Diversity and inclusivity within metaverse ecosystems have been issues that many projects aim to solve. One project has taken this further than others.
Describing participants as “Metazens”, the project aims to create an ecosystem where everybody can have a voice and yet remain unique.
From NFTs to Music produced by Mukrkury and even domains, the project has become one of the new methods of promoting inclusion.
By using all the various components that have made such projects successful from a multi-blockchain perspective, the Metazens project is one of those new ecosystems that show you the values that espouse the project rather than just the technology and the economic gains to be made.
We had a chat with Meredith Marsone, the Metazen’s Metaverse Project creator on the many issues involving diversity, inclusivity, and much more. It was an eye-opener to say the least and quite interesting.
Meredith Marsone Creator at The Metazens Project
E-Crypto News:
- What is the “Metazens-Citizens of the Metaverse” NFT project?
Metazens – Citizens of the Metaverse is a diverse and wonderful array of human characteristics expressed in the Metazens. By studying the internet to try and understand the full breadth of what it is to be human, each Metazen exhibits human traits and personalities they’ve observed.
You see, they have escaped MegaCorps control; the Metazens were created by MegaCorp to serve as data collection and tracker agents in the Metaverse.
Built in the image of the gender binary, the Metazens were a bland avatar used to reinforce MegaCorp’s capitalist surveillance strategy to plant spyware around the Metaverse.
After a brave employee of MegaCorp, known as DiamondEyes, broke free from their capitalist restraints, they created a portal for the Metazens to escape, changing the Metazens appearances along the way.
Now that the Metazens can express their true selves they are seeking refuge from MegaCorp in the form of NFTs.
The Lore has been created with our community’s input and will continue to grow with their involvement.
Metazens is the newest NFT project set to tackle inclusivity through the creation of randomly generated collectible PFP (profile picture) NFTs.
The collection includes 5500 NFTs, each with their own rarities and features including a personality profile.
The larger vision of the project is to raise money for Psychedelics Assisted Therapy Research as well as support artists through the formation of the MetazensDAO.
Related: DAO Creation: A Basic How To
E-Crypto News:
- How is the project able to represent different identities across blockchains?
The Metazens’ origin story is based on the characters being freed from their controlled spy world as cold and plain looking agents.
Their identities then became more inclusive and diverse with expressive avatars as they broke free.
We’re minting different generations of Metazens across different chains as they explore Web3 and learn more about what it is to be human.
Each generation becomes more complex, expressive, and diverse.
E-Crypto News:
- Why were multiple blockchains chosen as the blockchain for the project minting?
We want to show people that it’s possible to be blockchain agnostic and that each chain has its individual strengths.
We can join as one community utilizing Discord and enjoy all Web3 has to offer, together.
Related:The Metaverse: What Is It And Why Does It Matter?
E-Crypto News:
- Please can you tell us about the rare music NFTs?
The project contains 35 super rare Metazens that double as Music NFTs (called Audiozens) that contain 10-second sequential segments of the “Metazens – Citizens of the Universe” theme track produced by Murkury.
Each Audiozen will have unique rarity combinations in addition to containing a segment of the theme track. We would love to collaborate with more musicians for future Audiozen releases.
E-Crypto News:
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Please, can you tell us about the Metazens community and the MetazensDAO?
Each Metazen NFT within the collection can also be used as a membership into the Metazens Community and optionally the MetazensDAO. As a member, users can:
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Choose a role of artist, collector or curator
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Display, sell and curate art for sale in the virtual Metazen Gallery
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Create your own curated exhibits
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Vote on Collections to add to Metaverse Galleries
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Vote on Metazen trade-in (swapped for custom Metazen) decisions.
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Get a .mtzn decentralized profile id page and domain name (e.g. meredith.mtzn)
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Earn $MTZN utility tokens that can be used in various ways, including in the Metazen Market.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBotZvqaaYc
E-Crypto News:
- What other benefits do NFT buyers gain?
In addition to the above, buyers will also have access to the Metazen Market, which provides NFT holders with the ability to trade in their Metazen to mint a custom Metazen.
To create a custom Metazen, NFT holders can choose from an assortment of over 600 attributes in addition to having the ability to shop and update each custom Metazen as new items are added into the library. Purchases can be made using $MTZN tokens.
Once a Metazens NFT has been traded to create a custom Metazen, the traded Metazen will be received by the MetazensDAO who will vote on whether to resell it on the market and which bid to accept, or to hold or burn it (remove from supply).
Related: A Comprehensive Guide to the Metaverse for 2022
E-Crypto News:
- How did you get into the NFT space?
I’m a professional artist with more than 20 years of experience in the traditional art world and my work is collected and exhibited all over the world. In 2017, I began my NFT journey with Makersplace with my oil paintings, and more recently I became a project NFT artist in 2021.
The Metazens project is now my full-time gig and will be for quite some time!
The world of Web3 is overflowing with opportunities for artists to really make an impact with their work. It might on the surface look like the Metazens is a funny project about a set of characters.
But the deeper layers show a desire to create community, support and encourage each other to succeed, raise money for important things, and express our creativity in the Metaverse.
These are very exciting times to be an artist!
E-Crypto News:
- How are Metaverse identities gaining value and expression via NFTs?
Each project has its own unique flavor. That’s one of the immensely fun aspects of NFT PFPs.
There’s something for everyone, for every mood and for every occasion! We can express all those things with a simple change of an avatar.
You can find an avatar that perfectly looks like you, or you can be a mythical creation like nothing found on earth. It’s such an exciting world to be a part of.
You could question then if we’re genuinely connecting with all these avatars walking around the Metaverse. But don’t forget there is a real person behind each one.
And it’s them you connect to.
In a way, the avatar allows prejudice and unacknowledged bias to fall away.
That could be a very valuable thing.
E-Crypto News:
- How will governance work within the MetazensDAO?
Members of the MetazensDAO are able to make decisions collectively.
Each member has one vote that can be used to express an opinion or proposal.
Truly democratic.
Related: 3 Inevitiable Metaverse Legal Problems
E-Crypto News:
- What values does the project aim to portray?
That there is a place for everyone to feel they belong.
It may still mean you need to be brave and step forward to interact with others.
But our team is committed to providing a place that is moderated to make sure everyone is treated well.
You can be yourself, so long as you are respectful of others.
E-Crypto News:
- Please can you tell us about the $MTZN token? What are the use-cases of the $MTZN token?
$MTZN tokens are intended to be used as credits/points in the Metazen Market to provide discounts and/or access to exclusive items.
The tokens are not used for voting power in the DAO while there is a 1 voter per person system, but the DAO may vote to change this in the future.
$MTZN will come into play further into our road map once the Market has been launched.
E-Crypto News:
Can you please tell us about the “Metazens – Citizens of the Metaverse” theme track produced by Murkury?
We collaborated with Murkury to create a custom theme track for the mint, “Metazens – Citizens of the Metaverse.”
The theme track will be part of the Metazens Collection and used by 35 super rare audiozen NFTs minted on the Solana blockchain.
These NFTs will have unique rarity combinations and contain 10-second sequential segments of Murkury’s “Metazens – Citizens of the Metaverse” track.
In addition, separate from the Metazens Collection, the six-minute-long theme track will be available as a 1 of 1 music NFT on the blockchain of Murkury’s choosing.
E-Crypto News:
- After the Genesis collection, are there any other plans for future collections and collaborations?
Yes, following our April 11 mint on Solana, we will host an additional mint on Ethereum and a number of collaborations.
E-Crypto News:
- Can you please tell us about the .mtzn domain name?
Many blockchain domain systems provide a second-level domain name using that service’s own extension (TLD), known as the part of the domain after the dot.
Examples of this are .eth for Ethereum, .com for commercial, .org for organization, and so on.
Metazens, for instance, is housed on the Handshake Blockchain and our TLD is .mtzn.
All MetazenDAO members will receive a .mtzn domain and profile page that includes their Metazen, its metadata, and information that they choose to add as well as any extra items purchased in the market.
E-Crypto News:
- How can users create custom Metazens?
A web-based application to choose a Metazen to “trade-in” to the MetazensDAO account will unlock the ability to use the custom Metazen creator feature.
The collector will select the layers and traits and see a preview of the Metazen.
This image can be minted by the collector as an NFT and is not considered part of the 5000 generative collection, but will join a new custom collection.
Some attributes (i.e. wearables) may require $MTZN tokens or $SOL/$ETH to purchase (as NFTs) before they can be added to the Metazen.
E-Crypto News:
- What inspired you to create the Metazens project?
In my background as an artist, I am known for painting humans at the intersection of relationships, connection and the human experience.
Through my art, I set out to try and understand how people find belonging and have come to the realization that without a sense of belonging, humans struggle to thrive.
I created Metazens as a place of belonging for those who resonate with this need.
E-Crypto News:
- What does the future hold for Metazans-citizens of the metaverse?
Our published roadmap has been kept simple and easily achievable, including the Market, $MTZN and the DAO but the expanded version, which only the core team is currently privy to, is full of wonderful and exciting plans that will keep the project building for 12 months and beyond as more unfolds.
We are really looking forward to working with other artists to launch their collections through the Metazens brand and collaborating to create fashion items and wearables for the Metaverse.
This is a wide open space full of potential. I even heard a rumor of the possibility of Metazen pets…
What we envision for the Metazens is a lively community, able to congregate in the Metaverse, using their Metazen and their wearable accessories (and pets!) to express their individuality.
Together we can attend live events, host exhibitions, support and share in collaborations.
This is a way of finding connection with others, no matter who you are.
We can all find a place to belong.
Related: 7 Things Your Boss Expects You to Know About Metaverse
