THE BEAT OF SOLROCKERS NFT

The Capital • April 27, 2022

Photo: Natalie J. Russel

Dear Brian, thanks for taking the time to join me in this interview to educate our community on SolRockers. First of all, can you give us a brief introduction to you? What is your story, dating back as far as you wish?

I am the Head of Product at SolRockers NFT and in my free time also the drummer for the multi platinum band Everclear. Some might think I live the life of a Rockstar but I’m just a conventional kind of guy. With a house in the suburbs, a white picket fence, a dog, 2.4 kids and to round it all out a wife that drives a minivan. LOL. Honestly I’m just a computer nerd who plays drums in a rock band.

I attended Berklee College of music in Boston Massachusetts back in 1989–1994. While living in Boston I spent a good 8 years playing with bands in the Boston music scene — 1990’s Boston scene turned out some great bands and I was lucky to be a part of it. I played with Tracy Bonham, went off to Chicago to tour with Fig Dish, and ended back in Boston to form American Hi-Fi with my best friend Stacy Jones in 1998. We recorded our record with Bob Rock in Maui, had a hit single on MTV, and toured extensively all around the world in the early 2000’s. Now I’m playing drums with the band Everclear. Somehow I manage to make a living doing what I love — playing drums.

The computer nerd part is where crypto and gaming comes in. I was hooked when my step dad bought me the Apple IIe back in 1983. A 1.023MHz processor, 64KB RAM, two 5 1/4" floppies, bulletin boards were no match for my 300 baud modem. It played games too, good games like Castle Wolfenstein, Boulder Dash, King’s quest and Decathlon. It put my Atari 2600 to shame. Then I had a short stint with consoles including ColecoVision, Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, but.. then Doom was born. John Carmack and John Romero messed me up good, so good that I built my first PC because of their creation — specifically to play Doom. That 4MB of ram was expensive too. I’ve been playing PC games ever since — Battlefield 1942, Call of Duty, Elder Scrolls games, WOW, the list goes on and on. Basically I came from the same generation as James Holiday, him and I would have been good friends. Now it’s time to develop the Oasis, or at least a very small part of it.

Why did you get involved in the cryptocurrency industry, and where do you think the industry will be in 5–10 years?

I heard about this thing called Bitcoin back in 2011. So you can use your video card to make money? Really? Sounds like fun. I took one of my computer rigs, outfitted it with an ATI 5970, overclocked the hell out of it, joined a pool and started mining. Then I had two rigs, then three, lots of fans, I’m talking oscillating fans, not those fancy LED case fans everyone has these days. I mined 23 Bitcoin and then decided it wasn’t worth pursuing, it was costing me more in electricity to run the rigs compared to the going Bitcoin market value. I held on to them for a year and ended up selling them on MT Gox for a whopping $27 a piece (doh!). In hindsight I think I should have held on to them, maybe… I painfully followed Bitcoin on the sidelines for years, dabbled in Ethereum mining and finally started seriously investing in crypto again in 2017.

Remember the dot com boom in the late 1990’s early 2000's? I just sat there and watched it all happen, I didn’t financially take advantage of the fastest growing industry phenomena known to man. The internet happened and all I did was use it to play Quake. I could have got involved but I didn’t. I had to go and focus on being a musician. An opportunity like that will never happen again in my lifetime.

Then comes Blockchain technology. Thank you Satoshi! Blockchain tech is the next boom, I have no doubt. It’s being adopted 2x faster than the internet, harvesting the brightest minds out there and is giving us all the opportunity to develop the technology of the future. And I mean the technology of everything. Smart contracts apply to so many different industries, including finance, data analysis, and the Internet of Things, let’s not forget about gaming. Who new smart contracts could be so useful?

I’m not going to sit back and miss out on a twice in a lifetime opportunity. So it either means I can redeem myself or go down in flames. I’ll either retire in Maui or greet people at the local Walmart here in Madison, I’m all in.

That’s amazing. Now can you give us an introduction to SolRockers and how it got started?

Back in 2012 I wasn’t just mining Bitcoin, I was learning how to develop video games using the Unreal Engine and Unity. I’ve always had a passion for game development but I’m not a coder by any means. These game engines gave me a way to translate my ideas into a functional game without being John Carmack. I’ve since developed third person shooters, twin stick shooters, first person shooters on a hobbyist level. I’d bring my games to friends’ LAN parties and play a round or two. It’s always fun to see friends enjoy your creation, bug free of course.

The emergence of the Play-to-Earn economy really grabbed my attention. I started playing games like Lost Relics, Alien Worlds, R-planet to name a few. I had conversations with my brother Mike, also a crypto investor, about all the P2E opportunities and he said “Why don’t you create your own game? You know how to develop games”. So that got me thinking and researching. I decided to combine the 2 things I’m most passionate about: gaming and music. I decided to combine the Rhythm game genre and the lifestyle of a touring musician to create a unique gaming experience. I’ve had some incredible times over the past 25 years; being part of great bands and touring all over the world, I want to re-create that experience for everyone who joins SolRockers. NFT gaming and being in a successful band are all about creating a community, it all made sense to me.

Early on, did you see an opportunity to fill a void in the market?

The market is one huge void, it’s an open slate. That’s one of the reasons why I’m so excited about this project and blockchain games in general. Just like every new technology, it gets

adopted by hobbyists and independents. This is the period in blockchain gaming when independent developer ideas can shine and make an impact on the industry. I believe we at SolRockers are doing just that.

When deciding on the direction of the artwork, we didn’t want to create a derivative of an ape and a pixel art SolRocker was out of the question. We wanted it to be original and life-like featuring detailed instruments and clothing, but with a light hearted cartoonish feel. The great rock bands of the 80’s and 90’s were over the top in their creative expression. The hair, makeup, tattoos and clothing gave us so many options and we spent months creating and revising. We had so many great ideas. The SolRocker name is a combination of the Solana blockchain and Rockstar lifestyle with a slight play on words. I think you get the idea.

A key point about our project that is important to relay is that SolRockers Battle of the Bands is a game that features player owned NFTs, not an NFT project that promises a utility game. The game itself is our main focus and the integration of the NFT is a key feature. The artwork will grab their attention but the game is the ultimate pay off. Literally.

We also noticed that you have your own token called $IROC, that will be used for your unique rhythm game. Could you tell us more about how this works?

$IROC tokens are the lifeblood of the SolRockers ecosystem and keeping the token economy balanced is our main priority. $IROC tokens are awarded to players/stakers and are used to purchase items in our NFT minting and merchandise marketplace. We have a number of ways our token is used in our game. Also, we feel it’s important to “burn” tokens as users create assets in our game ecosystem. We never want to dilute the overall value so a deflationary element will be incorporated into the $IROC token usage.

What have been the biggest challenges for you and SolRockers since you started the project?

It’s uncharted territory so it’s all challenges. I spent a lot of time researching all the aspects and moving parts that make up an NFT project, not to mention the game. The art work, NFT generation, rarity, minting process, discord server, website, token minting, front end game dev, back end game dev, media creation, NFT marketplace listing… and that’s just my job. My brother’s got more. Who knew a blockchain game project could be so time consuming? So finding the time to do normal family activity has been a challenge.

I think the biggest challenge for the project is breaking through and getting noticed. The NFT market is growing at breakneck speeds and has become a bit saturated. Ethereum based NFTs are a prime example. The Opensea NFT marketplace sure lives up to its name. Although the bulk of the NFT market is on that blockchain we felt it wasn’t a good fit for our project, or blockchain gaming in general. Solana was.

We chose Solana not just because of its efficiency but we saw it as the next blockchain to be adopted by NFT creators, investors and game developers. But with new technology comes serious hurdles. Solana NFTs and game development is still in its beginning stages so there are a few unanswered questions with creative development needed to complete a project like SolRockers. Thankfully we have blockchain backend engineers that can innovate and pull it off, I see them as the Rockstars.

Who do you think would be the ideal target audience for SolRockers?

At first glance it’s NFT collectors and gamers but it’s also music lovers, instrument collectors and artists. Individuals who enjoy being part of a music and gaming community, who love to express themselves through music and NFT creation. We want this open to everyone.

I think there are several types of “gamers” in the P2E environment. I love playing games, I can sit there and grind all day long if needed. Then you have someone like my brother who is more interested in the defi element. I think he doesn’t spend more than 20 minutes in any one game, but he “plays” several. It’s important to create a game that’s appealing to everyone.


Understood. Now what has been your greatest achievement thus far, and what has been the biggest failure or setback personally or in the history of the company?

My greatest achievements thus far would be the fact that I’m still able to support my family doing what I love — playing, and expressing myself through music. The greatest achievements related to SolRockers are still ahead of us. We just started in November of 2021 so there’s not much history to talk of. Talk to me two years from now and I will have a list. We have little setbacks every week but it’s nothing we can’t overcome.

What is the next step for SolRockers in the next 1–2 years?

Develop and release a fun and engaging gaming experience where users get to roleplay that Rockstar lifestyle, create a band, practice in a studio, go on tour and play at different venues — with backstage debauchery included of course.

A challenging Rhythm game is not complete without a great selection of songs. Artist collaborations will play a big part in this. Thankfully I know a few. But outside of the mainstream music industry are a lot of amazing bands and artists that deserve attention. We have plans to give everyone a way to participate and get involved. Our plans include giving the player and artist a way to create and enhance our game. SolRockers Battle of the Bands will feature the ability to add new songs and create new song patterns. And we want our community to be rewarded for their creative efforts. It being a blockchain game gives us the means to do so. The community will always come first.

Where can people support your business? Other than that, thank you for your time, Brian — any final words?

Support our business by visiting our socials like twitter, facebook , joining our discord community, and of course check out our website.

Website: https://www.solrockers.io/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SolRockersNFT

Discord: https://dsc.gg/SolRockers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolRockers-104379062257709

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcq8s8kElrxwKXJtYjkP7rw

Brian’s Twitter BrianNolan (@BamBamBNolan) / Twitter

And if you find yourself at an Everclear show in the near future, stop by the merch ten and say hello.

Disclaimer: This is not trading or investment advice. The above article is for entertainment and education purposes only. None of the content on Crypto Folds is investment advice nor is it a replacement for advice from a certified financial planner. Please do your own research before purchasing or investing into any cryptocurrency.  

HyroTrader: Ranked Among the Best Crypto Prop Firms and Redefining the Industry Through Innovation and Scale

By Press Release • September 1, 2025
In the rapidly evolving world of trading, HyroTrader has emerged as one of the best crypto prop firms, setting new standards in transparency, technology, and community building. Founded in 2023 by entrepreneur Samuel Drnda, HyroTrader has grown from an ambitious idea into a global company with 34 full-time employees, a community of 30,000+ traders, and recognition across the industry as a true pioneer. From Startup Roots to Industry Leadership The HyroTrader story began with Samuel Drnda, a young entrepreneur who previously built and exited a company focused on automation, machine learning, and AI solutions, and also ran a performance marketing agency with over 40 employees. At just 24 years old, Drnda launched HyroTrade, a crypto CFD trading platform that attracted thousands of customers. During this time, Drnda also gained first-hand experience at Golem Trading, a traditional Prague-based prop trading firm. There, he realized something important: while forex traders had access to prop firms like FTMO, which generated more than $213 million in 2023, no equivalent solution existed for crypto traders. In 2023, Drnda pivoted the business into HyroTrader, an evaluation-based crypto prop firm built to provide traders with real opportunities to scale with capital, tools, and education. The First to Innovate: Bybit API Integration HyroTrader quickly made its mark by becoming the first crypto prop firm to introduce a direct API integration with Bybit. This innovation reshaped the industry, enabling traders to connect their accounts directly and trade in a way that had never been possible before. Other firms soon followed, adopting similar approaches, but the impact was clear: HyroTrader was setting the pace for the entire industry. “When we innovate, the industry follows,” says CEO Samuel Drnda. “We don’t just participate in this market — we move it forward.” Scaling Capital Access for Traders HyroTrader gives traders the ability to access funded accounts up to $200,000, profit splits of 70–90%, and the opportunity to scale up to $1 million in trading capital. So far, the firm has: Funded 700+ traders Processed more than $2 million in payouts Built a community of 30,000+ users worldwide This commitment has earned HyroTrader recognition in the industry, being ranked twice among the best crypto prop firms by respected outlets such as: Altfins: The Best Crypto Prop Trading Firms Living From Trading: Top Crypto Prop Firms Community and Global Presence HyroTrader is more than just a platform — it’s a global community. In late 2024, the company organized a trading tournament at Bybit HQ in Dubai, bringing together the top 30 crypto traders. The event went viral, generating over 170,000 views on social media and further boosting HyroTrader’s reputation as one of the most innovative names in the industry. Today, the team includes 34 full-time employees, with 15 in the Prague office and the rest working remotely from around the world. To support global growth, HyroTrader is also opening a new office in Dubai, a major hub for international crypto trading. Combating Fraud with Decentralization As the popularity of prop trading grows, so too has the number of fraudulent projects. HyroTrader is responding by building a decentralized crypto prop trading protocol, which will allow trader evaluations and performance to be recorded transparently on the blockchain. This innovation will provide traders with a verifiable trading history and give other firms the chance to build on the same framework, improving standards across the entire industry. Investing in People and Product Development HyroTrader is now entering its most ambitious growth phase yet. The company is hiring aggressively and investing heavily into product development to ensure its platform can scale efficiently. “By bringing in the best talent and building scalable technology, we’re preparing for the next stage — serving over a million traders worldwide,” explains Drnda. Future Roadmap Looking ahead, HyroTrader is preparing several major initiatives: New Scalable Application (2025): Launching a next-generation trading platform designed to scale operations to over 1 million users. Crypto Fund for Algo Traders: Supporting algorithmic traders with real capital, helping them test, validate, and scale their strategies. Expanding API Integrations: Partnering with multiple leading exchanges to bring prop trading to new markets. Exchanges themselves are showing strong interest, recognizing that the model generates substantial trading volume. A Trusted Name Among the Best Crypto Prop Firms With consistent innovation, industry-first integrations, and a clear vision for the future, HyroTrader continues to earn its reputation as one of the best crypto prop firms in the world. “HyroTrader was built to empower traders with real opportunities,” says Drnda. “From Bybit API integration to decentralized protocols, everything we do is about pushing the industry forward while protecting and supporting our community.” To learn more about HyroTrader or apply for a trading challenge, visit hyrotrader.com . 

WorldShards Announces Partnership with ByBit and Sets TGE Date on September 5

By Press Release • September 1, 2025
WorldShards ($SHARDS) , a highly anticipated Sandbox MMORPG set in the magical world of Murrlandia, announced a new partnership with Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. The partnership sees SHARDS become part of a Bybit Megadrop campaign offering participants several ways to boost their earnings. Users have until September 3, 2025, to stake USDT or MNT and secure a share of the 60,000,000 SHARDS prize pool. SHARDS will have its TGE (token-generation event) on September 5, 2025, when it will officially list on Bybit Spot. WorldShards is an online, downloadable Web3 MMORPG that successfully blends role-playing gameplay with blockchain innovations, including NFTs. The game supports NFT-authenticated multimedia content, enabling users to collect, trade, and utilize fully owned digital assets across various entertainment platforms. WorldShards delivers fun and interactive multiplayer experiences within an immersive and fascinating virtual world. Players worldwide can enjoy the game on PC, mobile, and consoles. The WorldShards ecosystem functions on a solid economy driven by the SHARDS token. SHARDS is a fair launch token with no allocation to the team or investors, guaranteeing transparency and fairness within a truly community-driven ecosystem. Ahead of the recent announcement , players could join WorldShards by acquiring access keys or digital land. That has changed. Now, users can gain full and free access to the game for 30 days by joining before the upcoming Token Generation Event (TGE), scheduled for September 5, 2025. Players who remain active for at least 25 days of that period will receive full access to the game at no cost. This offer is available only to new accounts, and terms and conditions apply. WorldShards is only the 8th project to enter the Bybit Megadrop platform. This venture will allow players to boost their earnings through these methods: Stake & Earn: Lock USDT or MNT in Fixed Term Bybit Earn to accumulate points Boost via Trading: Multiply the score by making at least one daily Spot trade. Claim Rewards: Earn up to 1% of the total pool per user. The rewards will be distributed in three batches from September 5 to 9, 2025. Bybit services over 70 million users worldwide. Bybit Megadrop is the exchange’s token discovery platform dedicated to providing users with a safe and accessible early entry to new and exciting projects and their emerging tokens. Discover more on how to join Bybit Megadrop , stake MNT and USDT to share from a massive 60,000,000 SHARDS prize pool! About WorldShards WorldShards is an up-and-coming fantasy sandbox MMORPG set in a world dominated by cats. The immersive virtual world features a level-less progression system and an endless amount of new adventures and experiences. The $SHARDS Token is the main resource of the Web3 economy in WorldShards, and players can primarily receive $SHARDS through in-game drops. Join WorldShards ahead of the $SHARDS TGE on September 5, 2025, and remain active for at least 25 of the 30-day trial access to receive full and permanent access to the game at no cost. Learn more about WorldShards on its official website and social media channels: X , Telegram , and Discord . 

Vchat: Vietnam’s Awakening Answer to the Future of Social Networks

By press Release • September 1, 2025
In a digital landscape long dominated by Silicon Valley and China’s internet giants, a new force is rewriting the rules of connection and community: Vchat, a project born in Vietnam with a vision far larger than just another messaging app. What began as a communication tool has evolved into an awakening ecosystem — where ownership, governance, and value converge. Its mission is simple yet radical: return voice, value, and agency to the people. The Ownership Economy Unlike traditional social platforms that extract value from user data and attention, Vchat flips the model: Web3 Transparency – All contributions are recorded on-chain, ensuring fairness and traceability. AI Personalization – Each user interacts with an intelligent assistant that supports their journey. Community Rewards – Engagement is converted into VCT Tokens, turning participation into tangible ownership. At the heart of this system lies the VCT Token, powering Vchat’s digital economy. Every like, post, or contribution flows back into the community — not upward to corporations. Users can tip creators, unlock services, trade in the marketplace, or reinvest in the platform’s growth. Governance by the People Vchat is not run from boardrooms but by its community. Through DAO governance, users vote on features, economics, and rules of the ecosystem. Decisions once made in closed circles are now open, transparent, and democratic — a genuine shift of power from corporations to communities. Even advertising is reimagined. Instead of intrusive algorithms, Vchat introduces consensus-driven visibility, where creators and businesses gain exposure through community approval, not manipulation. Commerce Without Borders Beyond social interaction, Vchat embeds seamless borderless commerce. Users can buy, sell, and exchange digital goods or services directly through VCT — bypassing intermediaries. This creates a global marketplace where every participant is both a consumer and an entrepreneur. The VK Vision: From Vietnam, to the World Behind Vchat is VK, a founder whose philosophy goes beyond building platforms. As the Whitepaper states: “We are not chasing the attention economy. We are building the ownership economy — where communities don’t just participate, they lead.” This vision positions Vietnam not as a follower of digital trends, but as a producer of systems that can redefine global standards. Observers believe Vchat’s trajectory could mark a turning point not just for Vietnam’s tech landscape, but for the future of the internet itself. A Turning Point in Digital Culture Vchat is not competing for ad revenue or screen time. It is offering an entirely new paradigm: Where users are co-owners, not data points. Where technology empowers, not controls. Where value circulates within communities, not siphoned by corporations. As the project scales globally, it carries a bold message: “The future does not only begin in Silicon Valley. The future can begin anywhere — even here, in Vietnam.” Official Information Website: https://tapdoanvk.com Whitepaper: https://token.tapdoanvk.com 

RealEstate.Exchange Launches with First Security Token Offering: The Legacy Hotel & Residences in Miami, offered by FraXion

By Press Release • August 19, 2025
RealEstate.Exchange (REX) is thrilled to announce that its first client’s Security Token Offering is now available to view on its platform! The FXLI token, offered by FraXion , represents debt financing interests in the Legacy Hotel & Residences development project in Downtown Miami. Investors can now view and read more about the opportunity by creating an account on RealEstate.Exchange.  Claus Skaaning, DigiShares CEO: “As part of our mission to deliver increased transparency and accessibility to the real estate market through the use of blockchain technology, the launch of REX and FraXion's FXLI token represent significant milestones.” Nathan Burrell, Managing Director Real Estate, Randolph & Main Capital Group : “Finally, the ability to offer institutional grade real estate projects through an accessible platform. DigiShares' expertise in both primary and secondary markets is the reason we listed our Legacy STO using DigiShares' platform. Investor accessibility was an area of promise with tokenization, and is finally here with DigiShares.” Dan Kodsi, Founder/CEO, Royal Palm Companies : "The Legacy business model excites me the most. Legacy is unique because of the ability to create so many different revenue opportunities in downtown Miami. Legacy is what I call true mixed-use." RealEstate.Exchange is designed to offer investors a way to diversify beyond volatile cryptocurrencies by gaining exposure to more stable real estate assets. Through its trading platform, developed in collaboration with U.S. regulated broker-dealer Texture Capital , REX aims to facilitate seamless and compliant trading of various property types, including residential, commercial, and luxury real estate. To enhance the capabilities of RealEstate.Exchange, DigiShares is leveraging cutting-edge blockchain solutions from leading technology providers, including Polygon, zkMe and Privado ID. These integrations play a crucial role in strengthening security, scalability, and liquidity, ensuring a seamless and fully compliant tokenized real estate trading experience. Polygon – Integrating Polygon’s high-performance blockchain infrastructure to ensure scalability, low transaction fees, and rapid settlement times for real estate tokenization. zkMe – Implementing zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology to enhance privacy and decentralized identity verification, ensuring secure and compliant KYC/AML processes without compromising user data. Privado ID – Leveraging DITO (Decentralized ID for TOkenization) to streamline KYC and identity verification processes, ensuring they are secure, efficient, and reusable across the decentralized finance landscape. This approach enhances user experience while maintaining full compliance. Disclaimers: DigiShares and Texture Capital Inc., including Realestate.Exchange, are not involved in these offerings and do not endorse, verify, or assume responsibility for their content or compliance. Links to client primary offerings, accessed via REX, are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by DigiShares, nor does it imply any recommendation or financial/investment advice. Realestate.exchange is a partnership between DigiShares, a tokenization platform, and Texture Capital, a US-based Broker-Dealer & ATS. This STO is a client’s primary offering, therefore, secondary trading is not enabled. The FXLI security tokens will be available through FraXion's own investor portal. About DigiShares DigiShares is one of the leading providers of white-label tokenization platforms for real world assets, combining financing, corporate management, and trading in an end-to-end solution. Our solutions enable asset owners and fund managers to digitize and automate processes, to reduce administrative cost, to reduce the ticket size to fractionalize and democratize and enable retail investors to participate, and finally to provide a huge increase in liquidity through the built-in marketplace that enables shareholders to trade their assets. Website: www.digishares.io About RealEstate.Exchange (REX) RealEstate.Exchange is a platform for real estate trading, offering investors a regulated environment to buy and sell tokenised shares of real estate assets. REX combines blockchain technology with real-world applications to transform real estate investment and management. In the U.S., REX will be powered by Texture Capital’s SEC-registered Alternative Trading System (ATS). Website: www.realestate.exchange About FraXion FraXion is a non-traditional real estate investment platform utilizing the latest blockchain technology that will provide individuals, not just institutions, with access to distinguished real estate development ventures, side-by-side with large development groups and some of the most recognized institutional partners in the world. Website: https://fraxiontoken.io/
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