ARC Insider - Issue #6

Goodbye 2023, hello 2024! Can you believe it's already 2024?

As we reflect on 2023, this newsletter celebrates our collective achievements within the ARC community. In the fast-paced landscape of Web3, time seems to warp, and it seems like ARC has done 20 million things or so. But fret not! We’re here to provide a recap of the significant milestones ARC achieved in 2023 and offer a sneak peek at what 2024 has in store.

At the start of 2023, our CEO Elroy mentioned that "macro markets are expected to remain depressed," and 2023 was definitely not the easiest of years. Despite these headwinds, our community has been a hive of activity. We've welcomed many new Stellars, rolled out exciting initiatives and perks, and brought our members together through engaging audio rooms and a diverse array of events.

In the coming year, we hope that not only will Elroy be less depressed, but that the market will be too. That’s not the only thing growth-minded. The team was busy making our Deputy CEO Gabe’s Stellar hairier too. No cap.

As we step into 2024, be ready for an array of innovative features, community-centric events, and even more opportunities for growth and collaboration. Our focus remains steadfast on building, connecting, and evolving together as a community at the forefront of Web3.

So, settle in, enjoy the read, and savour this edition of ARC Insider – your guide to the past year's milestones and exciting prospects for the year ahead.

WELCOMING NEW STELLARS

We’ve welcomed over 220 new members in the past year! We have new blood coming in from all across Asia (and the world), and we're so excited about the burst of energy, initiatives, and opportunities that come with this amazing community growth.

We’ve also launched our new Members Directory in-app! You can easily click on categories like Founders, VCs, and even whales to connect to folks you’ve been wanting to connect with.

OUR VISION STATEMENT

In February 2023, we released our vision statement, "Connecting like-minded people across Asia to form the ARC Social Venture Studio that will be at the frontier of pushing the Web3 space forward in Asia.”

We’ve worked towards this in the past years along three interconnected goals: (1) to build a strong community foundation & connect like-minded individuals, (2) to facilitate the creation of expertise and interest-based subgroups, and (3) to provide value to members in the community.

We hope you, as our members, have seen and felt these efforts, from our new swanky PFPs to our local and overseas events. Check out some recaps below.

AR(C)OUND THE WORLD

In the words of one of our resident degens @0xKeane, “my favourite part of being a Stellar at overseas events is how we move like a pack.”

Agree or disagree, Stellars have been around! We’ve had events in Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, and Los Angeles! Some of these events were hosted by our very own Stellars, like @P23Sanjay, who hosted Blockchain Genesis Thailand, and gave all Stellars who attended VIP tickets!

OUR NEW STELLAR PFPs

We’ve launched our own 3D PFP Artwork split into six “Passions” - Pyrolyte (fire 🔥), Astralon (space 🔮), Edenflor (nature 🍀), Celestron (metal 🦾), Terramorph (earth 💠) and Hydroglyph (water 🌊).

After minting, many of our members have spent more hours than they expected choosing which features they want to customise. But it’s all worth it!

The behind-the-scenes to the creation of our Stellars artwork is phenomenal, and you would not want to miss what @catmeatparty, @hiccupboy, and @rachzhuang have to share about the backstory and artistic inspiration behind these iconic back-facing poses and passions. Take some time to read the mini-series as you deepen your appreciation of the thought and exploration behind the Stellar artwork.

HOMEGROUND

One of the big events this year was TOKEN2049, where we had #IntotheARC, co-hosted by @Memeland and @BTSE_Official. “Hats” off to @GabeWithTheHat, @0xKeane, and @icunucmi for setting the gold standard and the rest of the ARC team for organizing the MOST MIND-BLOWING PARTY OF THE YEAR in this main event that brought Stellars from all round the world together!

But we’ve also had so many more events - our signature hotpots, secret suppers, regular Futsal, sake tasting, art gallery visits, exclusive talks, and many more! We hope that you’ve been enriched by them, and we can’t wait to host you at the next one.

ARC KEYSTONES PROGRAMME

Many of you have been contributing value to the community, and we’ve come up with a way to reward that! This is our keystone programme (please don’t call it badge), which we hope to track and recognise long-term contributors.

At ARC, we believe in the immense power and potential of our Stellars. As we continue to flourish, it’s vital to acknowledge and celebrate the significant contributions made by each member. Whether you’re connecting people as champions, co-creators, connoisseurs, or connectors, these are all significant contributions to creating shared value within our community. 

The ARC Keystones is not just another rewards initiative; it’s a testament to our commitment to the cornerstones of our community. This Keystones programme has since featured a few of ARC’s key contributors in a series that lets you delve deeper into their individual Web3 journey and their experience being in ARC thus far! This includes Stellar #3, @zunahn’s story, Stellar #133, @seeksahib’s vision and journey, Stellar #309, @bella_rwa’s insights, Stellar #48, @henrybtse’s powerhouse story, and many more to come!

If their stories inspire you, we invite you to begin your own unique chapter with ARC. Whether it’s through partnering with ARC on key events, fostering local community connections, or representing ARC in your city, every contribution grows our community. We’ve even launched our first raffle for keystone holders too, for a special hoodie handpicked by Elroy!

Let’s grow and evolve together as a community!

MAYHEM

One of the most common questions that the team got this year was “wen merch?”

We heard you!

ARC has launched our very first hoodie in partnership with SMUDGESTORE, which is our co-founder JJ Lin’s lifestyle and apparel brand. It’s phygital too! So both you and your Stellar PFP get to flaunt this swag.

More to come! See you at the Celestial Courts of ARC.

#INTOTHEART WITH AVAX

ARC has launched our partnership with Avalanche through their Mona Lisa Initiative, aimed at shaping the Web3 arts landscape in Asia!

Selected pieces, acquired through commissioned works, direct purchases from Avax marketplace partners, and an open call which garnered 85 key submissions from artists across the region, will be featured alongside creations from some of our Stellars, such as @shavonnewong_ and @kspaze1! A live artist pitch is scheduled for 22 Jan 2024 on Chat3.

The selection and curation of these artworks are overseen by our dedicated committee of Stellar art experts, including @claracxw, @thousandbtc, @brownworkglov3, @darrensrs and Oliver Sleafer. Through this partnership, we’re excited to find our own Mona Lisa and co-create a dynamic ecosystem supporting artists and collectors!

COSMOS KEEPER

How many of y’all thought that Spotify Wrapped was the peak of yearly summaries? Think again!

We’re excited to introduce Cosmos Keeper, our personalised summary of your cosmic journey with ARC this past year! This is one of the traits that can be equipped on your PFP, which has manifested - you can find out how many connections you’ve made, who’s your favourite Stellar, and a ton of other cool info!

Kudos to @ck4kevin, who has spent 13,170 minutes on the app this year! And wow, Elroy sends a lot of messages (6,742).

STORIES REDISCOVERED (AUDIO ROOMS)

In 2023 alone, we’ve had deep and intimate conversations with ​​@9gagceo, @JJ_Lin, @VERBAL_AMBUSH, @ZAGABOND, @bobbyong, @alex_dreyfus, and most recently, @bryan_johnson on our Stories Rediscovered series that is exclusively on the ARC App.

Not only did we get a chance to have these fantastic guests join us… but we also had the chance to hear from the devs who built the ARC app, as part of the app’s 1-year anniversary!

PERKS

As an ARC Stellar, this past year has felt less like a bear market with the breadth of access to both web2 and web3 utility and benefits that ARC has offered to reward the community for their dedication towards building the foundation of ARC and believing in the ethos of “giving value to receive value”.

Connect your wallet at https://arccommunity.com/connect-wallet, or visit the 'My Benefits' section in your ARC app to check out all the available perks to you!

ARCx

ARC x 33Club

While we have our digital haven within the ARC App, in 2023, Stellars got access to the members-only space exclusive to 33Club members, located at the heart of Singapore’s CBD. This included curated F&B menus and spa offerings at members’ rates for Stellars to enjoy.

ARC x Millennium Hotels and Resorts

ARC Stellars get to immerse in world-class hospitality and indulge in rest and relaxation when we visit the US, China, and Singapore. We’ve announced an expansion of your Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) perk. You can now enjoy exclusive discounts at all MHR hotels in the US, with the exception of Biltmore Los Angeles. PLUS, you get additional discounts if you're both a Stellar and My Millennium member!

ARC x EDITION

Singapore EDITION, located in the heart of the Orchard district, recently opened in November 2023. They have offered ARC Stellars 15% off on the Daily Flexible Rate. Whether you’re visiting (or even down for a Staycation), prepare to kick back and unwind here.

ARC x Zouk

All Stellars get to enjoy the ultimate VIP treatment at Zouk Singapore, with free entry for you and your plus one, a dedicated host with a red carpet welcome, early access to the coolest guest DJs, valet parking on the house, all-access passes to Zouk/Capital/Phuture on non-event nights, and even priority table reservations at all Zouk Group properties because we know you’re the life of the party!

ARC x Tiny Astro

Tiny Astro is the leading and ONLY data analytics platform for calling on Ethereum and Polygon chains. All Stellars enjoyed full access to Astro Analytic for 2023.

ARC x NFTYC powered by CASETiFY

Stellars had a chance to flex their beautiful PFP on their Verified Blue ring phone case with the latest collaboration NFTYC (powered by CASETiFY) in 2023. And to top it off, there was a 20% discount too!

WL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STELLARS

Courtesy of @Spectrum__eth, ARC Stellars were blessed by many WL opportunities this year and many more to come in this coming new year! For project recommendations that could benefit ARC members, feel free to contact him!

One notable example was Overworld, co-founded by Stellar @HeyJeremyHorn. Stellars enjoyed WL access and, upon minting at 0.15ETH, the Incarna NFT witnessed the floor price rapidly escalate to 2ETH, underscoring the significant value ARC Stellars receive through such opportunities.

FARCANA (Dec 2023)

QUAERE (Dec 2023)

OVERWORLD (Dec 2023)

MATR1X KUKU (Dec 2023)

FORGE (Oct 2023)

SEEDWORLD (Sep 2023)

Weebox San FranTokyo Genesis Pass (Aug 2023)

MISFITS BY PLUTO (Jul 2023)

CyberKongz Genkai (Jul 2023)

Imaginary Rides (May 2023)

Bitcoin Whales (Feb 2023)

"Empowering others, not just ourselves, is at the heart of ARC." -@icunucmi

ARC x World Vision

With World Vision, in 2023, ARC made a tangible impact, raising USD 11,200 to install solar panels at Lac Sy kindergarten in Yen Thuy, Vietnam, through a shirt campaign! These sustainable sources of electricity ensure that the children no longer face the discomfort of hot and dark classrooms. Additionally, they significantly reduce air pollutants and provide a reliable source of clean water and food.

ARC x HeySprouts - Do Good ARCmas

For Christmas this year, together as a community, we decided to give back and make some real-world impact. We have partnered with HeySprouts under their Soap for Hope programme, where they upcycle soap for distribution to marginalised communities. This process is made possible through 12 youths employed directly by HeySprouts. Hence, the funds raised by ARC went towards the youths’ salaries and expenses for the production of 5,000 bars of soap for distribution.

What makes it so special is how quickly we reached our fundraiser target of SGD 10,850 in under 48 hours! You Stellars are incredible and truly embodied the Do Good ARCmas spirit.

FEATURE/FLOWERS

It’s been an amazing year of ARC featuring and giving flowers to various ARC Stellars who have contributed to the success of ARC in 2023.

In this concluding edition for the year, we highlight some of the kind words that Stellars themselves have for the ARC Community and the ARC team that has worked tirelessly to make every Stellar’s experience thus far unlike any Web3 community can offer!

Flowers for ARC Team

Flowers for ARC APP

Flowers for each other #ARC500

As part of a momentous occasion (WE HAVE OVER 500 STELLARS!) in the humble history of ARC, @jaclynleezy launched an X chain with a mini-tribute to Stellars who have made an impact on her, and this sparked a chain of other Stellars doing the same too!

COMMUNITY AMA WITH GABE

ARC is a wonderfully diverse community, though there are also many degens around. Note the chat during any given audio room, or the “In Shitcoin We Trust” chat.

While we're developing a search function to archive and search through all the trolling, we wanted to capture a small snippet of that fun and culture by opening questions to the community to ask our Deputy CEO Gabe Yang.

We received a whole spectrum of questions - from trolls to deep, soul-searching questions. And we asked Gabe (and survived). He shared his journey to ARC, some of the biggest risks he’s taken, his vision for ARC, and answered some fun questions, like “If you had to swap lives with Elroy, Kiat, and JJ, who would it be and why?”

Check out this golden interview and inspirational nuggets from him at this link.

2024 is shaping up to be a really exciting time, and if you missed our town hall, here's what's coming up!

We're embarking on our 2024 World Tour! We'll be travelling over the next few months to key cities in the region, so if you're keen to chat with our team when we're there, do follow us on Twitter @arcthecommunity to ensure you're updated on our travelling dates.

ARC App: Growing from Strength to Strength

The ARC App, our digital home, continues to thrive! We're continuing to work on building and improving the app, and creating new features to build and enhance value for members (especially in view of the upcoming bullish year ahead)!

ARC Happenings in Q1 2024

Our agenda is packed with a full slate of events for the coming quarter, including our inaugural ARC [REDACTED], a new merch drop, our first edition of a Secret Soirée, and so much MOAR!!

As we close this edition of ARC Insider, we reflect on a year filled with growth, innovation, and community spirit. Our journey through 2023 has been an inspiring tapestry of achievements, connection, and evolution, setting a strong foundation for the year ahead.

Entering the new year, the excitement within ARC is palpable. With plans for ongoing community-driven projects and a continued focus on providing value, we are poised for another extraordinary year.

The journey of ARC is one of constant evolution, and each member's contribution is a vital part of this ongoing narrative.

Thank you for being an integral part of ARC.

Your energy, ideas, and participation make this community so special. Here's to a 2024 filled with more growth, connection, and innovation at the forefront of Web3. Let's continue to build this journey together, creating an even more vibrant and impactful ARC community!