Naked Tomato</a> is the latest open-concept restaurant to land on South Beach, conveniently tucked inside the Moxy Hotel. When I was invited to opening night, I knew to expect the Miami scene &mdash; the see-and-be-seen energy, the vlogger cameras and injectables sipping the cocktails. What I didn't expect was an experiential eating orgy, meaning everyone is eating from the same plate.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-sourcepos="5:1-5:519;391-909">There were pounds of prime rib delivered hot straight from the open-air kitchen and carved into chunks right in front of a gazing crowd, drooling...then left for us to dig in with our hands. Fresh hummus was poured and sculpted across a marble table like edible art. The bar was transformed into a buffet of charred artichoke, sweet potatoes, and grilled carrots. Across the room, glasses of red and white wine sat pre-poured, ready to be picked up and sipped...no waiting, no ordering, just reaching. And of course, there were cocktails of the evening, flowing all night.</p>
<p data-sourcepos="7:1-7:263;911-1173">Everyone was eating off the same plate. Communal and not so much messy because the staff came around every five seconds to clean up after us in our barbarian state. When I posted about it, people on X told me it looked disgusting, even though it was just my video quality. Nonetheless, the opening was unforgettable and it's exactly the kind of fearless, communal dining moment Miami has been building toward.</p>
<p data-sourcepos="9:1-9:330;1175-1504">Because Miami is in the middle of its own food renaissance right now, and <strong>Naked Tomato</strong> is proof. It's the latest from Chef Eyal Shani, the mind behind Miznon and the Michelin-starred Shmon&eacute;, who's spent his career stripping food down to its rawest, most honest form. Naked Tomato is that same philosophy turned up to full volume.</p>
<p data-sourcepos="11:1-11:149;1506-1654">Bringing a fresh, playful energy to Miami Beach, Naked Tomato serves up bold flavors, laid-back coastal vibes, and a menu designed for every moment.</p>
<p data-sourcepos="13:1-13:110;1656-1765">Next time you're on South Beach looking for something fresh and different &mdash; run, don't walk, to Naked Tomato.</p>
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<p data-sourcepos="17:1-18:68;1772-1897"><em>📍 Moxy South Beach, 915 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach</em> <em>Open for dinner Thursday&ndash;Saturday, 6&ndash;11pm | Sunday&ndash;Monday, 6&ndash;10pm</em></p>

Naked Tomato

Inside Naked Tomato's Opening Night: Communal Dining Party

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<p>Miami is a last-minute or full-plan destination. Meaning, you can get here day of and still end up having a good time, but you have to know the areas. Most people think of Miami as a tropical beach destination, but with so many people migrating here from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, even some abroad, there's a lot of traffic, and I'm not talking about the cars.</p>
<p>When I first moved to Miami full time, it was much different than when I used to come here to cover Art Basel as a young journalist writing for Details Magazine or some indie fashion publication. I was used to staying at The Mondrian in South Beach, going to the hottest sushi restaurant for a press dinner and then skipping the line at Eleven after a fashion party at someone's penthouse.</p>
<p>Those days are still true, but as a local who lives here 24/7, I would say the vibe has definitely extended outside of South Beach. Now, you can catch me vintage store hopping on the Upper East Side, after a game of Padel in Little River, or even happy hour at Sunny's Steakhouse.</p>
<p>Just in the last few months, I've attended Miami Open, the Exotic Car Show, a slew of tech conferences including Emerge and Solana Accelerate. F1 is here, and we're also getting FIFA. Miami is the city that never sleeps, and why would it when it's always 80 degrees outside.</p>
<p>Now with Design District, Wynwood, Midtown, and Edgewater experiencing hyperbolic developments, it's quickly becoming a truly walkable area. There's hotels, shops, and living areas including condos and houses that are so quaint &mdash; Spanish casita style mixed in with those modern box builds. No shade to the real estate people, but those places look like dentist offices. Anyways, here are some of my favorite places to stay, eat, and play by neighborhood.</p>
<p><strong>Design District / Buena Vista / Midtown</strong></p>
<p>My favorite part of this neighborhood are the stores. Jacquemus is going to be opening up by fall 2026, there's every designer under the sun including Balenciaga, Alo Yoga, and the On Cloud store. I also love the art &mdash; there's the Dale Zine, an indie bookstore. It's truly something for everyone. I also love that there's a Pura Vida cafe for mid-price dining, and there's a food hall on the second floor of the mall. For families who want white-tablecloth dining, you can check out Michael's Genuine, which has a good happy hour. In terms of hotels, you'd have to go more towards Midtown &mdash; The Standard is opening their own spot up.</p>
<p>Buena Vista Market also has a great sushi spot. There's a Michelin-star Mediterranean spot as well.</p>
<p>Now that conference season is in full force and the spring is here.</p>
<p>For beauty and nail spots, I love Midtown Brow and Eyebrow Bar, female-owned and on the same block as Trader Joe's and Solidcore. Midtown also has a Barry's Bootcamp. And then there's also Rumble.</p>
<p>Banana Daddy is also a vibe &mdash; love their banana bread and protein shakes. You can sit in the cafe as well.</p>
<p><strong>Edgewater / Morningside / Little River</strong></p>
<p>This neighborhood is under construction but I love it. If you can find an Airbnb around this area, your place will most likely be someone's condo, so look for a unit with a fancy pool or gym amenities, which will usually be a good indicator you're in the right spot. In terms of restaurants, I think we have some of the best! There's Sunny's Steakhouse, La Sanguich, which is a Cuban coffee and pastelitos place, there's also Reserve in Little River which has indoor and outdoor courts. I like Caracas Bakery for coffee and breakfast in Morningside. There's also Ironside Pizza in Little River. On Saturdays, there's a really fantastic farmer's market at Legion Park. Edgewater also just got a Whole Foods grocery store.</p>
<p><strong>South Beach</strong></p>
<p>Hotels I would stay at: The Shelborne by Proper, CitizenM (which also has one in Brickell). Lincoln Road has gotten a complete makeover as well as far as shopping. There's also an Apple Store. Lincoln Road is really central to The Standard. Good for biking and walking. For my Lower East Side New Yorkers that need to feel something,&nbsp; love Las Lap Miami, a Caribbean restaurant inside of the DayDrift hotel.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/77/77/d7/7777d7c8eea215290031db176a27cebe.jpg" alt="This may contain: a laptop computer sitting on top of a wooden bench next to a body of water"></p>
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<h2>Copy and Paste This In Your Notes</h2>
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<p><strong>BRICKELL / DOWNTOWN</strong></p>
<p>Cactus Club Cafe &mdash; 201 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131 &mdash; cactusclubcafe.com</p>
<p>KLAW Miami &mdash; 1737 N Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33132 &mdash; klawmiami.com</p>
<p>Delilah Miami &mdash; 301 Brickell Key Dr, Miami, FL 33131 &mdash; delilahmiami.com</p>
<p>Moxie's &mdash; 900 S Miami Ave #161, Miami, FL 33130 &mdash; moxies.com</p>
<p>Maman &mdash; 1300 Brickell Bay Dr CU2, Miami, FL 33131 &mdash; mamannyc.com</p>
<p>Casa Neos &mdash; 40 SW North River Dr, Miami, FL 33128 &mdash; casaneos.com</p>
<p>Habibi Miami &mdash; 452 NW N River Dr, Miami, FL 33128 &mdash; habibimiami.com</p>
<p>Tremble &mdash; 1060 Brickell Ave #M-3, Miami, FL 33131 &mdash; tremble.com</p>
<p>Miami Pilates Company &mdash; 30 SW 1st St Suite 801, Miami, FL 33130 &mdash; miamipilatescompany.com</p>
<p>CitizenM Brickell &mdash; 11 SE 10th St, Miami, FL 33130 &mdash; citizenm.com</p>
<p>Tremble &mdash; 1060 Brickell Ave #M-3, Miami, FL 33131 &mdash; tremble.com</p>
<p><strong>WYNWOOD</strong></p>
<p>Arlo Hotel &mdash; 2217 NW Miami Ct, Miami, FL 33127 &mdash; arlohotels.com</p>
<p>Soho House Pool House &mdash; 105-107 NE 25th St, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; sohohouse.com</p>
<p>Miami Pilates (Wynwood location) &mdash; 2823 NW 3rd Ave #137, Miami, FL 33127 &mdash; miamipilates.com</p>
<p><strong>SOUTH BEACH</strong></p>
<p>The Mondrian &mdash; 1100 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 &mdash; themondrian.com</p>
<p>E11EVEN (Eleven) &mdash; 29 NE 11th St, Miami, FL 33132 &mdash; 11miami.com</p>
<p>The Shelborne by Proper &mdash; 1801 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 &mdash; theshelborne.com</p>
<p>CitizenM South Beach &mdash; 1200 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 &mdash; citizenm.com</p>
<p>Apple Store &mdash; 1021 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 &mdash; apple.com/retail/lincolnroad</p>
<p>Lincoln Road Mall &mdash; Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139</p>
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<p><strong>DESIGN DISTRICT / BUENA VISTA / MIDTOWN</strong></p>
<p>Balenciaga &mdash; 153 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; balenciaga.com</p>
<p>Alo Yoga &mdash; 101 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; aloyoga.com</p>
<p>On Cloud Store &mdash; 125 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; on.com</p>
<p>Dale Zine &mdash; 50 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; dalezine.com</p>
<p>Pura Vida &mdash; 3818 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; puravidamiami.com</p>
<p>Michael's Genuine &mdash; 130 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; michaelsgenuine.com</p>
<p>The Standard Residences Midtown &mdash; 90 NE 32nd St, Miami, FL 33127 &mdash; standardresidences.com</p>
<p>Upper Buena Vista (Buena Vista Market) &mdash; 5040 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; upperbuenavistamiami.com</p>
<p>Face. Brow &amp; Beauty Bar (Midtown) &mdash; 110 NE 32nd St, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; facebrowandbeautybar.com</p>
<p>Trader Joe's &mdash; 3191 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33137</p>
<p>Solidcore Midtown &mdash; 135 NE 32nd St, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; solidcore.co</p>
<p>Barry's Bootcamp Midtown &mdash; 3250 NE 1st Ave #105, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; barrys.com</p>
<p>Banana Daddy &mdash; 3415 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33137 &mdash; bananadaddy.com</p>
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<p><strong>EDGEWATER / MORNINGSIDE / LITTLE RIVER</strong></p>
<p>Sunny's Steakhouse &mdash; 7357 NW Miami Ct, Miami, FL 33150 &mdash; sunnyssteakhouse.com</p>
<p>Sanguich (La Sanguich) &mdash; Little Haiti location: 6500 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33138 &mdash; sanguich.com</p>
<p>Caracas Bakery &mdash; 7283 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138 &mdash; caracasbakery.com</p>
<p>Ironside Pizza &mdash; 7580 NE 4th Ct, Miami, FL 33138 &mdash; ironsidepizza.com</p>
<p>Legion Park Farmer's Market &mdash; 6601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138 (Saturdays 9am&ndash;2pm)</p>
<p>Whole Foods &mdash; 2910 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137</p>
<p>Reserve Padel &mdash; 1000 MacArthur Cswy, Miami, FL 33132 &mdash; reservepadel.com</p>
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Are you in love? No, I'm in Miami.

Maimi Guide: Spring 2026

<p>If it's not injectables, it's definitely giving microneedling, which is why I had to try Isha Beauty and Wellness's signature PRDN treatment. The glow up series is back, and this time we're diving into the beauty treatment that has people booking flights to South Korea... except you don't have to leave the country to get it. Right here in Miami, this buzzy facial is already on tap, and I tried it firsthand. Miami has long been known as the city people travel to for beauty treatments, whether surgical or non-invasive. From BBLs to lymphatic drainage massages for a reasonable price, this city is a global destination for anyone chasing their best self.&nbsp; But for newbies like me who want to go the au naturel route &mdash; no Botox, no filler, no scalpels &mdash; microneedling with salmon DNA is the perfect entry point.</p>
<p><strong>So WTF Is the Salmon DNA Facial?</strong></p>
<p>Also known as PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) or the salmon sperm facial, this treatment has taken over beauty TikTok and K-beauty circles for one reason: the results. PDRN is derived from salmon DNA and is known to stimulate collagen production, accelerate skin healing, and deliver deep cellular-level hydration. When paired with microneedling,&nbsp; a treatment that uses tiny needles to create micro-channels in the skin,&nbsp; the salmon DNA penetrates deeper, amplifying every benefit.</p>
<p>The result are stunning? After 40 mins, it left my skin feeling plump, hydrated, glass-like skin that looks like I slept for twelve hours and drank a gallon of water after pilates.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>My Experience at Isha Beauty and Wellness Spa in Miami</strong></p>
<p>When Isha Beauty and Wellness Spa invited me to try their signature microneedling facial with PDRN, I knew I had to say yes. With two locations in South Miami &mdash; one in Coral Gables and one in Little River &mdash; Isha has quickly become a go-to destination for clients seeking advanced, results-driven skincare in Miami. The lobby was buzzing with clients, and all the seats were filled on a Tuesday afternoon!&nbsp;</p>
<p>But, let me be honest: I was nervous about the pain. I read all these reviews about how painful it could be and I've never had injectables of any kind. So the idea of needles on my face was intimidating. But the numbing cream they use works like a charm. Within fifteen minutes, my entire face was completely frozen, and I didn't feel a thing during the actual treatment.</p>
<p>My esthetician walked me through every step, applied the salmon DNA serum as she glided the microneedling tool across my skin, and finished with a luxurious caviar serum and moisturizer. No bleeding, no redness, no downtime. Now, this may vary with skin type, but for me, i had instant results!&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>The Verdict</strong></p>
<p>Four days later, my skin was still looking plump, hydrated, and noticeably glowier. If you've been curious about microneedling but didn't know where to start, the salmon DNA facial at Isha Beauty and Wellness Spa is the perfect introduction. It's gentle, effective, and gives you that coveted K-beauty glow without leaving Miami. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.ishabeautymiami.com/">ishabeautymiami.com.</a></p>
<p><em>Would you try this beauty treatment? DM on Instagram your thoughts!</em></p>

Isha Beauty and Wellness Spa in South Miami made my skin glowy, hydrated and super juicy. 

The Glow Up Series Continues: Why Microneedling with Salmon DNA Is Miami's Newest Must-Try Facial

<p>It was a Sunday at my co-working space. The kind of Sunday where the building is half-empty and whoever is there is either deeply behind on something or deeply obsessed with something. I was making coffee when I overheard it &mdash; two guys at a standing desk, completely serious:</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Which peptides are you taking?&rdquo;&nbsp;</em>I paused to listen to the response because I never thought I&rsquo;d be discussing beauty regimens at my crypto co-working space. Besides, it&rsquo;s been literally two years since I started hearing about peptides and biohacking, all to feel and look younger. The first time I heard about NAD+ was from a crypto bro I met in Dubai. He was boasting about how he got a full health scan, including a bi-annual dose of an NAD+ shot because he was pushing 40 years old in an industry that rewards you capital if you look young. Although, he was super sweet, and had devastatingly sharp eyebrows, his look gave mature. In retrospect, I think he was on to something because not soon after I had a conversation with him, my TikTok feed flooded me with liposomal NAD+ supplements I caved and bought a few boxes, some of which are still sitting unused on my dresser.</p>
<h2>Keeping Up With Discipline in a Syringe</h2>
<p>It&rsquo;s not so much the men obsessing over peptides, it&rsquo;s equal parts women who are also mixing their own concoctions of skinny juice. This sudden obsession with biohacking may be spurred by the Kardashian&rsquo;s who aired an episode featuring Bryan Johnson&rsquo;s&nbsp;<em>Don&rsquo;t Die&nbsp;</em>health and lifestyle plan, at the same time as the documentary was airing on Netflix. Now, the same group of people who used to post about cold plunges and intermittent fasting, also started posting about compounds with names that sound like&nbsp;<strong>wifi passwords or lines of code</strong>&nbsp;&mdash; BPC-157, Ipamorelin, Semax, TB-500., GHK-CU. Meanwhile, these are the same class of bioactive compounds that&rsquo;s been quietly anchoring high-end skincare and health routines and anti-aging facials for years. These health people are on another level of beauty crazy. They are mixing the &ldquo;blue&rdquo; cooper-like powder with sterile water, loading it into syringes, and injecting it in the fat part of their bellies.</p>
<p>The same orange needles I use to see on my grandpa&rsquo;s side of the bathroom counter to keep up with his diabetes, are the same ones tech bros are using to keep up with their DIY bio-hacking formulas. At home. Before work. Sometimes, apparently, at parties in San Francisco. According to open-source creator-driven sources,&nbsp;<strong>peptide raves</strong>&nbsp;are also a thing now. Underground events in San Francisco and New York where DJs play techno and attendees compare protocols. I wish I was making this up, but I&rsquo;m not. The vibe right now is less Burning Man and more med spa with an 808. San Francisco wants to be Miami so bad, and they have more similarities that meets the eye. Moreover, the culture has a phrase for it:&nbsp;<em>discipline in a syringe.</em></p>
<h2>The Compounds For&nbsp;<em>Looksmaxxing</em></h2>
<p>Peptides were original used for muscle recovery and longevity. If you&rsquo;re a professional athlete or know anything about that world, performance enhancing drugs are strictly prohibited. But the new frontier of the amateur athlete and&nbsp;<em>looksmaxxing</em>&nbsp;has moved into something far more interesting, and very much federally untested. People are getting their peptides shipped from the same group of distributors in China. Popular TikTok peptides like RETA (a colloquial nickname for&nbsp;<strong>retatrutide),&nbsp;</strong>are paired with GHK-CU for a &ldquo;glow up&rdquo; formula. In a post titled &ldquo;Girl to girl, which peptides are you trying.&rdquo; there are tons of comments boasting about the success reta. Even going insofar as saying, &ldquo;reta is that girl.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Meanwhile, RETA hasn&rsquo;t even been FDA approved. These types of peptides are &ldquo;<strong>triple-hormone receptors&rdquo;</strong>&nbsp;currently under - development by Eli Lilly that are targeted to compete with GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors to promote significant weight loss. Now that the conversation includes&nbsp;<strong>GLP-3s</strong>, the next generation beyond the GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy) are forces that are not only rewiring the cultural conversation around weight and appetite, but also around the viability of tech. However, according to Eli Lilly, GLP-3 receptor agonists don&rsquo;t just reduce hunger, they appear to&nbsp;<strong>block intrusive thoughts about alcohol, food, and video games</strong>. Consequently, rumor has it that some Silicon Valley venture capitalists are not allowing founders to take weight loss peptides because they say it also blocks ambition.</p>
<h2>The Office Refrigerator</h2>
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<div><picture><source srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uqx0!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uqx0!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uqx0!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uqx0!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg 1456w" type="image/webp" sizes="100vw"><img title="how-long-do-peptides-last-in-the-fridge" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uqx0!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg" sizes="100vw" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uqx0!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uqx0!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uqx0!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uqx0!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg 1456w" alt="how-long-do-peptides-last-in-the-fridge" width="860" height="480" loading="lazy" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5ad774bc-0837-4f6a-9e38-624b5ea72b58_860x480.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:480,&quot;width&quot;:860,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;how-long-do-peptides-last-in-the-fridge&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}"></picture>
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<p>I use have a small pink beauty refrigerator filled with my caviar-infused serums, Korean face masks and other jade stone face sculpting tools. But now, these tools feel and sound juvenile compared to what the tech bros are doing. There&rsquo;s a now-famous image making the rounds on tech Twitter: an office refrigerator with a dedicated drawer full of small vials, neatly labeled&nbsp;<em>&ldquo;Not for human consumption,&rdquo;</em>&nbsp;sitting right next to somebody&rsquo;s lunch.</p>
<p>This is happening inside well-funded, venture-backed offices in San Francisco right now. And the infrastructure is being built around it.&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://superpower.com/" rel="">Superpower</a></strong><a href="https://superpower.com/" rel="">&nbsp;</a>is a recently valued health startup that offers elite blood testing panels aimed squarely at the biohacking crowd.&nbsp;<strong>Function Health</strong>, co-founded by Dr. Mark Hyman, is another modern health company that uses your biomarker data to recommend supplements, and increasingly, peptides. These aren&rsquo;t wellness blogs; they&rsquo;re startups with real money behind them, building the supply chain for a behavior that doesn&rsquo;t yet have a legal framework.</p>
<p>The numbers back up what I&rsquo;m seeing in real life. US customs data shows that&nbsp;<strong>imports of hormone and peptide compounds from China doubled to $<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/business/chinese-peptides-silicon-valley.html" rel="">328 million in the first three quarters of 2025 alone</a></strong>. The global peptide therapeutics market is projected to hit&nbsp;<strong>$100 billion by 2030</strong>. The behavior is ahead of the regulation by years, given the defunding of health initiatives here in the US under the current Trump Administration.</p>
<h2>The Optimization Rebrand (Again)</h2>
<p>Here&rsquo;s what I keep coming back to: this is the male reframing of beauty culture, running at full speed where everyone thinks they are their own personal Dr. Dolittle. Just in the last decade, healthcare aimed at women have focused on hormone rebalancing, PCOs, egg fertileness, and of course the bare minimum at this point -- our gut health, our collagen, our skin&rsquo;s cellular turnover. (Side note: I&rsquo;m very excited to report on my upcoming PDRN salmon sperm facial). We built entire industries around it. We got called vain and obsessive for it. But at the end of the rainbow, we were sold the same desire to feel better, to age slower, to perform at our best &mdash; through the language of&nbsp;<em>beauty</em>.</p>
<p>Now the same interventions, repackaged as &ldquo;performance biology&rdquo; and &ldquo;longevity optimization,&rdquo; are being treated as serious intellectual and entrepreneurial pursuits. I&rsquo;m not hatin&rsquo;. I&rsquo;m genuinely fascinated. In one of my group chats, I asked my male friend, if they were taking any peptides, and they said yes, but didn&rsquo;t really care to explain which one. The cavalierness of it all is what makes the health risk non-existent.</p>
<p>I digress...the peptide moment isn&rsquo;t really about peptides. It&rsquo;s about who gets cultural and capital permission to pursue self-optimization and what language they have to use to do it. Women say &ldquo;I want to feel good in my body.&rdquo; Men say &ldquo;I want to optimize my performance.&rdquo; The compounds are nearly identical. The reception? Not so much.</p>
<p><em>Disclaimer: None of this is physician-approved advice, please consult your medical physician before anything else.</em></p>

"Which peptides are you taking?"

Tech Bros & Peptides: The Biohacking Obsession Coming for Your Feed

<p>"Are you guys tennis players?" I said to a group of guys standing awkwardly by the DJ booth. "No &mdash; do we look like it?" Not really, but you do look familiar, I replied. Turns out they were Netflix dating show contestants and definitely outliers in a room full of tall, toned tennis players. Nevertheless, everyone was dressed in beach cocktail chic, and I have to say,&nbsp; tennis people have the best style! It was giving cool girl chic meets JFK Jr. swag.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://i.ibb.co/tpXb3zJj/amzvyy.gif" alt="" width="333" height="500"></p>
<p>Hosted at the newly reopened <a href="https://shelborne.com/">The Shelborne By Proper</a> on South Beach, <strong>WME's Tennis division and Lalo Tequila </strong>kicked off the week with two of the WTA's finest: <strong>Amanda Anisimova </strong>(currently ranked #6) and <strong>Zizou Berg</strong> (currently ranked #39). The crowd was so fit there wasn't a vape or cigarette in sight, which says a lot for a Miami South Beach party. The right people were in the room. Everyone was glistening, lean, and radiating from the inside out. I honestly can't remember the last time I've been to a party where people knew the difference between hard, clay and grass courts. Another group I guys that shall remain nameless school me on the appropriate grip to slice a ball on grass court, using one of the vintage Wilson rackets that decorated the room. After they left our sight, I remembered just where I knew him from.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Meanwhile, I'm forever smitten by the guy who invited by one of my tennis friends. We have a group chat where we randomly post times and courts to hit at throughout the week &mdash; and this time, the chat had the move. Someone dropped the invite, no one hesitated, and suddenly we were sipping Lalo spicy margaritas on the Shelborne terrace. That's the thing about the tennis world... it's this quietly connected community where a casual hitting session can turn into courtside access, and a group chat can land you at the party of the week.</p>
<p><a href="/miami-open-2026-ultimate-guide-CVzpf2EmHd">&nbsp;I wrote about my first Miami Open tennis experience at the 72Club</a></p>
<p>If Miami Open week taught me anything, it's that tennis culture off the court is just as alluring as what happens on it. The people, the energy, the style, it's giving cool crowd athleticism meets South Beach ease. And honestly? I'm already looking forward to next year!&nbsp;</p>

Courtside to Club Side: Inside Miami Open's Best Off-Court Party

Tennis People Have the Best Style (And I Have Proof)

<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 64.20927467300832%; height: 0;">
<p>February was one of those months where everything just kind of clicked. I vibe coded, I learned, I won something, and I somehow still had time to binge a Kennedy love story on Hulu. Here's the recap.</p>
<p><strong>Vibe Coded</strong> I built out the site for Violet Verse &mdash; my creative studio at the intersection of content, AI, and global experiences. We publish, we build, and we take you places. Getting the site live felt like a milestone I'd been putting off for too long, and it feels good to finally have it out in the world.</p>
<p><strong>Read</strong> I picked up <em>Radically Human</em> by Paul Daugherty and H. James Wilson. It's all about how new technology is transforming business and shaping our future &mdash; which, given everything I'm building right now, felt like required reading.</p>
<p><strong>Downloaded</strong> Claude and Snowflake. I've been going deeper into AI tools and data platforms, and both of these have been part of my workflow this month. If you're in tech and haven't explored either yet, you're behind. My brain literally can't!&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Watched</strong> <em>Love Story</em> on Hulu &mdash; the JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette docuseries. I don't know what it is about their story that keeps pulling me in, but I couldn't stop watching. February was one of those months where everything just kind of clicked. I vibe coded, I learned, I won something, and I somehow still had time to binge a Kennedy love stor on Hulu. Here's the recap.</p>
</div>
<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 64.20927467300832%; height: 0;">
<p><strong>Vibe Coded</strong> I built out the site for Violet Verse &mdash; my creative studio at the intersection of content, AI, and global experiences. We publish, we build, and we take you places. Getting the site live felt like a milestone I'd been putting off for too long, and it feels good to finally have it out in the world.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" src="https://www.loom.com/embed/cffec72ade90480988e0a2bfd8c9d448" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Won!</strong> I placed 2nd at the Miami Hackathon and took home $200. It wasn't about the money but more about the validation that I can actually build things and have good ideas. Shoutout to Eric from the Meet Gail team!&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Earned</strong> I got certified as an independent travel agent through InteleTravel. This one's been a long time coming. Travel is such a huge part of my life, and now I get to help other people experience the world too. I also built out my travel section of the site. Still working on guides and itineraries for you all!&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Attended</strong> A La Prairie event here in Miami. The vibes were immaculate, the people were lovely, and I left with a gift bag that made my entire week. I still need to post an update to what their new body cream has done for my skin so far.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>On Repeat</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St7G1F4mu_4">Olivia Dean &mdash; <em>Live at The Jazz Cafe</em></a>. If you haven't listened to this yet, please do yourself a favor. Her voice, the energy of that room &mdash; it's one of those recordings that just makes you feel something.</p>
<p>February, you were good to me.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

February, you were good to me.

February Recap: Violet Verse's Evolution 

Everything you want to know about going to the Miami Open

Miami Open 2026 Ultimate Guide

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">The Vegan Plus Bacon Theory has been quickly gaining popularity on TikTok, and it's something we haven't heard related to progress in a long time. Last year, the 10K steps rule infiltrated my algorithm, and I felt like a failure every time I didn't hit that coveted number during my evening walks. But did I discredit everything I <em>did</em> do? Absolutely not!</p>
<p>That's the heart of the Vegan Plus Bacon Theory: two things can absolutely be true at the same time.&nbsp;You can be working towards a degree in science but take a semester off to pay down your credit card bill. You can be saving up for your dream house but skip a month of savings payments to cover something else. You can be committed to eating clean but still enjoy the occasional bacon.</p>
<p>In a world where copy-pasta perfectionism and curated appearances are so deeply connected to our own self-worth, the idea that you can do a small percentage of your goals...your wants, your dreams...and <em>count it as a whole</em> is genuinely coming to save us from this obsession with trying to be, in fact, "whole."</p>
<p>I have this book called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grace-over-Perfection-Mercy-Standards/dp/0578702150?tag=ustxtaddt-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grace Over Perfection</a> that I come back to from time to time when I'm not reaching my goals on schedule. A close friend gifted me this book in my mid-20s when I was in a difficult space. I was freelancing and working full time at Publicis, a global advertising agency, as a "content engineer." Back then, that title was very vague, and a lot of organizations had no idea what to do with me or my colleagues. Yet we performed perfectly. I was striving to be perfect so much that when I made mistakes at work or even with love interests, it scared me to death. I was literally frightened to take the next step, to push "space" and "return" to finish the content matrix. Back then, there were not enough tools to cover your ass. Being perfect was a double-edged sword. You were expected to know everything, with very little insight and tools.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Nowadays, your toolbox is full of free apps and endless advice on TikTok. Your closet is full of clothes you got at a discount. There is seemingly an endless supply of funding. You're one call away from a million dollars. What makes you better than the next? It's that willpower, the energy level of somebody who doesn't have to perform. It reminds me that progress doesn't require perfection. It just requires showing up even in the moments we feel like it's easy to give up. And that's exactly what the Vegan Plus Bacon Theory reinforces&mdash;harm reduction is still reduction.</p>
<p><strong>Showing up at 10% is still showing up.</strong></p>
<p>I digress&hellip; if you've been beating yourself up for not doing it all, consider this your permission slip. Be vegan plus bacon. Be the gym girlie who takes Wednesdays off. Be the saver who splurges once in a while. The point is you're still in it&mdash;and that matters more than any arbitrary finish line.</p>

Even if you do 10%, it still counts so why discount what your goals are entirely? 

The Vegan Plus Bacon Theory

<p>&ldquo;I know you don&rsquo;t think of me in that way, to be honest, but it would be nice to show me the same respect that you show the other crypto bros.&rdquo;</p>
<p>I typed that message to someone I&rsquo;d known for years after he completely ignored me when I asked what he was building and what stage it was in. I sent it, half-annoyed and half-embarrassed, and immediately felt a familiar wave of imposter syndrome wash over me. Even now, after years in this industry, I still sometimes feel like I&rsquo;m standing just slightly outside the inner circle of crypto.</p>
<p>But my curiosity about decentralized finance never really fades. In fact, it heightened recently when a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission came to Miami for a series of roundtables and discussions with local crypto teams. With the Market Structure Bill expected to move through the Senate in the next few weeks, a lot of people in crypto are anxiously waiting to see how their businesses will have to change&mdash;or whether they&rsquo;ll be able to survive the new rules at all.</p>
<p>Miami has a reputation for being a flashy, party-driven tourist city. And sure, it is that. But beyond the palm trees and fancy restaurants, there&rsquo;s a serious and growing crypto scene here. It&rsquo;s slow but it&rsquo;s growing, which is why I dedicate a few days out of the week to working out of The Port. A normal day turned into a totally new alpha unlock. The conversation ping ponged from Miami&rsquo;s hotel scene to current RFQ proposals to node providers, sitting at a table with million dollar founders, marketers, business development people, and attorneys who work with crypto clients.</p>
<p>The block is hot.</p>
<p>The SEC representative walked in wearing a knitted tank top, a button-down skirt, and sneakers. She casually mentioned that she worked closely with Hester Peirce at the Commission. Here was this woman from New York meeting directly with founders who were building intricate financial models on-chain. I was pleasantly surprised to see some actual feminine energy in a space that usually feels overwhelmingly br0ish, but in a good way.</p>
<p>And the conversation wasn&rsquo;t about hype or lack thereof. There was no talk about NFT floor prices or the latest Bitcoin rally. Instead, it went deeper. The central question of the day became: Who actually controls DeFi? The answer was far more complicated than I expected and so I got out my notepad. First, there&rsquo;s a quiet illusion of decentralization happening. When people ask me why crypto is popular or what assets they should buy, I usually give the simple, baseline answer: anyone with a crypto wallet can participate. You don&rsquo;t need to be an accredited investor like in traditional finance where you need at least $250K liquid in your checking account even to be considered net-worth. In theory, decentralized finance is supposed to make wealth transfers more accessible and more democratic.</p>
<p>But the themes that emerged in the discussion revealed a contradiction. Protocols may be decentralized in code, but in practice, the markets themselves are often centralized in liquidity.</p>
<p>We talked about the mechanics that actually make DeFi work:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Nodes &mdash; the infrastructure that validates transactions</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Slippage &mdash; the real cost of liquidity and volatility</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Market communication &mdash; the signals that drive order flow and price discovery</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>These are the functional pillars of an equal playing field. Users care about speed: how fast a transaction settles. They care about cost: whether they get the price they expect. And they care about trust: whether the execution is actually fair and high-quality is also on the rubric of quality AMMs. That&rsquo;s why platforms like Uniswap and Jupiter are so popular right now. Come to find out, regulators care about all of this too, which is why the conversation eventually landed on AMMs&mdash;Automated Market Makers. These are the systems and entities that provide liquidity and essentially give tokens their economic weight and stability. When Violet Verse launched its token back in 2022, we needed to gain volume and value from a AMM on Flow to go from 0 to .00000888&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/discover/stocks/VV" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-attrs="{&quot;symbol&quot;:&quot;VV&quot;}" data-component-name="Cashtag">VV&nbsp;0.39%&uarr;</a>&nbsp;. I essentially acted as my own AMM by depositing $FLOW&hellip; I don&rsquo;t want to get too off topic but if you&rsquo;re interested in, you can read my Liquidity Lipgloss report&nbsp;<a href="/liquidity-lipgloss-the-vv-token-airdrop-report-j2xUqBGbrr" rel="">here</a>.</p>
<p>As I listened, it all started to sink in. And then it clicked. I&rsquo;ve seen this dynamic play out firsthand working on some of the top crypto marketing teams ( at one point). Working in the Polkadot ecosystem with StellaSwap&mdash;one of the largest decentralized exchanges on the network&mdash;I got a front-row seat to how &ldquo;decentralized&rdquo; platforms actually function. On paper, StellaSwap was fully decentralized. Anyone with a wallet could buy, stake, or swap DOT or any other token across Polkadot blockchains. But behind the scenes, the activity wasn&rsquo;t exactly organic. Liquidity didn&rsquo;t just appear because random token holders decided to deposit millions of dollars. A significant portion of volume was propped up by:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Moonbeam incentives</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Polkadot ecosystem capital via a proposal board</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Token emissions and grants to smaller projects to run questing campaigns</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>The strategy included plugging more capital into the smart contract to help out new teams who were launching gaming tokens or meme coins and needed an extra boost. The current state of the crypto grant system is (kind of) off-topic, developers were constantly asking for more funding, and all of this was openly discussed on public forums. None of it was a secret. In essence, it&rsquo;s technically decentralized. But functionally? It the swap was dependent on coordinated ecosystem actors to stay alive.</p>
<p>And StellaSwap isn&rsquo;t unique. There are plenty of protocols like this. Some of them eventually fade into what I think of as&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Param_eth/status/2015076387464601724" rel="">&ldquo;vapor blockchains</a>&rdquo;&mdash;projects that looked vibrant on the surface but were really just being kept afloat by incentives.</p>
<p>We took a break for lunch to eat kabobs because our discussion on Prop AMMs was going to be a heavy load. That&rsquo;s when the discussion shifted from &ldquo;how decentralized is DeFi?&rdquo; to &ldquo;how professional is DeFi becoming?&rdquo;</p>
<p>I had never heard of PMMs until the discussion but usually they are deployed by small, highly technical teams that provide liquidity using algorithms instead of relying on random (possibly scammy) retail users. Someone argued that PMMs actually&nbsp;<em>improve</em>&nbsp;DeFi because they reduce slippage, tighten spreads, and filter out low-quality actors who drain pools or manipulate prices. In their view, PMMs make markets cleaner and safer. I thought about how this could apply to scenarios where I&rsquo;m parsing through data or giving feedback to Messari reports and having to note where certain spikes in transactions are attributed to- even if it means negatively shining a spotlight on some APAC team spamming the ecosystem. Moreover, there are&nbsp;<a href="https://forum.polkadot.network/t/proposal-spammening-v2-make-polkadot-great-again/15847" rel="">campaigns that prevent this from happening</a>. Anyways PMMs sounded reasonable.</p>
<p>But the more I listened, the more I realized the tradeoff hiding underneath that logic. PMMs don&rsquo;t eliminate power in DeFi, they just curate it. Instead of thousands of individual liquidity providers, you end up with a handful of specialized firms quietly controlling order flow and price discovery. The result is that efficiency goes up, while participation goes down. DeFi starts to look a little less like an open marketplace and a little more like Wall Street, just wearing on-chain clothing. Now is this necessarily evil? No, tt&rsquo;s just honest.</p>
<p>Double clicking on another file in the conversation, we went deep with RFQ models&mdash;Request for Quote systems&mdash;where large traders bypass public liquidity pools entirely and get custom prices from professional market makers. Again, this newish feature exist because it&rsquo;s a better way to execution. But also more gatekeeping-y.</p>
<p>And then came the topic everyone tiptoed around: MEV, the so-called &ldquo;dark forest&rdquo; of DeFi. Turns out, the mempool isn&rsquo;t a neutral space. It&rsquo;s an adversarial environment filled with bots, searchers, and validators competing to extract value from every transaction. (Side note: With my AI training, Red teaming is a huge part of training various models of adversarial attacks). In theory, decentralization is supposed to level the playing field. In practice, the most sophisticated players win. Sitting there jotting down buzzwords, I again tried to think about how all this relates to my own role as a blockchain operator.</p>
<p>A few years ago, I use to work with Curve Finance team through ApeworX. I saw another version of this power structure. Curve isn&rsquo;t just a protocol, it&rsquo;s actually a liquidity engine. ApeworX provided the infrastructure rails that allowed that engine to scale across ecosystems from Ethereum to other L2s and beyond! Although we were so early in this solution, liquidity still needed this tooling. And in turn, tooling needed liquidity. Together they shaped what DeFi users could actually do. I haven&rsquo;t worked with ApeWorX in years, but judging from the open-source repo, they are vary much supplying the engine for many beloved and important DeFi teams today.</p>
<p>I digress, DeFi isn&rsquo;t really a flat, democratic system at all. It&rsquo;s layered. By the end of the day, I had sketched out something in my notebook I started calling a &ldquo;DeFi Power Map.&rdquo; At the top is&nbsp;<strong>liquidity power</strong>&mdash;the PMMs, trading firms, and ecosystem treasuries that decide which markets live or die. Then there&rsquo;s&nbsp;<strong>infrastructure power</strong>&mdash;the tooling platforms, RPC providers, and aggregators that determine what&rsquo;s usable.</p>
<p><br>Below that sits&nbsp;<strong>design power</strong>&mdash;protocol teams and governance structures that set incentives. Next comes&nbsp;<strong>execution power</strong>&mdash;validators and MEV actors who control transaction ordering. And finally, there&rsquo;s&nbsp;<strong>legitimacy power</strong>&mdash;regulators and institutions who decide what gets to operate at scale. I want to be clear that DeFi doesn&rsquo;t remove intermediaries, it just creates new ones.</p>
<p>And that, I realized, is probably why the SEC representative was so intrigued by the organic process. And she wasn&rsquo;t there to shut anything down, everyone was learning and open to sharing their experiences. She was there to understand who actually pulls the levers, how transactions get across the finish line without rug pulls.</p>
<p>Walking out of The Port that afternoon, I felt less like an imposter and more like a student who had just unlocked a new level of education. I don&rsquo;t pretend to understand every mechanism in DeFi yet. But I do understand this much that decentralization is not a switch you flip on. It&rsquo;s a spectrum shaped by money, incentives, and power. It&rsquo;s dance with centralization. If you&rsquo;re a retail trader trying to navigate this world, that matters more than any token chart ever will.</p>

Going deep into DefI

A Dance with Decentralization: Understanding PMMs, RFQs and On-Chain Liquidity

<p data-start="557" data-end="754">It&rsquo;s been one of the coldest winters I can remember&mdash;and even Miami hasn&rsquo;t been spared. Low temperatures, dry indoor air, and constant travel have left my skin feeling tighter and duller than usual. So when I was invited to La Prairie&rsquo;s latest partnership opening cocktails at the St. Regis Bal Harbour, the timing felt perfect.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="887" data-end="1332">The evening was classic La Prairie: elegant, indulgent, and deeply caviar-coded. Their signature cobalt blue packaging lined every corner of the room. Guests sampled eye creams with tiny silver caviar spoons, misting sprays, and dabbed toners to their already made-up faces. At the entrance, a long table filled with cotton pads invited everyone to test and compare textures. Everywhere I turned, someone was whispering, &ldquo;This is the best, right?&rdquo; And honestly&mdash;everyone&rsquo;s skin really was glowing.There was champagne, a caviar bar, and a gentle nod to one of the brand&rsquo;s most iconic hashtags I used to use in the early days of Instagram: <em data-start="1427" data-end="1461">champagne wishes, caviar dreams.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p>
<p data-start="887" data-end="1332"><em data-start="1427" data-end="1461"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/xSFjfq6W/Brush-Cashmere-on-background.webp" alt="" width="600" height="600"></em></p>
<hr data-start="1463" data-end="1466">
<h3 data-start="1468" data-end="1513">A Decade-Long Relationship With the Brand</h3>
<p data-start="1515" data-end="1742">I&rsquo;ve known and have been using La Prairie for more than ten years, dating back to my early beauty editorial days when I wrote about their caviar line for various magazines&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/beauty-chat-with-elizabet_b_6870520">here,</a> <a href="https://washingtonlife.com/?s=melissa+henderson">here</a> and <a href="/art-basel-recap-champagne-wishes-caviar-dream-sOeU_wYgnM">here</a>. What has always fascinated me isn&rsquo;t just the luxury price point and over the top packaging, but also the science that goes into developing each product.</p>
<p data-start="1744" data-end="1982">Behind the glamour is a serious research lab in Switzerland, staffed by big time scientists focused on advanced skincare technology when it comes to anti-aging. That combination of heritage, innovation, and clinical rigor is what has kept me paying attention all these years. I even have a book I received at one of the LP counters years ago!</p>
<p data-start="1984" data-end="2109">So it was exciting to be introduced to their newest product: <a href="https://www.laprairie.com/en-us/products/body-skin-awakening"><strong data-start="2040" data-end="2074">La Prairie Cashmere Body Cream</strong></a>. I left with a sample...and an idea.</p>
<hr data-start="2111" data-end="2114">
<h2 data-start="2116" data-end="2156">Turning Beauty Into a Real Experiment</h2>
<p data-start="2158" data-end="2348">Lately, as I&rsquo;ve been diving deeper into data science and structured testing, I&rsquo;ve become more curious about how beauty products actually perform beyond beautiful packaging and poetic claims.</p>
<p data-start="2350" data-end="2439">So instead of simply &ldquo;trying&rdquo; the cream, I decided to design a small personal experiment.</p>
<hr data-start="2441" data-end="2444">
<h3 data-start="2446" data-end="2471"><strong data-start="2450" data-end="2471">The Product Claim</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2473" data-end="2521">La Prairie describes the Cashmere Body Cream as:</p>
<blockquote data-start="2523" data-end="2770">
<p data-start="2525" data-end="2770">&ldquo;A biomimetic formula inspired by the skin&rsquo;s natural extracellular matrix and the luxurious softness of cashmere. It envelops the skin in a protective veil, activating signaling receptors that support cellular renewal for strength and softness.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<p data-start="2772" data-end="2847">Their clinical testing reports improvements after 2 and 4 weeks, including:</p>
<p data-start="2849" data-end="2866"><strong data-start="2849" data-end="2866">After 2 weeks</strong></p>
<ul data-start="2867" data-end="2921">
<li data-start="2867" data-end="2893">
<p data-start="2869" data-end="2893">Visible spot reduction</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2894" data-end="2921">
<p data-start="2896" data-end="2921">Reinforced skin barrier</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="2923" data-end="2940"><strong data-start="2923" data-end="2940">After 4 weeks</strong></p>
<ul data-start="2941" data-end="3040">
<li data-start="2941" data-end="2977">
<p data-start="2943" data-end="2977">Improved firmness and elasticity</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2978" data-end="3001">
<p data-start="2980" data-end="3001">More even skin tone</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3002" data-end="3040">
<p data-start="3004" data-end="3040">Skin feels cushioned and nourished</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="3042" data-end="3182">These claims are backed by internal clinical trials with 40 panelists at each stage using instrumental measurements, expert grading, and self-assessments.</p>
<hr data-start="3184" data-end="3187">
<h2 data-start="3189" data-end="3217">My Personal Skin Concerns</h2>
<p data-start="3219" data-end="3271">I&rsquo;ve always been a bit self-conscious about the front of my legs.</p>
<p data-start="3273" data-end="3494">Between mosquito bites, random scars from falling, and even a burn from a massage chair, I have lingering dark marks and uneven texture. Despite loving my legs, I&rsquo;ve mostly relied on simple shea butter for years, nothing more targeted.</p>
<p data-start="3496" data-end="3624">This felt like the perfect opportunity to see if a high-end, science-backed body cream could actually make a visible difference.</p>
<hr data-start="3626" data-end="3629">
<p data-start="3631" data-end="3658"><strong data-start="3633" data-end="3658">The Experiment Design</strong></p>
<p data-start="3660" data-end="3840"><strong data-start="3660" data-end="3675">Hypothesis:</strong><br data-start="3675" data-end="3678">Using La Prairie Cashmere Body Cream daily for four weeks will improve the texture, tone, and overall appearance of my skin&mdash;particularly on areas with dark marks.</p>
<p data-start="3842" data-end="3865"><strong data-start="3842" data-end="3855">Duration:</strong><br data-start="3855" data-end="3858">4 weeks</p>
<p data-start="3867" data-end="3890"><strong data-start="3867" data-end="3890">Application Method:</strong></p>
<ul data-start="3892" data-end="4079">
<li data-start="3892" data-end="3925">
<p data-start="3894" data-end="3925">Dry brushing before showering at night</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3926" data-end="3964">
<p data-start="3928" data-end="3964">Post-shower application once daily</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3965" data-end="4025">
<p data-start="3967" data-end="4025">No other body creams or oils used during the test period</p>
</li>
<li data-start="4026" data-end="4079">
<p data-start="4028" data-end="4079">Same routine applied to both legs for consistency</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="4081" data-end="4102"><strong data-start="4081" data-end="4102">Measurement Plan:</strong></p>
<ul data-start="4104" data-end="4297">
<li data-start="4104" data-end="4136">
<p data-start="4106" data-end="4136">Baseline photos before Day 1</p>
</li>
<li data-start="4137" data-end="4184">
<p data-start="4139" data-end="4158">Progress photos at:</p>
<ul data-start="4161" data-end="4184">
<li data-start="4161" data-end="4171">
<p data-start="4163" data-end="4171">Week 2</p>
</li>
<li data-start="4174" data-end="4184">
<p data-start="4176" data-end="4184">Week 4</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="4185" data-end="4297">
<p data-start="4187" data-end="4212">Subjective assessment of:</p>
<ul data-start="4215" data-end="4297">
<li data-start="4215" data-end="4226">
<p data-start="4217" data-end="4226">Texture</p>
</li>
<li data-start="4229" data-end="4242">
<p data-start="4231" data-end="4242">Hydration</p>
</li>
<li data-start="4245" data-end="4273">
<p data-start="4247" data-end="4273">Appearance of dark marks</p>
</li>
<li data-start="4276" data-end="4297">
<p data-start="4278" data-end="4297">Overall skin feel</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="4299" data-end="4377">I&rsquo;ll be treating this as close to a &ldquo;real&rdquo; self-run clinical test as possible.</p>
<hr data-start="4379" data-end="4382">
<p data-start="4384" data-end="4421"><strong>Sensory Review (First Impressions)</strong></p>
<p data-start="4423" data-end="4497">Even before results, the experience of this cream deserves its own moment. Upon opening the signature heavy silver twist off cap, the aluminum seal that feels like a desert treat. From the moment you unleash the lux, the texture is rich and indulgent, but not heavy. It glides on like a balm, then melts into the skin, leaving behind a soft, glow finish.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="4423" data-end="4497">The fragrance feels like quiet luxury: velvety caviar signature scnet like their face cream but a bit less pungent with delicate rosy notes&mdash;warm, comforting, and refined. It&rsquo;s the kind of scent that makes an everyday routine feel ceremonial.&nbsp;La Prairie calls it a &ldquo;cashmere embrace,&rdquo; and that&rsquo;s exactly how it feels.</p>
<hr data-start="4902" data-end="4905">
<h2 data-start="4907" data-end="4925">What Comes Next...</h2>
<p data-start="4927" data-end="4973">Over the next four weeks, I&rsquo;ll be documenting:</p>
<ul data-start="4975" data-end="5121">
<li data-start="4975" data-end="4999">
<p data-start="4977" data-end="4999">Changes in skin tone</p>
</li>
<li data-start="5000" data-end="5030">
<p data-start="5002" data-end="5030">Reduction of visible marks</p>
</li>
<li data-start="5031" data-end="5074">
<p data-start="5033" data-end="5074">Improvements in softness and elasticity</p>
</li>
<li data-start="5075" data-end="5121">
<p data-start="5077" data-end="5121">Whether the results justify the investment</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="5123" data-end="5268">In two weeks, I&rsquo;ll share my Week 2 progress photos on TikTok. At the end of the month, I&rsquo;ll publish a full before-and-after review with honest conclusions.</p>
<hr data-start="5270" data-end="5273">
<h3 data-start="5275" data-end="5297">Transparency Notes</h3>
<ul data-start="5299" data-end="5434">
<li data-start="5299" data-end="5345">
<p data-start="5301" data-end="5345">Product provided as a sample by La Prairie</p>
</li>
<li data-start="5346" data-end="5394">
<p data-start="5348" data-end="5394">All opinions and observations will be my own</p>
</li>
<li data-start="5395" data-end="5434">
<p data-start="5397" data-end="5434">No additional compensation involved</p>
</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="5436" data-end="5439">
<p data-start="5441" data-end="5472"><strong data-start="5441" data-end="5472">Stay tuned for the results on my TikTok.</strong></p>

Testing La Prairie’s Cashmere Body Cream for 4 Weeks

All I Want For Valentine's Day: La Prairie's Cashmere Body Cream 

<p>Every so often a faint buzzer would sound off, alerting us that there is voting taking place on Capitol Hill. Turns out, it was one of the busiest days for Congressional Hearings taking place, and I, along with two dozen delegates from the&nbsp;<strong>Women of Color in Blockchain Congressional Briefing</strong>, was at the heart of the action. The halls were filled with busy staffers following their legislatures around with iPhones, recording notes with their multi-card badges hanging off their trousers and winter coats. The style in D.C. is so proper. People were clad in suits and business professional attire&mdash;blazers, knitted dresses, red lipstick, and combat boots with rubber soles to navigate the marble floors in comfort. A week before arriving on the Hill, we were briefed on Washington etiquette, including what to wear and &ldquo;reading the room.&rdquo; This event is in its 6th year, organized by Cleve Mesidor, a policy veteran in DC and currently executive director of the Blockchain Foundation. I&rsquo;m grateful for the invitation and already seeing the value of being present.</p>
<p><img src="https://i.ibb.co/xSdMZ689/Blockchain251210-1805.jpg" alt="" width="500"></p>
<p>Somewhere in between mid-morning and afternoon, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce filed into our Senate briefing room to update us on the latest rules and regulations for crypto companies. According to the commissioner, favorable treatment for crypto companies is her top priority, so long as the crypto company is following the rules. There will be an &ldquo;innovation exemption&rdquo; for those companies who want to experiment with crypto under SEC guardrails. Moreover, blockchain companies are encouraged to submit letters to the SEC to make sure they get on the exempt list.</p>
<p>The room was filled with so many women from different sectors of crypto. Staffers popped in and out the room &mdash; handing out their cards to us delegates to learn more about our stories. The goal was to make our stories heard so that we will be reflected in the upcoming Senate bill on market structure. On the plane back home, I texted one of my new contacts, &ldquo;get ready for the crypto story you haven&rsquo;t heard before&rdquo;&hellip; She hearted the message. I digress.. One of the key takeaways from the day was &ldquo;<strong>Harness the power, but don&rsquo;t do it alone.&rdquo; More on this later&hellip;</strong></p>

Washington D.C. in the cold December

Dispatched: WOC in Blockchain Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">"She's almost ready to come out," the method haircare team kept saying, making the reveal all the more exciting. Amongst the over-the-top art exhibitions, ritzy parties, traffic, and networking, the Moxy Hotel's courtyard was the perfect place to unwind with a refreshing cocktail, good food, and paint away. The theme of the afternoon was "ritual of expression and perception."</p>
<p>method has been a breakthrough brand, offering home, bath, and body products that are made with super natural ingredients. During Art Basel, the brand was showcasing its paraben-free, protein-packed shampoo and conditioner with peony fragrance. method's signature bottle shape was intentionally designed to be smooth, modularesque, and approachable. One thing about me: I love peonies, and I love protein.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>With this launch, method introduces new body washes in the same signature scents as<br>its latest shampoos and conditioners, to create a fully immersive and transformational<br>shower experience. The collection offers a seamless, head-to-toe fragrance journey.<br>designed to elevate your self-care routine, providing not only captivating scents but also<br>nourishing hydration for your skin.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>method's hair monster</h2>
<p>We took our seats while the <a href="https://www.samaraash.com/">Miami-based artist Samara Ash</a> introduced the <em>naked </em>hair monster model. In walks a creature of perception&mdash;underneath the lavender satin robe was the most gorgeous coat of hair, full naked! Oohs and ahhs came from the crowd as all of us held out our phones to capture the moment.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Double-clicking on capturing the moment, Samara shared how to sketch the hair monster with penmanship and watercolor techniques. It was fun to figure out how to create the lines and colors on canvas. Since NFTs are making a comeback, should I mint my hair monster artwork?&nbsp;</p>
<p>Join our<a href="https://discord.gg/JUvSEaBgeu"> Discord here</a> to see more photos and learn more!&nbsp;</p>
<h2>More about method&nbsp;</h2>
<p>method&rsquo;s hair care products boast a long-lasting fragrance, are formulated without&nbsp;parabens, silicone, sulfates, or dyes, and are safe for color-treated hair. Pass on the&nbsp;good vibes with cruelty-free ingredients and a bottle made with 80% recycled plastic&nbsp;(PCR).</p>
<p>method&rsquo;s hair care line is available in-stores such as Ulta, Target, and Walgreens and online on Amazon and methodproducts.com. Each shampoo and conditioner is available in two sizes: 14 fl oz for everyday use and 3.4 fl oz ideal for travel. Suggested retail price: 14 fl oz: $10.99 USD, and 3.4 fl oz: $3.49 USD.&nbsp; For more information, please visit <a href="/posts/methodproducts.com">methodproducts.com.</a></p>

Taking a break from the art, ritzy parties and networking

method Hair Care Invited Me To An Art Basel Live Sketching Session

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">It was 2021, and Clubhouse had just reached over 1 million users. I logged onto one of those audio rooms for the first time after a friend sent me her referral invite. Six weeks later they were overflowing with crypto degens spewing alpha about the next airdrops to come from hype NFT projects. OpenSea&rsquo;s website traffic was probably topping CNN. On the day everyone went &ldquo;to the moon,&rdquo; CryptoPunks NFTs sold for thousands of ETH, which at the time was worth converting to over $1 million USD.</p>
<p><strong>Generational Wealth</strong></p>
<p>Back in 2020, when I fell down the crypto rabbit hole, it was the height of crypto trading, and people were making a killing, building generational wealth gains that would have been unfathomable with a 9-5. It was the kind of money you use to buy a house, a car, move to Dubai, and live large. A lot of Americans got so rich they actually did move their families to Florida and Puerto Rico and completely reinvent themselves with magical internet money. With NFTs came airdrops. It was part of the crypto experience and arrived when you completed quests like holding a popular NFT, signing up for an early access list, and overall connecting your wallet to a blockchain.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Back then, airdrops felt like chaos. It was essentially free money raining down if you happened to be in the right Discord, clicked the right buttons, or stayed up late enough chasing clues left from a lengthy whitepaper. They were messy, euphoric, and impossible to explain to anyone outside the crypto bubble. But they worked. One day I got an airdrop for ~$800 for posting on a social media platform that was built on a blockchain. Projects loved rewarding curiosity, conviction, and a certain willingness to wander around their web of crypto stuff without a map. It was risky because your wallet could be drained at any given phishing link, and there was no customer service to call. No FDIC approval.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Internet Capital Markets</strong></p>
<p>Now, it&rsquo;s called Internet Capital Markets, and institutional players have arrived and started regulating the entire landscape. Meanwhile, what amazes me is how much NFTs are mentioned very cavalierly on TV shows and in movies and have become synonymous with digital collectibles. <strong>And yet, real ones know it was a shiny ticket to the top of the food chain.</strong> We won&rsquo;t ever see gains like we did in 2017/2021 again, which is actually a travesty when you think about it. We'll also be chasing the highs of that time period; 100x gains was crazy work.&nbsp;</p>
<p>And yet, airdrops are cool again. Not in the spray-and-pray way of the last cycle, but in something quieter and more intentional. The best ones feel like inside jokes&mdash;rewards for behavior, participation, and time spent when no one was watching. They signal who actually used the product versus who just traded the narrative. In a market that&rsquo;s been smoothed, regulated, and institutionalized, the airdrop is one of the last remnants of crypto&rsquo;s original magic.</p>
<p>As the market levels out and the Museum of Modern Art acquires some of the first NFTs, it begs the question: are NFTs, for art&rsquo;s sake, back&mdash;and being swapped? Maybe the real flex now isn&rsquo;t the headline sale or the TV mention, but the quiet receipt that proves you were there early enough to earn it.</p>
<p><em>Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Please do not click on sketchy links! When in doubt, don't connect your wallet or give away your seed phrase to anyone.&nbsp;</em></p>

How do we make airdrops cool again? 

Op Ed: Is Airdrop Culture Over? 

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">It's officially been a thousand days since ChatGPT was released to the world and launched this whole "people obsessed with generative AI" movement. Since then, a slew of brands have integrated AI into their current products, and even more hardware has entered the marketplace. Generally, I have a sense that people are still afraid that AI will completely make them useless. But, that's such a bleak way of looking at the future.&nbsp;</p>
<p>AI is supposed to make humanity better off, not worse. Which leads me to spill the tea on the latest AI hardware that should be on your Christmas wish list. If you want to know where to start, I'd highly recommend buying hardware instead of just using ChatGPT or Claude. It's a great way to feel the technology, while still keeping your critical thinking skills intact. The first product on the list is FRIEND AI, a little wearable necklace that is supposed to help with the loneliness epidemic, or lack thereof. It's first on the list because earlier this year, the brand launched this huge advertising campaign in New York City. It was the talk of the internet for weeks; even the ads were remixed<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-companion-startup-friend-calls-defaced-subway-ads-entertaining-2025-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> (ahem, vandalized) </a>because of the discourse about it being super invasive to society. Whether people love AI or hate it, it's becoming a way of life sooner than we can think, literally.&nbsp; I digress; here are a few products to add to your wishlist.&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<p data-start="488" data-end="692">♡&nbsp;<strong data-start="490" data-end="513">01. the tiny genius</strong> ♡ <a href="https://friend.com/?page=hardware" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FRIEND AI Hardware</a><br data-start="515" data-end="518">For the angels who love a cute gadget that secretly does everything. It hangs around your neck, voice-activated, and always one step ahead &mdash; like a digital bestie you can take everywhere.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="694" data-end="889">♡ <strong data-start="696" data-end="724">02. the wearable whisper</strong> ♡ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Oura-Ring-Tracking-Wearable-Fitness/dp/B0D9WT1S2T?tag=ustxtaddt-20">Oura Ring&nbsp;</a><br data-start="726" data-end="729">For the angels who want their tech to blend seamlessly into their look. This minimal, elegant, and quietly powerful ring have been taking over the modern content creator wardrobe&nbsp; &mdash; it helps you track your menstrual cycle and TikTokers are also boasting that it has saved their life!&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="891" data-end="1097">♡ <strong data-start="893" data-end="918">03. the creative muse</strong> ♡<a href="https://www.rabbit.tech/rabbit-r1"> Rabbit Tech AI</a><br data-start="920" data-end="923">For the angels who generate ideas faster than they can write them down. A tool that dreams with you, drafts with you, and turns your spark into a finished thought in seconds.</p>
<p data-start="1099" data-end="1296">♡ <strong data-start="1101" data-end="1124">04. the home oracle</strong> ♡ <a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/home-appliances/refrigerators/bespoke/bespoke-4-door-flex-refrigerator-29-cu-ft-with-ai-family-hub-and-ai-vision-inside-n-stainless-steel-rf29db9900qdaa/">Samsung refrigerator with built in AI</a><br data-start="1126" data-end="1129">For the angels who want their home to feel like a soft, intelligent sanctuary to nourish their body without that sets the vibe, answers your questions, and keeps your life flowing.</p>
<p data-start="1298" data-end="1494">♡ <strong data-start="1300" data-end="1325">05. the memory keeper</strong> ♡ <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Surface Laptop (Copilot+)</a><br data-start="1327" data-end="1330">For the angels romantic enough to archive everything: moments, nights out, sunsets, texts worth saving. Smarter photos, smarter edits, and instantly sharable magic.</p>
<p data-start="1496" data-end="1683">♡ <strong data-start="1498" data-end="1527">06. the pocket translator</strong> ♡ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Generation-Cancelling-Transparency-Personalized/dp/B0CHWRXH8B?tag=ustxtaddt-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AirPods Pro (4th Gen)</a><br data-start="1529" data-end="1532">For the angels who collect passport stamps and best friends from every country. Real-time AI translation that makes every conversation feel effortless.</p>
<p data-start="1685" data-end="1849">♡ <strong data-start="1687" data-end="1715">07. the voice-first vibe</strong> ♡ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Plaud-Recorder-Transcribe-Summarize-Languages/dp/B0F3X7V8KP/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=33CF0G1T0BOFC&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Q1EBubRd-_CQy5Z4zOZhuh6X2pwxPo1j5Bx5Eg6g8iwRZHDcgxxcO8JGEBmWvXrHbCytoC2ZxK5z56QBMBHrZAzP5gN3bgXEOtsi3bdCtF2WeZDggXky0J0mC-3-ht2kgAvC2jU-HcqlzGIFsLnhKxfRXUCRtAMBiQtyoO8tduM0sbR85JwnS2CJILnHejqwthORvbpWFrnOQkcbXgbnpsnefBzXqrDyJK3mrkQipy110pZuPzPaegFxdDYTxq7dKxzjG6deQ0h8TL3ng2ctKM2qLxtSyF8gNKZUQ3nYHFA.N22bklKTAXv-JxTlB5UaXA1G-CePshaz7aJUSO89owQ&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=ai%2Bvoice%2Brecorder&amp;qid=1766113757&amp;s=electronics&amp;sprefix=ai%2B%2Celectronics%2C194&amp;sr=1-2-spons&amp;sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&amp;th=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plaude Note AI</a><br data-start="1717" data-end="1720">For the angels who want frictionless tech &mdash; no scrolling, no tapping, just asking. Wearable, screenless, and beautifully minimal.</p>
<p data-start="1851" data-end="2029">♡ <strong data-start="1853" data-end="1878">08. the smart journal</strong> ♡ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DG9ZXWMK/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B0DG9ZXWMK&amp;ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_ssd_img&amp;qid=1766113720&amp;pd_rd_w=haZNW&amp;content-id=amzn1.sym.9f2b2b9e-47e9-4764-a4dc-2be2f6fca36d%3Aamzn1.sym.9f2b2b9e-47e9-4764-a4dc-2be2f6fca36d&amp;pf_rd_p=9f2b2b9e-47e9-4764-a4dc-2be2f6fca36d&amp;pf_rd_r=98EJQ15VZWVX0VZBKCVM&amp;pd_rd_wg=PdvqB&amp;pd_rd_r=156fbb08-0af6-4491-8ac4-de162374895c&amp;pd_rd_plhdr=t&amp;th=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Remarkable Paper Pro</a><br data-start="1880" data-end="1883">For the angels in their self-reflection era. Private, intelligent note-taking that remembers everything for you and organizes your mind as you go.</p>
<p data-start="2031" data-end="2232">♡ <strong data-start="2033" data-end="2064">09. the gym digital twin</strong> ♡ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Speediance-Upgraded-AI-Powered-Multi-Functional-Equipment/dp/B0DFH1NYR6/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Fvjtf7M7uFqwxX1KYYPA8y7QXY9eI8zbDhmTz3xNnjyzGx9GdwHc4JKz0ekd6LMzFE45H3EuNmB3lui9tNCFCq0MfjlYZRwRY6jksq--6_tmsm3NOUdlpmzBARt2S6UPnNnvF3YCSKzbvryhSBdJXmKMJcowaFsTi3MY_kLZtoijzGoPr1wjcoYbQttIrq2iHaH0KY-EaD2VObCZZukvhvmyZ8qTVfb_t-IW5-OQ9GGTIY2j39Ba44zolDzNijwijwOwuMKfBFq2wBZ09T-mcITNWveJSmfQsuD45etZq44.CzCT44mfNyzjkafy31_37AJJRTur1u-7a2c9S9nNdP0&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=smart%2Bhome%2Bgym&amp;qid=1766113846&amp;sr=8-4-spons&amp;sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&amp;th=1">Speediance Home Gym</a><br data-start="2066" data-end="2069">For the angels who love pilates, lifting, and main-character energy. An AI workout instructor that knows your silhouettes, tough spots, and vibe &mdash; and predicts what will get you your Kim Kardashian inspired six-pack abs.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2439">♡ <strong data-start="2236" data-end="2268">10. the productivity robot</strong> ♡ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/TangibleFuture-LOOI-Robot-Space-Black-Interaction/dp/B0F1YWF96K/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2UHMEZQCNPV36&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Z3w-D_ygwg1niFltPB7qF8yCBab4B7DpMFaoMn7v65_EW5_uLsbzOzrx-PTVg40UE8DNkWiEXMPDM-zRBp-8LRx3QxszyQ9PFxV-IfWD_VgIdzOaO_NL_kQb_oVwzcLAifY38vvl4f_JSzIqIJxNwKs6Eqlv3zj2Z21d5fEd3AV-iOT9uXTG2_J63DdF-qTtXzKIj_bBjCsTb1f2tashequGS8lLXn3Vxvk-Hmuyb6I.h30NNIfTLXfuLNg5qQD0nokNeeFwYPYsU0e5mxn2fA8&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=ai%2Bgadgets&amp;qid=1766113971&amp;sprefix=ai%2B%2Caps%2C174&amp;sr=8-10&amp;th=1">LOOI Robot</a><br data-start="2270" data-end="2273">For the angels who like their workflows tidy, aesthetic, and quietly optimized. A subtle desk upgrade that makes everything smoother, faster, and infinitely more you.</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2439">What did I miss?&nbsp;</p>

VioletVerse December Edit

Gifts for the AI-Obsessed Friend — Smart, Chic, Unexpected

<p data-start="193" data-end="970">Miami it girls are not the same as NYC it girls, however they both love shopping, getting dressed, and serving. When I moved to Miami just five years ago, I was already accustomed to the fashion, having reported on Art Basel almost eight years prior. The style here is more spice, heavy labels, and ripped bodies, thanks to the humid weather all year round. Moreover, in recent years, Miami has been named the top city for wellness, with so many fitness studios including Barry's Bootcamp, Tracy Anderson Method, Reserve Padel, plus Turkish bath houses and luxury spas. Not to mention, it&rsquo;s home to top plastic surgeons, which makes it the perfect place to get all the latest treatments. Why not indulge in shopping when the weather is literally 85 degrees and sunny every day?</p>
<p data-start="972" data-end="1567">What&rsquo;s more is the extreme style choices &mdash; you can be clad in a bikini or dressed up in a lace ball gown. The guys wear crisp button-down shirts and Brunello Cucinelli suede slides. Alo Yoga and Lulus paired with Herm&egrave;s sandals are part of the uniform. Miami is filled with wellness junkies, models, athletes, and lots of tourists. At any given moment, you can run into someone at the grocery store in a bikini cover-up on the way to the beach. Bal Harbour Shops in North Miami and Merrick Park in Coral Gables are both great choices to get Athleta or Nike &mdash; there&rsquo;s also Saks and Neiman Marcus.</p>
<h2 data-start="336" data-end="364"><strong data-start="339" data-end="364">Miami Design District</strong></h2>
<p data-start="365" data-end="521">The district is Miami&rsquo;s style engine&mdash;architectural, high-fashion, and full of energy.<br data-start="450" data-end="453"><strong data-start="453" data-end="469">Go here for:</strong> luxury flagships, streetwear, and seasonal drops.</p>
<p data-start="523" data-end="668"><strong data-start="523" data-end="538">Key stores:</strong><br data-start="538" data-end="541">KITH &middot; KSUBI &middot; Givenchy &middot; Amiri &middot; The Real Real &middot; Balenciaga &middot; Gucci &middot; Dior &middot; Fendi &middot; Miu Miu &middot; Veronica Beard &middot; Alo Yoga &middot; On Running</p>
<p data-start="670" data-end="725"><strong data-start="670" data-end="695">Where to grab a bite:</strong><br data-start="695" data-end="698">Chateau ZZs, Dior Caf&eacute;, Pura Vida, Contessa,&nbsp; Michael's Genuine&nbsp;</p>
<hr data-start="727" data-end="730">
<h2 data-start="732" data-end="756"><strong data-start="735" data-end="756">Bal Harbour Shops</strong></h2>
<p data-start="757" data-end="884">Iconic, open-air luxury shopping under palm trees.<br data-start="807" data-end="810"><strong data-start="810" data-end="826">Go here for:</strong> curated high fashion, accessories, and resort dressing.</p>
<p data-start="886" data-end="1041"><strong data-start="886" data-end="901">Key stores:</strong><br data-start="901" data-end="904">Chanel &middot; Prada &middot; Dior &middot; Fendi &middot; Bottega Veneta &middot; Saint Laurent &middot; The Webster &middot; Zimmermann &middot; Balmain &middot; Saks Fifth Avenue &middot;&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="1043" data-end="1079"><strong data-start="1043" data-end="1060">Where to eat:</strong><br data-start="1060" data-end="1063">Makoto, Hillstone&nbsp;</p>
<hr data-start="1081" data-end="1084">
<h2 data-start="1086" data-end="1100"><strong data-start="1089" data-end="1100">Wynwood</strong></h2>
<p data-start="1101" data-end="1227">A mix of streetwear, indie boutiques, pop-ups, and vintage.<br data-start="1160" data-end="1163"><strong data-start="1163" data-end="1179">Go here for:</strong> emerging designers, sneakers, curated thrift.</p>
<p data-start="1229" data-end="1313"><strong data-start="1229" data-end="1244">Key stores:</strong><br data-start="1244" data-end="1247">Le Labo &middot; 260 Sample Sale &middot; Miami Pilates &middot; DJI</p>
<p data-start="1315" data-end="1366"><strong data-start="1315" data-end="1332">Coffee stops:</strong><br data-start="1332" data-end="1335">The Sable, Libertino&nbsp;</p>
<hr data-start="1368" data-end="1371">
<h2 data-start="1373" data-end="1391"><strong data-start="1376" data-end="1391">South Beach</strong></h2>
<p data-start="1392" data-end="1511">Edited, stylish retail meets art and culture.<br data-start="1437" data-end="1440"><strong data-start="1440" data-end="1456">Go here for:</strong> designer concept spaces and beach-adjacent shopping.</p>
<p data-start="1513" data-end="1595"><strong data-start="1513" data-end="1528">Key places:</strong><br data-start="1528" data-end="1531">Alchemist&nbsp; &middot; Medium Cool &middot; Vendom or LIV for clubbing</p>
<h2 data-start="1373" data-end="1391"><strong data-start="1376" data-end="1391">Brickell City Centre Mall</strong></h2>
<p data-start="1392" data-end="1511"><br data-start="1437" data-end="1440"><strong data-start="1440" data-end="1456">Go here for:</strong> designer concept spaces and beach-adjacent shopping.</p>
<p data-start="1513" data-end="1595"><strong data-start="1513" data-end="1528">Key places:</strong><br data-start="1528" data-end="1531">Aritzia, Reiss , Zara, H&amp;M, Apple Store, Sephora, Saks, Pandora</p>
<p data-start="1513" data-end="1595">Where to eat: Casa Tua, The Henry</p>
<hr data-start="1597" data-end="1600">
<h2 data-start="1602" data-end="1630"><strong data-start="1605" data-end="1630">Best Vintage + Resale</strong></h2>
<p data-start="1631" data-end="1742">Fly Boutique &middot; Consign of the Times &middot; Miami Twice &middot; The Closet Trading Co. &middot; Lotus House Thrift Chic Boutique</p>
<hr data-start="1744" data-end="1747">
<h2 data-start="1749" data-end="1783"><strong data-start="1752" data-end="1781">If You Only Have an Hour&hellip;</strong></h2>
<p data-start="1784" data-end="1997">Head to the <strong data-start="1796" data-end="1815">Design District</strong>. Walk 40th/41st Street &rarr; grab a coffee and Empanadas at Pura Vida &rarr; People watch and bounce between Dior, Amiri, Miu Miu, and KITH &rarr; finish at BAPE or Balenciaga. It&rsquo;s the closest thing to a &ldquo;ultra lux fashion roadkill&rdquo; Miami has.</p>
<hr data-start="1999" data-end="2002">
<p data-start="2004" data-end="2223" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

🛍️ Miami Shopping Guide (2025)

Cool Girl’s Miami Shopping List

<p>Miami is known for it's authentic cuisine. If you want to taste food from all over the Black diaspora&nbsp; -- from Haitian to Jamaican, Bahamian and more, Miami is the place to experience it all!&nbsp;</p>
<h2 data-start="286" data-end="317">🇭🇹 <strong data-start="294" data-end="317">Haitian Restaurants</strong></h2>
<h3 data-start="319" data-end="357"><strong data-start="323" data-end="355">Jenny&rsquo;s Caribbean Restaurant</strong></h3>
<p data-start="358" data-end="482">Authentic Haitian comfort classics &mdash; fried fish, plantains, and more.<br data-start="434" data-end="437">🔗 <a href="https://www.jennyscaribbeanrestaurant.com/">https://www.jennyscaribbeanrestaurant.com/</a><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="440" data-end="482">&nbsp;</a></p>
<h3 data-start="484" data-end="512"><strong data-start="488" data-end="510">Cecibon Restaurant</strong></h3>
<p data-start="513" data-end="617">Home-style Haitian dishes, generous portions, known for soup joumou.<br data-start="581" data-end="584">🔗 <a href="https://cecibonrestaurant.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="587" data-end="617">https://cecibonrestaurant.com/</a></p>
<h3 data-start="619" data-end="658"><strong data-start="623" data-end="656">Piman Bouk Haitian Restaurant</strong></h3>
<p data-start="659" data-end="744">Vibrant, flavorful stewed meats.<br data-start="710" data-end="713">🔗 <a href="https://pimanbouk-miami.com/">https://pimanbouk-miami.com/</a><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="716" data-end="744">&nbsp;</a></p>
<h3 data-start="746" data-end="790"><strong data-start="750" data-end="788">Naomi&rsquo;s Garden Restaurant &amp; Lounge</strong></h3>
<p data-start="791" data-end="873">Iconic Little Haiti gem with a lush outdoor garden.<br data-start="842" data-end="845">🔗 <a href="https://naomisgarden.com/">https://naomisgarden.com/</a><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="848" data-end="873">&nbsp;</a></p>
<h3 data-start="875" data-end="912"><strong data-start="879" data-end="910">Manjay Restaurant (Wynwood)</strong></h3>
<p data-start="913" data-end="1018">Modern Caribbean street food &mdash; griot tacos, bowls, and sandwiches.<br data-start="979" data-end="982">🔗 <a href="https://www.manjayrestaurant.com/">https://www.manjayrestaurant.com/</a><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="985" data-end="1018">&nbsp;</a></p>
<hr data-start="1020" data-end="1023">
<h2 data-start="1025" data-end="1069">🇯🇲 <strong data-start="1033" data-end="1069">Caribbean / Jamaican Restaurants</strong></h2>
<h3 data-start="1071" data-end="1095"><strong data-start="1075" data-end="1093">Greg&rsquo;s Cookout</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1096" data-end="1185">BBQ + Caribbean fusion; jerk chicken, ribs, comfort sides.<br data-start="1154" data-end="1157">🔗 <a href="https://gregscookout.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="1160" data-end="1185">https://gregscookout.com/</a></p>
<h3 data-start="1187" data-end="1209"><strong data-start="1191" data-end="1207">Clive&rsquo;s Caf&eacute;</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1210" data-end="1310">A Miami institution famous for oxtail, curry goat, and rice &amp; peas.<br data-start="1277" data-end="1280">🔗 <a href="https://www.clivescafe.com/">https://www.clivescafe.com/</a><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="1283" data-end="1310">&nbsp;</a></p>
<h3 data-start="1312" data-end="1338"><strong data-start="1316" data-end="1336">Dukunnoo Wynwood</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1339" data-end="1428">Caribbean comfort plates, jerk dishes, patties, cocktails.<br data-start="1397" data-end="1400">🔗 <a href="https://dukunoowynwood.com/">https://dukunoowynwood.com/</a>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 data-start="1430" data-end="1467"><strong data-start="1434" data-end="1465">JRK! (Fast Casual Jamaican)</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1468" data-end="1562">The &ldquo;Chipotle of Caribbean food&rdquo; &mdash; build-your-own Jamaican bowls.<br data-start="1533" data-end="1536">🔗 <a href="https://www.eatjrk.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="1539" data-end="1562">https://www.eatjrk.com/</a></p>
<h3 data-start="1564" data-end="1580"><strong data-start="1568" data-end="1578">Manjay</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1581" data-end="1675">(Also fits here &mdash; Haitian/Caribbean street food fusion)<br data-start="1636" data-end="1639">🔗 <a href="https://www.manjayrestaurant.com/">https://www.manjayrestaurant.com/</a><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="1642" data-end="1675">&nbsp;</a></p>
<hr data-start="1677" data-end="1680">
<h2 data-start="1682" data-end="1726">✨ <strong data-start="1687" data-end="1726">Caribbean-American / Afro-Caribbean</strong></h2>
<h3 data-start="1728" data-end="1768"><strong data-start="1732" data-end="1766">Las Lap by Chef Kwame Onwuachi</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1769" data-end="1926">A chic rum bar + Caribbean plates from James Beard-winner Kwame.<br data-start="1833" data-end="1836">🔗&nbsp;<a href="https://www.laslapnyc.com/" target="_new" data-start="1898" data-end="1924">https://www.laslapnyc.com/</a></p>
<h3 data-start="1928" data-end="1946"><strong data-start="1932" data-end="1944">Mangrove</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1947" data-end="2036">Caribbean-inspired, plant-forward, Miami-chic dining.<br data-start="2000" data-end="2003">🔗 <a href="https://www.mangrovemiami.com/">https://www.mangrovemiami.com/</a></p>
<p data-start="1947" data-end="2036">&nbsp;</p>
<hr data-start="2038" data-end="2041">
<h2 data-start="2043" data-end="2079"><strong data-start="2049" data-end="2079">🇺🇸 Black American Restaurants</strong></h2>
<h3 data-start="2081" data-end="2111"><strong data-start="2085" data-end="2109">Red Rooster Overtown</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2112" data-end="2223">Marcus Samuelsson&rsquo;s iconic Afro-American &amp; Afro-Caribbean celebration.<br data-start="2182" data-end="2185">🔗 <a href="https://www.redroosterovertown.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="2188" data-end="2223">https://www.redroosterovertown.com/</a></p>
<h3 data-start="2225" data-end="2255"><strong data-start="2229" data-end="2253">Lil Greenhouse Grill</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2256" data-end="2365">Chef-driven soul food &mdash; ribs, wings, mac &amp; cheese, community staple.<br data-start="2324" data-end="2327">🔗 <a href="https://www.lilgreenhousegrill.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="2330" data-end="2365">https://www.lilgreenhousegrill.com/</a></p>
<h3 data-start="2367" data-end="2392"><strong data-start="2371" data-end="2390">Chef Tally Wood</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2393" data-end="2481">Wings, smoked meats, southern + Caribbean fusion plates.<br data-start="2449" data-end="2452">🔗 <a href="https://cheftallywood.com/">https://cheftallywood.com/</a><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="2455" data-end="2481">&nbsp;</a></p>

Miami's hottest restaurants to taste the Black Diaspora 

Caribbean, Haitian & Black American Restaurant Guide

<p>Miami is in prime season and Art Basel is back with another year of fabulous art, fashion and music.</p>
<h2><a href="/edit/techbasel.com"><strong>www.TechBasel.com</strong></a></h2>
<h2><a href="https://buy.stripe.com/eVq7sM1no2GH0ztbDZg3609" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get access to guide with over 50+&nbsp; restaurant and hotel recommendation HERE.&nbsp;</a></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Your Art Basel Experience Awaits...

Art Basel 2025 Guide Is Here

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<p data-start="63" data-end="1000" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Right now, the smartest way to use AI is to treat it as a multi-layer system that supports how you think, work, and create. Start with AI as your&nbsp;<em data-start="209" data-end="223">second brain</em>&mdash;a place to offload research, notes, articles, and ideas so it can return summaries, insights, and decisions. Then use it as a <em data-start="350" data-end="367">workflow engine</em> to automate weekly tasks like emails, briefs, content outlines, admin work, and research through simple agents connected to tools like Zapier. Lean on AI as a <em data-start="527" data-end="545">creative partner</em> for moodboards, scripts, visuals, and concept development, and as a <em data-start="614" data-end="632">personal analyst</em> to interpret PDFs, datasets, contracts, and dashboards with fast, accurate outputs. The biggest unlock comes from using a small team of agents&mdash;like a Trend Agent, Research Agent, and Admin Agent&mdash;that work together and sync into tools you already use, such as Notion, Google Drive, and email. This is the simplest, most effective way to get real value from AI in 2025.</p>
<h2 data-start="63" data-end="1000"><a href="https://buy.stripe.com/28E6oI5DEeppfunazVg360a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download the Starter Kit Notion Template HERE</a></h2>
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Problem</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Universities and Institutions are required to adopt AI tools like CoPilot, but faculty are overwhelmed, lack training, and face inconsistent workflows across departments. Academic integrity concerns and inefficient teaching processes are growing as students adopt AI rapidly.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Solution</h2>
<p dir="ltr">A turnkey AI enablement program that supports faculty, departments, and students with integrated AI tutoring, CoPilot upskilling, and agentic automation. This includes:</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; AI Tutor aligned with curriculum</p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; Faculty CoPilot + workflow training</p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; Custom academic agents for course prep, research, grading, and communication</p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; Multi-agent department ecosystems for shared knowledge + automation</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What We Deliver</h2>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; Hands-on faculty workshops&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; Done-for-you agent builds (Course Prep Agent, Research Agent, Student Support Agent, etc.)</p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; AI-integrity + policy framework</p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; Department-level AI OS and workflow design</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Why This Program</h2>
<p dir="ltr">We operationalize AI&mdash;creating real systems, not theory. Our approach simplifies AI for non-technical</p>
<p dir="ltr">faculty, aligns departments, and establishes a sustainable, ethical, AI-enabled teaching model.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Engagement Options</h2>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; Faculty Bootcamp (6 weeks)</p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; AI Tutor (By Appointment)</p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; Multi-department AI rollout (3&ndash;6 month Retainer)</p>
<p dir="ltr">&bull; Ongoing advisory + agent maintenance</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Next Step</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Schedule a Faculty Workflow Assessment to identify your top automation opportunities and build the</p>
<p dir="ltr">university&rsquo;s AI transformation roadmap. Contact: Melissa Henderson <a href="mailto:melissa@melwrites.com">melissa@melwrites.com</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Our Vision

AI Tutoring: Faculty Enablement &  Agenic Systems Consulting

<p data-start="387" data-end="418">It's officially snowbird season here in Miami and the city is sizzling in new restaurants galore. The culinary scene has completely transformed with the sultry Miami vibes and new places to grab a bite to eat are popping up all over the city. Sunny's Steakhouse is not only a local favorite, it's Chef-approved menu has been attracting notoriety in food media. Then there's B&amp;M Market and Dunkanoo's for Caribbean cuisine staples.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 data-start="387" data-end="418">Latest Miami Restaurant Opening</h2>
<p data-start="420" data-end="470"><strong data-start="424" data-end="470">AVA MediterrAegean &mdash; Debuting Nov 20, 2025</strong></p>
<p data-start="471" data-end="921">📍 <em data-start="474" data-end="508">2889 McFarlane Rd, Coconut Grove</em><br data-start="508" data-end="511">A multi-sensory dining experience blending <strong data-start="554" data-end="588">refined Mediterranean elegance</strong> with the spirit of the Aegean. Expect Cycladic-inspired flavors&mdash;vibrant herbs, olive oil, citrus, rose water, and seasonal ingredients&mdash;set within a sun-kissed, architectural space.<br data-start="769" data-end="772">✨ <em data-start="774" data-end="826">Includes members-only retreat AVA MM Coconut Grove</em><br data-start="826" data-end="829">🔗 <a href="https://www.avamediterraegean.com/cg/home" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="832" data-end="898">avamediterraegean.com</a><br data-start="898" data-end="901"><br></p>
<hr data-start="923" data-end="926">
<h3 data-start="928" data-end="966"><strong data-start="932" data-end="966">CLAUDIE &mdash; Art Week Programming</strong></h3>
<p data-start="967" data-end="1408">📍 <em data-start="970" data-end="1006">1101 Brickell Ave S-113, Miami, FL</em><br data-start="1006" data-end="1009">Riviera Dining Group&rsquo;s <strong data-start="1032" data-end="1043">CLAUDIE</strong> partners with <strong data-start="1058" data-end="1077">Bartoux Gallery</strong> to exhibit works by <em data-start="1098" data-end="1111">Anna Master</em> in its main dining room, plus photography by <em data-start="1157" data-end="1173">Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Pinet</em> in the private room.<br data-start="1194" data-end="1197">🍸 Exclusive cocktail receptions (Dec 1&ndash;7) for MM Members + VIP guests, featuring curated bites and art-inspired cocktails.<br data-start="1320" data-end="1323">🔗 <a href="https://www.claudierestaurant.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="1326" data-end="1385">claudierestaurant.com</a><br data-start="1385" data-end="1388"><br></p>
<hr data-start="1410" data-end="1413">
<h3 data-start="1415" data-end="1450"><strong data-start="1419" data-end="1450">MILA Miami x Philippe Karto</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1451" data-end="1858">📍 <em data-start="1454" data-end="1485">800 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach</em><br data-start="1485" data-end="1488">MILA Miami &amp; MILA Lounge collaborate with <strong data-start="1530" data-end="1548">Philippe Karto</strong>, the artist behind reimagined luxury handbags. His limited-edition collection will be showcased across MILA&rsquo;s upper floors.<br data-start="1672" data-end="1675">🎶 DJ Lineup: Miguelle &amp; Tons (12/2), ANOTR (12/3), Dixon (12/4), Desiree (12/5), Valeron (12/6), Kimonos (12/7).<br data-start="1788" data-end="1791">🔗 <a href="https://mila-miami.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="1794" data-end="1835">mila-miami.com</a><br data-start="1835" data-end="1838"><br></p>
<hr data-start="1860" data-end="1863">
<h3 data-start="1865" data-end="1912"><strong data-start="1869" data-end="1910">Le Specialit&agrave; &mdash; Debuting Nov 10, 2025</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1913" data-end="2300">📍 <em data-start="1916" data-end="1942">40 NE 41st St, Miami, FL</em><br data-start="1942" data-end="1945">From Milan to Miami Design District, <strong data-start="1982" data-end="1999">Le Specialit&agrave;</strong> brings its <strong data-start="2011" data-end="2033">radical retro-chic</strong> aesthetic to life. Designed by Rockwell Group, featuring an art collection from founder <strong data-start="2122" data-end="2138">Andre Sakhai</strong>, including <strong data-start="2150" data-end="2198">Basquiat, KAWS, Murakami, and Richard Prince</strong>.<br data-start="2199" data-end="2202">🔗 <a href="https://www.lespecialitamia.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="2205" data-end="2260">lespecialitamia.com</a><br data-start="2260" data-end="2263"><br></p>
<hr data-start="2302" data-end="2305">
<h3 data-start="2307" data-end="2351"><strong data-start="2311" data-end="2349">Yasu Sushi &mdash; Debuting Nov 15, 2025</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2352" data-end="2647">📍 <em data-start="2355" data-end="2393">151 NE 41st St, Suite 137, Miami, FL</em><br data-start="2393" data-end="2396">An intimate 16-seat <strong data-start="2416" data-end="2447">omakase by Chef Yasu Tanaka</strong>, offering two types of sushi rice and the freshest fish flown in from Japan. Every detail&mdash;from handcrafted ceramics to Akazu rice&mdash;is designed for authenticity.<br data-start="2607" data-end="2610"><br></p>
<hr data-start="2649" data-end="2652">
<h3 data-start="2654" data-end="2698"><strong data-start="2658" data-end="2696">Oniku Karyu &mdash; Debuting Dec 1, 2025</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2699" data-end="2919">📍 <em data-start="2702" data-end="2728">40 NE 41st St, Miami, FL</em><br data-start="2728" data-end="2731">A <strong data-start="2733" data-end="2758">12-seat wagyu omakase</strong> spotlighting premium Japanese beef and kaiseki-style precision. Expect umami-driven tasting menus and serene minimalism.<br data-start="2879" data-end="2882"><br></p>
<hr data-start="2921" data-end="2924">
<h3 data-start="2926" data-end="2964">🌴 <strong data-start="2933" data-end="2964">Hotel Hotspots for Art Week</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="2965" data-end="3439">
<li data-start="2965" data-end="3062">
<p data-start="2967" data-end="3062"><strong data-start="2967" data-end="3003">The Goodtime Hotel (South Beach)</strong> &mdash; playful retro energy, rooftop pool, and creative crowd</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3063" data-end="3177">
<p data-start="3065" data-end="3177"><strong data-start="3065" data-end="3095">The East Hotel (Brickell)</strong> &mdash; luxury suites with skyline views, ideal for events near the Convention Center</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3178" data-end="3255">
<p data-start="3180" data-end="3255"><strong data-start="3180" data-end="3207">Faena Hotel (Mid-Beach)</strong> &mdash; dramatic interiors and nightly performances</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3256" data-end="3351">
<p data-start="3258" data-end="3351"><strong data-start="3258" data-end="3291">Mayfair House (Coconut Grove)</strong> &mdash; tropical, design-forward, steps from AVA MediterrAegean</p>
</li>
<li data-start="3352" data-end="3439">
<p data-start="3354" data-end="3439"><strong data-start="3354" data-end="3387">The Standard Spa (Belle Isle)</strong> &mdash; iconic for wellness-meets-art-crowd programming</p>
</li>
</ul>

Where to grab a bite to eat with cool art.

Art Basel: Top Restaurants & Hotels In Miami ( Holiday 2025 Edition)

<h1>Into the Violet Verse</h1>
<p>My first vibe coding session I created an astro agent on the Violet Verse. See my process below.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" src="https://www.loom.com/embed/102a2b81559d45a399faf6aa01a03968?sid=63aa062f-bf23-4a16-bd28-87f962df63e7" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" src="https://www.loom.com/embed/c0560f3adc6244d48f8d766903d72a23?sid=4e97eb18-d8da-4c41-9dd4-96844acfe165" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" src="https://www.loom.com/embed/fb51cd574fab4817850e466cb9ed3f93?sid=49051498-f26e-4670-988d-d09dae62ae06" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>

A monthly astrology message to encourage your best writing yet!

Introducing Nova: Astro AI Agent

<p dir="ltr">This trending technology is on a steep ascent in more ways than one. From a legislation point of view, the focus is centralization at the federal level. However right now, most AI policies are stalled at the state level. Whether you're rooting for this trailblazer depends on one question: Are you optimistic or pessimistic?</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Connecting with a local politician about decentralized technology</h2>
<p dir="ltr">On Thursday, May 29, wearing a slicked-back bun and a citrine and gold necklace, I attended <a href="https://www.desci.nyc/">DeSci NYC</a>'s "<a href="https://lu.ma/descinyc33?tk=GhvEgl">AI and Government: A Conversation with State Assembly Member Alex Bores</a>" event at Saint Restaurant Bar and Speakeasy in the East Village.</p>
<p dir="ltr">DeSci-powered sleep experiment <a href="https://www.stadium.science/">Stadium Science</a> and the <a href="https://solana.org/">Solana Foundation</a> host free monthly events for curious scientists and tech enthusiasts in the tri-state area. This monthly series called DeSci NYC offers a <a href="/discover-your-third-space-unique-places-in-nyc-and-miami-to-make-your-own-lt51ft9vYC">third space</a> for tech-savvy science enthusiasts to learn, connect, and yap. Some past DeSci NYC event crowd favorites include the one with longevity expert <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrIaTV23ZO0">Bryan Johnson</a>, &ldquo;<a href="https://lu.ma/descinyc27">Dating and Data Science: What AI learned after 2,961 First Dates</a>,&rdquo; and &ldquo;<a href="https://lu.ma/descinyc27">Ketamine, Brainwide Recording and the Neurobiology of Dissociation with Dr. Isaac V Kauvar</a>.&rdquo;</p>
<p dir="ltr">After a brief introduction from DeSci NYC's organizer and Science Stadium founder Michael Fischer, the New York State Assembly Member New York City&rsquo;s 73rd District presented his team's current projects focusing on proactive AI legislation. The politician fielded questions and comments about everything from how he develops and pitches his AI policies and guardrails to AI and nuclear fission comparisons, the robot apocalypse, and classified conversations happening behind closed doors. He commented on every question but the one I wanted answered.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Bores had the answer to most questions because of experience and expertise in the field. In fact, <a href="https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Alex-Bores/about/">he is the only elected New York Democratic Party official at any level with a degree in computer science</a>. In a world where people like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Linda McMahon exist, this kind of science credibility in government at any level is rare.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://i.ibb.co/hFGQS7JB/Wordpress-Blog-Banners-De-Sci-alex-bores.png" alt="Alex Bores speaking at DeSci NYC's AI event" width="1280" height="720"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Photo credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/descinyc/">DeSci NYC</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Bores team's policy accomplishments continue to grow and shape a centralized AI and advanced technology legislative landscape. They ask questions like: Is the policy optimistic or pessimistic about the AI trending topic at hand? From there, they begin categorizing and writing policies like the New York Artificial Intelligence Consumer Protection Act (<a href="https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&amp;leg_video=&amp;bn=A00768&amp;term=&amp;Summary=Y&amp;Actions=Y&amp;Committee%26nbspVotes=Y&amp;Floor%26nbspVotes=Y&amp;Memo=Y&amp;Text=Y&amp;LFIN=Y&amp;Chamber%26nbspVideo%2FTranscript=Y">A00768</a>).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Past legislative accomplishments credited to Assembly Member Bores include <a href="https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Alex-Bores/about/">passing a bill</a> ensuring that employees' inventions remain their own intellectual property, hitting telemarketers with higher fines for <a href="https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Alex-Bores/about/">disturbing your peace</a>, and protecting susceptible spam caller targets and victims.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The intellectual New York state Assembly member didn't answer an intellectual property question</h2>
<p dir="ltr">It seems most of the crowd was interested in the societal consequences of AI, its role in cybersecurity, and concerns regarding the technology's sentience and vulnerabilities. Like, we get it &mdash; you've watched "I, Robot."</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeVa3h0nTToLzeGqlO0fKN1qWlI9_Vd5t_FipnpsP4VSjR21FOKNQGqeMaST0_h2SxoIa_7hF9bTObOKY815z9ZEK5ZjgDHQIl2HmfOFI3cn3T-7Xc7nb6niWkXux3Zhh00JHOyGg?key=L0-gUTwXVhlN5aPJGqsnDA" width="500" height="273"></p>
<p dir="ltr">While all of that was interesting to learn about, my main objective was to find out more about the intersection of intellectual property, ownership, generative AI and legislature.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In my line of work, writers are under more threat of plagiarism and ingenuity accusations, witch trials and rushed judgment than ever before as AI starts absorbing all the online data available.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I have personally experienced these stressors with my clients within the past year. Conversation after conversation, I've had to defend my integrity, heart and soul against the cold anxiety AI causes my clients. Several clients of mine run my submitted deliverables through generative AI scanners like <a href="http://originality.ai">Originality.ai</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">And each time I insert any content into the scanner, I consensually commit insert my musings, ideas, drafts, and ready-to-publish copies into a mass database. As a result, I allow this data to have the potential to be used against me. That&rsquo;s because all of these databases are managed differently depending on the common sense and ethics of the private leaders in this sector.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, how is the government going to protect this intellectual property &mdash; and professional integrity &mdash; from these generative AI threats and the dark sides of the human soul?</p>
<p dir="ltr">Intertextuality is one thing, but AI collecting and storing my unpublished text string data during ideation and brainstorming? I call that sketchy. At least the accumulation of influential intertextuality is from public and published information. Sure, you consent to all the terms and policy to use the tool, but what does the regulation of this qualitative data look like? My understanding is that this future is dependent on the optimistic or pessimistic attitudes of elected state officials.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Finally, an attendee captured my attention from checking out the cute boys and girls in the crowd, by asking Bores this question. In response, Bores politely declined to answer and referred the inquirer to connect with a lawyer. Thanks for nothing, Bores.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Then afterward, someone posing a question about a robot apocalypse gets answered? Not impressed. I believe Assembly Member Bores should have been better prepared to field AI and intellectual property questions considering he's already helped inventors protect their property.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There are a couple of ways content creators can take matters into their own hands and protect their intellectual property. One course of action Bores suggests is the classic &ldquo;vote local&rdquo; approach. He says citizens should participate in state elections to voice their opinion on the optimistic and pessimistic AI rules and regulations society will have to follow.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Another way to protect yourself is by publishing content, text or visuals on the blockchain. Communities like the Violet Verse protect, support, and reward contributors and their content at VioletVerse.io by encouraging content ownership with pay walls on the <a href="https://flow.com/">FLOW</a> blockchain.The community earns and exchanges VV tokens on the FLOW blockchain to access exclusive fashion, lifestyle, and Web3 articles. Thus, the writer&rsquo;s ownership is recorded forever on the FLOW blockchain.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The takeaway</h2>
<p dir="ltr">One thing is for sure, writers and content creators should be wary of depending on the government protecting their IP. Those prioritizing ownership of their evolving content should explore other systems and strategies to protect their priceless musings (hello, NFTs?!)&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfdMbAt66GeFmuWmNWYFBD_spP_KegQlwNoR7QU3kIuouZI2VSbvz-7C2X0YrcYOg3IA5yZDux09HeyfG6pL8he_OMyDU4KhObi5eG7e4GUjFaEDBUSrvu6yfQ02COI4AnAeTR4QQ?key=L0-gUTwXVhlN5aPJGqsnDA" width="500" height="364"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Leaving the event, I couldn&rsquo;t help but wonder: Am I optimistic or pessimistic about generative AI centalization? After walking away from the DeSci NYC meetup with my unanswered question, I think I&rsquo;m right on the guardrail in between.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Watch previous DeSci NYC event streams on their website, <a href="https://www.desci.nyc/">here</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For more content questioning and exploring the corner of Web3, science, and lifestyle - visit <a href="http://violetverse.io">VioletVerse.io</a>.&nbsp;<strong id="docs-internal-guid-2906bcc1-7fff-b0a0-655b-bf058c27c966"><br></strong></p>

Another robot call interrupting your remote meeting, more incoming email spam eating up your RAM, and cold generative AI mimicking your voice — these are just some of the annoying examples of daily artificial intelligence we all experience.

AI Policy Event Highlights Gaps in Intellectual Property Protection

<p>My favorite metaverse platform, <a href="https://decentraland.org/">Decentraland</a>, is hosting <strong>Metaverse Fashion Week (MFW)</strong> this week and they are bringing together top fashionistas, designers, retailers in the space. As an in-platform and streaming experience, MFW aims to inspire the next wave of fashion creators to think beyond the confines of the seam, and reimagine style, one byte at a time.&nbsp;<em> See what I did there? &nbsp;😅</em></p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Made for the community, by the community 🫶<br><br>It&rsquo;s time to celebrate the brilliant artists and designers behind the Wearables Around the World collection 🌍<br><br>Get ready to experience creativity that spans continents in 30 minutes! <a href="https://t.co/5Edw893Hvu">pic.twitter.com/5Edw893Hvu</a></p>
&mdash; Decentraland (@decentraland) <a href="https://twitter.com/decentraland/status/1910430142964383908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>For the next few days, fashion and metaverse enthusiasts are invited to attend a series of panels and 3D/VR rooms in Decentraland. Are you going?&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GoJVL6waAAAM1UQ?format=jpg&amp;name=large" alt="Image" width="500"></p>

Digital fashion and metaverse experiences are seeing a new wave of creators with the mass adoption of AI. 

Metaverse Fashion Week 2025 is Live!

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<p data-start="0" data-end="603">The crypto community is coming back alive again. <strong><a href="https://www.theport.dev/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Port</a></strong> is the first community hub for the Solana community and is docked in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami. Started in August of 2024, the Port is where builders come to congregate, ideate, collaborate, and most importantly, ship products. This past week, the community hosted V2 of Ship Week, a weeklong demo space for teams and individuals to share what they've been working on in a collaborative space. The invite list is always stacked with interesting people who fly in from different parts of the US and are building or somehow affiliated with Solana on- and off-chain.</p>
<p data-start="605" data-end="866">Ship Week is one of those third spaces for crypto people who are not really into the grandeur of conferences and the annoyance of hackathons. It's more intentional and allows people the space to really share what they've been obsessing over the last few months.</p>
<p data-start="868" data-end="1216">For example, my cats have been obsessed with the <a href="https://switchboard.xyz/">Switchboard.xyz</a> plushie, and I see the founder every now and then at The Port, but it's actually nice getting an interactive product demo. If you're ever in the market for an oracle on Solana, Switchboard's in-demand app allows you to plug into different networks, as well as set different datasets.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="868" data-end="1216">&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="1218" data-end="1848">It's also a space to catch up with people you haven't seen in the while -- people who are on the crypto circuit and actually live in Miami, but somehow never here. Every single seat is occupied, and with the open floor plan, it reminds me of what startup offices looked like in the 2010s. Everyone's on a laptop, or the talkbox phone booths are occupied with people taking pitch meetings or just yapping. There's also a plethora of food and drinks. If you like kabobs, then you're in luck. Every thing is laid up like a buffet. What's even more are the gatherings. I loved the pre-Ship Week event hosted at a speakeasy inside The Moore Design District. The music was great, and I saw some familiar faces from the last event, and the Telegram chat just keeps growing. Arnaud from Dune Analytics hosted a lunch, as well as offered their platforms support in&nbsp; collated a dashboard of projects.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="1218" data-end="1848">Meanwhile, Solomon, the head of product at Solana Foundation,&nbsp; also presented the latest roadmap and updates in a deck titled "<a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1e-5TSFp74gzD53jGrkqQl1urjaPqlDHUFYfM8RODSY0/edit#slide=id.g345960fbf7e_0_27" target="_blank" rel="noopener">product experiences.</a>" Big things are coming in the passkey support category. Similar to Moonbeam and other chains, major work is being done to refine the whole passkeys and smart wallet experience. Lastly, there was a impromptu pitch competition of $1K given to the best project pitch. Whether you're a vibe coder, casually Solana enthusiasts, or hardcore shipper, there's something for everyone to feel included.&nbsp;</p>
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A third space for the Solana community 

The Port presents Ship Week V2 

<p dir="ltr">Making space for yourself is crucial to your well-being. While finding a third space to support your wellness might seem stressful in itself, it&rsquo;s a guaranteed way to incorporate relaxation and support into your spirit and livelihood.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">We&rsquo;ve all had those thoughts when we&rsquo;re stressed. Put myself out there? Pass. Vulnerability? More like liability. Worth the effort? No.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">In the dullness of daily routines and structures, you risk losing your spirit slowly by succumbing to what the world knows as burnout.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The potential for losing your soul seems to occur more frequently in ever-changing landscapes like the tech industry. Though, no matter what industry you find yourself in, without proper self-care, soon you&rsquo;ll find yourself on autopilot from home to work to back to home again; or maybe you&rsquo;re a remote worker and instead of two spaces, you just have one.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://violetverseinc.gumroad.com/l/thirdspaces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download our 15 recommended third spaces in New York City and our 15 favorite spots in Miami.</a></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What are third spaces?</h2>
<p dir="ltr">In the nineties, an American sociologist <a href="https://www.pps.org/article/roldenburg">Ray Oldenburg</a> coined the term &ldquo;third spaces&rdquo; as a way to describe neutral public communal spaces outside of everyone&rsquo;s first and second places: home and work. Third spaces offer opportunities for individuals to enrich their quality of life with community and social engagement.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">It&rsquo;s important to understand that third spaces reserve space for people, anyone, to show up, be seen, engage, and live life as they are. Poor, rich, cis, trans, documented, undocumented, local, tourist&nbsp; &mdash; doesn&rsquo;t matter. The primary purpose of third spaces is to level the playing ground and offer more opportunities for connection and community. However, because of capitalism, accessible third spaces are becoming less and less accessible.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><video controls="controls">
<source src="/posts/&lt;blockquote class=&quot;tiktok-embed&quot; cite=&quot;https:/www.tiktok.com/@getthechicagolook/video/7484333773161598239&quot; data-video-id=&quot;7484333773161598239&quot; style=&quot;max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;&quot; &gt; &lt;section&gt; &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; title=&quot;@getthechicagolook&quot; href=&quot;https:/www.tiktok.com/@getthechicagolook?refer=embed&quot;&gt;@getthechicagolook&lt;/a&gt; &lt;p&gt;friendship and community is becoming pay to play &lt;/p&gt; &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; title=&quot;♬ original sound - hello, i&rsquo;m ro&quot; href=&quot;https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7484333797538892574?refer=embed&quot;&gt;♬ original sound - hello, i&rsquo;m ro&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/section&gt; &lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src=&quot;https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;"></video></p>
<p dir="ltr">These havens can be anything from coffee shops selling overpriced and culturally appropriated iced matcha lattes to dimly lit dive bars with trivia nights and sticky floors. For others, it might look like&nbsp; a quiet spot along a Church pew. Any space outside of the comfort of your own home and without the restraints of work can be your third place if you let it.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">How to find a third space</h2>
<p dir="ltr">If you&rsquo;re going to put yourself out there, do it somewhere you can make it count. Coffee shops and bars are great places to exist in public spaces, but if you&rsquo;re looking to soothe your soul, you can do better. Seize the opportunity to make your third space central to uplifting your well-being, character, and dreams.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, how do you find the perfect third space? Start with reflecting on what feeds your passion. Focus on the activities and places that bring you joy and make it worthwhile to leave the house. Or maybe these places are not so much outside of the house, but an online escape from your life.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Investing in your quality of life is easier said than done, but the next step is to take action. Veer off your course to burnout by practicing intentionality and make your own way to somewhere supportive.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">You deserve space</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Regardless of how big the city is or how small it feels, there is space for you to occupy. It&rsquo;s just a matter of taking it because you deserve it. You deserve to have havens outside of your obligations and space from restraints.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With that being said, allow the Violet Verse to hold your hand and guide you down the path toward the third space you&rsquo;re entitled to enter.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The next step? <a href="https://violetverseinc.gumroad.com/l/thirdspaces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download our 15 recommended third spaces in New York City and our 15 favorite spots in Miami.</a></p>
<p><strong id="docs-internal-guid-409ef3cf-7fff-3790-a570-1d2c208d9a1e"><br><br><br><br></strong></p>

Whether you consider it a home away from home, or an escape from work, your third space should be sacred and accessible. Finding one though can sometimes feel like a daunting task. 

Discover Your Third Space: Unique Places in NYC and Miami to Make Your Own

<p>I recently met someone who is living a real-life <em>Severance</em> on AppleTV work vibe. After watching a few episodes on a plane ride, I know enough to assume that <em>Severance</em> is about the lore of corporate office culture, lingo, and the nuances of working for a company that has multiple departments, complex org charts, and soul-sucking "work."</p>
<p>The discourse around office culture is growing louder and louder as more people become divided on what they think is appropriate and more efficient when it comes to making a living. In 2025, the divide is generational. The tipping point was Google and their rise to dominance in the tech space, and how they shaped a workforce that came to love the cool open offices with modern furniture, mini kitchens with free snacks and lunches, and some organizations based in Silicon Valley. These spaces quickly became popular as quintessential tech offices&mdash;super different from more traditional cubicles, PC computers, and outdated printers the size of laundry rooms.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>​Recent research underscores the significant impact of workplace culture on employee performance and satisfaction. A study by <a href="https://www.eaglehillconsulting.com/news/workers-say-culture-drives-productivity-innovation-and-customer-service/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Eagle Hill Consulting </a>found that 72% of U.S. workers believe their company's culture directly influences their productivity and efficiency. Additionally, a 2024 Stanford University study revealed that hybrid work models, which blend remote and in-office work, have no adverse effects on productivity or career advancement and substantially improve employee retention rates. ​</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Then office culture evolved into co-working spaces thanks to WeWork, which birthed a whole new culture of offices on demand. Now people outside of tech had access to modern office hubs for small teams&mdash;startups and small businesses who weren&rsquo;t big enough for a high-res 10,000 sq ft office space on the Empire State Building floor. I spent the latter half of my 20s touring these luxury office spaces, like Spring in downtown New York City, for a family office where I was the Chief of Staff. My favorite office I rented was Spaces in Hudson Yards. My boss rarely used the space, so I got to decorate it to my liking&mdash;and it was right across the street from a mall with the best fashion stores and fancy food court.</p>
<p>After I stopped working for private investors, I spent a few years working out of the 32nd floor of a high-rise in Times Square. My corner desk window view was great, but I wasn&rsquo;t senior enough to get a coveted office with floor-to-ceiling windows. The bathrooms had stalls and I&rsquo;d spend all day avoiding them until I got home. It was easy to go to, but I&rsquo;d work from home at least once a week. Taking the A train to Times Square in the morning was the definition of grit. The navigating the hustle and bustle of rush hour, homeless people and getting groceries after a long day of feeling "not enough" is not something I am willing to go back to.</p>
<p>By the time COVID happened, I started my permanent work-from-home lifestyle. It took me a year to manifest.&nbsp; But I missed leading strategy briefs and brainstorms in a huge boardroom, vying for a half-million dollar RFP for big brands like Samsung and Netflix. However, I hated the drama. Editorial teams were fueding with leadership, my boss hated my guts and wasn't impressed with my decks, even after maintaining a 75 percent close rate, and the turnover was disgusting. They also failed to give me my boss after claiming the company was not in a good financial place. The holiday parties got cheaper and cheaper, even though I still use the Alexa radio I won at the Xmas party in 2019.&nbsp; &nbsp;On top of that, the stress of getting to work on time, presentable in the rain, sleet, snow and scorching hotness, was leading me to burnout.</p>
<p>Fast forward five years later and people ask me how I got into the blockchain space. Crypto is remote but at the same time in person. Now that I have a home office, I like going into shared third spaces to see people and gossip about the latest lore. However, recently this lifestyle isn&rsquo;t normal for everyone in tech. Some people have to report to the office 2&ndash;3 days a week and are forced to sit under bad lighting&mdash;something I know contributes to depression. I digress, send me a message on lens or X about your preferred working style.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

The lore of marketing 

Office Culture 

<h1>Into the Violet Verse</h1>
<p>One of my resolutions this year is to host more of my friends and family at my home. Dinner parties are a great way to curate the guest list and gather people in a way that is intentional. I came across this list of dinner party ideas on Pinterest. This year, I've already hosted a lunch, a small bbq with a set menu and a girls night on a friday evening.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/18/4a/ae/184aae23f24a7bb95f68c20eb24bc46d.jpg" alt="This may contain: the dinner party ideas list is shown"></p>

Dinner parties are the new bar nights. 

Dinner Party Ideas 

<p data-start="843" data-end="884">This was my fourth time attending, participating and hosting during Eth Denver. A lot of planning always goes into attending a blockchain conference, and this time I was hosting multiple events. This year, the booths and side events were so well organized and intentional. It looked like a free version of CES in Las Vegas. There were robots, high tech screens and stages, plus content creators galore! They took up literally 50 percent of the floor space, which totally made up for 20,000 people who claimed tickets.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="843" data-end="884">Meanwhile, I managed to hit the gym and have a few good meals at <a href="https://www.guardandgrace.com/">Guard and Grace</a> Steakhouse and <a href="https://www.matsuhisarestaurants.com/">Matsuhisa</a> (Nobu's sister restaurant). I stayed at the Kimpton Monaco Hotel, which actually ended up being a vibe! Any hotel that offers robes and slippers is an added luxury. They didn't have an in-room coffee bar, however they made up for it with their whiskey tastings every day at 6pm. Overall, the restaurant breakfast was fresh and the location was pretty central.&nbsp; It was nice seeing my close friends, and managed to sneak 1:1 time with a few VV favorites as well. 💛 There were a few hiccups that could have led to a crash out, but I got through it and it didn't take cigarettes. The Boys Club events felt like home. The brunch and Tradwife Prom were my highlights and I even went home with an custom embroidered VV tea towel! Moreover, ya girl arrived back home healthy!&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="843" data-end="884">Here are my notes from Vana, an event organized by Dani Osorio:&nbsp;</p>
<h3 data-start="843" data-end="884"><strong data-start="847" data-end="884">Trust Assumptions in Data Storage</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="885" data-end="1492">
<li data-start="885" data-end="1003">In choosing a storage provider, Vana operates with <strong data-start="938" data-end="973">no trust assumptions on privacy</strong>&mdash;trust is placed in ZK proofs.</li>
<li data-start="1004" data-end="1104">Data is encrypted, uploaded via elliptic key, and proof of contribution is verified through a TEE.</li>
<li data-start="1105" data-end="1300"><strong data-start="1107" data-end="1140">TEE vs. Centralized Companies</strong>:
<ul data-start="1144" data-end="1300">
<li data-start="1144" data-end="1214">Secure enclaves: Intel started development due to security concerns.</li>
<li data-start="1217" data-end="1300">TEEs as a trust assumption in cloud providers&mdash;linked to Eric Snowden revelations?</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="1301" data-end="1492"><strong data-start="1303" data-end="1319">Breaking SGX</strong>:
<ul data-start="1323" data-end="1492">
<li data-start="1323" data-end="1404">If a cloud provider is compromised, can they provide proof of secure computing?</li>
<li data-start="1407" data-end="1492">Governments with significant resources could potentially break TEE security models.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="1494" data-end="1538"><strong data-start="1498" data-end="1538">Encrypted VMs &amp; Private Key Security</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="1539" data-end="1915">
<li data-start="1539" data-end="1591">If a hack is detected, can assets be moved safely?</li>
<li data-start="1592" data-end="1915"><strong data-start="1594" data-end="1644">Biggest vulnerabilities in decentralized data?</strong>
<ul data-start="1648" data-end="1915">
<li data-start="1648" data-end="1674">Hardware-level security.</li>
<li data-start="1677" data-end="1748">TEEs depend on hardware manufacturers like <strong data-start="1722" data-end="1747">AMD vs. AWS vs. Intel</strong>.</li>
<li data-start="1751" data-end="1835">AWS &amp; Intel introduce additional layers that act as intermediaries in attestation.</li>
<li data-start="1838" data-end="1915">Tamper-proof software challenges&mdash;how does the network persist in an attack?</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="1917" data-end="1958"><strong data-start="1921" data-end="1958">User Experience &amp; Wallet Security</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="1959" data-end="2168">
<li data-start="1959" data-end="2015"><strong data-start="1961" data-end="1991">Hot wallet vulnerabilities</strong> &ndash; Users getting rugged.</li>
<li data-start="2016" data-end="2093"><strong data-start="2018" data-end="2046">Smart contract (SC) risk</strong> &ndash; If it's not your keys, it's not your wallet.</li>
<li data-start="2094" data-end="2168"><strong data-start="2096" data-end="2144">Arbitrage calculations &amp; data security risks</strong> &ndash; How to prevent leaks?</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="2170" data-end="2173">
<h2 data-start="2175" data-end="2210"><strong data-start="2178" data-end="2210">Data Sovereignty &amp; Ownership</strong></h2>
<h3 data-start="2211" data-end="2244"><strong data-start="2215" data-end="2244">Defining Data Sovereignty</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="2245" data-end="2568">
<li data-start="2245" data-end="2332">Vana&rsquo;s perspective: <strong data-start="2267" data-end="2292">Ownership and control</strong> over where data is stored and accessed.</li>
<li data-start="2333" data-end="2420">From a technical level: <strong data-start="2359" data-end="2393">Home servers vs. cloud servers</strong>&mdash;who holds the access keys?</li>
<li data-start="2421" data-end="2504">Can users export their data? If yes, they maintain <strong data-start="2474" data-end="2503">some level of sovereignty</strong>.</li>
<li data-start="2505" data-end="2568"><strong data-start="2507" data-end="2536">The right to be forgotten</strong> &ndash; Is proven deletion possible?</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="2570" data-end="2605"><strong data-start="2574" data-end="2605">Google Drive &amp; Data Sharing</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="2606" data-end="2861">
<li data-start="2606" data-end="2695">Google actively reads PDFs and targets ads&mdash;how can Web3 enable true <strong data-start="2676" data-end="2694">data ownership</strong>?</li>
<li data-start="2696" data-end="2778"><strong data-start="2698" data-end="2716">"Data exhaust"</strong> &ndash; Users generate excess, often monetizable, data unknowingly.</li>
<li data-start="2779" data-end="2861"><strong data-start="2781" data-end="2811">Building bridges &amp; consent</strong> &ndash; Can decentralized storage resolve these issues?</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="2863" data-end="2866">
<h2 data-start="2868" data-end="2908"><strong data-start="2871" data-end="2908">Future Breakthroughs (5&ndash;10 Years)</strong></h2>
<h3 data-start="2909" data-end="2930"><strong data-start="2913" data-end="2930">Key Questions</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="2931" data-end="3268">
<li data-start="2931" data-end="3010"><strong data-start="2933" data-end="2960">LLMs &amp; Data Sovereignty</strong> &ndash; Will users own their data in AI-driven systems?</li>
<li data-start="3011" data-end="3079"><strong data-start="3013" data-end="3043">Critique of Crypto Economy</strong> &ndash; Are Web3 builders too idealistic?</li>
<li data-start="3080" data-end="3179"><strong data-start="3082" data-end="3110">AI Agents &amp; the Internet</strong> &ndash; Will personal LLMs act as core assistants, managing personal data?</li>
<li data-start="3180" data-end="3268"><strong data-start="3182" data-end="3216">Livable Data &amp; User Experience</strong> &ndash; Can data ownership be <strong data-start="3241" data-end="3257">frictionless</strong> for users?</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="3270" data-end="3297"><strong data-start="3274" data-end="3297">Innovative Concepts</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="3298" data-end="3483">
<li data-start="3298" data-end="3397"><strong data-start="3300" data-end="3324">"Witness Encryption"</strong> &ndash; Data encrypted &amp; accessible only to those meeting specific conditions.</li>
<li data-start="3398" data-end="3483"><strong data-start="3400" data-end="3437">ChatGPT &amp; Data Replication Issues</strong> &ndash; How can AI models respect self-sovereignty?</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="3485" data-end="3488">
<h2 data-start="3490" data-end="3519"><strong data-start="3493" data-end="3519">Data as an Asset Class</strong></h2>
<h3 data-start="3520" data-end="3564"><strong data-start="3524" data-end="3564">Key Discussion Points from the Panel</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="3565" data-end="3822">
<li data-start="3565" data-end="3822"><strong data-start="3567" data-end="3613">Market Structure for Data Financialization</strong>:
<ul data-start="3617" data-end="3822">
<li data-start="3617" data-end="3666"><strong data-start="3619" data-end="3653">We've mastered data collection</strong>&mdash;what&rsquo;s next?</li>
<li data-start="3669" data-end="3737"><strong data-start="3671" data-end="3702">Quality rating &amp; validation</strong>&mdash;how do we ensure trustworthy data?</li>
<li data-start="3740" data-end="3822"><strong data-start="3742" data-end="3770">Building actual products</strong>&mdash;how do we bridge data into real-world applications?</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="3824" data-end="3852"><strong data-start="3828" data-end="3852">Early-Stage Examples</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="3853" data-end="4072">
<li data-start="3853" data-end="3925"><strong data-start="3855" data-end="3868">Data DAOs</strong> &ndash; Incentivized data pooling &amp; community-led initiatives.</li>
<li data-start="3926" data-end="4072"><strong data-start="3928" data-end="3952">Real-World Use Cases</strong>:
<ul data-start="3956" data-end="4072">
<li data-start="3956" data-end="4018"><strong data-start="3958" data-end="3972">Tesla Data</strong> &ndash; Audience member collecting automotive data.</li>
<li data-start="4021" data-end="4072"><strong data-start="4023" data-end="4033">Reddit</strong> &ndash; Selling user-generated data for $6M.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 data-start="4074" data-end="4112"><strong data-start="4078" data-end="4112">Challenges in the Data Economy</strong></h3>
<ul data-start="4113" data-end="4545">
<li data-start="4113" data-end="4287"><strong data-start="4115" data-end="4142">Scarcity vs. Oversupply</strong> &ndash; Data is valuable when exclusive, but overwhelming when abundant.
<ul data-start="4212" data-end="4287">
<li data-start="4212" data-end="4287">Example: YouTube has endless videos, but only a fraction hold real value.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="4288" data-end="4368"><strong data-start="4290" data-end="4318">"Tragedy of the Commons"</strong> &ndash; When does it make sense to share personal data?</li>
<li data-start="4369" data-end="4450"><strong data-start="4371" data-end="4393">Separate Audiences</strong> &ndash; Data users vs. data providers&mdash;how to incentivize both?</li>
<li data-start="4451" data-end="4545"><strong data-start="4453" data-end="4476">Economic Incentives</strong> &ndash; Most users don&rsquo;t care about privacy unless there's tangible value.</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="4547" data-end="4550">
<h2 data-start="4552" data-end="4587"><strong data-start="4555" data-end="4587">Physical vs. Digital Economy</strong></h2>
<ul data-start="4588" data-end="4863">
<li data-start="4588" data-end="4706"><strong data-start="4590" data-end="4612">Cost of Operations</strong> &ndash; The physical world is becoming more expensive, while digital spaces are easier to navigate.</li>
<li data-start="4707" data-end="4789"><strong data-start="4709" data-end="4737">Luxury vs. Accessibility</strong> &ndash; Walmart is thriving; <strong data-start="4761" data-end="4777">Birkin dupes</strong> are rising.</li>
<li data-start="4790" data-end="4863"><strong data-start="4792" data-end="4814">Product-Market Fit</strong> &ndash; When does privacy become a core selling point?</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="4865" data-end="4868">
<h2 data-start="4870" data-end="4907"><strong data-start="4873" data-end="4907">The Wildest Future Predictions</strong></h2>
<ul data-start="4908" data-end="5252">
<li data-start="4908" data-end="4994"><strong data-start="4910" data-end="4926">Bryan&rsquo;s Take</strong>: <strong data-start="4928" data-end="4994">Most data in the future will be generated without human input.</strong></li>
<li data-start="4995" data-end="5069"><strong data-start="4997" data-end="5027">Diminishing Human Commerce</strong> &ndash; How will AI reshape consumer behaviors?</li>
<li data-start="5070" data-end="5161"><strong data-start="5072" data-end="5110">Parasocial Celebrity Relationships</strong> &ndash; AI will redefine engagement with public figures.</li>
<li data-start="5162" data-end="5252"><strong data-start="5164" data-end="5191">The Hero&rsquo;s Journey &amp; AI</strong> &ndash; What used to take a lifetime may now take an hour with AI.</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="5254" data-end="5257">
<p data-start="5259" data-end="5301" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">&nbsp;</p>

Moments from the conference, a look into the challenges of building AI + Denver Guide

Eth Denver 2025 

<p data-start="146" data-end="459">It&rsquo;s been a long 2025 as I slowly settle into the memecoin cycle and prepare to attend yet another Ethereum Denver. This time, it feels different. I&rsquo;m in a committed career role, speaking on a cool panel, hosting a five-star dinner, growing my hair out, and&mdash;most importantly&mdash;feeling optimistic about the future.</p>
<p data-start="461" data-end="885">This week, my focus has been on process-heavy activities. Today, the Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation, <a href="https://x.com/AyaMiyagotchi"><strong data-start="577" data-end="594">Aya Miyaguchi</strong>,</a> stepped down after a very public debate over the state of Ethereum&mdash;why it hasn&rsquo;t really grown from a token or protocol level in recent years. Her leadership style was bound to be scrutinized, but watching the reaction unfold on X was frustrating. The misogyny in crypto is still rampant.</p>
<p data-start="887" data-end="1418">Aya is such an amazing leader and has done a lot for the <a href="https://twitter.com/ethereumfndn" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="944" data-end="993">@ethereumfoundation</a>. I remember her presentation during Devcon Bogot&aacute; in 2022&mdash;she talked about how the <strong data-start="1069" data-end="1091">law of subtraction</strong> shapes her decision-making, and it couldn&rsquo;t be more true in crypto. The tech is already so complex, and when you&rsquo;re &ldquo;managing&rdquo; people through a decentralization lens, sometimes the best move is elimination. Maybe, in her case, that meant her own position. Looking forward to seeing how Ethereum evolves in the coming cycles.</p>
<p data-start="1420" data-end="1956">That said, <strong data-start="1431" data-end="1528">I don&rsquo;t think she did enough when it came to reaching out to women in the Ethereum ecosystem.</strong> If she did, it wasn&rsquo;t as public. Maybe she played a major role in onboarding APAC audiences&mdash;which would explain Ethereum&rsquo;s strong presence in that region&mdash;but beyond that, there weren&rsquo;t many women in leadership roles under her tenure. When I saw her speak at Devcon Bogot&aacute;, she didn&rsquo;t stop by the women&rsquo;s collective circle which I helped organize, and it definitely stood out to me. In a space where representation is already lacking, those small moments matter.</p>
<h3 data-start="1958" data-end="2008">Data Storytelling &amp; the Peak of Marketing BS</h3>
<p data-start="2010" data-end="2244">Some of y&rsquo;all don&rsquo;t know anything about data storytelling, and it clearly shows. I think I&rsquo;ve officially reached the peak of marketing nonsense. Watching people pivot, hedge, and repackage the same ideas over and over is exhausting.</p>
<p data-start="2246" data-end="2623">Meanwhile, the crypto charts are making people act completely out of character, abandoning all values&mdash;though, let&rsquo;s be real, crypto never really had any to begin with. Culture capital in relation to how to treat people is seriously lacking. You can't just replicate good cultural capital online. It comes from one's own circle of influence. The rules of the "game" don&rsquo;t exist.&nbsp; Everyone's rugging and taking profit as soon as they can. There&rsquo;s no use getting upset about the $TRUMP or $LIBRE token when laws are literally changing before our eyes. Entire websites are being erased, disappearing into the void of the internet.</p>
<h3 data-start="2625" data-end="2667">The Hardest Part of Running Software</h3>
<p data-start="2669" data-end="3096">Running a platform like <a href="https://github.com/Violet-Verse/VioletVerse">Violet Verse</a> has been tough. A few months ago, I was hit with a cease and desist letter&mdash;beyond frustrating, especially after spending years building up SEO and traction. I wouldn&rsquo;t say I was neglecting VV, but I do feel like it&rsquo;s something with real staying power. Luckily, a lawyer friend (and VV community member!) secured some serious legal counsel for me, and I&rsquo;ve been beyond grateful ever since.</p>
<p data-start="3098" data-end="3362">With all of that behind me, I&rsquo;m making some big content shifts. People are craving more event coverage and local insights, and I&rsquo;ve been feeling incredibly tapped into the scenes in Miami and NYC. Expect more guides, more events, and more ways to stay connected.</p>
<p data-start="3364" data-end="3409">Stay tuned&mdash;2025 is just getting started. 🚀</p>

Software Update 

We're Back On-Chain

<h1>Into the Violet Verse</h1>
<p>This is a test post.</p>

This is a test subtitle

Test Title

<h1>Into the Violet Verse</h1>
<p>Bitcoin reaches an all-time-high today at $107K per bitcoin. 💯</p>

The first cryptocurrency to achieve an over a $100K per coin is continuing to see mass adoption. 

Bitcoin Reaches $100K All-Time-High

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<p>While I&rsquo;ve been deep in the crypto world for over four years, every so often, the fashion industry lures me back with an invite I simply can&rsquo;t resist. When Cartier extended an invitation to their opening exhibition night, I knew it was one of those moments. Excited and curious about who might be in attendance, I made my way to the Miami Design District.</p>
<p>As I arrived, I was welcomed by two bell boys in Cartier&rsquo;s signature hats, a red carpet stretched before me. Inside, the exhibition was a wonder&mdash;a multi-room maze filled with fascinating history about the Trinity ring, interactive installations, and endless photo opportunities.</p>
<figure><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gd7GNsKW4AAFE45?format=jpg&amp;name=large" alt="Image" width="500"><canvas style="display: none; top: 2px !important; left: 206px !important;" width="23" height="20"></canvas>
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-84405" data-gramm="false">VV Founder</figcaption>
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<p>As I wandered through, I met a few captivating individuals and soaked in the legacy of Cartier. Then, unexpectedly, the speakers crackled to life with a voice that electrified the room. &ldquo;Hey Miami, this is Janelle Mon&aacute;e. Are you ready to celebrate?!&rdquo; I was momentarily confused&mdash;where was this energy coming from?</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1?ui=2&amp;ik=d5d4094a5f&amp;attid=0.1&amp;permmsgid=msg-f:1817543390157093175&amp;th=19393615662c3937&amp;view=fimg&amp;fur=ip&amp;permmsgid=msg-f:1817543390157093175&amp;sz=s0-l75-ft&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ8ESxqSW5dE-WKh13Ro_QE7F33Ffd3TzmNwb6P5zFwCHdxVuq_7Xooe9S61_zKnNdunZthDPUFD2MpmXmFx8FGKQpvxYTxaYPpzPtIExjyyuv8eOHU-fiEod7k&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_m4aboykh2&amp;zw" alt="Screenshot 2024-12-04 at 3.10.39 PM.png" width="500"></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gd7GNsKWIAAr5iU?format=jpg&amp;name=large" alt="Image" width="500"></p>
<p>Turns out, the immersive exhibition culminated in a surprise rooftop party! Complete with Cartier champagne, signature cocktails, and passed hors d'oeuvres, the atmosphere was magnetic. The evening blended history, elegance, and revelry seamlessly&mdash;a true testament to Cartier&rsquo;s ability to craft not just jewelry, but unforgettable experiences.</p>
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<p>If you&rsquo;re in Miami, don&rsquo;t miss your chance to explore this incredible tribute to the Trinity collection. <strong>Trinity 100</strong> is open to the public from December 4 to December 8, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, at <strong>23 NE 41st St</strong>, Miami, FL. Complimentary admission is available with a reserved timeslot &mdash; book your visit now at <a href="http://www.cartier.com" target="_new" rel="noopener">cartier.com</a>.</p>
<p>It&rsquo;s an experience as timeless as the Trinity design itself.</p>
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Cartier makes its debut at Art Basel 2024.

Art Basel Miami: Cartier VIP Party 

<p>As the clock ticks towards one of the most pivotal Presidential Elections in internet history, Vice President Kamala Harris&nbsp; is making a bold move: she's launching a competitive campaign strategy aimed at one of her toughest critics&mdash;Black men. It's no secret that during her time as Vice President and in the political spotlight, Harris has faced a significant amount of backlash from this demographic. Particularly many have been displeased her record as a prosecutor and her role in incarcerating Black men.&nbsp; But now, that's all hearsay and as she races towards becoming the 47th President of the United States, Harris has thrown down a queen card -- unveiling a 9-page agenda that addresses their concerns head-on.</p>
<h2>Crypto Gets A Hue</h2>
<p>The agenda is packed with proposals tailored to tackle key issues Black men face, including:</p>
<ol>
<li>Offering 1 million fully forgivable loans to Black entrepreneurs and others looking to start a business.</li>
<li>Championing education, training, and mentorship programs that will help Black men secure well-paying jobs in high-demand industries, while also providing pathways to leadership roles, including opportunities to become educators.</li>
<li>Advocating for a regulatory framework around cryptocurrency and digital assets, ensuring that Black men who invest in or own these assets are protected.</li>
<li>Launching a National Health Equity Initiative specifically for Black men, targeting health issues like sickle cell disease, diabetes, mental health, and prostate cancer&mdash;conditions that disproportionately affect them.</li>
<li>Legalizing recreational marijuana and creating opportunities for Black Americans to thrive in this growing industry.</li>
</ol>
<p>One of the more creative parts of Harris&rsquo;s plan focuses on cryptocurrency aka <strong>digital assets</strong>. According to the docket, over <strong>20% of Black Americans </strong>have owned or currently own cryptocurrency. Looking back to what I <a href="https://www.theroot.com/the-root-institute-2021-cryptocurrency-and-the-new-cre-1847725764" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported in The Root in 2021,</a> the story is unfolding wonderfully. Black Americans in general continue to be at the pinnacle of financial innovation and will not dare to be left behind. Moreover, many crypto influencers are Black men and when I'm out in the normie world, there's always a Black male eager to talk about the latest crypto tokens they've invested in.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Harris is committed to ensuring that Black men who hold digital assets can benefit from financial innovation. She aims to implement a protective regulatory framework that broadens access to banking and financial services, empowering Black men and others to thrive in the digital economy.</p>
<h2>She's intentionally extending an olive branch in the final stretch.</h2>
<p>Whether this &ldquo;Hail Mary&rdquo; approach will resonate with Black men in the final stretch of the election remains to be seen but its a great way to get attention and raise consideration. In general&mdash;Harris is making it clear that she's listening and ready to take risks to capture the wallets of Black men.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Read the full repor<a href="https://kamalaharris.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FMfcgzQXJZxzLGgcKmSNQSXCRKXShwxJ.pdf">t here.</a></p>

"Supporting a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and other digital assets so Black
men who invest in and own these assets are protected." 

Vice President Harris Opportunity Agenda Black Men Focuses on Cryptocurrency 

<p>I&rsquo;m starting to see a trend. Follow me. Every crypto cycle brings a scandal and full-on discourse about women&rsquo;s place in the industry. In 2021, it was the rise of female-focused DAOs and a determination to onboard as many partnerships as possible. In 2022, it was&nbsp;<a href="https://capital.com/caroline-ellison-who-is-profile-alameda-research-ceo-sbf-ftx-inner-circle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caroline Elilson from Alameda Research</a>, portrayed as the unlikely villain with her appearance scrutinized. In 2023, we witnessed the downfall of the female-founded "girl boss" archetypes. And now, in 2024, as we creep into the bull market, Iggy Azalea finds herself appealing to the male gaze&mdash;and succeeding at that. Moreover, celebrity meme coins have been cringe and unsuccessful at best. Those who tried, like Jason Derulo, failed miserably and became laughingstocks among the crypto libertarian elite.</p>
<figure><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GYMqKloXkAASdrI?format=jpg&amp;name=medium" alt="Image" width="500"><canvas style="display: none; top: 2px !important; left: 142px !important;" width="298" height="20"></canvas>
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-627772" data-gramm="false">Frank from Degods NFT and Iggy Azelea in Singpore</figcaption>
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<p>As Violet Verse has covered the launch of $MOTHER token before, along with Solana Breakpoint and other crypto conferences, the former rapper-turned-crypto hustler is attempting to do something unprecedented: make crypto sexy. Let's face it, crypto is split into various audiences. There's the clean cut institutional side and then there's the risk-adverse, retail traders who DGAF side of the token. Two must exist to build the "DAO."&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>But let's play devils advocate a bit. </strong>Branding-wise, since we&rsquo;re talking about marketing trends, women have always been the leading consumers across fashion, plastic surgery, and luxury goods.</p>
<p>Since the $MOTHER coin has surpassed a $50M market cap and the degens are bullish.&nbsp; &nbsp;So, it wasn&rsquo;t a surprise that for Solana Breakpoint, she was invited to speak. And guess what? She did what any white male with her level of TVL would do&mdash;celebrated. The Telegram community chat is so <em>nausty</em>, throwing a party in the middle of Singapore, with strippers gives $MOTHER.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>The party was triggering for a lot of people, and Crypto Twitter made sure to express their concerns.</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;On one side, some crypto women who have shared their experiences as strippers or former "304s" said they loved Iggy Azalea&rsquo;s rodeo-themed party, claiming it was great for morale. Other &ldquo;feminist-leaning&rdquo; individuals thought it was completely raunchy, disregarding the women in crypto who are also building products and must endure the stress of functioning in a male-dominated space.</p>
<p>This debate is not new. When Emily Liebert, formerly of Jezebel.com interviewed me for her feature article about the "<a href="https://www.jezebel.com/crypto-hotties-twitter-selfies-empowerment-1848806154" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plight of the Crypto Hottie,</a>&rdquo; she not only featured women operators like me but also adult entertainers who are part of the crypto movement on the retail side. She wrote:&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>There is no shortage of powerful women in crypto fighting exhaustively to be recognized for their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.insidehook.com/article/tech/camila-russo-refuses-cryptos-diversity-checkbox" target="_blank" rel="noopener">merits and technical skills alone</a>, instead of their gender or desirability.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/22/crypto-investor-katie-haun-raises-1point5-billion-for-haun-ventures.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Legitimate funds</a>&nbsp;like Haun Ventures and feminist coalitions like&nbsp;<a href="https://boysclub.vip/learn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boys Club</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/cryptobesties_" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crypto Besties</a> are creating much-needed opportunities for women to get in on the digital gold rush.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>And it&rsquo;s a weird movement. </strong></p>
<p>As I type this, crypto is largely unregulated, so anything goes. I read a tweet that said it feels like we&rsquo;re regressing because this is how business was run in the &rsquo;70s&mdash;with wild parties after hours. I don&rsquo;t know much about the &rsquo;70s, but I do know that &ldquo;304-TikTok&rdquo; has popped up on my timeline recently, reflecting an underlying fascination with sexual content and innuendo in the business world. Even with laws discouraging fraternization, in the crypto industry and much of startup culture, everything is truly open-source.</p>
<p><strong>So this tells me that she's still new and hasn't really broken through the noise.</strong></p>
<p>Iggy probably has no clue about office decorum, but she knows how to sell herself using her ASSets. Her approach isn&rsquo;t creative, and crypto cycles are all about hype. What's interesting is that with all this discourse going on about her infamous party, when you type in her name on the Twitter's search, her crypto activities or brand doesn't even show up as much as her music and low quality videos of her when she was a rapper.&nbsp; She's not the poster child for crypto.&nbsp; I digress. There&rsquo;s always been a voice in the back of my head wondering how my journey could have been if I leaned into my sex appeal. Would I be better off? Probably not. Would I have tons of followers? Would I have succeeded faster in crypto if I embraced my curves? Maybe. But I'm not beating myself up about it.&nbsp;</p>
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Token 2049 brings out the sexual side of crypto and people aren't happy about it. 

The Plight of the Crypto Hottie Continues

<p>Art Basel Miami turns 21 this year, and it&rsquo;s bigger than ever! As the year's final cultural extravaganza, it&rsquo;s the place to see and be seen. From the coolest hotels to the most exclusive restaurants, this guide covers where the "it" crowd will be dining, staying, and catching the best content. Whether you're an art aficionado or just here for the vibe, Miami is the place to be this winter.</p>
<figure><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/BhmmZkc2zNQTu5vZdIco2Hd1sIpLfIxbp6JxIGSfjjrYc1vZC2iSXPkFXh5ZjoT1fVqVCFcQsOXwwK13c1rG8ZYraeyCV0nQB3muJub-p_PGlsUGV0wuZcdAf_vi1fJgBH-0qI8LdEnyx7MNDuW1OyA" width="500"><canvas style="display: none; top: 2px !important; left: 204px !important;" width="65" height="20"></canvas>
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-887665" data-gramm="false">Isabela Grutman, World Eye</figcaption>
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<p>This year&rsquo;s Art Basel Miami will host a staggering <strong>283 galleries from 34 countries and territories</strong>, making it a true global event. Nearly two-thirds of exhibitors hail from the Americas, including the United States and Canada, but the spotlight will also shine brightly on voices from Central and South America. Expect vibrant perspectives from <strong>Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru</strong>, and <strong>Uruguay</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Where to Stay</h3>
<p>Whether you're looking to stay in the heart of the action or a bit off the beaten path, Miami has no shortage of fabulous hotels. These are our top picks for where you should lay your head after a long day (and night) of exploring the Art Basel scene.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Arlo Hotel, Wynwood</strong>: Perfect for those who want to stay near the art district and enjoy Wynwood's murals and creative energy. <a href="https://arlohotels.com/wynwood/" target="_new" rel="noopener">Check it out here</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Edition Hotel, South Beach</strong>: A luxurious, oceanfront escape with a touch of modern chic.</li>
<li><strong>Faena Miami Beach</strong>: This legendary hotel mixes opulence with a stunning art collection.</li>
<li><strong>The Goodtime Hotel</strong>: This is Pharrell's newest hospitality spot and they have a pool party.</li>
<li><strong>1 Hotel, South Beach</strong>: Eco-luxe with stunning ocean views&mdash;perfect for winding down.</li>
<li><strong>Selina, Little Havana</strong>: For a more laid-back vibe, Selina offers cultural charm in the iconic Little Havana.</li>
<li><strong>SLS or W, Brickell</strong>: Stay in Miami&rsquo;s sleek financial district with a buzzing nightlife nearby.</li>
<li><strong>The Gabriel, Downtown Miami</strong>: Centrally located, offering a chic and modern aesthetic.</li>
<li><strong>CitizenM, Brickell or Downtown</strong>: Stylish and budget-friendly, with easy access to Miami Beach.</li>
<li><strong>Mr. C, Coconut Grove</strong>: Tucked away in the lush, historic neighborhood of Coconut Grove.</li>
<li><strong>River Inn Hotel, Alcova Miami</strong>: A hidden gem offering serene luxury by the river.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Restaurants with a View</h3>
<p>Who doesn't love a waterfront dining experience? Here are the top restaurants where you can enjoy exceptional cuisine with equally exceptional views:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Casa Neos</strong>: A new favorite with stunning ocean views and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. <a href="https://www.casa-neos.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener">Visit Casa Neos</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Stiltsville Fish Bar</strong>: A local treasure offering fresh seafood right by the water.</li>
<li><strong>Amara at Paraiso, Edgewater</strong>: For gorgeous views of Biscayne Bay and Latin-inspired fare.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.esmehotel.com/dining/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.esmehotel.com/dining/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726798900344000&amp;usg=AOvVaw22dK8m6FI4_JVljBGZFWzg">The Roof at Esm&eacute; Miami Beach Hotel</a></li>
<li>Pastis&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.sevenrooms.com/explore/casadonna/reservations/create/search?date=2024-8-01&amp;start_time=7%3A00PM&amp;tracking=email">Casadonna&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>Papi Steak&nbsp;</li>
<li>Kiki on the River (New decor and director!)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.sevenrooms.com/explore/swanbevymiami/reservations/create/search?date=2024-8-01&amp;start_time=7%3A00PM">Swan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://lejardinier-miami.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://lejardinier-miami.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726798900345000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ApuPCWBM9S50Kr-97RmUC"><strong>Le Jardinier</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://buy.stripe.com/5kA5o0apJbMO9RSdQX"><strong>Click here</strong> to unlock your VIP access today</a>!</p>
<h3>Where to Shop</h3>
<p>Miami isn&rsquo;t just about art and beaches&mdash;it&rsquo;s also a shopper&rsquo;s paradise. Here&rsquo;s where to snag the latest fashion finds, whether you&rsquo;re after high-end luxury or unique thrifted treasures:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.timeout.com/miami/shopping/big-drop-nyc"><strong>The Big Drop</strong></a>: A chic boutique where you&rsquo;ll find curated pieces that are perfect for Miami&rsquo;s vibrant scene.</li>
<li><strong>Merrick Park Mall, Coral Gables</strong>: Known as the "new Beverly Hills," this luxurious outdoor mall features a lululemon, Nieman Marcus, Tiffany's Nordstrom's, and a steak house.</li>
<li><strong>Design District</strong>: It will be transformed into an outdoor galley, and lots of people flock to this hotspot for all things luxury. Stroll through and shop at <strong>Ganni, Gucci, Sephora, Dior, Cartier</strong>, and many more!&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>NW 26th Street Shopping in Wynwood: </strong><a href="https://260samplesale.com/pages/physical-events/?market=mia">260 Sample Sale&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Dinner Turned Entertainment Spots</h3>
<p>After soaking in the art, get ready to dance the night away or sip cocktails in some of the city&rsquo;s hottest spots:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mila</strong>: An upscale fusion of fine sushi dining and nightlife that transitions smoothly from dinner to party vibes.</li>
<li><strong>Jolene Sound Room</strong>: A vibey venue with the best beats in town and an intimate yet electric atmosphere. <a href="https://www.jolenesoundroom.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener">Jolene Sound Room</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Queen</strong>: Expect lavish d&eacute;cor and an unforgettable night of entertainment.</li>
<li><strong>Sexy Fish</strong>: The ultimate spot to be outside, with incredible food, cocktails, and live entertainment.</li>
<li><strong>Giselle:</strong> It's above Club Eleven&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/restaurants/article287915755.html">Maiz y Agave</a>: </strong>A three-story dining and drinking destination highlighting Oaxacan cuisine and culture</li>
</ul>
<h3>Members-Only Events</h3>
<p>For those who want an exclusive experience, members-only venues will be hosting private events. If you're in the know, you'll find yourself rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in art, culture, and fashion.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Soho House</strong>: The ultimate members-only venue. Expect a packed calendar of exclusive parties and events throughout the month.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h2>Want insider access and more curated tips from me?</h2>
<p>&nbsp;<strong>Subscribe to our concierge PDF guide</strong> for special perks, VIP access, and personalized recommendations throughout the event.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://buy.stripe.com/5kA5o0apJbMO9RSdQX"><strong>Click here</strong> to unlock your VIP access today</a>!</p>

Art Basel Miami: Where to Stay, Dine, and Play During This Month-Long Art Extravaganza

Art Basel 2024: Where to Stay and Shop

<p>Many supporters of the #FREEDUROV movement believe privacy is not a crime. It&rsquo;s easy to understand why. Telegram has grown into a powerhouse platform, especially within the crypto community, where privacy and decentralization are core values. It's a place where thousands of crypto-focused groups thrive, where trading bots facilitate transactions, and crypto-based games flourish. Groups can host over 100,000 members at a time, many of whom can choose to remain anonymous. That&rsquo;s part of what made Telegram so appealing when it launched on August 14, 2013, as a privacy-focused, ad-free messaging app. The app quickly gained traction, and today it boasts over 900 million monthly active users, ranking among the top 10 most popular social networks globally. However, it's an open - space for scammers and impersonators.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The #FREEDUROV movement puts privacy at the center of the conversation.</h3>
<p>That's still a reach. While privacy is a fundamental right that deserves protection, it's also not an absolute right without limits. Telegram&rsquo;s history of dubious privacy claims and no moderation has led to growing concerns. Recently, the French government has started cracking down on software and telecommunication applications that fail to meet adequate moderation standards, citing the potential for these platforms to be used for illegal activities.</p>
<h3>And here&rsquo;s where the crypto debate heats up.&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Governments around the world, including France, are wrestling with how to regulate platforms like Telegram and Tornado Cash that prioritize user privacy, often at the expense of oversight. If you build something and bad actors take over the platform, are you responsible?&nbsp; On the surface, this sounds like an attack on privacy. But when you dig deeper, it&rsquo;s clear that it&rsquo;s more complicated than that. Code is powerful. And they who writes the code are naturally related.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>We must ask ourselves, do platforms like Telegram have a responsibility to comply with laws that prevent misuse, or should they be allowed to operate in a legal gray area under the guise of protecting user privacy?</h2>
<p>This debate is especially relevant when we consider the principles established in laws like Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act. Section 230 provides immunity to online platforms from liability for user-generated content, recognizing that platforms are not the publishers of third-party content. This piece of legislation is often hailed as a cornerstone of internet freedom, allowing platforms to host diverse content without fear of being sued for what users post. However, it also raises important questions about the limits of this immunity, especially when it comes to platforms like Telegram, where anonymity can shield illegal activities.</p>
<p>The crux of the matter isn&rsquo;t about endorsing tools that could be used to flout government laws. It&rsquo;s about striking a balance between protecting user privacy and ensuring that platforms are not enabling criminal behavior. Privacy advocates argue that without platforms like Telegram, individuals have no real protection against surveillance and data exploitation. On the other hand, governments and critics argue that these platforms should not be above the law, especially when it comes to preventing illegal activities.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the #FREEDUROV movement, supported by influential developers like<a href="https://x.com/bantg/status/1827494681288028525"> Banteg</a>, isn&rsquo;t just about defending one app or one ideology. It&rsquo;s about navigating the complex relationship between privacy and regulation in the digital age. We need to recognize that while privacy is crucial, it cannot come at the expense of public safety or legal accountability.&nbsp;</p>
<p>So, do the French government and others have a case for cracking down on Telegram? They've been doing their BIG ONE lately. The Olympic Games was a shitshow; athletes were forced to swim in the Seine River, which hasn't been cleaned in decades.&nbsp; Meanwhile, the retirement legislation has caused an uproar in recent years. No one is perfect.&nbsp; In the end, it&rsquo;s not about choosing sides but finding a path forward that respects both privacy and the rule of law.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Reports circulating that he is facing 20 years in prison for refusing to censor his platform. Meanwhile, $TON starts to tank after months in the Top 10 TVL charts. 

Telegram CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France 

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<p>Fashion experts at <a href="https://us.boohoo.com/womens/cores-aesthetics/brat-girl-summer" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us.boohoo.com/womens/cores-aesthetics/brat-girl-summer&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1724358554693000&amp;usg=AOvVaw03CPivuBDCklPPCH-2ozAp">Boohoo</a> conducted a deep dive into just how much the new &lsquo;brat&rsquo; phenomenon is taking over style on social media, thanks to Charli xcx&rsquo;s latest album release. The study found that &lsquo;brat&rsquo; style is dominating inspiration searches and fashion vision boards &ndash; inspiring a more messy, maximalist approach to style, as opposed to the sleek, minimalist &lsquo;clean girl&rsquo; look, which has been at the height of demand over recent years.&nbsp;</p>
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<figure><img tabindex="0" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/meips/ADKq_NasJxjTG7-eUlIzBzku-5J0i4Dx3bjVJYRDtHbSnDmHVnrnAThw9RPQOboqydNAmjumHEtrlXa7P3UV5q6HlN7rSAfsJWn-sTEoubqF3oRFQ_we572PT0Sw-SeIOjE816xgoo4s1UJFiwcgFBXXcrRz=s0-d-e1-ft#https://static.journoresearch.org/email-images/image_87094595541724070938085-1724070938.png" alt="A graph with blue and green linesDescription automatically generated" width="500" data-bit="iit"><canvas style="display: none; top: 2px !important; left: 225px !important;" width="215" height="20"></canvas>
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-959013" data-gramm="false">Pinterest Trends &ndash; &lsquo;brat aesthetic&rsquo; vs. &lsquo;clean aesthetic&rsquo;&nbsp;</figcaption>
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<p>Luckily for people wanting to add a bit of &lsquo;brat&rsquo; to their style but are unsure where to start or how to transition their aesthetic, the experts at <a href="https://us.boohoo.com/womens/cores-aesthetics/brat-girl-summer" target="_blank" rel="follow noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us.boohoo.com/womens/cores-aesthetics/brat-girl-summer&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1724358554693000&amp;usg=AOvVaw03CPivuBDCklPPCH-2ozAp">Boohoo</a> have provided the ultimate tips for embracing your inner &lsquo;brat&rsquo;.&nbsp;</p>
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<h2>Ditch the neutrals&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
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<p>If the color of 2023 was hot pink thanks to Barbie, then lime green is sure to be the color of summer 2024, mirroring the album cover color of Charli xcx&rsquo;s &lsquo;brat&rsquo;&ndash; and it is totally taking over fashion right now.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</div>
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<p>An analysis of Google Trends found a major spike in interest for &lsquo;lime green tee&rsquo;&mdash;up a huge 180% compared to the past decade, all thanks to Charli&rsquo;s iconic color. And it doesn&rsquo;t stop there, as searches for &lsquo;lime skirt&rsquo; and &lsquo;lime green dress&rsquo; have also skyrocketed, with demand jumping 170% and 46% this summer. It&rsquo;s clear that &lsquo;brat&rsquo; green really is the shade of the season!&nbsp;</p>
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<h2>Styling staples can add a hint of &lsquo;brat&rsquo; to your look&nbsp;</h2>
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<p>If you&rsquo;re not quite ready to switch up your entire aesthetic, there are some fun ways you can add a hint of &lsquo;brat&rsquo; to your style &ndash; including using some wardrobe staples, which can be used time and again.&nbsp;</p>
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<div>
<p>Your A/W wardrobe staples &ndash; like leather jackets or platform biker boots &ndash; are perfect for restyling for your &lsquo;brat&rsquo; summer, adding just the right amount of edge to your outfit. Pair them with a basic white tank and something daring like a sequin miniskirt or metallic hot pants to channel your inner &lsquo;brat&rsquo; and add a &lsquo;party girl&rsquo; touch. Since Charli&rsquo;s 360 music video release and later Instagram post, where she sported a white tank top, searches for the staple have hit an all-time high &ndash; skyrocketing 256%.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>One of this year&rsquo;s hottest trends would be a fab addition, too &ndash; leopard print. While the resurgence of this animal print has made big waves in fashion this year, in this &lsquo;brat&rsquo; summer, demand hasn&rsquo;t been higher &ndash; with interest in &lsquo;leopard print skirts&rsquo; soared 109% following the album drop, as compared to the last 12 months.&nbsp;</p>
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<div>
<h2>Get messy&nbsp;</h2>
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<div>
<p>While minimal, fresh makeup and a slicked-back bun are a go-to look for lovers of the &lsquo;clean girl&rsquo; vibe, the &lsquo;brat&rsquo; aesthetic flips the script, favoring heavy liner, bold eyeshadow colors and glossy lips, topped off with undone, wavy hair.&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>Taking inspiration from Charli herself, opt for black or near-black nails instead of your classic French tip and allow your eyeshadow to look lived-in and don&rsquo;t feel pressure to have to perfect the flawless &lsquo;full glam&rsquo; or &lsquo;glass skin&rsquo; popularized on Instagram.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Be yourself&nbsp;</h2>
</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>
<p>Taking inspiration from anything and experimenting is perfect for the &lsquo;brat&rsquo; aesthetic. Fans around the world seem to have been particularly inspired by &lsquo;Y2K fashion&rsquo; thanks to Charli&rsquo;s latest outfit choices &ndash; with searches spiking 31% higher than over the last year following her album drop.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Stack on your favorite jewelry and pull on the knee-high boots you&rsquo;ve been too scared to wear. Expressing yourself and wearing what you love&mdash;now that is &lsquo;brat&rsquo;!&nbsp;</p>
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<div>
<p>Unlike the trends that have dominated social media in recent years, &lsquo;brat&rsquo; is not about being polished 24/7 but about accepting and embracing &lsquo;imperfection&rsquo;. &lsquo;Brat&rsquo; is all about stepping into your main character energy &ndash; living loud and unapologetically.&nbsp;</p>
</div>
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<p>Sources: Google Trends, Pinterest, Pinterest Trends.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

An analysis of Pinterest Trends has discovered that interest in the ‘brat’ aesthetic’ has skyrocketed 360% and is twice as popular as the ‘clean aesthetic’ right now. 

Brat Summer: The end of the 'clean girl' era? 

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<p>It&rsquo;s been a summer of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/rewire-nicole-vignola?variant=41105437851682" rel="">rewiring</a>, both mentally and physically. Neuroplasticity&mdash;it's a buzzword, but for me, it's become a way of life. After years of practicing and studying different techniques, I can vouch for their power to reshape your thoughts and actions. It&rsquo;s like a personal reset button, and trust me, it works wonders.</p>
<p>This brings me to the 2024 Olympics, which took over the morning routine this summer. I remain captivated by the athletes, each one embodying the essence of discipline and focus. A recent event in Miami, centered around the concept of the "everyday athlete," made me reflect on my own past. In high school, I played varsity tennis. I loved the game, but it&rsquo;s only now, years later, that I truly understand why tennis is as much a mental challenge as it is physical. Whether athletes rise to the occasion or fold under pressure, there&rsquo;s something we can all learn: Give it your all, no matter what.</p>
<h4>Are NFTs back?</h4>
<p>In the midst of this, I can&rsquo;t help but notice the resurgence of NFTs and the hype surrounding real-world assets. A friend says that "I&rsquo;m &ldquo;too cool for crypto,&rdquo; and I&rsquo;m not really if they are being facetious, but so many lives have changed through NFTs. The sheer number of creators still minting their art and offering NFTs as an add-on to the physical versions is astonishing. Despite the ups and downs of the market, the creative pulse of the NFT space hasn&rsquo;t slowed due to the bear market, but the community has always been alive. In the past year alone, 1 in 5 adults&mdash;27% of Americans&mdash;have participated in cryptocurrency. It&rsquo;s a staggering statistic, yet sometimes, working in blockchain feels like being in an echo chamber. Literally, all my colleagues, including me have been in a slump. We&rsquo;re all getting our sources and signals from the charts. So, in my quest to diversify my news diet, I&rsquo;ve added more economically driven content to my podcast list, like <a href="https://profgmedia.com/pod-markets/" rel="">Prof G Markets.</a></p>
<p>Double-clicking on analysis&hellip;I&rsquo;m also scouting out consumer demand in future technology. I&rsquo;m convinced that innovation isn&rsquo;t just an upward trend&mdash;people are fighting to stay relevant. The customers we thought we were acquiring? They&rsquo;re still waiting to be wooed. Meanwhile, big tech is under scrutiny, with Google facing an antitrust lawsuit that alleges a monopoly over default search engines on mobile devices. This lawsuit argues that Google has prevented competitors from reaching the scale necessary to build a search engine that could rival theirs. We&rsquo;ve been discussing antitrust for years, especially regarding who bears the burden. And now, we&rsquo;re seeing those discussions come to a head. I wrote about generative search&nbsp;<a href="/googles-new-ai-search-engine-will-change-organic-traffic-forever-fsc9yci83m" rel="">here</a>, and this lawsuit&rsquo;s outcome will affect how information is disseminated.</p>
<p>Our culture is milestone-driven, and social media only amplifies that. Ego is at the forefront of everything, and it&rsquo;s no wonder that crypto communities thrive on these digital connections. In my last newsletter, I mentioned the third wave of excitement surrounding memecoins. Talk to any crypto OG, and they&rsquo;ll probably reminisce about the ICOs of 2017. But today&rsquo;s ICO craze? It&rsquo;s led by meme tokens, fueled by L2s and rollups. The goal? Increase the speed of money or crypto from your Paypal account to a physical item. Essentially, it means your transaction will go through in 7 seconds or less. Because let&rsquo;s be real&mdash;no one&rsquo;s waiting hours to pay for groceries with some random token.</p>
<p>In addition to writing about advertising trends, I also p<a href="/blockchain-fragmentation-explained-xUQVMc7710" rel="">ublished a technical post about blockchain fragmentation</a>&nbsp;and how much developers keep inventing standards that make it hard for a financial institution to install and adapt. It&rsquo;s a bit technical because I needed to add more depth to my portfolio, but what I got from my research is that all these crypto rules don&rsquo;t stand on business.</p>
<h4>New Protocol To Deliver Shareholder Value</h4>
<p>And speaking of new endeavors, I&rsquo;ve joined the Moonbeam Foundation, where I&rsquo;m already knee-deep in initiatives, including ramping up creator advertising campaigns. It&rsquo;s been an interesting career journey in the last year, but I&rsquo;m still here, delivering shareholder value, and rooting for the Bitcoin ETF. I&rsquo;ve been battling FOMO lately&mdash;not from the fear of missing out on summer vacations, but from&nbsp;<em>not&nbsp;</em>traveling for crypto conferences or having a &ldquo;Euro summer.&rdquo; Every week, there seems to be a must-attend hackathon or conference, with photos flooding my timeline. Half the reason I feel like I&rsquo;m missing out is the information&mdash;the important talks, the lectures, the potential relationship-building. But here&rsquo;s the thing: It&rsquo;s not a movement if everyone is just sitting around tweeting and attending panels about being a "woman in tech."</p>
<h4>Cigarettes are back, and so are career scams.</h4>
<p>If you&rsquo;ve been searching for a new opportunity, be weary of people who email you out the blue. Everything that&rsquo;s beautiful is not always good for you. My last gig and relationships may have been nightmarish, but still, I rise. I&rsquo;m in the middle of refactoring the two blog decentralized apps deployed by Violet Verse infrastructure. Thanks so my friends and supporters, you guys inspire me to keep generating. Soon, you&rsquo;ll be able to log in with your Gmail or crypto wallet provider of choice, sign up, or download an event calendar with an NFT.</p>
<h4><strong>Doing my big one from my couch.</strong></h4>
<p>This year was so random, but as I reflect on my Q1 and Q2 working with artificial intelligence from training LLMs to using it to supercharge my life, it&rsquo;s been a game changer. I wrote about it at length on the Violet Verse app, but since we&rsquo;re on the topic of innovation&hellip; interestingly, <a href="https://www.vox.com/technology/24086039/reddit-tumblr-wordpress-whos-selling-your-data-to-train-ai" rel="">media companies are now finding another source&nbsp;</a>of revenue by partnering with large language model service providers.</p>
<p>When I was an AI trainer for Scale, paid to train LLMs for ChatGPT, it was the smartest I&rsquo;ve ever had to be - quick on my toes for real. All my favorite books and essays I published became part of my research. Synthetic data isn&rsquo;t cutting it. The race to be more AI-driven is costing the companies millions in GPU data, and maybe your job will be eliminated in 10 years, but it&rsquo;s not going out without a fight.</p>
<p><strong>Delayed Gratification can be good for the procrastinators.</strong><picture><source srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png 1456w" type="image/webp" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png" sizes="100vw" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png 1456w" alt="" width="896" height="206" loading="lazy" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a88d43dd-ce22-42f5-a11d-b4e6a2769254_896x206.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:206,&quot;width&quot;:896,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:44358,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null}"></picture></p>
<p>It&rsquo;s been over three years since I started writing about crypto, and this past year has been particularly tough. We&rsquo;re out here laying the groundwork for the next generation of financial independence, but the headlines? They&rsquo;re dominated by nonsense. Meanwhile, the sentiment in many group chats is that everything feels so cringe right now. Lately, I&rsquo;ve been questioning why we subject ourselves to so much mental stress to reach the next level in our careers. Especially in an industry like crypto, which is cringeworthy and unserious yet potentially on the brink of a financial revolution. As a woman in tech, working with men, the pressure to perform is immense. What have I learned over the last few years? Resilience and self-confidence. We&rsquo;re all navigating this dark forest, but it can feel isolating.</p>
<p>I&rsquo;ve struggled with the concept of delayed gratification. Should I go to the conference, spending my time trying to meet the right people? Or should I stay home and bake bread? Being in the right place at the right time is always the goal, but right now, the movements in the crypto industry aren&rsquo;t passing the vibe check. I digress, "Crypto for Kamala&hellip;&rdquo; Let&rsquo;s go? Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://polymarket.com/elections" rel="">Polymarket,</a>&nbsp;which allows users to place bets on outcomes in crypto and other cultural predictions.</p>
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Navigating the Cringe, Chaos, and Comebacks in the Crypto and Tech World

Summer Newsletter: On Delayed Gratification & The Next Bull Run Cycle

<p>In a move that underscores the growing influence of women in tech, the Violet Verse founder has been named the new Marketing Lead at Moonbeam Foundation, the multi-chain smart contract platform known to connect builders to over 100+ chains in Web3. With a background that blends immersive media with cutting-edge tech expertise, plus a knack for community-driven storytelling, Melissa is set to bring a fresh perspective to Moonbeam's marketing strategies.</p>
<p><strong>Moonbeam recently supported Ethereum's annual ETHCC tech conference hosted in Brussels this past July.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Recently, Moonbeam made waves by hosting a Gaming Networking event at EthCC Brussels, a key gathering for Ethereum and blockchain enthusiasts. This event was a significant step in Moonbeam&rsquo;s ongoing commitment to building a robust crypto gaming community with its recent $10million investment into <a href="https://www.n3mus.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">N3MUS</a>.&nbsp; Central to this initiative is the<a href="https://www.lunargamingfestival.com/#faq" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Lunar Gaming Festival</a>, a monthly event that runs in two-week sprints, offering a play-to-earn reward system. So far, this festival has quickly become a cornerstone of Moonbeam&rsquo;s gaming strategy, attracting gamers and developers alike, and providing a platform for the community to engage, compete, and earn within the Web3 ecosystem. As Melissa is no secret to gaming, this experience in community building and content creation is set to further amplify the success of these initiatives, driving Moonbeam&rsquo;s vision for the future of decentralized gaming.</p>
<p><strong>First up on the agenda is launching the "Illuminate Creativity" NFT Artist Contest on The Hug.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>In partnership with <a href="https://rarible.com/">Rarible</a>, this chain-first invited artists to dive "Deeper into the Creator Ecosystem of Moonbeam." This contest is a testament to the vision of blending art with blockchain technology, creating a platform for artists to not only showcase their talents but also to explore the possibilities of NFTs in a decentralized world. The contest has not only generated buzz in the art community but has also positioned Moonbeam as a hub for creative innovation in the Web3 space.&nbsp;Read more <a href="https://moonbeam.network/news/rarible-x-moonbeam-illuminate-creativity-winners-announcement">here.</a></p>
<h2>Looking ahead.</h2>
<p>Moonbeam recently launched&nbsp;<strong>Moonrise Points</strong>, an on and offchain quest platform. The app includes various defi partners in the Moonbeam and Polkadot ecosystem, including StellaSwap.&nbsp; To participate, go to <a href="/edit/quests.moonbeam.network">quests.moonbeam.network</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Read more about blockchains:<a href="/get-closer-to-polygon-nfts-6a3vb2Qb0i"> A Closer Look At Polygon and NFTs</a></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

Congrats and good luck to VV's Founder, plus the future of Gaming on Moonbeam



Moonbeam Network Provides Space For Gaming Community at ETHCC

<p dir="ltr">One of the key value propositions of the Ethereum ecosystem is that it rallies around activity around a single asset, creating a significant network effect. 99% of the value comes from the execution layer, where the money is made.&nbsp; Currently, over 516 million accounts are holding various amounts of digital assets, with 90% of them in stablecoins across Layer 2 (L2) networks, totaling an estimated <a href="https://l2beat.com/scaling/summary#active">$47 billion in total value locked </a>(TVL) across more than a hundred active and upcoming networks.</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">However, L2s have a noisy neighbor problem. With the expansion of L2s, most blockchains today are fragmented by state and sequencing processes. The role of Web3 software creation has evolved significantly in recent years. According to Anu Atluru&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.workingtheorys.com/p/software-creator">Working Theory</a> Substack essay, we&rsquo;ve entered the "era of the software creator." However, developers and users face major losses in building sustainable applications due to challenges in user acquisition, long wait times, gas fees, and optimizing crypto value long after a token airdrop or a covetable NFT is minted.</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Lifecycle of USDC&nbsp;</h2>
<p dir="ltr">To understand fragmentation, one must consider the journey of a token across different chain environments. The lifecycle of USDC is a good example of how fragmentation manifests in blockchain, affecting assets, wallets, users, and overall experience.</p>
<p dir="ltr">USDC is a centralized stablecoin issued and maintained by Circle&rsquo;s ERC-20 contract on Ethereum, designed to be pegged to the US dollar 1:1 using a<a href="https://www.circle.com/en/usdc"> lock and mint model</a>. This model exposes it to risks, especially with third-party involvement. Therefore to mitigate these risks, Circle created the Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP).</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;Here&rsquo;s how it works:</p>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Burning USDC on the Source Chain</p>
</li>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="2">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">A user initiates a transfer from one blockchain to another through a wallet or desktop app.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="2">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The user signs the transaction, approving the Token Messenger contract on the source chain, enabling a contract to withdraw USDC from the user&rsquo;s wallet.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="2">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The app facilitates a burn of the specific amount of USDC on the source chain by executing the `depositForBurn` function, which sends USDC to the burning address.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">&nbsp;Fetching a Signed Attestation from Circle</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">&nbsp;Minting USDC on the Destination Chain</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">USDC to Op Superchain&nbsp;</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Now picture this: 1000 USDC is sitting in a wallet and needs to be swapped for wrapped ETH on Optimism to purchase an NFT in niche marketplace. In a world of hundreds of L2s, the journey of the stablecoin should, in theory, remain straightforward. However, maintaining redemption risk across different chains makes Circle&rsquo;s native USDC the main character to the fragmentation problem. Below, we will compare three of the largest bridges (Stargate, Celer, Across) and the amount of USDC a user gets for different-sized USDC bridge transactions from Ethereum to OP, 1,000/500/200/100 USDC.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">The below table shows the amount of output one would get if one were to use non-CCTP bridges, starting with USDC on Ethereum. Note that USDC is native USDC minted on OP, whereas USDC.e is a wrapped version of USDC.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">
<table><colgroup><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p dir="ltr">Initial Amount (usdc)</p>
</td>
<td>
<p dir="ltr">Stargate</p>
<p dir="ltr">(USDC)</p>
</td>
<td>
<p dir="ltr">Celer</p>
<p dir="ltr">(USDC.e)</p>
</td>
<td>
<p dir="ltr">Across&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">(USDC.e)</p>
</td>
<td>
<p dir="ltr">Network fee</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p dir="ltr">1000</p>
</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p dir="ltr">500</p>
</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p dir="ltr">200&nbsp;</p>
</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p dir="ltr">100</p>
</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">How does native USDC and how does the CCTP fit into today&rsquo;s fragmentation problem with the digital asset narrative?</h3>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">With the introduction of CCTP, bridging fees that reduce the bottom line of the destination USDC are theoretically decreased. However, with over 31 million unique stablecoin users, it becomes challenging to track transactions in a world of hundreds of L2s. Generally, CCTP transactions cost less and result in the user receiving more USDC compared to traditional methods, as fewer contracts need to be executed on the destination chain. Additionally, for larger transaction sizes, CCTP is even more efficient because it eliminates the need for and costs associated with USDC liquidity providers. However, with over a third of cryptocurrency holders owning some form of stablecoin, not all digital assets will be processed through CCTP.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Unifying Assets to Simplify Blockchain Fragmentation</h2>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Network effect tokens like ETH and future infrastructure for swapping them must come together. Fundamentally, fragmentation in the blockchain is about assets. At its core, the crypto space involves tokens stored and transferred across protocols, smart contracts, and blockchain networks. Fragmentation in user experience stems from asset fragmentation. Unified assets with consistent trust assumptions would eliminate fragmented experiences such as switching RPC providers or viewing different wrapped versions of the same token.</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">If assets like USDC were identical across all blockchains, users wouldn't need to bridge tokens or manage fragmented balances. For instance, one USDC on Blast would equal one USDC on Optimism. However, this ideal is complicated by multiple native tokens across different L2s. Nonetheless, if the settlement asset like USDC remains consistent across chains, much of the complexity can be abstracted away, allowing seamless transactions across chains.</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Wallets: Managing Fragmentation</h2>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc-OiwBd_ei6nC26D7osQ_xCFDVxhNzjR2YPFGIg0HP_4gvHCY5yAGyZNP4GAWH6tUUZdVXQzxn535KqZf1FSVC_D89BuFi6zbP0R1AWKJz974kmKE1dXPcbmi5ooMBRzBsEsDhpPqmEY3PVF5wyGQ8N-QV?key=9qjZm1EKc5GSRe-TF0CRbQ" width="446" height="63"></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Wallets play a crucial role in reducing fragmentation. A wallet that supports seamless RPC connections and bridges, leveraging solutions like CCTP, can significantly unify the user experience. For example, if USDC on Arbitrum is the same as USDC on Optimism, users should be able to transact seamlessly across chains.</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://visaonchainanalytics.com/supply">Visa </a>reports over 150 billion stablecoin volume (USDC and USDT combined) is traded, highlighting the growing need for trusted third-party verifications via zero knowledge or shared sequencers from optimistic rollups, further bending and stretching the fragmentation problem.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Gas Fees, Cross Bridge Flat Fees and How Tokens Flow on L2s</h3>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Maintaining gas and bridging fees across a hundred different blockchain networks involves several key strategies and tools designed to manage and optimize gas fees efficiently. Optimistic Rollups, for example, power L2s as a scaling solution. Currently the top 5 L2s are responsible for executing billions of dollars in transactions.&nbsp; The relationship between stablecoins and rollups involves locking up tokens to enhance efficiency and reduce transaction costs. &nbsp; Per the Cross Chain Transfer Protocol Standard from Circle, bridging tokens must be &ldquo;locked&rdquo;&nbsp; or&nbsp; burnLockedUSDC in a smart contract and burned when they move from one chain to another.&nbsp; For instance, transferring USDC from Ethereum to Arbitrum involves locking USDC on Ethereum and minting an equivalent amount on Arbitrum. However, market volatility can affect the final transfer value. The function getExchangeRate() is used to fetch the current exchange rate of a currency to ensure accurate minting and burning across different chains, especially with non-CCTP interactions, because not all applications require stablecoin. Sometimes, it&rsquo;s just about the memes and trendy NFTs.&nbsp;</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Bridging Tokens with CCTP on L2s</h3>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Typically, bridging tokens across chains can involve a significant delay, such as a seven-day withdrawal period. However, with CCTP as an L2 solution, this process could be streamlined by leveraging EIP-4844, which introduces a groundbreaking data structure known as "blobs," marking a significant advancement in blockspace. These blobs, which can handle up to 125 KB of opaque byte strings, are part of a new transaction type. This innovation addresses the high costs that rollups like Base or Optimism face when posting proof data in smart contract CALLDATA, which is entirely on-chain. By integrating this specific use case of CALLDATA into a more fundamental function of Ethereum, gas fees are anticipated to decrease. For CCTP on L2s, the key requirement is that the L2 should publish data on the Ethereum mainnet using Ethereum blobs for data availability.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">This approach eliminates the need for the typical withdrawal period, which is usually necessary when withdrawing an asset to a canonical bridge contract. As a result, CCTP significantly reduces the time and complexity involved in bridging tokens like USDC between chains.&nbsp; The <a href="https://0xkofi.substack.com/p/impact-of-eip-4844-on-rollup-economics">below graph shows </a>the gas fee savings of L2s dropping 97% after the Dencun Upgrade.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcgfRzHAZolvEXCbAuJNEjJBGBgveq9RgLBOrZA-TDKxExsOG3kSjyL1jmpv-VoKiqITSPBtLhIU8LU84-uHJBDnKqTvVLRaV3VNJMWHbytDoVgwDGYy8aINwvosd2yoYz4ue9lREynVFQGYpFpELjAAUT6?key=9qjZm1EKc5GSRe-TF0CRbQ" width="624" height="261"></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Fragmented Users: Unlocking Ethereum&rsquo;s Execution on L2 Through Solana</h2>
<p dir="ltr">By nature, Web3 is wrought with herd mentality, so it&rsquo;s not a surprise there&rsquo;s a distinct divide over whether to build on Solana or mirror an Ethereum stack. This division stems from the apparent developmental timelines and goals of each blockchain. Ethereum was launched seven years before Solana and was ideologically driven toward creating a censorship-resistant settlement layer. On the flip side, Solana focuses more on practicality and scalability to meet current crypto demands and trends.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">One protocol aiming to reimagine the benefits of Solana's and Ethereum is <a href="https://www.eclipse.xyz/">Eclipse</a>. For settlement, Eclipse taps Ethereum, which involves a canonical bridge contract similar to most L2s. However, for execution, instead of the EVM, Eclipse will use the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM). This approach promises all the benefits of the SVM, such as parallelization and isolated fee markets. Additionally, Eclipse as an L2 aims to incorporate <a href="https://www.risczero.com/">RISC-0 </a>for zero-knowledge (ZK) fraud proofs and Celestia for data availability, instead of Blobs.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">According to Solana maxis, the reason for this optimization is clear when builders examine most L2s today, where execution remains significantly constrained and riddled in fees.&nbsp; They typically have a transaction per second (TPS) rate of 10, 20, or 30. Even after Base updated their gas per block target, the TPS remains relatively low.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Trickle-Down Effect to Fragmented Applications</h2>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">In a world where end users want to purchase blue-chip NFTs with native USDC and gaming tokens, the fragmentation of Web3 applications poses further challenges for onboarding and maintaining a thriving ecosystem. It&rsquo;s no secret that Web3 communities are partisan over various L2 solutions, but the key takeaway is the need for an integrated developer stack. For developers, the pressing question becomes: where should they build? Applications should not be confined to a single chain; their assets should be bridgeable and purchasable to users across different chains to add value to the end user.</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Today, the trend seems to be that popular apps are now moving towards having their own dedicated chains, such as <a href="https://www.friend.tech/">Friend.tech</a> moving away from Base, and DeFi chains like <a href="https://www.aevo.xyz/">Aevo</a> and <a href="https://lyra.live/">Lyra</a> becoming more common. These shifts add a layer of complexity for new users, who now have to navigate bridging, onboarding, and switching RPC steps when new application experiences rise to the top charts.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Simplifying the User Experience&nbsp;</h3>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">To streamline this process, universal wallet profiles and smart wallets are becoming popular when developing onchain applications, in efforts to evolve the complex process down to three clicks or less. These workflows aim to provide a more seamless and user-friendly experience by consolidating multiple RPCs and simplifying cross-chain interactions with minimal fees absorbed by the end user. Some wallets, like MetaMask, have pre-set lists of L2s and can identify which chain to use based on the application. However, with the growing list of L2s and even more L3s, the responsibility and fees will inevitably fall on the user.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">If developers had the freedom to customize their applications fully, the concept of appchains would become more widespread, but in reality, there needs to be an integrated stack. Moreover, projects like Friends.Tech and DEGEN Chain exemplify this desire for customization and value accrual within their specific communities. This customization allows for tailored user experiences and potentially higher value for communities investing in these platforms.&nbsp; Subsequently, piggybacking L3s into the discussion.&nbsp; However, hot take: Users don't need to think about whether they're using a Solana app or an Ethereum app; they just want to use the app with the token and see their gains in their wallet of choice.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><br><br></strong></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Key Takeaways</h3>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Fragmentation in the blockchain ecosystem is driven primarily by asset fragmentation.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Unified assets across chains would significantly enhance the user experience, reducing the need for bridging tokens and managing fragmented balances.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">&nbsp;Wallets play a crucial role in mitigating fragmentation by supporting seamless RPC connections and bridges.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">&nbsp;Despite the complexities, the continued evolution of blockchain infrastructure and wallet technology aims to provide a more unified and user-friendly experience for Web3 users.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong id="docs-internal-guid-14fa2563-7fff-edcb-546c-4341b6b918e1"><br>Supported by Socket Protocol&nbsp;<br><br></strong></p>

In a world of thousands of roll-ups, does it matter? 

Blockchain Fragmentation: Explained

<p dir="ltr">As Ethereum moves towards a more scalable and decentralized consensus layer, the ability to access and tap into its vast network of nodes becomes pivotal. Since Ethereum&rsquo;s shift to Proof of Stake and crossing over 1 million validators securing the network, there exists a unique opportunity to tap into this vast network with provably secure and trustless properties. This is where Actively Validated Services (AVSs) come in. You can think of AVS as any compute service running alongside validator software that runs external but critical infrastructure like Oracles and Data Availability (DA), that are outside EVM execution. AVSs can leverage Ethereum&rsquo;s inherent security and decentralization to bootstrap additional compute services via liquid staking tools. AVSs introduce a new frontier in blockchain technology by providing secure and efficient pathways and staking pools built to scale Ethereum. In this article, you will learn why AVS could be a crucial step in Ethereum's long-term decentralization and how EigenLayer solves security challenges while allowing more people to validate and earn rewards.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The PoS Upgrade, BLS Signature, and AVS Security Functionality&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Ethereum has been actively improving its PoS model since its debut in September 2022, transitioning from Proof of Work (PoW) to PoS. The new PoS model required a minimum of 32 ETH for staking on the network. While this made validating on Ethereum less accessible, the transition was beneficial for socio-environmental concerns, drastically reducing energy consumption by 99.9% compared to the previous PoW model.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Staking 32ETH, it&rsquo;s time to verify the signature of a blockchain version of a John Hancock. Enter BLS (Barreto-Lynn-Shacham) signatures.&nbsp; It's particularly relevant in the context of PoS and AVS in blockchain technology. This unique style of signature makes PoS tick. Instead of each validator signing every block individually, BLS signatures let them team up and create a single, super-efficient signature.&nbsp; BLS signatures consist of two pairings, the public key <em>(sk) </em>and private key<em> (pk),</em> known as the key pairings, a message <em>( m),</em> and a signature denoted by a stylish elliptic curve &sigma;t . Below is a breakdown of BLS signature process.&nbsp;</p>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Public Key: This is the key used to verify the signature. It's generated by the validator and shared publicly.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Private Key: This is the secret key known only to the validator. It's used to create the signature and must be kept secure.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Message: The <code>CALLDATA </code>is being signed. In Ethereum, this would typically be a block of transactions or some other piece of network data that needs to be validated.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Signature: The output of the signing process. It's generated using the private key and the message.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Aggregate Signature: In the case of BLS signatures, multiple individual signatures can be aggregated into a single signature. This aggregate signature represents the combined signing power of all participating validators.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr">According to a paper by <a href="https://ethresear.ch/t/pragmatic-signature-aggregation-with-bls/2105?u=benjaminion">Justin Blake, &ldquo;</a>It is the pairing property of BLS signatures that allows us to aggregate signatures, thus making the whole consensus protocol practical.&rdquo; Not to mention, much faster when it comes to verification. &nbsp;Overall, BLS signatures were introduced to manage validators and nodes, making staking more accessible and verification faster and more efficient. Ethereum uses BLS signatures to identify validators who voted, hold them accountable for verifying, and slash rewards when network requests are not fulfilled.</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What is AVS?</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXde5p2AZrMJOIUMzdd9pmrb-HIERTPj67mDBBKHmg0vzmtRsAB-w6ZEtoZTnGSkoEVoGfZXIlW_v8oHYjgCylYIuGotuf-JZF0RcBNx-k1YnNmUlUScl7U3AOcyM07BG7bF53V-8lAVnd0WZCXufbX7PhQ?key=wQoGu-Zz3kRPIlUEfMvpkw" width="624" height="301"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Diagram Source: <a href="https://docs.eigenlayer.xyz/eigenlayer/avs-guides/avs-developer-guide">EigenLayer&nbsp;</a></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">An Actively Validated Service (AVS) integrates with Ethereum's consensus layer via the EigenLayer protocol, enabling blockchain applications to utilize Ethereum's security features. The EigenLayer core contract provides opportunities for Ethereum Node operators to offer services to various AVS Clients. Stakers can deposit in EigenLayers' <code>StrategyManager </code>for Liquid Staking Tokens (LST) and then choose <code>DelegationManage</code>r to delegate to a node operator on ETH. Each AVS client has its own set of reward mechanisms and slashing conditions for node operators, written in its own set of contracts called the <code>ServiceManager</code>. AVSs enable Stakers to use their LSTs across multiple protocols, providing flexibility and additional rewards while ensuring economic security.&nbsp; In addition, the withdrawal process for Stakers is also the responsibility of the&nbsp;<code> DelegationManager</code> or state through <code>uint256 public</code> <code>withdrawalDelayBlocks</code> and takes a week to complete.</p>
<p><strong><br><br></strong></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Ethereum&rsquo;s Ever-Growing Data Management: EigenLayer's Response to Ethereum's Scalability Challenge</h2>
<p dir="ltr">When ETH validators can only operate within ETH's staking protocol, fewer people can participate in validating nodes. The reason is that people value scalability and decentralization and if you want both, like the ability to run nodes easily, you have to make additional conditions. Now, while EigenLayer shares some similarities with traditional BLS signatures explained above, it's got its own unique flair.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">First up, picture some AVS metadata sprinkled in.&nbsp;</h3>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">AVS metadata includes information associated with participating in AVS liquidity within the EigenLayer protocol. This metadata provides context and details about the validators, the type of AVS service being provided, and any specific conditions or requirements related to the validation process, including the &ldquo;withdrawal process&rdquo; also known as the &ldquo;unbonding period.&rdquo;&nbsp; This adds extra info about the validator, the type of AVS service, and any interesting conditions they have to meet during validation. Think of it as adding some extra spice to the usual BLS signature process. Then, EigenLayer lays down the law with specific rules for validators to follow. These rules are like the secret sauce that keeps the validation process fair and secure. It also includes reward contract elements like<code> OperatorDetails </code>since multiple Stakers can exist.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Additionally, EigenLayer might jazz up the aggregation techniques or<a href="https://github.com/Layr-Labs/eigenlayer-contracts/blob/master/docs/core/StrategyManager.md"> high-level decentralized finance strategies</a>. Picture this: a slick algorithm that combines signatures from multiple validators methods called the <code>StrategyManager</code> and <code>EigenPodManager</code>. It's like watching a symphony of signatures coming together to make magic happen.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Last but not least, EigenLayer might even throw in some Ethereum contract wizardry. This means handling all the nitty-gritty details of interacting with smart contracts, storing data, and executing functions seamlessly. Now, when ETH validators can only operate within ETH's staking protocol, fewer people can participate in validating nodes. This is because people value scalability and decentralization, and you can't have both if running nodes requires storing constant, ever-growing amounts of data. Vitalik Buterin emphasized during<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGjFTzRTH3Q&amp;feature=youtu.be"> ETH CC5</a> that the protocol wouldn't be directly responsible for storing this ever-growing data, prioritizing scalability and decentralization. This is why EigenDA and AVS are built and deployed on EigenLayer, the key solution to Ethereum's data availability dilemma. By extension, this unlocks Re-Staking opportunities for ETH validators, securing the future of AVS solutions.&nbsp;<strong><br><br></strong></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">The Future of AVS and DAOs</h3>
<p dir="ltr">As crypto enters its sophisticated era, DAOs have become the game-changers in organizational structures, elevating decentralized decision-making like never before. But here's the kicker: when you pair them with AVS and EigenLayer, this is where the magic happens! These integrations let DAOs tap into Ethereum's consensus layer, boosting governance security and efficiency. It's like giving DAOs a shot at B12 for innovation and collaboration, shaping the future of decentralized governance in the Ethereum ecosystem.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">AVS Applications and Composability</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Since EigenLayer's debut, major ETH Stakers like Lido and Coinbase have supported ETH Restaking initiatives to accelerate the growth of AVSs. If you&rsquo;re interested in live activity and updates, websites like <a href="http://ethrestaking.com">EthRestaking.com </a>track all the dapps building solutions, including Ethos and Espresso.&nbsp;</p>
<h4 dir="ltr">Resources for Further Learning</h4>
<p dir="ltr">For more information on AVSs and Ethereum's evolving ecosystem, you can refer to resources like the following glossary:</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.eigenlayer.xyz/eigenlayer/overview/key-terms">https://docs.eigenlayer.xyz/eigenlayer/overview/key-terms</a>&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://eth2book.info/capella/part2/building_blocks/signatures/">https://eth2book.info/capella/part2/building_blocks/signatures/</a>&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://docs.eigenlayer.xyz/eigenda/overview">https://docs.eigenlayer.xyz/eigenda/overview</a>&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://hackmd.io/@benjaminion/bls12-381">https://hackmd.io/@benjaminion/bls12-381</a>&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"><a href="https://x.com/dabit3/status/1806712132475469855">https://x.com/dabit3/status/1806712132475469855</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p><strong id="docs-internal-guid-7e088265-7fff-6711-71b7-f2637a371f27"><br><br></strong></p>

EigenLayer is the promising new security infrastructure that compliments Ethereum's PoS, but what is AVS, and how will this new ecosystem effect the re-staking?

AVS and Ethereum Explained 

<p>We are thrilled to announce that Violet Verse has been awarded the trendy "Tipping Grant" from P00ls. For a limited time only, this grant recognizes our commitment to empowering the Web3 artist community and fostering a culture of appreciation and support for posting dope content.&nbsp;</p>
<h2><a href="https://hey.xyz/u/violetverse">Follow Us On Lens</a></h2>
<p>From the very beginning of VV, tipping has been an integral part of Violet Verse's infrastructure. We believe in the power of micro-rewards to encourage <strong>meaningful onchain interactions, a</strong>nd to show appreciation for leaving comments that inspire us to keep creating. Whether it's a thought-provoking article or an insightful comment, we want to ensure that every valuable contribution is recognized and rewarded onchain. The $00 token economy is growing and we are pumped to be able to add value.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>What Does This Mean for You?</strong></p>
<p>With the support of the P00ls Tipping Grant, we are excited to enhance our tipping features across the Violet Verse platform:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p><strong>Tipping on Articles</strong>: Readers and Writers can send tips to VV authors directly on their published articles through the tipping button. This feature allows you to show your appreciation for the content you love and support your favorite writers in a tangible way.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Tipping on Comments</strong>: We are extending the tipping feature to comments on our Lens posts. To earn $00 engage with one of our posts on Lens, tag us, or follow us for a chance to be tipping in $00.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Why Tipping Matters</strong></p>
<p>Micro Tipping is more than just a transaction; it's a gesture of the Web3 creator economy. By tipping, you are helping to build a thriving $00 ecosystem. Every tip, no matter how small, contributes to the growth and vibrancy of the creator economy.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>What is <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/00-token/">$00&nbsp;</a></strong></p>
<p>The $00 token is an ERC-20 token minted on the Ethereum blockchain that works as a governance and access token for the zerozero DAO and its ecosystem. P00LS is the leading community-first platform for creator cryptocurrencies.</p>
<p><strong>Join Us in Celebrating This Milestone</strong></p>
<p>We invite you to explore the new tipping features and show your support for the amazing creators on Violet Verse. Together, we can continue to build a platform where creativity, innovation, and meaningful connections flourish.</p>
<p>Thank you for being a part of our journey.&nbsp; Stay tuned for more updates and exciting features coming your way!</p>

Exciting News: Introducing the P00ls Tipping Grant on Violet Verse!

Violet Verse x P00ls 

<p>What happens when <strong>Iggy Azalea</strong> joins the conversation during the memecoin super cycle? The $MOTHER token starts pumping.</p>
<p>Onchain Summer is kicking off with memecoin mania, injecting new energy into the market. After a prolonged bear market, this is the excitement we need to loosen up. While some might find it cringe-worthy, the fact that a former rapper like Iggy Azalea is making a bold statement in the crypto world is significant. Based on her tweets, she&rsquo;s here to stay.</p>
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GPqMGsdWcAEqjg-?format=jpg&amp;name=small" alt="Image"></p>
<p>Azalea has assembled a strong team, and the $MOTHER token is officially listed on a <a href="https://dexscreener.com/solana/hcpgh6b2yhnvt6jsemkrhyt8pvhu9xiaoxm4mmn2ibww">decentralized exchange (DEX)</a>. The community on Telegram is growing rapidly, and she's launching a mobile phone specifically designed for spending $MOTHER tokens. <strong><a href="https://x.com/UNREALMobile">Unreal Mobile</a></strong> is set to land on the Solana blockchain and wants to save tokenholders money on their phones. For as much as we use our phones, I'm looking forward to this awesome new use case for blockchain and deploying decentralized infrastructure on everyday items.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Crypto Twitter is divided on this development. However, I fully support any woman who is innovating in the crypto space. Iggy Azalea's entry into the world of cryptocurrency is a refreshing and bold move, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>More Solana x VioletVerse:</p>
<ul>
<li>Web3 Paris Documentary&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N-ZMbCeswoM?si=JG8sqZIYgH2APqNj" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

Revenge career in crypto? The former recording artist turned memecoin mama has launched $MOTHER on Solana. 

Iggy Azalea Launches $MOTHER on Solana

<p>Meta is bullish on AI and Ray Ban is about to get even more of a facelift with its virtual assistant technology. According to its recently filed patent, the "<a href="https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(20240144431).pn.&amp;db=US-PGPUB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">duo camera artificial reality devic</a>e" is set to upgrade RayBan, as wearers can ask the smart glasses questions like translating text to their native speaking language, as well as hand-free video calling.&nbsp;</p>
<figure><img src="https://about.fb.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04_Ask_Carousel-2.jpg?fit=1920%2C1672" alt="Image showing a woman wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses using Meta AI feature" width="500"><canvas style="display: none; top: 2px !important; left: 204px !important;" width="47" height="20"></canvas>
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-335878" data-gramm="false">Credit: Meta</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure><img src="https://about.fb.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04_Ask_Carousel-1.jpg?fit=1920%2C1672" alt="Image showing a woman wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses using Meta AI feature" width="500"><canvas style="display: none; top: 2px !important; left: 202px !important;" width="46" height="20"></canvas>
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-413405" data-gramm="false">Credit: Meta&nbsp;</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>&nbsp; Learn <a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/04/new-ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-styles-and-meta-ai-updates/">more.</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Meta just patented a new use case for AI 

Meta's AI 

<p>In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency and social media, innovative platforms emerge to bridge the gap between creators and their audiences, offering new avenues for expression and earning opportunities. One such platform is Drakula, a video-centric social network that has captured the imagination of users in the crypto community and beyond.</p>
<p>The story behind <a href="https://drakula.app/profile"><strong>Drakula </strong></a>is as fascinating as the platform itself. It all began with Alex, a crypto enthusiast hailing from France, who embarked on a journey into the world of Ethereum back in 2019. Despite lacking a substantial network in the tech industry, Alex's passion for social media and crypto led him to explore consumer-facing use cases within the Ethereum community.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Web3 communities exploded during the pandemic.</h2>
<p>During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alex made waves with the creation of the Alex token, a cryptocurrency he launched to crowdfund his move to San Francisco. This bold move not only garnered attention but also provided the impetus for Alex to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams. Armed with determination and a knack for combining social media with crypto, Alex ventured into the realm of digital art platforms before eventually finding his calling with Drakula.</p>
<h2>Now, Drakula is giving away $1M to the next gen of Web3 creators.</h2>
<p>Drakula began as a digital art platform akin to Instagram, but quickly evolved into a video-centric social network. Its journey was marked by highs and lows, including successful fundraising rounds and navigating the challenges of a bear market in the crypto space. However, with resilience and adaptability, Alex and his team pivoted towards Drakula, capitalizing on its potential as a video app powered by Farcaster on Base.&nbsp;</p>
<figure><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GK1HkodbIAcayDj?format=jpg&amp;name=medium" alt="Image" width="500">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-152851" data-gramm="false"><a href="https://paragraph.xyz/@drakula.app/drakula-degen-onchain-creator-fund">Learn more</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Central to Drakula's vision is the empowerment of creators. Unlike traditional social media platforms, Drakula offers creators the opportunity to monetize their content through innovative mechanisms such as creator tokens and the <a href="https://paragraph.xyz/@drakula.app/drakula-degen-onchain-creator-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OnChain Creator Fund.</a> This democratization of earning opportunities is a game-changer, enabling creators to thrive financially while engaging with their audience.</p>
<p>The Drakula community is vibrant and diverse, comprising tech enthusiasts, musicians, artists, and content creators from various backgrounds. With a focus on fostering niche communities and niche content, Drakula provides a platform where creators can connect with like-minded individuals and explore their passions freely.</p>
<h2>And this is just the beginning of brand deals and creator monetization.&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Looking ahead, Alex envisions Drakula becoming the go-to destination for video-centric social networking, with a user base reaching the billions. He emphasizes the importance of mobile accessibility and identity verification in combating spam and making social media more inclusive and affordable for all.</p>
<p>As Drakula continues to evolve and innovate, it stands as a testament to the transformative power of crypto-driven social platforms. By empowering creators and fostering community engagement, Drakula paves the way for a new era of decentralized social networking, where creativity thrives and everyone has the opportunity to shine.</p>
<h2>Check out more of VioletVerse's Web3 social coverage:</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="/lenster-try-this-crypto-friendly-social-media-lenster-7DdYZglQYV">Lens Creator Lab: An Overview of Notes and Action Items</a></li>
<li><a href="/will-frames-on-farcaster-change-social-media-9Zz-3w2GUP">Will Frames on Farcaster Change The Vibe Of Social Media?</a>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</li>
</ul>

The newest Web3 video app platform paying creators $$$ to post!

Q&A with $Alex Masmej: Drakula's $1M Creator Fund 

<p>Imagine playing a game with the entire internet as your playground, vying for victory. This is precisely the scenario the team at <a href="https://www.cryptothegame.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crypto The Game</a> has orchestrated, rallying 800 players to compete for a total prize pool of 80ETH (equivalent to over $250K USD). Following a triumphant inaugural season, Crypto the Game (CTG) returns for another riveting 10-day stint, promising surprises, strategies, and camaraderie among tech-savvy crypto enthusiasts. The web3 creator says that he&nbsp; "started his career in TV. " I've just been a huge fan of live TV, reality competitions, and game shows, my entire life. I grew up an obsessive Survivor fan, you know, always wanted to be on the show. And I think it's just like one of those things where I always wanted to play a version of it online with my friends," says Abruscato.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>At the pinnacle of the action, Melissa chats with <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanAbruscato" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dylan Abruscato,</a> one of the masterminds behind Crypto the Game.</h2>
<p>CTG stands as a massive internet survivor game, where participants mint NFTs for entry, engage in challenges for immunity, strategically vote to eliminate rivals, as well as encounter a myriad of unexpected twists. Though players are randomly assigned to teams, only one lucky king or queen will win it all, and the funds are transferred to one crypto address.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;In season 2, 800 individuals have minted tokens, poised to battle it out for the ultimate crypto prize over 10 intense days. At the time of this interview, we were just finishing day 5, and tension was high due to all types of problems in the "cabals," the decentralized groups formed in efforts to stay in the game and scheme immunity.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Crypto the Game has been years in the making.&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Dylan has been dreaming about creating his own reality game since playing Survivor Ultimate on CD-ROM. Today, the ex-Uber and Postmates startup builder has managed to build a game with a robust business model.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Our conversation delves into various topics, ranging from strategic gameplay to the genesis of this groundbreaking endeavor, sparking one of the most significant conversations in the crypto sphere to date. And on a lighter note, when asked about his favorite reality TV personality, Dylan confesses admiration for Kris Jenner. &nbsp; "I kind of assumed that in a show in a game like Squid Game or Survivor or Hunger Games, it would be very ruthless, like everyone would just like be backstabbing each other and like it'd be very cutthroat. But it's turning out to be like a very wholesome game," Abruscato reflects.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The game attracted 800 players and even more of onlookers, as the social components earned millions of views, impressions and earned media.</h2>
<p>In a landscape where traditional entertainment mediums are growing stale, the girlies and bros crave drama and challenge. CTG fulfills these desires. The game encourages active problem-solving and social skills, with puzzles hidden across the internet and challenges that require varied abilities, like data science to community building to keep the vibes peaceful. &nbsp;Roughly 10-15% of the players are new to crypto, with the rest being more seasoned online folks, demonstrating the game's appeal across different interest groups.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Would you dare to play this game with your colleagues, knowing that your fate rests in their hands, subject to the whims of a democratic vote?</p>
<p>Follow <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1F6f4Mj4S1eiXniXOXChMt">Boys Club companion podcast </a>for a daily play-by-play on what's going on in the community.</p>

Chat, please welcome Dylan Abruscato

Q&A with Crypto the Game: A Fusion of Reality TV, Crypto, and NFTs

<p>Google had a massive shift to its algorithm in the last month and in less than 50 days everything will change in the world of SEO. Many websites that were affected had poor user experiences. For years, a lot of people have been trying to game the system and rank their site with a lot of low, unoriginal poor content. As generative search becomes king in content strategy, category websites like travel and recipe-based websites littered with ads could become obsolete.&nbsp; This is why the SEO industry is changing and has propelled Google to debut the Search Generative Engine.</p>
<p>First of all, Google is finally cracking down on spammy content and its solution is Search Generative Optimization.&nbsp; If you're sick of Google searches rendering a bunch of spam and AI-written content, then this could benefit niche brands who invest time in design and quality. With the recent upgrades in Search, Marketing professionals will need to level up their expertise and offerings. On <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reddit, a</a> lot of people who specialize in SEO are even questioning their job stability and contemplating changing careers.&nbsp;</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.insightpartners.com/ideas/generative-ai-seo-zero-click-searches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insight Partners</a>:</p>
<blockquote>GenAI will have a transformative effect on users&rsquo; search experience, and there will be myriad second-order impacts of that change in the scaleup ecosystem. Web traffic to companies could fall significantly, and GTM motions will be shaken up. New Google Labs experiments indicate the direction Google is moving, and we think it&rsquo;s a bellwether for how search overall is evolving towards more zero-click searches.</blockquote>
<h3><strong>What will brand positioning be like with generative search optimization?</strong></h3>
<p>The generative experience will be led by human prompts, or questions users will be able to ask to get the results they are looking for in a more cohesive package. That means brands that are used to organic website positioning will be pushed further down the page if the provided prompt has nothing to do with your brand.&nbsp; There will be more paid sponsorship opportunities for brands who wish to have product placements front in center. Basically, the user design mechanics will be challenged.&nbsp;</p>
<figure><img src="https://www.insightpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/search-generative-experience-in-google.png" width="600">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-381847" data-gramm="false">Screenshot by Insight Partners</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>In terms of products, links and other product placements will be prioritized.</h3>
<p>The new generative AI search experience will look like the below diagram, according to <a href="https://www.insightpartners.com/ideas/generative-ai-seo-zero-click-searches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insight Partners</a>, which explains how Google search is set up on the right, and how it will look when GEO is active on the left.&nbsp;</p>
<figure><img src="https://www.insightpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/google-SERP-with-search-generative-experience.png" alt="Google SERP with search generative experience" width="600">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-911838" data-gramm="false">Screenshot by Insight Partners</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>In the new Generative Search experience, you&rsquo;ll notice a "corroborative" approach to how its AI generative results are rendered from user to user.&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Blogging will get harder. If Marketers rely on organic search traffic, your brand is about to have a huge awakening in what it means to be on the front page of Google.</p>
<p>To roll with the tide, brand mentions and links from authoritative publications will be prioritized with its AI generative results and earned and paid media or press will become incredibly valuable. If your brand lacks press mentions, this will make it harder to be rendered in a generative AI search response.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Here are some tips on how to navigate content strategy with Search Generative Engine:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Brands and publishers are going to rely more heavily on social platforms for organic traffic so choose your content and captions wisely. If you've never explored microblogging on TikTok or Instagram, it may be a great to start if you know you can't compete with competitors who will have bigger budgets to pay for Google's new Generative Search Placements.</li>
<li>&nbsp;Prioritizing good press in outlets will be Paramount to even having the chance to be rendered in a Generative search response. If someone writes a prompt about, "Top restaurants to eat at on vacation in Cabo,"&nbsp; to be mentioned in the response, your brand will have to be mentioned in an authoritative source across the web.</li>
<li>Find articles or listicles across the web and figure out how to align and leverage their coverage with your brand. It&rsquo;s inevitable that your website traffic will decrease, especially if you rely on organic search traffic. Strategizing ways to still play the generative search game will at least keep you relevant.&nbsp;</li>
<li>To future-proof your business, priority creative assets will be long-form videos since this will be the last thing people or generative AI can copy. By releasing 3-10 minute video clips in horizontal format, this will be a sure way to stand out regarding searchable content.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<p>One caveat to note and consider is that there's no framework as yet, so the above is trial and error. Plus, the strategic approach could vary with other search engines. There are even lengthy <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2311.09735.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research papers like this</a> to mitigate future problems. But as of late, we're all navigating this dark forest of algorithms together!</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2311.09735.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GEO: Generative Engine Optimization</a> by The Allen Institute of AI in New Delhi:</p>
<blockquote>The usefulness of generative engines for both their developers and users is evident &ndash; users can access information faster and more accurately, while developers can craft precise and personalized responses, both to improve user satisfaction and revenue. However, generative engines put the third stakeholder &ndash; website and content creators &ndash; at a disadvantage. Generative Engines, in contrast to traditional search engines, remove the need to navigate to websites by directly providing a precise and comprehensive response, which can lead to a drop in organic traffic to websites and severely impact their visibility. With several millions of small businesses and individuals relying on online traffic and visibility for their livelihood, generative engines will significantly disrupt the creator economy. Further, the black-box and proprietary nature of generative engines makes it prohibitively difficult for content creators to control and understand how their content is ingested and portrayed by generative engines.&nbsp;</blockquote>
<p>In conclusion, this is just the beginning of generative AI search engines and this new chapter in digital content strategy. Brands must adapt their approach to ensure visibility in this quickly changing landscape. By leveraging social platforms, cultivating mentions in authoritative sources, and aligning with existing web content through long form videos, brands can navigate the evolving terrain of organic traffic optimization.</p>
<p><em>Header Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/@ademay?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Adem AY</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/white-and-pink-digital-device-Tk9m_HP4rgQ?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></em></p>
<h3>Read more AI content on Violet Verse&nbsp;</h3>
<p><a href="/trend-report-blockchain-empower-ais-journey-czI9YwU8YP">Trend Report: How Blockchain Empowers AI&nbsp;</a></p>
<div>
<p><a href="/openai-shakes-up-ai-industry-with-launch-of-gpt-4-turbo-at-a-fraction-of-the-price-h9xuH_r_re" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OpenAI Shakes Up AI Industry with Launch of GPT-4 Turbo at a Fraction of the Price</a></p>
<div>
<p><a href="/dreaming-with-ai-composing-clement-prompts-for-neural-networks-ZfDVqocUlU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dreaming with AI: Composing Clement Prompts for Neural Networks</a></p>
</div>
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</div>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

If you're worried about organic traffic and driving engagement to your website, you're going to want to pay attention to 
Generative Search Optimization or Generative Engine Optimization... also known as #GEO. 

Google's New AI Search Engine Will Change Organic Website Traffic Forever

<p>If you&rsquo;re in the blockchain marketing space in any way, shape, or form, you&rsquo;ve probably bombarded with crypto companies inquiring about the power of using stories as a strategy to get their products out to the larger Web3 community. (And if you&rsquo;ve been following me, you&rsquo;ve <em>definitely&nbsp;</em>heard me talk about the power of storytelling.)</p>
<p>But what does it actually&nbsp;<em>mean</em>&nbsp;to use storytelling when it comes to business facts and not some fictional, fantasy novel?</p>
<p>Buckle up buttercup because this post is dedicated to all things story: what it is, why we (humans) gravitate toward it, and how to use it in your own marketing efforts.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What is storytelling?</h2>
<p>On the most basic level, storytelling is the act of using words to help a listener or reader imagine an experience or another world. (<a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/storytelling" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thanks, Hubspot.</a>) It usually involves a beginning, a middle, and an end and it definitely includes characters.</p>
<p>Almost every story in existence follows the hero&rsquo;s journey. The hero&rsquo;s journey contains a main character (the hero) who encounters a problem that forces them out into the unknown where they meet a guide who helps them face the problem so they can return home victorious.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Okay, great, but&hellip;</p>
<h2>Why do we even care about stories?</h2>
<p>Storytelling is hardwired into our DNA (and that&rsquo;s not me being dramatic,<em>&nbsp;it&rsquo;s science</em>). If you want to get really nerdy about it the impact storytelling has on the brain,&nbsp;<a href="https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/cco-digital/april-2019/storytelling-neuroscience-joe-lazauskas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">you can do so here</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/11/815573198/how-stories-connect-and-persuade-us-unleashing-the-brain-power-of-narrative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>&nbsp;or just Google &ldquo;storytelling and neuroscience.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Basically, we know that stories work because we&rsquo;ve studied storytelling and the brain enough to prove that the brain gets excited when it&rsquo;s listening to a good story.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Just think back to something CRAZY a friend has told you about&hellip;</p>
<p>What just popped into your mind?&nbsp;<em>Was it a fact or a story?</em></p>
<p>I&rsquo;m willing to bet it was a story&hellip;because stories are&nbsp;<em>deeply&nbsp;</em>human. Not only do they evoke feelings within us which we have a lot easier of a time remembering than facts, but they&rsquo;re also a deeply human habit. The act of passing on stories about events and each other is a core part of our survival and our history.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Stories are also stupid powerful&nbsp;</h2>
<p>They are a rallying cry unlike anything else. Think about Martin Luther King Jr&rsquo;s &ldquo;I have a dream&rdquo; speech &ndash; the whole speech is a story that had readers imagining a better world, a different world.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Think about&nbsp;<em>The Bible</em>. It doesn&rsquo;t just say: God created the earth &ndash; it recounts what happened on each of the seven days of creation.&nbsp;</p>
<p>And at the core of wildly successful brands and marketing campaigns? You guessed it,&nbsp;<em>storytelling</em>.</p>
<p>Even in stuff like promotional emails or weekly newsletters (<a href="https://copywithspice.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">like the one I send out</a> which almost ALWAYS starts with a compelling story!) including stories is the BEST damn way to build genuine connections and keep people interested.</p>
<p>Which brings me to the next point&hellip;</p>
<h2>What good stories and marketing have in common&nbsp;</h2>
<p>1 &ndash; AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM TO SOLVE&nbsp;</p>
<p>Every good story starts with a problem and that problem demands that the main character makes a decision: go passively about life and let this problem ruin everything or take action and dive into the unknown with the potential to be victorious.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The same goes for marketing. Your ideal crypto client is the<a href="https://storybrand.com/downloads/private-workshop/digital-workbook/StoryBrand-Participant-Workbook-2020-(SB-Workshop-Facilitator-Digital).pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;hero at the beginning of their journey</a> and when they come across your service or your business, they&rsquo;re experiencing a problem, a problem that you are offering a solution to. But taking a step toward fixing their problem requires a step into the unknown.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The takeaway:&nbsp;<strong>how can you create stakes around what you offer so your reader can feel the tension between staying where they are and being fine/less than fine or taking the next step and being fulfilled?</strong></p>
<p>2 &ndash; A RELATABLE MAIN CHARACTER</p>
<p>The main character is what makes or breaks a good story because if you don&rsquo;t like the main character, you&rsquo;re not gonna keep reading the book or watching whatever series.</p>
<p>Good main characters are scared but choose to be brave anyway, they have things they would absolutely never do (<em>strong values</em>), they make mistakes and are too hard on themselves for it, they have moments of extreme self-doubt, and they crave more. They&rsquo;re the ones seeking to make a change; a change within their world or a change that impacts all of society.</p>
<p>They also have a rich backstory that deepens readers&rsquo; connections to the main character because it helps them understand why they are the way they are. (Have you ever watched a movie where there was so little backstory you just couldn&rsquo;t care about what was happening at all?&nbsp;<em>It sucks.</em>)</p>
<p>While you&rsquo;re not actually the &ldquo;hero&rdquo; of your story according to marketing genius,&nbsp;<a href="https://buildingastorybrand.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Miller</a>, you can think of yourself as the main character when it comes to including these main character elements in your marketing.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The takeaway:&nbsp;<strong>Have a backstory that contextualizes how you ended up where you are, make your values apparent, and&nbsp;<em>reveal</em>&nbsp;your vulnerabilities so that your audience can relate with you (and on a deeper level, care about the success of your brand).&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>3 &ndash; A KICKASS GUIDE</p>
<p>Along with a relatable main character, almost all good stories have a wise and wonderful guide who has faced the problem that the hero of the story is trying to overcome.&nbsp;</p>
<p>And this is where the StoryBrand framework created by Donald Miller will blow your mind: you&rsquo;re not the hero,&nbsp;<em>you&rsquo;re the guide.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p>(I promise it&rsquo;s still cool.)</p>
<p>The guide is the character that has been there and done that, having overcome similar challenges the hero is facing, and is a key character because the guide is able to relay their experiences in a way that helps the hero.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(Imagine how bad it would be if Dumbledore was like: &ldquo;Yeah, I&rsquo;ve got no ideas how to beat Voldemort. Good luck though.&rdquo;&nbsp;<em>Not a very reassuring role model</em>.)&nbsp;</p>
<p>The guide is the all-knowing character that everyone respects and turns to for sage advice and is responsible for leading the hero through their journey, but ultimately letting them spread their wings and fly all on their own at the end. In your marketing storyline &ndash; your ideal client is the hero, turning to you for your expertise so you can lead them through their challenges and to triumph.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The takeaway:&nbsp;<strong>you want to relate to your ideal client by telling them you know how they&rsquo;re feeling because you&rsquo;ve been there BUT that you&rsquo;ve overcome it and you know what life is like on the other side,&nbsp;</strong><strong><em>that&rsquo;s</em></strong><strong>&nbsp;why you&rsquo;re qualified to help them.</strong></p>
<p>4 &ndash; A DREAMY END GOAL</p>
<p>A good story makes a big deal out of the end goal. Whether that&rsquo;s overcoming literal evil or getting your parents back together (shoutout to&nbsp;<em>The Parent Trap</em>), the end goal feels plausible but like a big f-ing deal. It&rsquo;s not so easy that it&rsquo;s boring, but it&rsquo;s not so hard that it&rsquo;s completely impossible &ndash;&nbsp;<em>story consumers need something to root for.</em>&nbsp;After all, the end goal is what makes the opening problem compelling.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>If there&rsquo;s no end goal, then there&rsquo;s only hopelessness. If there&rsquo;s only the end goal, but no problem, it&rsquo;s boring. The end goal paired with the problem is what creates</strong><strong><em>&nbsp;the tension</em></strong><strong>&nbsp;that drives the whole story.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Give people a good goal to root for and you&rsquo;ll form a community.</p>
<p>Just like at Nike. Yeah, they&rsquo;re selling shoes. But they&rsquo;re<em>&nbsp;</em>also selling the idea that anyone can accomplish the unbelievable if<em>&nbsp;they just do it.&nbsp;</em>And they do so by showing you the stories of ordinary people who have become extraordinary athletes, implying that their audience could be that too.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The takeaway:<strong>&nbsp;show your ideal client what&rsquo;s on the other side if they take this leap; paint a picture of what their life could look like if they were to succeed.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>5 &ndash; A TRANSFORMATION</p>
<p>Humans are hungry for transformation and good stories know that. The mistreated and abused step-daughter who goes on to marry a prince (<em>Cinderella</em>) or the woman who starts out frumpy and insecure but transforms into a sexy, confident woman after a haircut and wardrobe makeover (any makeover show).&nbsp;</p>
<p>The list goes on and on: the diamond that goes from nothing special to a treasured gem or even the cleaning videos you can find on TikTok of people washing dirt off rugs and organizing their houses.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It stems from the human desire to go from what we are to what we&rsquo;re&nbsp;<em>capable of,&nbsp;</em>unlocking our want to be more than we currently are. It&rsquo;s a powerful element of storytelling and it&rsquo;s also one of the easiest to incorporate into your marketing because whatever you sell is taking someone from where they are now to where they want to be.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The takeaway:&nbsp;<strong>show your ideal clients where they are now in comparison to where they could be. Tap into where they dream of going by telling them what&rsquo;s possible if they take a step in that direction.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>6 &ndash; EMOTIONS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT</p>
<p>And what ties all of those pieces together? Emotion &ndash; the backbone, lifeblood, and undercurrent of all good storytelling. Because when people feel something,<em>&nbsp;they remember it.</em></p>
<p>Pixar has perfected this one: they&rsquo;ve got drawing on our emotions down to a science. They&rsquo;ve made us empathize and care for just about everything out there: fish, toys, feelings that have feelings, monsters, robots, bugs, cars, and even rats to name a few of their most beloved movies.&nbsp;</p>
<p>And you know why? Because emotion is front and center. Think about&nbsp;<em>Ratatouille</em>, a movie about a rat, a wildly unpopular animal, who wants to be a chef which is a ridiculous, yet entertaining concept on its own,&nbsp;<em>but he&rsquo;s not just a rat.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p>He&rsquo;s a rat who feels like an outsider, who want something more than what he&rsquo;s told he can be.&nbsp;</p>
<p>He dares to dream and after (forcedly) breaking away from the group and life he knows, steps into an unknown world where against all odds he finds someone who gets him, recognizes his talent, and helps him pursue his dream. Throughout the movie he confronts his identity, he betrays someone he cares about, and lastly, he owns who he is and becomes someone he is proud of: a chef who not only serves real people in a real restaurant but changes rat culture forever by taking typical cuisine from trash to tasty, real food.&nbsp;</p>
<p>All of those points are incredibly emotionally compelling and relatable as hell. We can&rsquo;t help but cheer Remy on as he embarks on an impossible journey and we can&rsquo;t help but grin as his dream comes true.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There&rsquo;s a reason that movie has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed 623 MILLION dollars at the box office.</p>
<p>The takeaway:&nbsp;<strong>Get emotional. You don&rsquo;t need to reinvent the wheel, but you want to touch on the core emotional human experiences in a way that&rsquo;s authentic and true to your story.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<h2>The bottom line</h2>
<p>Storytelling works and you can use storytelling in your marketing in all kinds of ways. Whether it&rsquo;s the story of how your business got started, the story of your ideal client and what they&rsquo;re looking for, the story you tell of how your offer transformed your customers&rsquo; life, or just a silly story you send to your email list,<em>&nbsp;you can use stories everywhere.&nbsp;</em></p>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

What you need to know about Web3 storytelling when it comes to business, creativity and copywriting

Why Storytelling Works in Web3 Marketing

<p>Like someone who is good at leading teams and communicating, I pinged my former collaborator of my software during a meeting. During pre-ship stages, it's all hands on deck.&nbsp; It was the summer I had just secured non-dilutive funding to build app and looked to my network to help me execute.</p>
<p>"I have dinner plans. Can we cut the meeting short?" they responded.</p>
<p>We were in Valencia, Spain, for a week before heading to Eth Paris. The team I had assembled was located in Pacific and East Coast time zones, so rescheduling wasn&rsquo;t an option. The dapp was scheduled to deploy in less than six weeks, and we simply didn&rsquo;t have time to reschedule.</p>
<p>This was one of the many times I contemplated whom I had chosen to partner with in building a blockchain application. As a first-time founder of software, I had no idea what I was doing or how to lead both an engineering and creative team. It was something I was learning on the job.</p>
<figure><img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/47/04/d1/4704d1451d25f48c4ba8694adc3bb4e6.jpg" width="500">
<figcaption>Attempting to code&nbsp;</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As we approach the bull market of 2024, money will flow. Currently, there are over $100 million in grants from blockchain ecosystems, calling for both new and seasoned builders to submit proposals for consumer-friendly applications and tools to propel their ecosystems into mass adoption. There will be new products with non-dilute startup investment capital of upwards of $100K. New teams will form, and one thing is for sure: partnering with the right people will make or break your decentralized application.</p>
<p>When I received my own round of non-dilutive capital, it was career-changing. Suddenly, I had a token grant worth almost $100K, responsibility for milestones, and a lot of riding on me as a Black female founder. Naturally, I looked to my network and close friends in the industry for help in building what I had pitched to an ecosystem that was expecting value in return for their investment.</p>
<p>The biggest lesson I learned from building Violet Verse is that partnerships are crucial, and finding the right <strong>people </strong>in the early stages of building your blockchain tools <strong>is paramount.</strong> At the time of building VV from scratch, I was eager and overly generous, and consequently, I didn&rsquo;t set clear boundaries with my chosen team. As time passed in the project, my personal and business values were tested.</p>
<p>"I thought you were going to give me equity," my ex-colleague said to me after a summer of under performance from my perspective.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Perhaps the best thing decision I made was to not jump to give out equity before the project was complete. To be clear, everyone got paid in full and were encouraged to share ideas. I didn't really get any good value except ideas on how to cut corners. As a founder, you want to maximize your budget, your resources, and your time. I think people got me fucked up because they under-estimated the power of the product.</p>
<p>I'd been working on VV from the <a href="https://www.hypeinnovation.com/blog/inside-out-versus-outside-in-which-is-better-for-your-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"outside in" </a>- after work hours, on my off days, and after 5pm. What I wasn't prepared for was how early I was in building custom blockchain software for the media industry and the years of adoption it is taking to at least get people on the same page. This post is for new founders who are excited about the opportunities that come with grant funding, but is also a cautionary tale about finding the right balance between work and play. As innovators, we are fortunate to be part of an industry that rewards innovation and participation, but we must also be mindful of the business ethics that are the pillars of successful partnerships.</p>
<h3>Here are four values I wish I had considered before founding Violet Verse:</h3>
<p>1. Consistency: Violet Verse would not be where it is without my dedication. However, there were a few people who had been part of the project since 2022&mdash;developers who helped write the code and contributors who submitted articles and edited high-quality videos. While many people are motivated by money, I believe that the early stages of a blockchain software project are about navigating the dark forest. As a bootstrapped startup, it was hard for me to keep up with paying people who were only here for a good time, not a long time. It was challenging to pay people on an hourly basis when troubleshooting new technology. As a developer, it can get lonely, and people will come and go, but the consistent vision holder will push the product forward.</p>
<p>2. Accountability: There were team members who lacked accountability and were not willing to compromise. To own up to your mistakes and shortcomings is what makes someone a better team member and also moves the company culture forward. Go to business cons</p>
<p>3. Trustworthiness: This one goes without saying that if you have to look at your co-workers sideways, there is absolutely no trust in the team or the product. Building a product with trust means that you rely on each other to solve hard problems and get things done. I remember laying out the vision of Violet Verse for my team, and the technical part was a very gray area. The person I hired was only familiar with solidity, and cadence as a smart contract language was still very foreign. I had to trust that the development team I assembled had all they needed to learn the right commands and actions to get the task done. My priority was connecting my team to the appropriate channels to mitigate any problems along the way. Your team will lose trust in you when you're not consistent, you're rude when giving directives, your tone sucks and it's not positive. They will also lose trust when they aren't fairly compensated.&nbsp;</p>
<p>4. Communication: Which leads me to my next point in managing communications, tone of voice and nurturing relationships as a new founder. This is supposed to be the easiest to achieve but in a media business, but it's far from the truth. The end goal is that everyone will communicate on the same wave length. They will use Discord for check-ins, they'll express their annoyances before they turn into bigger issues, and the company vibe will allow for an open floor to express their concerns. But in the age of TikTok, this is rarely the case. As a leader, you have to establish the bar. You have to be vulnerable enough to communicate when you're wrong, or pump the brakes when the team is not aligned. I wish I would have established a roadmap that was based on what was actually in the company's bank account, instead of paying people at the top of the budget without no plan to how the business was going to make money. I wish I could have asked the team that I recruited what their ultimate goals were, instead of using them for one-off projects.</p>
<p>I digress... Everything is a healing journey; business is not supposed to be perfect. You'll learn from your mistakes, whether it's a hard launch or soft landing. In retrospect, I would have probably not hired my friends. And moving forward, I probably will stick to reviewing resumes and proposals before asking people their rates. Moving forward, I've definitely spent a huge portion of my product development process going over the business strategy.</p>
<p>We're still building and growing. We're still refining the software and adding the latest code to the ecosystem. What counts is the steps taken daily to make it better. Even if the team members you started are now ghosts in your Notion pages, at least you tried. Just keep growing and moving the technology forward. Something good will happen... at least that's what I tell myself.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What are your partnership boundaries?&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

"Hey, are you joining Zoom for our weekly team meeting?"

Navigating the Blockchain Jungle: Lessons Learned as a First-Time Founder

<p>Looking to spark a conversation with a fellow traveler during your airport layover or flight? Look no further than pulling out a book on Bitcoin or crypto With its prominence in the news and its relevance to anyone considering financial matters and investments, it's a surefire conversation starter.</p>
<p>As we gear up for the 2024 bull market, there's been a surge of Web3 business books hitting the shelves. Here's what we recommend diving into to enhance your expertise and perhaps ignite your passion for crypto.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Read-Write-Own-Building-Internet/dp/0593731387"><strong>"Read Write Own" by Chris Dixon</strong></a>- For starters, this book launched a "Barbie-inspired" book tour, courtesy of the prominent a16z investor who hosted parties spanning from New York to Silicon Valley. Arguably, it stands as the quintessential read for delving into the world of Web3 and the future of content.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Web3-Marketing-Handbook-Internet-Revolution/dp/1394171951"><strong>"Web3 Marketing: A Handbook for the Next Internet Revolution" by Amanda Cassatt"</strong> </a>- Modern marketing demands staying ahead of trends and taking risks when launching campaigns. In the crypto realm, outdated tactics are unlikely to make a significant impact. This handbook, penned by the first Marketer of ConsenSys, a subsidiary brand of Ethereum, serves as an invaluable guide.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Token-NFTs-Transform-Create/dp/0593545109" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"The Everything Token" by Steve and Scott"</a> </strong>- If you've already embarked on your crypto journey or have little interest in marketing, this book is sure to captivate you. The authors, not only Twitter Spaces ambassadors but also well-versed in crypto coins, provide insights that will enhance your trading strategy and prompt reconsideration before investing in another "shitcoin."</p>
<p>What books are you stowing in your carry-on for your next flight or beach getaway? Business books have become the new self-help guides, offering insights and strategies to navigate the ever-evolving world of finance and technology. Let us know which one we should provide the TL:DR.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Web3 books to read that will define the narrative for the next billion users.

3 New Crypto Books To Read This Spring

<p>Maggi Simpkin, a seasoned connoisseur of stunning jewelry displays, boasts a resum&eacute; that includes the listing of a million-dollar ring at Sotheby&rsquo;s, as detailed in a report by <a href="https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/maggi-simpkins-million-dollar-ring/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JCK Online</a>. Continuing her narrative of design excellence, Simpkin has once again captured attention with her latest creation: an interpretation of Bose headphones into new ear cuffs.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/wmvOk_Wkxc23LH3haWpEyBjNYjTbWNsuArD5sWiyLlnebOLSA9nLWZonTQW2FRiwtZoReWaUVO8PcjadOM8GyDaOgH6wUg-pukZ-zha7A0oNmDbBNMZwNT-HNyQw6YxaVdpVn7V9QIR9gWC59IXAyGo" width="500"></p>
<p>In the ongoing competition between Bose and Apple, the former is making bold strides. Simpkins' custom pair of 14k yellow gold Bose Ultra Open Earbuds showcases the convergence of fashion and technology, a realm she is renowned for mastering. Not to mention, the arrangement of diamonds are <em>chef's kiss</em> gorgeous.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Bose is coming for Apple's fashion girlies.&nbsp;</h3>
<p>According to the Bose product site, these earbuds (<a href="https://www.bose.com/p/earbuds/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds/QCUE-HEADPHONEIN.html?dwvar_QCUE-HEADPHONEIN_color=MOONSTONE%20BLUE&amp;quantity=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$299)</a> offer breakthrough spatialized audio, promising a more immersive listening experience that transcends conventional boundaries. With world-class noise cancellation and personalized sound optimization, coupled with a design that prioritizes comfort, Bose aims to redefine the auditory landscape.</p>
<p>Sharing her excitement on Instagram, the designer unveiled her collaboration with Bose, showcasing the custom earbuds worn by the radiant Kenzie at the Billboard Women In Music red carpet event. Simpkins' post included a montage of photos, featuring sketches of her fashion-tech design, the elegant model adorned with the creation, and detailed shots of the product itself.</p>
<blockquote>&ldquo;So excited to finally share these custom earbuds I created in collaboration with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bose/">@bose</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/billboard/">@billboard</a>&nbsp;Women In Music red carpet- worn by the beautiful&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kenzie/">@kenzie</a>,&rdquo; the designer wrote on her personal Instagram page.</blockquote>
<p>She posted a montage of photos, including sketches of her fashion tech design, the beautiful model who got to wear it during the <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/maggi-simpkins-custom-bose-ear-buds-for-kenzie-ziegler-1235633488/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Billboard Women in Music awards</a>, as well as closer looks at the product.</p>
<blockquote>&ldquo;I replaced the original plate with a solid gold plate and designed diamond clusters inspired by some of my favorite signature motifs.&rdquo;</blockquote>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/6F3DPaOXhmFuDnu8huF-B0TUvJ2Ez9myaKa6o6ovtSu8Ox_gV9slWI0tFdbT4a5Eeh78sR6wOogghdMYgWvloSDOsIeEq6lfv349wrSwlvX1-e_9DmxGUQnP3gsfaWdXfi3oynObfuKP312gXlESAI4" width="500"></p>
<p>Simpkins' ingenuity shines through in her customization of the earbuds, where she replaced the original plate with one crafted from solid gold, adorned with diamond clusters inspired by her signature motifs. The result is a blend of sophistication and innovation, elevating the earbuds beyond mere accessories to coveted fashion statements.</p>
<h3>New versions of the earbuds could include interchangeable magnetic designs, similar to how Apple's earpods opened up a custom product for retail designers can remix.</h3>
<p>Looking ahead, what would really enhance the earbuds is a magnetic feature enabling interchangeable jewelry to be seamlessly incorporated. This design aesthetic could allow wearers to tailor their accessories to match their outfit&rsquo;s aesthetic. This concept not only enhances the functionality of the earbuds but also introduces a new dimension of versatility and personalization.</p>
<figure><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://assets.bosecreative.com/transform/3b7371d3-e928-45bb-a627-c1f85eeeb468/03_QCUEBLE24_MoonstoneBlue_GALLERY?quality=100&amp;io=width:816,height:667,transform:fit&amp;io=width:816,height:667,transform:fit" alt="Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds tdt" width="500">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-415576" data-gramm="false">Credit: Bose.com</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As the intersection of fashion and technology continues to evolve, fearless designers like Maggi Simpkins pave the way for groundbreaking creations that defy convention. With her unparalleled ability to fuse luxury and innovation, Simpkins' collaboration with Bose exemplifies the limitless potential of wearable tech in shaping the future of style.</p>
<p>Even though Simpkins' custom earpods are one-of-a-kind and currently not for sale, Bose new model earpods are for sale. Are you buying a pair?&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Are we witnessing tech and jewelry merge? 

On Our Wish List: Maggi Simpkins x Bose Yellow Gold and Diamond Earbuds 

<p>Fashion, and how we experience it, is changing before our very eyes. Soon, we'll be collectors of tangible and intangible valuable goods that will become our digital identity.&nbsp;</p>
<figure><img src="https://imgs.search.brave.com/oJGUR3LMmMyXThmOLY2xF8m5HowbJjxmuB_M5PLjhMs/rs:fit:860:0:0/g:ce/aHR0cHM6Ly93d2Qu/Y29tL3dwLWNvbnRl/bnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8y/MDI0LzAzL1BSX2tl/eVZpc3VhbF9sYW5k/c2NhcGUuanBnP3c9/MTAwMCZoPTU2MyZj/cm9wPTE" alt="Maison Margiela's virtual Tabi boot, the MetaTabi NFT Aura Blockchain" width="500"><canvas style="display: none; top: 2px !important; left: 164px !important;" width="200" height="20"></canvas>
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-395957" data-gramm="false">The Fabricant / Maison Margiela&nbsp;</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.maisonmargiela.com/en-us/">Maison Margiela</a> stands as a leader of innovation on and off the runway, and now the brand is taking Web3 by storm!&nbsp; With the launch of their newest digital fashion collection, the MetaTABI, the Parisian fashion house takes a bold step into the metaverse, exploring a new layer of sartorial expression and technological integration.</p>
<p>In partnership with <a href="https://www.thefabricant.com/collection/maison-margiela-metatabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Fabricant</a>, the MetaTABI Collection offers a tantalizing glimpse into the future of fashion and how customers will be able to express themselves in the digital space. Through the lens of augmented reality (AR) and gaming integrations, MetaTabi collectors will be treated to a virtual realm where style knows no bounds.</p>
<h3>The MetaTabi AR Boot is an NFT that will live on the blockchain</h3>
<p>At the heart of this groundbreaking collection lies the MetaTABI NFT, a digital token representing not just a piece of art, but a key to Maison Margiela's future endeavors in the digital space. Holders of the MetaTABI NFT gain exclusive access to the Maison's upcoming projects, positioning them at the forefront of fashion's digital evolution.</p>
<p>Created with The Fabricant and Flow blockchain, the MetaTABI Boot emerges as a testament to the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge innovation. Meticulously designed for the digital realm, this avant-garde footwear transcends the boundaries of physicality, offering wearers a unique and immersive experience.</p>
<h3>Why should you collect?</h3>
<p>What sets the MetaTABI apart is its seamless integration of the digital and physical worlds. Owners of this coveted piece have the opportunity to redeem limited edition physical items, bridging the gap between the virtual and the tangible. From custom-made Maison Margiela Tabi boots to luxurious leather wallets, each piece is a testament to Maison Margiela's commitment to craftsmanship and creativity.</p>
<p>Scheduled for release in March 2024, the MetaTABI Collection marks yet another milestone in Maison Margiela's exploration of digital technologies. With its immersive AR experiences, gaming wearables, and exclusive community events, the MetaTABI promises to captivate fashion enthusiasts and technophiles alike.</p>
<p>But beyond its aesthetic appeal, the MetaTABI represents a paradigm shift in the way we perceive and interact with fashion. It challenges us to rethink traditional notions of style and self-expression, inviting us to embrace a future where creativity knows no bounds.</p>
<h3>This isn't the first time Maison Margiela explored the metaverse, they also launched a bingo game on-chain.&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Maison Margiela has been setting trends and the tech girlies are official gagged. The brand continuously reminds us of the transformative power of beauty, tech and determination. Last year, the brand embedded its numerical DNA on chain, with an on-chain bingo of sorts, that invited fans and interested crypto enthusiasts to collect numbers. <a href="/from-runway-mastery-to-blockchain-bingo-maison-margielas-unrivaled-influence-in-couture-and-innovation-nB2NYkosOI">The VioletVerse wrote about it here</a>. Collectors of this drop will also gain access to</p>
<p>As the Web3, narrative shifts in fashion, the MetaTABI Collection serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, guiding us towards a future where creativity knows no bounds. And as we step into this brave new world, Maison Margiela stands at the forefront, leading the charge towards a more inclusive, immersive, and infinitely creative future.</p>
<p>The collection will be sold in USD and digital currencies. Sign up here or join the <a href="https://discord.com/invite/BVX">brand's Discord.</a></p>
<p>Read more about <a href="https://www.thefabricant.com/collection/maison-margiela-metatabi">Maison Margiela's Web3 plans</a> on <a href="/glass-skin-products-skyrocketed-by-202-globally-in-the-past-five-years-WSufoaGpT8">VioletVerse here</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Maison Margiela's bold step into Web3

Maison Margiela Launches MetaTABI Collection and Web3 Roadmap

<p>It's been a while since I ventured into the world of online dating. I&nbsp;wrote my first essay about dating in London almost ten years ago, when Tinder was still less than a million users. Now, Tinder is known for the hookup app. Needless to say, I stopped using dating apps when Raya kept matching me with the same guys who wouldn't respond and was based 3,000 miles away.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Lost in Algorithms</strong></p>
<p>It was the summer of 2022, and I was gallivanting around Europe so much that when I settled back down in my home city, the algorithm had my profile stuck in Corsica.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>A Peek at Raya</strong></p>
<p>Then recently, I decided to re-download Raya, a private online dating app that requires you to be recommended, to see if I still had access to the community of A-list daters. Turns out, I do. But when I saw it now costs $50 a month to access a better selection of daters, I quickly abandoned any thought to a date.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Is Online Dating Culture Dying?</strong></p>
<p>I digress, is online dating culture dying? All I hear are horrible hookup stories about subpar dates gone wrong!&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>The Enigma of Dating Dynamics</strong></p>
<p>My friend Michael* and I often talk about dating, and unlike him, I'm not a rich tall white man. He is charming, in shape, and a catch to many women, and he flaunts it in my face about how many women ask to pleasure him. Unknowing to me, he has the choice to accept or decline. He spends his time snowboarding and has an apartment with a view overlooking downtown Manhattan, which he pays $4,500 a month for. What's wrong with him, you may ask, since he is not married and just turned 40? He works in crypto and is a recovering alcoholic. I'm assuming he dates immature girls who can't handle someone who is high up in his career. We often flirt in person, but if you've read this piece before, it doesn't end well.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Navigating Financial Dynamics in Relationships</strong></p>
<p>The sprinkle sprinkle movement has infiltrated the tiktok girlies view on what their partners should be bringing to the table.&nbsp;You have to date on values and the money and flows, that's what someone told me. But these days, it seems like we're well on our way to a fifth wave feminism. Women want the soft life. Gen Z and millennials are realizing that the economy has gotten so bad, we can't afford $200 lashes and have reverted back to DIYing and drug store makeup. Even the marketing has changed. Hinge says the app was designed to be deleted, but they are clearly gatekeeping the hot sexy singles. What is it that makes us keep scrolling? According to research conducted by the PEW Institute,&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>The Quirks of Dating Preferences</strong></p>
<p>The guy I'm dating thinks Kirkland is luxury, but his white tee shirts are from Nordstrom. That guy turned out to be a total criminal. Meanwhile, during a recent scroll through TikTok, a seemingly nice German Shepard style dude was reeling about how different the egg yolk color is on farm-raised eggs versus the cheaper cartoon. Are we living in a simulation, or am I too poor for that conversation?</p>

Revisiting the World of Online Dating

Is Dating App Culture Dying? 

<p>I am a voracious consumer of news, internet threads, celebrity TV, and crypto culture. It's never-ending, and now that we are on the precipice of our third bull run in history, a lot is going on in my corner of the Telegram chat world.</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">In a decisive move, the US has placed 13 crypto firms on a&nbsp;</span><a href="https://society22pr.mxbanyan.com/6227cde7f6b2b1cf420868fb/l/Tir5f3BHkRfT5ZXbv?rn=&amp;re=ISbvNmLzVGdpJ3dsVWbAF2czlGbl1mI&amp;sc=false" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://society22pr.mxbanyan.com/6227cde7f6b2b1cf420868fb/l/Tir5f3BHkRfT5ZXbv?rn%3D%26re%3DISbvNmLzVGdpJ3dsVWbAF2czlGbl1mI%26sc%3Dfalse&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1711555784876000&amp;usg=AOvVaw24jslJjm-vJ37UW31Zizkn"><span style="color: #1155cc;">blacklist</span></a><span style="color: #000000;">&nbsp;for being tied to Russian crypto exchanges.</span></li>
<li>
<div><span style="color: #000000;">History&rsquo;s in the making as Bitcoin shatters expectations, soaring an astonishing&nbsp;</span><a href="https://society22pr.mxbanyan.com/6227cde7f6b2b1cf420868fb/l/beiUMzyrahjpiJQIR?rn=&amp;re=ISbvNmLzVGdpJ3dsVWbAF2czlGbl1mI&amp;sc=false" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://society22pr.mxbanyan.com/6227cde7f6b2b1cf420868fb/l/beiUMzyrahjpiJQIR?rn%3D%26re%3DISbvNmLzVGdpJ3dsVWbAF2czlGbl1mI%26sc%3Dfalse&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1711555784876000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1VN0eqqzHV_Hm76Vk1iKV-"><span style="color: #1155cc;">168%</span></a><span style="color: #000000;">&nbsp;over the past six months. Just yesterday morning, it surpassed the $70K mark, a figure that speaks volumes about its growing influence and potential.</span></div>
</li>
<li>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">MyPrize, the latest entrant in the 'Crypto Casino' arena, has not only captured the imagination of investors but has also secured a jaw-dropping&nbsp;</span><a href="https://society22pr.mxbanyan.com/6227cde7f6b2b1cf420868fb/l/iqjOhVAWpXZ2NKp8u?rn=&amp;re=ISbvNmLzVGdpJ3dsVWbAF2czlGbl1mI&amp;sc=false" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://society22pr.mxbanyan.com/6227cde7f6b2b1cf420868fb/l/iqjOhVAWpXZ2NKp8u?rn%3D%26re%3DISbvNmLzVGdpJ3dsVWbAF2czlGbl1mI%26sc%3Dfalse&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1711555784876000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T1AllCKt3GMCGfNv2ntqg"><span style="color: #1155cc;">$140M valuation</span></a><span style="color: #000000;">. This sparks an intriguing question: Is the world ready to embrace the fusion of cryptocurrency and online gaming? </span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p dir="ltr">Memecoin Mania - PORKS? Sexist and racist comments??&nbsp;</p>
</li>
</ol>

Welcome to my weekly brain dump 

Quarterly Trend Report 

Choosing MongoDB for Flexibility and Efficiency  

Part 1: Exploring the Database Structure of Violet Verse CMS  

<p>At the very last minute, I was tapped by my good friend Dani Osorio to MC one of the ETH Denver stages. Apparently, people were dropping like flies when they realized how much brainpower it takes to introduce crypto people and their tech voyager topics. My 4-hour shift was located on the Coral Stage, where I reported for official duty with a 56-year-young woman named Laura who usually works as an AV at the local Denver Pride Festival.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I have no idea what&rsquo;s going on and why there are so many men with no rings,&rdquo; she informed me when I asked her what she thought about ETH Denver. &ldquo;Since this is a crypto festival, they are probably wearing digital rings.&rdquo; I instantly thought about Reesa Teesa&rsquo;s trust but verified dating commandments.</p>
<h3>What I did the last two years at Eth Denver versus this year was similar.</h3>
<p>My role in ETH Denver for the last two years was sponsor and hackathon judge on behalf of a developer tool. This year, I was going to represent myself, and my projects, as per my GitHub repos. From the presentations of people I was tasked to announce, this was the year of truth and enlightenment. The official conference was themed, &ldquo;the Year of the Spork Whale,&rdquo; a fictitious representation of crypto. Spork because that&rsquo;s the digital coin currency of the ETH Denver, and Whale because it signifies the upcoming bull run. I&rsquo;m not sure if this is completely true, but the power of these types of conferences is that these events hold space for people who have an original idea or project. You can leverage whatever decentralized thoughts you have.</p>
<h3>My conference obsession started very early on in my career.</h3>
<p>I used to be obsessed with the concept of attending conferences and networking in my early 20s. I&rsquo;d apply to fashion conferences as a small freelance writer for The Examiner, Philadelphia region. It was a time when Instagram barely could accommodate videos, and I wasn&rsquo;t on the tech side of Twitter to understand the brevity of how your network is your networth. This is pretty much true in crypto because your success depends on who you know to get a job, who can vouch for you, and what meme-coins you decide to buy.</p>
<p>&nbsp;It was at a brunch when I discovered that a person I know bought a bitcoin a week when they were working as a barista at a coffee shop. These social events you get invited to are alpha sessions. Take notes because the token talk will be fast and web3 coded. I learned this very early on and have been grateful for the people who haven&rsquo;t led me astray.</p>
<h3>This year's energy was fueled by BTC hitting an ATH and setting off the bull market.</h3>
<p>The energy of Eth Denver 2024 was absolutely pure fire. 🔥There were more new projects in the space and there were some noticeably absent projects in the space like Harmony and Truffle. A project's presence at a crypto conference does not necessarily translate to how well they will do in the space. However, the awareness is crucial because more builders are entering willing to try any tool.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Let's face it: Eth Denver activations are expensive. </h3>
<p>When you host intentional events to attract your target audience, your work will go along way when it comes to community building online. People will remember how you made them feel and be more likely to invest their time in getting to know your brand. Again, I learned this early on throwing and hosting events around the world, I have won over many super fan readers, contributors and supporters from my rooftop parties and panel discussions.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Crypto runs off herd mentality and only the brave have authentic thoughts.</h3>
<p>It takes a lot of courage to have an original thought. Eth Denver may be a meeting of the minds, but the narratives were very familiar. We need crypto to be more approachable and cross-chain to onboard a billion users, but there&rsquo;s more to it than just some vague marketing copy.</p>
<h3>Here are 6 Trends For Builders According to Eth Denver that are supposed to be onboarding the next billion users to web3.</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mobile Wallet Experiences</strong>: From <a href="https://beam.eco/">Beam.eco </a>to <a href="https://twitter.com/emiliemc/status/1766190758208721222">Base, </a>and Uniswap, there was an emphasis on quick ways to create noncustodial wallet experiences in 2 minutes or less for new users.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Consumer goods on-chain</strong> - IYK and Base, both made a huge splash at the Denver &ldquo;shill village.&rdquo; They both had a scavenger hunt where users had to scan codes around the conference center in order to redeem merchandise.&nbsp; Beam.eco released a mobile wallet, and I was able to create a wallet in like 2 seconds. One of the brand ambassadors transferred me 21 USDC to get tacos at the food trucks outside the venue. With a QR code, the taco truck food merchant was able to receive the funds in less than 30 seconds.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Memecoin Mania</strong> - <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/dexscan/avalanche/0xa4f412e746f240760ecc007f212ae83ec5511b16/">Cockinu on AVAX </a>and <a href="https://www.zoomer.money/">Zoomer.Money,</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/0xChristina/status/1765778212280234108">$bonsai </a>launched on Lens Protocol by airdropping top active social profiles.</li>
<li><strong>DePIN won the Web3 narrative:</strong> DePin stands for Decentralized physical infrastructure networks. It's giving real-world assets a blockchain infrastructure. For example, <a href="https://hellohelium.com/">Helium Mobile</a>, a $20 cell phone service, is the first to really experiment with this. By opting into this service, you earn tokens when people connect to your hotspot and at the same time help "kill dead zones." This solves the problem with cell outages as well because the mobile network is powered by blockchain.</li>
<li><strong>Culture Clubs</strong>: SHE.FI and BOYS CLUB continue to carry the inclusivity within crypto by providing safe spaces for women.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Cool Merch</strong>: Lukso came through with the pink beams and hats, custom jackets for the team, and cute mugs and blankets for the Boys' Club community. Cube AI data team had iconic Stanley cups. Meanwhile, Polygon blockchain was giving out wellness bags featuring organic toothpaste and mouthwash for the developers who need it... I guess. ZKSync attracted a huge crowd of attendees hoping to get their hands on a sleek black sweatsuit and Flow blockchain hosted a hacker host and I got my hands one of their trendy flow hoodies in anticipation of the <a href="https://flow.com/upgrade/crescendo">Crescendo network upgrade.</a></li>
</ul>
<p>In conclusion, ETH Denver 2024 re-invigorated my passion for exploring the deep and overflowing landscape of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. This past year has really taken a toll on my mental health, and I questioned if I should even be in this industry in the first place.&nbsp; I needed to meet up with like-minded individuals to rally, and as I talked to my crypto besties, they too felt the same way. It was nice to chat with innovative projects in the spirit of collaboration.</p>
<p>From unique mobile wallet experiences to participating in scavenger hunts on-chain, not to mention the rise of memecoin experiences, the conference highlighted key trends shaping the narratives of Web3. As we navigate this rapidly evolving space, it's clear that fostering inclusivity, accessibility, and cross-chain interoperability will be essential for driving widespread adoption.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Insights from ETH Denver 2024: Trends, Brand Tales, and Crypto Transformations



My 3rd ETH Denver Was A Meeting Of The Besties 

<p>It was all over my timeline the week of Valentine's Day when I finally clicked on Part 13 of Reesa Teesa dramatically recounting how her ex-husband spewed hundreds of lies to her over the course of their two-year relationship. From not showing proof of funds to playing arena football and claiming private citizen status, men in Atlanta are a different breed.</p>
<h3>I want to see London and Paris.</h3>
<p>Reesa Teesa said she failed to see the red flags and even has voice notes of her trying to make sense of it all. I think the obvious is that women who neglect their intuition will also learn the hard way, but your intuition will always be there when you need it.</p>
<h3>GRWM: "I'm going to do the best I can to go in order."</h3>
<p>These 10-minute videos were packed with anecdotes and dreams from the creator, who was vulnerable about her pain. There was no background music. The introduction starts out with a GRWM-style video, native to the platform, while outlining how the creator will not use real names and sarcasm. It appears as if she does it in one take. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry.</p>
<p>She created a playlist to help viewers follow along in her journey. There was no editing, barely a ring light. Just Reesa Teesa in the limelight. On the heels of TikTok losing access to all UMG music, many thought this would be the demise of the social platform which heavily relies on music for its virility. Then came Reesa Teesa's heartbreaking story of how her ex-husband, aka "the one," was lied to and cheated on by a "pathological liar." Not surprisingly, it's relatable.</p>
<h3><strong>How a 50-part 10-minute long video series changed the TikTok algorithm overnight.&nbsp;</strong></h3>
<p>Since the series published just a few days ago, the videos have already amassed over 100 million views on TikTok and even more repackaged clips across YouTube and IG! Meanwhile, Hilton, Delta, and even BMW have entered the chat offering free products and future opportunities.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><br>The problem I have with TikTok paying creators is that they make it hard to get paid in the first place.</h3>
<p>Moreover, Reesa Teesa announced that she was not in the creator fund when she started recording the series. However, a few days in she joined but was quickly suspended from the creator fund for re-uploading videos and not following guidelines. It would be wise for TikTok to make it right by the creator and atleast give Reesa the flowers 💐 she deserves for helping to push their new long form feature forward! Either way, Reesa is a natural digital storyteller and with a bit of mentorship and resources, she will make a mark on any platform.<br><br></p>
<p>What do you think?&nbsp;</p>

How a 50-part 10-minute long video series changed the TikTok algorithm overnight. 

Who TF Did I Marry? By Reesa Teesa

<p>In the March 2024 issue of Vogue Magazine, there's a long overdue profile about the man, myth and legend John Galliano, who is back at the helm of Maison Margiela. The essay details the story about how Galliano was essentially canceled for spewing hateful anti-Semitic marks at a popular French restaurant in Paris during &nbsp;the early 2000s, pre-Facebook and camera phone era. He was s&uacute;per intoxicated and apparently self- destructive state. Still, people heard it, as it was all over the press and tabloids. Almost immediately, Galliano was fired from his then designer position at the House of Dior. The article goes on to say how Galliano went through a lengthy recovery cycle, quit abusing substances and eventual made his comeback after making a public apology.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Today, I haven't been the same since he sent Maison Margiela's collection down the runway and erupted a whole new era of loud wealth. I'm still itching to try the glass skin makeup look.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Anyways, Ye and Galliano are both enigmatic characters in fashion and they have been my Roman Empire.&nbsp; One would be stupid to think that they don't share similar storylines, outcasted and theatrical as both appear to be. Once again, fashion is political and unapologetic, addicting and hard to control.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>We ride at dawn.&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Vulture's by Ye and Ty Dolla $ign has been on replay since they soft launched the entire album in Miami during Art Basel. Multiple songs are currently also on Billboard Top 100. I watched the pop-up concerts on livestream and through the lens of Yes Julz. It was a giving "building in public" energy which tech people can attest to and why I've been hooked to the new rebrand.</p>
<p>Since late 2023, Ye has been making his way back into the limelight as an independent and bullish musician and fashion designer, and personal husband-stylist to Bianca Censori. With the launch of his independent album, came another gritty version of Yeezy, his namesake brand that has gone through a dark rebrand from Adidas. Everything about it is black but authentic and daringly bold.</p>
<h3>Fans are in it.&nbsp;</h3>
<p>His loyal fan base is pumped and ready to go. The rollout features a multi-city pop up tour in Vegas, Chicago, and Milan to name a few, with an unforgettable Superbowl commercial that earned his clothing brand $19 million in less than 24 hours. Plus, his firstborn daughter North West is not beating the allegation of being just like her father. Miss. Westie is the moment and with "Talking" topping the charts, her stardom is natural.</p>
<h3>Ye is in his villain era.&nbsp;</h3>
<p>The question is if it's a good era to be in, which is up to public debate. And the people are talking critically. On top of that, there's a subset of people who think Bianca Censori is problematic because of her sexuality being flaunted without context. She's yet to be quoted by any press on what she thinks of her husband's actions. Meanwhile her style choices are shockingly and devastatingly chic. She&rsquo;s submissive. It's giving bit IDK energy. Many concerns stem from her barely-there outfits. But At the Marni show, she was seen in this superhero leather bodysuit, that was giving body hottie. It would be hard to look away at her angles, her physique is toned in the paparazzi shots. Not to mention, Ye has been notorious for creative directing paparazzi shots. I don&rsquo;t know enough to disagree with her relationship to Ye, but from what I see, she&rsquo;s out making a statement. Being with a man like Ye, you can&rsquo;t wear just anything. I Can see her architecture background also playing a role in her style. I think she likes what she wears in public at least.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<figure><img src="https://imgs.search.brave.com/Lmo0BsTMl3lsFVJydZtj26vZ4yC0c2bi1pE5s-A4fio/rs:fit:500:0:0/g:ce/aHR0cHM6Ly9wYWdl/c2l4LmNvbS93cC1j/b250ZW50L3VwbG9h/ZHMvc2l0ZXMvMy8y/MDI0LzAxL2VtZXJn/aW5nLXRhbm5pbmct/c2Fsb24tYmlhbmNh/LWNlbnNvcmktNzUz/MzQ4ODNfODJmYWQ0/LmpwZz9xdWFsaXR5/PTc1JnN0cmlwPWFs/bCZ3PTY4Mw" alt="Bianca Censori">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-617968" data-gramm="false"><a href="https://yeezy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yeezy.com</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>But to me, the public&rsquo;s opinion all very contradictory and closed-minded. She looked happy at the Marni show, and if you're going to attend a show like Marni, you better bring it.&nbsp; Aren't celebrities supposed to orchestrate their whole career? I'd rather not be a puppet but the director, even if it's outlandish and against public opinion. Who cares? Meanwhile, his clothing sales have skyrocketed. I heard he was going broke, but IDK what that means because that can all change fast with the speed of money.&nbsp;</p>
<figure><img src="https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/north-west-10-shares-drawing-76594883.jpg?w=795" alt="North West drawing" width="500">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-674024" data-gramm="false">TikTok/@kimandnorth</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>It's not like she's getting catcalled to her face.&nbsp;</h3>
<p>It's the clothes that are wearing Bianca, and in this case, it's totally okay in this instance. She&rsquo;s been seen in stockings, a bikini top with just the nipples covered, a poncho of sorts. I wouldn't wear any of it, but if she likes it, do you boo! Maybe she wanted a rebranding too. When you're in a relationship with someone as masculine as Kanye West, that requires a lot of patience and attention to detail, I would imagine.</p>
<h3>Do it</h3>
<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">While architecture was hopping off boats in Italy last summer, we were too busy at Turks &amp; Caicos. I mean a Kanye West makeover is a once - in - a - lifetime experience. All past girlfriends are doing well. So why are people made, again?&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>Are you buying Yeezy.com? Everything is currently $20.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Ye is in is villain era. 

Ye, Vultures and Bianca Censori

<p>I was attending a luxury car club event to hear a McLaren executive talk about sustainability when I noticed that both of us were wearing the same Bottega Veneta oversized ear cuffs in gold. Dupes or not, they were exuding rich girl energy. Currently, Milan Fashion Week is experiencing a bit of a revival as celebs like Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), his wife Bianca Censori, Solange Knowles, and ASAP Rocky have been photographed gallivanting the circuit. This brand has a history of absolutely fire aesthetics.</p>
<p><img src="https://imgs.search.brave.com/gC3wAI3XPmdhhb4an8tljQu6VUwwH3Bw2UAR0rQfuq0/rs:fit:500:0:0/g:ce/aHR0cHM6Ly93d2Qu/Y29tL3dwLWNvbnRl/bnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8y/MDIyLzAyL0JvdHRl/Z2FfVmVuZXRhX1NG/XzY2MjAuanBnP2Ny/b3A9MHB4LDY0NXB4/LDU1MDRweCwzMDc4/cHgmcmVzaXplPTEw/MDAsNTYz" alt="Bottega Veneta"></p>
<p>This season's offerings effortlessly blend silhouettes, from asymmetrical off-the-shoulder designs with luxurious yet durable fabrics like silk, polyester, and chiffon to looks tailored for women who exude confidence and purpose. Bottega Veneta is the epitome of sophistication and innovation.</p>
<h3>These are clothes you can go places in.</h3>
<p>Of course, the accessories are a focal point for this house. Models came down the runway styled with two bags, and I feel seen again. I, too, carry two bags. Don't you?"</p>

While millennials/gen-z/ alpha girlies duke it out on what's in and out, I'll be over here gagging on my chic maxi era. Bottega Veneta stays true to its mission and delivers. 

Bottega Veneta | Fall Winter 2024/2025 

<p>In an attention economy, what else is left to stand out and receive unlimited likes? <a href="https://www.draup.xyz/">DRAUP</a> has just debuted a digital garment rental program that allows fashion content creators to try on their proprietary couture looks.</p>
<p>If you're new here, we've been covering DRAUP since last year, and it's been amazing to witness the growth of a digital closet and the creation of new avenues for digital fashion.</p>
<p>That's why I was particularly interested in demoing their garment share program. I filled out a form and was subsequently sent an email requesting a few photos of myself so they could digitally install the garment on my body. What you see is basically what you get.</p>
<p>How do I look?&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cN4HRdsRThw?si=kDpaKd9Rhp067SU6" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Digital Fashion House 

Dressed In DRAUP

<p>I&rsquo;ve been consumed by Margeaux, a fictitious character played by SAG-AFTRA actor Patricia Black for luxury costume jewelry brand Alexis Bittar. The creative advertising video series depicts an older dilettante <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">woman from the Upper East Side who is a bit of an enigma in the upper class art society in New York, bossing around her young hopeful assistant. From high class parties with fashion folk, to a &ldquo;very brief tour&rdquo; of her apartment featuring expensive relics and to-die for interiors, Margeaux is subtly adorned in Alexis Bittar jewelry.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Video ads are getting a makeover in presentation.</span></h3>
<p>In contrast to the traditional forms of advertising, which often relied on direct, overt sales pitches, modern video advertising has undergone a huge transformation thanks to social media's push for short-form camera phone content. Gone are the days of cheesy infomercials and blatant overselling tactics. Today's consumers are more discerning, more digitally savvy, and more attuned to authenticity. They demand ads that not only showcase products but also resonate with their values, aspirations, and cultural sensibilities.</p>
<h3>What traditional advertising does wrong is shooting content through a cheesy, overly-produced lens.</h3>
<p>Traditional advertising methods often involved interrupting consumers with intrusive commercials on television, radio, or in print media. These ads tended to be straightforward and focused solely on pushing products or services, with little regard for storytelling or emotional connection. While they may have been effective in reaching broad audiences, they often failed to leave a lasting impression or build meaningful relationships with consumers.</p>
<h3>TikTok has become a mecca for overnight content creators who are getting their 15-minutes of fame whether brands are paying for it or not!&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Moreover, traditional advertising suffered from a lack of targeting and personalization. Advertisers from skincare to ecommerce shopping sites would cast a wide net in the hopes of reaching potential customers, resulting in wasted resources and diminished returns on investment.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Let's look at Cetaphil, which is a cult - favorite among dermatologists, that decided to enter the big leagues by copying the concept of their commercial from a small creator on TikTok. The idea was simple - capture potential customers through relatable messaging of a Daughter-Dad relationship. What the ad did not mention is that the Ceptaphil's Superbowl documenting her budding relationship with a Step-Dad through GRWM-videos, was a knockoff version of this TikTok creator's real content and situation.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://imgs.search.brave.com/JZrMU8SYZ-Fz0ZxLYfJZgNncpYJPL-Il7SV5RiHdaHs/rs:fit:860:0:0/g:ce/aHR0cHM6Ly9pLmlu/c2lkZXIuY29tLzY1/YzkwNzkzOTE3YTFk/YWUwMjQ1NTIyMz93/aWR0aD03MDA" alt="Preview: Cetaphil Super Bowl ad"></p>
<p>Enter modern video advertising, which embraces a more nuanced approach to storytelling and brand promotion. Instead of bombarding viewers with sales pitches, brands are now crafting narrative-driven ads that entertain, educate, and inspire. These ads seek to engage viewers on a deeper level by tapping into their emotions, aspirations, and cultural zeitgeist.</p>
<p>One notable example of this shift is the rise of branded content and influencer marketing. Brands are partnering with creators and influencers to produce authentic, relatable content that seamlessly integrates product placements and endorsements. By leveraging the reach and credibility of these influencers, brands can reach highly targeted audiences and foster genuine connections with consumers.</p>
<figure><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/kanye-west-promotes-yeezy-fashion-76389892.jpg?w=1024" alt="Kanye West promotes Yeezy fashion line in bizarre Super Bowl commercial" width="500">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-274298" data-gramm="false">Kanye West Superbowl Commercial <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUnzBKjWepM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Another trend in modern video advertising is the use of humor, wit, and creativity to capture viewers' attention. Instead of taking themselves too seriously, brands are embracing levity and whimsy in their ads, making them more memorable and shareable. This approach not only helps cut through the noise of traditional advertising but also allows brands to showcase their personality and values in a more authentic way.</p>
<p>Furthermore, advancements in technology have enabled brands to deliver personalized, interactive video experiences tailored to individual preferences and behaviors. Through data-driven targeting and dynamic content optimization, brands can deliver the right message to the right person at the right time, maximizing relevance and effectiveness.</p>
<p>So, modern video advertising represents a departure from the traditional hard sell approach, focusing instead on creativity, authenticity, and audience engagement. By embracing storytelling, humor, and personalization, brands can cut through the clutter and forge meaningful connections with today's discerning consumers. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, expect to see even more innovative and immersive forms of video advertising that blur the lines between entertainment and marketing.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Read more: <a href="/does-traditional-art-match-up-to-nfts-photographys-avant-garde-comeback-QTFoP5Fne8">Does Traditional Art Match Up to NFTs? Photography's Avant-Garde Comeback</a></p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

TL;DR: Get creative with what you're selling.

We’ve Finally Entered The Era of Creative Video Ads

<p>Farcaster has been causing quite the commotion among developers and Web3 evangelists lately. Former Coinbase executive Dan Romero is the founder of Farcaster and has recently secured $30 million from top-tier investors, including a16z and Coinbase.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Farcaster is a community-created protocol for constructing decentralized social applications.</h3>
<p>Developers can utilize Farcaster to construct new, decentralized social networks, enabling the protocol to address the complex challenges of managing user identities and data. Users can establish a new account under their control and register to utilize any of these applications. Users retain full control over their data and identity and can seamlessly transition between applications.</p>
<p>And I know what you're going to say: Another decentralized social media app? How do you think I feel about reporting and growing another channel? But this time, it is proving to be different.</p>
<p>It's a little early to make that call, but this is Farcaster's "Clubhouse moment" when they finally welcome ordinary tech users and erudite folks who can't stop yapping about any and everything.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The key will be observing how Farcaster handles an influx of token hunters and potentially malicious builders, while still maintaining the well-curated builder vibe.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>Here are some key features to consider joining the platform:&nbsp;</em></p>
<h3>What are Warps?</h3>
<p>Warps peacock as currency which unlock different features in the Farcaster ecosystem. It's a bit different from most social platforms. In efforts to prevent bots and spam, there's a level of investment users have to make in order to start a channel for a discussion of sorts and the stark difference of hashtags.&nbsp; However, there are no fees for joining or posting -- to my knowledge.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What are Casts?&nbsp;</h3>
<p>When you type a post, there's an option to broad "cast" it out to various channels related to your post. This is a "new" way to look at segmenting and hashtagging but in a more organized layout. For example, I'm following /fashion, which is a channel about fashion. When I go to cast out my content, I will select the fashion channel and all discussions related to that are neatly organized in a separate feed. However, what shows up on my feed are all my fees, with a marker of where it was casted. This is for an on-chain data logic, where builders can target casters of certain channels.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What are Channels?</h3>
<p>You can follow the channels on Farcaster or some channels can be token-gated and made available to an exclusive subset of people. This is where Web3 is activated because these channels can be open to the public or exclusive to people who old various coins. From what I understand, anyone can create a channel with 2,500 WARPS, which is around 25USD. Users have to buy WARPS from their Coinbase wallet, and transact from there.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What are Frames?</h3>
<p>A frame as a distribution channel. The beauty about Farcaster is the decentralization and permissionless aspect of it all. The data can be used to deploy Frames, which in turn is growth hack for anything you want to bring to awareness.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Getting Started For Normies</h3>
<p><a href="https://warpcast.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download Warpcast application</a> on your mobile phone. Create an account with your email or Web3 wallet. Record your seed phrase, you know the rules for this, or revisit it in our post <a href="/best-web3-security-practices-you-should-remember-o-zAzDpWLS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Best Web3 Security Practices You Should Remember.</a></p>
<h3>Getting Started For Developers&nbsp;</h3>
<p>The fastest way to get up to speed on the protocol is by watching the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMWjol6xHJ0&amp;list=PL0eq1PLf6eUdm35v_840EGLXkVJDhxhcF">video series</a>.</p>
<p>If you want to dig deeper, we also recommend that you:</p>
<ol>
<li>Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://github.com/farcasterxyz/protocol/blob/main/docs/OVERVIEW.md">overview</a>&nbsp;for a high-level picture of the problems, goals and design.</li>
<li>Review&nbsp;<a href="https://github.com/farcasterxyz/protocol/blob/main/docs/PROPOSALS.md">proposals</a>, for historical context behind some of our design decisions.</li>
<li>Take a look at&nbsp;<a href="https://github.com/farcasterxyz/hub-monorepo">Hubble</a>, an implementation of a Farcaster Hub.</li>
<li>Review the&nbsp;<a href="https://github.com/farcasterxyz/contracts">smart contracts</a>&nbsp;on the Ethereum blockchain.</li>
<li>Dive into the&nbsp;<a href="https://github.com/farcasterxyz/protocol/blob/main/docs/SPECIFICATION.md">specifications</a>&nbsp;to understand the low-level details.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Will Frames on Farcaster Change The Vibe Of Social Media?</h3>
<figure><img src="https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2024019/rs_1024x759-240119132558-1024-raven-symone-zenon-girl-21st-century-disney.jpg?fit=around%7C1024:759&amp;output-quality=90&amp;crop=1024:759;center,top" alt="Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, Raven-Symone" width="500">
<figcaption spellcheck="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-249354" data-gramm="false">What social platform will I Warp to next?</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1393551/zenon-girl-of-the-21st-century-turns-25-celebrate-with-facts-thatll-make-you-say-cetus-lupeedus">Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century series</a> turns 25 this year, I feel like my passion for tech has truly come full circle. Where will I warp to next? Will you be logging in and using Warpcast app? There's also a ecommerce element, called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.warpshop.xyz/">Warpshop </a>where people are able to sell tangible items. It's basically its own decentralized ecosystem that the Web3 degens are loving, but for normies, it's a bit complicated. Still, mainstream press is picking up steam. With so many social media platforms being created on a monthly basis, look out for more coverage on which ones have staying power in the Violet Verse.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Read more on Violet Verse: </strong><a href="/lenster-try-this-crypto-friendly-social-media-lenster-7DdYZglQYV">Lens Creator Lab: An Overview of Notes and Action Items</a></p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>

The latest Web3 social media platform to breakout is challenging the experience of social media as we know it.

Will Frames on Farcaster Change The Vibe Of Social Media?

<div>
<div data-testid="conversation-turn-3">
<div data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="31abe018-9715-4b81-a058-dce933c38add">
<p>The Gaming and Bitcoin are finally merging, the masterminds behind the iconic Deadfellaz brand have launched Bits.&nbsp;</p>
<p>So, what exactly are Bits? Well, imagine 10,000 pixels in Deadfellas aesthetic brought to life through the magic of <a href="https://ordinalsbot.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ordinals Bot</a>. These aren't just any old characters; they're part of an indie gaming-focused ordinals with creative direction heavily giving retro vibes. And the best part? It's all being powered on Magic Eden's new Bitcoin marketplace, which is proving to be a destination for high-quality multi-chain projects.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Bits founding team are a fork of the Deadfellaz community, and will run Bits as its own flagship BTC IP under the DFZ Labs ecosystem with Betty and Psych serving as mentors &amp; advisors.&nbsp;<br><br></p>
<blockquote dir="ltr">&ldquo;Psych &amp; I are passionate about creating opportunities for individuals we have seen excel in web3 through passion and skill. Watching the rapid growth and innovation within the Ordinals ecosystem over its first year presented an opportunity to incubate a talented team from within the Deadfellaz community. While some might have expected us to just make some new Deadfellaz on BTC to sell - we didn&rsquo;t see any valid reason to do that. Instead, we have opted to create something valuable and independent. With amazing founding members such as Azimuth, whose passion and work on Bits will provide further opportunities for the entire DFZ LABS ecosystem.&rdquo; - BETTY, CEO OF DFZ LABS</blockquote>
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Now, you might be wondering, what's the deal with Bitcoin ordinals, and how do they relate to the blockchain? Bitcoin ordinals are essentially a unique digital asset inscribed onto the Bitcoin blockchain. They represent ownership or participation in a specific project or community, and in this case, Bits is pioneering a new era of gaming on the Bitcoin blockchain.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>But Bits isn't just about collecting cool pixel characters.</h2>
<p>&nbsp;It's about revolutionizing the gaming industry by bringing indie gaming to BTC and bringing together the NFT communities. As mentioned, the Deadfellas founders Betty and Pysch are on a mission to create a game development incubator like no other, complete with a roguelite game world filled with user-generated content.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>And here's the kicker: they're flipping the 'Play to Earn' model on its head, focusing instead on a 'Build to Win, Play to Enjoy' approach.</h2>
<p>In simpler terms, this means that instead of just playing to earn rewards, players and creators alike will contribute to building an immersive gaming experience while reaping the benefits along the way. This trend has been huge when it comes to the ethos of Web3. And with DFZ Labs at the helm, alongside mentors like Betty and Psych, you can bet that Bits is set to be a game-changer in the next wave of gaming.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Bits is built upon the thesis that games should be played for enjoyment, and the builders of those games should be empowered and rewarded.&rdquo; &ndash; Psych, Director of DFZ</p>
<h2>But wait, there's a special airdrop!</h2>
<p>It's definitely airdrop season for the OG Deadfellas collectors, who will be eligible in calling dibs on 500 air-drops of Bits to top Deadfellaz collectors and community contributors.</p>
<h2>Plus, they're hosting a Twitter/X Spaces to give you the inside scoop on how to get involved.&nbsp;</h2>
<p>So, whether you're an OG NFT collector looking for something to spice up your wallet or a casual gamer looking to dive into the world of NFTs, Bits is definitely an attractive project that's sure to compete with other NFT projects like Bored Ape's Yuga Labs.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Stay tuned for insight into Bits and their new journey to Magic Eden's Bitcoin Ordinal Marketplace. Crypto's consumer project era is at an ATH.&nbsp; Listen to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Deadfellaz/status/1755950039766389221">Twitter Spaces here.</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;Read more gaming on Violet Verse: <a href="/navigating-the-uncharted-waters-of-crypto-gaming-and-web-3-games-shaping-the-future-of-industry-reporting-Rak93qZhC6">Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Crypto Gaming and Web 3 Games: Shaping the Future of Industry Reporting</a></p>
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Bitcoin Ordinals is heating up with blockchain gaming!

Introducing Bits: A Game-Changer in the World of Bitcoin Ordinals

<p>Over a decade ago, my inaugural experience with New York Fashion Week (NYFW) commenced with a glimpse of the iconic Tents at Lincoln Center on a cold and snowy February day. Sneaking into a Zac Posen show and attending a satellite sustainability event downtown marked my entry into this glamorous world of interesting people. Now, as NYFW returns this February 2024, it promises to be grander than ever before with so many entry points to catch a vibe.</p>
<p>Pro-tip: If you want to be invited to shows as an influencer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gpsradar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">download GPS Rada</a>r to apply to shows, panels, and exclusive fashion events.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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<h3><strong>Feb. 8: NYFW Pre-events Happening at The Public Hotel in Soho</strong></h3>
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<li>Pilates Wellness</li>
<li>Special Cocktail Hour&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichotels.com/newyork/calendar?utm_source=cendyn&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=nyfw_2024_at_public">RSVP here.</a></li>
<li>Christian Siriano Afterparty<a href="https://www.publichotels.com/newyork/calendar?utm_source=cendyn&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=nyfw_2024_at_public">&nbsp;RSVP here.</a></li>
</ul>
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<p></p>
<h3>Feb. 9: Fashion&rsquo;s Superbowl Sunday Kicks Off!</h3>
<ul>
<li>Helmut Lang: Catering to the clean girl aesthetic.</li>
<li>Kim Shui: The iconic downtown brand promises an unforgettable return.</li>
<li>Event: A Celebration of Hair and Makeup Equity with Black Beauty Roster will take place at the official NYFW venue.</li>
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<p>NYFW Curve: Plus Size show</p>
<div><img tabindex="0" src="https://wire-files.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event/picture/65b3f949029445002bd344fa/square_nyfw_plus_designers.jpg" alt="NYFW Curve: Plus Size show"></div>
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<dd>1000 Dean St, Brooklyn, NY 11238<br>United States of America</dd>
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<div><img tabindex="0" src="https://wire-files.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event/picture/657b7eb990d08d0025d55380/square_img_1448.jpg" alt="New York Fashion Week Streetstyle Show: SFWRUNWAY"></div>
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<h3>Feb. 10: Only Sit Front Row</h3>
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<li>Bagley Mischa: This designer is for girlies who love dramatic gown moments.</li>
<li>Eckhaus Latta: This brand is old-money elegance with casual styles.</li>
<li>PatBo: If you&rsquo;re in your lucky girl syndrome era, this whimsical brand is your go-to capsule collection.</li>
<li>Kid Super: Stop by the opening of Kid Super&rsquo;s concept store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.</li>
<li>The Blonds: Expect drama and fierce looks on this runway.</li>
<li>NYFW After party at Public Hotel: This event will be hosted by Shaun Ross and friends,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichotels.com/newyork/calendar?utm_source=cendyn&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=nyfw_2024_at_public" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RSVP here.</a></li>
</ul>
<figure><img style="float: left;" src="https://wire-files.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/event/picture/65b2aeed7e0f8b000215bf5a/hires_65b2aedbdba691706208987.jpg" alt="Tiffany Brown W25 Runway Show" width="500">
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<h3>Mefeater Exclusive Events This February 2024</h3>
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<li><strong>Shop Women Marketplace:</strong>&nbsp;Right before the Runway Show, join us for SHOP WOMEN, MEFeater&rsquo;s Pop-Up Presentation featuring a collective of women and ally-owned brands.&nbsp;<a href="https://mefeaterevents.com/products/shop-women-ticket">Free with RSVP.</a></li>
<li><strong>Mefeater&rsquo;s Galentine&rsquo;s Day Show:&nbsp;</strong>This runway show will feature several designer collections. For standing and seated tickets,&nbsp;<a href="https://mefeaterevents.com/collections/club-pink-galentines-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">buy here.</a></li>
<li><strong>MEfeater&rsquo;s Club Pink:</strong>&nbsp;Join us for a celebration after the runway.&nbsp;<a href="https://mefeaterevents.com/products/galentines-club-pink-vip-ticket" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buy tickets here.</a></li>
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<h3>Feb. 11: NYFW Shopping Favorites</h3>
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<li>Ella Johnson: Offering vacation looks and soft feminine style.</li>
<li>Area: Consistently delivering sparkly looks, this show will be packed with celebrities and influencers.</li>
<li>Christian Cowan: Returns to the calendar after a stint away from the runway.</li>
<li>Ludovic De Saint Sernin: Hailing from Paris, this eponymous line will bring the chic to the Big Apple.</li>
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<h3>Feb. 12: Gala Season Collections</h3>
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<li>Retrofete: Essential designer dresses for every party girl.</li>
<li>Sergio Hudson: A favorite of Keke Palmer&rsquo;s go-to red carpet looks, this designer will be star-studded!</li>
<li><strong style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">NEGRIS LEBUM FW 24-25 WORLD PEACE COLLECTION </strong>
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<h3>Feb. 13: The Shows Continue</h3>
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<li>Bishme Cromartie: This brand won Project Runway and is now presenting to the big leagues, this show is not to be missed.</li>
<li>Batsheva: Soft feminine dresses for the soft girl era.</li>
<li>EDGE: The Future of Fashion Tech Networking event, RSVP&nbsp;<a href="https://lu.ma/edgenyfw">here</a></li>
<li>ICON: An NYFW After Party,&nbsp;<a href="https://partiful.com/e/0s4Vgq3BebMHa1kIqBQc">RSVP here</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Feb.14: Valentine&rsquo;s Day</h3>
<ul>
<li>Bevza: A Ukrainian-based independent brand featuring fine jewelry, footwear, and accessories is showing its latest products at the official NYFW venue.</li>
<li>Thom Browne: This brand is always a favorite amongst the sophisticated and cool crowd.</li>
<li><em>A downloadable version of the official schedule is available<a href="https://nyfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/NYFWFeb24_Schedule_020524.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;here</a>.</em></li>
</ul>
<p><em></em></p>
<h3>Additionally, schedule dinner and fashion putting with your fashion week besties!</h3>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p>Beyond the catwalk is the vibrant NYFW community. Make your way downtown, which offers respite and inspiration through various fashion exhibitions. "Women Dressing Women" will be on display at <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/women-dressing-women" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Met's Costume Institute.</a> Another must-attend art event, The Museum at FIT, is currently showcasing "Statement Sleeves." For dinner plans, be sure to make reservations for Chef Kwame and the Polo Bar restaurants. For the full NYC fashion girl experience, spend the night or two at The Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking. The location will leave you at the center of everything and a straight route to LGA airport for those coming from out of town. What show or event did we miss?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@thevoncomplex?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Mike Von</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-woman-in-a-short-skirt-and-jacket-holding-a-white-bag-lde8WUNdTcc?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></p>
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New York Fashion Week is here!

Last Minute Plans? NYFW 2024 Fashion and Tech Calendar 

<p>In their latest company memo, e.l.f. Beauty announced their remarkable financial growth and market share expansion in 2023. Ahead of their latest product launch, powered by Obsess, the brand shares why they're a cult favorite.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As technology continues to infiltrate into the CPG market, there's one reason why virtual experiences are here to stay, and it has to do with marketing and accessibility. e.l.f. Beauty products are sold across drugstores and rank in millions in sales. Compared to other beauty brands like <a href="https://drugstorenews.com/winning-beauty-pageant-drug-stores-want-more-timely-trendy-beauty-offerings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">L'Or&eacute;al and P&amp;G</a>, it's no comparisons to billions in revenue but they are ranked #3 in the color cosmetic category.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/D5622AQEJZKPXHhxhOQ/feedshare-shrink_800/0/1707256963536?e=1710374400&amp;v=beta&amp;t=-dBMPmwWQbjXCvu8c2uWoPojOt18di3ePsc81bZZtGA" alt="chart, histogram"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Here are a few highlights from their press release:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Total revenue surged, with net sales rising by 85% to $270.9 million for the three-month period and by 80% to $702.8 million for the nine-month period.<br>- Gross margin improved by around 350-400 basis points, primarily due to favorable foreign exchange impacts, cost efficiencies, and channel mix optimization.<br>- Despite increased selling, general, and administrative expenses, adjusted EBITDA saw significant growth, reaching $59.1 million for the three-month period and $193.8 million for the nine-month period.<br>- The company experienced substantial market share gains, adding 305 basis points during the three-month period.<br>- e.l.f. Beauty has raised its fiscal 2024 outlook following these strong results.<br>- The growth was attributed to robust performance in both retailer and e-commerce channels across color cosmetics and skincare segments</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exploring-virtual-stores-w-john-cates-3d-design-lead/id1668416806?i=1000614418393">Listen to our Podcast: Exploring Virtual Stores w/ John Cates, 3D Design Lead at Obsess</a></p>
<h2>The brand continues to innovate and share new ways to interact with beauty.&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Additionally, e.l.f. Beauty introduced an innovative Apple Vision Pro AR experience powered by <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exploring-virtual-stores-w-john-cates-3d-design-lead/id1668416806?i=1000614418393">Obsess, </a>which builds immersive software experiences.&nbsp; Upon entering the world, users can explore different vibes with high-frequency audio tunes and guided meditation. According to their announcement on LinkedIn:&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&ldquo;your best e.l.f.&rdquo; is an eyes.lips.first as we are one of the debut beauty brands to go on this journey with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/apple/" target="_self" data-test-app-aware-link="">Apple</a>. <br><br>Explore Camo Cove, Big Mood, and Halo Glow, each themed after an e.l.f. holy grail product, to engage in a moment for yourself with guided meditations and stretching exercises. <br><br>In this new era of immersive spatial shopping, we are able to further connect, entertain, and surprise and delight our community. If you&rsquo;re there, we&rsquo;re there. <br><br>To share this moment with you, we are giving away one Apple Vision Pro! Be sure to be on the lookout across e.l.f.&rsquo;s social channels for more details on how to enter! <br>&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elfcosmetics.com/your-best-elf">experience here.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Overall, e.l.f. Beauty demonstrates consistent and exceptional growth, reflecting its commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction in the competitive makeup market. The brand has definitely matured and will be celebrating its 20 years on the market.</p>

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