19. Nick and Marcus (RKL Team): DeFi meets Gaming - Inside the Explosive Rise of Rumble Kong League

Welcome to EARLY, the podcast about web3 business from Bankless Consulting. DSide's guests today are Nick and Marcus from Rumble Kong League (RKL), who discuss their journey in the world of decentralized finance (DeFi) and the gaming industry, respectively. Nick, an experienced DeFi enthusiast, has been involved in the space for years, while Marcus has a background in the gaming industry, particularly in the realm of "Free to Play" games. The conversation revolves around their joint venture, the Rumble Kong League (RKL), a project they dedicated three years to developing. RKL gained significant traction during the DeFi summer, and the hosts delve into how the community grew around it. They attribute the community's expansion to the PFP (Profile Picture) experience, which involves using unique profile pictures as a means of participation and engagement. The vision for RKL's ecosystem revolves around basketball culture, encompassing elements like basketball gameplay, fashion, and artistry. The team has collaborated with brands, such as Gatorade, and work with NBA athletes to benefit the RKL community. They emphasize the importance of building communities and community engagement through the concept of "Clubs" within RKL. Throughout the conversation, DSide shares his own experiences with RKL & his own RKL club, adding a personal touch to the discussion. The hosts also touch upon the close alignment between RKL's development and the community, indicating that the project is constantly evolving based on community feedback and involvement. The hosts express their drive to continue building the RKL game, driven by a desire to contribute and lead within the Web3 ecosystem. They stress the importance of building the right product and continuously iterating based on community feedback. Looking toward the future, the hosts share RKL's 10-year vision, which includes the creation of a full sports ecosystem built around RKL that extends to all sports like the NFL, NHL, and golf. Overall, this podcast episode offers insights into the journey of Nick and Marcus, the growth of the RKL community, the vision for RKL's ecosystem, and the team's commitment to building a successful game within the Web3 space. ***Timestamps*** 0:00 - Guests Background 5:20 - The beginning of RKL (Rumble Kong League) 7:35 - How did the RKL community grow? 11:30 - The vision for RKL's ecosystem 17:00 - Explaining 'Clubs' within RKL 23:30 - DSide discusses his own experiences with his RKL Club 27:00 - How has the development of RKL alongside the community been? 36:20 - Other trailblazing projects in the gaming industry? 43:15 - RKL's exciting partnerships 50:00 - What is the drive to keep building this game? 55:30 - RKL's 10-year vision? ***Additional Resources*** Rumble Kong League (RKL) website RKL Twitter RKL Instagram RKL Discord Invite Search RKL OpenSea collections If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow! Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha. ***Links*** Bankless Consulting Twitter Bankless Consulting LinkedIn Bankless Consulting Newsletter Early Podcast on YouTube