X2Y2 Twitter Space: The Implementation of Public Welfare Projects and the Launch of Black Cat's New Contract

Author: X2Y2

Host (X2Y2): @alex_pengfei

Guests:

X2Y2 Ambassador B

Cat-Dog War Initiator BayMax

MIMIC SHHANS Ambassador Hebe

Black Cat Community Co-builder Fearless Zi

Recording Link

Alex: Welcome everyone to our Space today. The network is a bit laggy, so it might be a bit troublesome for everyone to join. I am your host Alex, and today is X2Y2's Space. We have two topics today, but they will still be somewhat related: the implementation of a charity project initiated by our community ambassadors, and the launch of the new Black Cat contract. Let's briefly ask each guest to introduce themselves.

B: I am Brother B. I started getting involved in blockchain around 2018, initially participating in a more observational manner. It wasn't until 2020 that I began researching NFTs, working on many NFT-related assets and participating in the construction of various communities. In 2021, I discovered X2Y2 and contributed to it, and I was fortunate enough to become an X2Y2 ambassador, helping to build the entire community. I am currently also building products in this space, hoping to make more friends in Web3 and share and learn together.

Fearless: Hello everyone, I am Fearless. I also got involved in blockchain around 2017 but didn't participate deeply until the end of the previous year due to NFTs. I have been involved in community building as a creator and have enjoyed playing in decentralized communities like the cat community.

BayMax: I entered the space in June. Last year, I was trading coins and contracts but found that contracts weren't suitable for me. My background is in investment and real business, and I hope to meet many friends in Web3. We are firm believers in Web3, and I believe it will develop in the future, including but not limited to NFTs.

Alex: Our first topic is Brother B's previous charity project, which was also initiated by BayMax, namely the Cat-Dog War and the charity project to rescue cats. They successfully issued NFTs and donated the proceeds to help small animals in need. What insights or inspirations do you think this project can bring to NFTs, Brother B?

B: This project is quite interesting. We initially started it through pure online discussions, including Twitter Space with many friends, myself, Fa Ge, Da Bai, and some well-known contributors. There was no project party; we were more like initiators, continuously building this project together.

The project was initiated and the NFTs were officially issued and sold with the help of all community members, built together through Space, with no initial investment, just a lot of effort.

We successfully issued the NFTs, with the first phase being two thousand pieces, which sold out quickly. We used the royalties for offline charity rescues. The first implementation was with overseas community members, specifically in Spain, where we helped some stray animals by building small shelters and buying dog food to feed them. This was initiated by our community.

Later, we used the royalties to support a kind-hearted person in Beijing who rescues stray animals. We bought some deworming medicine for the dogs because some stray animals can get infected outside. At that time, the royalties were around one to two thousand RMB. This was our second rescue, funded by royalties. Da Bai participated more in this aspect, while I focused more on promotion. Many friends have seen this; that's roughly the situation.

Alex: I wonder what different points you felt as an initiator during the implementation process, BayMax? What did you learn compared to other NFT projects, and what unique feelings can it bring us?

BayMax: The reason we launched this project was that we felt the reputation of domestic NFTs in the entire Web3 was not very good, especially among our own people. Many foreigners have a rather limited understanding of us because many have been scammed, leading to a lot of negative news.

We originally wanted to vindicate domestic NFTs, showing that we are not just in it for profit; we can also do meaningful things for society. This was our starting point. The initiators quickly came together, forming a discussion group and an execution group, with about dozens of people involved, mostly self-contributors supporting the project. Through this project, we also met many friends.

I had previously done charity offline, helping Hope Primary Schools, where I was in Beijing, close to Hebei. We helped a school that was ranked among the lowest in the city become the top school. This was quite impactful for me. While doing the Cat-Dog War charity project, we also wondered if charity projects could influence more people. When we launched the first phase, the European participants were actually our holders, friends we met through Web3, and we started chatting.

Everyone knows that royalties grow slowly, so I personally funded some rescues for small animals without wanting publicity, simply wanting to do this. Charity itself is meaningful even if we can influence just one more person. Importantly, we hope more people will participate, and those who love cats and dogs can learn about more stray animals and help if they can.

The support from the initiators and the execution group around us is crucial for the project to reach where it is now. What deeply touched me is that Web3, compared to Web2, allows people to gather around a common goal or value, enabling them to do things together. This is what I find cool about Web3.

Alex: Thank you very much. I think it is indeed a cool thing. Web3's impact on the real world is multifaceted, and this is a great example. The other two guests we invited are also from the Black Cat community, which is a very typical case of NFTs creating connections and having a positive impact on the real world. The Black Cat community has also held many offline events, which can be seen as a product of the NFT Crypto virtual world coming into the real world and positively influencing it.

Hebe: It was quite difficult. I checked earlier, and it seems there are over twenty Spaces today, and my VPN was down, but I switched it, and now it's fine. Everyone should have introduced themselves by now, so let me briefly introduce myself.

Those who play with Black Cat should be familiar with me. I participated in Mimic from the beginning and have maintained a close relationship with them as an artist. I also have another identity in Web3, working as a CMO in marketing. Currently, the team is preparing a Web3 platform similar to group buying, which will also serve some NFT project parties. For example, Neymar will launch a new NFT project during the World Cup. Personally, I am mainly responsible for cats and artists.

Alex: Thank you very much, Hebe. We mainly discussed the implementation of Brother B's previous charity project, which has been expanded to the NFT community, including how NFTs themselves impact real life.

B: Earlier, we talked about some empowerment and the offline implementation. I will pin the previous offline implementation for everyone to take a look. I am also one of the earliest participants in the Black Cat community. I have a Social Beast store in Hangzhou, which includes a whole wall dedicated to Black Cat, and we have hosted many Black Cat events here.

Both projects are themed around small animals, and they are very loving projects, meaningful for both Web2 and Web3. NFTs are not just about trading images; they are more about grounding connections between people. I have made many friends in the Black Cat community, and I know Hebe in real life, and we have had some exchanges.

Alex: I encourage everyone to support Brother B's offline store in Hangzhou. I haven't been there yet, but I will definitely go when I have the chance. Speaking of the impact on the real world, the Black Cat community is a very typical case. How does it impact the real world? As a builder, how does the NFT community influence real life?

Hebe: I can think of both online and offline aspects. Online, community members have links almost every day, and these links extend into different groups. I believe these groups not only enhance emotional connections but also improve personal understanding. For example, Black Cat University, previously there was also Black Cat storytelling, and they hold singing competitions, which are entertaining. So the online connections are very tight and have intertwined with many parts of life. The cats have held offline events in over a dozen cities, and those who love Black Cats tend to have some artistic flair, leading to many artistic creations offline, such as exhibitions and physical works of Black Cat, which can be seen in cafes and cakes, with Black Cat featured in various physical forms.

The offline connections are deeper; they may be shorter but more intense than online ones. Currently, I can think of both online and offline aspects, both of which are integrated into daily life.

Fearless should also have many insights. Previously, he helped make a batch of T-shirts for the cats, which received a series of positive feedback from the community.

Fearless: First of all, I should mention that the charity project done by X2Y2 was also participated in by Bai. I first learned about this charity project when I was talking to Bai about Black Cat in the Black Cat room. I saw this project and quickly bought one, even though the overall revenue was average. This touches a soft spot in everyone's heart—the warmth between people and animals, which comes at a low cost and shows support for the cause.

I believe the same is true in other communities. Many people have participated in and promoted various rescue organizations. Some friends may not have joined large organizations but have adopted pets or taken in stray animals, touching that soft part of their hearts.

Within our Black Cat community, everyone is figuring out how to bring online graphics and digital IP into real life, creating various lifestyle products. The Black Cat community is not just me making these products; there are keychains, car stickers, and other items made by different members, including those from other projects.

Looking at this, it is a simple connection to daily life. A deeper connection is like the MatterSpace in Beijing and Brother B's space in Hangzhou, but still within the same industry. I believe that one day, whether this month, next month, or in the coming months, the operators or managers of these spaces may not have been exposed to blockchain before but will soon be able to obtain licenses for these authorized or CC0 projects to decorate their spaces and add cultural elements to their regular activities. This phenomenon should be seen soon.

It’s not just that these things will only be used by those who play in Web3; if they can enter spaces or activities that haven't engaged with Web3, I think that would be the best phenomenon. I believe this will happen soon. Other project communities are also doing similar things, continuously informing operators who haven't deeply engaged with Web3 about the benefits of incorporating their images or IP into their operations, pushing these ideas to them. This is currently one of the hottest ongoing phenomena, and many friends are silently contributing efforts.

Alex: Now, every member of the Black Cat community is doing their own thing and using this IP to meet offline or hold events. Fearless, do you think this is a model of community autonomy? Compared to previous efforts, which are also typical examples of community autonomy, how does the Black Cat case differ? What are its strengths or weaknesses?

Fearless: Personally, I feel it cannot be considered a model but rather a relatively radical autonomous community. Each community is composed differently, and many NFT projects, including Black Cat, have high compatibility and inclusivity.

I have previously participated in building other communities, and Black Cat provides ample freedom for builders with different life states, needs, and purposes, as everyone is unique and has their own characteristics. What I feel most deeply here is that in the original world, in the old order, we often see that once someone achieves a position or some success in life, they tend to abandon their original profession or skills to take on a so-called management role, feeling they can command others. However, in the Black Cat community, many people who may hold important management positions in real life are doing basic tasks, such as coordinating communication and setting times for very simple and concrete matters. This self-driven aspect is a unique feature that I don't see in traditional business activities or other Web3 communities, where everyone is willing to do the most fundamental things and not lose their original skills. This is what resonates with me the most.

Alex: Understood. Thank you very much. Brother B is also part of the Black Cat community. What are your feelings about Black Cat? Are there any particular cases or events that left a deep impression on you? Did the community play a significant role in the launch of the new contract, or is the new contract not particularly special? Please share your thoughts.

B: I will briefly share. I first encountered Black Cat during a Space at NFT Aerfa, where it was a zero-cost purchase. Two holders from the Black Cat community were not particularly active at that time. There was a heated argument in Fa Ge's Space, where one holder felt Black Cat shouldn't promote or create FOMO, while another thought that holding an NFT meant they needed to FOMO and promote.

Due to this topic, there was some controversy between the two holders, and they even scheduled a separate debate in Space. I learned about Black Cat through that incident. Initially, I wasn't particularly optimistic because before I got involved with Black Cat, there was a project called Mosquito that had some issues, leading to a collapse of consensus in the community. So I wasn't very optimistic at first.

After that argument, they scheduled another debate, which I found very interesting, so I decided to buy in when the price was very low. At that time, Blue Star also said they would give me some, but I had already made my move and was watching slowly.

Since I am involved in many things, I later integrated some empowerment into my products, including a media app that features Black Cat themes.

I had some interaction with the Black Cat founders regarding my product. My view on the new contract is that perhaps the founders of Black Cat were not particularly familiar with blockchain technology or lacked sufficient funding or resources because they were previously in a working state. I believe that OpenSea is simpler, but many parameters need to be set, which is not easy. Everyone is quite moved, feeling that this entrepreneurial process has a certain emotional connection to these small animals or Black Cats, which is very good.

Upgrading is certainly necessary. After the upgrade, it will allow more people to understand this contract, whether through OpenSea trading, X2Y2, or other platforms. I believe this will help generate more traffic.

However, there will also be some who do not upgrade. I think we shouldn't worry too much about these things because the Black Cat community is self-organized or decentralized, and everyone has their own things to do. Those who buy Black Cats are more about entering Web3 to make friends. For me, that motivation is not particularly important; it's just that if someone cares about it later, they can buy it. If not, that's fine too. I believe in letting things develop naturally.

Alex: It seems that a Black Cat holder has also raised their hand. I'm not sure if they want to speak or echo. Hebe, would you like to share your thoughts on the launch of the new contract and community autonomy?

Hebe: I want to add that perhaps everyone is indeed not very familiar with the original contract of Black Cat. As Brother B mentioned, there was a reason for this; the artist was likely working alone at that time, so there wasn't much support in terms of funding, resources, and technology, which led to the choice of launching directly on OpenSea. Another reason was that the artist felt that allowing people to choose their favorite cats directly on OpenSea was better than the traditional minting method, which involves opening blind boxes on their own website. This was also one of the reasons.

Perhaps the first reason played a larger role; they didn't initially intend to switch contracts, but the entire event gradually saw more holders coming in, and there were questions or proposals regarding the contract's extensibility and security. So they slowly accepted the opinions of community members. It can indeed be said that the contract was promoted and facilitated by all the cat holders in the community, making it a very community-driven event.

About two to three weeks before October 14, we were preparing for a very large celebration for October 14. We had accumulated some Black Cat treasury, and we recruited a significant portion of the team to plan this event. However, due to the 20th National Congress, the offline gatherings originally planned for October 14 were canceled in about eight or nine cities. We then shifted to gathering everyone in Space to celebrate the event on October 14.

The effect that day was quite good, with over a thousand friends joining at the peak. The October 14 event was entirely spontaneous, with no profit motives involved, and the entire contract switch event was indeed driven by the community. Earlier, there was another question; Alex, could you repeat that?

Alex: After the contract launch, how did the community react? What are your thoughts on this matter? Because some people switched, and some did not.

Hebe: I believe switching contracts is definitely a good thing. From any perspective, ERC721 will have more extensibility. With 1155, we couldn't see the actual rarity of Black Cats, and many tool platforms didn't support it. The chances of being seen by foreigners on some data dashboards were significantly lower, which had certain limitations. Now that we have switched to ERC721, the possibility of stepping onto the world stage has increased, whether on trading platforms or any other platforms. The extensibility and overall direction will be broader, which is a positive aspect I see.

Regarding the concerns mentioned earlier, there will certainly be some who did not switch. I have discussed this with the artist before. There was a similar project in Korea that was quite large, run by a significant company there, also on a supply chain Ethereum.

On the day the contract was terminated, about twenty percent of NFTs had not been transferred to ETH. But the reason some people did not switch chains might be due to expectations, thinking that the total quantity on the original chain would deflate, thus increasing value. However, based on experience, this is generally not the case. When all attention and the project's subsequent roadmap shift to the new contract, the items on the original chain will gradually be abandoned.

After all items were switched, the original project's collection essentially lost its value, but it did not affect the value of the collection that switched to ETH. So based on past experiences, switching contracts may leave some remnants and cause some deflation, but value will not depreciate due to splits or remnants. Recently, we have also been conducting a series of activities to encourage everyone to migrate their original 1155 contracts to ERC721. For example, OKX has also collaborated with us on some activities, where any holder of the ERC721 contract can enter a lottery.

Shan has also initiated an incentive activity to encourage everyone to quickly transfer their assets. Afterward, there may be new roadmap benefits for Mimic holders, which the original 1155 contract holders will not enjoy. All roadmaps will be based on the ERC721 contract cats. Once all ERC721 transfers are completed, the extensibility of Mimic and the potential for global outreach will certainly increase, and as the roadmap continues to expand, it will definitely improve.

Alex: Is there anyone who wants to echo? Thank you very much, Hebe, for your detailed explanation. The next question goes to Fearless. What new visions do you have for the Black Cat community in the future?

Fearless: This vision can only be a personal one, as everyone is acting independently, and there isn't a specific community development plan. Shan himself plays a supportive role in the community. The project has been thriving for a long time, and community members have continuously proposed that using the ERC721 contract would provide broader space. Shan has been seriously considering this for over two months. This is clearly a community-driven initiative, with Shan acting as a supporter.

Of course, we tend to understand it as the project party, but in essence, the final result is that individuals contribute their own resources and efforts. The important thing is to push for the conversion to ERC721, which is currently still in progress, with about sixty percent completed. This is a very decentralized community achieving a serious result or driving force.

In the future, I share the same view as Brother B, as this community possesses certain social attributes. The fact that people argue is not why we joined Black Cat; rather, it is this sense of social attribute that is strong. It is not about reaching a consensus or everyone being harmonious; it is more about being attracted by the contradictions and misunderstandings that we usually perceive. I believe this will lead to a healthy ecosystem in the future, with a rich composition of people and events, creating a fascinating state of evolution.

I believe Brother B felt the same way at that time. We were attracted by these elements, feeling that we left a possibility in our hearts and for the future. By observing closely, we can figure out what we can do, pushing forward with specific tasks that align with our expertise, becoming small elements of this ecosystem. I hope the Black Cat community continues to explore in a decentralized manner, organizing explorations in a decentralized form, including executing any significant tasks like contract switching or other serious matters through decentralized means. This gives confidence to all friends engaged in the Web3 industry, regardless of their profession or field.

Decentralization is possible; it is not just an ideal or a dream but something that can be realized. My perspective may be limited, but I have seen this possibility in Black Cat, and it is achievable.

What is most exciting is that the Black Cat contract switch is like today. Brother B also mentioned a small interaction with Shan and media applications. It is not that the Black Cat community has helped these applications; rather, all friends engaged in different businesses in this industry have a yearning for decentralization and are willing to move closer to it. We release press releases, and sometimes we can't even find out who issued them. Some press releases mention Black Cat and the switch to the ERC721 contract, but we can't find out who sent them.

Everyone has likely worked on projects that require designated personnel to issue such press releases and contact media. The switch to the ERC721 contract, including OpenSea, is something that many people have a somewhat distant yet close relationship with. Many things originally required a certain level of data to be achieved, but once everyone confirmed that this contract is real—that it is the Black Cat community's ERC721 project—things quickly moved forward smoothly. Several different trading platforms rapidly connected the information and links, bringing it to the public.

All these actions represent our struggle in this world, where there is still a glimmer of hope to practice the dreams we once spoke of or those uncertain dreams. There is still a spark of light, an unquenchable flame.

Alex: Thank you very much. I think you made some good points. The last question goes to BayMax. As an initiator, and considering that the Black Cat community is an NFT project that empowers the real world, have you thought about doing other projects that impact real life?

BayMax: I have always admired and respected the Black Cat project because not only in the presence of Black Cat family members but also when they are not around, my friends and I believe that Black Cat is the No.1 community in China.

We have carefully analyzed the Black Cat model and how it has managed the community so well, and we are learning from it. However, we unanimously believe that there will not be a second Black Cat, so we are thinking about how to empower our projects more, not just through charity projects. The capacity of charity projects, in terms of quantity and content, has some limitations, which is quite different from Black Cat.

We are considering how to draw from some of Black Cat's experiences to improve domestic projects. My personal view is still about bridging Web2 and Web3, combining online and offline, but where to land this depends on the resource advantages of different initiators or project parties. It is a process of continuously connecting points to lines and lines to surfaces.

Alex: I believe we do need some projects that help us grow together. Whether participating in communities like Black Cat or initiating NFT projects ourselves, it is essential for the Chinese community to explore and break away from the mindset of merely trading images or exploiting others, which is something worth reflecting on.

BayMax: Regarding the issue of trading images, I have a particular view on this in recent days. I believe these people have their rationality, but I think they cannot accompany project parties or Web3 for the long haul. Recently, we have also been collaborating with domestic platforms, which are facing the same issues; we must become builders to have possibilities.

Alex: I think there is some truth to that, but existence is rational. It’s not that those trading images are doing poorly; this is a form of competition, similar to trading coins.

It’s like our community supporting Ethereum as a better ecosystem, which has a profound impact on the entire blockchain world. It’s about whether we are trading SAP or other random coins. While both can be profitable, the question is which one will have a long-term impact on the future world. This is something we as builders need to think about.

Fearless: The issue of trading images is not significant. For people and events, there is a process of awakening, and for events, there is a process of development.

People have a process of awakening, and events have a process of advancement. In the past, many gatherings and themes of heroism, whether in books, stories, legends, or movies, show us the awakening process of a person or a protagonist.

Initially, they may be confused, not knowing what they are pursuing in this world. Then, one day, a simple event stimulates them, prompting them to decide to fight for it. This is an awakening process. In the current blockchain space, even some friends who believe in the "scythe culture" are in a state of clearing, but this development process provides a stage for everyone to realize their heroism. This is how I view these matters. Some may wonder if blockchain is a dark forest, if there are no project parties, or if there are no serious people doing work. I don't see it that way; things need a process and time.

Alex: No problem. Brother B, please share your final thoughts.

B: I will conclude by adding that regardless of any project, Web3 is just beginning. Many big blue-chip projects like Bored Apes, Azuki, etc., have some memories in the historical development process, representing a form of decentralization that has already left its mark in Web3 history.

When we do charity projects, the short-term price is not particularly critical; what matters is whether we have left a genuine contribution to society in the environment of Web3 or in future history. This significance is immense. When we do this charity project, it is not about making money; I believe it is crucial to see this as a historical witness. Of course, we will also do other charity projects in the future, but I personally believe we should view issues with a developmental perspective, not overly concerned with short-term fluctuations or price trends.

Certainly, there will be some short-termists, as Fearless mentioned, and there will be those trading images. As Web3 civilization or this era arrives, different people will exist. We can rationally view this issue from our own perspective, looking at it with a developmental mindset, gradually exploring a sustainable path that can be developed or continuously built.

Alex: Understood. Both of you have made excellent points. Today's Space is drawing to a close. Thank you all for your support, and also thanks to everyone from the Black Cat community and those involved in the Cat-Dog War and charity projects.