# The Best of Metaversal 2025 *Author: William M. Peaster* *Published: Dec 30, 2025* *Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/best-of-metaversal-2025* --- With the year coming to a close, here’s a curated look back at my 12 favorite Metaversal pieces from 2025. These posts highlight the onchain experiments, tools, and cultural happenings that most stood out to me. A small holiday rewind before we head into 2026! ## **The Hyperfy Example** Hyperfy’s v2 shift toward free, open, and abundant virtual land was a clean break from the speculative land traps of the 2021 metaverse cycle. By rejecting artificial scarcity at the platform level, Hyperfy reframed virtual worlds as expressive, user-driven spaces rather than financialized real estate. The post situates this move as a blueprint for where metaversal experiences are heading. [The Hyperfy Example: Embracing Virtual Abundance on BanklessHyperfy’s new v2 release is a taste of the metaverse to come.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-638.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Jan 11, 2025 • 3 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/the-hyperfy-example-embracing-virtual-abundance-1758827982.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/hyperfy-virtual-abundance) ## **Ethereum Permanent Art Collection** Should the Ethereum Foundation become a long-term cultural steward by curating a permanent onchain art collection? In this piece, I argued that Ethereum’s greatest artistic strength lies in hypersculptures and conceptual works that treat the chain itself as a medium, not just a marketplace. The post framed such a collection, with 5 of my personal suggestions for good inclusion candidates, as one way to formalize Ethereum’s cultural legacy. [5 Suggestions for an Ethereum Permanent Art Collection on BanklessCould the Ethereum Foundation become a cultural steward of fine art?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-639.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Jan 20, 2025 • 6 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/5-suggestions-for-an-ethereum-permanent-art-collection-1758853305.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/5-suggestions-ethereum-art) ## **PXL DEX** One of the most interesting cryptoart releases this year was PXL DEX by Kim Asendorf. The collection fused NFTs and ERC-20s into a single, fully onchain artwork in unprecedented fashion, with collectors tasked with actively shaping the visual density of their NFTs via token flows. This article explored the project as an early example of how tokens can be used toward new collaborative ends in onchain art. [PXL DEX: Redefining Onchain Art with Pixels and Tokens on BanklessKim Asendorf’s PXL DEX is an onchain art collection that links NFTs and ERC-20s in a way we’ve never seen before.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-640.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Jan 22, 2025 • 3 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/pxl-dex-redefining-onchain-art-with-pixels-and-tokens-1758835006.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/pxl-dex-onchain-art-tokens) ## **To Coin or Not to Coin** In early 2025, Zora shifted from deploying users' content as NFTs to fungible. It was one of the big highlights or lowlights of the year depending on who you ask in crypto's creative scene. Accordingly, this article broke down the case for and against content coins from conversations I'd seen around the onchain creator community. [To Coin or Not to Coin: The Zora Question on BanklessContent coins are sparking serious debate. Here’s a breakdown of the arguments for and against Zora’s new model.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-641.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Apr 23, 2025 • 5 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/to-coin-or-not-to-coin-the-zora-question-1758829387.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/to-coin-or-not-zora) ## **Self-Publishing Onchain** I dropped an NFT-gated poetry book on Rarible on Jan. 3, 2021, and I think I might've been the first person in the world to do that. Anyways, I've long been interested in the possibilities of publishing longform content onchain. This post walked through how exactly you might go about publishing a book using modern crypto resources. [How to Self Publish a Book with Onchain Tools on BanklessExploring an onchain release flow for books, from decentralized draft backups to NFT drops and multisig vaults.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-642.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Jun 25, 2025 • 4 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/how-to-self-publish-a-book-with-onchain-tools-1758839766.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/self-publish-a-book-with-onchain-tools) ## **How I'd Build an NFT Marketplace** Will the next great NFT marketplace won’t look like a marketplace? In this article, I argued *maybe not* and sketched out a hypothetical curation-first platform centered on creative tools and social discovery, with buying and selling being secondary. Since I wrote this, [Corners](https://x.com/cornersinternet/status/2000657394247065610), a new curation resource, has arrived in this ballpark, which has been cool to see. [How I’d Build an NFT Marketplace in 2025 on BanklessIf you could build a new kind of NFT marketplace, how would you do it?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-644.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Jul 9, 2025 • 4 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/how-i-d-build-an-nft-marketplace-in-2025-1758841103.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/how-id-build-an-nft-marketplace) ## **Tokenized Pokémon Card Platforms** This piece mapped out the surging ecosystem of platforms bringing Pokémon cards onchain through tokenization + digital gacha "pack rip" mechanics. Therein I broke down the basics of the major players in this niche across Ethereum, Solana, Base, and beyond. [The Top Tokenized Pokémon Card Platforms on BanklessPokémon card tokenization is exploding. Here are the main platforms you need to know about!![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-645.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Sep 4, 2025 • 4 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/the-top-tokenized-pokmon-card-platforms-1758826900.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/the-top-tokenized-pokemon-card-platforms) ## **PunkStrategy 101** I'm proud of this article, as it's a great example of my bread and butter: showing readers cool things early. This primer on PunkStrategy (which has since expanded into the [TokenStrategy ecosystem](https://www.bankless.com/read/the-strategy-meta-tokenstrategy)) came out two days after the project launched, and then the PNKSTR token went on an incredible run over the ensuing month, peaking at a $268M market cap. I'll keep hunting for gems like this in my 2026 coverage. [A Beginner’s Guide to PunkStrategy and $PNKSTR on BanklessThe new PunkStrategy protocol turns every $PNKSTR trade into fuel for buying CryptoPunks.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-647.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Sep 8, 2025 • 3 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/a-beginner-s-guide-to-punkstrategy-and-pnkstr-1758826791-1.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/beginners-guide-punkstrategy-pnkstr) ## **Bitcoin's NFT Schism Is Intensifying** Bitcoin’s simmering NFT debate escalated in late 2025 into open governance tension, with renewed soft fork chatter echoing the block size wars of 2017. This piece traced how changes in Bitcoin Core reignited critics' complaints against Ordinals and other metaprotocols like Runes. Accordingly, what started as a technical dispute is now a cultural fight for the future of Bitcoin. [Bitcoin’s NFT Schism Is Intensifying on BanklessThe Bitcoin Ordinals![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-648.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Oct 16, 2025 • 3 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/bitcoin-s-nft-schism-is-intensifying-1760651130.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/bitcoins-nft-schism-is-intensifying) ## **Warplet Mint Frenzy** A playful meme centered around Farcaster’s wallet ignited one of the app's biggest NFT moments of the year. This post explored how a simple mini app remixing user PFPs into "Warplets" triggered a surge in mints, trading volume, and Farcaster Pro subscriptions overnight. If nothing else, the episode is a case study in how light onchain tools can be used to achieve activity breakthroughs. [How the Warplet Meme Sparked a Farcaster NFT Frenzy on BanklessAn NFT mini app just caused a massive activity surge on Farcaster.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-649.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Oct 28, 2025 • 3 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/how-the-warplet-meme-sparked-a-farcaster-nft-frenzy-1761683564.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/warplet-farcaster-nft-frenzy) ## **Recovering Tokens from Compromised Wallets** EIP-7702 quietly introduced the possibility of a rescue primitive for Ethereum users dealing with compromised wallets + sweeper bots. By letting EOAs behave like smart contract wallets, the upgrade enables batch transactions that can slip past sweepers and evacuate stranded NFTs and airdrops. It's an example of how protocol-level UX improvements can materially improve users’ worst-case outcomes. [Recovering Tokens From Compromised Wallets with EIP-7702 on BanklessHow EIP-7702 can be used to recover airdrops and NFTs from compromised Ethereum wallets.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-651.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Dec 4, 2025 • 4 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/recovering-tokens-from-compromised-wallets-with-eip-7702-1764885748.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/recovering-tokens-eip-7702) ## **The Autonomous Forest** This piece examined terra0’s "Autonomous Forest" as an experiment in collective ecological stewardship coordinated via Ethereum. Rather than tokenizing land for speculation, the project uses NFTs as stewardship markers and governance keys for a protected forest outside Berlin. It's a great example of crypto being used not to extract value, but to organize long-term care in the real world! [The New Autonomous Forest Experiment on Ethereum on BanklessA primer on terra0’s Autonomous Forest, an NFT project using art, Ethereum, and a DAO to explore collective forest stewardship.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-650.png)BanklessWilliam M. Peaster Dec 18, 2025 • 4 min read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/thumbnail/the-new-autonomous-forest-experiment-on-ethereum-1766094940.png)](https://www.bankless.com/read/autonomous-forest-experiment-ethereum) --- *This article is brought to you by [MetaMask](https://www.bankless.com/sponsor/metamask-1776260643?ref=read/best-of-metaversal-2025)*