The Emperor Has New Clothes

A luxury villa from a16z's metaverse project White Sands
A luxury villa from a16z’s metaverse project White Sands

The screenshot above is from the the White Sands metaverse project and it’s what they’re calling a luxury villa. According to a16z Crypto, White Sands does not allow users of their metaverse platform to redesign the virtual interiors and has even imposed real-world-style zoning restrictions. “Parcel passes” for White Sands, which randomly assign you a parcel of “land” in their platform, are selling for around $800 on OpenSea right now.

This is patently absurd. In fact, it’s so absurd that I think people are uncomfortable admitting how genuinely bananas it all is.

Ryan Broderick
Garbage Day, June 3, 2022

No, emperor, your luxury villa looks great! It’s the most beautiful villa in all the land.