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NFTs Are a Scam / NFTs Are the Future: The Early Years: 2020-2023
The nationally bestselling author and streetwear entrepreneur Bobby Hundreds’s manifesto about NFTs, the future of creativity, and bringing his brand and community into the modern digital space.
Bobby Hundreds has spent twenty years building his streetwear company, The Hundreds, to be as much a community as a brand. So when Bobby discovered NFTs in 2020, he knew that the technology had the makings of a revolution. Now fans could not only directly support artists and creators but also have a genuine stake in the success of the work. Here, Bobby saw a way for the Hundreds community to participate in the brand as never before.
But was this a good idea? Are NFTs truly the future of creativity? Or just a fad? Are they a scam? Maybe they are all those things.
In NFTs Are a Scam / NFTs Are the Future, Bobby digs deep into these questions and Are NFTs fashion? A cult? Already over? Just beginning? None of the answers are simple, and Bobby works through each with the thoughtfulness and hard-earned insight that have made him a fervently sought-after voice in conversations about creativity, commerce, and community in the digital age.
Over the course of just a few years, NFTs have been celebrated and derided; fortunes have been made and lost, empires built and toppled, and Bobby has been, and remains, in the thick of it. For the reader sitting on a collection of NFTs, this is an obvious must-read. For those wondering what’s been going on—and why it’s worth paying attention to—it is the perfect primer.
Bobby Hundreds has spent twenty years building his streetwear company, The Hundreds, to be as much a community as a brand. So when Bobby discovered NFTs in 2020, he knew that the technology had the makings of a revolution. Now fans could not only directly support artists and creators but also have a genuine stake in the success of the work. Here, Bobby saw a way for the Hundreds community to participate in the brand as never before.
But was this a good idea? Are NFTs truly the future of creativity? Or just a fad? Are they a scam? Maybe they are all those things.
In NFTs Are a Scam / NFTs Are the Future, Bobby digs deep into these questions and Are NFTs fashion? A cult? Already over? Just beginning? None of the answers are simple, and Bobby works through each with the thoughtfulness and hard-earned insight that have made him a fervently sought-after voice in conversations about creativity, commerce, and community in the digital age.
Over the course of just a few years, NFTs have been celebrated and derided; fortunes have been made and lost, empires built and toppled, and Bobby has been, and remains, in the thick of it. For the reader sitting on a collection of NFTs, this is an obvious must-read. For those wondering what’s been going on—and why it’s worth paying attention to—it is the perfect primer.
- GenresNonfiction
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2023
19 people are currently reading
1245 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 21, 2023
Really insightful book if you want to learn about NFT - what they are, how they came to be, their current utility and future prospects.
April 16, 2023
*1.5
NFTs Are A Scam/NFTs Are the Future looks at the history of NFTs and the possibilities of them in the future. I am definitely someone who doesn’t have the same optimism in NFTs as the author. Overall, I didn’t find his points very persuasive, but I’m sure people who share his enthusiasm will enjoy the book.
NFTs Are A Scam/NFTs Are the Future looks at the history of NFTs and the possibilities of them in the future. I am definitely someone who doesn’t have the same optimism in NFTs as the author. Overall, I didn’t find his points very persuasive, but I’m sure people who share his enthusiasm will enjoy the book.
May 4, 2023
This review is based on an uncorrected advanced galley (ebook) provided by NetGalley in return for a review.
I read this book as someone who has heard about NFTs from the sidelines but has wondered whether they are a scam or are the future. After reading this primer from Bobby Hundreds, my conclusion is that they are neither.
Hundreds explains NFTs from his perch as someone who has created and sold two batches of NFTs over the last couple of years. While the subtitle refers to the years 2020-2023, the book ends in very early 2023 and one of the last chapters talks about things that are evolving up to (or perhaps beyond?) the writer's deadline. So things may have changed already.
What I gathered from the book is that NFTs are akin to Air Jordans, baseball cards, or Pokemon. They are collectables, which have little to no utility. (A pair of sneakers that will never be worn also have no utility.) You become part of a club of people who own a certain collectable. This may even be a formal group that someone like Hundreds and his company run, with exclusive meetings for those who can prove their ownership of his NFT and perhaps giveaways or exclusive merch only for owners. But beyond being able to signal ownership in that club, there's not much there. And while some are talking about how NFTs can be used for more utility, this is not much discussed in this book.
If you're a collector - whether because you want to be part of the club or because you think you can make (crypto) money by buying and reselling - this isn't a scam. But unless NFTs can find some broader utility, I see this as a fad, not the future.
I read this book as someone who has heard about NFTs from the sidelines but has wondered whether they are a scam or are the future. After reading this primer from Bobby Hundreds, my conclusion is that they are neither.
Hundreds explains NFTs from his perch as someone who has created and sold two batches of NFTs over the last couple of years. While the subtitle refers to the years 2020-2023, the book ends in very early 2023 and one of the last chapters talks about things that are evolving up to (or perhaps beyond?) the writer's deadline. So things may have changed already.
What I gathered from the book is that NFTs are akin to Air Jordans, baseball cards, or Pokemon. They are collectables, which have little to no utility. (A pair of sneakers that will never be worn also have no utility.) You become part of a club of people who own a certain collectable. This may even be a formal group that someone like Hundreds and his company run, with exclusive meetings for those who can prove their ownership of his NFT and perhaps giveaways or exclusive merch only for owners. But beyond being able to signal ownership in that club, there's not much there. And while some are talking about how NFTs can be used for more utility, this is not much discussed in this book.
If you're a collector - whether because you want to be part of the club or because you think you can make (crypto) money by buying and reselling - this isn't a scam. But unless NFTs can find some broader utility, I see this as a fad, not the future.
October 3, 2024
While I don't ever plan on owning NFTs, this book definitely changed my mind about them. I did in fact think they were a scam before reading this book, but now I see then in a new light and have an appreciation for the concept/tech that I didn't before. Very interesting read
September 5, 2023
Enjoyed this a lot. Does a great job of helping readers get beyond the "NFTs are just expensive JPGs" and explore the role of art, collectables, artist residuals, street art / fashion, and functional aspects of NFTs. Good intro as well as intermediate discussions here.
September 28, 2023
Novelty wears off faster than the NFT market.
March 10, 2024
Bobby Hundreds provides an insightful perspective on NFTs from the viewpoint of an established Web 2.0 brand exploring the frontiers of Web 3.0. Unlike many discussions that delve into the technicalities of blockchain from a developer's angle, Hundreds approaches the subject from a creator's perspective. He shares his journey of discovery, learning, and integrating NFTs into his business, while examining their impact through the lens of fashion, culture, and brand ownership, aiming to forge deeper connections with his audience.
What stands out about Bobby Hundreds is his technological evolution from the early days of the internet. Having launched a website for his streetwear brand during Web 1.0 and actively engaging with his audience online well before the advent of more user-friendly Web 2.0 tools, his step into Web 3.0 feels like a natural, though challenging, progression. Following his thought process and the conscious choices he made is both intriguing and informative.
This book is recommended for anyone interested in NFTs, Web 3.0, and the metaverse. However, it doesn't provide definitive answers about these concepts. Instead, it offers a look into their brief history from an outsider's perspective and how a creative mind might navigate this emerging landscape. It's particularly valuable for NFT newcomers, existing brands curious about NFTs, and those building the infrastructure, offering insight into the creator's point of view.
One criticism is the inclusion of previously written essays that seem disjointed from the rest of the book, leading to repetition.
In conclusion, the future of NFTs is still being written, and their definition remains fluid and experimental. The potential winners in this new realm are likely the creators and those adding value.
What stands out about Bobby Hundreds is his technological evolution from the early days of the internet. Having launched a website for his streetwear brand during Web 1.0 and actively engaging with his audience online well before the advent of more user-friendly Web 2.0 tools, his step into Web 3.0 feels like a natural, though challenging, progression. Following his thought process and the conscious choices he made is both intriguing and informative.
This book is recommended for anyone interested in NFTs, Web 3.0, and the metaverse. However, it doesn't provide definitive answers about these concepts. Instead, it offers a look into their brief history from an outsider's perspective and how a creative mind might navigate this emerging landscape. It's particularly valuable for NFT newcomers, existing brands curious about NFTs, and those building the infrastructure, offering insight into the creator's point of view.
One criticism is the inclusion of previously written essays that seem disjointed from the rest of the book, leading to repetition.
In conclusion, the future of NFTs is still being written, and their definition remains fluid and experimental. The potential winners in this new realm are likely the creators and those adding value.
June 26, 2023
"Under Christian logic, if God is truth and so is the blockchain, then is God the blockchain?"
Bobby has definitely succeeded in educating the layperson (by this, I mean myself) regarding the intimidating NFT/crypto space and its intended trajectory into Web3. I also realize his optimism, however. His POV easily accepts the social value assigned to NFTs comparing them to baseball cards and Jordans, while I'm still at the level of grasping the value of physical collectibles. Further, there were several mentions of decentralization envisioned for Web3, but to me, this decentralization is limited to the middle class and higher. The NFT market is playable for the wealthy; for people with less, they may be a gamble or so away from being locked out of the market. For anyone else with little to no capital, the only way to partake and benefit from the space is becoming an artist/creator, which requires exemplary connections, exceptional marketing strategies, and sheer luck outside of the expected hard work of creation. Personally, I still think that crypto and the developments in the space has a lot of promise and is where the future is headed. I just don't see it as the equalizer Bobby says it will become.
Anyway, besides the social implications, I like how conversationally the book was written. It didn't come from a place of patronization or condescension, he's just telling us what he knows, what he thinks, and what he's been through. There were parts though with philosophization where I hoped he was just joking (I couldn't tell). There were also a few controversial takes that I personally found stimulating.
Overall, this is quite the read. Ironic that I didn't buy the book, but maybe when I afford it. Just as with crypto.
Bobby has definitely succeeded in educating the layperson (by this, I mean myself) regarding the intimidating NFT/crypto space and its intended trajectory into Web3. I also realize his optimism, however. His POV easily accepts the social value assigned to NFTs comparing them to baseball cards and Jordans, while I'm still at the level of grasping the value of physical collectibles. Further, there were several mentions of decentralization envisioned for Web3, but to me, this decentralization is limited to the middle class and higher. The NFT market is playable for the wealthy; for people with less, they may be a gamble or so away from being locked out of the market. For anyone else with little to no capital, the only way to partake and benefit from the space is becoming an artist/creator, which requires exemplary connections, exceptional marketing strategies, and sheer luck outside of the expected hard work of creation. Personally, I still think that crypto and the developments in the space has a lot of promise and is where the future is headed. I just don't see it as the equalizer Bobby says it will become.
Anyway, besides the social implications, I like how conversationally the book was written. It didn't come from a place of patronization or condescension, he's just telling us what he knows, what he thinks, and what he's been through. There were parts though with philosophization where I hoped he was just joking (I couldn't tell). There were also a few controversial takes that I personally found stimulating.
Overall, this is quite the read. Ironic that I didn't buy the book, but maybe when I afford it. Just as with crypto.
Read
August 28, 2023I'm not sure what to rate this one, because while I enjoyed parts of it, I feel conflicted about the structure, and honestly, the very nature of the project.
The title, which I took to be a stance on the topic of debate, is instead an inside joke on the fact that the debate itself, is the topic. The author details his own prank protest which involved people marching in t-shirts that proclaimed "NFTs are a scam" and admits that only those in his online circles really understood the meta, satirical slant of the stunt. In the same way, I felt like much of this book was written from so far into the community that many of the interviews were an expression of an off-putting insider culture that reminds me why the tech-bro stereotype exists in the first place. Much of the book that details the author's career in street wear and his and his partner's venture into creating both the narrative behind their NFT collections and the collections themselves were interesting and enjoyable; it's clear he has a passion for the projects he chooses to work on and his writing style in these sections is earnest and likeable. However, the interviews especially make it clear that his opinions are all the product of one hell of an echo chamber.
In the end, I feel like this book works better as a memoir rather than a primer - the latter of which is really what I picked the book up for in the first place. To get more information on the actual topic of NFTs, crypto, and the metaverse I found several videos by the YouTuber Folding Ideas to be be more straight-forward, concise, and seemingly objective.
The title, which I took to be a stance on the topic of debate, is instead an inside joke on the fact that the debate itself, is the topic. The author details his own prank protest which involved people marching in t-shirts that proclaimed "NFTs are a scam" and admits that only those in his online circles really understood the meta, satirical slant of the stunt. In the same way, I felt like much of this book was written from so far into the community that many of the interviews were an expression of an off-putting insider culture that reminds me why the tech-bro stereotype exists in the first place. Much of the book that details the author's career in street wear and his and his partner's venture into creating both the narrative behind their NFT collections and the collections themselves were interesting and enjoyable; it's clear he has a passion for the projects he chooses to work on and his writing style in these sections is earnest and likeable. However, the interviews especially make it clear that his opinions are all the product of one hell of an echo chamber.
In the end, I feel like this book works better as a memoir rather than a primer - the latter of which is really what I picked the book up for in the first place. To get more information on the actual topic of NFTs, crypto, and the metaverse I found several videos by the YouTuber Folding Ideas to be be more straight-forward, concise, and seemingly objective.
September 16, 2023
Hello everyone here, I want to use this opportunity to appreciate and inform you of the team of hackers at ‘’REFUND POLICY’’ after my husband and I lost $ 301, 000 to a fake cryptocurrency investment company. A few months back, we saw on Facebook an opportunity to invest in cryptocurrency in order to make huge profits from the investment. We contacted the broker who was apparently a sc^mmer posing as the account manager for the fake company. We invested a huge part of our retirement savings and business money into this company not realizing we were dealing with sc^mmers. Now when it was time for us to receive the profit from our investment, this broker continued to ask for more money for all sort of reasons, we became broke and almost felt like we were losing our lives. Fortunately, we saw an article about a recovery hacker named “REFUND POLICY” at first we were reluctant to contact them but we then did some research about their services and found out they could help us recover our money from this sc^mmers. We worked with the hacker and within 12 hours, they were able to recover all the money we had sent.
I am so glad that these people didn’t get away with our funds. I will forever be grateful. This is why I am putting this here in case any one has made such mistake, it is not too late at all, you can absolutely recover your lost funds from any sc^ammer whatsoever. I am going to drop the hacker’s contact details here in case anyone needs their services and assistance. refundpolicy82 @ gmail dot com WhatsApp: +1 626 770 5974.
Web (https://refundpolicy82.wixsite.com/re...)
March 14, 2024
So many interesting points!
Notable lines:
“ . . . I’m not in the business of convincing people of anything, and I don’t think that is effective-I prefer to lead by example and show people how this space can benefit them through doing those things myself.”
“As bizarre and disheartening as this sounds for the kids, you’re no different. You spend more time digitally interacting with your friends than seeing them in person. You’d rather curate your page instead of decorating your home.”
“Anyone who’s done it for the ‘gram has treated the Metaverse as their first life and the outside world as their secondary life. Consider the social posturing, virtual signaling, and other methods we employ to communicate our values to social media followers. These are investments into our personal brands in the digital space.”
“The likeliest reasoning for this disruption is the unconscious acquiescence that our digital existence is just as - if not more - meaningful than our physical experiences.”
“Today, our greatest threats aren’t tactile or visible. They’re existential and digital: climate change, cyberattacks, contagions.”
“The working theory is that we will build atop the tech to mirror our lives here in the physical world. There will be no hard line drawn between this reality and the next.”
“While depression is defined as dwelling on the past, anxiety is about being preoccupied with what comes next, the one thing that Google can’t clarify or confirm.”
Notable lines:
“ . . . I’m not in the business of convincing people of anything, and I don’t think that is effective-I prefer to lead by example and show people how this space can benefit them through doing those things myself.”
“As bizarre and disheartening as this sounds for the kids, you’re no different. You spend more time digitally interacting with your friends than seeing them in person. You’d rather curate your page instead of decorating your home.”
“Anyone who’s done it for the ‘gram has treated the Metaverse as their first life and the outside world as their secondary life. Consider the social posturing, virtual signaling, and other methods we employ to communicate our values to social media followers. These are investments into our personal brands in the digital space.”
“The likeliest reasoning for this disruption is the unconscious acquiescence that our digital existence is just as - if not more - meaningful than our physical experiences.”
“Today, our greatest threats aren’t tactile or visible. They’re existential and digital: climate change, cyberattacks, contagions.”
“The working theory is that we will build atop the tech to mirror our lives here in the physical world. There will be no hard line drawn between this reality and the next.”
“While depression is defined as dwelling on the past, anxiety is about being preoccupied with what comes next, the one thing that Google can’t clarify or confirm.”
August 2, 2023
Although I've never bought an NFT, I know a lot about crypto and a fair amount about NFTs. (I've been gifted a few.)
I dislike books that are a collection of essays. It feels like a cash grab. The author is too lazy to write a coherent book.
Still, NFTs fascinate me, so I wanted to learn more.
The first problem with this book is that it's a collection of essays from 2020 to 2023.
The NFT space evolves FAST, so 2020 is only useful for historical purposes.
Bobby traces how NFTs were just profile photos and then (thanks to the Bored Apes) became a way to get utility.
Bobby's most fascinating observation is when he said that creating NFTs is like creating a company in reverse.
When you make NFTs, you get showered with money at the start (when you mint them), but then you're expected to deliver value forever. If you fail, you get angry customers and plummeting value. This seems like a broken model, and he fails to provide a solution.
I would have preferred a book that speculates on the future rather than focuses on the past.
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from the publisher.
I dislike books that are a collection of essays. It feels like a cash grab. The author is too lazy to write a coherent book.
Still, NFTs fascinate me, so I wanted to learn more.
The first problem with this book is that it's a collection of essays from 2020 to 2023.
The NFT space evolves FAST, so 2020 is only useful for historical purposes.
Bobby traces how NFTs were just profile photos and then (thanks to the Bored Apes) became a way to get utility.
Bobby's most fascinating observation is when he said that creating NFTs is like creating a company in reverse.
When you make NFTs, you get showered with money at the start (when you mint them), but then you're expected to deliver value forever. If you fail, you get angry customers and plummeting value. This seems like a broken model, and he fails to provide a solution.
I would have preferred a book that speculates on the future rather than focuses on the past.
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from the publisher.
March 22, 2025
Anything Bobby Hundreds touches I gotta get my hands on. As a Web3 enthusiast and an Adam Bomb NFT holder, I was very interested to hear the Streetwear CEO’s view of the possibilities and stigma around the future of NFT’s . There was a lot of interviews with some Crpyto/ NFT Powerplayers, and mention of big companies with Influential projects. It was very interesting hearing the brief timeline of important happenings in crpto history and fantasize about the future of NFT’s. The community aspect permeates from The Hundreds into the Web3 space, and hearing the difficulties around managing that was also an eye opening experience.
May 17, 2023
I just wanted to hear a different perspective on NFTS since I have heard all the downsides and negatives. I may not be fully convinced, but I always want to be open minded.
Basically the book is about how NFTS might not be useful now, but might be in the future, which idk I guess you could say that about anything.
Basically the book is about how NFTS might not be useful now, but might be in the future, which idk I guess you could say that about anything.
August 21, 2023
Bobby Hundreds has become one of my favourite persons on the internet. He knows culture and branding that are the key to NFTs.
NFTs are many, too many, times as scam, as with any new technology but on steroids. Yet at the same time they are the future. Maybe with another name, but the future.
Great book.
Great writing.
NFTs are many, too many, times as scam, as with any new technology but on steroids. Yet at the same time they are the future. Maybe with another name, but the future.
Great book.
Great writing.
Read
August 16, 2025Less educational than I'd hoped it would be, but a pretty interesting glimpse into a very enthusiastic time period that I feel like has already passed us by. But the author's ending remarks that you shouldn't get into crypto unless you can afford to lose every penny you put into it was refreshing after an entire book of "NFTs are amazing and incredible and they're going to change the world."
June 24, 2023
Bobby Hundreds does it again.
This Is Not a T-Shirt was a great profile and memoir of his time as a designer, but he’s shifted into a new paradigm of almost a technology consultant. I’d recommend this to anyone who is skeptical on collectibles and web3.
This Is Not a T-Shirt was a great profile and memoir of his time as a designer, but he’s shifted into a new paradigm of almost a technology consultant. I’d recommend this to anyone who is skeptical on collectibles and web3.
January 19, 2025
If you're new to the NFT collectibles space and wanna learn a bit more, this might be an interesting read. Other than that, just a little bit of the back story of Adam Bomb Squad and Bobby personal experience launching an NFT project.
August 24, 2023
Listened the Blinkist summary. Quite good and easy-to-grasp collection of basic info on NFTs.
February 5, 2024
Great book for those who are looking to see how the future will look like not just in cripto but fashion and other markets.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews