Should you had gotten into crypto earlier, you’d most likely be a millionaire by now. Not less than, that’s the widespread sentiment shared by those that missed the boat on the 2013 and/or 2017 Bitcoin booms. Hindsight is nearly all the time 20/20, however we can’t change what has occurred prior to now. Moderately, we are able to solely use our expertise to arrange for and construct for our personal future.
That is exactly the angle of Daniel Maegaard, higher recognized within the NFT house because the influential collector and investor Seedphrase. Having made a small fortune by investing in Bitcoin and altcoins almost a decade in the past, he now not has to invest whether or not or not his investing targets are attainable. His story has been told, and he’s develop into considerably of a mannequin of prosperity in Web3.
But, whereas the excessive life undoubtedly fits him, Maegaard has discovered himself figuring out with the traditional rags-to-riches narrative much less and fewer. So as an alternative of stepping to his cue as a poster youngster for crypto-trading success, he’s now transferring in a course that appears considerably left-field for somebody of his distinctive stature. In 2023, he says he will probably be actively making an attempt to reshape his longstanding id.
Seven Trait, Sensible Cash Danny, Seedphrase, no matter you might name him, Maegaard’s id as a crypto savant is plain. Recognized all through the NFT house because the proprietor of CryptoPunk #8348, a.ok.a (arguably) the rarest of all CryptoPunks, his accolades as a collector, builder, and general proponent of blockchain tech are recognized to all who traverse the tokenized facet of Web3. However over the previous 12 months, a brand new side of Maegaard’s id has been launched to the general public.
Seedphrase the DJ, which the NFT group (and, to a lesser extent, the digital music group) is certain to have witnessed behind the decks at quite a lot of exhibits and festivals, has slowly develop into synonymous with Web3 celebration tradition. A personality that coincides with Maegaard’s influential Party Degenerates NFT undertaking ecosystem, Seedphrase — a DJ who presents himself clad in a helmet that’s visually equivalent to Punk #8348 — has began to tackle a lifetime of his personal.
“When it began, it was solely meant to be this one-off factor. Seedphrase was simply going to point out as much as a celebration and begin DJing,” Maegaard mentioned in an interview with nft now. “However after that first evening, and seeing the response from folks and receiving simply such an extremely optimistic response, I noticed that I might need one thing right here. That was form of the beginning of Seedphrase, after I truly realized, ‘Okay, I can take this someplace.’”
Having been featured in the New York Times shortly after that first celebration in November 2021, Maegaard leaned into the concept of turning Seedphrase into one thing palpable. However whereas the primary few appearances of the CryptoPunk DJ at worldwide exhibits and festivals may’ve felt random, Seedphrase’s newest surge in reputation is something however. Now that Maegaard has signed with international expertise firm WME, he’s taken time to push previous being labeled a “Web3 model of Marshmello,” and conceive a multifaceted existence for his burgeoning alter-ego.
NFT collector, CryptoPunk DJ, or one thing extra?
Over the following 12 months, Web3 will seemingly see a variety of Seedphrase. Collaborations with legacy style homes, a slew of dwell exhibits, and ventures in artwork, gaming, and extra are however a couple of of the pit stops on the proverbial roadmap for the rising DJ. For Maegaard, although, the enlargement of the Seedphrase model is the fruits of his work behind the scenes compartmentalizing his identities and solidifying what his new platform will stand for.
“Folks both know me as Daniel Maegaard or Seedphrase. I form of need to use this second for example the distinction between the 2. They coexist, however there’s clearly a person behind the masks as effectively,” mentioned Maegaard. And though he went on to notice that separating the character from the person is simpler mentioned than carried out, someway, Maegaard nonetheless appears to be thriving inside this division.
Lately, Seedphrase was reintroduced to the artwork world as a part of WME’s pop-up at nft now x Mana Widespread’s The Gateway in downtown Miami. There, he graced the DJ sales space, curated the vibe, and appeared alongside a wide range of influential Web3 creators. However whereas partygoers could have witnessed the DJ break character, revealing a sharp-dressed Maegaard beneath, the 2 had been nonetheless perceived as completely totally different folks.
On the one hand, Seedphrase, who was launched as a “manifestation of as we speak’s fringe tradition,” was on the job. He posed for images, hit a couple of dance strikes, and voicelessly floated across the venue because the face of the evening. However on the opposite, a joyful Maegaard, the early-stage crypto investor and distinguished NFT collector, hugged his longtime pals, exchanged pleasantries with the who’s who of NFTs, and carelessly sipped on craft cocktails.
Oddly sufficient, whereas Maegaard could have got down to create a significant model, he’s additionally now completely illustrating the malleable nature of digital id, one thing that others like multidisciplinary artist Snuffy have additionally taken nice curiosity in. Whereas id is a really troublesome idea to know — very true in a realm like Web3 and the NFT house the place nameless and pseudonymous people typically reign — Maegaard success in sustaining his sense of self whereas giving life to his on-line persona could present an archetype for others endeavoring to do the identical.
It’s essential to notice, although, that Maegaard’s want to capitalize on his Seedphrase id didn’t come frivolously. In line with the influential collector, whereas that aforementioned preliminary celebration helped kick off the DJ’s id, his longstanding ethos and excessive hopes for the way forward for Web3 had been the true catalysts behind the Seedphrase model.
“On the finish of the day, Seedphrase is supposed to embody this sacred mentality of what every of us holds expensive on this rising tech house. And to serve this form of cutting-edge voice that feeds the group with data, expertise, and knowledge,” mentioned Maegaard. “Your seed phrase, like your precise pockets seed phrase, is a gateway, a key to what you maintain expensive. That’s what I’m making an attempt to create now with the Seedphrase model itself. An individual that you may look to as a guiding mild in the neighborhood.”
