EXCLUSIVE: Matt Higgins About Passing On CryptoPunks; Lessons From Crypto, NFTs; And The Exciting Potential Of Blockchain Technology – Ethereum (ETH/USD)
Entrepreneur andRSE Ventures CEO Matt Higgins has been in the cryptocurrency and NFT spaces for years and seen it all.
Higgins sharedwith Benzinga his lessons learned and what could be next for Web3 in general.
Higgins is a featured panelist at Benzingas Future of Crypto in New York City on Dec. 7.
History with NFTs, Cryptocurrency: When asked about his history with non-fungible tokens, Higgins knew exactly where he was when he had his first experience.
Higgins loves and hates telling the story.
Higgins recalledbeing at a dinner with Gary Vaynerchuk (aka Gary Vee) and getting told to buy five CryptoPunks.
These little JPEGs called CryptoPunks were going to be huge, Higgins told Benzinga, recalling Vees advice.
Instead of buying them, Higgins asked “Why?”, a move he said every other rational human would have also asked.
Digital ownership will be represented on the blockchain. The blockchain will be used for ticketing and on and on.
While Higgins began to come around, he still questioned why CryptoPunks, which Vee responded to bysaying that it was because theyre the OG.
I ignored it and over the next several months spent time watching the space.
Higgins said he hadmade every mistake in the cryptocurrency and NFT sectors and he wasproud of it. This includes being hacked, being rug-pulled and chasing s**tcoins to $0.
All that learning is incredibly valuable. I dont regret a single thing.
Whats Next for Crypto, NFTs: Higgins said he hadseen this pattern play out before and it wasimportant to be on the edge.
Now is the ultimate opportunity with capitulation underway, Higgins told Benzinga. I have never lost sight of how exciting the blockchain is and the potential.
Higgins is a fan of Ethereum ETH/USD and Ethereum Name Services ENS/USD.
I do think ETH is the winner, you do want one scalable Layer 1.
Higgins said he is shocked at how many people who have earned their battle scars in crypto and NFTs are now capitulating.
If you wait for your conviction to be validated by the marketplace before you invest or take action, youll miss your opportunity, he noted.Higgins added that he meantinvesting with time and commitment and not financially, in this case.
Future of Crypto Event: Higgins said it wasimportant to have in-real-life events as Web3 can enable isolation. Events can be good for mental health.
You want to look people in the eye, Higgins said.
Higgins is speaking at Future of Crypto on a panel titled,The Status of Venture Funding in Crypto and Web3.
When asked who he was excited to hear speak at Future of Crypto, Higgins shared several panelists.
I would always pay any amount of money to hear the Mooch (Anthony Scaramucci) speak.
Higgins wasalso excited to hear fellow Shark Tank host Kevin OLeary. Higgins served as a guest Shark on the show previously.
Mr. Wonderful is always worth the price of admission.
Higgins wasalso an investor in Yuga Labs and excited to hear co-founder Greg Solano.
Im curious to watch the first real institutional player make their way and what their strategy is.
Higgins also lovedinvesting in infrastructure plays such asImmutableXIMX/USD, whichwill also be speaking at the event.
Higgins has a new book called Burn the Boats coming out on Dec. 14 that looks at the topic of hesitation and hedging instead of going all in.
Higgins calledthe book a little bitgenre-defining,covering self-help, business and being a bit of a memoir.
Higgins partnered with Shopping.io to allow people to buy the book with cryptocurrency, helping set a new standard for e-commerce. Higgins believedwe will look back and laugh at this, in the sense of books were not readily available to be bought with crypto.
Hear Matt Higgins and many more speakers at Benzingas Future of Crypto on Dec. 7 in New York City. Get tickets here.
