HomeNFTInterview with TokenAngels, the Italian whale of Non Fungible Tokens (NFT)

Interview with TokenAngels, the Italian whale of Non Fungible Tokens (NFT)

The Cryptonomist and DeFi Today interviewed Token Angels, one of the world’s largest collectors of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

 

  • When did you first become interested in NFTs and why?

 

In 2019, one year after the start of the crypto bear market I was asking myself which sector could help crypto to grow and I immediately thought about gaming, so I started attending some conferences dedicated to blockchain gaming in London, HK, etc and there I met the founders of the first projects/platforms like OpenSea, NonFungible, SandBox, etc and as they say “it was love at first sight”.

I even remember that on the flight back from HK I saw Ready Player One and between one gin and another I think I had an epiphany, maybe it was the effect of juniper or the proximity to God…

 

  • Can you tell us your favourite projects and artists you have invested in?

 

As my name suggests I am an angel investor, I have invested in about ten projects in the NFT space, but for confidentiality’s sake, I always prefer not to make them public. 

As for my NFT investments of course they are on the blockchain, it’s enough to check my wallet.

Let’s say I’m mostly interested in art and collectibles. A bit less in VR and gaming for the moment.

I mainly focus on those projects and artists who pioneered the CryptoArt current which I think runs from around 2016 to the end of 2019.

Above all, I’m proud to have collected 4 of the 7 unique RarePepe, including the Famous HomerPepe and many CryptoPunks, among which I have 1 of the 8 zero traits, 1 of the 24 Apes and 1 of the 11 six traits (which among other things is the CryptoPunk with the most hidden traits).

As far as artists are concerned I have a particular passion for Matt Kane, with whom I launched the project Volatility.art which is a programmable artwork that changes daily depending on the price of bitcoin and over the next 10 years will create 210 NFTs.

Obviously, I have to mention Sarah Zucker, Xcopy, OficinasTK, Max Osiris, MLO, Joy.

And as for Italy, which has given and gives a fundamental contribution to this current and NFTland in general, I have collected in recent years works by Mattia Cuttini, Hackatao, hex6c, Federico Solmi, Paola Pinna, Ablu, etc… But there are many other very good ones that I have not yet had the opportunity to collect, indeed I invite you to follow them on their Twitter (as it is here that CryptoArt communicates), Instagram and if you have Telegram follow the many channels including R.I.O.T.

 

  •  What do you think of the boom that NFTs are having now? Are we in a bubble?

 

I am a big believer in the tokenization of assets, both digital and physical, so I am very confident about the future of NFTs in general. 

NFTs have given artists the opportunity to become known all over the world and have brought many people closer to art. The collectors in fact, besides acquiring a certain “status”, can also interact with the artists and become real patrons as well as make good friends and maybe collaborate on new projects together.

Obviously, I would say that 90% of the money spent on NFTs comes from earnings made in crypto so even NFTs, especially those of some projects made just for quick profits, can become bubbles and burst quickly…

There are a lot of influencers in this space promoting projects to generate cash and reinvest in a new project and then dump it back on newcomers…

That’s why I focus on OG projects like RarePepe, Punks, Autoglyphs… no one can change history… so… watch out for flippers…

 

  • Since you have been in the industry since the beginning, what did you think when you heard about the investment of almost 70 million dollars in Beeple?

 

Well, let’s just say I would have liked to see a CryptoArt founder as the first artist in an auction house. This is happening this week at Sotheby’s fortunately.

The record sale certainly caused NFTs to be talked about all over the world but it also alienated traditional collectors who thought it was a joke.

What I’m waiting for is for non-crypto collectors to buy major NFTs so as to validate and then make an endorsement for this new technology/art form.

 

  • How do you see the future of NFTs 5 to 10 years from now?

 

I think NFTs can become one of the most important asset classes in the world in both the virtual economy and the traditional physical economy.

I hope they become smarter, that they can communicate with each other, that they can be used in multiple ways and worlds and above all allow everyone to feel part of a community and express their creativity.

We know that Italy has given so much to the development of civilization, I hope that each one of us can contribute to the digital world of the future because the Metaverse without a touch of Italian spirit can never be a beautiful world…

Interview originally published in the DeFi Today newsletter.

Amelia Tomasicchio
Amelia Tomasicchiohttps://cryptonomist.ch
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist, and also PR manager for the Italian market at Bitget. She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
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