Pons, founder of The Plague, joins to share how he’s turning NFTs into a force for decentralizing opportunity and real-world impact. From launching a frog-themed community to creating a coffee business working with the Government of El Salvador, Pons has pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with Web3. He unpacks why he gave equity to holders, the tension between speculation and utility, and how crypto can either empower communities or drift into dystopia.   This episode covers:   - Why The Plague was built to decentralize opportunity   - The inspiration he drew from Bored Apes’ early community power   - Making Coffee: tokenizing beans, tipping farmers, and partnering with El Salvador   - How WinSwap creates on-chain cash flow for holders   - Why The Plague shocked the space by gifting equity to NFT holders   - Success stories: paying for surgeries, funding education, and supporting young artists   - The downside of speculation and the need for execution in NFTs   - Founder-led responsibility vs. traditional business leadership   - Why Project Crypto and AI-driven blockchain regulation worry Pons   - The future of online communities and social platforms in Web3   - What legacy Pons wants The Plague to leave behindImportant DisclosuresThis 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 insura