By Web3ArtBlog.NFT

I have done some amazing NFT domain duels with TxRanger.X and I must admit that he is a formidable domainer.

If you don’t know what NFT domain dueling is, use the hashtag #UDFAM and you will find many exciting NFT domain duels. In order to participate, you need to have some NFT domains in your portfolio. You can buy one here for as little as $5.

TxRanger.X aka TaketheCake.NFT domain portfolio is mouthwatering. He literally has a domain for every occasion. It’s a real take the cake situation and very few can resist the grails in his collection. All NFT domains appearing in this interview are from his legendary collection.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you the one and only TxRanger.X

You have a background in the banking and finance industry. How did you end up in the NFT domains rabbit hole? What is your origins story and why are you super bullish about Unstoppable domains?

True, I spent many years in London and Frankfurt as a financial analyst and as a trader for corporate and sovereign debt. I was quite immersed in the financial world but grew increasingly critical of banking, particularly after 2008. One could say that my journey started then because it marked the moment when I began to dig deeper and question the integrity of our monetary system and regulators. Before I knew it, I was on my personal little quest for the truth which eventually led to my discovery of bitcoin, cryptos and NFT domains.

However, it was some time before 2008 when I was approached to write an analysis on the legacy domain market which almost made me join a secondary trading venture with my contractors. First contact so to speak. I was bullish then – see me now!

Bitcoin showed the way how to separate money and state by decentralizing all functions of money. Similarly, web3 domains may disrupt the legacy rental system by creating an ownership economy around NFTs which are decentralized on the blockchain.

The extraordinary feat of Unstoppable Domains is that they first implemented the vision of NFT domains as digital identities, where the owners are not only businesses like in web2, but potentially every person on the planet. Rolling out real world utility with portable digital identities on every smart phone that will connect with web3. Bullish? No, super bullish!

You are half British and half German. How much does your cultural background play into your NFT domaining strategy?

How you see the world is how you name it. Names are so fundamental to the human experience that you could argue that if something doesn’t have a name, it does not exist.

Every domaining strategy is unique and a reflection of your individual perception. So, as we are dealing with naming digital identities, I think it is important to emphasize personality traits over rational business considerations.

Mostly individuals, not businesses, will own digital identities and will reshape many of the naming conventions we know today. While people may strongly identify with their hometown, a global online business may see it as a hindrance. Same goes for foreign languages.

In business English dominates – but as we shift to personalized naming, I expect local markets to gain importance.

In my opinion this is a huge opportunity for everybody to leverage their own cultural
backgrounds and experiences. About 25% of my portfolio are German names.

You are well known for your digital identity motif, TEXASRANGER. Can you please describe your relationship with the famous character and why you decided to bring that into web3?

I was looking for a fictional hero figure, but all the obvious choices were gone. So, when I stumbled over texasranger.blockchain I immediately knew this is it. I love the character, the actor and the original series. I also love Texas, horses, cowboys, barbecues and the crypto friendly jurisdiction. Truth be told, I am a cowboy at heart and used to do a lot of horseback riding back in the days. So yes, plenty to identify with.

You have an amazing portfolio of NFT domains for the real estate market. How do you see the role of NFT domains shaping, adding value or disrupting the legacy real estate market?

Real estate domain names relating to geo-locations have traditionally not seen much demand. However, the game changer is that in future more than 80% of market participants will be individuals and not businesses.

Blockchain technology and digital identities are about to create a multi trillion-dollar market for virtual property. For the first time in human history the average citizen has the opportunity to participate in an ownership economy.

This will certainly have a huge impact on naming conventions, which are still shaped by businesses today. Personal identification with geo-location in the real world is normal and I firmly believe this will be mirrored in web3.

Do you see a future for fractional real estate that can be owned through NFT domains?

Once you have large numbers of individuals in an ownership economy a market for fractional virtual real estate is a no-brainer in my view.

We are about to tokenize the world – hyper tokenization is upon us!

So yes, I’m convinced that securitization and fractionalization of real estate NFTs will become common vehicles to finance real estate projects.

Are you bullish on virtual real estate in the Metaverse and do you think that it will
become a huge industry like IRL realty?

I am not sure about the long-term future of virtual real estate in metaverses as I can’t see the merit of meta location without the link to real world geo-location. I know there is more to the value proposition than that, but I can’t identify all the risk factors just yet – so I’m on the side lines on that one.

You also have a fine collection of superheroes like 0xSuperman. How much did pop
culture influence your childhood, and do you see value in pop domains as gamer tags and metaverse identities?

Superheroes were indeed a big part of my childhood. I still enjoy the Marvel and DC movies today. I read tons of science fiction in my youth.

I do subscribe to the eternal battle between good and evil, heroes and monsters, chaos and order. These stories are deeply ingrained in our cultures and psychology.

Good and evil are integral to the human condition and superheroes in pop culture are my safest bet for digital identities and gamer tags.

Some of your domains are super futuristic even by Metaverse standards. An example is Holosex.NFT domain. Are you a futurist and what role do you see for Holograms in the Metaverse?

I enjoy science fiction and I appreciate futuristic art. But I draw the line at viewing science and technology as some form of religion.

Futuristic motifs break away from reality and the norm. It’s easier to inspire awe for something unknown, mysterious and fantastic. You can engage with the viewers imagination. I try to instill “a little bit of magic”.

Holograms have this magical element. So does voodoo, also one of my favorite motifs.

As the science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke put it: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”.

You also make great artwork for many of your domains, some which are displayed on our UDFAM GALLERY page. Are you a budding artist or do you have an old relationship with art and digital art?

Definitely not budding. I know because a couple of years ago I decided to take guitar lessons because I felt this strong pull towards the blues and electric guitars.

Convinced this was the awakening of my musical talent, I took lessons for 2 years and practiced every day.

I ended up building my own vintage 1950s Telecaster guitar. No joke. Turns out I like building stuff and the attraction wasn’t music but the instrument.

Same with painting – no talent. There are a couple of talented painters in my family though, particularly my sister who does great oil paintings. I probably only have a moderately trained eye for aesthetics because I was exposed to all the art in the family.

I do enjoy playing around with graphic design programs which makes creating little artworks for domains a breeze. Just building stuff, nice stuff.

The past 6 months have been extremely extraordinary for Unstoppable Domains.
Despite the bear market, they successfully fundraised at a 1 billion dollars unicorn status valuation, they have increased their Dapp integrations, they have an iOS app, email international and now brave browser supports unstoppable domains. What other partnerships or integrations or utilities would you like to see for your Unstoppable domains?

Yes, we have seen truly amazing developments with UD in the last 6 months. They really topped all my expectations. So, the only thing I wish for UD is to continue at this pace. I just don’t know how else to put it, but UD takes the cake!

Tell us about your takethecake.nft project and the genesis of the artwork? What does it mean to Take the cake?

When I minted takethecake.nft last year I just knew this has great potential for a virtual gallery. I just had no clue how to implement the message visually.

Luckily UDFAM has tons of talented artist, so I asked Vonsassy.X for help. She came up with the brilliant motif of a vintage pin-up girl in front of a giant cream cake.

Her domain art for takethecake.nft is displayed in the UDFAM Gallery. Thank you Saskia!

My website uses the same design elements – the pin-up girl and cakes – to symbolize picking the best cakes (=domains).

I regularly use the line in the sense of UD being the best or outperforming everybody.

When you are not minting NFT domains, what do you do to relax?
I play the guitar and go for long walks with my girlfriend and the dog.