Punk 6529, in collaboration with the National Fine and Technology Foundation (NFT), has launched a new open source project to develop an ecosystem of blockchain-based virtual reality worlds.

A number of NFT collectors have amassed sizable Twitter followings, where they discuss their buying and selling activities and provide trading advice. Many of these collectors have also begun to use their large followings to launch new projects. Punk6529, an NFT insider, did exactly that.

They recently announced on Twitter that their entire NFT collection is now on display in a metaverse museum district. Who's coming? Everybody.

Visitors to the sprawling district will be able to virtually view some of the world's most expensive NFTs. From Bored Apes to CryptoPunks to ArtBlocks, this high-profile virtual museum district is set to serve as the starting point for a massive virtual city. It called "OM." When fully operational, OM is expected to support a virtual population of 100 million users.

Many people's first district

Punk6529's OM, powered by the Web3 world-building engine OnCyber, is just one part of a larger plan. Ultimately, the goal is to create a 'Open Metaverse' that anyone can access and contribute to. The 6529 Museum District's launch marks the project's official entry into its alpha phase. 

Punk6529 and the rest of the project's team intend to make this pilot launch. Representative of what OM will hopefully grow into: an open, inclusive, community-built space on the Metaverse. Punk6529 announced on Twitter, "I collect in public, I invest in public, and we are going to build OM in public together."

The pieces featured in the 6529 Museum District will be included in this open building process. While seeing some of the most expensive NFTs in the world on display will be part of the initial draw for visitors. It will also be a place where guests can display NFTs from their own collections for everyone to see.

Currently, there are around 2000 NFTs on display, all of which belong to Punk6529 or other project team members. With the museum district's planned open structure, this number should only rise as more visitors flock to the virtual space.

A space with a purpose

OM is currently planned to be a massive online experiment. What is the goal? To see if it is possible for a functional, self-sustaining, community-built space to exist and thrive on the Metaverse.

Punk6529 and the rest of the team will have to answer a seemingly innocuous. But nonetheless important question during the alpha phase: will this be a fun and interesting place to hang out?

If a large enough number of people say yes, the development of the digital city can continue. The next questions focus on how it will be governed and how it will sustain itself economically. When it comes to funding, however, at least one aspect of the project is already clear. Despite its enormous revenue potential. Punk6529 has stated unequivocally online that they intend for OM to be a brand-neutral space free of corporate interference.

No single entity, not even OM's creators, will have complete control or ownership of what could become a virtual city with a population of 100 million people. As a result, the alpha and beta phases will be critical in determining how the virtual space will be able to achieve its lofty goals and sustain itself for years to come as a community. 

Punk6529 hopes that once everything is in place, OM can fully represent the ideals of Web3. Let's hope they pull it off.