Solana Weekly #114 - Greater Fools Tells the Solana Story by TBoh
Solana Weekly with Tboh - "The Greater Fools" Book DiscussionGuest BackgroundTboh (Scott) is a professional author and screenwriter with 30 years of experience in Los Angeles. He previously had a successful true crime book that debuted at #1 on Amazon, appeared on major media outlets (Howard Stern, SNL, NBC), and became a Jeopardy answer. For the past 10-15 years, he's been ghostwriting for others, but decided to write about something he's passionate about: Solana.The Book: "The Greater Fools"* Genre: Fantasy/adventure story that teaches crypto concepts through narrative* Target Audience: 300 million fantasy/sci-fi readers worldwide who want to learn about crypto* Length: 110,000 words (originally planned for 50,000)* Timeline: 1.5 years in development (originally planned for 8 months)* Educational Goal: By the end, readers understand wallets, exchanges, blockchain basics, Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum, and how to avoid common scamsFunding and Community SupportTebow took an unconventional approach by raising "seed funding" for a novel:* Initial Investors: Jordan and Barage (DTP founders), Monterey Rice (Pandas CEO), Nana Trades, EJ the Cray* Community Backing: Exalt DAO (sub-community of Pandas) provided treasury funds* Solana Foundation: Gave him a booth at Breakpoint Singapore 2023* Investment Philosophy: Investors said "if we see the money again, great, but we want to support what you're doing"Solana NFT History Deep DiveThe conversation provides rich historical context about Solana's NFT evolution:Degen Apes - The Catalyst* Impact: Brought Solana to worldwide attention, caused network congestion* Significance: First major hyped mint that attracted people from other blockchains* Art Quality: Described as "Pixar-level" 3D art* Community: Focused on IP development, entertainment company aspirationsOther Major Collections* Degenerate Trash Pandas: Where Tebow found his community, focused on supporting struggling artists* Famous Foxes: Early utility pioneers, built essential NFT tools* Solana Monkey Business: "LinkedIn of Solana" - networking hub for builders and successful individuals* Okay Geckos: Gossip Goblin's collection, known for strong community support* DeGods: Described as having a "frat boy" culture, controversial but loyal communityNFTs vs. Meme Coins AnalysisNFT Communities (Historical)* Structure: Discord-based, PFP-driven tribal identity* Characteristics: Country club model - pay entry fee, stay for community value* Innovation Hub: Where most Solana tooling and infrastructure was developed* Longevity: Built for long-term community engagement* Shared Trauma: Community bonds strengthened during the FTX collapse and bear marketMeme Coins (Current)* Structure: Telegram-based, focused on quick gains* Philosophy: "Come make money and feel free to dump on me"* Timeframe: Shorter-term oriented* Capital Formation: Can go from zero to billions quicklyKey Insights on Solana's Competitive Advantages* User Experience: Superior wallet experience, negligible transaction fees* Artist Accessibility: Low barriers to entry for creators* Community Accessibility: Direct access to founders and CEOs via DMs* Developer Tools: Rapid innovation in NFT infrastructure* Battle-Tested Community: Survived FTX collapse and bear market togetherThe Future of NFTsBoth hosts believe NFTs will return because:* Established Communities: Collections like Monkey DAO, SMBs, and Geckos built lasting value* Unique Utility: Access to exclusive groups, deal flow, and networking opportunities* Proven Models: Examples like Quacks providing tiered access to investment opportunities* Undervaluation: Current NFT prices don't reflect the community infrastructure builtBook Marketing Challenges and StrategiesTebow faces unique challenges marketing a crypto book:* Timing Issue: Wrote during NFT winter when interest was low* Distribution Dilemma: Balancing Web3 native release vs. traditional publishing* Community Approval: Getting permission from all mentioned projects and collections* Innovative Distribution Ideas:* Serialized release on Drip House* NFT versions with different cover art* Compressed NFT distribution* Partnership with wallets for "stake-to-read" programsTechnical and Cultural Observations* Network Evolution: From network congestion during DGen Apes to current high performance* Gas Fee Psychology: Ethereum's high fees were bizarrely seen as status symbols* Community Loyalty: Many holders still maintain NFTs despite significant value drops* Innovation Through Adversity: Best tools and communities emerged during difficult timesPrice Predictions and BullishnessThomas boldly predicts $1,000 Solana, noting that the community has become hesitant to express extreme bullishness despite strong fundamentals and ecosystem growth. Get full access to The Dramas of Thomas Bahamas at thomasbahamas.substack.com/subscribe