Culture

What do you do first? Grab your phone, of course. You open the bird app to find people already well into their day and see heated, intellectual conversations up and down your timeline. Then, you join a twitter space with a seemingly interesting topic, and as you swing your legs out of bed and onto the floor, you throw up a few emojis to show people that you’re actually listening. And now, the countdown to “real” life begins.

What If I told you that the next blockbuster will be released on the blockchain? How cool would that be? Does NFT allow for the production of movies? what are your chances of seeing a movie via blockchain? Allow this article answer your questions.

If you're looking for an opportunity in the Web3 space, consider building your brand in a quiet market - it just might pay off down the road.

web3 creators face unique challenges. One of the biggest is the need to balance creating art with building a personal brand to market and sell that art. In part 2 of this series I share 3 more keys to tackling this problem effectively!

Many opportunities exist for artists and creators that host their own Twitter spaces. Here are three things to keep in mind so all people feel comfortable and included in the spaces you host.

As the debate rages on regarding the appropriate level of creator royalties to set for a project, let’s delve a little deeper into some of the views from the NFT space?

In today's digitally-driven world, having a custom email domain is more important than ever before. Not only does it give your business a professional edge, but it also helps to protect your customers from phishing scams. With so many benefits, there's really no excuse not to get started with Google Business Email. For just $6 per month, you can have a professional, secure, and branded email address that will help your business thrive. 

Whether you’re an established or emerging artist in the Web3 space – if you’ve decided that a PFP collection is not for you. Here are some options to consider.

What You Need To Know (WYNTK) on the launch of Christie’s 3.0 with artist, Diana Sinclair. We'll look over the details, strategy, and I'll share my opinion on whether this approach to their web2 → web3 transition was a "hit" or a "miss".

The digital identity of a PFP project can generate a lot of support from people that relate to the art and the brand it stands for. However, recently we have seen many PFP projects fall short due to the massive influx of supply, and it immediately puts your project in harsh competition with the rest of the market.

We recently learned more about Starbucks' entry into web3 via their loyalty program, Starbucks Odyssey. Odyssey is the expansion of two well-established Starbucks strategies and programs. The Starbucks Rewards Program and the Starbucks 'Third Place' concept.

It's been a little over a decade since Web 2.0 came onto the scene, and while it's been a transformative force, there's no denying that it's beginning to show its age. Where once we used the web primarily for simple tasks like reading the news or checking our email, we now use it for much more complex activities. We shop online, stream movies and TV shows, work remotely, and stay connected with our friends and family no matter where they are in the world.

In today's digital world, it's more important than ever to have your own domain and email address. Not only does it give you a professional online presence to help you stand out from your competition, it also keeps your customers safe. It shows you're serious about digital security and, best of all, it's easy and affordable to get started.

You're a creator, marketer or business owner and you’re thinking about how to get your work/brand in front of as many people as possible. This applies no matter the size of your business – start up or multinational industry leader. The internet has made it easier than ever to reach a global audience, but there are still a lot of choices to make when it comes to deciding how and where to share your work.

Imagine being able to use your participation in the Rug Radio community as a token to get what you want in life. With our web3 rewards program, that’s exactly what you will be able to do. I’m very excited to announce the launch & first phase of the Rug Radio Web3 Rewards Program! 

Podcasts about NFTs and Web3 have flooded the marketplace, with hundreds of listening choices available. Each podcaster has an individual take on the evolving technology and a unique style of sharing their perspective. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced crypto trader, there’s always room to learn from the creators, technological experts and innovators in the space. Check out some of the podcasts below, along with resources for finding even more.

At its core, being a disruptor means shaking things up and doing them differently. It's about looking at the status quo and saying, "There has to be a better way." The ideas, actions or events that follow this often cause a significant shift in behaviour.‍ Disruptors challenge traditional thinking. They are change-makers and trailblazers who anticipate changes in the market and adapt their businesses accordingly.

Less than six months after his controversial (and as usual, long deleted) Instagram post that read “don’t fucking talk to me about NFTs”, Kanye West joined the growing list of celebrities who have filed trademark applications for NFTs in the past year.‍

A few weeks ago, popular social platform Reddit launched the first cohort of its Collectible Avatars Creator Program and the corresponding Collectible Avatar Marketplace. For many creators, this was yet another marketing move by big corporations to ride the NFT wave but for abstract line artist, Tyler Foust, Reddit was a stage that would usher in more exposure and appreciation for his art.

Sin duda alguna el mercado de los NFTs es un mercado muy transitorio. Por eso, para poder entender el “mundo NFT” necesitamos recorrer un camino a lo largo de la corta, pero completa historia del mercado de los tokens no fungibles. Los influencers del nuevo mundo podrían presumir de llevar consigo la capacidad de mover modas dentro del metaverso, de ahí sale lo que denominamos “free mint”.

Web3 is the next evolution of the internet. Advancements have been quick and, in the next decade, the Blockchain will permeate almost every aspect of society. So, whether you're in healthcare, banking, sports, music or beyond, you've got the skills and expertise that web3 needs.‍Like all spaces though, finding a job can be tricky if you don't know where to look or how to connect with employers. In this post, we'll go over some basics about how to narrow down your interests and find roles that are right for you.

Web3 and the entire blockchain ecosystem are still in their infancy. With promises of decentralization, autonomy and opportunity for all often thrown around. The reality is that very few underrepresented folks are accessing these promises.

Before he became THE Beeple, 40-year-old Mike Winkelmann was a computer-science-grad-turned-digital artist selling art prints for as little as $100. A few years later, Winkelmann will be known globally as Beeple, the third-most expensive living artist whose artwork sold for $69 million as an NFT at a Christie’s auction. He would be a global sensation; his sale was the beginning of an artistic revolution and, some would say, a historical inflection point.‍

The reality? More folks CAN'T attend your IRL events, than those that can. Barriers like cost, mobility, social anxieties, et al. prevent many folks from participating IRL. This disproportionately affects folks that are young, old, with disabilities or mental illness and those that are economically disadvantaged.

Digital art lies at the intersection of technology and creativity. For years, artists have used software, computers, or other electronic devices to generate photographs, videos, digital paintings and animations. But NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have recently driven digital art to the forefront, enabling artists to cultivate communities of collectors who champion the artists’ visions and purchase their works – often for outstanding sums of money.

In the past, we could not differentiate the owners of digital artworks from someone who saved a copy of the art from the internet. The lack of clarity of property rights for markets to operate was a problem. But NFTs created an avenue with which creators and consumers can solve this problem by giving them something they can agree represents ownership. This indulges the possibility of building markets around new types of processes which include purchasing products that could never be sold before and allowing more efficient and valuable transactions to hold in dynamic ways. 

It’s important to take time to learn the basics of allyship and inclusivity (see my article, Do These 2 Things Before You Do Anything As an Ally in Web3). After that, intent is the biggest differentiator between those that do, and those that don’t, care about creating equity for all.‍Want to be inclusive? Be intentional about being inclusive. Want to see more diversity? Be intentional about pushing for more diversity.

I've seen it from many folks in my short time in web3. An ally joins a Twitter space tailored to a specific underrepresented audience (Women, LGBTQ2IA, Black folks, etc.). At some point, the discussion addresses the challenges of that particular community in web3. The ally requests to speak, expresses their disgust and shock at what they've heard and asks, "what can we do?".

Historically, the appeal of digital art had been hampered by concerns from collectors on the peculiarity and rarity of digital works as a result of them being duplicated and easily distributed hence making them difficult to price and a possible poor resale value. However, NFTs, which work on blockchain technology just like Bitcoin, have proffered a solution to that problem. The blockchain technology on which NFTs work provides digital ledgers which act as irrevocable proof of ownership, and this ensures that the owner of such art is recognized no matter how much the art is redistributed.

The NFT hype may be seeing a gradual decline as is reflected in the search for the 2021 buzzword. Nevertheless, the concept of digital ownership continues to solidify its presence in digitization as more NFT use cases emerge. From digital creators to investors to financial and real estate markets, different means have been devised to use NFTs in accomplishing set goals. 

NFTs are growing in popularity, and so are investments in them. Collecting NFTs is one of the smartest investment choices of 2022, but you would need an NFT wallet to do so. One important factor to note is that the NFT wallet should be able to support the currency you use to buy the NFT. For example, if you're buying an NFT with Ether, the wallet should be able to support the currency. 

The Bored Ape Yacht Club broke onto the NFT (non-fungible token) scene in April 2021, the brainchild of four founders of Yuga Labs, known only by their pseudonyms at the time. NFTs are data units stored on a cryptocurrency blockchain that allow holders to own and transfer digital items memorialized on a public ledger. BAYC is built on a blockchain known as Ethereum

Real estate in the metaverse is a booming business. But when it comes to the structures we actually occupy, blockchain and NFTs are in their infancy. Still, the technology’s potential to streamline transactions and eliminate fraud has real estate entrepreneurs actively developing platforms to enable a future of blockchain-based property transfer and ownership.

What is it about non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that give them significant potential for real world use?NFTs are cryptocurrency tokens that represent virtual and real assets. “Non-fungible” means each token is unique — it can’t be interchanged with another, can’t be replicated, and can’t be forged.NFTs are built on a blockchain, a decentralized ledger that tracks transactions, guarantees ownership, and is transparent (meaning it can be seen by all). NFTs can be bought, sold and traded, and their tie to the blockchain creates an authentic record of those transactions. Because NFTs provide “smart contract” capabilities, features can be programmed into the token.

Insider trading in emerging investment ecosystems is no new concept. In the early days of the printing press, iron ore trading, and Wall Street stock markets, people profited off their proximity to proprietary knowledge. Unsurprisingly, the NFT space is not insulated from this trend. And for the first time, a digital asset insider trading scheme is set for trial. Nathaniel "Nate" Chastain, 31, faces up to 40 years in prison after earning $65,000 through insider trading on OpenSea. 

Celebrities that own Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs Celebrities who bought and joined BAYC created the trend of NFT profile photographs. Celebrities have joined the elite, pricey world of Bored Ape NFTs from the sports, entertainment, and business spheres. 

Food industry members continue to set their sights on the evolving NFT marketplace. Gourmet NFT is a blockchain-based project that will allow at-home cooks to create customized web3 cookbooks from recipes contributed by chefs around the world. The platform allows those chefs to monetize their culinary creations. Foodverse, developed by OneRare, will be a metaverse world with various zones where users can discover virtual restaurants, new food brands and celebrity chefs, plus play in a gaming zone.

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are the latest craze in the crypto world.So, what exactly are NFTs? NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital assets that are irreplaceable. In contrast to a currency, which is fungible and easy to swap for other currencies, NFTs are not. NFTs are unique, collectible, and cool. A perfect example is the Rug Radio Genesis NFTs.

Web3 and the entire blockchain ecosystem are still in their infancy. Yet promises of decentralization, autonomy and opportunity for all are often thrown around. The reality is, that very few underrepresented folks are accessing these promises. This is not much different today than when I first came to web3 in May 2021.

I learned an important lesson growing up playing ball: you can play an incredible game and still lose to a greater opponent. Sean didn’t give up. He played his ass off every day. Bipolar disorder was simply his greater opponent.‍No words can express my love for Sean—the first to meet me, accept me, and make me feel welcomed in my wife's family. So, instead of searching for words, I’ll do what I do best and share information.‍

You're a creator. It's why you came to web3 and why you've stayed this long. It can be hard to stay motivated to keep creating when the market around you is going to shit. For that very reason though, you have to stay consistent in your practice. When things get tough around you, there’s always calm in going back to the basics.If you were making a piece each day when the market was up, do the same thing in a down market. What's a collection you've been thinking about but haven’t had the time for previously? What's a new medium you've been excited about exploring? Who’s an artist you would love to collaborate with? 

Start with Personal Reflection This advice isn't new—if you want to show up authentically, you need to know what you stand for and why you're doing what you do. What is your purpose? Why does it matter? How does it manifest in your work? Reflecting on these questions will help you gain clarity about what matters most to you, and how your personal brand aligns with those values.While you may be tempted to move this to the bottom of your “to-do” list, I promise you there is nothing more important than starting with this exercise in self-reflection. If done well, it will provide the clarity and confidence you need to jump in and get building and create a strong foundation for your brand to grow and evolve with you over time.

Unlike traditional artists, most NFT artists don’t have a team of people supporting them, especially in their early stages. It’s up to you to build the skills necessary for marketing your work, building your brand, and telling your story. When done well, these skills are critical factors in monetizing your work. To be blunt, selling is about a hell of a lot more than the art.

The “Run Ed" collection by Ed Balloon, an artist, community leader, and musician, illuminates the reality of many web3 artists. People who, in the face of adversity, continue to work on their craft as they seek to unbox themselves. The Run Ed is a one-of-a-kind collection, both in production and representation. Ethereum-based, the collection generative sound and motion picture project. 1000 animated pieces that combine stop motion, 2D and 3D animation, music, and sound.

During the global epidemic, Black Dave committed his craft to music, producing, mixing, mastering, and designing EP cover art. Including producing, mixing, and mastering over 400 beats every month. When we arrived in the NFT scene, his only ambitions were in music as a rapper and producer. That was until he minted his first NFT - an unused, and unreleased piece of cover art he had created. That was December 2020. Soon after he was selling art on Nifty Gateway and tapping into his passion for anime and even minting characters. His unique and diverse body of work incorporates a blend of wit and musical prowess.

One noun, every day, forever. The mantra of this colorful and charming collection is the epitome of generative art. An ideal that promises to persist through eternity and pave a path for digital art’s permanence. Nouns are 32x32 pixel images of people, places, and things, each with the iconic square glasses. An eclectic and diverse cornucopia of cows, strawberries, eggs, planets, crowns and more take on a life and character all their own. People dream it, do it, the world loves it. The goal is to cement Nouns as part of the culture so that everyone recognizes these varicolored, endearing characters. They begin to represent a cultural movement led by the people, instead of by a company or corporation. The characters are not at the mercy of any governing body, but by individuals who fell in love with the art and the mission of the project.

The rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has created new opportunities for artists to create and sell unique, limited edition, artwork, photography, and even music. NFTs are digital assets that are one of a kind and can be sold and traded on the blockchain.We’re still in the early days of NFTs, but there are already a number of ways artists can make money with them. You can sell your work directly to buyers, collectors and galleries, sell your work to other artists, and even work for or create your own NFT project. They can also work on projects or create their own projects.

The decentralization ethos of web3 has dealt a blow to the antiquated art market system. Digital and traditional artists alike have used NFT (non-fungible token) technology to kick start a new art revolution. Artists, like Cory Van Lew, debuted at Sotheby’s London in 2021 with a digital/physical piece, and artist, FEWOCiOUS, earned over $2 million in his auction debut at Christie’s. According to music business research DAO, Water & Music, music NFTs generated over $86 million in total revenue in 2021. The arts are thriving as they flip the tables on traditional industries. ‍

What I am about to say is blasphemy by many in our NFT community. I don’t like Gary Vee. Not that I knew him, but the NFT art I first saw on sales platforms reminded me of something a 6th grader with little artist experience would draw. Ouch. Little did I know those simple drawings weren’t just art, they were doorways. Doorways to a whole new universe.

The most populous life form on earth isn’t mankind. It’s mycelium. The invisible living threads. It lives everywhere. In soil, tree roots, rocks, air, your hair, skin, and teeth, even under the ocean and in space. Its existence is composed of networks. A map of the human circulation system reveals a vast network of veins and arteries. A subway map of Tokyo or London reveals an image that looks like linked computers mining crypto. Maps of linked computers can mirror the image the receptors of our brain. We tend to only think of fungi- mushrooms, mosses but they are the flowering of this mighty organism.

Big names are a draw, but as we saw in Web2, focusing only on them leaves emerging artists and, if there is such a thing, middle class of the NFT world, waving from the back of the room for any attention at these events. The already rich get richer. The organizers of NFTNYC want to change that. They want to feature the artists, the small start-up founders who make up the majority of Web3.

NFTs are poised to change this dynamic. It’s no longer just about owning a piece of art, it's also about the ability to buy, trade, and sell it on different digital platforms. A critical shift that’s creating opportunities for monetization, creative control, and ownership, never before seen by this generation's artists. If a digital asset is an NFT, that means it’s unique—just like an original piece by Banksy or Jean Michel Basquiat. The main difference is that the creator has full control over its ownership and can sell it at any time on the blockchain—a ledger where all transactions are recorded publicly and immutably (i.e., forever).

For decades, the art world has consistently echoed a flagrant devaluation and marginalization of women's work, a defining notion that has made more women disinterested in expounding their art skills. The NFT world is barely 7 years old, but it seems to be already imitating this abnormality. With the way it proposes an unconstrained and more lucrative way to create and sell off artworks, hardly anyone would think that there are only 16% of women artists in NFTs. If you dig further, you'd find that only 5% of NFT sales were accrued by women in the past 21 months.