Holder introduction — Willie
＊＊中文訪談內容請參考另一篇文章＊＊
Willie is a prominent figure in the Taiwanese NFT and cryptocurrency circles. He was previously the Head of Asia at Alpacadabraz but has recently shifted his focus to Web2 dental work. Despite this, he remains active in the NFT community. Initially, Willie discovered cryptocurrencies and NFTs through videos by Professor Li Harry. He entered the cryptocurrency market first and then ventured into NFTs. Although he missed out on the opportunity with Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), he still holds a strong passion for Web3 and continues to be involved in other projects.
Regarding Alpacadabraz, Willie initially participated as a holder. Noticing a lack of effective management and communication within the Asian community, he proposed becoming a moderator (Mod) to assist in these aspects. However, Alpacadabraz recently announced a reduction in operational funding for the Asian team, leading to Willie’s decision to leave. It has become evident that the project team is shifting its focus to Web2, and communication within the community primarily occurs through announcements.
Willie is a passionate individual when it comes to sneakers. When he heard about the E-DAMER project, he was thrilled because of his strong interest in shoes and his prior knowledge of Tommy’s custom sneakers. He was eager to participate in the project and strive for whitelist qualification, so he made efforts to apply to become a community OG member under Tommy. Once he successfully joined, he decided to participate regardless of the number of NFTs involved.
Later on, Willie discovered the opportunity to exchange shoes through E-DAMER, which further ignited his interest. He initially purchased two pairs of shoes but ended up receiving three pairs and also obtained some RNFTs through the process. While he doesn’t have an exceptionally impressive sneaker collection, he has been involved in buying and selling sneakers since childhood, with Nike being his go-to brand. During his sneaker transactions, he encountered a case where he bought a counterfeit pair but never resold any fake shoes to others.
If he were a designer for The Remade, he would aspire to create sneakers with extravagant and unique features, such as producing thunder-like sounds when stepped on. Currently, he has only exchanged for one pair of REVO shoes and finds the wearing experience to be excellent. He believes that REVO is a highly underrated shoe that completely absorbs the energy from his body, giving him vitality with every step he takes. Willie has already exchanged one pair of the shoes for a nurse and plans to get a pair for his boss, hoping to see more dentists and nurses wearing REVO.
In addition, the E-DAMER team has a grand vision of building a complete production chain that integrates factory production with consumer demand. They plan to utilize blockchain technology to achieve transparent records and personalized designs, allowing consumers to customize and design their own unique products. This will bring greater efficiency and environmental benefits to the production chain while providing users with a better exchange experience and value.
As the project team, E-DAMER hopes that holders can better understand the challenges they are facing. The emergence of the Blur.io trading platform, along with the disappearance of royalties and the downturn in the market, has significantly impacted small and medium-sized projects. It is necessary for the project team and holders to strike a balance and understand each other’s demands. While holders wish to exchange for physical goods like sneakers, the project team must carefully consider the issue of resource consumption. The project proposes a slower pace of development, giving the project team some breathing space. This requires mutual understanding and negotiation between both parties, aligning with the core values of Web3. The significance of holders’ participation in the project lies in being part of the entire history rather than pursuing short-term gains. Despite the prolonged timeframe, they are still willing to participate in this revolutionary movement with historical significance by collectively striving for common goals.
For more detailed interviews, please refer to the following
Could you please briefly introduce yourself first?
I am Willie, known as “威力” in the NFT and cryptocurrency community in Taiwan. I believe many people are already familiar with me. I used to work as the Asia Regional Lead at Alpacadabraz (羊駝), but recently I have left that team. Currently, I am focusing on my work in the dental field under Web2 and based in Scotland. Lately, I have been taking a more laid-back approach in managing my own community. Despite leaving Alpacadabraz, I am still enthusiastic about the Web3 space and continue to hold investments in other projects. I am also involved in the builder process and continue to move forward in this industry with a group of close-knit community friends.
Did you first get into cryptocurrencies or NFTs?
I first got into cryptocurrencies and the NFT space through the videos of Teacher Lee Hartley. Initially, I entered the cryptocurrency market because purchasing NFTs required using cryptocurrencies, so I needed to understand how to buy cryptocurrencies before diving into the NFT space. It was during a bull market, and it seemed like a guaranteed way to make money by simply buying in. Therefore, I registered on various exchanges and immersed myself in trading and research. At the same time, I also got involved in the NFT community, but it turned out to be a painful experience for me. I witnessed the prices of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) apes being around 0.3 to 0.4 ETH, and Teacher Lee Hartley was guiding step by step on how to buy ETH and acquire those apes. However, I missed out on that multi-million-dollar opportunity. Nevertheless, I continued to participate in the NFT space, eventually finding my way to Alpacadabraz and working there.
About Alpacadabraz, I heard that you were initially just a holder, is that correct?
Yes, initially I was just a holder of Alpacadabraz. I became aware of Alpacadabraz through Teacher Lee Hartley’s videos. Since Teacher Hartley is also a fan of Cyberpunk, Alpacadabraz originated from the punk community. At that time, Brainy, the CEO of Alpacadabraz, had connections with the punk community. The punk community had many supporters, so after watching Teacher Hartley’s videos, I started paying attention to Alpacadabraz and noticed that there were many holders in the Asian region but not many people managing it. Although there was a team and some Asian members, the community grew so large that it became difficult to manage and respond to demands. Therefore, I proposed to take on the role of a moderator. One of the main issues I identified was that there were a significant number of supporters in Asia, but there was a lack of manpower to convey messages and communicate with the community. So I got involved starting as a moderator.
The community distribution of Alpacadabraz is approximately evenly split between Asia and other countries. Why did they choose to reduce the operational funding for the Asian team?
Currently, their focus is shifting towards Web 2. Before I left the team, they suddenly announced that they would no longer be paying salaries to the moderators. Although they claimed that operations would continue, the actual execution of these activities was left to us, the moderators. Therefore, when they announced the salary cuts, I was very confused. I had the same question as you because we were the only remaining execution team. In the Alpacadabraz project, the European team is considered the core team, providing the main direction, while we were responsible for execution and collaboration. So I asked them what they planned to do if the execution team was removed. Eventually, I gradually understood that their main direction was shifting towards Web 2. Currently, in the community, the core team is still there but no one is executing activities. Communication is mainly done through announcements.
How did you first learn about E-DAMER? And what made you decide to purchase it?
I have always been interested in shoes, so when I heard about this project, I was excited. Additionally, I was already aware of Tommy’s presence because anyone into shoes would know about his custom sneakers. So when I heard about this project, I really wanted to be involved and worked hard to qualify for the whitelist. Tommy generously agreed and made me a community OG member, hoping that we could develop together. This was great for me, so I decided to participate no matter how many NFTs were available.
Later on, I learned that there was an opportunity for shoe swapping, which got me even more interested. Initially, I bought two pairs of shoes and ended up receiving three pairs. Now I only have two pairs left, along with some RNFTs. Recently, I also redeemed a REVO.
You mentioned that you collect sneakers. Is there a particular pair of shoes that stands out to you?
I don’t have a specific pair of collected sneakers that stands out to me. When I first got into sneakers as a child, my most memorable experience was an event held in collaboration between my elementary school and a local sports store called “微笑運動用品.” On that day, all items were sold at a 50% discount. I looked forward to this event and would buy a lot of things each time, including clothes and shoes, and I would wear them until they no longer fit, eagerly awaiting the next opportunity.
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Specifically, I can’t point out a particular shoe, but it has been a continuous journey since then. Starting from elementary school to junior high, I got involved in buying and selling sneakers. In high school, I started doing bulk transactions of sneakers. The reason I got involved in buying and selling sneakers was that there were some shoes I liked but they were too expensive to ask my parents to buy for me, so I found ways to do it myself. I discovered price differences in the sneaker market, and sometimes I would import shoes from overseas and wait for the prices to go up before selling them, using the profits to get the sneakers I liked. So I can’t say there’s a specific collectible item in my life, but it has been a very profound journey and memory for me.
Have you encountered counterfeit shoes during this buying and selling process?
During the process of buying and selling sneakers, I have encountered a situation where I bought a pair of counterfeit shoes. It’s possible that there were counterfeit shoes among the ones I handled before, but I simply wasn’t aware of it at the time. However, I have never sold counterfeit shoes to others, or at least never had anyone verify that the shoes I sold were fake after the sale.
I once received a pair of fake shoes, specifically the first reverse-hook version of Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 High, which I purchased in Spain. At that time, most people in Spain, upon obtaining this pair of shoes, were only focused on the price and quickly reselling them, so they wouldn’t notice the potential increase in value afterward. I remember receiving around ten to twenty pairs in Spain, and the first pair I received looked the most authentic and even came with the order details from the Nike app. However, after inspecting the other pairs and then revisiting the first pair, I noticed some odd colors and details that made me suspect they might be fake. Although I had the proof of purchase, I couldn’t locate the seller.
If you were a designer at The Remade, what kind of design or features would you want?
I would want my design to have extravagant and unique features. I would choose a bright pink color as the base of the shoe and incorporate some special functionalities. For example, the shoes would make a sound when stepped on, such as a thunder-like sound with each step. For sneakers, I want them to immediately stand out as something different from others. For instance, the recent popular panda colorway (Nike Dunk Low Retro White Black) is versatile and easy to match, but I wouldn’t want to encounter someone else wearing the same shoes when walking down the street. Therefore, I would like to design a shoe that is unique and extraordinary.
E-DAMER has currently redeemed five different shoes, which ones have you redeemed?
So far, I have only redeemed the REVO. I didn’t redeem any before because I wanted to collect RNFTs first. I thought I would save them until I came across a pair of shoes that I really love and then exchange them all at once. I really liked some of the conceptual designs that E-DAMER introduced before, such as the Jelly shoes and the Chicago colorway, as well as the later RE:DREAMER purple-gold colorway. I liked them all, but I resisted the urge to redeem them. However, I genuinely love the REVO. If I could still exchange my RNFTs for the REVO today, I would definitely exchange all of my RNFTs for the REVO because I really adore it.
Currently, I’m still holding onto my RNFTs, even though I may have missed out on some great shoes. But I believe that Tommy, E-DAMER, and The Remade will surely release more and even better shoes in the future.
How do you currently feel about wearing REVO after wearing it for a while?
I have a great feeling about REVO. I think it’s an amazing shoe that is severely underrated. I primarily wear it in the clinic because when you have to sit for long hours in a clinic, wearing a pair of stiff or uncomfortable shoes can make your waist and back uncomfortable. However, what I find remarkable about REVO is that when you wear it, it seems to absorb the energy from your body, and with every step, it injects that energy back, which is my genuine experience with REVO. Each step feels like it completely absorbs the energy you exert and then springs back with a burst of vitality when you lift your foot. I truly love REVO, and while it’s difficult to put into words, basic descriptors like comfortable, soft, and breathable are universally understandable. But I think the best way to describe it is that it genuinely makes you happier.
I have already switched a pair and given it to my nurse, and I plan to switch another pair for my boss, gradually expanding the reach. I believe this is a good direction, and I hope to see more dentists and nurses wearing REVO in the future. Additionally, if anyone wants to sell REVO, they can let me know to avoid platform fees. Selling it would be a regrettable decision because they are truly fantastic to wear.
Regarding the ERC 6672 protocol for RE:DREAMER
Let me start with the most common protocols. ERC-20 is used for token protocols, ERC-721 is used for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), each of which is unique. ERC-1155, on the other hand, allows for the ownership of multiple quantities of NFTs. Next is ERC-998, which can combine multiple NFTs together, such as Elysium’s mecha. There are also protocols that are less related to NFT applications. One of them is ERC-6551, which allows storing tokens within an NFT. For example, I can store USDT in this NFT, and when I transfer the NFT, the USDT inside it will also be transferred. ERC-6672, on the other hand, is used to store some points or state records within it. For instance, if I visit a beverage store today and interact with their POS machine, there will be a state record on the NFT, indicating that I made a purchase and earned a certain amount of points.
Essentially, ERC-6672 is responsible for managing its own state records. For example, if you organize an event and distribute Willie points on-site, you can send them to their ERC-6672 NFT. In the future, if you want to reward the holders of these points, you can read the state of ERC-6672 to check the amount of points and exchange them for different rewards based on different point thresholds. Once the exchange is complete, the points will be deducted.
Dabao:
In the future world, factories will increasingly focus on environmental conservation and adhere to the principles of sustainable production. For example, they may utilize eco-friendly materials like solar energy and transition into small-scale or tourist-oriented factories. These factories could be built near cities or communities and produce items such as clothing, pants, hats, shoes, and other goods. In the future, consumers will be able to customize or design their own items on websites and even connect with online designers or AI designers to create personalized fashion styles. Then, the factories will inform consumers when they can pick up their orders. These supply chains may be connected to blockchain, forming a complete production chain where every aspect is recorded on the blockchain. This has been Tommy’s long-standing idea and concept, and we are working towards realizing this vision.
Furthermore, I understand that holders may be interested in knowing that their initial purchase of E-DAMER was for the purpose of later exchanging it for goods using RNFT. In reality, we are planning for a longer-term future. However, our company is currently in a phase of continuous investment and lacks the necessary organization for smooth development. So, the future I mentioned earlier is something we envision together, and adjustments need to be made along the way. For example, improving the exchange protocol layer, enhancing the exchange experience, and adjusting waiting times. After these improvements, we will incorporate all goods into the system. By then, RNFT will become a crucial role within the entire ecosystem, leading to outstanding performance for RNFT and bringing more value to E-DAMER, which generates RNFT.
Willie:
The transformation you mentioned is significant. As the project team, we certainly hope that the holders can better understand us. We are currently in a very challenging environment. Starting with the Blur.io trading platform, royalty fees vanished instantly, cutting off the project’s source of income, and the arrival of the bear market has noticeably reduced trading volume. All these factors are very unfriendly to small and medium-sized projects, leading to the current market slump.
While we hope for understanding from the community, ultimately, the project team needs to strike a balance with the community. The project team has its own demands, and the holders have their own demands as well. From the holders’ perspective, everyone wants sneakers. But if we keep releasing sneakers, we’ll just be burning through money. In the future, E-DAMER may also pause its operations because of this. Why not slow down a bit and give the project team some breathing space? Both sides need to understand each other because that’s the advantages of Web3. Holding this project is not just about its empowerment; more importantly, it’s about hoping for its growth and bringing better returns. These returns are not just monetary; they’re also participating in a historically transformative revolution.
For example, with CloneX, the reason we want to participate is that it’s the first project invested in by Nike. Even if Nike withdraws later, at least it’s something Nike wanted to be a part of. So whatever they bring, even if it’s not great now, I can see that they will think of early supporters. The significance of participating in a project is being involved early on, and it’s not necessarily about making money, but you can participate in the entire history.
I believe you still have a good communication channel because empowerment, relatively speaking, is simple, and shoe-centric positioning is not complicated. I have observed the communities of The Remade and E-DAMER, and I think everyone is rational, with no negative comments, threats, or hostility. Everyone wants the project team to truly connect with them and communicate sincerely. The entire E-DAMER community is actually very united. We are all striving for the same goal while being able to exchange for things we like, even if it might take a bit longer. But for me, it’s okay because I can also participate in this history. I believe that’s the best balance point.
