Month: May 2025

Interesting future thought: the future is brevity? AI generates a LOT of text, humans will be less wordy, more precise?

An Eric-Kim-Style, Balls-to-the-Wall Tutorial on Bitcoin Tokenization

“BTC is the anvil, Satoshi is the hammer, and you are the black-smith.

Melt ideas into metal, smash them into tokens, and ship them to the world.” — EK

0.  Why Tokenize on Bitcoin at All?

Forget the copy-paste casino chains. Bitcoin is the 16-year-old juggernaut with the deepest liquidity pool, the most battle-tested security budget, and a brand hotter than Greek fire. When you mint on Bitcoin, you’re grafting your idea onto the hardest money humankind has forged.

Recent upgrades ripped the gate wide open:

• Ordinals & BRC-20 (2023) — embed raw data (art, JSON) straight into satoshis. NFTs + fungible “meme coins.” 
• Runes (2024 halving) — a leaner, UTXO-efficient way to mint fungible tokens. 
• Taproot Assets on Lightning (mainnet July 23 2024) — instant, sub-cent transfers of any asset over Lightning rails. 
• RGB 20 / 21 (v0.11, 2024) — client-side smart contracts; privacy and scalability baked in. 
• Stacks / sBTC — Clarity smart-contracts that settle to Bitcoin and unlock native BTC liquidity. 

You want the how? Strap in.

1.  Choose Your Battlefield 🛡️

Protocol	Best For	Security Model	Trade-offs
Ordinals	1-of-1 art, collectible series	Directly on L1	Block-space is scarce → high fees; full-node required
BRC-20 / Runes	Fungible meme coins, community points	L1 inscriptions	Same fee pressure; experimental
Taproot Assets (LN)	Dollar-stablecoins, event tickets, gaming items	Anchored to L1; moves on Lightning	Needs Lightning channel liquidity
RGB	Privacy-first tokens, complex logic	Client-side + L1 commitments	Tooling still early; dev UX spartan
Stacks / RSK / Liquid	Full-fat DeFi, NFTs, bridges	Side- or L2 anchored to BTC	Separate wallets, different trust model

Pick the weapon that matches your mission.

2.  Gear-Up Checklist

1. Full Bitcoin node — Don’t be a tourist; run bitcoin-core with txindex=1 and prune=0.
2. Protocol-specific CLI / SDK
   
   • ord or ordinals-wallet for inscriptions
   • taproot-assets CLI from Lightning Labs
   • rgb-node + wasm libraries for RGB
   • clarity-cli or Stacks.js for Stacks contracts
4. Cold storage keys — Hardware wallet or air-gapped seed. You’re playing live-ammo with real BTC.
5. Testnet sandbox — Practice on signet or testnet3 before you set the mainnet ablaze.

3.  Mint an Ordinals NFT (The 10-Minute Sprint)

1. Sync your full node.
2. Carve a sat:

ord wallet inscribe –file epic_wizard.png –fee-rate 25

2. The command bundles your PNG into the witness field, tags the satoshi with an inscription ID.
3. Broadcast and wait ~10 minutes. Congrats — the block literally contains your art now.
4. Prove ownership: View in any Ordinals explorer; transfer by sending that specific satoshi UTXO.

💡 EK Punchline: You just etched immortality into the hardest stone in cyberspace. Michelangelo with SHA-256 chisels.

4.  Deploy a BRC-20 Meme Token

1. Create a JSON file:

{ “p”:”brc-20″, “op”:”deploy”, “tick”:”GAIN”, “max”:”21000000″, “lim”:”1000″ }

1. 
   
2. Inscribe that JSON via ord wallet inscribe –file gain.json.
3. Wait for confirmation → GAIN ticker now exists.
4. Mint:

{ “p”:”brc-20″, “op”:”mint”, “tick”:”GAIN”, “amt”:”1000″ }

4. Inscribe again; the token balance is recorded across inscriptions.
5. Trade via BRC-20 marketplaces or OTC.

5.  Spin Up a Lightning-Powered Stablecoin with Taproot Assets

1. Install taproot-assets daemon (taed) and CLI (ta).
2. Mint 1 million USD tokens (example):

ta mint –asset_type=usd –amount=100000000

2. The “genesis” UTXO commits the asset on-chain.
3. Open a Lightning channel; the daemon locks asset proofs into the channel state.
4. Send dollars at light-speed:

ta send –asset_type=usd –amount=50 –dest=alice@lnaddr

4. Sub-second finality, sub-penny cost. Move value like email. 

6.  Ghost-Mode Tokens with RGB 20

1. cargo install rgb-node; run a watch-only daemon.
2. Issue your token privately:

rgb20 issue –contract-name “SpartanCoin” –ticker SPAR –amount 1000000

2. 
   
3. The client creates a state transition commitment; only the hash touches Bitcoin.
4. Send via Lightning or PSBT; receiver gets a proof file. Pure peer-to-peer — nobody else sees balances. 

7.  Advanced: Smart-Contracts on Stacks (Clarity)

1. Boot a Stacks node or use Hiro.dev sandbox.
2. Write a minimal Clarity contract:

(define-fungible-token GAIN 1000000)

2. 
   
3. Deploy; Stacks miners write the tx, then anchor the block hash to Bitcoin every ~10 minutes (PoX).
4. Map BTC 1:1 into sBTC, use as collateral, build DeFi. 

8.  Battle-Test Checklist

Pitfall	Counter-Move
On-chain fees spike (Ordinals hype)	Batch mints, use Lightning-based protocols, or wait for low-mempool windows
UTXO dust	Consolidate outputs; stay above 600 sats or risk unspendable crumbs
Legal grey zones	If token ties to real-world equity, get a lawyer. Bitcoin’s decentralization ≠ regulatory immunity
Community backlash (“Bitcoin isn’t for JPEGs!”)	Ignore the peanut gallery; or choose RGB/Taproot Assets to keep your data off L1
Tooling immaturity	Ship on testnet, contribute PRs, join the protocol Discords — be the change

9.  Philosophy of the Forge 🔥

Bitcoin is the gym for your ideas. You stack sats, you stack code, you stack conviction. Every UTXO you craft is a rep; every inscription, a muscle fiber torn and rebuilt harder. Don’t mint trash — mint legacy.

“The market is the colosseum. Release your token and let it fight.

If it dies, good — iterate. If it conquers, own the victory.” — Eric Kim

10.  Call to Action

1. Run a node tonight.
2. Pick one protocol and mint something worthless — the first pancake is always burnt.
3. Iterate until it’s Sparta-grade.
4. Teach someone else; iron sharpens iron.
5. Stack sats with purpose — your tokens ride on the shoulders of the hardest asset on Earth.

Now stop reading. Crack open your terminal and forge.

So very interesting thing about being here in Phnom Penh –> there are tons of these Chinese electric cars that look like a fake Rolls-Royce, big Teslas, as well as fake BMW XM cars.

As a consequences becomes interesting because in theory, I guess you have to think critically pull in do you buy something because of the brand appeal, or for the design itself?

For example, there’s even this Chinese electric car that I see that looks like a fake Lamborghini Urus. And then I had the thought: let us assume that actually… You can make 100% perfect replica of a Lamborghini or whatever… Would you still want it? Even if he knew deep inside that it was not the real thing?

Well the first thing that is important is the actual powertrain and the chassis. Aesthetics matter, but the powertrain and the chassis is probably at least like 1 billion times more important because like for example… If you have ever ridden in a very dinky car that has a terrible chassis, in which you feel every time you bump in the road and it makes your carsick, all the best design in the world is not worth it.

And that’s also why I’m starting to think with cars, the best car is probably the one that makes it the least amount of carsick.

So for example, I’ve actually fun for myself, being in or driving an SUV or a mini SUV, even a Tesla model Y, I get carsick. I get carsick from the turns, and also the strange feeling… Being slightly elevated from the floor is a strangely disorienting feeling for me? Especially because of the fact that my whole adult life, I’ve only driven or purchased manual transmission cars, either sedan or coupe sports cars, and all these cars are always relatively close to the floor.

And also the thing that was very shocking to me was actually, went test driving a Tesla model Y dual performance, that actually hilariously enough, in terms of wide quality and comfort, my 2010 Prius was far more comfortable?

And then taking a step further, even if you have all the money in the world, once again, the best car is probably still some sort of high-end Lexus LS vehicle; maximum reliability and build quality and also, ordinary enough that you are not worried about having somebody jack you.

Cause I think when it’s comes down to it, nobody wants to live like in fear that someone is going to hold you up?

ALPHA STRATEGIES: UNLEASH YOUR INNER DEMIGOD
By Eric Kim, Spartan Philosopher, Street Shooter, 1005-Pound Rack Pull Conqueror

Yo, listen up, fam—this ain’t no fluffy TED Talk nonsense or some corporate self-help drivel. This is ALPHA STRATEGIES, straight from the crucible of iron, the streets of Hanoi, and the raw, unfiltered pulse of life. I’m Eric Kim, the dude who pulled 1005 pounds at 165 pounds bodyweight, all natural, no excuses, just pure grit. I’ve shot a million frames, blogged a million words, and carved my own path through the chaos of this world. You wanna be an alpha? Not some fake, gold-chain-wearing poser, but a true demigod who owns their time, their mind, their destiny? Then buckle up, because I’m dropping the strategies that’ll forge you into a lion, unbreakable, unstoppable, untamed. Let’s roll.

STRATEGY 1: LIFT HEAVY, LIVE HEAVY

First principle: strength is the foundation of alpha. You don’t get to call yourself a king if you’re crumbling under a 135-pound barbell. I’m not just talking gym—though, yeah, go deadlift your bodyweight times six like I did. Life is a rack pull, fam. Every day, you’re lifting the weight of doubt, fear, and society’s bullshit expectations. Alpha strategy? Overload progressively. Start with what scares you—whether it’s a 405-pound deadlift or quitting that soul-sucking 9-to-5—and add one plate at a time. I walked away from corporate chains to build my empire of words, photos, and ideas. You don’t need permission; you need a spine forged in iron. Hit the gym, hit the streets, hit life with maximum effort. One rep max, every damn day.

STRATEGY 2: OWN YOUR TIME LIKE A GOD

Most people are slaves—slaves to jobs, to screens, to other people’s demands. Betas beg for scraps of freedom; alphas take it. I wake up at 5 a.m., not because some influencer guru told me to, but because the world’s quiet then, and I can think. Time is your kingdom—rule it. I ditched the 9-to-5 to shoot street photography, blog my truth, and lift like Hercules. You don’t need a million bucks; you need a million minutes you control. Alpha strategy: audit your day. Cut the Netflix, the TikTok, the meetings that go nowhere. Every second you waste is a second you’re not building your legacy. Create, don’t consume. Write that book, shoot that photo, start that blog. Time’s the only currency that matters—spend it like a king.

STRATEGY 3: CREATE, DON’T COPY

The world’s full of followers—scrolling X, mimicking trends, chasing algorithms. That’s beta energy. Alphas make stuff. I built my blog, erickimphotography.com, one post at a time, no gatekeepers, no excuses. Over 5,000 articles, millions of views, all because I dared to create what I wanted to see in the world. Alpha strategy: stop consuming, start producing. Write a blog post that burns with your truth. Shoot a photo that cuts deeper than words. Paint, code, cook—doesn’t matter, just make. Don’t copy the masters; slay them. I studied Cartier-Bresson, then forged my own style. Creation is power; consumption is surrender. Be the signal, not the noise.

STRATEGY 4: EMBRACE THE HATERS

Haters are your scoreboard. The more you’ve got, the bigger you’re playing. I’m probably the most hated photographer on the internet, and I love it. Why? Because it means I’m not boring. Alphas don’t blend in—they stand out, ruffle feathers, and take heat. When I started blogging, people called me a fraud, a hype machine. Good. Let ‘em talk. Alpha strategy: use haters as fuel. Every snarky comment, every troll, every doubter is proof you’re doing something worth noticing. Don’t argue, don’t defend—just keep shipping. Your work is your response. The more haters you collect, the closer you are to legendary.

STRATEGY 5: LIVE ANTIFRAGILE

Stoicism ain’t just a buzzword—it’s the operating system for alphas. Life’s gonna throw punches: rejection, failure, chaos. Betas break; alphas thrive. I named my kid Seneca for a reason. Every setback is a chance to grow stronger. Lost a job? Good, build your own empire. Photo didn’t go viral? Who cares, shoot another. Alpha strategy: assume everything can go to zero—your bank account, your followers, your rep—and still act with courage. I fast before a big lift to sharpen my focus. I walk the streets with one camera, one lens, ready for anything. Embrace volatility. Fear is your gym; hardship is your barbell. Get antifragile, or get crushed.

STRATEGY 6: SPEAK LESS, DO MORE

Words are cheap. Everyone’s got a podcast, a vlog, a hot take. Alphas don’t yap—they execute. When I wanted to master street photography, I didn’t tweet about it; I shot 10,000 frames till my fingers bled. When I wanted to get strong, I didn’t post gym selfies; I pulled 1005 pounds and let the barbell speak. Alpha strategy: shut up and act. Your results are your voice. Want respect? Build something undeniable—a blog, a business, a body that looks like it was carved by Michelangelo. Talk is noise; action is music. Make your life a symphony.

THE TRUTH: ALPHA IS A FIRE

Being an alpha ain’t a trophy you hang on your wall—it’s a fire you keep burning. Society wants you tame, predictable, scrolling. Women will test you, haters will mock you, life will try to break you. Good. Let it. You’re not here to fit in—you’re here to dominate. Alpha strategies aren’t a checklist; they’re a mindset. Lift heavier than yesterday. Create bolder than last week. Own your time, your work, your soul. I’m Eric Kim, a Spartan demigod, and I’m telling you: the world’s yours if you’ve got the guts to take it. So go shoot, go lift, go build. Stop dreaming and start doing. The only limit is your fear—slay it, and you’re free.

Eric Kim, somewhere in the multiverse, probably deadlifting a car or shooting a banger in the streets, 2025.

Buy bitcoin with Coinbase, mortgage as much of it as you can, use the cash, to buy MSTR and or MSTU (2x levered long MSTR, which is essentially 4x bitcoin).

You can then:

1. Ride your gains forever
2. When your MSTR & MSTU stock is up, sell some of it (shaving the cream off the top, of profit, don’t dig into the principle capital) and buy more bitcoin with it
3. Then with the Bitcoin, continue to leverage the Bitcoin –> take out more loans against it, or wait and anticipate for a future in which there will be new financial products and services for your Bitcoin?

Once JPMORGAN Chase starts offering you the chance to buy bitcoin with them and or to custody it with them, then you know you’ve arrived!

Goddess?

My personal curiosity: for example also if you’re generating images of an ideal beautiful woman… What the limits of beauty are, at what point is it no longer beautiful but grotesque?

So we are currently living an interesting time in which AI can just do everything for us. Therefore my simple thought is the future will be predicated on those individuals with the most creative thoughts? 

Simple ideas include just spending maximum time outside walking around, no AirPods on, no phone. Allow your mind to go fallow. In fact, boredom and under stimulation is often the best way to spark more creative ideas.

Second, allow yourself to have “bad” thoughts. Immoral and unethical thoughts by traditional standards. 

Third, personal curiosity. I’m really interested in ideas that have not yet been explored before? 

More beautiful.