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28/6/2023

NFTs Meet Memes: Will the Memeland Change the Game?

10 min read
June 28, 2023
Research by Surto.io

Website|Twitter

Established in 2008, 9GAG emerged as a pioneering force within the realm of internet meme culture. The zenith of its popularity witnessed a staggering monthly influx of over 70 million visitors, fervently disseminating an assortment of lighthearted visuals and videos. Distinct from its contemporaries in the nascent stages of social media, 9GAG has astutely repositioned itself, embarking on an unexpected trajectory, wholly committed to embracing the web3 epoch. In pursuit of this ambitious transition, substantial investments have been channeled into Memeland, a groundbreaking endeavor envisaged to amalgamate the platform's erstwhile triumphs with cutting-edge technological advancements. By perusing further, one shall delve into the comprehensive intricacies of this innovative enterprise.

What Is Memeland?

Website|Twitter|Discord

Memeland represents a web3 platform that revolves primarily around meme-inspired non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Backed by the financial support of 9GAG, the project is spearheaded by the esteemed CEO of 9GAG, Ray Chan. By intertwining elements reminiscent of memes from the expansive repertoire of 9GAG with a vibrant community centered around NFTs, Memeland engenders a distinctive amalgamation.

A notable facet that distinguishes Memeland from comparable NFT-driven social media initiatives, such as Reddit NFT, lies in its discernibly unique approach. Whereas the latter exclusively generates NFTs linked to Reddit avatars, Memeland unfolds with a multifaceted tapestry brimming with diversity and profundity.

Embarking upon a captivating narrative arc and infused with an intricately woven lore, the NFTs showcased on Memeland ascend beyond mere static collectibles. In fact, visionary plans have been set in motion to seamlessly transition towards a metaverse, thereby engendering an expansion of the Memeland economy. Furthermore, in alignment with the Memeland vision, epitomized by Chan, the ultimate aim entails fostering an environment wherein micro NFT trends are transformed into curated collections, empowering creators with complete autonomy over their prized NFT possessions. By harnessing the dynamic capabilities of Memeland, users are bestowed with the opportunity to engender transformative metamorphoses within their NFTs, crafting an unparalleled semblance of distinction and originality.

Memeland ecosystem

The memeland ecosystem consists of five elements:

  • —   MVP;
  • —   The Potatoz;
  • —   The Captainz;
  • —   The Treasure Islandz (TBA);
  • —   MEME.

You the Real MVP

The NFT acts as the premium membership of the Memeland ecosystem. MVP gives you access to an exceptional network of collectors, builders, creators, makers, entrepreneurs, professionals, and degens who share advice, information, knowledge, and skills openly to help each other win.

With MVP, users have the first access and information to the projects and products we will drop, including Potatoz, Captainz, Treasure Islandz, and more. This premium membership includes private access to the MVP lounge in Memeland Discord, preferential allowlist spots, NFT drops, IRL events, and other collaborations available exclusively for MVP members.

There are 420 unique NFT trophies in total and the minimum price on the secondary market is currently 63 ETH (~$110,000).

You the Real MVP on Bitcoin

In an unexpected move, Memeland has decided to transfer a portion of their prized collection, the You The Real MVP NFTs, to the Bitcoin blockchain. Out of the total stash of 119 NFTs, a staggering 111 will undergo a process known as "teleburning." This involves the creation of an Ethereum burn address within an inscription ID, followed by the transfer of the NFTs to that burn address. This action effectively links the NFTs to Bitcoin, thereby "migrating" them to the Bitcoin blockchain.

Although the price for these migrated NFTs has not been disclosed, it is expected to be considerably high. Speculation suggests that it could be valued at a minimum of 2 BTC, making it an exclusive acquisition beyond the reach of casual buyers.

This strategic move by Memeland marks a significant departure from previous instances where companies like Yuga Labs experimented with art drops on Bitcoin without impacting their primary collections. In this case, Memeland is deliberately shifting 1/4th of their most valuable collection, the MVPs, to the Bitcoin blockchain. It signifies a substantial commitment and highlights the importance of Bitcoin within the NFT ecosystem.

The Potatoz

The Potatoz is a collection of 9,999 utility-enabled PFPs that feature rarity-powered traits inspired by internet memes and pop culture. It was launched as a free mint in June 2022 and became a top 150 OpenSea collection in less than 69 days. Potatoz represents the base level membership of Memeland.

Potatoz follows a "grow to earn" structure, which entails the improvement of NFT over time, increasing its utility and, consequently, its value. In this mechanism, the holder primarily stakes their NFT and, in return, receives lottery tickets that can reward the holder with various bonuses. Staking in Memeland, or "growing" Potatoz, sends the NFT through different growth stages, each with varying yields obtained by the holder (the system is very similar to Moonbirds). Holders do not need to manually participate in the weekly lotteries. While they "grow" their Potatoz, they automatically partake in all activities. A Potatoz NFT cannot be listed for sale if it is still staked. Therefore, holders must cease growing Potatoz to list their NFTs for sale.

Holders of The Captainz NFTs gain access to a text channel on the Discord server of Memeland, which represents a game where participants can randomly "steal" treasure maps from each other, but they can also have their own maps stolen through a Discord bot command.

This feature serves as more of a meme gimmick and entertainment, but the Memeland community has embraced this idea.

The Captainz

The Captainz is a collection of 9,999 utility-enabled PFPs that feature rarity-powered traits inspired by pirates, internet memes, and pop culture. It is the premier collection of Memeland. Captainz represents the premier level membership of Memeland. Utility and perks available exclusively to the Captainz will be revealed in time.

Captainz have many perks; two of the most highly anticipated ones are $MEME and Treasure Islandz.

Captainz govern the Memeland DAO. The DAO will serve as a community-led vehicle to empower the growth and development of the Memeland ecosystem. The DAO will deploy resources toward projects and initiatives that further the Memeland mission. The DAO membership is open to all Captainz. Captainz will help make decisions regarding the DAO treasury, governance rules, partnerships, and beyond.

Previously, users could earn rewards by staking The Captainz NFT or The Potatoz NFT. However, the staking system has now been modified. To receive rewards, users need to stake a "Team" consisting of 1 The Captainz NFT and 3 The Potatoz NFT. As a reward, they will receive potions that can be used in the future to modify their NFTs.

Future innovations

Holders.com

Hong Kong based 9GAG Limited, operators of meme heaven 9GAG, have filed for the registration of the mark HOLDERS.COM at the USPTO. The company owns the domain Holders.com, which plans to develop into yet another meme-sharing paradise.

GMGM

It`s a platform that will allow artists and bloggers to monetize their content, just like the description on the official website says it will be the web3 equivalent of OnlyFans, but without the 18+ content.

Stakeland

Stakeland is a new solution for the decentralized staking of assets and NFTs. Currently, specific details are not available, but reports on the official Discord server from 9GAG CEO suggest their intention to compete with Lido and Rocketpool.

Petsland

There is no information about the Petsland project at the moment.

MEME

The entire Memeland ecosystem will be tied to the $MEME token.

Based on the data published by the Memeland team, 69% of the tokens will be distributed to community members, specifically MVP Holders, The Potatoz, and The Captainz, who are automatically added to the Allowlist to receive the MEME token.

The remaining tokens will be distributed among waitlist members. Each Potatoz holder received 1 code to join the waitlist, while each Captainz holder received 5 codes to join the waitlist, which they can use or share with other users.

Conclusion

Memeland, the leader in the NFT market, has successfully established a strong rapport and connection with the community over the years. This synergy has enabled them to construct a comprehensive ecosystem and amass a vast audience in the millions. In return, users align themselves with the project team`s vision and wholeheartedly support their continuous innovations. The 9GAG team has consistently delivered high-quality products, further solidifying their standing within the community.

The upcoming weeks are set to be highly eventful for Memeland and the NFT community. We can expect the following exciting developments:

  • —   The unveiling of The Captains NFT art.
  • —   The launch of MEME.
  • —   The minting of TBC (MVP on Bitcoin).

Therefore, MEME will become the connecting link within the entire ecosystem under the auspices of Memeland, and this fact brings immense prospects for token holders of MEME.

This material is provided for information purposes only. Surto is not an advisor. Nothing in this material should be construed as investment, financial, tax, legal, accounting, regulatory or other advice.

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