Neo Tokyo, the exclusive online community that describes itself as the SoHo House for crypto gaming’s key players, is gearing up to reopen NFT sales on OpenSea. If teaming up with friends to crack intricate, riddle-filled competitions is your thing, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.

Running Oct. 26 through Nov. 9, Neo Tokyo has kicked off its latest riddle competition, “Whisperer: Sacred Acolyte.” Phase 1 closes on Nov. 1. This annual event offers a chance to win one of the community’s highest-ranking NFTs, the Hand of the Citadel, which the Neo Tokyo team says is valued at over $300,000 with top-level access to the community. In addition, Neo Tokyo tells us it plans to distribute over $200,000 of additional crypto rewards to some 100 top players on the event leaderboard.

In Neo Tokyo, Citizens are the core NFTs that grant holders access to the community’s events, resources, and perks. Each Citizen NFT is assembled from four unique components: identity, item cache, land, and vault. In 2021, these NFT components were originally earned for free through solving complex riddles and challenges.

Anyone can jump into the “Whisperer” challenge by solving a series of immersive puzzles before Phase 1 closes on Nov. 1. For those who remember the intense 3 a.m. tweet alerts of Neo Tokyo’s early days — when joining felt as tough as breaking into Fort Knox — the team has since made entry a bit more accessible, still maintaining a thrilling level of competition, but with access for “non-Citizens.”

Co-founded by crypto influencers Alex Becker and Ellio Trades, Neo Tokyo launched in 2021 and quickly drew thousands into its immersive, scavenger-hunt-style game. As the first phase of this year’s “Whisperer” competition wraps up, OpenSea caught up with Neo Tokyo’s project lead, Firestorm — aka SaaS product and project manager David Rohlfing — to discuss what’s driving the enthusiasm behind Neo Tokyo’s passionate community.

‍Note: This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

OpenSea: Firestorm, can you tell us how you got involved with Neo Tokyo and became project lead?

Firestorm: My background is in software product management. I started out as a project manager at a large bank before moving on to a travel startup and then to a marketing SaaS company. Around that time, NFTs and web3 were taking off, and I was deep into crypto day trading. Neo Tokyo was launched by Alex Becker and Ellio Trades, two of the biggest crypto gaming influencers out there today. They created a truly unique project, replicating the scavenger hunt vibes of “Ready Player One” with intricate riddles. At that point, the biggest NFT collections — CryptoPunks, Bored Ape Yacht Club, and NBA Top Shot — had already gained mainstream attention. But Neo Tokyo stood out as the first that required people to earn their mint through complex challenges, making it hard to access and generating huge interest. 

My cousin was already participating, so we spent hours working through clues together. I joined officially as an Outer Citizen when the second collection launched. Neo Tokyo’s community was always intense and highly driven, and when Becker and Ellio started building out a community council and management team, they reached out to me. The energy and purpose of the community fit perfectly with my experience, and that’s how I came to be project lead.

OpenSea: Tell me about some of the puzzles you and the community solved. Can you give an example of the types of challenges?

Firestorm: Sure, we had a lot of hidden “speakeasies” across the web. These were secret websites that people had to find, and then solve riddles on to get a spot on the initial whitelist.

Then, for each part of your Citizen entity, there was a separate riddle. There’s the “identity” (your core character traits), the “item cache” (what they’re holding and wearing), “land” (the background), and “vault” (which determines how much you yield in our $BYTES token). Together, these components form a full Citizen. Technically, it was groundbreaking. Combining multiple entities into one NFT hadn’t been done at this scale before.

And then there’s the $BYTES token. About one year in, we adjusted the emissions schedule to make it less inflationary, requiring holders to stake their Citizen to earn $BYTES rather than receiving them passively. We even did a full migration to a second version of the token to improve it.

But the puzzles were intense. Many members joke about having PTSD from the experience since they were ruthless. Becker would post clues at, say, 3 a.m., and if you missed it within the hour, you were out of luck. It created this intense trauma bonding among the people who made it through since over 80,000 people were competing for only 2,000 NFTs.

OpenSea: Well, no wonder Neo Tokyo has the nickname of “crypto gaming illuminati.” Now I understand what that means!

Firestorm: Definitely a bit cult-like at times. Our greeting is even “Grand Rising,” if you haven’t heard that yet.

OpenSea: Oh, wow! What else makes Neo Tokyo’s structure and community building unique?

Firestorm: Neo Tokyo operates almost like a decentralized franchise. We have different divisions  —  development, outreach, podcast, creatives, and gaming. Each team allows members to pitch ideas, build projects, and tap into the expertise of some of web3’s most influential founders. We have a web3 news team, a gaming division called NT Plays, and even a venture capital arm that connects founders with funding. Anyone with a vision can make proposals, and if they get majority approval from the council, the community supports them.

This setup gives members real ownership, and the collaborative projects we’ve launched — from a full-service agency to gaming tournaments — come directly from within our network. Our strength is in our collective expertise, making Neo Tokyo a powerful web3 network.

OpenSea: Tell us about the upcoming “Whisperer” riddle event. What can participants expect?

Firestorm: The Whisperer event, starting Oct. 26, is our annual riddle challenge, where we give away one of seven coveted NFTs called the “Hand of the Citadel.” These NFTs are the highest-ranked in Neo Tokyo and are worth upwards of $300,000 each. This competition has a prize pool of $500,000 and is open to everyone, with rewards for the top 150 on the leaderboard.

This year’s event isn’t as brutal as the original, where Becker would post clues at 3 a.m., and if you missed it, you were out of luck. We’ve refined the process so participants can join without needing to be online 24/7, but the difficulty remains. Neo Tokyo has a reputation for “trauma bonding” its members through these intense challenges, and Whisperer will continue that legacy.

OpenSea: What does Neo Tokyo’s return to OpenSea bring to your community and potential collectors?

Firestorm: Returning to OpenSea expands our accessibility, especially since we have over 20 different NFT contracts to support. Trading will become smoother, and collectors who missed out initially now have the opportunity to join. OpenSea is a popular marketplace for ETH NFTs, and our presence there allows us to showcase Neo Tokyo to a wider audience.

One of Neo Tokyo’s core values is exclusivity; our NFTs aren’t just collectibles, they’re access points to an elite community of web3 gaming founders, builders, and investors. To this day, around 75% of our original holders have never sold, which shows how much value people place on being part of this community. For anyone new to Neo Tokyo, this is a chance to own an NFT that’s not only rare but connects you to the most influential minds in blockchain gaming.

OpenSea: The Neo Tokyo team sometimes describes itself as the “crypto gaming illuminati.” Why do you think it’s earned that reputation?

Firestorm: Part of it is the exclusivity and dedication required to get in, and part of it is the community itself. Many of the biggest names in web3 gaming, like Immutable and Avax Gaming, are involved in Neo Tokyo. Some joined early through the original free mint, others later by purchasing NFTs, and we’ve even had dozens of founders approach us wanting to be part of the network.

Neo Tokyo doesn’t have typical barriers to entry, but it does require a commitment to the community’s vision and values. As a result, it’s cultivated an atmosphere of intense loyalty and shared goals, and there’s definitely a feeling of being part of something special — almost like an Illuminati of web3 gaming.

OpenSea: Beyond the digital space, how does Neo Tokyo foster in-person connections among its members?

Firestorm: We’re a global community, but in-person events are important to us. We just held our third-anniversary gathering in Las Vegas, where we had a booth at the Rare Evo conference, and about 150 of our members joined us for networking and discussions. Earlier this year, we also participated in Token2049 in Singapore, which brought in members from around the world.

Building these real-life connections cements the relationships that members have developed online. Many of our citizens are founders who’ve formed entire teams within Neo Tokyo. Meeting face-to-face helps strengthen those bonds, and we’ll definitely be organizing more events in the future, including a potential presence at NFT NYC.

OpenSea: How does decision-making work within the Neo Tokyo community? Is it run as a DAO?

Firestorm: We’re not a strict DAO but rather a “pseudo-DAO” with decentralized elements. We have a community council of 22 members who oversee proposals from citizens. Any member can submit an idea, and if it’s accepted by the council, it’s opened up for discussion in Discord. Councillors can give feedback, and the council ultimately votes on whether to move forward.

This system allows us to prioritize the best ideas from within the community. Since our council members are volunteers, they’re truly invested in Neo Tokyo’s vision. Over the past two and a half years, we’ve processed over 150 proposals, with some of the best projects and partnerships emerging directly from this model.

OpenSea: Looking ahead, where do you see Neo Tokyo headed as web3 evolves?

Firestorm: Neo Tokyo’s goal has always been to build the most valuable group of investors and builders in web3 gaming, and we’re dedicated to supporting our members as they grow in the industry. As web3 gaming matures, our focus is on filling gaps, such as helping game studios connect directly with engaged players through initiatives like NT Plays, which hosts weekly gaming events and tournaments.

In the near term, we’re focusing on ensuring our members have access to the resources and partnerships they need to be successful. We’re constantly refining how we support our community, and we’ll continue to adapt to the needs of web3 as it grows.

OpenSea: For those interested in testing their skills and joining the community, where should they go?

Firestorm: Head to our X page to jump into Phase 1 of “The Whisperer” before it closes on Nov. 1. We will have live Spaces and other events leading up to the close. We also host AMAs and other live events regularly that non-Citizens can join. The riddles are challenging, but the rewards — and the connections you’ll make — are worth it.

Note: The mention of the $BYTES token is for informational purposes only nor is it intended as financial or investment advice.