114 – Greater Fools Tells the Solana Story by TBoh

An extensive conversation exploring the intersection of storytelling, community, and the evolution of Solana’s NFT ecosystem

Introduction: When Passion Meets Purpose

TBoh’s journey into writing “The Greater Fools” began with a simple but profound question from a childhood friend: “When are you gonna write about something you actually care about?” After 15 years of ghostwriting true crime and other people’s stories, despite having a #1 Amazon bestseller that appeared on Howard Stern and Saturday Night Live, TBoh realized he wanted to put his voice behind something meaningful to him. The answer was immediate: Solana.

“I just spent so much of my own time messing around with Solana NFTs in the communities and the art,” TBoh explains. “It was a no brainer, bro. It was the first thing I thought of.”

The Vision: Crypto Education Through Fantasy

“The Greater Fools” represents an ambitious attempt to bridge two worlds: the 300 million fantasy/sci-fi readers globally and the crypto-curious masses. TBoh identified a massive opportunity in the market – 86% of people want to learn about crypto, but only 16% claim to know anything about it, and most people see crypto and NFTs as scams.

“Why don’t I go after the fantasy and science fiction readers of the world and educate them on crypto as best I can? Introduce them to it, give them crypto for dummies, but in story form,” TBoh explains his strategy.

The book follows digital collectibles inside the Solana blockchain on a “cheeky degenerative adventure ride.” By the story’s end, readers understand:

How wallets and exchanges work
What blocks and chains are
Bitcoin, Solana, and Ethereum fundamentals
Most importantly, how to identify and avoid common scams

Revolutionary Funding: Seed Investment for Fiction

Perhaps most remarkably, TBoh pioneered something virtually unheard of in publishing: raising seed funding for a novel. “I’d never heard of people getting investors to give them money for a chunk of a novel,” he admits.

The Investor Network

His funding came from within the Solana NFT community itself:

Jordan and Barage (DTP founders) – “Here’s the money. If we ever see it again, that’s great, but we just wanna support what you’re doing”
Monterey Rice (Pandas CEO)
Nana Trades
EJ the Cray
Exalt DAO – A sub-community of Pandas that provided treasury funds

The Exalt DAO funding story is particularly touching. When TBoh created “DTP Origins” (a collaborative art project), Jordan and Monterey asked him to donate a percentage to the Exalt DAO treasury to “promote Solana wide good guy stuff.” When TBoh later pitched his book, the DAO unanimously supported him, even though “NFTs were kind of dead already.”

Solana Foundation Recognition

The validation reached official levels when the Solana Foundation offered TBoh a booth at Breakpoint Singapore 2023. Despite being broke, he “sold off guitars and shit” to attend, printed the first 69 pages, and distributed them for free. The response was overwhelming – he tackled MERT in the convention center, got approval from Armani for Mad Lads inclusion, and returned “so jazzed” about the project.

The Historical Tapestry: Solana’s NFT Evolution

DGen Apes: The Catalyst Moment

Both TBoh and Thomas agree: the DGen Apes mint was Solana’s inflection point. “Raj says the same shit you do – it was the DGen mint that launched Solana to the world,” TBoh confirms.

The mint was a perfect storm:

Network-breaking congestion that essentially shut down Solana
“Pixar-level” 3D art quality that impressed even skeptics
A community focused on IP development and entertainment aspirations
The moment Solana NFTs gained legitimacy outside the ecosystem

Thomas describes his introduction: “A buddy of mine came over to play music and opens up his laptop and there’s this three dimensional ape with this fierce look in his eye and his stupid clothes. He’s got a fucking cigarette in his mouth, he’s got a rice farmer hat and a business suit. It’s super well executed. It’s like fucking Pixar.”

The Great Migration from Ethereum

Both hosts shared identical experiences moving from Ethereum to Solana:

Buying first ETH NFTs where gas fees exceeded the NFT value
Discovering Solana’s sub-penny transactions
Facing ridicule from Ethereum maximalists who called Solana “the poor chain”
The revolutionary realization that high gas fees weren’t a feature, but a bug

“I bought my first ETH NFT and just like you, the gas was more than the thing was worth. And I was like, what am I doing?” TBoh recalls.

Collection Deep Dives: The Tribal Structure

Degenerate Trash Pandas: The Artist Incubator

TBoh found his home in the Pandas community, which stood for “supporting struggling artists.” The collection became a launching pad for now-legendary Solana artists:

Scum Basket
Blinks
Scuba
Jake Whiskey
iNE

“So many artists started out in the pandas and then the apes, and then the rest of Solana,” TBoh notes.

Famous Foxes: The Innovation Engine

Thomas credits Famous Foxes as the infrastructure builders of early Solana NFTs:

Created the first multi-NFT swap tools
Built essential marketplace functionality before Tensor existed
Offered direct developer access faster than tech companies
“If I was to swap an NFT to this day, I’d say, all right, send me the Foxy Swap”

Solana Monkey Business: The Professional Network

Described as “the LinkedIn of Solana,” SMB holders included protocol founders and builders:

Tax specialists available for community questions
Networking hub for serious builders
Professional, organized DAO structure
Custom monkeys created for major Solana projects

“Most of them were like the builders of Solana. Whatever you’re building, you might have like a custom monkey for soul flair or for whatever,” Thomas explains.

Okay Geckos: The Resurrection Story

Originally created by Gossip Goblin, the collection was later revived by Articles:

One of the most hyped early mints (2.5 SOL when SOL was $200+)
Thomas minted a neon one and flipped it for 10x same day
Articles took over after original team issues and transformed it into one of the strongest ongoing NFT communities
Maintains active “immortal journey” traditions where community celebrates major collection moves

DeGods: The Controversial Fraternity

The conversation reveals complex feelings about DeGods:

Initially dismissed by both hosts for “frat boy” culture
Thomas attended a DeGods golf tournament with 50+ attendees, complete with videographers
Despite Frank’s controversial departure from Solana, individual holders remained loyal community members
Recognition that different collections attracted different personality types, all valid

The Psychology of Digital Ownership

Why NFTs Created Unprecedented Loyalty

TBoh poses a fascinating question: “I love guitars and I have a guitar collection… I wouldn’t fly to Singapore to meet Fender fans. What is it about NFTs?”

His theory centers on shared values amplified by financial investment:

Decentralization and democratization philosophies
Ability to directly support and invest in young artists
Community bonds strengthened by financial stakes
Shared experience of volatility and risk

“Maybe it’s really about the philosophies of decentralization and democratization and tokenization. These things really meant something to me as a slap in the face when I started looking into crypto.”

The Country Club Model vs. Telegram Chaos

The hosts identify a fundamental difference between NFT and meme coin communities:

NFT Communities (Discord Era):

“Country club model” – pay entry fee, stay for community value
Long-term relationship building
Structured governance and development
PFP-driven tribal identity
Innovation hubs for tools and infrastructure

Meme Coin Communities (Telegram Era):

“Come make money and feel free to dump on me”
Short-term profit focused
Less structured community building
Higher volatility, faster turnover

“NFTs were set up as better set up as communities. The best explanation’s kinda like a country club, right? You pay the fee to get in and then you make it in and hopefully it’s valuable enough for you to stay in the community,” Thomas explains.

The Shared Trauma Bond

Surviving the FTX Collapse

A crucial insight emerges about community resilience. When SOL dropped from $200+ to $8 and NFTs became nearly worthless, something remarkable happened:

“We all kind of had this shared trauma of our NFTs, everything was worth nothing. We went from $200 to $8 and we were getting trashed on by every other community. But the community was still there and it only got tighter. We lost some people, but maybe they were the people that were here for the short term flips.”

This “battle-tested” community became stronger through adversity, creating bonds that persist even as SOL approaches $200 again. As TBoh notes, referencing Jordan’s thesis for the Pandas: “Communities are gelled together by shared trauma.”

Market Dynamics and Innovation Cycles

The Minting Frenzy Era

Both hosts nostalgically recall the peak minting period:

Big Brand’s DOS spreadsheet-style mint calendars
20,000+ collections minting daily
Salon Art marketplace unable to handle volume
Discord chats moving too fast to read
Refreshing floor pages hoping for steals
10x-100x gains happening regularly

“I just would stare at the floor of a lot of these collections and refresh it, refresh it, come on somebody floor something cool. That was so much fun,” Thomas recalls.

The Innovation Through Necessity

The conversation reveals how infrastructure emerged from community needs:

Famous Foxes tools filled marketplace gaps
Artist collaboration platforms like DTP Origins
Community treasury management systems
Staking and utility mechanisms

Current Market Analysis and Future Predictions

The NFT Revival Thesis

Both hosts strongly believe NFTs will return to prominence:

Thomas’s perspective:

Existing communities built lasting infrastructure
Utility models like Quacks’ tiered access prove value
20 Ducks = Access to venture deals and alpha chat groups
“Those are experiences, those are communities that I can’t get anywhere else”

TBoh’s perspective:

Collections that adapt and offer value will survive
Monkey DAO “will never go away – too much talent, too well organized”
New collections will emerge copying successful models
“What happens when we bring in a thousand times more people? That stuff will live again”

Technology as Equalizer

A critical insight: both hosts believe technological advantages will eventually equalize across blockchains. The lasting differentiator will be community and culture.

“I don’t think the TPS isn’t really in the way of anything right now. Solana is fast enough for the current demand. But once we get to five years in the future, everything’s gonna be going super quick. It’s gonna come down to the vibes of the blockchain or the community that’s on there,” Thomas predicts.

Price Predictions and Bullish Sentiment

Thomas boldly states his $1,000 SOL prediction, noting the community has become hesitant to express extreme bullishness despite strong fundamentals. TBoh advocates the “stack and forget” approach for Bitcoin, Solana, and BONK as his highest conviction plays.

The Book’s Narrative Structure

Blending Reality with Fantasy

“The Greater Fools” employs a unique dual-narrative structure:

Human story: 19-year-old artist navigating the crypto world
NFT story: Digital collectibles having adventures inside the Solana blockchain

The approach allows TBoh to:

Introduce different collection cultures through hacker house scenes
Explore the “homeland” of various NFT communities
Mix timelines to include the most exciting historical moments
Create new characters while respecting existing IP

Character Development and Community Representation

TBoh feels “a sense of responsibility to portray them correctly,” spending time with collection leaders to ensure accurate representation:

Jimmy and CC from Monkey DAO helped develop monkey holder characterizations
Created “Bernie” – a charcoal-skinned, flame-patterned Clay character for comic relief
All major collections get their moment, from pandas to apes to geckos

The Publishing Timeline Challenge

“Everything moves so quickly that you move from one meta to the next, you move from NFTs to meme coins in a second. Everything I write tomorrow is sort of yesterday’s, last year’s news already.”

This challenge led TBoh to adopt a “historical blender” approach, mixing timelines to capture the most exciting elements of Solana’s evolution while creating a cohesive narrative.

Marketing Innovation and Web3 Distribution

The Distribution Dilemma

TBoh faces a unique challenge: how to market a crypto book when “nobody reads” and NFTs aren’t trending. His strategies include:

Traditional Approaches:

Six-figure publicity budget requests to major exchanges and wallets
Product placement opportunities (phantom wallet, tensor integration)
Celebrity endorsements and media appearances

Web3-Native Innovations:

Serialized release on Drip House platform
Multiple NFT cover editions for different communities
Compressed NFT distribution to subscribers
“Stake-to-read” partnerships with wallet providers
Community reading spaces and testimonial building

The Drip House Opportunity

Thomas suggests Drip House as the ideal distribution platform:

10,000+ creators, hundreds of thousands of users
Video (founder) actively promotes new creators
Recently acquired by Jupiter for expanded reach
Successful model: Thomas has 30,000 followers, significant download numbers
Built-in tipping and premium content mechanisms

Community Approval and Intellectual Property

The Ethical Approach

Despite owning NFTs that could legally justify their inclusion, TBoh seeks explicit approval from every project mentioned:

“There’s what is legal and then there’s what is right”
Got approval from MERT, Armani (Mad Lads), Articles (Geckos)
Still working on Clay approval from the team
Refuses to proceed without community blessing

This approach exemplifies the collaborative spirit that defines Solana’s culture.

Broader Implications for Crypto Adoption

The Education Gap

The conversation reveals a massive market opportunity:

86% of people want to learn about crypto
Only 16% claim basic knowledge
Most view crypto/NFTs as scams due to media representation
Entertainment typically shows crypto in negative contexts

Onboarding Through Story

TBoh’s approach addresses a fundamental problem: crypto education is often too technical or dry. “From Jesus Christ and his parables straight up to kids who make a living ghostwriting – it’s storytelling. That’s how people learn.”

The Accessibility Revolution

Both hosts note how far accessibility has come:

Onboarding now takes minutes instead of hours
5-10% fees comparable to real-world sales tax
If someone wants an NFT badly enough, they can get it quickly
The barrier isn’t technical anymore – it’s awareness and education

Looking Forward: The Next Chapter

Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

Immediate Catalysts:

Trump administration crypto embrace
ETF approvals and mainstream integration
Meme coin listings on major platforms
Continued infrastructure development

Long-term Vision:

Mass adoption through invisible integration
“Most people won’t know they’re using the tech”
Community and culture as lasting differentiators
Tokenization of creators and artists becoming standard

The Greater Fool Philosophy

The book’s title reflects a deeper truth about markets and human nature. As Thomas notes referencing a Newsroom speech: “America’s success depends on the greater fool. Everyone’s willing to take these irrational risks and that’s the American spirit. That’s what crypto is – it epitomizes the American dream.”

This philosophy embraces the speculative nature while focusing on the underlying innovations and community building that make the risks worthwhile.

Conclusion: Documenting History in Real Time

“The Greater Fools” represents more than just a book – it’s a time capsule of a transformative period in digital ownership and community building. As TBoh puts it: “Will we ever have mints like that again? I don’t know. But it did happen, and it was pretty fun. Why not at least mark that moment in time for those of us who went through it?”

The conversation reveals how Solana’s NFT era created not just digital collectibles, but genuine communities, lasting relationships, and infrastructure that continues to benefit the ecosystem. Whether through fantasy fiction or podcast discussions, documenting this history helps preserve the lessons learned and the bonds formed during crypto’s wild west period.

As both hosts agree, the fundamentals haven’t changed – if anything, they’ve strengthened. The technology is better, the community is more resilient, and the infrastructure is more robust. The only question isn’t whether adoption will accelerate, but how quickly the next wave of users will discover what early Solana adopters have known all along: this is something special.

“The Greater Fools” is available for pre-order at greaterfoolsbook.com with discount code “RAYISTHEDEVIL” for 25% off. The first 69 pages are included immediately as PDF, with the full ebook delivered upon release.