Countries Launching Memecoins

Read this and you will learn about…

• Why the Central African Republic launched a memecoin and why I haven't become rich through them yet.

• What went wrong in the disastrous debate on Arte (for my German peeps, but I’ll do my best to include everyone else <3).

• That major travel companies are already using blockchain. And I’ll show you how.

• What it really means to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve for the United States.

• Bonus: Whether Elon Musk has dropped a memecoin and if Kanye West (aka YE?) plans to do the same.

GM GM from Marrakesh, the place I fled to once it started snowing in Berlin. It's also a little stopover before heading back to Frankfurt next week for our event.

You know, the one we’re planning there… You’d know if you followed me on LinkedIn. But first things first. You opened this newsletter because:

1. The headline was awesome?
2. You like me.
3. I deliver real value on consumer crypto topics.
4. By accident (I mean, happens).

And if you’re also wondering why the news spectrum ranges from strategic bitcoin reserves, memecoins, real-world use cases, and celebs explaining Web3, lean back.

Because I got you cc’d.

1. Countries dropping memecoins

Many Europeans slept on the Trump coin, missing the chance to get rich overnight (easier said than done), leading to another moment of “are you kidding me”?

The Central African Republic became the second country globally to recognize Bitcoin as legal currency in 2022, aiming to attract investment into its mining sector, leveraging its mineral resources like gold and diamonds.

But why the memecoin? An experiment? Unite people? Bruh…

2. Grown men with power and money

Looking at you, Elon and Kanye… or YE.

First, I saw an Instagram post about a Memecoin from Elon, which made me think, "Did I miss this again?" Unfortunately, I can’t find the post anymore, so I assume misinformation was involved. If not, please reach out to me.

Harry Bōlz Meme Coins

Elon Musk briefly changed his X handle to "Harry Bōlz," leading to the creation of meme coins linked to this name. The market cap of one such coin surged from $45,900 to $25.14 million before settling at $8.5 million.

When Musk reverted to his original handle, these meme coins experienced a sharp decline. One coin's value plummeted from $25 million to nearly zero, while another dropped by 54% in 24 hours.

And even though “YE” claims he’d never make a memecoin, it wouldn’t surprise me. Stay tuned.

3. German Blockchain Professors

I’ve appreciated ARTE (a German/French media distributor) for years and was excited to watch this discussion. But bruh.

In a recent ARTE Salon Live Talk, a debate erupted between crypto enthusiasts, a blockchain professor at the Frankfurt School, and an economist (the last two were very 'Anti-Bitcoin'... Trust me, I also don’t understand how someone responsible for a blockchain department can be anti at all).

They criticized Bitcoin for lacking intrinsic value, calling it a 'claim on nothing,' and questioned its decentralization, suggesting that a few large mining pools control the network.

Critics countered, arguing that the professor misunderstood Bitcoin's technology. They highlighted that mining pools consist of many independent miners and noted that traditional currencies also lack intrinsic value, relying on supply and demand like Bitcoin.

By the way, the video got shut down.

… Why I’m not rich on memecoins yet.

Well. I guess.. I am not smart enough. Or it’s something deeper.

I want to refer to a recent Blockworks Article I’ve read:

Byron Gilliam tackles the slippery slope of memecoins entering stock exchanges. He draws a parallel to slot machines in Vegas - fun but not exactly a skill-based investment. Memecoins, like Dogecoin, are likened to a game rather than a serious investment opportunity.

The article also mentions Bitwise's DOGE ETF application, which frames Dogecoin as a "speculative investment." Gilliam argues that memecoins shouldn’t be on stock exchanges, as they’re not intended for serious investment - a sentiment echoed by the TRUMP memecoin's official website.

For a bit of fun, I sometimes ✨ play ✨ with memecoins, especially since my marketing wizard Quinn introduced me to Bonkbot. It's dangerously easy to use, so proceed with caution! If you're curious, here's my referral link - help a girl out, tihi.

Memecoins might be fun, but let's keep them off the NYSE. After all, there's a reason you can't play slots with your 401k.

Everyone who has been in crypto long enough knows: Blockchain technology is reshaping industries worldwide.

The travel industry is no exception, and Camino is at the forefront here.

As an investor with w3.fund, I have a vested interest in projects like Camino Network (which, to be transparent, is also one of our portfolio companies).

Our venture fund focuses on investing near the application layer, targeting experienced teams that leverage blockchain to solve real-world problems.

The travel industry, with its complex logistics and need for transparency, stands to benefit immensely from such innovations.

What makes Camino different from other blockchains?

Ben: Camino is the first and only L1 purpose-built for travel. While other blockchains serve broad use cases, Camino is optimized for efficient B2B transactions within travel. Tailored smart contracts and dApps provide direct commercial utility for airlines, hotels, or tour operators making blockchain technology truly useful, not just speculative.

Thomas: Institutional money drives Web3 mass adoption, as Camino Network has the potential to revolutionize travel by solving inefficiencies that keep margins low and innovation stagnant. The industry still runs on 40-year-old technology and isn’t prepared for digital identities, e-money, and other web3 innovations.

Who’s already using Camino?

Ben: Camino is already being deployed by some of the biggest names in travel. Unlike general-purpose Layer 1s, which rely on a broad, often unclear adoption strategy, Camino has a laser-focused ecosystem with industry stakeholders driving real transaction volume.

Thomas: Think about your next trip—what services do you need? A flight, hotel, transport. Multiple providers, all operating in silos. Camino brings them together—on one chain. From airlines like the Lufthansa Group to accommodation providers like Sleap, transport providers like SIXT and MTS, and tour operators like TUI, and DERTOUR. One ecosystem, seamless connectivity.

What’s next for Camino?

Ben: More adoption, more dApps, and more travel products on-chain.

Thomas: Today, travel companies—airlines, agencies, tour operators, and hotels—are leveraging Camino as B2B infrastructure. Tomorrow, travelers will benefit from it—perhaps without even realizing it.

In October 2023, I attended Camino's conference (also as a speaker <3), where industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of travel technology.

My key takeaways:

• Camino drives real adoption with real use cases.

• Major brands are plugging in to cut costs, improve efficiency, and reduce reliance on outdated tech.

• New-age travel startups are changing the way we book, stay, and explore - e.g., sleap.io (personalized hotel bookings).

• Decentralized, no gatekeeping with travel businesses acting as validators.

• While others are still talking about Web3 disrupting industries, Camino is actually doing it.

Another highlight? Camino recently got listed on Bitpanda, Gate.io and MEXC.

My podcast with DekaBank

Adoption is happening not only in the travel industry. The TradFi scene is also paying close attention. One of the leading players from Germany is Deka Bank—one of the 8 partners in our digital assets season.

What you'll get:

• Insights into their strategic vision for tokenization and digital assets.

• Why Deka’s approach is reshaping the landscape of finance.

• How Deka is bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain innovation.

• Their perspective on creating a thriving digital asset market.

• Why they're crucial for the future of digital transactions and financial infrastructure.

Join Our Digital Asset Season 2025 Event

We’re bringing together ~ 100 select executives from both traditional finance and the onchain economy to discuss:

1. ETPs, Macro Tailwinds and a Regulatory Spring: The Year Ahead for Institutional Investors

2. Key Trends in Institutional-Grade Infrastructure: From Institutional DeFi and Stablecoins to Tokenization

Taxes and Staking. Yes, just listen.

I don’t like to think about taxes but I like people around me who know stuff about it. Afra is one of those people, and she is planning an event around that.

… and then a16z dropped this gem.

Right now, the buzz is all about Bitcoin reserves and stablecoins.

If you're curious about when blockchain will be part of everyday life, pay attention. It's wild that these discussions are happening at the government level.

My favorite of these articles: Should the United States implement a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve?

The article suggests the U.S. could create a Bitcoin reserve, like how countries stockpile oil.

Bitcoin, being neutral and global, could be key to future finance. The U.S. dollar currently holds power, but this isn't guaranteed forever. Integrating Bitcoin into the financial system might help maintain leadership.

The challenge?

Holding Bitcoin might imply a lack of trust in the dollar. The article argues for a balanced approach to keep the U.S. at the forefront of finance.

Will Quantum Computing KILL Bitcoin?! (A really cool podcast by Bankless). Listen, to get the lowdown on how quantum computing could shake up the crypto world, potentially cracking the codes behind Bitcoin and Ethereum.

I will speak about community building at VISIONS & Wine → Sign up to join the event.

I watched soccer the other day (I like it but I don’t understand the rules properly, so don’t judge). It was FC Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig. We all know Bayern is sponsored by Bitpanda. But I didn’t know Kraken is sponsoring Leipzig. GG.

Four years ago, Henrik and Nate asked me to quit my job for a scholarship. Today, we have founded several companies together. I love the fact that my co-founders are my best friends, so I wrote a LinkedIn post about it.

Is pump.fun launching a token? Should we all swap more Memecoins??

Web3 platform Travala integrates crypto payments for 2.2M hotels on Trivago.

A german soccer legend (Oliver Kahn) explains Web3 to me before GTA6.

That’s it.

See you next week 💅🏽

And while we're at it:

I'm on LinkedIn.

I'm on X.

Just started with YouTube and thinking about how to continue it.

Always here at w3.hub.

Active in the w3.group. Follow on LinkedIn to keep up with our projects.