Tzvi Wiesel, co-founder and CEO of Baxus, returns to dive deep into the evolving world of tokenization, collectibles, and culture. From Pokémon card euphoria and anime streaming pivots to in-person events, POAPs, and the risks of over-tokenizing everyday life, this episode explores how Web3 continues to collide with nostalgia, utility, and real-world adoption. Tzvi shares why Baxus leads with product instead of blockchain jargon, how whiskey collecting fits into tokenization, and what brands can learn from Magic: The Gathering and Furbies when markets run hot.

This episode covers:

- Why Pokémon and nostalgic assets boom during crypto euphoria

- TinyTap and education as a surprising tokenization use case

- Anime.com, piracy, and free streaming powered by blockchain

- In-person events as the “meme coins” of the industry

- The rise of POAPs, digital passports, and privacy concerns

- How Baxus pitches tokenized whiskey without mentioning the chain

- Whiskey vs trading cards: consumption, scarcity, and long-tail value

Important Disclosures



This content is intended for educational purposes only. Please note that the availability of the products mentioned may vary by country, and it is recommended to check with your local stock exchange.  



Please note that VanEck may offer investments products that invest in the asset class(es) or industries included in this podcast.



This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities, financial instruments or digital assets mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or any call to action. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are for illustrative purposes only, are valid as of the date of this communication, and are subject to change without notice. Actual future performance of any assets or industries mentioned are unknown. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck or its other employees. 



Investments in digital assets and Web3 companies are highly speculative and involve a high degree of risk. These risks include, but are not limited to: the technology is new and many of its uses may be untested; intense competition; slow adoption rates and the potential for product obsolescence; volatility and limited liquidity, including but not limited to, inability to liquidate a position; loss or destruction of key(s) to access accounts or the blockchain; reliance on digital wallets; reliance on unregulated markets and exchanges; reliance on the internet; cybersecurity risks; and the lack of regulation and the potential for new laws and regulation that may be difficult to predict. Moreover, the extent to which Web3 companies or digital assets utilize blockchain technology may vary, and it is possible that even widespread adoption of blockchain technology may not result in a material increase in the value of such companies or digital assets.   



Digital asset prices are highly volatile, and the value of digital assets, and the companies that invest in them, can rise or fall dramatically and quickly. If their value goes down, there’s no guarantee that it will rise again. As a result, there is a significant risk of loss of your entire principal investment.  



Digital assets are not generally backed or supported by any government or central bank and are not covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance. Accounts at digital asset custodians and exchanges are not protected by SPIC and are not FDIC insured. Furthermore, markets and exchanges for digital assets are not regulated with the same controls or customer protections available in traditional equity, option, futures, or foreign exchange investing.  



Digital assets include, but are not limited to, cryptocurrencies, tokens, NFTs, assets stored or created using blockchain technology, and other Web3 products.  



Web3 Companies include but are not limited to, companies that involve the development, innovation, and/or utilization of blockchain, digital assets, or crypto technologies. 



All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. As with any investment strategy, there is no guarantee that investment objectives will be met and investors may lose money. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. 



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