Blockchain
The Most Famous Artist Mints First NFT from Human Fecal Matter to Fund Gut-Brain Research Grant
The Most Famous Artist, Matty Mo, infamous for his studio’s part in the monolith stunt in 2020, has dropped “The Most Sh*ttiest NFT”, the first non-fungible token (NFT) made with human fecal matter (his own, to be exact). Minted on OpenSea, this edition of one is a 360 degree video capture of an FMT¹ “crapsule” encased in a museum-quality glass cube auctioned as an NFT paired with the physical sculpture. Commissioned by microbial sciences company, Seed Health, all proceeds of the NFT will fund a gut-brain research grant for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Grant recipients will be selected by world-renowned microbiome researchers, Sarkis Mazmanian, Ph.D. and Christopher Mason, Ph.D.
“From Piero Manzoni to Chris Ofili and Andres Serrano, the use of human biomass in art has long sparked controversy around what should be considered “art,” and consequently, what is valuable. Today, NFTs are now in the cross hairs of this value system, disrupting a market that has been reserved for the curated few,” quipped Matty Mo. “By taking the taboo topic of human excrement and assigning it value, we are sending an important message that the very things that disgust us, may actually be what’s most valuable—in this case, for the future of health.”
As the science of stool has advanced, microbiome research is expanding beyond the gut and gastrointestinal (GI) conditions to this new frontier of the gut-brain axis—the communication between the GI tract, our gut microbiome, and the central nervous system.
“Our work demonstrates that stool is so much more than waste. It is a diagnostic tool containing microbial, chemical, physiological and functional indicators of human health,” stated Dr. Christopher Mason. “Decoding the components of stool helps us understand the behaviors and prevalence of diseases such as cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, even ASD, further illuminating the interwoven relationship between our gut microbiome and brain.”
Human ‘poop’ is also now prospected for its therapeutic potential. For example, FMT, or Fecal Microbiota Transplant, takes a microbial sample from the stool of a healthy donor and administers it to individuals suffering from certain diseases. New FMT research has also shown promise in dramatically improving behavior and gut symptoms among children with ASD.2
“This NFT draws attention to a new and disruptive view of medicine: that cures are already inside of us, optimized by nature and evolution. The funds from the NFT will go a long way in pushing the frontiers of biomedical research, particularly in ASD, toward microbiome-derived approaches such as FMTs that optimize health,” stated Dr. Mazmanian.
“We are now at a critical inflection point in gut-brain research. With new mechanistic discoveries in this field, we can move beyond correlation and characterize the critical functions microbes perform and how we may harness specific strains to develop breakthrough treatments for neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions,” stated Raja Dhir, Seed Health co-founder and co-CEO.
As part of its mission to pioneer new microbial applications, Seed Health has created provocative moments to engage the public and propel the microbiome into the zeitgeist with award-winning campaigns like the 2020 #GIVEASHIT Citizen Science initiative, which successfully crowdsourced the world’s first and largest database of stool images for use in academic research and in the development of novel digital health tools.
“Inspired by the disruptive spirit of the NFT community, we want to ignite a dialogue around this new frontier of gut-brain research,” stated Ara Katz, Seed Health co-founder and co-CEO. “We hope this inspires new opportunities for art to catalyze broader public engagement with areas of science that have the potential to impact the health of millions globally.”
The Most Sh*ttiest NFT will be offset using Aerial, a sustainability platform that sums the Ethereum gas used and calculates the carbon emissions based on the associated energy use. The net estimate for offsets is 15-20 tonnes, which Seed Health and Aerial will round to 25 tonnes for any future reselling, wallet transfers, and to maintain carbon negativity.
•
Disclaimer: Should you experience disgust, hatred, or confirmation bias, kindly close your browser. However, should you experience symptoms of perspective shifting, questioning, or a wry smile in the face of irony, congratulations—the world needs more humans like you.
themostshittiestnft.com
#TheMostShittiestNFT #GiveAShit
•
¹ Kang, D. W., Adams, J. B., Coleman, D. M., Pollard, E. L., Maldonado, J., McDonough-Means, S., Caporaso, J. G., & Krajmalnik-Brown, R. (2019). Long-term benefit of Microbiota Transfer Therapy on autism symptoms and gut microbiota. Scientific reports, 9(1), 5821. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42183-0
2 Svoboda, E. Could the Gut Microbiome Be Linked to Autism? Nature, vol. 577, no. 7792, 2020, doi:10.1038/d41586-020-00198-y
Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 25, 2025 | BitNile, Dutch Blockchain Week, Citigroup, Philippine Blockchain Week, D.O.G.E Foundation
Blockchain’s metamorphosis from niche ledger technology to the backbone of Web3 has never been more evident. Today, we cover five stories that illustrate the evolving ecosystem: a gaming platform issuing its own token on Solana; Europe’s marquee Web3 summit; a major bank forecasting a “ChatGPT moment” for blockchain; a Southeast Asian conference aimed at busting crypto myths; and a foundation rebuilding blockchain from the ground up to solve scalability. Each development—whether product launch, industry gathering, macro forecast, educational initiative, or infrastructure innovation—offers a window into the trends shaping decentralized finance, NFTs, DeFi, and beyond.
1. BitNile.com to Launch Nile Coin on Solana
News Summary
Hyperscale Data’s subsidiary BitNile.com will introduce the Nile Coin on Solana starting May 1, 2025. The U.S.–based social gaming site chose Solana for its high throughput and low fees, aiming to enhance in-game economies, reward engagement, and deliver seamless micro-transactions. Details on tokenomics and governance are forthcoming, but management touts Nile Coin as a cornerstone of future gaming experiences.
Source: CoinTrus
Analysis & Commentary
Launching a proprietary token underscores two converging trends: the gamification of finance and finance-ification of gaming. By minting Nile Coin, BitNile.com taps into DeFi mechanics—staking, liquidity pools, NFT rewards—while leveraging Solana’s scalability. Strategically, BitNile.com positions itself for partnerships with NFT marketplaces and DeFi protocols, potentially opening secondary markets for in-game assets and generating new revenue streams beyond ad sales or subscription fees.
2. Dutch Blockchain Week 2025 Gears Up in Amsterdam
News Summary
From May 19–25, Amsterdam will host the sixth annual Dutch Blockchain Week, culminating in the two-day summit (May 21–22) at De Meervaart. Tier 1 exchanges (Bitvavo, Kraken, Coinbase), Web3 pioneers (WOW.ai, Blockrise), regulators (European Commission, De Nederlandsche Bank), and industry partners (Mastercard, Deloitte) will convene. Side events range from AI-powered hackathons tackling compliance to padel networking meetups—underscoring the event’s blend of technology, policy, and community.
Source: Dutch Blockchain Week
Analysis & Commentary
Dutch Blockchain Week typifies the maturation of blockchain conferences into multidisciplinary forums. Beyond token talk and yield farming, panels on regulation, institutional adoption, and security reflect Web3’s integration into mainstream finance. Anticipate announcements on CBDC pilots, DeFi compliance frameworks, and cross-chain interoperability projects that may emerge from the Block & Order Hackathon.
3. Citigroup Predicts Blockchain’s “ChatGPT Moment”
News Summary
In an April 23 report, Citigroup analysts argue that 2025 could be blockchain’s “ChatGPT moment,” driven by regulatory clarity around stablecoins and integration with traditional financial systems. They forecast stablecoin market capitalization ballooning to $1.6 trillion (base case) or as much as $3.7 trillion (bull case) by 2030—anchored by dollar-denominated issuers and collateralized with U.S. Treasuries. Regulatory frameworks like the GENIUS Act could catalyze adoption among banks and fintechs.
Source: Cointelegraph
Analysis & Commentary
Drawing parallels to generative AI’s explosive growth, Citigroup envisions a tipping point where blockchain moves from experimental to essential infrastructure. Successful integration will hinge on robust compliance tools, auditability, and clear governance models. Enterprise blockchain vendors should prepare for surging demand in tokenized payments, on-chain settlements, and embedded DeFi rails within legacy systems.
4. Philippine Blockchain Week 2025 Debunks Crypto Myths
News Summary
Scheduled for June 10–11 at SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2025 will tackle misinformation and spotlight real-world use cases. Highlights include “Crypto, Unpacked” sessions demystifying the technology; “Smart Regulation” panels uniting policymakers and innovators; and “Blockchain for Impact” showcases on remittances, disaster relief, and digital identity. Founding President Donald Lim emphasizes government support and public–private collaboration to spur inclusive growth.
Source: UseTheBitcoin
Analysis & Commentary
PBW exemplifies how emerging markets leverage education to accelerate Web3 adoption responsibly. By engaging regulators early, PBW can shape balanced frameworks that encourage innovation while protecting consumers—an instructive model for markets wrestling with both hype and skepticism.
5. D.O.G.E Foundation Launches New Blockchain, Opens Seed Round
News Summary
The D.O.G.E Foundation announced a ground-up blockchain rebuild designed to solve the scalability and reliability challenges plaguing existing networks. This modular architecture separates validation from execution to enable parallel transaction processing—targeting real-time gaming, DeFi under high load, and AI-driven applications. A seed funding round is now open to investors who share the vision of a performant, decentralized infrastructure.
Source: D.O.G.E Altcoin GlobeNewswire
Analysis & Commentary
As layer-1 congestion and high gas fees persist, new entrants must justify a “why now” with clear architectural advantages. If the D.O.G.E blockchain delivers real-world throughput and maintains decentralization, it could spur a renaissance of high-performance DeFi protocols and NFT platforms hungry for cost-effective base layers.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
-
Tokenization of Entertainment: BitNile’s Nile Coin on Solana highlights blockchain’s expansion into gaming economies and NFT reward systems.
-
Convergence of Tech, Policy & Community: Dutch Blockchain Week showcases Web3’s evolution into an ecosystem engaging regulators, enterprises, and developers under one roof.
-
Mainstream Inflection Point: Citigroup’s “ChatGPT moment” thesis suggests blockchain is poised for exponential adoption given regulatory support.
-
Education as Catalyst: Philippine Blockchain Week’s myth-busting curriculum underscores the importance of public–private dialogue in emerging markets.
-
Infrastructure Innovation: The D.O.G.E Foundation’s modular, high-throughput chain exemplifies the next wave of layer-1 networks addressing real-time, real-world use cases.
Today’s stories convey that blockchain’s next chapter will be written through strategic token launches, global convenings, regulatory clarity, educational outreach, and radical infrastructure redesign. By tracking these threads, industry participants can anticipate opportunities in DeFi, NFTs, Web3 games, and enterprise integration. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Blocks & Headlines, where we’ll continue to decode the innovations shaping decentralized finance.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 25, 2025 | BitNile, Dutch Blockchain Week, Citigroup, Philippine Blockchain Week, D.O.G.E Foundation appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
Blockchain
Chameleon Finance Launches Green Finance Initiative to Advance Sustainable Digital Asset Infrastructure
Blockchain
Ov Finance Upgrades Blockchain Infrastructure to Deliver Faster, Safer Digital Asset Trading
-
Blockchain Press Releases7 days agoBybit’s CEO Meets with Vietnam’s Minister of Finance to Support Regulatory Sandbox and Strengthen Crypto Compliance
-
Blockchain5 days ago
Islamic finance Market to Reach $3.4 Trillion by 2027 in the short run and $7.7 Trillion by 2033 Globally, at 12.0% CAGR: Allied Market Research
-
Blockchain4 days agoBlocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 22, 2025 (Activity‑Weighted Consensus, Pectra Upgrade, Yoki Legacy, Verae–Evercycle, Earth Day)
-
Blockchain3 days ago
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 23, 2025 – EDPB, Binance, MicroCloud, Nile Coin, TruaBroker
-
Blockchain Press Releases5 days agoIntroducing Clementine Bridge: Citrea Deploys First Complete BitVM Bridge Design on Testnet
-
Blockchain2 days ago
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 24, 2025 (Decrypt, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, 80 Level, UNDP/BGA)
-
Blockchain2 days agoBlaqclouds Board Approves 30-Day Revenue Acceleration and Ecosystem Monetization Plan
-
Blockchain Press Releases3 days agoCompass Mining Partners with NiceHash to Provide Discounted Pool Fees to Customers
