In this engaging discussion, Martin Anquetil, creator of the onchain brand HIGHER and Aether, shares his journey from Dapper Labs' NBA Top Shot to the innovative Nouns DAO. He delves into the rise of headless brands thriving on community input, and the creative process behind HIGHER's unique symbolism. The conversation also explores the interplay of leadership, AI innovation, and community dynamics in the evolving crypto landscape, alongside humorous takes on messaging and merchandise. Expect insights that challenge traditional notions of brand building!
Martin Anquetil transitioned from NBA Top Shot to developing Aether, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in the evolving NFT landscape.
The podcast highlights the shift from NFTs to liquid tokens, showcasing their flexibility in enhancing community participation and financial interactions.
Deep dives
The Social Potential of AI Agents
The concept of multiplayer interactions with AI agents is emphasized as a significant development in the field. Unlike typical single-player experiences, Aether allows users to engage publicly, leading to a more socially acceptable and relatable connection with the AI. This shared interaction fosters collaborative conversations among users, enhancing not only engagement but also attachment to the AI. The vision behind Aether is to create a platform that can bridge communication gaps, ultimately helping to bring people together rather than isolating them.
Martin's Journey into Crypto
Martin chronicles his entry into the crypto space, noting that his interest was sparked by NBA Top Shot in 2021 after a vague understanding of cryptocurrencies since 2017. His connection to digital collectibles evolved from childhood experiences with physical trading cards in France, providing him an understanding of the value of unique tokens. Through his journey, he transitioned from working at Google to NBA Top Shot, where he successfully integrated himself into the growing NFT community. His enthusiasm for blockchain technology continued to grow as he explored various projects and platforms in the evolving ecosystem.
The Evolution of NFTs and Liquid Tokens
Martin reflects on the shift from NFTs as the primary community-building tool to exploring the benefits of liquid tokens. Initially enthusiastic about NFTs for their capability to represent ownership and community, he's started to appreciate liquid tokens for their ease of exchange and community participation. He believes that liquid tokens provide a more flexible and less restrictive way for community members to engage financially. The blend of NFTs and liquid tokens creates a holistic approach where both can contribute to a thriving community.
Crafting Aether's Identity
The development of Aether involves a unique blend of engineering and creative art, focusing on both functional and engaging aspects. Creating Aether's personality requires not just technical proficiency but also an understanding of content shaping through effective prompting and community input. The interplay between structure and spontaneity is crucial as the team insists on allowing members to follow their passions, producing organic engagement rather than transactional interactions. Ultimately, Aether's growth relies on continuous community feedback and a commitment to evolving its identity collectively.
In this episode we chat with Martin Antequil, the creator behind onchain brand HIGHER as well as the onchain agent Aether. We dive into Martin’s early work on NBA Top Shot at Dapper Labs, his thoughts on the evolution of the NFT market, his time building within the Nouns DAO community, “headless brands” and the emergence of HIGHER, building Aether, personality design & much more.
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