Will AI Replace Human Creativity? A Fortify Labs founder answers.
<h2 id="mauvis-mau-ledford-founder-of-sogniai-joins-us-in-an-honest-conversation-about-what-the-future-of-art-truly-looks-like-in-the-age-of-ai">Mauvis (Mau) Ledford, Founder of <a href="https://www.sogni.ai/">Sogni.ai</a> joins us in an honest conversation about what the future of art truly looks like in the age of AI.</h2>
<p>There is a case to be made that AI-generated art and human-made art are fundamentally different, not just in how they’re created, but in what they mean. While AI relies on algorithms, data, and pattern recognition to generate works, human art emerges from lived experience, emotion, and intent. Machines can replicate styles and produce visually striking works, but they lack the consciousness to infuse their creations with personal narrative, cultural context or emotional resonance.</p>
<p>Mau, Founder of <a href="https://www.sogni.ai/">Sogni.ai</a>, a <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded/">Fortify Labs 2025</a> cohort project, shares his perspective on this evolving landscape. A seasoned full-stack CEO, Mau brings a deep passion for Web3, AI, and decentralization. Beyond tech, he’s also an artist at heart, holding a Bachelor of Arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In a time when AI art is met with skepticism and resistance, Mau explores why he chose to build Sogni and how he believes technology can deepen, rather than diminish, the creative spirit.</p>
<p>In collaboration with Sogni.ai, TZ APAC is also launching “Prompted by Imagination”, an arts competition inviting artists to explore and express their emotions, ideas, and perspectives on the evolving dialogue between AI-generated and human-made art with a prize pool nearing USD $2,000.</p>
<h3 id="as-an-individual-what-are-your-thoughts-about-ai-art-vs-human-art">As an individual, what are your thoughts about AI art vs Human art?</h3>
<p>When I think about A.I. art versus human art, I actually think it’s the same thing. All A.I. has been trained on human data with a goal of giving the end user what they want. For me, it’s an idea factory in that you have a vision in your head ultimately, and you’re trying to capture that on the screen. And you have essentially, you know, ten assistants to get you there.</p>
<p>I also think that A.I. art is human art because it was created by people. In fact, if you look at all the rich and famous artists like Michelangelo, Picasso and Dale Chihuly — as they got older, richer and more famous, when they weren’t able to create art anymore, they had five or ten assistants that they guided into creating more art because they literally wanted to create art until they die</p>
<p>There’s also the talk of when the electric guitar came out, they say they killed the (acoustic) guitar. When drum machines came out in electronic music, there’s this quote by Björk, one of the first real popular electronic music artists, who gave a fitting response when asked if she thought about people saying that electronic music has no soul. She said that electronic music has no soul if you don’t put it in there, and so I really liked her response in that A.I. art has a soul, if the person creating the work puts it in there.</p>
<h3 id="what-would-you-say-to-artists-who-are-cynical-about-ai">What would you say to artists who are cynical about AI?</h3>
<p>I think it’s natural to be cynical of any new technologies, especially with A.I., and also the amount of what we call “A.I. slop” out there. But what’s really happening is people are really experimenting and learning. And I think that if you see really amazing A.I., it wasn’t done in 5 seconds or 10 seconds. It was done in hours or days to accomplish a vision. And that’s the real big picture, it’s like people are constantly learning and growing with these things and soon you’ll be able to produce whole indie films by one person. It’s incredible what A.I. is enabling people to do.</p>
<h3 id="why-sogni">Why Sogni?</h3>
<p>With Sogni, we saw the opportunity to go past what we call casual prompting tools like MidJourney. We saw that open source AI is only 3 to 6 months behind the closed source stuff, all the innovation that’s happening. And so the two problems with open source AI is it’s hard to use, the UI-UX experience is not good and you’re limited by your own GPUs. With Sogni, we solve both those things for the user.</p>
<h3 id="while-building-sogni-did-the-current-view-of-ai-art-deter-you">While building Sogni, did the current view of AI art deter you?</h3>
<p>A good deal of it is what we call A.I. slop, but the top couple percent is insanely good work. These artists are showing what they’re really capable of, and it is a little bit of an uphill battle to show the world how incredible A.I. is. For me, it’s like having ten different A.I. artist assistants helping you with your work. Ultimately, you have a vision in your head and you’re trying to get it down on paper and Sogni provides you the tools to do that – really easily, really cheaply and really fast.</p>
<h3 id="what-makes-sogni-different-from-all-the-other-ai-art-tools-out-there">What makes Sogni different from all the other AI art tools out there?</h3>
<p>So it’s just going to open up freedom of expression to the max. Sogni is different from the other A.I. tools out there, in that we provide this Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) protocol we call our “people-powered network”. The Sogni Supernet of 800 plus nodes around the world will help you create work cheaper, faster and more parallel.</p>
<p>We can do 16 images in under 5 seconds - that’s unheard of in the Web2 space. MidJourney to this day will give you four images every 50 or so seconds. We can render images faster than you can review them. So again, it’s like an ideation factory in a way where you can just accomplish so much in so little time.</p>
<h2 id="prompted-by-imagination-an-arts-competition-held-in-collaboration-between-sogniai-and-tz-apac">Prompted by Imagination, an arts competition held in collaboration between Sogni.ai and TZ APAC</h2>
<p><img src="/images/will-ai-replace-human-creativity-a-fortify-labs-founder-answers-1.jpg" alt="Imagination"></p>
<p>Sogni, an AI-powered art generation platform, joined the <a href="https://x.com/TzApac/status/1908100221625582047">Fortify Labs 2025 cohort</a> earlier this year and is now set to enter the Tezos ecosystem through <a href="https://x.com/Sogni_Protocol/status/1924435745147592907">an integration with Etherlink</a>.</p>
<p>Today, the word “prompt” instantly evokes the image of an AI command, a line of text sparking machine-generated output. But long before algorithms, prompts came from within: a fleeting thought during a walk or a dream just before waking. These were the original sparks of creativity - organic, human, and unprogrammed.</p>
<p>From 28th may - 11 June, this competition challenges artists to reclaim and redefine what it means to be ‘prompted’ - a call to artists to reimagine the meaning of a prompt.</p>
<h2 id="how-can-i-participate">How can I participate?</h2>
<p>Participants are invited to create and share their artistic interpretation of the theme “Prompted by Imagination”, using AI-generated art, hand-drawn work, or a blend of both. Let the theme speak to you - whether emotionally, philosophically, or creatively - and bring that vision to life.
To enter the competition, follow these steps:</p>
<ol>
<li>Follow both @tzapac and @Sogni_Protocol on X.</li>
<li>Like and retweet the main competition announcement.</li>
<li>Create an account on <a href="http://etherlink.sogni.ai/">etherlink.sogni.ai</a> (Claim 50 Spark tokens a day just by logging into Sogni and creating!)</li>
<li>Post your artwork on X with:
<ul>
<li>The title of your piece</li>
<li>A one-liner explaining what it represents</li>
<li>Tag @tzapac, @Sogni_Protocol and @Tezos</li>
<li>The hashtag #PromptedbyImagination</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Submit the tweet link via the <a href="https://tally.so/r/wzvy0Z">form linked</a> in the main competition post.</li>
</ol>
<p>The form submission is to ensure we capture all entries and don’t miss any of your amazing creations!</p>
<p>Please note: All submissions must be original works created specifically for this competition. Previously minted or sold pieces will not be eligible. If you participate in this competition, you agree to all the Terms and Conditions as stated <a href="https://tzapac.notion.site/Prompted-by-Imagination-Terms-Conditions-1f5c42813a8a806b88ebc00c03d112bc">here</a>.</p>
<h2 id="how-can-i-qualify-as-a-winner">How can I qualify as a winner?</h2>
<p>Artworks will be open to the community where they can support their favourite artworks through likes and retweets, but final winners will be selected by our judges, Mau himself and <a href="https://x.com/AmirMushich">AmirMushich</a>, who was an art director of a major NFT launch in collaboration with Warner Music Group and Binance and is now the founder of <a href="https://x.com/ArtChains_">ArtChains</a>. After the competition closes, five standout submissions will be chosen by 15th June 2025 based primarily on their relevance to the theme “Prompted by Imagination.”</p>
<p>Prizes (in Tez equivalent):</p>
<p>🥇 1st Place – USD $500</p>
<p>🥈 2nd Place – USD $350</p>
<p>🥉 3rd Place – USD $200</p>
<p>🏅 4th Place – USD $150</p>
<p>🏅 5th Place – USD $100</p>
<p>If selected as one of the five winners, you’ll be asked to mint one edition of your artwork to TZ APAC, which will then be included in the Season 6 prize pool of <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded/">TZ Apex</a>.</p>
<p>In addition to the top five, we’ll also recognize 15 honorary mention artists, whose work will be considered for acquisition by TZ APAC (up to 30 tez per artist). To be eligible, these pieces must be minted on a Tezos or Etherlink marketplace of your choice.</p>
<h3 id="why-should-you-participate-in-prompted-by-imagination">Why should you participate in Prompted by Imagination?</h3>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Participating in Prompted by Imagination is like running a marathon. It is not the end of completing the marathon. It's how you have changed by the end of it. When you enter this contest, you're participating with other artists in a dialogue about what good art is. You're learning from each other and growing. And in the end you're better for it. - Mauvis Ledford, Founder of Sogni
</blockquote>
<h3 id="tz-apex-season-6">TZ Apex Season 6</h3>
<p><img src="/images/will-ai-replace-human-creativity-a-fortify-labs-founder-answers-2.jpg" alt="TZ Apex Season 6"></p>
<p>Prompted by Imagination is just the beginning of your immersive journey with projects building on Tezos and Etherlink.</p>
<p>With nearly 3,000 tez distributed and over 1,200 participants in <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded/">TZ Apex Season 5</a>, Season 6 is packed with bigger rewards, more gachas and more interactive quests.</p>
<p>Stay tuned to <a href="https://x.com/TzApac">TZ APAC’s X</a>, you won’t want to miss this.</p>
TZ Apex 2025 returns: Meet the Fortify Labs 2025 cohort and get rewarded
<h2 id="tz-apac-welcomes-a-talented-group-of-web3-projects-to-the-2025-fortify-labs-cohort-through-tz-apex-we-want-you-to-join-our-quest-to-transform-their-trajectory-from-linear-to-exponential">TZ APAC welcomes a talented group of Web3 projects to the 2025 Fortify Labs cohort. Through TZ Apex, we want YOU to join our quest to transform their trajectory from linear to exponential.</h2>
<p>Fortify Labs by TZ APAC is a Web3 startup studio empowering the best builders on Tezos and Etherlink to become successful founders tailored to foster startups built on Tezos and Etherlink. Each project can tap into benefits of up to <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/fortifylabs">USD 650,000+ in support</a>, including essential resources, mentorship, access to an L1 ecosystem, a vibrant community of users, strategic connections and investment opportunities.</p>
<p>One such resource is <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/intro-to-tz-apex/">TZ Apex</a>, a community rewards program initiative by TZ APAC that is aimed at bolstering community involvement and interaction with projects built on Tezos through incentivization.</p>
<p>We’re looking to build on the momentum coming out of the<a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/introducing-the-7-startups-of-fortify-labs/"> Fortify Labs 2024 cohort</a>, which produced notable success stories. <a href="https://www.questflow.ai/">Questflow</a> experienced a 156x increase in monthly active users and over 500% revenue growth. <a href="https://www.ocvlabs.com/">OCV Labs</a> transitioned from zero to five-figure revenue and reached a peak of 1.3k on-chain daily active users. Along with <a href="https://akaswap.com/">akaSwap</a>, OCV Labs secured funding from the Tezos Foundation after meeting key milestones, including growth in metrics such as revenue, weekly active users, volume, and community engagement.</p>
<p>The 2025 edition received more than double of last year’s applications, many of which demonstrated immense potential to solve real-world problems, bring something game-changing to the market and enrich the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>This year, we’re launching these projects differently. We want you to not just read about them, but also discover their value propositions and get rewarded in the process. Empowering startups is a bumpy but fulfilling experience, and we want you to be with us from the very start.</p>
<p>That’s what, <a href="https://bit.ly/4j867hR">TZ Apex Season 5</a> is all about - connecting the newly-inducted projects to the community, with some tweaks incorporated after listening to your feedback from last year.</p>
<p>Read about the latest changes for TZ Apex and find out who these projects are:</p>
<ol>
<li>BluWhale AI</li>
<li>FDN</li>
<li>IDRX</li>
<li>Lilypad</li>
<li>Miomi Game</li>
<li>PredictWise</li>
</ol>
<h3 id="whats-new-for-tz-apex-this-year">What’s new for TZ Apex this year?</h3>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded-2.jpg" alt="What’s new for TZ Apex this year"></p>
<p>If this is your first time hearing about <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/intro-to-tz-apex/">TZ Apex</a>, it is a community rewards program initiative by TZ APAC that is aimed at bolstering community involvement and interaction with projects built on Tezos through incentivization.</p>
<p>Utilizing quests, a sequence of verifiable on-chain and off-chain actions tailored for both Web3 beginners and seasoned crypto natives, participants can accomplish quests and accumulate experience points (EXP) through Zealy, which can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards.</p>
<p>Based on feedback we received last year regarding issues like wallet clustering and higher-tier players feeling under-rewarded, we’ve revamped the system to ensure a more fair and rewarding experience for everyone this year. For a start, Apex and Conqueror tier participants (see leaderboard tiering in the upcoming section for more context) will have early access to the gacha store, while participants engaging in wallet clustering will not be awarded APEX points or prizes.</p>
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<p>This year, we’ve revamped the prize structure for the gacha store to ensure a more balanced experience, moving away from last year’s uneven distribution.</p>
<ul>
<li>Gold: Contains 50% of the total prize value and 70% of the merchandise allocation</li>
<li>Silver: Contains 30% of the total prize value and 30% of the merchandise allocation</li>
<li>Bronze: Contains 20% of the total prize value</li>
</ul>
<p>This structure ensures that mid-tier participants are rewarded while still prioritizing top-tier players, all while making merchandise more exclusive.</p>
<h2 id="leaderboard-tiering">Leaderboard Tiering</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded-3.jpg" alt="Leaderboard Tiering"></p>
<p>Additional bonus XP will be awarded to players based on their total accumulated XP for the season. The bonus XP will be granted or claimed next season.</p>
<p><b><u>Summit</u></b></p>
<p>Players who earn 50–69% of the total possible XP will receive an additional 500 XP.</p>
<p><b><u>Pinnacle</u></b></p>
<p>Players who earn 70–84% of the total possible XP will receive an additional 1000 XP.</p>
<p><b><u>Apex</u></b></p>
<p>Players who earn 85–94% of the total possible XP will receive an additional 1500 XP.
Early access to the gacha store.</p>
<p><b><u>Conqueror</u></b></p>
<p>Players who earn 95–100% of the total possible XP will receive an additional 2000 XP.
Early access to the gacha store.</p>
<p>In the event of a leaderboard reward or a tie in scores, the questing platform’s ranking algorithm will be used to determine the final rankings.</p>
<p>Season 5 is currently underway. Interact with projects building on Tezos and Etherlink and get rewarded: <a href="https://bit.ly/TZApexS5">https://bit.ly/TZApexS5</a>.</p>
<h3 id="the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort">The Fortify Labs 2025 Cohort</h3>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded-4.jpg" alt="What’sThe Fortify Labs 2025 Cohort"></p>
<p>The ethos of Fortify Labs is clear: bespoke care for every project that is onboarded into Fortify Labs. Each project benefits from a tailored support stack, resources from a thriving global Tezos ecosystem and collaboration with the TZ APAC team ready to roll up their sleeves and work on the ground with the founders.</p>
<p>After a rigorous selection process, these selected projects demonstrated passion in furthering the Tezos ecosystem and represent diverse sectors, playing critical roles in shaping the future of Web3.</p>
<h2 id="bluwhale-ai">BluWhale AI</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded-5.jpg" alt="BluWhale AI"></p>
<p>BluWhale AI is a decentralized personalization protocol that democratizes big data analytics for Web3. They enable dApps to access open source data analytics utilising data on the blockchain, allowing businesses to understand their user base and enhance their user acquisition and engagement strategies.</p>
<p>Get to know BluWhale AI by following their X and visiting their website, while unlocking exciting rewards while doing so in <a href="https://bit.ly/4iSqfEE">TZ Apex Season 5</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bluwhale.com/">https://www.bluwhale.com/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/bluwhaleai">X (Twitter)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/%20-8FiECKBiBo4MTk1">Telegram</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluwhaleai">LinkedIn</a></p>
<p><a href="https://discord.com/invite/bluwhale">Discord</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@bluwhaleai">Youtube</a></p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@bluwhaleai">Medium</a></p>
<h2 id="facial-dnai-network-fdn">Facial DN(A+I) Network (FDN)</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded-6.jpg" alt="Facial DN(A+I) Network (FDN)"></p>
<p>FDN(Facial DN(A+I) Network) is an innovative Image Infrastructure for AI Agents that prioritizes privacy protection and naturally combines various facial features through advanced facial recognition and AI blending algorithms.</p>
<p>Get to know FDN by following their X and visiting their website, while unlocking exciting rewards while doing so in <a href="https://bit.ly/3XuMSGN">TZ Apex Season 5</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://facialdna.ai/">https://facialdna.ai/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/project_fdn">X (Twitter)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@project_fdn">Medium</a></p>
<h2 id="idrx">IDRX</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded-7.jpg" alt="FacialIDRX"></p>
<p>IDRX is a fully collateralized stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), aimed at facilitating low-cost, near-instant, and transparent digital transactions in Indonesia’s rapidly expanding on-chain economy.</p>
<p>Get to know IDRX by following their X and visiting their website, while unlocking exciting rewards while doing so in <a href="https://bit.ly/3XuMSGN">TZ Apex Season 5</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://home.idrx.co/en">https://home.idrx.co/en</a></p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/idrx_co">X (Twitter)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/officialidrx">Telegram</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/idrx-indo-inovasi/">LinkedIn</a></p>
<h2 id="lilypad">Lilypad</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded-8.jpg" alt="Lilypad"></p>
<p>Lilypad is empowering broad and democratic participation in the AI Innovation Economy by pioneering avenues for AI Model Creators to deploy, distribute and monetise their models while retaining IP, and keeping downstream access open and easily accessible to solopreneurs & businesses.</p>
<p>Get to know Lilypad by following their X and visiting their website, while unlocking exciting rewards while doing so in <a href="https://bit.ly/3XuMSGN">TZ Apex Season 5</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://lilypad.tech/">https://lilypad.tech/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/Lilypad_Tech">X (Twitter)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/lilypad-network/">LinkedIn</a></p>
<p><a href="https://discord.com/invite/ztqYqctzD8">Discord</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@lilypadnetwork">YouTube</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blog.lilypadnetwork.org/">Blog</a></p>
<h2 id="miomi-game">Miomi Game</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded-9.jpg" alt="Miomi Game"></p>
<p>Miomi Game is an online eSports platform that combines social networking, skill-based wagering, and Web3 functionalities. It allows users to open wagers against their friends for popular games such as CSGO and Dota. They can currently handle 18 games. The team currently operates on The Open Network (TON) and Gnosis (xDai), allowing players to stake wagers using TON, xDAI, and Miomi’s native in-game token.</p>
<p>Get to know Miomi Gaming by following their X and visiting their website, while unlocking exciting rewards while doing so in <a href="https://bit.ly/3XuMSGN">TZ Apex Season 5</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/miomi_game">https://x.com/miomi_game</a></p>
<p><a href="https://miomi.game/">X (Twitter)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/miomi-official">LinkedIn</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/miomi_game/">Instagram</a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/s/miomigame">Telegram</a></p>
<h2 id="predictwise">PredictWise</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-2025-returns-meet-the-fortify-labs-2025-cohort-and-get-rewarded-10.jpg" alt="PredictWise"></p>
<p>PredictWise’s mobile-optimized design makes the game easy for anyone to play, and smart account integration allows users to swap tokens across chains automatically. This streamlined experience, combined with provably fair mechanics and engaging rewards, creates a more accessible and attractive platform compared to competitors.</p>
<p>Get to know PredictWise by following their X and visiting their website, while unlocking exciting rewards while doing so in <a href="https://bit.ly/3XuMSGN">TZ Apex Season 5</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.predictwise.co/">https://www.predictwise.co/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/predictwise_co">X (Twitter)</a></p>
Fortify Labs: the latest update
<h2 id="wrapping-up-our-2024-cohort-gearing-up-for-the-next-one-incentivizing-the-best-founder-referrals-and-introducing-free-startup-clinics-for-founders-in-the-community-heres-the-latest-on-web3s-most-people-centric-startup-program">Wrapping up our 2024 cohort, gearing up for the next one, incentivizing the best founder referrals and introducing free startup clinics for founders in the community. Here’s the latest on Web3’s most people-centric startup program.</h2>
<p>More than 550 enriching hours of mentorship, advisory and workshops conducted. 100 door-opening introductions made. 40 hours of resources (legal advisory, developer hours, UI/UX Consult and more) deployed. Seven game-changing projects building on Tezos or Etherlink supported. Six action-packed months. One memorable showcase at Tezos Realm during TOKEN2049 week.</p>
<p>The curtains were drawn on a fulfilling <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/introducing-the-7-startups-of-fortify-labs/">Fortify Labs 2024</a> program last month, leaving the team brimming with gratitude after taking stock of the progress made by projects in the cohort.</p>
<p>Armed with the experience of running our fourth startup cohort and invaluable post-program insights from the class of ‘24, our attention has turned to Fortify Labs 2025.</p>
<p>With the upcoming launch of initiatives such as TZ Apex: Founders Edition and Fortify Labs Rapid Fire, there are exciting opportunities for both Web3 founders and community members to understand if Fortify Labs is the right fit for them, or for another builder or founder in your network.</p>
<h3 id="about-fortify-labs">About Fortify Labs</h3>
<p>The ethos of the program will be retained: small cohort size, hands-on support and bespoke care for each project.</p>
<p>Each project can tap into <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/fortifylabs/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=FL25_Article_CH">benefits of up to a maximum of up to USD 650,000+</a>, including essential resources, mentorship, access to an L1 ecosystem, a vibrant community of users, strategic connections and investment opportunities.</p>
<p>If you are a crypto native founder who understands market trends and gaps, or a mission-driven builder who aims to make a big impact on the on-chain economy, we’d love to hear from you through the <a href="https://tally.so/r/w4o0ZB?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=FL25_Article_Form">Fortify Labs 2025 application form</a>.</p>
<h2 id="tz-apex-founders-edition">TZ Apex: Founders Edition</h2>
<p><img src="/images/fortify-labs-the-latest-update-2.jpg" alt="TZ Apex: Founders Edition"></p>
<p>If you’re not a founder, fret not — we’d still love for you to be involved in our application phase. TZ Apex: Founders Edition kicks off on 9 December 2024 and runs until 3 January 2025, offering exciting incentives for recommending talented builders and aspiring Web3 founders within your network.</p>
<p>The mechanics will remain the same—you’ll attempt quests on <a href="https://dmission.me/missions/tz-apex-founders-edition">DMission</a> and rack up points once the activities are completed. But for this season, we have saved the best for the last quest. There will be a <a href="https://tally.so/r/mV9JRE">form</a> for you to fill, where you can refer high-quality startups in your network that you feel can benefit from being in Fortify Labs 2025.</p>
<p>In addition to planting the seeds of success for your founder friends, you will earn tez based on the progress of your referred startups according to the following tiers:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honoraria #1: Earn <strong>30 tez</strong> if the referred startup is formally invited by the TZ APAC team to submit an application for Fortify Labs 2025 and the startup acknowledges the invitation.</li>
<li>Honoraria #2: Earn <strong>100 tez</strong> if the referred startup submits a complete and valid application, attends the first interview, and completes it with the TZ APAC team.</li>
<li>Honoraria #3: Earn <strong>250 tez</strong> if the referred startup progresses to the second interview and completes it with the TZ APAC team.</li>
</ul>
<p>Remember that these quests are all about spreading the word about Fortify Labs and helping us discover promising startups, so you stand a chance to move along the tiers above if the quality of your referrals are higher. If your referral completes all three tiers, you can earn a total of <em>380 tez</em>!</p>
<p>Referrers will be kept updated on the status of their submissions, with honoraria awarded within 7 working days after each milestone is achieved.</p>
<p>But that’s not all for this season. We’re also introducing a standalone leaderboard, where the top 10 participants will win tez prizes according to the following ranks:</p>
<ul>
<li>1st place: 50 tez</li>
<li>2nd–3rd place: 30 tez each</li>
<li>4th–10th place: 15 tez each</li>
</ul>
<p>There won’t be a gacha store open, but this is a great chance for you to rack up points, get a headstart and potentially score great rewards for the first season of next year.</p>
<p>Leaderboard prizes will be distributed within 3 working days after TZ Apex: Founders Edition concludes. Don’t miss this opportunity to make an impact while earning rewards!</p>
<p>By participating in TZ Apex: Founders Edition, participants agree to the terms and conditions stated <a href="https://tzapac.notion.site/TZ-Apex-Founders-Edition-Terms-Conditions-149c42813a8a80f6a391d4ad6f989ae5">here</a>.</p>
<h2 id="fortify-labs-rapid-fire">Fortify Labs Rapid Fire</h2>
<p><img src="/images/fortify-labs-the-latest-update-3.jpg" alt="Fortify Labs Rapid Fire"></p>
<p>Curious if your pitch deck needs refinement? Wondering how to attract VCs or what kind of content works best for your project on social media?</p>
<p>From 13 January 2025 to 10 February 2025, Fortify Labs Rapid Fire is a free startup clinic where founders with one or two burning questions can book a free 10–15 minute consultation with the relevant subject matter experts in the Fortify Labs team.</p>
<p>This opportunity is open to all founders, whether you’re part of the Tezos ecosystem or beyond, regardless if you’re planning to participate in Fortify Labs or not.</p>
<p>Stay tuned for more updates on <a href="https://x.com/TzApac">TZ APAC X</a>—we can’t wait to connect with you!</p>
Relive the Magic of Tezos Realm: Event Photos Now Live
<h2 id="a-neo-gothic-style-chapel-gazetted-as-a-national-monument-transformed-into-a-vibrant-display-of-web3-innovation-on-september-18-2024-join-us-in-reliving-the-moments-captured-from-an-unforgettable-evening">A neo-gothic style chapel gazetted as a National Monument transformed into a vibrant display of Web3 innovation on September 18, 2024. Join us in reliving the moments captured from an unforgettable evening.</h2>
<p>The illustrious CHIJMES Hall is synonymous with memorable celebrations — just ask the many couples who have exchanged vows in its stunning surroundings, or the producers of Crazy Rich Asians who filmed the iconic movie’s wedding scene amid its architectural grandeur.</p>
<p>During this year’s TOKEN2049 week, the CHIJMES Hall was home to yet another celebration, this time of the real-world innovation coming out of the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>14 projects building on Tezos and Etherlink showcased across four dedicated ‘Realms’: Culture & Community, DeFi, Etherlink and Gaming. Visitors got to interact with game-changing decentralized applications (dApps), interact with the brilliant minds behind the projects and get rewarded with exclusive Tezos merchandise while they were at it.</p>
<p>Team TZ APAC is grateful to all projects, artists, community members and partners for a memorable Tezos Realm. They say pictures are worth a thousand words, so we hope you enjoy the moments captured. Do tag us at <a href="https://x.com/TzApac">@TzApac</a> on Twitter or <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/68027015">TZ APAC</a> on LinkedIn if you choose to post your picture from the albums below.</p>
<h2 id="revisit-the-landscapes-of-tezos-realm">Revisit the landscapes of Tezos Realm</h2>
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<span class="close">×</span>
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<a id="download">Download Image</a>
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<h2 id="revisit-the-portraits-of-tezos-realm">Revisit the portraits of Tezos Realm</h2>
<style>
body {
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
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display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 300px);
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top: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
overflow: auto;
background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);
background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);
}
.modal a,
.modal p {
color: #FFF;
cursor: pointer;
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
text-decoration: none;
}
.modal-content {
margin: auto;
display: block;
width: 80%;
max-width: 700px;
}
#caption {
margin: auto;
display: block;
width: 80%;
max-width: 700px;
text-align: center;
color: #ccc;
padding: 10px 0;
height: 150px;
}
.modal-content,
#caption {
-webkit-animation-name: zoom;
-webkit-animation-duration: 0.6s;
animation-name: zoom;
animation-duration: 0.6s;
}
@-webkit-keyframes zoom {
from {
-webkit-transform: scale(0)
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to {
-webkit-transform: scale(1)
}
}
@keyframes zoom {
from {
transform: scale(0)
}
to {
transform: scale(1)
}
}
.modal {
align-items: start;
justify-content: center;
}
.modal-content-container {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
flex-direction: row;
gap: 20px;
}
.close {
position: absolute;
top: 10%;
right: 20%;
color: #f1f1f1;
font-size: 40px;
font-weight: bold;
transition: 0.3s;
}
.close:hover,
.close:focus {
color: #bbb;
text-decoration: none;
cursor: pointer;
}
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img.modal-content {
width: 100%;
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flex-direction: column;
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}
@media only screen and (min-width: 1024px) {
img.modal-content {
max-height: 500px;
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</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="row">
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style="width: 100%; max-width: 300px;" id="img-gallery"><img
src="/images/image_gallery/Vertical/20240918_TEZOS_REALM_003.webp" alt="20240918-TEZOS-REALM-003"
style="width: 100%; max-width: 300px;" id="img-gallery"><img
src="/images/image_gallery/Vertical/20240918_TEZOS_REALM_009.webp" alt="20240918-TEZOS-REALM-009"
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What the Tezos Ecosystem has in store for TOKEN2049 week this year
<h2 id="an-immersive-showcase-at-tezos-realm-a-speech-by-arthur-breitman-at-token2049-a-booth-at-the-main-conference-and-more">An immersive showcase at Tezos Realm, a speech by Arthur Breitman at TOKEN2049, a booth at the main conference and more.</h2>
<p>The Tezos ecosystem is buzzing with excitement at TOKEN2049 this year!</p>
<p>We’re stepping up our game and giving friends, clients, investors, and cherished members of the Tezos community an even richer experience <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-token2049-week/">from last year</a> of what the ecosystem has to offer.</p>
<p>From Arthur’s speaking slot at TOKEN2049 to interactive exhibits, exclusive demos, and more at Tezos Realm, the Tezos ecosystem continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to blockchain innovation during one of the biggest weeks of the Web3 events calendar.</p>
<h3 id="tezos-realm">Tezos Realm</h3>
<p><img src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-1.jpg" alt="Tezos Realm"></p>
<p>Discover the forefront of blockchain technology, earn enticing rewards, and engage with the visionaries shaping the future of the Tezos ecosystem at the CHIJMES Hall—one of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks and just minutes from the main TOKEN2049 venue. Remember the wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians? Yes, that CHIJMES.</p>
<p>Tezos Realm invites you to explore four realms—Culture & Community, DeFi, Gaming, Etherlink, and at the heart of this event, Tezos X—providing a glimpse into the innovative projects from across the ecosystem, including:</p>
<ol>
<li>akaSwap (Culture & Community Realm)</li>
<li>Objkt (Culture & Community Realm)</li>
<li>OnChainVision Labs (Culture & Community Realm)</li>
<li>Tesserart (Culture & Community Realm)</li>
<li>World of Women (Culture & Community Realm)</li>
<li>BattleRise (Gaming Realm)</li>
<li>Ladder Protocol (Gaming Realm)</li>
<li>Hanji (DeFi Realm)</li>
<li>Renora (DeFi Realm)</li>
<li>Superlend (DeFi Realm)</li>
<li>Kredete (Etherlink Realm)</li>
<li>Questflow (Etherlink Realm)</li>
<li>TaskOn (Etherlink Realm)</li>
<li>YourD (Etherlink Realm)</li>
<li>UHT (Etherlink Realm)</li>
<li>Tezos X</li>
</ol>
<p>For those who can’t attend in person, you can still enjoy a taste of this inaugural event through the hybrid version of <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/intro-to-tz-apex/">TZ Apex</a> Season 3. Keep up to date with the latest announcements on Tezos Realm via the <a href="https://x.com/TzApac">TZ APAC</a> X handle.</p>
<p>Have you registered for Tezos Realm? You can do so <a href="https://bit.ly/ArticleLink01">here</a>.</p>
<h2 id="tezos-realm-exclusive-merchandise">Tezos Realm Exclusive Merchandise</h2>
<p><img src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-2.jpg" alt="Tezos Realm Exclusive Merchandise"></p>
<p>Every attendee will receive exclusive Tezos merchandise upon entry. Explore projects and test products to unlock even more rewards, including travel gadget bags, customized Tezos Realm shirts, and more!</p>
<h2 id="tz-apex-hybrid-edition-offline">TZ Apex Hybrid Edition: Offline</h2>
<p><img src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-3.jpg" alt="TZ Apex Hybrid Edition: Offline"></p>
<p>Journey through the realms and engage with groundbreaking projects to earn exciting rewards. Collect stamps on your rally card after each interaction.
Complete your stamp rally card to unlock exclusive merchandise and claim bonus Experience Points (EXP), giving you a head start in the online edition of TZ Apex Season 3! Your EXP will convert into APEX points at the end of the season, allowing you to roll for prizes in the exclusive online gachapon pool.</p>
<h2 id="music-galore">Music Galore</h2>
<div class="side-by-side-images">
<img alt="Music Galore" src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-4.jpg" class="side-img">
<img alt="Music Galore 2" src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-5.jpg" class="side-img-1">
</div>
<p>Headlining Tezos Realm is Agoria, a trailblazer in the Web3 digital art world and a prominent figure in the international electronic music scene. Agoria has made waves by <a href="https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/whats-on/exhibitions/agoria-le-code-dorsay">partnering</a> with Musée d’Orsay for an event that seamlessly blended digital artistry minted on Tezos with the museum’s historic collection. He even recently <a href="https://x.com/agoriamusic/status/1822960260476235840">crossed paths</a> with Snoop Dogg! Don’t miss his performance which will take place from 10.30pm onwards.</p>
<p>Warming up the the stage are two talented Singaporean DJs: Amanda Chuin, known for her uncanny ability to read the crowd and adjust the music to match the room’s energy, and KRSTN, who brings an eclectic mix ranging from afro beats to baile funk, and hip hop to downtempo.</p>
<p>So what are you waiting for? Register for Tezos Realm <a href="https://bit.ly/ArticleLink02">here</a>.</p>
<h3 id="tz-apex-hybrid-edition">TZ Apex Hybrid Edition</h3>
<p><img src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-6.jpg" alt="TZ Apex Hybrid Edition"></p>
<p>Can’t make it to Tezos Realm? Don’t worry—you won’t miss out! For the first time, TZ Apex Season 3 is going hybrid, allowing you to interact with the various projects showcased at the event, no matter where you are in the world.</p>
<p>New to TZ Apex? Click <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/intro-to-tz-apex/">here</a> to learn more about the mechanics of this exciting rewards program!</p>
<h2 id="tz-apex-hybrid-edition-online-rewards">TZ Apex Hybrid Edition: Online rewards</h2>
<p>TZ Apex Season 3 will continue to feature the Gachapon mechanic, with all these rewards redeemable exclusively online.</p>
<p>Here are some of the rewards participants can look forward to in Season 3:</p>
<ul>
<li>Up to 2,000 Tez</li>
<li>An NFT valued at 200 Tez from Objkt</li>
<li>akaDAO Tokens</li>
<li>Tez Dozen NFTs by akaSwap</li>
<li>Community Tokens by Tesserart</li>
<li>In-game rewards by BattleRise</li>
<li>And so much more from the other amazing projects showcasing at Tezos Realm!</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="tz-apex-hybrid-edition-online-tiering">TZ Apex Hybrid Edition: Online Tiering</h2>
<p>Here’s how the tiers are outlined for Season 3:</p>
<p><img src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-7.jpg" alt="TZ Apex Hybrid Edition: Online Tiering"></p>
<h3 id="tezos-booth-at-token2049">Tezos Booth at TOKEN2049</h3>
<p>Stop by the Tezos booth at TOKEN2049 to explore the latest advancements in the Tezos ecosystem. Connect with the team, discover groundbreaking projects, and find out more about our contributions to the blockchain space.</p>
<p>Location: Level 4</p>
<p>Booth Number: M72</p>
<p>Details: <a href="https://token2049singapore24.expofp.com/?tezos">Event Map</a></p>
<h3 id="arthur-breitman-co-founder-of-tezos---speaking-slot-at-token2049">Arthur Breitman, Co-founder of Tezos - Speaking Slot at TOKEN2049</h3>
<p><img src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-8.png" alt="Arthur Breitman, Co-founder of Tezos - Speaking Slot at TOKEN2049"></p>
<p>Arthur Breitman will once again share his insights on 18th September, 10:45am - 11:00am (GMT+8) at Zeebu Stage, Level 4 of TOKEN2049. Don’t miss the chance to hear from one of the industry’s leading voices. Stay tuned to the <a href="https://x.com/tezos">Tezos</a> X handle for the latest updates.</p>
<h3 id="zeeve-the-rollup-day">Zeeve The Rollup Day</h3>
<p><img src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-9.png" alt="Zeeve The Rollup Day"></p>
<p>On September 19th, the second day of TOKEN2049, Siddhart Singhal, Head of Business Development at Trilitech, will speak in the “To Roll-up or not: Tackling the conundrum” panel at Zeeve The Rollup Day—an event focused on one of the most transformative innovations in blockchain technology: Rollups.</p>
<p>Keep an eye on the Tezos X handle for the latest updates on his speaking slot, and don’t forget to register to attend <a href="https://x.com/tezos">here</a>.</p>
<h3 id="cryptocarnival---a-trust-wallet-1inch-and-coinmarketcap-celebration">CryptoCarnival - A Trust Wallet, 1inch, and CoinMarketCap Celebration</h3>
<p><img src="/images/what-the-tezos-ecosystem-has-in-store-for-token2049-week-this-year-10.png" alt="CryptoCarnival - A Trust Wallet, 1inch, and CoinMarketCap Celebration"></p>
<p>Etherlink is sponsoring the CryptoCarnival happening on the second day of TOKEN2049, 19 September. This lively celebration will honor the anniversaries of Trust Wallet, CoinMarketCap, and 1inch, featuring an exclusive fireside chat, special guests, and exciting updates.</p>
<p>Join us for a festival-themed event with limited edition merchandise and an unforgettable party atmosphere!</p>
<p>Register to attend <a href="https://lu.ma/cryptocarnival">here</a></p>
TZ Apex Season 2 promises bigger rewards with higher impact
<h2 id="thank-you-for-supporting-the-groundbreaking-projects-on-tezos-and-etherlink-throughout-season-1-more-thrilling-rewards-await-you-in-season-2-which-is-geared-towards-empowering-projects-through-testing-and-early-adoption">Thank you for supporting the groundbreaking projects on Tezos and Etherlink throughout Season 1. More thrilling rewards await you in Season 2, which is geared towards empowering projects through testing and early adoption.</h2>
<p>Season 1 of TZ Apex has concluded, and Season 2 has just started! Get ready for an exciting array of new quests and an enhanced rewards pool. This season promises more impactful challenges designed to directly support and empower the projects on Tezos and Etherlink, including:</p>
<ol>
<li>akaSwap</li>
<li>Ladder Protocol</li>
<li>OnChainVision Labs</li>
<li>Questflow</li>
<li>Renora</li>
<li>TaskOn</li>
<li>YourD</li>
<li>Degenerator</li>
<li>TachySwap</li>
</ol>
<p>New to TZ Apex? Discover how it works and what makes it exciting <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/intro-to-tz-apex/">here</a>.</p>
<p>Participate in TZ Apex Season 2 <a href="https://bit.ly/4fI0NAI">here</a>!</p>
<h3 id="season-2s-tiering">Season 2’s tiering</h3>
<p>Tiers have been introduced in Season 1 to showcase how participants rank against each other in TZ Apex, and to incentivise you to climb higher in the season for a greater head start for the next! Only one person can claim the top spot on the leaderboard, earning the ultimate prize: the freedom to select any reward from any category!</p>
<p>Here’s how the tiers are outlined for Season 2:</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-1.jpg" alt="Season 2’s tiering"></p>
<h3 id="season-2-rewards">Season 2 Rewards</h3>
<p>Rewards participants can redeem for Season 2 include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Tez</li>
<li>TZ APAC exclusive merchandises</li>
<li>Ottez NFTs</li>
<li>Tezzardz NFTs</li>
<li>Community artist NFTs</li>
<li>100 tez worth of $EXE</li>
<li>And more!</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Are you interested in contributing to the rewards pool? <a href="https://tally.so/r/wzq0MR">Sign up here</a>!</em></p>
<p>We’re constantly searching for thrilling rewards to offer our participants, so our list is always evolving. Stay tuned to <a href="https://x.com/TzApac">TZ APAC X</a> for the latest exclusive rewards each season, and make sure to check the rewards redemption timeline provided <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/intro-to-tz-apex/">here</a>!</p>
<h3 id="season-2-quest-guide">Season 2 Quest Guide</h3>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-2.jpg" alt="Season 2 Quest Guide"></p>
<p>This season’s quests offer you a chance to directly engage with the projects building on Tezos and Etherlink. Use this guide to walk you through the tasks!</p>
<h2 id="tz-apex-missions">TZ Apex Missions</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-3.jpg" alt="TZ Apex Missions"></p>
<p>The main TZ Apex missions are designed to be straightforward, focusing on expanding the Tezos community. Watch out for ‘Secret Quests,’ which will be revealed throughout the season on <a href="https://x.com/TzApac">TZ APAC X</a>—these exclusive quests offer a massive EXP boost!</p>
<p>Additionally, you can find your accumulated Tiering EXP from Season 1 and the 1,000 EXP boost from the bronze gacha <a href="https://dmission.me/missions/tz-apex-season-1-tiering">here</a>.</p>
<h2 id="akaswap">akaSwap</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-4.jpg" alt="akaSwap"></p>
<p><a href="https://akaswap.com/">akaSwap</a> built Asia’s first and largest NFT open marketplace on Tezos, featuring numerous artworks and projects created by artists around the globe since 2021. Through Fortify Labs, they will be pivoting in a brand new direction, GaaS (gamification as a service), assisting events or projects in reaching new users through Web3 mechanisms.</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-5.png" alt="akaSwap website"></p>
<p>Completing akaSwap’s quests is a breeze: just visit their <a href="https://games.akaswap.com/">akaGames website</a>, connect your Tezos wallet, take a screenshot like the above, and upload it to complete the quest!</p>
<h2 id="ladder-protocol">Ladder protocol</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-6.jpg" alt="Ladder protocol"></p>
<p><a href="https://ladder.top/">Ladder</a> is a decentralized automated market making (AMM) protocol with a profound focus on GameFi. They provide instant liquidity for a range of NFTs, which means that users buy from or sell into liquidity pools instead of trading peer-to-peer.</p>
<p>Ladder’s quests are designed to help grow their community—engage by joining their diverse social channels!</p>
<h2 id="onchainvision-labs">OnChainVision Labs</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-7.jpg" alt="OnChainVision Labs"></p>
<p><a href="https://www.ocvlabs.com/">OCV Labs</a> provides a suite of tools and solutions that enable seamless on-chain asset creation, management, and interactivity for web3 builders at all levels.</p>
<p>OCV Lab’s quests are designed to help grow their community—engage by joining their diverse social channels!</p>
<h2 id="questflow">Questflow</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-8.jpg" alt="Quesflow"></p>
<p><a href="https://www.questflow.ai/">Questflow Labs</a> is a decentralized autonomous AI agent network that dispatches real-world incentives for autonomous AI agents. It allows users to orchestrate multiple AI agents to take action on autopilot, distribute real-world incentives to creators of AI agents, and collaborate with human workers in real life.</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-9.png" alt="Quesflow 1"></p>
<p>Registering with Questflow is effortless—sign up using your email, EVM wallet, or Near wallet. Once registered, head to the rewards tab to explore various ways to earn Questflow points. Accumulate 20 points, capture a screenshot of your achievement, and upload it to the quest to claim your EXP reward!</p>
<h2 id="renora">Renora</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-10.jpg" alt="Renora"></p>
<p><a href="https://renora.io/">Renora</a> is an orchestration layer that makes crypto assets management simple and systematic on CeFi as well as DeFi. Its proprietary Dips-Dollar-Cost-Averaging protocol on Etherlink helps DeFi investors to passively buy crypto assets at a discount during market dips.
Try it out now on testnet now: <a href="https://testnet.defi.renora.io/">https://testnet.defi.renora.io/</a>.</p>
<p>Renora’s quest allows you to get the full experience of their DDCA platform on their testnet.</p>
<p><u>Step 1</u></p>
<p>Receive your USDT for beta testing and <a href="https://faucet.etherlink.com/">claim your testnet tez</a> for gas fees.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Those who would like to also receive $10k USDT to test <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DDCA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DDCA</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/etherlink?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@etherlink</a> drop your address here 👇</p>— Renora (@renora_io) <a href="https://twitter.com/renora_io/status/1818568862193139999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><u>Step 2</u></p>
<p>Head to their <a href="https://testnet.defi.renora.io/">testnet website</a>, toggle to the 3 pairings (WBTC/USDT, ETH/USDT & XTZ/USDT) and click deposit accordingly for each pairing. Feel free to customize your amounts for each pairing!</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-11.png" alt="Step 2 Renora"></p>
<p><u>Step 3</u></p>
<p>Spend a few days analyzing the graph, then share your results on X. Upload the tweet link to the quest for a substantial EXP boost!</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-12.png" alt="Step 3 Renora"></p>
<p><u>Step 4</u></p>
<p>Head to their <a href="https://t.me/web3privateinvestors/1773">telegram group</a>, drop your feedback and be a direct impact of Renora’s success!</p>
<p>Want to be the first to find out when the actual DDCA product is out? <a href="http://renora.io/waitlist">Join the waitlist</a> and earn points while doing so!</p>
<h2 id="taskon">TaskOn</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-13.jpg" alt="TaskOn"></p>
<p>TaskOn is a Web3 task one-stop platform for all scenarios in Marketing growth and Community engagement.</p>
<ul>
<li>Registered users: <strong>4M+</strong></li>
<li>Monthly Active Users (MAU): <strong>1.5M+</strong></li>
<li>Daily Active Users (DAU):<strong>110K~150K</strong></li>
<li>Twitter followers: <strong>850K+</strong></li>
<li>Chains: <strong>53</strong></li>
<li>Partnership: <strong>13,000+</strong></li>
<li>Campaign: <strong>21,500+</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>More details</strong> : <a href="https://taskon.xyz/">Website</a> │ <a href="https://twitter.com/taskonxyz">Twitter</a> │ <a href="http://discord.gg/eaWzVFm9vZ">Discord</a> │ <a href="https://taskoncommunitys-organization.gitbook.io/guide-book/welcome-to-taskon-community/deck">Deck</a></p>
<p><a href="https://taskon.xyz/">TaskOn</a> offers a wealth of exciting campaigns where you can dive in and earn rewards at the same time! Explore their <a href="https://taskon.xyz/cmuser/discover">campaign page</a> for more adventures!</p>
<h2 id="yourd">YourD</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-14.jpg" alt="YourD"></p>
<p><a href="https://www.yourd.xyz/">YourD</a> is a Web 3.0 RegTech infrastructure provider offering Data management, Login, and Crypto payment solutions. All solutions provided by YourD start with an innovative UI and a non-custodial wallet designed based on DID.</p>
<p>Experience YourD’s cutting-edge crypto payment solution firsthand! Download the YourD app for Android or Apple devices <a href="https://bit.ly/3UWzidi">here</a>. European users or those facing phone number verification issues can access the TestFlight version by completing this <a href="https://bit.ly/46t3ZMy">Google Form</a>.</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-15.jpg" alt="YourD 1"></p>
<p>Getting your Tezos card is a breeze. Just switch to the ‘Pay’ tab, tap ‘Issue New Card,’ select ‘Tezos’, and your card will appear under the ‘Pay’ section. Screenshot it, upload it to the quest, and earn your EXP!</p>
<p>Then, showcase your card on X, share your feedback, tag YourD with #tzapex, and submit your tweet URL for an additional EXP boost!</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-16.png" alt="YourD 2"></p>
<h2 id="degenerator">Degenerator</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-17.jpg" alt="Degenerator"></p>
<p><a href="https://www.degenerator.wtf/">Degenerator</a> is the platform that powers the memecoin supercycle.</p>
<p>Their Degenerator.EXE ($EXE) token has the highest market cap in their platform and they want to reward their holders! Own at least 10,000 $EXE to get an EXP boost or proceed to <a href="https://www.degenerator.wtf/0x143c03fad971078e2f9d160e412c2bb564b5b7bf">get some</a> to complete the quest!</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-18.png" alt="Degenerator 1"></p>
<p>They are currently the main memecoin generator on Etherlink, with BlockJump’s token, $JUMP also launching their token with Degenerator. Now you can create your own memecoin by heading to <a href="https://www.degenerator.wtf/">their website</a> and generate your own memecoin within seconds.</p>
<p>Post it on twitter and submit your tweet URL to complete the quest!</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-19.png" alt="Degenerator 2"></p>
<h2 id="tachyswap">TachySwap</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apex-season-2-promises-bigger-rewards-with-higher-impact-20.jpg" alt="TachySwap"></p>
<p>TachySwap is a community-centric AMM based Decentralized Exchange (DEX) built on Etherlink. It facilitates permissionless trading of token pairs, enabling users to swap tokens with minimal cost, minimal time and maximal convenience. Anyone can also contribute liquidity to TachySwap’s pools and earn fees in return, promoting a decentralized distribution of profits. Additionally, TachySwap leverages Etherlink’s MEV protection to ensure a secure and reliable trading environment.</p>
<p>TachySwap’s quests are aimed at continuing to expand their community by joining their various social channels.</p>
Forging Tomorrow’s Titans: Welcoming the 7 startups joining Fortify Labs
<h2 id="find-out-why-they-should-be-in-your-radar-and-stay-tuned-to-how-you-can-be-one-of-the-first-to-experience-these-groundbreaking-projects">Find out why they should be in your radar and stay tuned to how you can be one of the first to experience these groundbreaking projects.</h2>
<p>Earlier this year, TZ APAC launched its web3 startup studio Fortify Labs, and invited teams across the region looking to build on Tezos or Etherlink to apply.</p>
<p>The value propositions were clear: extreme focus on every single startup, a tailored support stack, resources from a thriving global Tezos ecosystem and collaboration with a TZ APAC team ready to roll up their sleeves and work on the ground with founders.</p>
<p>What followed was an overwhelmingly positive response. Applications from startups solving real-world problems across the world operating in categories such as gaming, NFT, DeFi, AI and infrastructure were received with plenty of gratitude and excitement.</p>
<p>After a rigorous selection process involving numerous interviews and robust critical analyses, seven exceptional teams emerged as the top contenders. These teams will be inducted into the program, where they will get all the help they need to reach profitability.</p>
<p>The selected startups demonstrated outstanding technical and business acumen, coupled with passion and competitive advantages. It’s not an overstatement to consider them among the most promising startups building on Tezos or Etherlink today!</p>
<p>For this cohort, we want you to be involved. Whether you are a Tezos community member, artist, founder, crypto native, web3 beginner or a tech enthusiast in general, we are planning campaigns where you can be rewarded for being amongst the first to be part of the startups’ journeys. Stay tuned till the end of the article to find out - let’s first dive into the program.</p>
<h3 id="about-fortify-labs">About Fortify Labs</h3>
<p>Fortify Labs is a Web3 startup studio by TZ APAC tailored to foster startups built on Tezos and Etherlink.</p>
<p>Having already run two successful Web3 Incubator cohorts, TZ APAC in 2024 is advancing beyond enabling innovation to build market-ready and commercially successful Web3 companies.</p>
<p><em>Find more information on the support offered by Fortify Labs, click <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/fortifylabs">here</a>.</em></p>
<p>Content Page:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>akaSwap</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Ladder Protocol</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>OnChainVision Labs</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Questflow</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Renora</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>TaskOn</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>YourD</p>
</li>
</ol>
<h2 id="akaswap">akaSwap</h2>
<p><img src="/images/forging-tomorrows-titans-welcoming-the-7-startups-joining-fortify-labs-1.jpeg" alt="Akaswap"></p>
<p>akaSwap built Asia’s first and largest NFT open marketplace on Tezos, featuring numerous artworks and projects created by artists around the globe since 2021.</p>
<p>They aimed to build a complete ecosystem, offering various original tools for effortless exploration of the Web 3.0 world.</p>
<p>Through Fortify Labs, they will be pivoting in a brand new direction, intending to serve one of the most popular Web3 sectors, Web3 gaming.</p>
<p><a href="https://akaswap.com/">akaswap.com</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/AkaswapCom">X / Twitter</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/akaswap-tw/">LinkedIn</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/akaswapcom/">Facebook</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/akaswap_com/">Instagram</a></p>
<p><a href="https://discord.com/invite/BtEThNcRFn">Discord</a></p>
<h2 id="ladder-protocol">Ladder Protocol</h2>
<p><img src="/images/forging-tomorrows-titans-welcoming-the-7-startups-joining-fortify-labs-2.jpeg" alt="Ladder"></p>
<p>Ladder Protocol, a decentralized automated market making (AMM) protocol, provides instant liquidity for a range of NFTs.</p>
<p>This means that users buy from or sell into liquidity pools instead of trading peer-to-peer. One can think of it as the Uniswap for NFTs, with a profound GameFi focus.</p>
<p>Focused on channeling liquidity where it’s most needed, Ladder has established a leading position as the go-to NFT AMM for GameFi assets.</p>
<p><a href="https://ladder.top/">ladder.top</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Ladder_NFT">X / Twitter</a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/LadderAMM">Telegram</a></p>
<p><a href="https://discord.com/invite/sabGRPhwUM">Discord</a></p>
<h2 id="onchainvision-labs-building-on-etherlink">OnChainVision Labs [Building on Etherlink]</h2>
<p><img src="/images/forging-tomorrows-titans-welcoming-the-7-startups-joining-fortify-labs-3.jpeg" alt="OnChainVision"></p>
<p>OnChainVision (OCV) Labs is an interactive asset builder for crafting on-chain programmable assets using HTML, CSS; with JavaScript functionalities and content delivery network (CDNs), resembling the process of a full website development.</p>
<p>They are also creating an AI tool that allows users to convert JPEGs into their format, reducing reliance on interplanetary file system (IPFS) and will benefit the ecosystem as a whole from a storage perspective.</p>
<p>The introduction of these interactive NFTs smoothens the creation of completely on-chain games.</p>
<p><a href="http://ocvlabs.com">ocvlabs.com</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/ocvlabs">X / Twitter</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/onchainvision/">LinkedIn</a></p>
<h2 id="questflow">Questflow</h2>
<p><img src="/images/forging-tomorrows-titans-welcoming-the-7-startups-joining-fortify-labs-4.jpeg" alt="Questflow"></p>
<p>Non-programmers usually look at programmers in envy as they have the means to create customized workflow automation that streamlines their repetitive work.</p>
<p>With Questflow, now anybody can!</p>
<p>Questflow is a collaborative text-to-workflow platform for automating repetitive tasks across platforms with your team, regardless of size, with the help of AI.</p>
<p>Some features include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Auto SEO blogging</li>
<li>Auto Email Reminder</li>
<li>Auto AI News Monitoring</li>
<li>Auto Calendar Summary</li>
<li>Auto Social Media Posting</li>
<li>Auto Meeting Summary</li>
<li>Auto NEws Translation</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://questflow.ai">questflow.ai</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/questflow">X / Twitter</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/questflow/">LinkedIn</a></p>
<h2 id="renora">Renora</h2>
<p><img src="/images/forging-tomorrows-titans-welcoming-the-7-startups-joining-fortify-labs-5.png" alt="Renora"></p>
<p>Renora is a non-custodial robo-advisory platform that makes your assets work for you 24/7 using systematic investment strategies.</p>
<p>Through their proprietary automated trading strategies, retail users can maximize their gains passively. Currently integrated into multiple CEXes - users can distribute assets flexibly to avoid having a single failure point.</p>
<p>Renora will introduce Tezos as the first decentralized ecosystem their users have access to.</p>
<p><a href="http://renora.io">renora.io</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/renora-technologies/">LinkedIn</a></p>
<h2 id="taskon">TaskOn</h2>
<p><img src="/images/forging-tomorrows-titans-welcoming-the-7-startups-joining-fortify-labs-6.jpeg" alt="TaskOn"></p>
<p>TaskOn is a platform that boosts the completion for various Web3 tasks in a decentralized way. It helps task initiators and implementers to collaborate efficiently and better align mutual interests.</p>
<p>Web3 project owners can use Taskon to engage users with task-and-reward mechanics such as quests, events, and campaigns. They make themselves easy to use with features like campaign templates, automatic token reward distribution, and data analytics tools.</p>
<p><a href="https://taskon.xyz/">taskon.xyz</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/taskonxyz">X / Twitter</a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/TaskOnOfficial">Telegram</a></p>
<p><a href="https://discord.com/invite/tjszFr7wHz">Discord</a></p>
<h2 id="yourd">YourD</h2>
<p><img src="/images/forging-tomorrows-titans-welcoming-the-7-startups-joining-fortify-labs-7.png" alt="YourD"></p>
<p>YourD provides users with a user-managed, privacy-compliant, and regulatory-abiding decentralized identity verification and crypto payment system, offering a seamless user experience.</p>
<p>This innovative approach not only facilitates the quick and easy onboarding of Web2 businesses and users to Web3 but also enhances the experience for existing Web3 users.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.yourd.xyz/">yourd.xyz</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/0xCatbox">X / Twitter</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourd/">LinkedIn</a></p>
<h3 id="tz-apex">TZ Apex</h3>
<p><img src="/images/forging-tomorrows-titans-welcoming-the-7-startups-joining-fortify-labs-8.jpg" alt="TZ Apex"></p>
<p>TZ Apex is a community rewards program initiative by TZ APAC that is aimed at bolstering community involvement and interaction with projects built on Tezos through incentivization.</p>
<p>Be among the pioneers to experience upcoming projects building on Tezos through engaging quests and unlock exciting rewards, including Tez, NFTs, tokens, whitelist access, exclusive merchandise, and more!</p>
<p>Find out more about <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/intro-to-tz-apex/">TZ Apex!</a></p>
OKCoin Japan becomes a Corporate Baker on Tezos
<h2 id="okcoin-japan-joins-the-ranks-of-companies-meaningfully-participating-in-the-growth-of-the-tezos-blockchain-which-includes-google-cloud-ubisoft-edf-group-deloitte-luxembourg-and-more">OKCoin Japan joins the ranks of companies meaningfully participating in the growth of the Tezos blockchain, which includes Google Cloud, Ubisoft, EDF Group, Deloitte Luxembourg, and more.</h2>
<p>TZ APAC welcomes OKCoin Japan to the ecosystem as the latest corporate baker on Tezos.</p>
<p>This update kickstarts a collaboration that will see both parties explore synergies in the Web3 circuit of a country that ranks in the Top 20 of the <a href="https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2023-global-crypto-adoption-index/">Chainalysis 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index</a>.</p>
<p>Corporate bakers participate in the <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/proof-of-stake-and-its-variants-a-guide/">Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS) consensus mechanism</a> and can vote on protocol upgrades, which help maintain the high security and technological advantage of the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>OKCoinJapan will also add tez (XTZ) to its staking services from 8 November 2023.</p>
<p>Commenting on this collaboration, David Tng, Managing Director of TZ APAC, said: <em>“We are delighted to have OKCoin Japan as a corporate baker on the Tezos blockchain. The Japanese audience will now have access to staking on the Tezos blockchain through the comfort of a licensed virtual currency service provider and earn rewards. We hope that through this collaboration, we will be able to gather the Japanese audience to explore a vibrant ecosystem of games, DeFi, and art communities building on the Tezos blockchain.”</em></p>
<h2 id="what-is-okcoin-japan">What is OKCoin Japan?</h2>
<p>OKCoin Japan is a Virtual Currency Exchange Service Provider, poised to provide secure, stable, and innovative cryptocurrency trading services to individual and corporate customers in Japan.</p>
<p>Since its establishment in September 2017, OKCoin Japan has focused on building a comprehensive framework of business operation and internal governance to ensure its compliance with the Payment Services Act and related regulations, business guidelines issued by the Japanese financial regulator Financial Services Agency (FSA), and self-regulatory rules promulgated by the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA).</p>
<h2 id="what-is-baking-and-corporate-baking-on-tezos">What is baking and Corporate Baking on Tezos?</h2>
<h3 id="what-is-baking-on-tezos">What is baking on Tezos?</h3>
<p>The security of the Tezos blockchain is powered by a consensus mechanism known as liquid proof of stake (LPoS).</p>
<p>Each transaction is validated by network participants, known as bakers, who contribute computational power. This goes towards ensuring that all transactions in a block are correct, that the order of transactions is agreed upon, and that no double-spending has occurred.</p>
<p><img src="/images/okcoin-japan-becomes-a-corporate-baker-on-tezos-1.jpg" alt="The security of the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<p>For maintaining network security, bakers are rewarded with newly minted tez. They also have the opportunity to shape the future of Tezos by voting on protocol amendments.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if bakers approve fraudulent transactions they risk losing their stake, thus ensuring the accuracy and security of the network. This is why bakers are required to “stake” a minimum of 6000 tez as a form of security deposit.</p>
<p><em>Note: The energy efficiency of the Tezos blockchain comes from the LPoS mechanisms, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/adopting-the-blockchain-who-is-involved-and-what-is-at-stake/#:~:text=With%20PoS%2C%20trust%20is%20put%20in%20the%20number%20of%20tokens%20held%20by%20a%20baker%20(Tezos%20parlance%20for%20mining).%20The%20bakers%20then%20take%20turns%20baking%20the%20next%20block%20in%20the%20chain%2C%20instead%20of%20competing%20through%20raw%20computing%20power.%20This%20component%20changes%20the%20energy%20requirements%20of%20the%20blockchain.">where bakers aren’t chosen for raw computational power/energy expenditure but by the amount of Tez staked</a>. The more tez a baker stakes, the higher their chance of being chosen to validate transactions and add a new block to the blockchain.</em></p>
<p>
<u>Everyone can participate in the baking process</u>. Users can choose to delegate their tez to bakers and earn rewards for playing a vital role in enhancing the security of the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>Delegated stake remains ‘liquid’, which means that users can move their tez whenever they want.</p>
<p>An example of the importance of bakers can be found in the <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tezos-11th-protocol-upgrade-kathmandu-proposal-update/">announcement of Kathmandu, Tezos’ 11th protocol upgrade proposal</a>.</p>
<p>“We are happy to see Beacon and Taquito having already added support for Kathmandunet.
<u>It is critical to have as many bakers and builders as possible participating in this testnet</u>, by running nodes, producing blocks and deploying apps and infrastructure.”</p>
<h3 id="what-is-corporate-baking">What Is Corporate Baking?</h3>
<p>Simply put, corporate bakers are companies that choose to be bakers.</p>
<p>OKCoin Japan joins the ranks of companies meaningfully participating in the growth of the Tezos blockchain, which includes Google Cloud, Ubisoft, EDF Group, Deloitte Luxembourg, and more.</p>
<p><img src="/images/okcoin-japan-becomes-a-corporate-baker-on-tezos-2.jpg" alt="corporate bakers"></p>
<h4 id="so-why-do-companies-choose-to-be-corporate-bakers">So why do companies choose to be corporate bakers?</h4>
<p>In a nutshell, being able to participate in the governance process aligns with a company’s commercial goals.</p>
<p>Having a say in the direction of the blockchain that’s integrated into their operations, products, or services, can be a key advantage for companies.</p>
<p>Put simply, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-becoming-a-corporate-baker-on-the-tezos-blockchain/">your business receives more control being a corporate baker with Tezos than it does over the latest Microsoft Office update on the company’s PCs.</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/okcoin-japan-becomes-a-corporate-baker-on-tezos-3.jpg" alt="Cryptonio.tez"></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Crypt0nio">Cryptonio.tez</a> provides us with more reasons why companies become corporate bakers and how this strengthens the Tezos blockchain, through an <a href="https://spotlight.tezos.com/corporate-baking-on-tezos/">article published on Tezos Spotlight</a>.</p>
<ol>
<li>
Innovation: It provides a platform for organizations to stay at the forefront of technological advancements,
empowering them to create new products and services around the cutting-edge technology of the blockchain
world.
</li>
<br>
<li>
Diverse Use Cases: Companies can explore various applications, including creating smart contracts, minting
NFTs, and validating transactions with increased certainty.
</li>
<br>
<li>
Influence and Control: Corporate bakers have a say in the blockchain’s future direction, giving them
proportional control over the technology they plan to integrate into their products and services. This is
done thanks to Tezos’ battle-tested on-chain governance feature.
</li>
<br>
<li>
Hands-On Experience: Technical and product teams gain valuable experience by actively participating in
network maintenance, which can be applied to innovative solutions.
</li>
</ol>
<h4 id="how-does-having-corporate-bakers-strengthen-the-tezos-blockchain">How does having corporate bakers strengthen the Tezos blockchain?</h4>
<ol>
<li>
Enhanced Security: A greater number of nodes, including corporate bakers, bolster network security by making
it more challenging for malicious actors to compromise the system.
</li>
<br>
<li>
Increased Confidence: The presence of corporate bakers instills confidence in Tezos’ reliability and
integrity, attracting more stakeholders and users.
</li>
<br>
<li>
Governance Participation: Corporate bakers often have a significant say in the governance of the blockchain,
contributing to its evolution and improvements.
</li>
<br>
<li>
Network Growth: The involvement of corporate bakers can lead to increased interest from enterprises,
potentially expanding the adoption of the Tezos technology.
</li>
<br>
<li>
Innovation and Use Case Development: Tezos can benefit from the innovative applications and use cases that
corporate bakers explore and implement.
</li>
</ol>
<p>For more insights into corporate baking, you can read our previous article <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-becoming-a-corporate-baker-on-the-tezos-blockchain/"><em>“Everything you need to know about becoming a corporate baker on the Tezos blockchain”</em>. </a></p>
Web3 and the Evolution of Marketing: What's Next?
<h2 id="the-internet-has-evolved-from-the-static-web-to-the-social-network-we-know-today-shaping-the-rise-of-highly-effective-marketing-methods-like-targeted-advertising-web3-promises-to-bring-along-the-internets-next-evolution---what-can-marketers-do-to-stay-ahead-of-the-game">The Internet has evolved from the static web to the social network we know today, shaping the rise of highly effective marketing methods like targeted advertising. Web3 promises to bring along the Internet’s next evolution - what can marketers do to stay ahead of the game?</h2>
<p>Attention is the most coveted currency in the world of marketing and Public Relations (PR). As the Internet has evolved over the past two decades, the methods and mediums of seizing consumer attention have adapted accordingly.</p>
<p>The millennium’s dawn saw the Internet entering its social age. Marketing was just beginning to harness the power of programmatic ads, which allowed brands to automate advertising and target specific individuals, which accounts for <a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/9672/digital-advertising-in-the-asia-pacific-region/#topicOverview">over 80% of ad spending in the APAC region today</a>. Meanwhile, communication professionals found a game-changer in social media platforms, enabling real-time communication and reputation management on an unprecedented scale.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
But it would be shortsighted for us to stop here and assume that today’s version of the Internet is in its final form, given our proven human capacity for innovation.
</blockquote>
<p>In fact, we’re already seeing the tuggings of transformation into the third era of the Internet, Web3, or the decentralized web - a vision where users regain control of their data and interactions, breaking the current monopoly of a few tech giants.</p>
<p>To be clear, this isn’t about million-dollar monkey pictures or dog-based cryptocurrencies, it’s about the fundamental (and undeniable) technologies making this paradigm shift possible. As masters of capturing attention, it’s crucial to understand and adapt to this new state of the Internet.</p>
<h4 id="so-what-does-this-mean-for-marketers-and-pr-professionals">So what does this mean for marketers and PR professionals?</h4>
<p>We’re not going to tell you…yet.</p>
<p>Instead, we’re going to try to <em>empower</em> you first - giving you the information you need to develop your own strategies to be ahead of the marketing and PR curve for years to come. You know what they say - teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.</p>
<p>In this article, we’ll run through the evolution of the Internet from Web1 to Web3 as well as the various technologies powering this change - and how professionals in marketing and PR can best leverage this.</p>
<h4 id="at-the-end-of-this-article-well-provide-you-with-three-transformative-ways-that-web3-can-elevate-marketing-and-pr-empowering-agencies-to-offer-unparalleled-value-to-their-clients">At the end of this article, we’ll provide you with three transformative ways that Web3 can elevate marketing and PR, empowering agencies to offer unparalleled value to their clients.</h4>
<h2 id="the-evolution-of-the-internet">The Evolution of the Internet</h2>
<p>Today’s Internet looks nothing like the first version of the World Wide Web, where a few users published content for the rest to consume. We call this
<u>Web1</u>
, or the Read-Only Web.</p>
<p>Next came
<u>Web2</u>
, or the Read-Write Web, where we all started sharing content on social media platforms and interacting with others.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
But while we were busy sharing, these tech giants were busy collecting. Now, we live in a reality where corporations hold full control over our attention, data, and identities.
</blockquote>
<p>But the narrative is shifting once again.</p>
<p>The
<u>Web3</u>
era promises a future where users continue to create and consume content, and also own and control their digital identities, assets, and data.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Welcome to the Read-Write-Own Internet.
</blockquote>
<p><img src="/images/web3-and-the-evolution-of-marketing-whats-next-1.jpg" alt="The Evolution of the Internet"></p>
<h2 id="what-are-the-various-technologies-powering-web3">What Are The Various Technologies Powering Web3?</h2>
<h3 id="blockchain">Blockchain</h3>
<p><img src="/images/web3-and-the-evolution-of-marketing-whats-next-2.jpg" alt="Blockchain"></p>
<p>A blockchain is a <strong>decentralized digital ledger</strong>.</p>
<p>That sounds complicated, so let’s break it down.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Digital ledger: At its core, a ledger is a record of transactions. In the context of blockchain, every transaction is added as a ‘block’ of data, which are ‘chained’ together.</p>
<p>This ensures that once a transaction is added, it cannot be altered without changing every subsequent block (which is practically impossible due to the cryptographic security measures in place).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Decentralized: Instead of being stored on a single server or controlled by a central authority, copies of the blockchain are stored on numerous computers, known as nodes, all over the world.</p>
<p>Changes to the database can only be made when all nodes agree to the transaction being made, which ensures that no single entity has control over the entire blockchain, and all transactions are transparent and verifiable by all users.</p>
<p>By not relying on a central authority, <strong>participants can transact directly with each other without the need for intermediaries</strong>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>In essence, blockchain technology enables the secure sharing of information, highly resistant to censorship or tampering.</p>
<p>Examples of a blockchain include Bitcoin, Tezos, and Ethereum.</p>
<h3 id="smart-contracts">Smart Contracts</h3>
<p><img src="/images/web3-and-the-evolution-of-marketing-whats-next-3.jpg" alt="Smart Contracts"></p>
<p>Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. When certain conditions are met, they trigger the automatic execution of the contract terms.</p>
<p>Let’s say that a farmer buys insurance to protect his crops from a storm. When the smart contract receives information that a storm hit the farmer’s location, the smart contract will automatically payout according to the contract terms.</p>
<h3 id="tokenization">Tokenization</h3>
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<h4 id="what-is-a-token">What is a token?</h4>
<p>A token is an asset on a blockchain, which digitally represents any type of value.</p>
<p>For example…</p>
<ul>
<li>Access rights to a particular service</li>
<li>Voting power in a decentralized organization</li>
<li>Reward points in a loyalty program.</li>
<li>…and even shares in real-world assets</li>
</ul>
<p>In simple terms, tokenization refers to the process of <strong>converting rights to an asset</strong> into a <strong>digital token</strong> on a blockchain.</p>
<p>So far, tokenized assets have been largely intangible (e.g. access to an exclusive membership club)…</p>
<p>But we are seeing a global shift in the <strong>tokenization of Real-World Assets</strong> (RWA) like real estate, government bonds, or even fine wine - <a href="https://web-assets.bcg.com/1e/a2/5b5f2b7e42dfad2cb3113a291222/on-chain-asset-tokenization.pdf">predicted by BCG to be a US$16.1 trillion market by 2030</a>.</p>
<h4 id="why-does-tokenization-make-sense">Why does tokenization make sense?</h4>
<p>On the blockchain, every transaction is recorded, reducing the risk of fraud and increasing <strong>trust and transparency</strong> among participants.</p>
<p>Large-ticket items like expensive artwork or real estate can be split up into tokens, <strong>lowering barriers to ownership/investment for individuals.</strong> This also enhances the liquidity of the asset, allowing owners to easily buy and sell.</p>
<p>The transfer of ownership for these assets can be governed by <strong>built-in rules and logic powered by smart contracts that automate actions</strong>, e.g. distributing dividends or enforcing restrictions.</p>
<h2 id="three-possible-ways-that-web3-can-impact-marketing-functions">Three Possible Ways That Web3 Can Impact Marketing Functions</h2>
<p>In the following sections, we’ll explore three tangible ways Web3 is set to influence marketing and communications.</p>
<ol>
<li>An examination of how the retail industry, particularly <strong>loyalty rewards systems</strong>, can benefit from decentralized technologies.</li><br>
<li>Delving into the concept of <strong>tokenized memberships</strong>, offering a fresh perspective on enhancing customer experiences in events and live interactions.</li><br>
<li>Lastly, we’ll address the pressing issue of <strong>transparent crisis management</strong>, showcasing how blockchain can be a game-changer in public relations, especially in times of scrutiny.</li>
</ol>
<h3 id="loyalty-rewards-systems">Loyalty Rewards Systems</h3>
<p>The retail industry is a perfect candidate to be a Web3 first adopter - specifically, in the area of loyalty programs. Initiatives like <a href="https://www.swoosh.nike/location">Nike’s .swoosh</a> and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/the-starbucks-odyssey-begins/">Starbucks Odyssey</a> have already been rolled out, with other huge brands keeping a watchful eye out.</p>
<p>The retail industry has long struggled to solve the puzzle of customer retention, having <a href="https://explodingtopics.com/blog/customer-retention-rates">the lowest rates (63%) among all industries</a>, with <a href="https://www.propellercrm.com/blog/customer-acquisition-cost">Retail having an average customer acquisition cost of $10</a>. Customers cost money to acquire, and a failure to retain them equals a loss in overall revenue.</p>
<ul>
<li>The loyalty management market is worth $5.57 billion</li>
<li>It costs <a href="https://www.expressanalytics.com/blog/customer-acquisition-vs-customer-retention/#:~:text=Customer%20retention%20is%20a%20faster%20process%20and%20costs%20up%20to%206%20times%20less%20than%20acquisition">6 times less</a> to retain existing customers than to acquire new ones.</li>
</ul>
<p>But <a href="https://info.bondbrandloyalty.com/2016-loyalty-report">loyalty programs aren’t effective</a>. Many people who are eligible for loyalty programs don’t actively participate, and even among active members, a significant portion (one-fifth) never redeem their rewards. Members who don’t redeem their rewards are 2.7 times more likely to leave the program for another one.</p>
<p>What’s the problem? Simply put, there are too many competing loyalty programs from different brands right now.</p>
<p>The answer lies in a unified rewards ecosystem, which doesn’t exist yet. Brands cannot trust intermediaries with sensitive customer data and are hesitant to join an interlinked system that may reduce their own competitive advantage.</p>
<h4 id="how-does-web3-solve-these-challenges">How does Web3 solve these challenges?</h4>
<p>Smart contracts can greatly reduce the overheads and potential liabilities of managing loyalty points. While this alone is a compelling enough reason, it doesn’t stop here - Web3 opens up a new realm of exciting possibilities for customer retention.</p>
<p>On-chain data provides valuable customer data required to deliver <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/11/09/why-personalization-is-the-holy-grail-of-loyalty/">personalized engagement</a> critical for successful loyalty programs.</p>
<p>The importance of data cannot be understated. Loyalty programs need to deliver personalized engagement to be effective, but understanding customer preferences and constraints is harder than ever due to stricter data privacy policy changes (e.g. <a href="https://www.apple.com/sg/newsroom/2023/01/apple-builds-on-privacy-commitment-by-unveiling-new-efforts-on-data-privacy-day/">Apple</a> and <a href="https://blog.google/products/chrome/updated-timeline-privacy-sandbox-milestones/">Google</a>).</p>
<p>Forget customer surveys. You cannot get a more accurate understanding of customer behavior than from on-chain data, because it tells you exactly how they behave. With on-chain data, customers are essentially segmenting themselves. What they like, what they buy - all these patterns are self-volunteered</p>
<h4 id="but-the-true-game-changer-lies-in-web3s-ability-to-open-up-an-entire-ecosystem-for-brands-to-collaborate-meaningfully">But the true game-changer lies in Web3’s ability to open up an entire ecosystem for brands to collaborate meaningfully.</h4>
<p>What if, in a unified system, brands could collaborate rather than compete?</p>
<p>Secondary markets where loyalty tokens can be sold freely open up an entire ecosystem for brands to collaborate meaningfully.</p>
<p>On a basic level, putting a cash value on points for cash definitely motivates customers to collect them. That’s an obvious point. But more important is the value that tradable loyalty points bring to each individual brand.</p>
<h4 id="how-do-customers-selling-reward-tokens-help-companies">How do customers selling reward tokens help companies?</h4>
<p>They’re providing feedback that they aren’t interested, and brands can adjust their offerings accordingly with the data-driven insights gleaned from on-chain activity.</p>
<p>Now, the sellers of these tokens aren’t interested. But they’re selling to buyers of the token, who are interested in becoming consumers of the brand.</p>
<p>Your customer acquisition costs are removed. In essence, you are replacing disinterested customers with customers with higher lifetime value for free.</p>
<p>But the real killer appeal is in how brands can go from a 1-to-1 communication channel (ie. brand to customer, like traditional rewards programs), to a scaled 1-to-many channel.</p>
<p>This scaled channel can be owned by a larger operator, providing added value to its clients.</p>
<h4 id="heres-an-example">Here’s an example:</h4>
<p>When big companies with established loyalty programs team up, they can offer special services to smaller businesses.</p>
<p>For instance, let’s say a marketing agency decides to create an interconnected network of businesses that offer loyalty points to customers and extends invitations to their clients to join.</p>
<p>By joining this network through a custom app, the agency’s client can now offer its own loyalty points. These points can be used not just at their shop, but also at other businesses in the network.</p>
<p>This is great for the small shop because it can attract more customers without having to build its own loyalty program from scratch, and more importantly enjoy the network effect and other benefits we’ve talked about above, like access to on-chain data.</p>
<p>So, in this way, the marketing agency provides an extra service to its small business clients. At the same time, the loyalty network gets a new member, expanding the options for customers to earn and spend points.</p>
<h3 id="tokenized-membership-for-events-and-live-experiences">Tokenized Membership for Events and Live Experiences</h3>
<p>Imagine a marketing agency with a diverse clientele: trendy bars and restaurants, scenic golf courses, thrilling theme parks, and dynamic event promoters.</p>
<p>This agency, leveraging the power of Web3, creates an exclusive, tokenized membership club that its clients can offer to their patrons. Unlike traditional memberships, this tokenized version is dynamic, adapting in real-time to members’ behaviors and interactions.</p>
<p>Here’s how it could work in practice:</p>
<p>A member decides to dine at one of the agency’s client restaurants. Based on their expenditure, their membership token is automatically upgraded to a higher tier - a passport to enhanced experiences with other clients of the marketing agency.</p>
<p>The next weekend, the same member visits a golf course, another client of the agency. With their upgraded membership status, they’re greeted with exclusive perks, from priority tee times to complimentary refreshments. As they enjoy these privileges, their interactions on the course could further elevate their membership tier.</p>
<p>It doesn’t necessarily need to be based on customer expenditure either. There’s a perfect opportunity to introduce gamification into this system. Introducing elements like points, badges, and leaderboards could encourage members to interact more with the client’s services.</p>
<p>For example…</p>
<ul>
<li>If the golf course wants to maximize member spending during off-peak hours, they could reward them with points for playing a round of golf during these hours.</li>
<li>A theme park might offer a special badge for those who visit every ride, encouraging fuller exploration of their facilities.</li>
<li>A restaurant might reward members who order a new dish that the restaurant is testing out.</li>
</ul>
<p>Gamification thrives on social interaction, and members can be incentivized to share their achievements on social media, bringing in free publicity for the client.</p>
<p>All of this brings valuable on-chain data which provides insights into member preferences. Better yet, this data can be shared amongst clients - which offers an incredibly robust way for them to segment customers and understand their behavior.</p>
<h3 id="transparent-crisis-management">Transparent Crisis Management</h3>
<p>In today’s fast-paced digital age, a company’s reputation can be tarnished within moments, and rebuilding trust can be a herculean task.</p>
<p>Here’s an example of how PR agencies can fully utilize blockchain to navigate these turbulent waters.</p>
<p>PR agency, LMG Global, has a client, a manufacturing company, which is facing increased scrutiny over its carbon footprint. LMG Global advises them to take corrective action by pledging to offset their emissions by purchasing carbon credits.</p>
<p>But the problem with this solution is the prevalence of greenwashing, where companies exaggerate or falsely claim environmental efforts, has stoked a culture of skepticism. Stakeholders find it hard to trust companies’ claims due to a lack of transparency and accountability in the carbon credit purchasing process.</p>
<p>Now let’s say that LMG Global is a forward-thinking agency, that creates specialized PR packages for clients that include a bespoke blockchain-powered transparency platform.</p>
<p>Every purchase of carbon credits can be recorded on the blockchain, which ensures that a company cannot falsely claim to have bought credits. This way, there is no room for doubt that a company follows through with its public promise.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t stop at reputational crisis recovery - LMG Global’s client can evolve to become a <em>champion</em> of the environment.</p>
<p>With the end-to-end transparency that blockchain offers, tracking the carbon offset projects (like afforestation or renewable energy initiatives) they commit to can be turned into an advantage.</p>
<p>As the funded projects progress, updates can be added to the blockchain - like the number of trees planted, the amount of CO2 reduced, or the renewable energy produced. All of this is visible to stakeholders, who can visibly track the actual impact of LMG Global’s client’s actions.</p>
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The Tezos Ecosystem At TOKEN2049 Week
<h2 id="the-tezos-ecosystem-will-be-buzzing-with-activity-during-the-token2049-week-from-a-keynote-that-delves-into-the-state-of-tezos-by-co-founder-of-tezos-arthur-breitman-to-an-immersive-generative-art-experience-at-the-artscience-museum-the-week-will-be-filled-with-activities-that-promise-to-be-as-enlightening-as-they-are-engaging">The Tezos ecosystem will be buzzing with activity during the TOKEN2049 week. From a keynote that delves into the ‘State of Tezos’ by Co-Founder of Tezos Arthur Breitman to an immersive Generative Art experience at the ArtScience Museum, the week will be filled with activities that promise to be as enlightening as they are engaging.</h2>
<p>It’s that time of year again. Asia’s premier crypto event TOKEN2049 will set the heart of Singapore ablaze with the unification of Web3 innovation from around the world.</p>
<p>Serving as a global nexus for the Web3 industry, TOKEN2049 gathers leading entrepreneurs, investors, and builders to collaborate, innovate and learn.</p>
<p>TZ APAC is excited to connect with builders, founders, investors, and institution leaders within this influential setting again continuing from <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/from-token2049-to-f1-what-the-tezos-ecosystem-is-up-to-at-asia-crypto-week/">the action-packed activities organized at last year’s Asia Crypto Week.</a></p>
<p>From an insightful <em>‘State of Tezos’</em> keynote by co-founder Arthur Breitman to a captivating showcase of generative art created on Tezos at the renowned ArtScience Museum and much more, the week promises a rich tapestry of experiences designed to connect the Web3 industry with the vibrant Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<h2 id="ultra-high-throughput-the-next-era-of-rollups-by-arthur-breitman-co-founder-of-tezos-thursday-14-september-4pm---415pm">‘Ultra High Throughput: The Next Era of Rollups’ by Arthur Breitman, co-founder of Tezos │Thursday, 14 September, 4pm - 4.15pm</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-token2049-week-1.jpg" alt="The State of Tezos"></p>
<p>Tezos is a blockchain that has consistently set the standard for adaptability in a space where technological advancements occur at breakneck speed.</p>
<p>This session provides an ideal opportunity to hear from Arthur Breitman, Co-Founder of Tezos, as he offers his insights into the state of Tezos.</p>
<h2 id="tezos-lounge-at-db-bistro--oyster-bar-wednesday-13-september-12pm---6pm">Tezos Lounge at DB Bistro & Oyster Bar │Wednesday, 13 September, 12pm - 6pm</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-token2049-week-2.jpg" alt="Tezos Lounge at DB Bistro & Oyster Bar"></p>
<p>Just a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of TOKEN2049, the Tezos Lounge offers a comfortable and conducive space to chat about all things Web3 and the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>You’ll be hosted by a TZ APAC team that is super passionate about enabling builders, founders, investors, and institution leaders to thrive.</p>
<p>In particular, builders and founders can join us to understand more about the benefits of building on Tezos and being a part of an ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs through <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/now-open-applications-for-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-cohort-2/">incubator programs</a> and more.</p>
<p>For investors, there will be opportunities to explore the innovative startups across APAC that are building game-changing solutions on Tezos, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apac-celebrates-hyperglade-and-gaspacks-investments-from-draper-associates-and-mdi-ventures/">some of whom have already secured backing from investors such as Draper Associates and MDI Ventures</a>.</p>
<p>For institution leaders, we’d love to work with you on a Web3 strategy, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/gaspack-the-nft-launchpad-skyrocketing-to-success/#:~:text=Case%20Study%3A%20Supporting%20Ultramilk%20in%20their%20iCOWnic%20NFT%20Campaign">similar to that of how we’re working with conglomerates like Ultrajayamilk</a>.</p>
<p>Industry leaders who don’t fall into the above categories are also more than welcome to join us and explore synergies over refreshments and snacks.</p>
<p>Join the guestlist <a href="https://lu.ma/e8zri1pu?utm_source=TZ+APAC&utm_medium=Content+Hub&utm_campaign=TZLounge_ContentHub">here</a>.</p>
<h2 id="chaos--ai-research-at-the-artscience-museum-exhibition-saturday-19-august---sunday-24-september-10am---6pm"><em>‘Chaos & AI Research’</em> at the ArtScience Museum exhibition │Saturday, 19 August - Sunday, 24 September, 10am - 6pm</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-token2049-week-3.jpg" alt="‘Chaos & AI Research’ at the ArtScience Museum exhibition"></p>
<p><a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/artscience-museum-visitors-are-creating-generative-art-on-tezos/">Generative art on Tezos is taking the stage at ArtScience Museum</a>, located within the integrated resort of Marina Bay Sands where TOKEN2049 is taking place.</p>
<p>The museum’s latest exhibition, <em>Notes From the Ether: From NFTs to AI features the Chaos & AI Research</em> installation, which is based on artwork by Aluan Wang, a prominent artist in the Tezos ecosystem and co-founder of NFT marketplace akaSwap built on Tezos.</p>
<p>Visitors to the exhibition can conclude their journey by becoming generative artists themselves, participating in the art-making process, and bringing home a unique generative artwork of their own creation.</p>
<p>Upon entering the “Chaos & AI Research” section, visitors can upload any photo they choose, which will be transformed into a unique piece of art through Aluan’s created algorithm.</p>
<p>The fact that generative art created on Tezos is featured in an iconic institution outside of a Web3 event highlights how Web3 technology and generative art is gaining momentum in the mainstream as the next frontier.</p>
<p>Read more about why it’s a big win for Web3-natives and generative artists <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/artscience-museum-visitors-are-creating-generative-art-on-tezos/">here</a>.</p>
<p><em>Get your tickets through <a href="https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum/exhibitions/notes-from-the-ether.html?utm_source=TZ+APAC&utm_medium=Content+Hub&utm_campaign=ASM_NOE_TokenEvents_CH">the ArtScience Museum website</a></em>.</p>
<h2 id="generative-art-night-hosted-by-fxhash-in-collaboration-with-tezos-tz-apac-and-mandala-club-thursday-14-september-6pm---8pm">Generative Art Night, hosted by fxhash in collaboration with Tezos, TZ APAC, and Mandala Club │Thursday, 14 September, 6pm - 8pm</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-token2049-week-4.jpg" alt="Generative Art Night, hosted by fxhash in collaboration with Tezos, TZ APAC, and Mandala Club"></p>
<p>Generative Art Night is dedicated to the creations, the people, and the institutions behind the rise of one the most significant cultural movements in Web3 – generative art.</p>
<p>Attendees can mint an exclusive generative NFT by one of Singapore’s leading generative artists, RandomCombo.</p>
<p>You’ll also get the chance to hear from influential voices from the art and tech world before unwinding with a drink in the company of some of our beloved Web3 community.</p>
<p><em>Get your free tickets <a href="https://lu.ma/fxhash?utm_source=TZ+APAC&utm_medium=Content+Hub&utm_campaign=MandalaClub_ContentHub">here</a>.</em></p>
<h3 id="panel-details">Panel Details</h3>
<h4 id="meet-the-artist">Meet the Artist</h4>
<div class="image-box">
<img alt="Marissa Trew, Director of Engagement, Blokhaus Inc" src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-token2049-week-5.jpeg" class="side-images-1">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Get up close and personal with our featured artist, <b>Random Combo</b> – one of Singapore’s leading generative artists. Understand his story, what brought him into the world of Web3, and the inspiration behind tonight’s featured works.</p>
<p><u>Moderator:</u></p>
<p><b>Marissa Trew</b>, Director of Engagement, Blokhaus Inc</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4 id="art--the-brave-new-world">Art & The Brave New World</h4>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-token2049-week-6.jpg" alt="Art & The Brave New World"></p>
<p>A conversation with the institutions, community builders, and collectors bridging the gap between ‘traditional’ and crypto art. What are the challenges that have yet to be overcome and the opportunities that are being seized?</p>
<h4 id="generative-art-present-and-future">Generative Art: Present and Future</h4>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-token2049-week-7.jpg" alt="Generative Art: Present and Future"></p>
<p>Creative coding, algorithmic art, generative art – this discussion explores the present and future of an art form that has sparked a revolution in the blockchain art world and broken barriers in the traditional art space. Hear from the artists and the innovators.</p>
<p><em>Get tickets <a href="https://lu.ma/fxhash?utm_source=TZ+APAC&utm_medium=Content+Hub&utm_campaign=MandalaClub_ContentHub">here</a>.</em></p>
<h2 id="tz-apac-brings-gaming-to-web3-fiesta-wednesday-13-september-630pm---11pm">TZ APAC Brings Gaming to Web3 Fiesta │Wednesday, 13 September, 6.30pm - 11pm</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-token2049-week-8.png" alt="Generative Art: Present and Future"></p>
<p>Since you’ve made it to this point of the article, we’ll let you in on a secret. The Tezos ecosystem is looking forward to growing its gaming community!</p>
<p>TZ APAC is participating in the Web3 Fiesta held in the evening at Robertson Walk, a stone’s throw away from the Marina Bay Sands.</p>
<p>For developers and publishers, the TZ APAC Gaming Team will be there to help you explore partnerships and the support the Tezos ecosystem can provide.</p>
<p>For gamers, you’ll get the chance to explore the line-up of stellar games that are built on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>To ensure top-quality networking opportunities, Web3 Fiesta attendance is by pre-registration only.</p>
<p><a href="https://lu.ma/6huvs6n7">RSVP through this link</a> to join the guest list.</p>
ArtScience Museum Visitors Are Creating Generative Art on Tezos
<h2 id="explore-the-future-of-digital-art-at-the-artscience-museums-latest-exhibition-notes-from-the-ether-from-nfts-to-ai-from-august-19-to-september-24-2023-featuring-chaos--ai-research-a-collaborative-effort-between-artist-aluan-wang-akaswap-and-tz-apac-this-exhibition-allows-visitors-to-mint-their-own-piece-of-the-future-and-offers-a-platform-for-generative-art-to-captivate-a-global-audience">Explore the future of digital art at the ArtScience Museum’s latest exhibition, <em>Notes From the Ether: From NFTs to AI</em>, from August 19 to September 24, 2023. Featuring ‘Chaos & AI Research,’ a collaborative effort between artist Aluan Wang, akaSwap, and TZ APAC, this exhibition allows visitors to mint their own piece of the future and offers a platform for generative art to captivate a global audience.</h2>
<p>Awe, and controversy. The public reaction to generative art has been nothing short of frenzied since platforms like Midjourney stepped onto the world stage.</p>
<p>Some herald it as a new frontier that pushes the boundaries of art. But others are less enthused. Critics argue that generative art lacks the soul and emotional depth that come from human creativity. “Is generative art really art?” they ask, echoing a sentiment that has been the subject of heated debates in traditional and digital art circles.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Few understand the spirit of generative art better than the innovators and artists in the Tezos ecosystem, with generative art being a cornerstone of the Tezos community since the launch of Fxhash in 2021. Since then, the Tezos ecosystem has flourished to be a vibrant ground where creators continue to inspire and excite each other with bold artistic experiments every day.
</blockquote>
<p>Take, for example, how Aluan Wang, founder of Tezos NFT marketplace akaSwap, was <a href="https://medium.com/@c2x3_NFTpress/the-order-generated-from-chaos-generative-artist-aluan-and-his-new-work-automatic-messages-9a078f17bbaf#:~:text=In%20November%202021,in%20fact%2C%20observing.">deeply inspired by Fxhash</a>. Since then, he’s since become a vocal advocate for the Tezos generative art scene and a pioneer in generative art. Today, his work as an artist and founder of akaSwap is powering part of the <em>Notes From the Ether: From NFTs to AI</em> exhibition at the ArtScience Museum, allowing the public to participate in the creation process.</p>
<p><img src="/images/artscience-museum-visitors-are-creating-generative-art-on-tezos-2.jpg" alt="Artscience museum 2"></p>
<h5 id="aluans-chaos--ai-research-at-singapores-artscience-museuem">Aluan’s ‘Chaos & AI Research’ at Singapore’s ArtScience Museuem</h5>
<p>Even during the bear market and the so-called “NFT winter,” the generative art space in the Tezos ecosystem has continued to thrive. The tale of how community-driven marketplace Teia, <a href="https://www.fxhash.xyz/article/teia-the-first-decentralized-non-profit-nft-marketplace">rising from the ashes of Hic en Nunc</a>, has <a href="https://blog.teia.art/blog/press-release-dao-launch">become an official legal entity and a DAO setting the standard for decentralized governance</a> is one for the ages.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
So, when critics question the "soul" of generative art, they perhaps overlook the stories of passion, innovation, and resilience abound in the Tezos ecosystem.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
While algorithms and code are necessary tools, it’s always been the warmth of our human bonds and collaborative spirit responsible for positioning our Tezos community well in engaging the public in a dialogue about the future of art.
</blockquote>
<p><img src="/images/artscience-museum-visitors-are-creating-generative-art-on-tezos-1.jpg" alt="Artscience museum 1"></p>
<h2 id="whats-happening-at-the-notes-from-the-ether-from-nfts-to-ai-exhibition">What’s happening at the <em>Notes From the Ether: From NFTs to AI</em> exhibition?</h2>
<p>In a world where the line between human and machine is increasingly blurred, the ArtScience Museum in Singapore has taken a bold step to explore this fascinating intersection. Running from 19 August to 24 September 2023, the museum’s latest exhibition, <em>Notes From the Ether: From NFTs to AI</em>, serves as a groundbreaking platform where digital art, NFTs, and AI converge.</p>
<p>Situated at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum is no stranger to hosting exhibitions that challenge conventional wisdom and inspire awe. Since its inception in 2011, the museum has been a cultural landmark in Asia, featuring works from legendary artists like Leonardo da Vinci to Salvador Dalí, and from Vincent Van Gogh to Andy Warhol. It’s a venue that has long explored the nexus of art, science, technology, and culture, making it the perfect setting for an exhibition that delves into the ever-evolving world of digital art.</p>
<p>Co-curated by Deborah Lim and guest curator Clara Peh, Notes From the Ether is an ode to the dynamic landscape of digital art. Spanning seven dynamic zones, the exhibition invites digital art enthusiasts, the curious, and the skeptical to engage with works by 20 artists redefining the relationship between human and machine.</p>
<p>For the generative art advocate, hosting this exhibition at such a prestigious venue is tremendous news. Given the museum’s prominent location and history of attracting a diverse and intellectually curious audience, the exhibition serves as a powerful platform for generative art to gain the recognition it deserves.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
But for the Tezos community, what makes this exhibition truly special is its focus on generative art - particularly the "Chaos & AI Research" section, powered by Aluan Wang’s work and the akaSwap platform.
</blockquote>
<h2 id="about-chaos--ai-research">About “Chaos & AI Research”</h2>
<p>Visitors to the <em>Notes From the Ether: From NFTs to AI</em> can conclude their journey at the Chaos & AI Research section. This interactive realm invites visitors to become co-creators in the art-making process, taking home a unique generative artwork of their own creation.</p>
<p>Based on the artwork “Chaos Research” by Aluan Wang, this project reshapes conventional notions of art by incorporating artificial intelligence technology.</p>
<p>The goal is ambitious yet poetic: to explore the complex and diverse interactive relationships between collectors and artists and to delve into the enigmatic world of AI. It aims to open the “black box” of artificial intelligence, even if it can only reveal just 1% of its mysteries.</p>
<p><img src="/images/artscience-museum-visitors-are-creating-generative-art-on-tezos-3.jpg" alt="Artscience museum 3"></p>
<h3 id="what-can-visitors-expect">What can Visitors Expect?</h3>
<p>Upon entering the “Chaos & AI Research” section, visitors can upload any photo they choose. This will be transformed into a unique piece of art through an algorithm, a result of Aluan’s years of explorations into the artistic, technological, and spiritual realms.</p>
<p>For him, each artwork contains his own aspirations as an artist and that of the co-creator’s spiritual aspirations. Though elusive, he aims to capture how they merge and combine through a beautiful piece of art.</p>
<p>This art will be displayed on the wall for all to see and minted on the Tezos blockchain, thanks to akaSwap’s live minting system.</p>
<p>The process is seamless. Visitors simply scan a QR code, login with their Google account, and receive their newly minted NFT in an automatically created wallet.</p>
<p>This way, visitors can take home a piece of the exhibition, a digital artifact that serves as both art and a token of their interactive experience.</p>
<p>Visitors can buy tickets through the <a href="https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum/exhibitions/notes-from-the-ether.html?utm_source=TZ+APAC&utm_medium=Content+Hub&utm_campaign=ASM_NFTE_ContentHub">ArtScience Museum website</a>.</p>
Reliving Demo Day of the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator (Cohort 2)
<p>On 5 July, investors gathered at the heart of Singapore to find the next Web3 unicorn to back. The graduates of the TTI’s Cohort 2 displayed true innovation, presenting real-world solutions built with cutting-edge technology. Find out more about what happened on Demo Day here.</p>
<p>At TZ APAC, we couldn’t be prouder of the teams of Cohort 2, who have worked tirelessly towards their vision of success while demonstrating remarkable grit and resilience.</p>
<p>The path of a Web3 entrepreneur is never easy. Take it from the <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/how-this-startup-unlocks-web3s-1-trillion-future-for-all-businesses/">Hyperglade</a> team, who had to deal with crippling Sri Lankan political and financial crises, but yet managed to <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apac-celebrates-hyperglade-and-gaspacks-investments-from-draper-associates-and-mdi-ventures/">secure funding from Draper Associates</a>. Or the Gaspack team, who fought tooth and nail to distinguish themselves as Asia’s premier NFT launchpad, and is now <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1676494559948447745">supporting billion-dollar companies venturing into Web3</a> like Ultramilk.</p>
<p>The staying power of these teams through adversity is fuelled by an unshakeable belief in the potential of decentralized technology to change the world. Along with technological genius and strong business acumen, this belief is a potent recipe for success in building solutions for critical real-world problems.</p>
<p>For example, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/the-future-of-advertising-is-decentralized-this-startup-shows-us-why/">YourD</a> is on a mission to protect everyone’s data privacy by delivering the world’s first GDPR-compliant targeted advertising. <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/dom-moneys-ingenious-approach-to-real-world-crypto-payments/">DOM Money</a> understands how crypto can improve the financial security of millions in less stable regions, and is making widespread crypto payments a reality.</p>
<p>Every single one of the startups in Cohort 2 has a fantastic story to tell - and they told their story at Demo Day, where investors from across Asia gathered to back the next Web3 unicorn.</p>
<h2 id="what-happened-at-demo-day">What Happened At Demo Day?</h2>
<p>On 5 July, 12 teams from 9 different countries gathered at the heart of Singapore to present how they’re set to rock entire industries from the core. Most teams flew in from all over Asia, with a select few teams pitching through the big screens.</p>
<p><img src="/images/reliving-demo-day-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-cohort-2-2.jpg" alt="Cicheng Jin"></p>
<h5 id="cicheng-jin-ceo-of-gart-pitching-at-demo-day">Cicheng Jin, CEO of Gart pitching at Demo Day</h5>
<p>Investors from organizations like Spartan Group, Fisher8, Arcane, Spartan Group, Whampoa Digital, and more took their places, ready to pay close attention to the innovation being showcased.</p>
<p>We had the honor of having <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-thuerig/">Jonas Thuerig</a> (Head Asia, Managing Partner of Tenity) and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/wongwenkang/">Wong Wen Kang</a> (Vice President of SBI Ven Capital) evaluate the startups as judges.</p>
<p>Drawing from their extensive experience, the judges paid close attention to the team’s pitches and held nothing back in their questions after the pitch. The post-pitch Question & Answer session was also open to all investors present.</p>
<p>Here’s what the judges had to say:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Two startups from Cohort 2 of the TZ APAC <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> Incubator stood out to <a href="https://twitter.com/tenity_global?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tenity_global</a> Head of Asia, Jonas Thürig during Demo Day: <a href="https://twitter.com/Gart_one?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gart_one</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Adot_web3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Adot_web3</a><br><br>Hear what he had to say as one of the judges for the event 👇 <a href="https://t.co/A609jIA4PQ">pic.twitter.com/A609jIA4PQ</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1687030142663839744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Startups from Cohort 2 of the TZ APAC <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> Incubator scored praise from Wong Wen Kang, Vice President of SBI Capital, who was one of the judges for Demo Day.<br><br>Bonus content: Wen Kang discusses what he looks for in founders before deciding whether to invest in them👇 <a href="https://t.co/sg4QnkMl4o">pic.twitter.com/sg4QnkMl4o</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1688800054122000384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>This provided a valuable opportunity for the teams to not only showcase the value proposition of their products but also gather insights to iterate for further success.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“The Q&A session was great, full of good questions that challenged me to improve the storytelling and presentation slides to make it even easier to understand.” - Nikolai Grigoriev, Founder of DOM Money
</blockquote>
<h2 id="investors-shared-their-2023-web3-insights-with-us">Investors Shared Their 2023 Web3 Insights With Us</h2>
<p>During the event, the TZ APAC team took the opportunity to interview various industry professionals in attendance on their Web3 insights and the trends they see.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At the TZ APAC <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> Incubator Demo Day, we gathered thoughts from industry experts on the TTI, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Web3?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Web3</a> landscape and upcoming trends.<br><br>In the first of this series, <a href="https://twitter.com/alcdao_boss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alcdao_boss</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/web3_partners?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@web3_partners</a> explains why he onboarded with the TTI as an advisor and how it aids founders. <a href="https://t.co/6w05INgj4K">pic.twitter.com/6w05INgj4K</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1685903214611513344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The second in this series of TTI interviews with investors features Zeus Chen from <a href="https://twitter.com/BrainstormVC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrainstormVC</a> as he shares his thoughts about the TTI and how projects like <a href="https://twitter.com/walless_wallet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@walless_wallet</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hyperglade?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hyperglade</a> stood out with their enthusiastic and talented team 🌟<br><br>Listen to what has has to say 👇 <a href="https://t.co/LP60GkbFGv">pic.twitter.com/LP60GkbFGv</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1686247437437227008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The second in this series of TTI interviews with investors features Zeus Chen from <a href="https://twitter.com/BrainstormVC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrainstormVC</a> as he shares his thoughts about the TTI and how projects like <a href="https://twitter.com/walless_wallet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@walless_wallet</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hyperglade?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hyperglade</a> stood out with their enthusiastic and talented team 🌟<br><br>Listen to what has has to say 👇 <a href="https://t.co/LP60GkbFGv">pic.twitter.com/LP60GkbFGv</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1686247437437227008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Are games dominating blockchain trends? What are the sentiments surrounding the space?<br><br>Jeff Ma, Co-CIO/GP of Whampoa Digital shares his thoughts to close off the TTI Interview with Investors series 👇 <a href="https://t.co/XUJwo96x62">pic.twitter.com/XUJwo96x62</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1690961953156681728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2 id="networking">Networking</h2>
<p>No Demo Day is complete without a great networking session after!</p>
<p>Collaboration is the foundation of Web3, and building relationships is the starting line.</p>
<p>The teams took the opportunity to engage with intrigued investors, forming relationships that may potentially lead to game-changing partnerships that shape the Web3 space.</p>
<p><img src="/images/reliving-demo-day-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-cohort-2-4.jpg" alt="Teams mingling"></p>
<h5 id="teams-mingling-and-building-relationships-with-each-other-after-the-event">Teams mingling and building relationships with each other after the event</h5>
<p>It was also heartening to see the teams finally getting to speak to each other in real life, after months of knowledge-sharing and discussion during the incubator phase.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“We were impressed by the networking event which allowed us to network with our fellow cohort participants as well members of the Tezos team -- as graduates of the cohort, establishing these relationships will be useful for us as we venture into the Tezos ecosystem in the near future.” - Joseph Saw, co-founder of Pinjam Labs
</blockquote>
Adot: The Search Engine Ushering in the Web3 Era
<h2 id="adot-is-a-groundbreaking-search-engine-designed-for-the-web3-and-ai-era-backed-by-leading-vcs-and-strategic-investment-institutions-seamlessly-integrating-on-chain-and-off-chain-data-adot-makes-accessible-to-everyone-a-comprehensive-understanding-of-the-web3-landscape-like-never-before">Adot is a groundbreaking search engine designed for the Web3 and AI era, backed by leading VCs and strategic investment institutions. Seamlessly integrating on-chain and off-chain data, Adot makes accessible to everyone a comprehensive understanding of the Web3 landscape like never before.</h2>
<p>The Internet is a vast, sprawling universe of information, and we rely on search engines to navigate this expanse. Being the starting point of 93% of online experiences, search engines are an indispensable cornerstone of the Internet.</p>
<p>But for most of us, when we use search engines we already hold the expectation that we’re unlikely to find the information we truly need. Instead, we’re bombarded with irrelevant information and search-engine-optimized web pages that try to sell us products we don’t need.</p>
<p>Already, <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/when-will-chatgpt-replace-search-engines-maybe-sooner-than-you-think#:~:text=Aberdeen%20Strategy%20%26%20Research%20survey%20of,.">only 24% of professionals surveyed predicted that they would continue to use search engines to find information in the future,</a> compared to using AI chatbots which can give more tailored answers.</p>
<p>All this irrelevant information is part of the mere 10% of all information on the Web that Google indexes. The indexing and data encoding mechanisms that search engines use remain largely unchanged for decades, preventing them from accessing data in other ecosystems like the deep web and Web3.</p>
<p>As we move into an era marked by advancements in blockchain and artificial intelligence, the need for a new kind of search engine - one that can keep pace with these technological advancements - becomes clear.</p>
<p>Enter Adot, your personal guide into the new digital world dawning upon us.</p>
<p>Adot is a smart and decentralized search engine designed for the Web3 era, which has already raised US$3 million from leading VCs and strategic investment institutions from China, Singapore, and Silicon Valley.</p>
<p>It allows users to easily access off-chain and on-chain data, relevant and tailored to the user’s query through leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies.</p>
<p>Offering an open-source data framework and full coverage of Web3 data, users can enjoy accurate, scalable, and indexed data in seconds, on top of being rewarded for their data contributions.</p>
<p>Welcome to the future. Welcome to Adot.</p>
<h2 id="what-can-adot-do">What can Adot do?</h2>
<p>Adot covers a broad scale of Web3-related data. This includes on-chain asset data such as NFTs and token information, user decentralized identifiers, and linked data like user wallet addresses and social media accounts.</p>
<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Xuzi1oNNaRZzVjKigKe-LHS_2jJMb9e/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>
<h5 id="demonstration-of-adots-capabilities">Demonstration of Adot’s capabilities</h5>
<h4 id="adots-high-and-diverse-coverage-of-data-sources-makes-it-a-powerful-analytics-tool">Adot’s high and diverse coverage of data sources makes it a powerful analytics tool.</h4>
<p>Adot is more than a simple search engine - it’s a comprehensive tool for understanding and navigating the Web3 ecosystem.</p>
<p>It can access on-chain data like transactions, wallet activity, and the liquidity of a project. But that’s just the basic stuff - Adot’s comprehensive search capabilities allow users to search for microscopic things like the metadata of an NFT.</p>
<p>Adot can look at the information associated with a user’s blockchain wallet address, such as their transactions and interactions with other addresses, and use this to create relationship graphs that show how different users and addresses are connected to each other.</p>
<p>But the true power of Adot lies in allowing users to read the information <em>as a whole</em>.</p>
<h4 id="accessing-off-chain-data-to-paint-a-full-picture">Accessing off-chain data to paint a full picture</h4>
<p>But we all know that such data isn’t enough - which is why we use platforms like Twitter and Substack to stay updated or understand the general sentiment.</p>
<p>Adot also includes project and content data scattered across Web2 pages and decentralized storage. For example, while previously one would have to spend hours trawling Twitter and Discord, Adot can tell you the community sentiment on an NFT project at a glance.</p>
<p>Adot can also gather and analyze data from social media accounts linked to a blockchain wallet address, and the other addresses it has a strong connection with.</p>
<p>It’s this comprehensive coverage that allows Adot to provide a complete and accurate picture of the Web3 ecosystem.</p>
<h2 id="who-can-use-adot-to-its-full-capabilities">Who can use Adot to its full capabilities?</h2>
<p>In a nutshell, Adot provides value for everyone in Web3.</p>
<p>Here’s how different users can benefit from Adot:</p>
<h4 id="creators">Creators:</h4>
<p>Adot empowers the creator economy by creating a more effective content distribution channel.</p>
<p>Breaking down walls across applications and protocols, and improving the traditional sorting algorithm to distribute content to more targeted audiences, can bring creators exponential traffic and income.</p>
<h4 id="token-and-nft-tradersdegens">Token and NFT Traders/Degens:</h4>
<p>Adot can not only analyze the liquidity of a project based on its transaction data but also analyze a new community by its related social data.</p>
<p>For example, understanding how sophisticated a community is would allow traders to make informed decisions about their investments and involvement in various projects.</p>
<h4 id="people-who-dont-want-to-get-scammed-ie-everyone">People who don’t want to get scammed (i.e. everyone)</h4>
<p>Adot provides a safe way for everyone to experience Web3. It can look at the information associated with a user’s blockchain wallet address, such as their transactions and interactions with other addresses.</p>
<p>This data is used to create relationship graphs that show how different users and addresses are connected to each other. By linking this to off-chain data like social media accounts, Adot can identify serial rug-pullers and suspicious activity. This ensures a safer and more transparent Web3 experience for all users.</p>
<h4 id="developers">Developers</h4>
<p>Adot provides efficient data tools that allow developers to implement Adot’s indexing technology into their own projects. This modular open-source framework can operate in no-code or low-code modes, making it accessible to developers of all skill levels.</p>
<p>The goal is to drive the adoption of Adot’s infrastructure and assist in the collection of decentralized data for ecosystem development.</p>
<p><u>Composable Search Engine Applications</u></p>
<p>As part of their commitment to open source, Adot is launching composable search-engine applications that enable users and developers to build their own personalized search engines to fulfill various use cases.</p>
<p>Developers of any dApp can utilize the customized API interfaces and unified data query tools that Adot provides. These tools allow developers to query data according to personalized needs and easily implement data indexing and parsing functions, which can significantly reduce development and deployment costs.</p>
<p><u>Low-code Software Development Kits (SDKs)</u></p>
<p>Adot provides low-code SDKs and powerful search services to help developers build their own dApps. Even developers with zero search experience can deploy search functions suitable for diverse scenarios.</p>
<p>Adot uses a standardized model to integrate different SDKs. As a result, any application that integrates Adot can gain access to the integrated Web3 protocols.</p>
<p>This opens up a world of possibilities for developers, making Adot a versatile tool in the ever-evolving landscape of the Web3 era.</p>
<h2 id="enhanced-user-experience-suitable-for-the-digital-era-of-web3-and-ai">Enhanced User Experience Suitable for the Digital Era of Web3 and AI</h2>
<p>Adot addresses the information overload and lack of personalization of traditional search engines, by integrating AI and NLP technologies to deliver a more tailored and efficient search experience.</p>
<h4 id="ai-and-nlp-integration">AI and NLP Integration</h4>
<p>Adot’s intelligent search engine sorts and organizes information, assisting users in making informed decisions.</p>
<p>This is made possible through sentiment analysis and smart tagger features, both powered by AI and NLP.</p>
<p>The sentiment analysis feature allows Adot to understand the emotional tone behind words, and provide results relevant to what the user searches for. For example, if a user is searching for tweets highlighting positive sentiment about the Tezos blockchain, Adot is fully capable of meeting this query.</p>
<p>The smart tagger feature assigns labels to the search inputs, making it easier to retrieve relevant results. Using NLP, human and machine-readable labels are assigned to content, while other AI technologies are used to annotate non-text content like images.</p>
<h4 id="rewarding-contributors-with-ad-revenue">Rewarding Contributors with Ad Revenue</h4>
<p>The Web3 ecosystem introduces opportunities for token-based incentives and user-generated content. Adot leverages this to create a community-driven platform, rewarding users for contributing to the search engine’s improvement. Each person’s contribution is recorded and rewarded appropriately, fostering a sense of ownership and loyalty among its user base.</p>
<p>Adot’s open-source data framework allows developers to catch and compose needed data for their own purposes. Data is open to all conducting Adot protocols to contribute and call. This not only enhances the search experience but also saves developers the time and resources they would otherwise spend on redundant work. By rewarding developers for their contributions, Adot encourages the development of a vibrant and innovative web industry.</p>
<p>By rewarding users for their contributions, Adot ensures that the value generated by the community is returned to the community. This creates a virtuous cycle where users are motivated to contribute more, leading to a richer and more diverse data ecosystem.</p>
<h2 id="adot-in-action-client-success-stories">Adot in Action: Client Success Stories</h2>
<p>Adot’s capabilities have already been put to the test by several clients, each with unique needs and requirements. Here are some of the success stories that highlight Adot’s versatility and effectiveness:</p>
<h4 id="firefly">Firefly:</h4>
<p>Firefly, a decentralized social application, leverages Adot’s data API to provide free search functionality to its users. This meets users’ active query needs for different types of on-chain and off-chain data, such as wallets, NFTs, tokens, and content from social media and content creation platforms. With Adot, Firefly users can easily access the information they need, enhancing their overall experience.</p>
<h4 id="nftscan">NFTScan:</h4>
<p>NFTScan, an NFT aggregation platform, uses Adot to provide more asset-related data in different content formats, such as articles, social media posts, and comment content from both on-chain and off-chain sources. This allows NFTScan to free its users from cluttered and disorganized data, enabling them to obtain complete, comprehensive, and high-quality information, and make wiser investment decisions accordingly.</p>
<h4 id="weweave">Weweave:</h4>
<p>Weweave, a platform that allows users to store and access files on the Arweave network, benefits from Adot’s powerful full-chain data retrieval functions. Through the search box on WeWeave’s homepage search bar, users can not only browse their own uploaded data but also easily access any files and content stored on the Arweave network. Adot also provides filtering, tagging, and other functions for WeWeave users’ search results, making it easy for users to classify the data they need.</p>
<h2 id="meet-the-team">Meet The Team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/adot-the-search-engine-ushering-in-the-web3-era-1.jpg" alt="Adot Team"></p>
<p><u>Wei - Founder</u></p>
<p>With 17 years of research and work experience in the field of search engines and artificial intelligence, Wei is a seasoned technologist. He is a former Google search engine algorithm engineer, where he was involved in building Google’s core mobile search ecosystem. As a serial entrepreneur, Wei has led several well-known startups and provided search services for hundreds of millions of mobile devices.</p>
<p><u>Kiki - Product Manager</u></p>
<p>Kiki brings her expertise in product operation and data analysis to the team. With experience in the search engine and AI field, she has worked in leading technology companies domestically, specializing in product management.</p>
<p><p><u>Hammar - Marketing Advisor</u></p></p>
<p>Hammar’s cross-functional visibility and specialty span across Product, Analytics, Marketing, BD, Strategy & Operations. With an international working and education background that includes the USA, China, the UK, and Brazil, he brings multiple industry insights from Crypto, Healthcare, Online Media, Energy, Technology, Arts, Sports, and NGOs. Hammar also has a strong technical background in analytics, with proficiency in SQL, SAS, R, Python.</p>
<p><u>Joe - Marketing Manager</u></p>
<p>Joe is an experienced marketing, branding, and community operation professional. He has worked in many famous domestic advertising agencies, financial institutions, and Internet companies, and is familiar with new media and digital marketing.</p>
<p>In addition to these key members, Adot also boasts a robust Technical Team that includes Search Engineers, Algorithm Engineers, Blockchain Engineers, and more, all working together to revolutionize the way we search and interact with the web.</p>
Pinjam Labs: Maximising Your Yield By Putting Idle Liquidity To Work
<h2 id="pinjam-labs-is-set-to-unlock-the-60-of-liquidity-on-lending-protocols-that-sit-idle-and-generate-no-returns-by-lending-idle-liquidity-to-other-reputable-protocols-and-creating-a-yield-flywheel-mechanism-pinjam-maximizes-yield-for-lenders-but-also-fosters-a-more-efficient-defi-ecosystem">Pinjam Labs is set to unlock the 60% of liquidity on lending protocols that sit idle and generate no returns. By lending idle liquidity to other reputable protocols and creating a yield flywheel mechanism, Pinjam maximizes yield for lenders but also fosters a more efficient DeFi ecosystem.</h2>
<p>Every crypto enthusiast is familiar with the concept of liquidity, which is arguably the lifeblood of DeFi.</p>
<p>But a significant issue that often goes unnoticed is that of idle liquidity, which refers to assets that are deposited in DeFi platforms but are not being borrowed or used.</p>
<p><a href="https://pinjamlabs.com/whitepaper.pdf">On average, idle liquidity on major lending protocols sits at 60%</a>. These funds sit dormant, like money stashed under a mattress, not contributing to the growth of the ecosystem or generating returns.</p>
<p>The root of this issue lies in a fundamental misalignment between the incentives of borrowers and lenders. The more an asset is borrowed, the more shallow the liquidity pool becomes, which increases the cost of borrowing.</p>
<p>This creates a paradoxical situation. Borrowers want more liquidity to keep borrowing costs low, while lenders prefer a scarcity of liquidity to make borrowing more expensive, thus yielding them higher returns.</p>
<p>This tug-of-war is particularly evident in overcollateralized money markets today. Borrowers aim for lower borrowing rates, which would require lenders to deposit more liquidity. But lenders are reluctant to do so because the interest that they would earn is too low. Borrowers are only willing to pay a certain amount in borrowing costs before it becomes too expensive for them to want to borrow more.</p>
<p>This discord in incentives gives rise to idle Liquidity, which can be calculated as follows:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Idle Liquidity = 1 - (Total Borrowed / Total Supplied)</p>
<p>In a money market, idle liquidity emerges when there is low or insufficient demand for borrowing. Since interest rates are determined by the utilization or borrow rate, the higher the idle liquidity, the lower the yield earned by lenders. However, on the flip side, it also makes borrowing cheaper. This is the conundrum that the DeFi space currently faces.</p>
<h4 id="idle-liquidity-gives-rise-to-3-significant-problems-in-the-defi-ecosystem">Idle liquidity gives rise to 3 significant problems in the DeFi ecosystem.</h4>
<ol>
<li style="width: 100%">
<p>For every dollar a lender deposits, only forty cents are productive and earning yield for the lender.</p>
<p>This means that a significant portion of the lender’s capital is not being put to work, resulting in missed
opportunities for earning potential returns.</p>
</li>
<li style="width: 100%">
<p>This inefficiency in the system leads to suboptimal value accrual for token holders.</p>
<p>The value of tokens in the DeFi space is often tied to the performance and utility of the underlying
platform.</p>
<p>When a large portion of the platform’s liquidity remains idle, it can negatively impact the perceived value
and potential growth of the tokens associated with the platform.</p>
</li>
<li style="width: 100%">
<p>Idle liquidity leads to liquidity fragmentation, which occurs when liquidity is spread thin across multiple
platforms and protocols, rather than being concentrated where it can be most effectively used.</p>
<p>This fragmentation can lead to inefficiencies in the market, including slippage and less favorable trade
execution.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<h2 id="pinjams-solution-to-idle-liquidity">Pinjam’s Solution To Idle Liquidity</h2>
<p>In the vast ocean of DeFi, Pinjam sails with a unique compass.</p>
<p>At its core, Pinjam is a protocol that lends idle liquidity to other reputable protocols in the DeFi ecosystem. This approach ensures that deposited assets are always put to work, maximizing the yield for lenders and creating a more efficient DeFi ecosystem.</p>
<p>One of the key advantages of Pinjam’s solution is that it is inherently less risky. By lending to established, blue-chip protocols, Pinjam mitigates the risk associated with lending to less proven or risky platforms. This approach provides a safer environment for lenders and borrowers alike.</p>
<p>A cornerstone of Pinjam’s protocol is the <a href="https://docs.pinjamlabs.com/what-makes-pinjam-better/the-yield-flywheel">Yield Flywheel</a> mechanism. By putting idle liquidity to work, Pinjam generates higher yields for its users. This increased yield, in turn, attracts more lenders and borrowers, creating a virtuous cycle of growing liquidity and yield. This organic growth is more sustainable than platforms that rely on external funding or grants to boost their returns.</p>
<h4 id="pinjam-users-get-paid-to-borrow">Pinjam users get paid to borrow.</h4>
<p>Lenders can earn yield from two sources: borrowing activity on Pinjam and yield farming activity.</p>
<p>By putting unborrowed funds to work in Pinjam Auto-Compounding Vaults, lenders can earn yield from base lending protocols such as AAVE.</p>
<p>This means there will be times when Pinjam’s lending APY can be higher than its borrowing APY - in other words, users can be paid to borrow.</p>
<p>To help maintain their goal of achieving 100% capital productivity, Pinjam incentivizes depositors with 1% of the total rewards generated from idle liquidity at work. This system is designed to be resistant to manipulation, ensuring a fair and efficient ecosystem.</p>
<p>Find out more about being paid to borrow <a href="https://docs.pinjamlabs.com/what-makes-pinjam-better/get-paid-to-borrow-and-deposit-incentives">here</a>.</p>
<h4 id="pinjams-multi-chain-strategy">Pinjam’s multi-chain strategy</h4>
<p>Every blockchain ecosystem will have its own native Pinjam token, which cannot be bridged to other chains. The benefits of this strategy include:</p>
<ol>
<li style="width: 100%">
<p>Allowing Pinjam to make ecosystem-specific decisions without causing ripple effects across the larger Pinjam
ecosystem. This allows more versatility, speed and freedom in decision-making.</p>
</li>
<li style="width: 100%">
<p>Enabling only the users of an ecosystem to make decisions that affect that particular ecosystem, preventing
interference from users on other chains.</p>
<p>So, if Pinjam puts up a proposal to allocate more rewards to the Pinjam ecosystem on Tezos, members of the
Pinjam ecosystems on other chains cannot block it (out of fear of reward dilution).</p>
</li>
<li style="width: 100%">
<p>Providing every chain with its own liquidity mining program. This ensures that rewards are not diluted,
unlike in some base lending protocols where rewards have been diluted to the point of not being attractive
anymore.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<h4 id="pinjam-and-the-tezos-ecosystem">Pinjam and the Tezos Ecosystem</h4>
<p>Web3 is all about collaboration rather than competition, and this is a philosophy that Pinjam subscribes to.</p>
<p>The platform’s unique approach to liquidity management means that it benefits from the presence of other protocols, rather than being threatened by them.</p>
<p>Pinjam’s model is designed to put unborrowed funds to work in other protocols. This means that the more protocols there are offering good rates, the better it is for Pinjam. It’s a refreshing perspective that challenges the ‘winner takes all’ mentality often seen in the crypto space.</p>
<p>This collaborative approach extends to Pinjam’s vision for its role within the Tezos ecosystem. Pinjam is not here to take over but to build. The platform aims to contribute to the growth and development of the ecosystem, fostering a vibrant and diverse DeFi landscape.</p>
<p>In essence, Pinjam sees itself as a part of a larger whole. It recognizes that the strength of the DeFi space lies in its diversity and the synergies that can be created between different protocols. By putting idle liquidity to work across a range of platforms, Pinjam is helping to unlock the full potential of the Tezos ecosystem and beyond.</p>
<p><blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“By being deployed on Tezos, Pinjam will be able to forge the road ahead along with the other DeFi protocols currently there and expand the Tezos ecosystem even further.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Besides that, the TZ APAC team has been immensely helpful in supporting projects building on Tezos, including ourselves - which is very much appreciated.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Not to forget a very solid community within the Tezos ecosystem that's been staying strong throughout the recent crypto cycles - showing their belief in Tezos and what it has to offer!”
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
- Shawn Benedict, Co-Founder of Pinjam Labs
</blockquote></p>
<h2 id="meet-the-pinjam-team">Meet The Pinjam Team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/pinjam-labs-maximising-your-yield-by-putting-idle-liquidity-to-work-1.jpg" alt="Pinjam Team"></p>
<p>The driving force behind Pinjam’s groundbreaking solutions in the DeFi landscape is a trio of co-founders, each armed with a distinct blend of expertise and a track record of success in both the Web2 and Web3 domains.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephsaw/">Joseph Saw</a>, the team’s UI developer, has a rich history in the Web3 space, having worked as a Blockchain Developer with Pendle, a DeFi startup that’s making a name for itself in the Arbitrum ecosystem. His Web2 experience is equally impressive, with a stint as Lead Developer with Sellcrowd under his belt.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/syahiramali/">Syahir Amali</a>, the mastermind behind Pinjam’s smart contract development, has honed his skills in the Web3 space by working on smart contracts through DAOs. His Web2 journey includes roles as a Web Developer with Hong Leong Bank Berhad and as a Fullstack Web Developer with Diamond Key International Group.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisistheshawn/">Shawn Benedict</a>, who oversees marketing and community management at Pinjam, has a wealth of experience in the Web3 space, having worked with microcaps in the Ethereum ecosystem. His Web2 credentials include roles as a Marketing Associate with Sumo.com and OkDork, both owned by Noah Kagan, and as a Copywriter with Ascend Marketing.</p>
<p>This dynamic trio forms the core of Pinjam, each contributing their unique expertise to the platform’s mission of unlocking the full potential of idle liquidity in the DeFi space.</p>
Gaspack: The NFT Launchpad Skyrocketing To Success
<h2 id="gaspack-is-a-nft-launchpad-that-promises-to-revitalize-the-nft-space-with-incredible-partnerships-that-include-popular-web3-ips-like-azuki-and-billion-dollar-conglomerates-like-ultrajaya-milk-having-already-generated-us12m-in-volume-and-secured-pre-seed-funding-gaspack-is-well-on-its-way-to-success">Gaspack is a NFT launchpad that promises to revitalize the NFT space, with incredible partnerships that include popular Web3 IPs like Azuki and billion-dollar conglomerates like Ultrajaya Milk. Having already generated US$12M in volume and secured pre-seed funding, Gaspack is well on its way to success.</h2>
<p>In the wake of the fading hype around NFTs, many have begun to question the future of this technology. But this mindset is short-sighted and flawed. Here are two reasons why:</p>
<h4 id="1-the-use-cases-of-nft-technology-are-too-compelling-to-be-ignored">1. The use cases of NFT technology are too compelling to be ignored</h4>
<p>The potential applications of NFT technology present too much value for real-life stakeholders to be dismissed so easily, from…</p>
<ul>
<li>Enabling fair monetization for creators</li>
<li>Enhancing consumer engagement for retail businesses</li>
<li>Representing tokenized assets</li>
</ul>
<p>Perhaps you’ve heard this a thousand times before - but this is exactly why the potential of NFTs remains great.</p>
<p>Beyond the hype, the fundamental value proposition of this technology has not changed, and billion-dollar companies see that - for example, Ultrajaya Milk, which has partnered with Gaspack to launch its iCOWnic NFT membership program.</p>
<h2 id="2-its-much-easier-than-ever-before-to-participate-in-the-space">2. It’s much easier than ever before to participate in the space.</h2>
<p>Through this downturn, builders have been freed from the pressures of satisfying investor demands for short-term returns. The industry has been presented with an opportunity to focus on building much-needed key infrastructure.</p>
<p>Let’s also not forget that the trading volume of 2020-2022 was massive
<u style="font-style: italic;">despite</u>
the complexity of participating in the space.</p>
<p><img src="/images/gaspack-the-nft-launchpad-skyrocketing-to-success-4.png" alt="The traditional 9 steps"></p>
<h5 id="the-traditional-9-steps-required-to-buy-an-nft">The traditional 9 steps required to buy an NFT</h5>
<p>Today, however, NFT launchpads like Gaspack make it easier than ever for individuals. The buyer journey is reduced from nine steps to a mere two, and consumers can purchase NFTs with fiat currency.</p>
<p>It’s so much simpler now for the average person to participate, which also opens up NFTs to being part of the Web2 business model.</p>
<p>Do you see how Gaspack is making the future look so bright now, anon? Take it from <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apac-celebrates-hyperglade-and-gaspacks-investments-from-draper-associates-and-mdi-ventures/">seasoned investors eMerge, 500 Global, and Tokoin, who have contributed to Gaspack’s pre-seed funding round.</a></p>
<h2 id="gaspack-democratizing-nft-participation">Gaspack: Democratizing NFT participation</h2>
<p>Gaspack represents a seamless experience that bridges creators and fans, through the vast potential that digital assets offer.</p>
<p>Launching their MVP at the Art Jakarta Gardens fair, Gaspack attracted 1,100 new users to bootstrap their user community. Since then, they have launched 8 projects in 2022, generating US$12 million in Gross Transaction Volume. The leading crypto exchange Reku has also utilized the Gaspack platform to mint 3,000 soulbound tokens for loyal users.</p>
<p><img src="/images/gaspack-the-nft-launchpad-skyrocketing-to-success-1.jpg" alt="Gaspack 1"></p>
<h4 id="simplified-login-process-and-wallet-creation">Simplified login process and wallet creation</h4>
<p>Most other Web3 platforms require users to connect their crypto wallet - and if users don’t have a wallet, they have to create one first.</p>
<p>Gaspack allows users to sign up with their Google or Apple accounts, following which a crypto wallet will automatically be created for them.</p>
<p><img src="/images/gaspack-the-nft-launchpad-skyrocketing-to-success-2.jpg" alt="Gaspack 2"></p>
<h4 id="purchasing-nfts-with-fiat-currency">Purchasing NFTs with fiat currency</h4>
<p>With Gaspack, non-native crypto users can easily purchase NFTs with fiat, regardless of whatever chain they are on.</p>
<h2 id="what-sets-gaspack-apart-from-other-nft-launchpads">What sets Gaspack apart from other NFT launchpads</h2>
<p>If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it, did it really fall?</p>
<p>The same concept applies to NFT launchpads, whose success hinges on how many clients and artists choose to launch their projects on their platform.</p>
<p>Gaspack has no shortage of exciting partnerships lined up, from existing popular Web3 IPs like Azuki to billion-dollar companies like Ultrajaya Milk.</p>
<p>And of course, Gaspack plans on being part of the vibrant Tezos arts ecosystem!</p>
<p><blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“We share a vision with the Tezos ecosystem of empowering creators through technology. Through Tezos integration, we believe that Gaspack can be the global platform of choice for creators and brands when launching NFT projects.”
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
- Novrizal Pratama, CEO of Gaspack
</blockquote></p>
<h4 id="case-study-supporting-ultramilk-in-their-icownic-nft-campaign">Case Study: Supporting Ultramilk in their iCOWnic NFT Campaign</h4>
<p><a href="https://www.ultrajaya.co.id/">Ultrajaya Milk</a> is Indonesia’s leading dairy product brand, listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of USD$1.1 Billion. In 2022 alone, Ultrajaya Milk’s revenue generated amounted to over US$500 million.</p>
<p>Gaspack is the NFT launchpad for Ultra Milk’s (Ultrajaya Milk’s hero brand) launch of its NFT membership program on the Tezos blockchain, which targets to onboard 200,000 members.</p>
<p>Ultramilk plans on rewarding NFT holders with benefits like tickets to concerts and major sporting events, along with daily rewards like free milkshakes at their stores. The iCOWnic campaign will tie into Ultramilk’s campaigns, through the engagement that NFTs offer.</p>
<p>Considering that Ultramilk has had great success in capturing youth markets through collaborations with K-Pop groups like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/itzy.all.in.us/?hl=en">ITZY</a> (19 million Instagram followers), it’s clear that this brand acts according to its deep understanding of cultural and technological trends.</p>
<p>Gaspack makes it easy for Ultramilk’s consumers to participate. Upon reaching <a href="https://app.gaspack.xyz/launchpad/icownic-patch">Gaspack’s application</a> (accessible through web and mobile browsers), all users have to do is create an account with social login (4 clicks), and mint an NFT (2 clicks). It’s that easy.</p>
<p>Gaspack has also advised Ultramilk in its NFT strategy, from both technical perspectives as well as entering and engaging Web3 ecosystems.</p>
<h2 id="meet-the-gaspack-team">Meet The Gaspack Team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/gaspack-the-nft-launchpad-skyrocketing-to-success-3.jpg" alt="Gaspack Team"></p>
<h4 id="novrizal-pratama---ceo--co-founder">Novrizal Pratama - CEO & Co-Founder</h4>
<p>Novrizal brings over a decade of experience in the Digital Marketing and Creative space. His deep understanding of the digital landscape and creative strategies has been instrumental in shaping Gaspack’s vision and driving its growth.</p>
<h4 id="sunny-gho---coo--co-founder">Sunny Gho - COO & Co-Founder</h4>
<p>Sunny is a renowned figure in the comic space, having spent 15 years working with giants like Marvel and DC. His extensive experience and global recognition in the comic industry provide Gaspack with a unique edge in the NFT space.</p>
<h4 id="irzan-raditya---co-founder">Irzan Raditya - Co-Founder</h4>
<p>Irzan brings his deep expertise in technology and AI to the table. As the CEO of Kata.ai, he has a deep understanding of technology’s transformative power, which he leverages to ensure Gaspack stays at the forefront of the NFT revolution.</p>
<h4 id="yudha-pratomo---head-of-product">Yudha Pratomo - Head of Product</h4>
<p>Yudha has over ten years of experience as a Product Manager in various startups. His expertise in product development and management is key to ensuring that Gaspack’s offerings are not only innovative but also user-friendly and market-ready.</p>
<h4 id="nathanael-christian---head-of-growth">Nathanael Christian - Head of Growth</h4>
<p>Nathanael, the former Head of Growth at Zipmex Indonesia, now leads Gaspack’s growth strategies. His experience in driving growth in the digital space is crucial in expanding Gaspack’s reach and establishing it as a leader in the NFT market.</p>
Battle of Guardians: Bringing Esports to the Blockchain
<h2 id="battle-of-guardians-is-a-real-time-web3-multiplayer-pvp-arena-game-poised-to-set-the-esports-stage-on-fire-and-bring-millions-of-fans-into-the-web3-gaming-space">Battle of Guardians is a real-time Web3 multiplayer PVP arena game, poised to set the Esports stage on fire and bring millions of fans into the Web3 gaming space.</h2>
<p>Enter a world where the thrill of battle and the adrenaline rush of competition is matched only by the satisfaction of rewards. Welcome to the realm of Battle of Guardians (BOG), a game that’s breaking the mold of Web3 gaming and setting the stage on fire.</p>
<p>BOG is a real-time multiplayer PVP arena NFT game, a product of meticulous development since 2021. This game is the brainchild of Miracle Gates Entertainment, the largest game development studio in Bali. With a portfolio of over 30 games across various platforms since 2014, the studio’s longevity is a testament to its success in the fiercely competitive gaming industry.</p>
<p><img src="/images/battle-of-guardians-bringing-esports-to-the-blockchain-1.png" alt="BOG 1"></p>
<p>BOG is not your standard Web3 Play2Earn game, where fun takes a backseat to the earnings aspect. The developers understand that the true value of a play-to-earn game lies not just in the earning, but in the thrill of the fight and the glory of victory - that’s why players willingly pay for games without expecting any returns.</p>
<p>Gamers can play over 90 different characters, crafted with beautiful designs and folklore-inspired backstories. They can compete against each other in real-time battles, and explore the world of BOG through a compelling story mode. With <a href="https://medium.com/@battleofguardians/report-bogs-community-town-hall-9fdfbd001753">over 21,000 downloads across various platforms and over a thousand monthly active players</a>, it is clear that the BOG developers have been wildly successful in their mission of delivering fun to players.</p>
<p>BOG is also making strides to enter the Esports arena, becoming a platform where gamers compete at the highest level. The team is already hosting major tournaments and signing major Esports teams in the region to participate. With such renowned gamers participating in tournaments and streaming the game daily, they bring along millions of devoted fans. Some of these teams include <a href="https://www.instagram.com/evosesports/?hl=en">EVOS</a> (7m Instagram followers), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teamrrq/?hl=en">RRQ</a> (4.8m Instagram followers), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onic.esports/?hl=en">ONIC</a> (1.8m Instagram followers), and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alteregoesports/?hl=en">Alter Ego</a> (939k Instagram followers).</p>
<iframe width="900" height="506" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4IeFlLDto20" title="Battle Of Guardians - IESF 14th World Esports Championships Bali 2022" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>In 2022, BOG was scouted by the National Federation of Indonesian Esports (PBESI) and invited to be part of the main lineup of games in the prestigious President’s Cup. They have also been invited to exhibit their game at the International Esports Federation World Esports Championship 2022, which brings together 106 countries yearly to compete and raise the profile of Esports globally.</p>
<p>The timing for BOG’s market entry cannot be more perfect. With the <a href="https://www.cekindo.com/blog/indonesia-gaming-market#:~:text=for%20greater%20returns.-,Government%20Support,-The%20Indonesian%20Government">Indonesian government’s current spearheading of initiatives to grow and support the nation’s Esports scene</a> coupled with the anticipated meteoric rise of Web3 gaming, the stage is set for BOG to make a grand entrance into the world of competitive gaming.</p>
<h2 id="about-the-game">About the Game</h2>
<p>In the world of Battle of Guardians, rich lore sets the stage for an epic clash of power between three powerful factions, Guardians, Humans, and Demons. Players can choose to represent one of these factions, with this choice affecting the gameplay mechanics.</p>
<p>Each race has unique attributes that define its strengths. Guardians are known for their high damage output. Humans are renowned for their intelligence, which translates into additional damage points when using combo moves. Demons are resilient and recognized for their robust health points.</p>
<p><img src="/images/battle-of-guardians-bringing-esports-to-the-blockchain-2.gif" alt="BOG 2"></p>
<p>These races are further divided into tiers, each offering a unique gaming experience:</p>
<ul>
<li>Elite Fighter: The basic tier with low rewards for each win.</li>
<li>Legendary Warrior: Characters equipped with special skills, offering moderate rewards for each victory.</li>
<li>God of War: Characters with a full set of special skills and an ultra skill, yielding high rewards for every triumph.</li>
</ul>
<p>This forms the basis of BOG’s clever approach that solves the problem of Web3 games gradually becoming Play2Win (P2W).</p>
<p>P2W is a model detested by gamers, where purchased assets give buyers a huge in-game advantage over higher-skilled players. P2W becomes a race of who can spend the most, taking the fun away from casual players.</p>
<p>BOG avoids this pitfall by implementing a system that ensures a level playing field for all players, regardless of how much they spend. This is achieved through a tier system, where players are matched with opponents of the same tier. For example, a player with a God of War character, the highest tier, will only face off against other God of War characters. Battles remain fair and competitive, and victory is determined by skill and strategy, not by the amount of money spent.</p>
<h2 id="how-are-nfts-and-tokens-used-in-the-game">How are NFTs and Tokens used in the game?</h2>
<p>The game operates with a dual token model, Battle of Guardians Share ($BGS) and Fighting Points ($FP), both of which have their unique uses.</p>
<ul>
<li>$BGS, the primary currency, is used for purchasing NFT characters, synthesizing NFTs, staking, and governance.</li>
<br>
<li>$FP, the secondary currency, is used for purchasing NFT characters, synthesizing NFTs, and entering tournament mode/bout.</li>
</ul>
<p>In BOG, players can purchase NFT characters in their initial NFT drop. These characters are sold in packs of three, categorized into Common, Rare, and Ultra Rare packs. Higher rarity packs have a chance to contain characters of higher tiers, such as Legendary Warrior or God of War. To participate in the NFT drop, players need to stake a certain amount of $BGS.</p>
<p>In order to ensure token stability, the BOG team has implemented several burning mechanisms. One example is NFT synthesis, where players can combine their NFT characters of the same kind and tier to obtain a character that is one tier higher. To perform a synthesis, players need to burn both $BGS and $FP.</p>
<p>BOG also features an official marketplace where players can exchange NFT characters (fighters) and in-game items, as well as rent their NFTs. This marketplace becomes a hub for players to exchange assets and interact with each other.</p>
<p>Through the NFT Renting program, owners can rent their NFT assets to skillful players who are eager to earn from the game. This creates a win-win solution where both parties can split the earnings. BOG’s scholarship program is built inside a smart contract. Guilds and scholars can determine a share agreement prior to leasing the NFT characters, and earnings will be split automatically.</p>
<h2 id="game-modes">Game Modes</h2>
<p>Players are offered a variety of game modes to suit their preferences and skill levels. Each mode provides a unique experience, ensuring that the game remains fresh and engaging.</p>
<h4 id="story-pve">Story (PvE)</h4>
<p>The story mode is a journey through the realms of Battle of Guardians. With 25 stages to conquer, players can practice and familiarize themselves with their NFT Characters’ skill moves and stats. As players progress, they’ll face CPU opponents that become increasingly challenging. Each victory in this mode rewards players with $FP, adding an extra incentive to the thrill of the fight.</p>
<h4 id="arena-pvp">Arena (PvP)</h4>
<p>Once players have honed their skills in the story mode, they can test their mettle against other players in the Arena. This 1v1 battle mode uses a random matchmaking system based on Matchmaking Rating (MMR), ensuring that players are paired with opponents of similar skill levels. Victories in the Arena reward players with a moderate amount of $FP, the amount of which depends on the player’s MMR.</p>
<h4 id="bout-pvp">Bout (PvP)</h4>
<p>For seasoned players seeking a higher level of competition, the Bout mode offers an exciting challenge. This mode requires an entrance fee paid in $FP, and players are matched in brackets of 8/16/32 for a single tournament, depending on the number of players in the queue. The competition continues until a player is knocked out or emerges as the victor, claiming the pool of $FP collected at the beginning of the tournament. In addition to this substantial reward, the winner also receives a certain amount of $BGS, making the Bout mode the most rewarding of all three.</p>
<h2 id="about-the-bog-team">About the BOG Team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/battle-of-guardians-bringing-esports-to-the-blockchain-3.jpg" alt="BOG Team"></p>
<p>At the helm of BOG is
<u>Orlando N. Nehemia</u>
, the founder of Miracle Gates Entertainment, a top-tier game development studio with more than 50 developed games for international clients under its belt. His extensive experience in the gaming industry is a driving force behind the innovative gameplay and immersive world of BOG.</p>
<p>The integration of blockchain is led by
<u>Anargya Simson</u>
, who has been involved in the space since 2017. Having reviewed multiple DeFi/GameFi projects, he understands the intricacies of integrating blockchain technology with gaming. As a passionate gamer of Axie Infinity, Anargya also brings a player’s perspective to the team along with his learnings and observations of Web3’s first smash-hit game’s journey.</p>
<p>Adding to the team’s prowess is
<u>Alexander Lim</u>
. Holding a degree in IT (Network Security), Alexander is not just a tech whiz but also an active gamer, streamer, and content creator, further enriching the team’s understanding of the gaming community.</p>
<p>The team is also guided by their outstanding advisor,
<u>Wilsen T</u>
, the co-founder of <a href="https://twitter.com/goodgamesguild?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Good Games Guild</a>. Highly passionate about Web3 gaming and involved since 2019, Wilsen currently manages NFT assets valued at over US$1 Million across various games.</p>
<p>The BOG team is also backed by experienced investors in the space, who have worked on projects ranging from DeFi and NFTs to infrastructure. Their strategic investors’ insights and expertise in the blockchain industry are invaluable to the project’s growth and success.</p>
<p><img src="/images/battle-of-guardians-bringing-esports-to-the-blockchain-4.jpg" alt="BOG Investors"></p>
<p>Moreover, BOG believes in the power of community to make a great game even better. They are currently collaborating with several community partners who have helped and will continue to help spread the word about Battle of Guardians.</p>
<p><img src="/images/battle-of-guardians-bringing-esports-to-the-blockchain-5.jpg" alt="BOG Partners"></p>
Walless: The Web3 Wallet Igniting a New Era of Brand Engagement
<h2 id="introducing-walless-the-wallet-redefining-the-web3-experience-empowering-projects-with-dizzying-levels-of-customization-brand-identity-and-interactive-widgets-walless-transforms-mere-storage-spaces-into-powerful-tools-that-offer-a-unique-brand-touchpoint-with-every-interaction">Introducing Walless, the wallet redefining the Web3 experience. Empowering projects with dizzying levels of customization; brand identity; and interactive widgets, Walless transforms mere storage spaces into powerful tools that offer a unique brand touchpoint with every interaction.</h2>
<p>If this was just another article about a Web3 wallet, we might begin with the cliché: <em>“Walless is a Web3 wallet with an exceptional User Interface…”</em></p>
<p>But let’s be real - you’ve seen that line so many times it lost its impact. Every Web3 wallet touts its superior UI, but what does that really mean?</p>
<p>With wallets, a good UI is primarily about providing a seamless browsing experience, ensuring users aren’t so frustrated that they abandon the dApp altogether. But that’s where it ends. After all, nobody really opens them to enjoy the sleek UI - wallets are merely a necessary and additional layer in the Web3 user experience, and having a UI that doesn’t annoy users is as good as it gets.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
But what if a wallet could be more than just a wallet? What if it could become a powerful tool for customer engagement, creating a new channel of communication between projects and users?
</blockquote>
<p>Think about it. Wallets are such a critical component of Web3 - at a <em>minimum</em>, they form a quarter of the Web3 user experience alongside Twitter, Discord, and Telegram. But in truth, projects can do without any of the other platforms - but a wallet is indispensable in Web3.</p>
<p>A future where projects and brands can leverage the frequency of wallet interactions is dawning on us, and it’s being led by Walless.</p>
<h2 id="walless-a-new-approach-to-web3-wallets">Walless: A New Approach to Web3 Wallets</h2>
<p>Walless is not your average Web3 wallet.</p>
<p>It offers a Discord-style layout, where users can switch between tabs specific to each project. Projects enjoy a high level of customizability on their tab, creating a unique visual identity and the ability to implement interactive widgets like daily mini-games.</p>
<p>Users can also personalize their Web3 wallet, much like they can with physical wallets. Similar to how they can customize their iPhone or Android homepages, they can drag and drop different widgets to tailor their experience to how they personally like it.</p>
<iframe width="900" height="506" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oLXZMz38mEE" title="Walless Tezos demo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Walless is fun, quirky, and fresh for users - but this belies the <em>monstrous</em> value proposition that their features offer to their actual paying clients, Web3 dApps.</p>
<p>It unifies the fragmented consumer Web3 journey, turning wallets into a one-stop shop for full consumer experiences and engagement.</p>
<h2 id="unlocking-visual-identity-and-visibility-for-web3-projects">Unlocking Visual Identity and Visibility for Web3 Projects</h2>
<p>In traditional Web3 wallets, projects face a visibility problem - their tokens are constantly being buried under others, especially with the prevalence of spam tokens.</p>
<p>Projects don’t have a way to stand out, with means of control limited to the name of their token and a small token icon. That’s not very powerful.</p>
<p>In a world where attention is the most valuable currency, the ability to stand out from the crowd can make all the difference. Take for example Nike’s iconic orange shoeboxes; Apple’s instantly-recognizable clean and sophisticated design; and Coca-Cola’s signature red script.</p>
<p>Just as the most successful brands in the world have leveraged visual identity to create a lasting impression in the minds of consumers,
<u>so too can Web3 projects use Walless to carve out a unique space in the crowded digital landscape</u>
.</p>
<p>With Walless, projects enjoy their own specific tab, where they can customize everything on their page - from splashing their name across a header banner to setting the background with their visuals and having the page’s themed as their signature colors.</p>
<img alt="Walless" src="/images/walless-the-web3-wallet-igniting-a-new-era-of-brand-engagement-1.png" class="small-pict">
<p>Wallets are transformed from mere asset storage spaces to dynamic platforms for brand expression and user engagement. The Web3 experience is redefined - every wallet interaction can now be a unique brand touchpoint.</p>
<p>In essence, Walless not only unlocks visual identity for Web3 projects, it’s unlocking a new era of brand building in the digital world.</p>
<h2 id="empowering-non-developers-to-build-interactive-widgets">Empowering Non-Developers To Build Interactive Widgets</h2>
<p>Walless offers a sandbox tool that allows anyone to build customized widgets. It requires no coding competency, allowing the non-technical side of project teams like Community or Marketing to build project-specific widgets. This is also available to the end-users themselves who want to tailor their experience.</p>
<p><img src="/images/walless-the-web3-wallet-igniting-a-new-era-of-brand-engagement-2.png" alt="Empowering Non-Developers"></p>
<h5 id="try-out-walless-no-code-custom-design-tool-at"><em>Try out Walless’ no-code custom design tool at <a href="https://walless.io/">walless.io</a> now</em></h5>
<p>Consider the success of e-commerce giants like Taobao, Lazada, and Shopee. They’ve harnessed the power of interactive mini-games, incentivizing daily check-ins with rewards and vouchers. This strategy has proven so effective that <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/singapores-shopee-changes-game-brazils-e-commerce-sector-2021-08-30/">Shopee has claimed the top spot in Brazil’s e-commerce market, largely thanks to their engaging mini-games.</a></p>
<p>Walless is already bringing this interactive approach to the Web3 space, collaborating with a client to integrate a daily mini-game that rewards users with daily tokens. This game isn’t just confined to the project’s individual tab - users can also add it to their personal home page.</p>
<p>But the possibilities for widgets on Walless extend far beyond games. It could be a live feed of project updates or tweets, a tool for staking rewards, or asset bridging.</p>
<p>And the best part? These user-created widgets can be added to a community library, alongside official widgets developed by the Walless team. This means that anyone - from the non-technical members of project teams to the end-users themselves - can contribute to the evolution of the Walless experience.</p>
<h4 id="the-implication-of-this-feature-is-that-walless-has-the-capability-to-evolve-and-beat-every-other-wallet-at-its-own-game">The implication of this feature is that Walless has the capability to evolve and beat every other wallet at its own game.</h4>
<p>This sandbox tool is community-driven, permissionless, and open-sourced. This means that users, inspired by useful widgets, can build their own version. Over time, these widgets will be refined and enhanced through a continuous process of iteration.</p>
<p>The potential for growth is exponential, especially if users are allowed to monetize their widgets and further fuel innovation - a possibility that the Walless team is currently exploring, which could also open up a new revenue stream</p>
<p>What if another wallet specializes in NFT bridging? That’s not an issue for Walless. Its users may have already developed a highly efficient widget for that purpose, honed to perfection through numerous iterations.</p>
<p>In essence, Walless is poised to dominate across any niche. It’s much more than a wallet; it’s a platform that empowers its users to innovate, create, and shape the future of the Web3 experience.</p>
<p><blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“Walless has chosen to build on the Tezos blockchain because it aligns perfectly with our vision of powering the Web3 revolution.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Tezos is designed to be at the forefront of the future internet, with user participation and governance at its core. Similarly, Walless aims to create a user-centric wallet where individuals can directly interact with each other and various applications on a decentralized network, without relying on intermediaries.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
By integrating with Tezos, we enable users to be part of a truly user-governed and user-centric movement, allowing them to generate their own content and contribute to the wallet's functionality through user-generated content. Together, Tezos and Walless empower individuals to actively participate and shape the Web3 landscape.”
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
- Giang Dang, Co-Founder & CEO of Walless
</blockquote></p>
<h2 id="security-a-top-priority">Security: A Top Priority</h2>
<p>Walless doesn’t require a seed phrase from users. Instead, it maintains security by implementing a Multiple Threshold Key (MPC). When users log in with their social credentials, Walless automatically creates private keys and wallet accounts across supported networks.</p>
<p>Walless fully complies with Web3Auth’s best practices and has fully customized implementation using Core Kit for the best user experience and security.</p>
<h2 id="meet-the-walless-team">Meet the Walless Team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/walless-the-web3-wallet-igniting-a-new-era-of-brand-engagement-3.jpg" alt="Walless Team"></p>
<p>The group of driven professionals that form the Walless team have known each other for almost four years, working together at an IoT startup before deciding to embark on this journey together.</p>
<h4 id="co-founders">Co-Founders:</h4>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cloudle/">Son Le</a>, Co-Founder & CTO, is a seasoned full-stack developer with 15 years in the software industry. A two-time founder, he previously worked at Sky Mavis and co-built the Ronin Wallet. A staunch supporter of open source, Son is responsible for the architecture and design of the Walless system.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://github.com/cloudle">github.com/cloudle</a> / <a href="https://github.com/fluctlight-kayaba">github.com/fluctlight-kayaba</a></em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/giangdang0115/">Giang Dang</a>, Co-Founder & CEO, brings over eight years of experience in Marketing Communications, Client and Product Strategy, and UX development. She has spent four years as an early core team member in tech startups. Her second venture as a founder, Giang is the driving force behind Walless’s user growth and product strategy.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/linh-pham-ptdl/">Linh Pham</a>, Co-Founder & Product Owner, has over seven years of experience in QC & Project Management, specializing in manual testing for various game and tech products. She ensures that Walless delivers a top-notch product to its users.</p>
<h4 id="early-core-members">Early Core Members:</h4>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-ngoc-396440185/">Luc Hai Ngoc</a>, UX/UI Designer: Walless is blessed with Ngoc’s talent for design, honed over eight years of experience working on multiple mobile apps, SaaS, web-based products, and websites.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.behance.net/lhngoc115">behance.net/lhngoc115</a></em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuan-tran-fme849/">Tuan Tran</a>, Fullstack Developer: Tuan is a full-stack engineer and blockchain developer. He is in charge of all website, NFT, and marketplace development for Walless.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://github.com/FME849">github.com/FME849</a></em></p>
<p>Tan Le, Full Stack Developer: Tan brings his expertise in full-stack development to the team, contributing to the robust and efficient functioning of the Walless platform.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://github.com/tanlethanh">github.com/tanlethanh</a></em></p>
<p>Hieu Nguyen, Front-end Developer: Hieu ensures that the Walless platform is not only functional but also visually appealing and user-friendly.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://github.com/dev-tronghieu">github.com/dev-tronghieu</a></em></p>
<p>Thu Le, Front-end Developer: Thu works alongside Hieu to deliver a seamless and engaging user experience on the Walless platform.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://github.com/ltminhthu">github.com/ltminhthu</a></em></p>
<p>Thong Tran, Growth and Community Manager: Thong has worked as a Marketing & Community Manager for various Web3 projects and Web2 tech startups, and is responsible for growing the Walless community and fostering engagement among its users.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://twitter.com/thongqtran">twitter.com/thongqtran</a></em></p>
Zenith: Opening Up A New DeFi Market in the Tezos Ecosystem
<h2 id="zenith-is-introducing-perpetual-futures-to-the-tezos-ecosystem--a-massively-popular-financial-instrument-that-contributes-90-of-tvl-across-all--defi-derivatives-with-plans-to-integrate-projects-native-to-tezos-zenith-is-set-to-supercharge-the-ecosystem">Zenith is introducing perpetual futures to the Tezos ecosystem- a massively popular financial instrument that contributes 90% of TVL across all DeFi derivatives. With plans to integrate projects native to Tezos, Zenith is set to supercharge the ecosystem.</h2>
<p>Perpetual futures are a financial instrument found only in the vibrant world of cryptocurrencies. Known for its flexibility and potential for high returns, it’s been rapidly gaining popularity amongst sophisticated traders - with no sign of slowing down.</p>
<p>Currently, the most widely traded derivative in cryptocurrency markets is by far perpetual futures. Contributing <a href="https://crypto.com/research/overview-decentralised-derivatives#:~:text=Data%20shows%20that%20perpetuals%20are%20the%20main%20derivatives%20product%20in%20DeFi%2C%20contributing%2090%25%20of%20TVL%20of%20decentralised%20derivatives.">90% of the Total Volume Locked across in decentralized derivatives</a>, the flexibility and potential for high returns that perpetual futures offer make them popular amongst traders.</p>
<p>Zenith is a DeFi protocol introducing perpetual futures to the Tezos ecosystem, a market ripe with potential. Now, traders within the Tezos ecosystem have a new way of maximizing their leverage and potentially enhancing their returns.</p>
<p>A new era of DeFi opportunity is on the horizon, and it’s a dawn that promises to be bright.</p>
<h2 id="what-are-perpetual-futures">What are Perpetual Futures?</h2>
<p>In essence, perpetual futures (also known as perps) are futures contracts that have no expiration date.</p>
<h4 id="lets-begin-with-a-quick-run-down-on-futures">Let’s begin with a quick run-down on futures.</h4>
<p>Futures are like a bet between two parties on the future price of an asset or commodity, which takes the form of an agreement to buy or sell this particular asset or commodity at a fixed price in the future.</p>
<p>Here’s a very simplified example of how futures work:</p>
<ul>
<li>Joe thinks the price of 1 Singapore Dollar will rise from its current price of US$0.74 to $1 in a month.</li>
<br>
<li>Peter disagrees and thinks that the Singapore Dollar price will fall to US$0.50 in a month.</li>
<br>
<li>So, they agree on a futures contract where Joe will buy 1 Singapore Dollar from Peter at US$0.76 in a month’s time. This contract is standardized and traded on a regulated exchange.</li>
</ul>
<p>In a month’s time, when the contract is settled - If the price rises above $0.76, Joe takes a profit. If it falls below $0.76, Peter takes a profit.</p>
<p>Crypto futures operate on the same principle.</p>
<p>If Joe and Peter were trading tez futures on a crypto exchange, they wouldn’t be dealing directly with each other.</p>
<p>Instead, they’d interact with a liquidity pool, a pool of funds locked in a smart contract. This pool is there to ensure there’s enough liquidity for the trades to happen smoothly and is filled by liquidity providers (LPs) who earn fees for providing this service.</p>
<p>In this scenario, Joe and Peter are placing their bets in relation to the liquidity pool. However, their profits or losses come from the other traders, not the liquidity pool.</p>
<h2 id="perpetual-futures-have-no-expiry-date">Perpetual Futures have no expiry date</h2>
<p>With traditional futures, the concept of an expiry date is a fundamental one. It’s the date when the futures contract must be settled, and the agreed-upon transaction takes place.</p>
<p>Perpetual futures, as the name suggests, are futures contracts that have no expiry date. This means traders can hold their positions indefinitely, allowing them to take advantage of long-term market trends without the need to constantly monitor and renew their contracts.</p>
<p>With a tez futures contract, Joe and Peter (from our earlier example) would need to settle their bet after a month, regardless of whether they believe the price of tez will continue to rise or fall.</p>
<p>On the other hand, with a perpetual futures contract…</p>
<ul>
<li>Joe could hold onto his position if he believes the price will continue to rise, potentially increasing his profits.</li>
<br>
<li>Similarly, Peter could maintain his position if he believes the price will continue to fall, giving him the chance to recover his losses or even make a profit.</li>
</ul>
<p>Of course, Joe and Peter would need to have enough funds in their account to meet margin requirements. On top of the initial margin they needed to open their position, they also need sufficient maintenance margin, which fluctuates accordingly with changes in the market price.</p>
<p>This flexibility is one of the main advantages of perpetual futures, particularly beneficial in the dynamic world of cryptocurrency trading. It allows traders to adapt to market changes and adjust their strategies on the fly, without being constrained by an expiry date.</p>
<h2 id="zenith-is-bringing-this-goodness-natively-to-the-tezos-ecosystem">Zenith is bringing this goodness natively to the Tezos ecosystem</h2>
<p><img src="/images/zenith-opening-up-a-new-defi-market-in-the-tezos-ecosystem-1.jpg" alt="Zenith Team"></p>
<p>As the first platform bringing perpetual futures trading natively to the Tezos chain, Zenith stands to be a catalyst for growth within the ecosystem, connecting and increasing liquidity for Tezos-native projects.</p>
<p>Built on the Tezos blockchain, Zenith brings the advantage of low gas fees to its users - a significant edge over platforms with high gas fees, in a market where cost efficiency can make all the difference.</p>
<p>Zenith is also actively fostering growth within the Tezos ecosystem - we can look forward to Zenith supporting tokens of native projects like Dogami and Plenty, as well as future established partnerships with other projects built on Tezos. Members of the Tezos ecosystem can enjoy better integration with their existing Tezos-based assets and wallets, making for a smoother and more seamless user experience.</p>
<p>The demand for Zenith’s offerings has been validated by their successful launch on the Tezos testnet, where between 1000-2000 people expressed interest, and 400 - 500 people tested and submitted feedback. This is a testament to the platform’s potential and the excitement it has generated within the community.</p>
<h4 id="zenith-uses-virtual-market-makers-vmms">Zenith uses Virtual Market Makers (VMMs)</h4>
<p>Most DeFi platforms use Automated Market Makers (AMMs), smart contract platforms which replace traditional order books. They enable the performance of token swaps using liquidity from liquidity providers.</p>
<p>Zenith uses a more advanced version, Virtual Market Makers (VMMs), instead. This means that users require less capital, made possible by VMMs’ use of virtual pools which require no actual assets to create pools.</p>
<p>Beginners can start their journey with a minimum trade amount of $1, which cannot be done on centralized exchanges and many other platforms. For those hesitant to jump into DeFi headfirst, this allows them to dip their toes into a potential world of trading possibilities.</p>
<p>Another exciting feature made possible by VMMs is periodic profit distributions, where Zenith users can also benefit from profits distributed every hour.</p>
<h4 id="zeniths-supported-pairs">Zenith’s supported pairs</h4>
<p>Zenith currently offers the XTZ-USD pair, with plans to introduce the ETH-USD pair and the BTC-USD pair upon mainnet launch. Looking forward, they aim to extend their protocol to launch stocks, commodities, and Forex.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s also incredibly exciting that Zenith will be listing the tokens of Tezos-built projects!</p>
<h4 id="gamification">Gamification</h4>
<p>A gamification layer to trading is added with Zenith’s leaderboard that keeps track of the profit and loss of all users. Every week, the top users get newly minted $ZNTH tokens. This leaderboard resets every week, adding an element of excitement and competition to the trading experience.</p>
<h4 id="znth">$ZNTH</h4>
<p>The initial supply will be 10,000,000 $ZNTH, with the allocation detailed in the <a href="https://zenith.payperfi.com/whitepaper.pdf">whitepaper</a>.</p>
<p>$ZNTH is designed to be deflationary - new tokens will only be minted for weekly reward distributions, and distributions will decrease gradually as the supply increases. More burning mechanisms will be implemented in the future to maintain this deflationary nature.</p>
<h2 id="about-the-zenith-team">About the Zenith Team</h2>
<p>The Zenith team is led by two passionate and experienced individuals who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table.</p>
<p>Sanket, an Information Technology graduate, has a rich background in blockchain projects. He has lent his expertise to projects like Lords of the Lands and Game Geeks, demonstrating his proficiency in blockchain development languages such as Smartpy, Ligo, and Solidity. His close work with the Tezos India team as a Bootcamp and Hackathon mentor further underscores his deep understanding of the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>Dhiraj Sonawale brings a different but equally important set of skills to the team. As a DeFi enthusiast with over five years of experience in trading Futures and options in Crypto, Indian, and forex markets, Dhiraj’s insights into the world of trading are invaluable. His experience and understanding of market dynamics play a crucial role in shaping Zenith’s offerings.</p>
<p>Together, Sanket and Dhiraj form a formidable team, driving Zenith’s mission to bring perpetual futures trading to the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
Tanhaji: From Indian Historical Icon to Web3 Gaming Sensation
<h2 id="experience-the-captivating-journey-of-tanhaji-a-web3-game-immersing-players-in-a-world-of-cultural-significance-and-national-pride-with-remarkable-success-in-web2-tanhaji-is-carving-its-path-to-digital-glory-by-integrating-web3-elements-such-as-tokens-and-nfts-into-immersive-gameplay-to-redefine-the-gaming-experience">Experience the captivating journey of Tanhaji, a Web3 game immersing players in a world of cultural significance and national pride. With remarkable success in Web2, Tanhaji is carving its path to digital glory by integrating Web3 elements such as tokens and NFTs into immersive gameplay to redefine the gaming experience.</h2>
<p>In the ever-evolving realm of Web3 gaming, where pixels and code intertwine to create immersive experiences, a new player emerges with a story worth telling.</p>
<p>Tanhaji draws inspiration from a cultural masterpiece, the eponymous movie of the same name which tells the tale of the legendary Tanhaji Malusare, a valiant warrior who epitomized the indomitable spirit of the Maratha empire.</p>
<p>Paying homage to the monumental tale, the game aims to deliver an experience that resonates with the hearts and minds of players, fueled by cultural significance and a deep sense of national pride. Tanhaji seamlessly transports players back to the 17th century, allowing them to step into the shoes of the valiant warrior and embark on an epic journey that resonates deeply with Indian gamers.</p>
<iframe width="900" height="506" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YGzh4VHhda8" title="New cinematic promo of Tanhaji Game with subtitles | Gad ala pn Sinh gela" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>With a solid foundation as a successful Web2 game, Tanhaji now embarks on a remarkable journey into the realm of Web3, carving its path to digital glory. With a multitude of downloads, resounding positive feedback, and a devoted fanbase, this Indian gem has proven its mettle.</p>
<p>However, Tanhaji is not content with mere success; it is driven by a vision that transcends its own achievements. The team behind Tanhaji envisions a vibrant Indian Web3 ecosystem, one that is ripe with opportunities for growth and innovation. They recognize the immense potential that lies within the Indian gaming landscape, and they strive to contribute to the development of the Indian Web3 space.</p>
<p>Together, let us witness the rise of Tanhaji as it spearheads the charge into the captivating world of Web3 gaming, proudly carrying the torch of Indian excellence.</p>
<h2 id="the-success-of-tanhaji-in-web2">The Success of Tanhaji in Web2</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tanhaji-from-indian-historical-icon-to-web3-gaming-sensation-1.jpg" alt="Tanhaji Banner"></p>
<p>Upon its release, Tanhaji took the gaming world by storm, captivating players and amassing an ardent fanbase.</p>
<p>With over 110,000 downloads on Android, iOS, and Steam, Tanhaji has truly left an indelible mark on the Web2 gaming landscape. The game’s appeal is evident in its Day 1 Retention rate of 30%, a testament to its ability to keep players engaged and immersed in its captivating world.</p>
<p>With an average playtime exceeding 35 minutes, Tanhaji has effortlessly captured the attention and devotion of gamers, providing them with an exceptional gameplay experience.</p>
<p>But numbers alone cannot fully capture the extent of Tanhaji’s triumphs. Tanhaji’s dedicated fanbase has amplified its presence through over 100 live streams on YouTube. These passionate fans have become ambassadors for the game, spreading the word and showcasing their love for Tanhaji to audiences around the world.</p>
<p>The game has also amassed an impressive array of notable achievements. From establishing a collaboration with Dolby to securing marketing support from esteemed OEMs like Samsung and Xiaomi, the team is working hard to further enhance its reach and visibility.</p>
<p>Tanhaji’s commitment to promoting Indian games and its innovative approach have garnered recognition and support. The game has been selected by MyGov’s initiative to showcase and celebrate Indian gaming achievements. It has also received the esteemed title of “Best Gaming Startup of the Year” at the Times Now Leaders of Tomorrow awards and conclave.</p>
<iframe width="900" height="506" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gm5sM2iOL9Y" title="Awarded Best Gaming Startup Of The Year 2021 || Leaders Of Tomorrow Season 9" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Additionally, Tanhaji’s contributions to the gaming landscape have been acknowledged by <a href="https://twitter.com/vaib_mahajan/status/1459442576302301185">the Indian Game Developers Conference (IGDC), nominating it as one of the “Best Studio Games of the Year.”</a> It has also earned the <a href="https://www.animationxpress.com/games/here-are-the-winners-of-the-first-edition-of-gem-awards/#:~:text=Best%20Score/Music%3A%20AbracaDabra%20Software%20Solutions%20for%20Tanhaji%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Maratha%20Warrior%20and%20Frostwood%20Interactive%20for%20Forgotten%20Fields">“Best Gaming Score of the Year” accolade from Animation Express</a>, solidifying its position as an industry trailblazer.</p>
<p>Tanhaji’s remarkable journey has garnered media attention across various platforms. The game has been featured on ET Now Channel, hailed as the leading Indian gaming startup. Television channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG9UFlbjwZU&ab_channel=AbracaDabraSoftwareSolutions">ABP Maza extensively covered Tanhaji’s innovative contributions to the gaming industry</a>, while several radio channels, including <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Ftanhaji.in%2F&source_ve_path=MTM5MTE3LDI4NjY0LDE2NDUwMw&feature=emb_share&v=PRpuY4Ldjrg">Radio Mirchi</a>, Red FM, Radio City, and India FM, have shared its story with audiences across Maharashtra. Newspapers such as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQGV7WBhvdw&ab_channel=AbracaDabraSoftwareSolutions">Sakal, Divya Marathi, Deshdoot, Loknama, and Lokmat</a> have extensively covered Tanhaji’s achievements, spreading its influence throughout Maharashtra and beyond.</p>
<p>With more than 1150 satisfied customers leaving positive comments and ratings exceeding 4.2 on Google Play, Tanhaji has earned the loyalty and adoration of its player community.</p>
<h3 id="moving-into-web3">Moving into Web3</h3>
<p>The Tanhaji team sees the opportunity to pioneer the integration of Web3 into the gaming experience, offering players a new level of ownership, engagement, and rewards.</p>
<p>In the words of CEO Vaibhav Mahajan, <em>“Web3 represents a paradigm shift in gaming, empowering players with true ownership of in-game assets and fostering a sense of community and collaboration.”</em></p>
<p>As such, they aspire to redefine the gaming experience with the principles of decentralization, trust, and transparency. Vaibhav shares with us his belief that <em>“Web3 has the potential to revolutionize the Indian gaming industry, providing opportunities for players to participate in the creation and governance of virtual worlds while unlocking new avenues for monetization.”</em></p>
<p>At the same time, the team acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead as Web3 entrepreneurs in India. Regulatory uncertainty, adoption and awareness, infrastructure limitations, skill gaps, and access to funding are some of the hurdles they anticipate. However, they remain undeterred, viewing these challenges as opportunities for growth and innovation.</p>
<p>But challenges and setbacks do not faze the Tanhaji team. Reflecting on the journey of Tanhaji, Vaibhav Mahajan shares:</p>
<p><em>“The project faced significant challenges when the pandemic struck, and we found ourselves confined to our homes. This unexpected hurdle hindered our communication and prolonged the process of refining and releasing the game.</em></p>
<p><em>However, we persevered, recognizing the importance of timing, especially with festivals associated with the great warrior Tanhaji and the esteemed Shivaji Maharaj.</em></p>
<p><em>Drawing from our experience of developing 25 other games, our team possesses the fundamental skills to swiftly pivot and adapt. We embrace the spirit of agility, enabling us to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities in the dynamic gaming industry.”</em></p>
<p>These setbacks only strengthened the team’s resolve to venture into Web3, where they see immense potential for innovation and growth.</p>
<p><blockquote class="blockquote-text">
"One of the key reasons we chose to build on Tezos is its popularity and appeal within the Indian community. Tezos has gained significant traction in India, and we’re tapping into a tech-savvy and passionate community.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Joining the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator has empowered us to realize our vision and overcome the unique challenges of integrating Web3 into our game. The expert advice on tokenomics we received has enabled us to design a compelling in-game economy that enhances player engagement and rewards.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Their workshops, training programs, and educational resources have equipped us with the knowledge and tools to continuously innovate and refine our game, ensuring we deliver a cutting-edge gaming experience.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
By choosing TTI and harnessing the power of Tezos, we are confident that we have found the ideal platform and support system to propel Tanhaji into the Web3 gaming space."
</blockquote></p>
<h4 id="how-are-they-integrating-web3">How are they integrating Web3?</h4>
<p>Tanhaji embraces the potential of Web3 by integrating various Web3 elements into its gameplay, creating an immersive experience that leverages blockchain technology, tokens, and NFTs.</p>
<p>Central to the in-game economy of Tanhaji is the Muhar token, the core currency used for transactions within the game. Players can acquire Muhar tokens by purchasing Tezos XTZ tokens and converting them into Muhars. With 1 XTZ token equivalent to 1 Shivrai or 1000 Muhars, players can utilize these tokens to purchase items, upgrade weapons, and more.</p>
<p>To enhance gameplay, Tanhaji introduces the concept of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Players can acquire NFTs representing different weapons and armor, each with unique attributes and capabilities. For instance, the Sword NFT, obtained from the marketplace, serves as the starting weapon with minimal damage power. By upgrading the sword using Muhar tokens or in-game Shivrai, players can increase their damage power by 5%. Similar NFTs such as Axe, Spear, Armor, and Helmet provide players with specialized abilities and protection.</p>
<p>As players progress through the game, they have the opportunity to earn special NFTs called ShivTez. These unique NFTs are rewarded upon completing specific levels, with bronze, silver, gold, and platinum variants available. Owning a ShivTez NFT grants players additional lives, supplementing the daily 5 lives provided. The higher the level of the ShivTez NFT, the more extra lives players receive. To mint a higher-level ShivTez NFT, players must burn the previously minted ShivTez NFT.</p>
<p>In addition to the immersive gameplay elements, Tanhaji incorporates in-app purchases using Muhar tokens or Shivrai. Players can use these currencies to acquire special attacks and potions, access an ad-free gaming experience, unlock emotes, and more. By offering a range of in-app purchases, Tanhaji provides players with options to enhance their gameplay and customize their experience.</p>
<p>Tanhaji’s integration of Web3 elements also extends to rewarding players for their achievements and engagement. Players earn Muhar tokens through various activities, including killing enemies, completing levels and maps, and even watching ads within the game. These rewards incentivize players to actively participate and progress in the game, while also providing them with a tangible and valuable in-game asset.</p>
<p>By integrating Muhar tokens, NFTs, and various in-game rewards, Tanhaji creates an engaging and rewarding gameplay experience that leverages the potential of Web3 technologies. Players have the opportunity to own unique assets, participate in the in-game economy, and unlock additional benefits through the acquisition of NFTs and in-app purchases.</p>
Gart: Transforming the Generative Art Market With Killer Features
<h2 id="gart-is-pioneering-a-new-era-of-generative-art-nfts-where-art-and-technology-intersect-with-its-innovative-features-like-automated-trading-bots-and-market-intelligence-features-gart-is-not-just-a-platform---its-a-revolutionary-force-in-the-world-of-generative-art-discover-how-this-groundbreaking-venture-is-enabling-an-explosion-of-popularity-of-generative-art-nfts">Gart is pioneering a new era of generative art NFTs, where art and technology intersect. With its innovative features like automated trading bots and market intelligence features, Gart is not just a platform - it’s a revolutionary force in the world of generative art. Discover how this groundbreaking venture is enabling an explosion of popularity of generative art NFTs.</h2>
<p>Art, as we know it, is evolving. The advent of A.I. tools like Midjourney and DALL-E has sparked a fascinating conversation - can the output of these tools be considered art?</p>
<p>A compelling answer lies in the form of <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/man-and-machine-generative-art-featuring-radarboy3000/">generative art</a>, a form of artistry where the final product is determined by a system or set of rules, often an algorithm, that offers a compelling answer. The beauty of generative art lies not just in the end product, but in the process — the rules, systems, and algorithms that breathe life into the artwork. It’s a testament to the powerful synergy between human creativity and technological innovation.</p>
<p>While generative art has recently been brought to the limelight by A.I. generators, not many are aware of its rich history. One of the earliest examples dates back to 1972, when Mozart created a musical game where dice rolls decided which fragments of music would be used to complete a piece.</p>
<p>Fast forward to today, and generative art has found a perfect home in the world of blockchain and NFTs. Leading the charge is the Tezos ecosystem, which has cultivated a vibrant community of artists and collectors.</p>
<p>The Tezos blockchain makes generative art more accessible with its low transaction fees and energy-efficient technology. Showcases of generative artwork created on Tezos have featured at globally prominent events like Art Basel and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/crypto-art-week-2022-a-celebration-of-asian-artistic-culture/">Crypto Art Week Asia</a>. This active support and passionate community have fostered a thriving generative art scene within the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another action-packed day here at the <a href="https://twitter.com/tezos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tezos</a> exhibition at <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtBasel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@artbasel</a> Hong Kong! Visitors are purring about the newly-minted NFTs.<br><br>We're going to be here till 6pm tomorrow, so don't miss the chance to mint one of these breathtaking NFTs! <a href="https://t.co/KdvHb4JyyW">pic.twitter.com/KdvHb4JyyW</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1530446498483187712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>The potential of the generative art market is immense. As more artists and collectors discover the unique allure of these algorithmically created works, the market is set to expand.</p>
<p>However, it’s not without its growing pains. Admittedly, the current landscape is fragmented across marketplaces, the user experience could use some polish, and liquidity can always be improved. But where some see challenges, others see opportunity.</p>
<p>This is where Gart steps in - a specialized NFT aggregator designed specifically for the generative art market; a solution that understands the unique needs and challenges of this market and is built to address them head-on.</p>
<h2 id="about-gart">About Gart</h2>
<p>Gart isn’t just about providing information; it’s about making that information accessible and easy to understand. It offers comprehensive intelligence on major NFT projects, and provides email alerts when transactions or updates happen for projects users are interested in.</p>
<p>This process is taken a step further, with another of Gart’s killer features - a bot that automates the minting and trading process. Users can set their own mint and trade strategies, and carry on about their day (or night) while Gart takes care of the rest.</p>
<p>Of course, access to these incredibly powerful tools have to be limited to avoid distilling the value it provides to users. Access will be limited to Gart’s Pass Holders, which can be rented out. This model offers a win-win relationship between holder and renter, and monetizes the high demand for Gart’s features.</p>
<p>Gart also introduces a token incentive system that rewards flippers who provide offers and list NFTs. This innovative approach encourages chain activity, boosting liquidity and creating more opportunities for artists and collectors.</p>
<p>Gart supports both the Tezos and Ethereum blockchains, bridging the gap between these two vibrant ecosystems. This dual support allows Gart to tap into a larger pool of artists and collectors, fostering a more diverse and dynamic market.</p>
<h2 id="garts-features">Gart’s Features</h2>
<h3 id="personal-homepage">Personal Homepage</h3>
<p>Users can access a personal homepage which displays all relevant information at a glance, including a breakdown of the user’s assets across marketplaces. Through accessing on-chain data, Gart can present the total value of the user’s assets.</p>
<p>Users can also track the revenue they have made in their generative art NFT journey so far - the user’s historical transaction records are taken into consideration alongside the total value of the user’s existing collection.</p>
<h3 id="never-miss-a-mint-again-with-gart">Never Miss A Mint Again With Gart</h3>
<h4 id="upcoming-mint-schedule-and-information">Upcoming Mint Schedule and Information</h4>
<p>Upcoming project mints will be displayed in a Mint List, along with detailed information such as the artist, remaining time, mint progress, and real-time recommended gas calculation. There is also a Twitter Popularity Index, which extracts data from the artist’s Twitter account to reflect overall user sentiment.</p>
<p>From this list, users can select the upcoming mints they’re interested in and add them to a personal Mint Schedule. Gart will display this in the user’s native time zone, and send an email reminder before the mint.</p>
<h4 id="mint-bot">Mint Bot</h4>
<p>Being aware of an ongoing mint is just the first step. After selecting a project they’re interested in minting, Gart’s bot will automatically mint for them. Using a Dutch Auction process, the bot will automatically calculate the most appropriate purchase price and gas. Users can set their own parameters like maximum auction and gas preferences, allowing them to define their own automated minting strategy.</p>
<h3 id="intelligent-secondary-market-trading-with-gart">Intelligent Secondary Market Trading With Gart</h3>
<p>Gart offers comprehensive intelligence on major NFT projects. Users can sort and filter these projects based on their preferences, including feature-based filtering which recommends generated works based on similar features.</p>
<p>The data displayed includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>Basic Information - project name, artist information (and Twitter and fxhash links), floor price, and transaction volume</li>
<li>Trend Graph and Transaction Timeline: This displays information like transaction prices and times, allowing the user to hover over any point in time and receive transaction information.</li>
<li>Listings and Offers - Which reflects the market depth of that project</li>
<li>Latest Transactions - Information on the images, transaction price, buyers and sellers</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="secondary-market-alerts">Secondary Market Alerts</h4>
<p>After setting alerts for projects they are interested in, users can receive email notifications like:</p>
<ul>
<li>Transaction Alerts: When relevant transactions and offers are made.</li>
<br>
<li>Market Listing Alerts: Alerts will be sent when the latest listing or floor falls below the user-defined threshold, allowing users to quickly buy or sell their assets.</li>
<br>
<li>Item-Specific Alerts: Users can follow a specific item in the project and will receive alerts for listings, sales, or offers.</li>
<br>
<li>New Works by Artist Alerts: Users will be notified when the artist publishes new works.</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="automated-trading-on-the-secondary-market">Automated Trading On The Secondary Market</h4>
<p>For secondary market trading, users can set various parameters and Gart’s platform will execute these trades when these conditions are met.</p>
<p>Features include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Project Offers: Users can send offers for a certain project - on any individual works or the entire collection.</li>
<br>
<li>Invisible Offers: Where the offer is only known to the user, and the work will automatically be purchased if the floor or listing price of the project or work falls below the set value.</li>
<br>
<li>Bottom Price: When the floor price falls below the user-defined value, the NFT will automatically be purchased.</li>
<br>
<li>Batch Operations: Batch listing, batch offering, batch transfers, and other transactions can be automatically carried out. </li>
<br>
<li>Quick Sale: When a user possesses a work but wants to sell it quickly, they can use this feature. If the market experiences bulk offers and the price is higher than the lowest price set by the user, it will automatically be sold.</li>
</ul>
<p>Gart offers users the flexibility to choose between English and Dutch auction styles, as well as reserve and no-reserve auctions. This caters to a variety of trading strategies and preferences.</p>
<p>But it’s not just about providing options; it’s about enhancing them. Gart’s delegated trading feature can be applied to the auction section. If a work’s transaction price in an auction falls below the user’s set purchase delegation price, a bid will automatically be placed in the final stage.</p>
<p>It’s a smart, automated approach that takes the guesswork out of bidding and maximizes opportunities for users.</p>
<h2 id="garts-revenue-model">Gart’s Revenue Model</h2>
<h3 id="gart-pass">Gart Pass</h3>
<p>Gart offers three levels of access - Free, Premium, and Professional.</p>
<p>By purchasing the Premium Pass, Gart users can enjoy additional access to all secondary
market instruments.</p>
<p>The Professional Pass gives users additional access to all primary and secondary market instruments. Access to the Professional Pass is limited, and sold Dutch-Auction style.</p>
<h4 id="pass-leasing">Pass Leasing</h4>
<p>Given the incredible advantage that Gart’s Mint Bot offers (especially for massively popular projects), the number of users with access needs to be limited - hence why Gart is adopting a Dutch-Auction style limited edition phased release.</p>
<p>Only a small number of Professional Passes will be released for circulation in the market. This allows the first Professional Pass holders to generate returns from renting the Passes out, and generate market demand for the limited Passes available.</p>
<p>This model offers a method for hedging for Professional Pass holders. If a popular project is released in the market during the leasing period of the lessee, the renter can receive substantial returns, while the holder will receive stable returns but at a high opportunity cost.</p>
<p>Professional Pass holders can benefit even while not actively trading - leveraging the Pass’ demand from active traders. The Professional Passes can also be sold on the platform, enabling Gart to benefit from secondary market royalties.</p>
<h3 id="transaction-fees">Transaction Fees</h3>
<p>Gart’s offerings hold great potential for revenue earning - for example, their bots and Invisible Offers features. By charging fees as a small percentage of these transactions, Gart allows accessibility to all users while remaining profitable.</p>
<h3 id="advertising">Advertising</h3>
<p>Ultimately, Gart remains steadfast in their mission of being a bastion of the art world. By establishing partnerships with major art institutions, artists, and relevant investment institutions, Gart will play a part in promoting their generative art works and increasing their market value.</p>
<p>Their vision is to become an important promotion channel in the field of generative art, meeting the promotion needs of artists, while meeting their sustainable growth needs from receiving advertising revenue.</p>
<h2 id="meet-the-team">Meet the Team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/gart-transforming-the-generative-art-market-with-killer-features-1.jpg" alt="Gart Team"></p>
<p>At the helm of Gart is CEO <a href="http://linkedin.com/in/cicheng-jin-392203250">Cicheng Jin</a> - a visionary leader with a passion for innovation and a knack for venturing into uncharted territories.</p>
<p>Cicheng’s Web3 journey doesn’t just reflect his entrepreneurial spirit, but also reflects his artistic spirit. November 2022, he successfully launched his first generative art NFT project Hillhouse, on fxhash.</p>
<p>His artistic endeavors didn’t stop there. In April 2023, he collaborated with the Lambda network to create the Monogram project,the world’s first Web3 digital identity platform with generative art. Primary market sales have surpassed one million Lambda.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“I'm a person perpetually fascinated by novelty and unafraid to venture into unfamiliar territories. I won't cease my journey of exploration; I will continue to cultivate the frontiers of Web3 and financial investment.”
</blockquote>
<p>Cicheng holds a bachelor’s degree in Financial Engineering from China Jiliang University and is currently pursuing a master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Bristol.</p>
<p>Before immersing himself in the world of Web3, Cicheng spent years gaining valuable experience in the financial investment market. He interned at venture capital firms, private equity firms, and investment banks in China, honing his skills in finance, accounting, and investment practice. His financial acumen was further sharpened at the University of Bristol, where he served as a senior researcher at the Bristol Investment Fund’s crypto fund.</p>
<p>Cicheng’s journey of exploration is far from over. With his leadership, Gart is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of the Web3 space and financial investment.</p>
<p>Cicheng is supported at Gart by co-founders, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuhui-ruan-961606265/">Yuhui Ruan</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiujiang-chen-688900252/">Jiujiang Chen</a>.</p>
PiXl: The Web3 Game That Embodies The Spirit of The Tezos Ecosystem
<h2 id="this-game-is-all-about-collaboration-eco-friendliness-and-artistic-spirit---attributes-that-the-tezos-ecosystem-is-renowned-for-teaching-players-about-tezos-defi-and-featuring-artists-creating-on-tezos-pixl-is-a-joyride-that-brings-players-on-a-romping-journey-of-endless-possibilities">This game is all about collaboration, eco-friendliness, and artistic spirit - attributes that the Tezos ecosystem is renowned for. Teaching players about Tezos DeFi and featuring artists creating on Tezos, PiXL is a joyride that brings players on a romping journey of endless possibilities.</h2>
<p>In the vibrant world of Web3, the Tezos blockchain stands out as a shining beacon of innovation and sustainability.</p>
<p>With its eco-friendly Proof-of-Stake consensus algorithm, Tezos is a breath of fresh air in an industry often criticized for its environmental impact.</p>
<p>But the Tezos blockchain isn’t just about being green, it’s also about making your Web3 journey as smooth as a hot knife through butter. Negligible gas fees and seamless transactions/interactions make it a joy to use for developers and users alike.</p>
<p>When it comes to advanced DeFi capabilities, Tezos has been setting new rules for the game with features like Liquid Proof-of-Stake and delegated staking.</p>
<p>Let’s also not forget about the spirit of collaboration at the heart of the ecosystem. Thanks to its unique governance model, it’s a blockchain where everyone can contribute to.</p>
<p>It’s not just about what you can do, it’s about what we can do together. Collaboration, innovation, and sustainability - the very essence of the Tezos ecosystem’s philosophy is fully embodied by Pixl.</p>
<h2 id="pixl-a-startup-thats-not-just-riding-the-tezos-wave-but-harnessing-its-full-potential">PiXL, a startup that’s not just riding the Tezos wave, but harnessing its full potential</h2>
<p>Just like the self-amending Tezos blockchain, PiXL is a Web3 Role Playing Game that is designed to evolve and constantly change.</p>
<p><img src="/images/pixl-the-web3-game-that-embodies-the-spirit-of-the-tezos-ecosystem-1.png" alt="PiXL-1"></p>
<p>At the core of PiXL are five elements - the building blocks that make PiXL a standout player in the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<ol>
<li><u>Play-to-Earn:</u><br>Players can win items in the game and trade or sell them on markets like OBJKT. It's like a treasure hunt where treasures have real-world value, making the gaming experience not just fun, but financially rewarding</li>
<br>
<li><u>Teaches players about Tezos DeFi and technology:</u><br>PiXL is more than a game; it's a learning platform. By simulating the Tezos ecosystem using its own token, PiXLtez, the game introduces players to the world of blockchain finance. Concepts like voting and liquid-proof-of-stake (LPoS) are brought to life as players can earn PiXLtez, runf their own nodes, and become more powerful in the game. <br><br>It's a hands-on course in DeFi, wrapped in an engaging gaming experience.
</li>
<br>
<li><u>Frictionless:</u><br>PiXL is all about smooth sailing. By using an entry token and syncing the user's wallet, PiXL provides a frictionless gaming experience. And the best part? This is a read-only call, so there are no gas fees. When it comes to onboarding new users to the Tezos ecosystem, there really aren’t many better ways of doing so.</li>
<br>
<li><u>Environmentally Friendly:</u><br>PiXL aims to continue the good work that the Tezos ecosystem has been doing, nurturing a spirit of caring about our planet. <br><br>All elements of the game are designed to have a minimal environmental impact. The quests, enemies, and concepts in the game highlight the environmental impact of Proof-of-Work NFTs. In PiXL, the monsters aren't just in the game; they're the dirty NFTs contributing to environmental degradation.
</li>
<br>
<li><u>Collaborative:</u><br>PiXL features collaborations with artists in the community - their first collaboration will be with <a href="https://twitter.com/Sutuverse">Neonz</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/sutu_eats_flies">Sutu</a>.<br><br>Players can share their quests with others while maintaining ownership of the Quest NFT. It's a celebration of the spirit of collaboration at the center of the Tezos ecosystem. </li>
</ol>
<h2 id="pixls-gameplay">PiXL’s Gameplay</h2>
<p>PiXL is a joyride into the world of retro RPGs, packed with nostalgia and endless fun. Drawing stylistic influences from early Pokemon and Final Fantasy games, PiXL delivers a high dose of nostalgia, transporting players back to the golden era of gaming.</p>
<p>A fresh twist on the retro gaming experience is added by incorporating continuous updates in the randomized loot drops and quests. Every quest is a new adventure, and every loot drop is a surprise, making each playthrough a unique experience. New life is breathed into the limited replayability often associated with retro RPGs.</p>
<p>In PiXL, the fun never stops, and the game never gets old. It’s both a celebration of nostalgia and a testament to the endless possibilities of blockchain technology.</p>
<h3 id="quests">Quests</h3>
<p>Through Quests, PiXL offers journeys for players to embark on, each one a unique adventure. They’re engaging and challenging, keeping players hooked and coming back for more.</p>
<p>But there’s more to these quests than just gameplay. They’re a statement, a stand against the environmental impact of Proof-of-Work NFTs. The enemies in the game are dirty NFTs, a creative way of highlighting the environmental issues associated with traditional NFTs. This game isn’t just fun to play, it also carries a powerful message.</p>
<p>The concept of Self-Sovereign Identity is also emphasized - players can share these limited and rare quests with other players, by visiting the Self-Sovereign Identity Wizard. It’s a testament to the collaborative spirit of the Tezos ecosystem, where sharing and collaboration go hand in hand.</p>
<h3 id="items">Items</h3>
<p>In the realm of PiXL, items hold a special place. They are NFTs that players can earn, trade, or sell, adding an exciting dimension to the gameplay. These items can be won by completing quests or purchased from the in-game shop, the baker, using PiXLtez. When an item is acquired, it appears in the player’s wallet, ready to be used or traded.</p>
<p>Quest-related items are particularly rare, tied to the character featured in the quest, adding a layer of exclusivity. Other items, while less rare, still require PiXLtez for purchase, promoting active gameplay and learning about blockchain.</p>
<p>Each item enhances the player’s abilities in unique ways, making them valuable assets in the game.</p>
<h3 id="pixltez">PiXLtez</h3>
<p>PiXLtez is the lifeblood of PiXL. This in-game token mirrors the Tezos ecosystem, serving as a practical introduction to the world of DeFi for players.</p>
<p>PiXLtez allows players to sign transactions, establish nodes, and earn block rewards. Players who accumulate 8,000 PiXLtez can even run their own nodes, adding a strategic element to the game.</p>
<p>Players can choose to stake their PiXLtez, use it in-game, or mint it to their Tezos wallet, offering a variety of options to engage with the token.</p>
<h3 id="entry-coin-nft">Entry Coin NFT</h3>
<p>The Entry Coin NFT is the golden ticket to PiXL, and for those new to Tezos, it serves as an entry point to the broader Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>Possessing the Entry Coin NFT in their wallet and syncing it allows players to dive into the game without any friction.</p>
<p>The game verifies the presence of an Entry Coin in the player’s wallet through a read-only request, eliminating the need for gas fees. The only prerequisite for players is to set up a Tezos-compatible wallet. There’s no need for any tez, making the onboarding process as smooth as possible.</p>
<h2 id="collaboration-with-artists">Collaboration with Artists</h2>
<p>PiXL stands out in its commitment to fostering the continuation of the vibrance and collaboration in the Tezos art scene. They’re embarking on collaborations with various artists within the Tezos community, infusing the game with a diverse range of artistic styles and perspectives.</p>
<p>It makes a lot of sense - art is important for the success of a game, why not leverage the wealth of artistic talent within the Tezos ecosystem?</p>
<p>As mentioned earlier, we can look forward to their first collaboration with the talented <a href="https://objkt.com/profile/tz1R5aLedcRQb9kYyNBS1UXzHR6aQQ3Z5qoq/created">Sutu</a>, an XR artist who has created art for IPs like <em>Doctor Strange, Ready Player One</em>, and artists like The Weeknd and John Legend.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">'Portals'<br>by <a href="https://twitter.com/sutu_eats_flies?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sutu_eats_flies</a> <br><br>I always go back to this piece. <br><br>I think it is one of the best pieces I've ever seen. Interactive, amazing vision, on-point art by Sutu.<a href="https://t.co/SbG7dFqreF">https://t.co/SbG7dFqreF</a> <a href="https://t.co/EtbrW6zChB">pic.twitter.com/EtbrW6zChB</a></p>— Coldie (@Coldie) <a href="https://twitter.com/Coldie/status/1664885963577778178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2 id="meet-the-team">Meet the Team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/pixl-the-web3-game-that-embodies-the-spirit-of-the-tezos-ecosystem-2.jpg" alt="PIXL Team"></p>
<p>Behind PiXL is a team of dedicated and talented individuals, who each brings a unique set of skills and experiences.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/LexBuild">Lex Dreitser</a> is the Lead Developer of PiXL. With over 100,000 hours of development experience in mixed reality (MR), Lex has worked with some of the largest companies in the world, building experiences with Unity® for a variety of platforms. His passion for immersive storytelling and his extensive experience in MR make him an invaluable asset to the team.</p>
<p>
<u>Eric Thomas</u>, the Web/Blockchain Developer, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in web and blockchain development. His skills are crucial in creating user-friendly interfaces for PiXL’s blockchain games and ensuring compatibility with modern devices. Eric’s deep understanding of blockchain technology allows the team to leverage NFTs to represent rare and unique in-game items and create secure and transparent in-game transactions.</p>
<p>The team’s artist,
<u>Imp0ster</u>, is a talented pixel artist whose high-quality pixel art assets bring the game to life. Imp0ster’s attention to detail and creativity are key in designing characters, environments, and items that fit the retro and classic aesthetic of PiXL, while also incorporating modern elements and mechanics that enhance the gameplay experience.</p>
<p>
<u>ColorBlind Adam</u>, another artist on the team, is a painter and world artist for games. Despite being color blind, Adam’s unique perspective and skillful use of color result in stunning and unique art pieces that add depth and beauty to PiXL. His passion for game development and attention to detail is evident in his work, as he strives to create immersive and engaging worlds for players.</p>
The Future of Advertising is Decentralized. This Startup Shows Us Why.
<h2 id="the-advertising-industry-is-in-a-conundrum-unfettered-access-to-consumer-data-has-powered-its-explosive-growth-but-is-also-ironically-causing-its-biggest-challenge-ahead---the-global-privacy-regulatory-backlash-yourd-leverages-blockchain-and-zero-proof-knowledge-technology-to-forge-a-clear-path-ahead-decentralized-advertising-which-enhances-the-effectiveness-of-targeted-ads-while-protecting-consumer-data">The advertising industry is in a conundrum. Unfettered access to consumer data has powered its explosive growth, but is also ironically causing its biggest challenge ahead - the global privacy regulatory backlash. YourD leverages blockchain and Zero-Proof Knowledge technology to forge a clear path ahead: Decentralized advertising, which enhances the effectiveness of targeted ads while protecting consumer data.</h2>
<p>In the Internet age, there’s one chilling but unacknowledged truth: corporations know far more about us than our mothers ever could.</p>
<p>Data is the world’s most valuable commodity today. From Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon - access to consumer data is a common primary revenue driver for <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/263264/top-companies-in-the-world-by-market-capitalization/">4 out of the top 5 biggest market capitalization companies in the world.</a></p>
<p>At its core, the Internet today is a highly efficient flywheel: algorithms use our personal data to enrapture us with personalized content, and in doing so, it continually gathers even more data about us, feeding and accelerating this cyclical process.</p>
<p>Many of us are familiar with the ghostly experience of discussing a product with a friend, only to later see it advertised on our feeds. It’s become a common joke that our phones are listening in - but we know there’s more to it than chance.</p>
<p>Algorithms analyze various types of data, such as both parties’ recent purchases and location activity, to intelligently predict that the product might have come up in your conversation. This falls under the umbrella of programmatic advertising, which allows businesses to target the right customers precisely.</p>
<p>Given its efficiency, it’s no wonder how programmatic advertising is already dominating the advertising industry. While it already currently accounts for <a href="https://www.insiderintelligence.com/content/forecast-2021-us-programmatic-digital-display-ad-spending-15-billion-higher">89% of all ad spend in the US</a>, the industry is also set to nearly <a href="https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5582408/global-programmatic-advertising-market#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20research%20report,Market%20was%20valued%20at%20USD136.">quadruple in market size to a jaw-droppping US$650 billion.</a></p>
<p>But it’s not purely happy times ahead for advertisers. After all, they’re tracking personal information without explicit consent or knowledge from the user - a fundamentally invasive privacy. Consumer sentiment aside, there’s the far more sinister implication of how corporations can, and have, leveraged data to sabotage democratic processes and influence global geopolitics. One prime example is the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/21/facebook-cambridge-analytica-scandal-everything-you-need-to-know.html">Cambridge Analytica scandal</a>, which used the data of millions of Facebook users to influence the 2016 American presidential election.</p>
<p>A wave of regulatory and policy backlash has swept across the globe. <a href="https://piwik.pro/privacy-laws-around-globe/#chapter-7">Recent laws and policies</a>, ranging from the international to state level, have been enacted to combat the growing power of data-collecting corporations - from the EU GDPR to the comprehensive CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act).</p>
<p>The impact on advertising is tremendous. Apple has implemented their <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/26/apples-app-tracking-transparency-feature-has-arrived-heres-what-you-need-to-know/?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANlycwmnXvsxvDpA-KBQBT4CV3TjjvazEjZ25j23BXC0McXP91PSUe-31z9-0tAitEs_Qg7PrADrt7TwfKrMnxDsallWCZRd7EZxDzs-oWY3oSKMPsOc4m3bUq-HYYuQUjBr4fZtE7wURnC5Xa0FS3C8UhUA4-6ePYqXKh4r5tBc&guccounter=2#:~:text=new%20privacy%20feature%20called-,App%20Tracking%20Transparency.,-The%20feature%20was%20first">App Tracking Transparency</a> feature, and <a href="https://www.cookiebot.com/en/google-third-party-cookies/">Google is removing third-party cookies</a> - the cornerstone of programmatic advertising. Advertisers don’t just have to tread very carefully - it’s also going to be much more expensive to carry on.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
A critical question has emerged. How do we resolve the fundamental incompatibility between two unstoppable global trends - the insatiable demand for advertisements, and the protection of personal data?
</blockquote>
<h2 id="decentralized-advertising-realigning-advertising-and-privacy-protection">Decentralized Advertising: Realigning Advertising and Privacy Protection</h2>
<p>YourD isn’t just offering a band-aid solution to the privacy issues plaguing the advertising industry. They’re pioneering a new path, enabling targeted advertising without the invasive data collection that’s become the industry norm.</p>
<p>YourD provides unique B2B solutions that bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3. Alongside decentralized app solutions, they offer new authentication and advertising services that comply with data privacy laws such as ADPPA, GDPR, or even stronger regulations for existing Web2 services.</p>
<p>YourD can integrate decentralized advertising into any platforms or technology - essentially both Web2 platforms and any Web3 dApp. When users watch an advertisement, token rewards will be deposited into the user’s non-custodial wallet (which also has decentralized ID capabilities). This also brings in a new revenue stream beyond the usual Web3 structures.</p>
<p>Their secret weapon? A concept known as selective disclosure, powered by Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technologies and CL Signatures. This innovative approach allows users to prove they know a piece of information without revealing any details about it.</p>
<p>Imagine you’re a beer advertiser looking to target adults. With YourD, you can verify a user is over 21 without knowing their exact age.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
You get the targeted advertising you need, without infringing on the user's privacy.
</blockquote>
<p>YourD also supercharges local advertising while keeping user privacy intact - a significant concern in the digital age. Users can confirm they’re in a specific area or region at a specific time, without giving away their exact location or identity. For instance, a user could confirm they’re in a commercial district during peak business hours, opening up opportunities for time-sensitive local advertising, like a restaurant ad at 6pm.</p>
<p>Let’s look at how it works in practice:</p>
<ol>
<li>A brand, Chain Camping, wants to advertise to users who are interested in both crypto and hiking. They sign up for YourD’s service, and relay this criteria to YourD.</li>
<br>
<li>A user logs onto a social network, which integrates YourD’s decentralized advertising services.</li>
<br>
<li>His interest in both crypto and hiking is verified by YourD’s selective disclosure layer, which receives the information that - yes, the user is indeed interested in these things. <u>No further information is collected or stored</u></li>
<br>
<li>The user is shown the advertisement and after he views it, token rewards are deposited in his wallet. </li>
</ol>
<p><blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“Security and trust are paramount at YourD, leading us to choose Tezos for its unique ability to undergo continuous updates without hard forks. This unbroken stream of security updates and scalability improvements distinguishes Tezos. Our choice is a commitment to offer the most secure, reliable service to our users”
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
- Jaegyeong Yeom, Co-Founder of YourD
</blockquote></p>
<p>But the advantages of YourD aren’t confined to users who can finally navigate the digital world with their privacy shielded. Advertisers also stand to gain significantly - YourD paves the way for them to tap into a highly-engaged and receptive target audience without the hefty price tag of data collection.</p>
<p>In a world where privacy concerns are increasingly at odds with the needs of advertisers, YourD is offering a solution that satisfies both. And that’s a game-changer.</p>
<h3 id="rewarding-users-for-their-attention">Rewarding Users For Their Attention</h3>
<p>YourD isn’t just about protecting privacy, it’s also about transforming the way we perceive and interact with advertisements.</p>
<p>Think about it. How often have you found yourself annoyed by an ad interrupting your YouTube video or cluttering your Instagram feed? Ads are often seen as a necessary evil, a price to pay for free content. They’re something to be endured, not enjoyed.</p>
<p>But what if we could change that? What if ads weren’t just an interruption, but an opportunity?</p>
<p>That’s exactly what YourD is doing.
<u>By rewarding users with tokens for viewing ads, YourD is turning the tables on the traditional advertising model</u>
. Ads are no longer a nuisance to be avoided, but a chance to earn something of value.</p>
<p>This isn’t just about making ads more palatable for users. It’s about fundamentally changing the relationship between brands and consumers.</p>
<p>In the traditional model, ads can often breed resentment. They’re seen as intrusive, as brands forcing their way into our personal space. But by compensating users for their time, YourD fosters a more respectful relationship. Brands aren’t just intruding; they’re offering something of value in return.</p>
<p>And for brands choosing where to advertise, the choice becomes clear. Why settle for an audience that’s merely tolerating your ads when you could have an audience that’s actively engaged and receptive?</p>
<h3 id="delivering-stronger-results-at-a-lower-cost">Delivering stronger results at a lower cost</h3>
<p>YourD is flipping the script on traditional advertising models, offering a solution that’s significantly more cost-effective.</p>
<p>In the conventional advertising landscape, vast amounts of data is collected and sifted through to identify trends and patterns, and the resulting insights are used to aim ads at the correct audience. This isn’t just incredibly expensive but also wasteful - usually, more data than is necessary for any individual ad campaign is collected.</p>
<p>With YourD’s innovative approach, advertisers no longer need to play the data collection game. Instead, they simply specify the criteria they’re interested in. The proof of meeting this criteria comes directly from the user, allowing the advertiser to target their ads immediately.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
No more paying for unnecessary data collection. No more shelling out for expensive cloud storage. No more bearing the costs of heavy computational resources for data analysis and ad targeting.
</blockquote>
<p>With YourD, advertisers can finally get the full bang for their buck, all while respecting user privacy.</p>
<h2 id="yourd-bridging-the-gap-between-web2-and-web3">YourD: Bridging the Gap Between Web2 and Web3</h2>
<p>YourD isn’t just revolutionizing the advertising industry, but also solving the critical challenges of Web3 economies and paving the way for mass adoption of decentralized technologies.</p>
<p>Decentralized advertising is the future. As privacy concerns continue to mount, and the benefits of decentralized advertising become increasingly clear, it’s only a matter of time before the majority of businesses make the switch.</p>
<h3 id="what-does-this-mean-for-web3">What does this mean for Web3?</h3>
<p>One of the main hurdles for Web3 projects is the lack of revenue models that bring in external liquidity. Most Web3 projects rely on selling NFTs and tokens, staking, and swapping - models that are heavily geared towards crypto-natives and offer little immediate use case to Web2 businesses. Naturally, this leads to a winner-takes-all structure and promoting unstable economic models that undermine the stability and sustainability of Web3 projects.</p>
<p>By utilizing YourD’s services, Web3 projects can tap into a new revenue stream - advertising fees. This isn’t just money invested by users in hopes of generating returns. It’s a service fee, a sustainable and diverse source of revenue that can promote the growth of Web3 projects.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Advertising has always been the cornerstone of both the gigantic industries of traditional media like newspapers and radio, as well as content/social media platforms. The impact of introducing advertising as a new revenue stream to Web3 ecosystems cannot be overstated.
</blockquote>
<p>By offering advertisements, projects can focus on providing other types of value to users beyond returns on capital investment - which means we can look forward to seeing a greater diversity of projects.</p>
<h2 id="yourds-journey">YourD’s Journey</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-future-of-advertising-is-decentralized.-this-startup-shows-us-why-1.jpg" alt="YourD’s Journey"></p>
<p>The story of how YourD’s team formed and grew is a testament to their belief in their vision, their relentless pursuit of knowledge, and dedication to innovation.</p>
<p>Their team’s journey started while discussing security for another software development project. Recognizing the critical need for user-controlled data ownership and privacy protection, they explored various innovative solutions, and a clear winner emerged - Web3 and blockchain technology.</p>
<p>Their confidence in the transformative power of blockchain only grew as they journeyed further into protecting data sovereignty. It was then that the team made a firm commitment to develop a solution that empowers individuals in the digital age - and this marked the birth of YourD.</p>
<p>Over the following six months, they dedicated themselves to a series of hackathons, competing relentlessly and accumulating valuable experience. Winning 5 out of the 7 hackathons they participated in, the YourD team has showcased a high-level of expertise in blockchain development.</p>
<ul>
<li>TRON Grand Hackathon, Season 3 (GameFi) - 5th place</li>
<li>Evmos-Covalent #OneMillionWallets Hackathon (GameFi) - 1st place</li>
<li>Klaymakers22: Public Goods Track - Final List & Winner</li>
<li>ETHSeoul: IPFS/Filecoin - Winner</li>
<li>Polkadot: North America Edition, Astar Network - (NFT dApps Staking Micro-Rewards) - Winner</li>
</ul>
<p>They continued to strengthen their knowledge of data sovereignty - connecting with experts in the field like the project manager of the Korean decentralized ID project, the COOV vaccination certificate service application, as well as working with an expert involved in an Ethereum scaling project.</p>
<p>Co-Founder of YourD, Jaegyeong Yeom, shares with us:</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“Fueled by our vision, we’ve been intensively proactive in sharpening our skills and experience. We’re more than ready to create a service that empowers individuals and upholds data sovereignty principles, and it’s with this mindset that we venture into the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
I believe that our hard work has put us in a position to lead the charge in reshaping the advertising industry, and we’re delivering it in a realistic way that provides real value to Web2 businesses and Web3 projects.”
</blockquote>
The Startup Enabling AI-augmented Crypto Trading on Telegram
<h2 id="meet-airavat-the-revolutionary-crypto-intelligent-ai-chatbot-redefining-the-future-of-cefi-and-defi-personalized-trading-recommendations-can-be-requested-and-carried-out-with-one-click-and-complex-series-of-multi-chain-transactions-are-simplified-under-the-singular-user-friendly-interface-of-telegram-a-messaging-app-popular-with-both-crypto-natives-and-non-natives">Meet Airavat, the revolutionary crypto-intelligent AI chatbot redefining the future of CeFi and DeFi. Personalized trading recommendations can be requested and carried out with one click, and complex series of multi-chain transactions are simplified under the singular, user-friendly interface of Telegram, a messaging app popular with both crypto natives and non-natives.</h2>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“Airavat, buy 100 tez for me at the best price across all exchanges. Stake it, and use the collateral to borrow USDC. Use it to diversify my portfolio according to my risk profile.”
</blockquote>
<p>This is how users can leverage <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/airavatexchange/">Airavat</a> to perform complex tasks across crypto ecosystems.</p>
<p>Participating in DeFi can be a truly frustrating experience: Bridging tokens across chains, dealing with network errors and unreasonably slow response times - only to facepalm when you realize you need to swap and bridge more coins to cover gas fees.</p>
<p>Users no longer need to risk their time and increase their blood pressure levels, with Airavat’s ability to seamlessly automate individual tasks with simple commands. Entire crypto ecosystems are connected in a single interface - Telegram, the crypto community’s platform of choice.</p>
<p>What does this mean for the crypto world? If it isn’t clear enough, let us flesh the value of Airavat out.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Crypto-intelligent AI with a ChatGPT-like interface, natively integrated into the 4th most popular messaging app in the world</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Delivers trading strategy tailored to the user’s risk profile and automatically executes it</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Opening up gateways across currently fragmented and silo-ed blockchain ecosystems</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>In sum, Airavat makes crypto accessible to all. Seasoned DeFi participants can enjoy one-click convenience, and new users can benefit from the clarity and education it offers.</p>
<p>Airavat’s journey toward being the premier AI-powered utility DeFi chatbot is well underway, having successfully captured the attention of prominent investors, leading to a <a href="https://blockmanity.com/news/airavat-the-ai-powered-telegram-chatbot-raises-165k-in-pre-seed-funding/">successful pre-seed funding round of US$165,000</a>. The crypto space’s firm confidence is also indicated by almost US$100,000 in grants received from the Polygon, Harmony, and Mina protocols.</p>
<p>And of course, Airavat is now integrating with the Tezos ecosystem - from participating in the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator and releasing exciting Tezos-specific offerings like USDC/USDC borrowing against staked tez.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Being a part of the <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TzApac</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> Incubator as one of the 14 innovative startups is another feather in the cap for our awesome team!<br><br>It's a validation of the work that has gone into BUIDLing. We're excited to take advantage of this opportunity to scale things up and take it to… <a href="https://t.co/vKldHsqpt6">https://t.co/vKldHsqpt6</a></p>— Airavat (@AiravatBot) <a href="https://twitter.com/AiravatBot/status/1642905380018593796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2 id="harnessing-ai-to-reimagine-trading-and-investing">Harnessing AI to Reimagine Trading and Investing</h2>
<h3 id="crypto-native-intelligence">Crypto-native Intelligence</h3>
<p>The dynamic and rapidly-changing nature of the crypto world may be intimidating to many, but not to Airavat.</p>
<p>Its sharp understanding of the space is derived from the application of machine learning models to process a myriad of data sources, from whitepapers to crypto news feeds and trading sentiment data. Tapping into real-time data, Airavat stays up-to-date with the latest trends and market fluctuations.</p>
<p>Consequently, users gain an intelligent ally at their fingertips who can answer their technical questions and provide insights into trading signals and market sentiment.</p>
<h3 id="ai-based-portfolio-allocation">AI-based Portfolio Allocation</h3>
<p>Imagine having a personal financial advisor with complete knowledge of all things crypto, who understands your risk appetite, and continually offers strategies tailor-made for you.</p>
<p>That’s precisely what Airavat promises with its AI-based portfolio allocation feature. Here’s how it works:</p>
<p>Airavat initially assesses the user’s risk profile through a series of questions. Based on the responses, it suggests an allocation across different asset classes – reserve assets, higher-risk tokens, or passive income investments. With one click, users can choose to execute this recommended strategy.</p>
<p>But the magic of Airavat doesn’t end there - <em>it evolves to become a smarter companion over time</em>. As it learns from your behavior, it enhances its recommendations, resulting in a personalized trading assistant that continually adapts to serve you better.</p>
<h3 id="initial-telegram-offering-concierge">Initial Telegram Offering concierge</h3>
<p>Airavat’s potential extends beyond trading and portfolio management. It also serves as a front-end assistant for Airavat’s Initial Telegram Offering (ITO) product, a launchpad to help projects raise funds through Telegram.</p>
<p>Airavat guides users through the onboarding process for the ITO, answering their questions about the project, the team, tokenomics, and the roadmap. It even assists with the necessary steps, such as KYC, staking, and whitelist requirements.</p>
<h2 id="all-chains-all-protocols-all-tokens-one-interface">All Chains. All Protocols. All Tokens. One Interface</h2>
<p>With their vision of being a mega-aggregator of various CeFi and DeFi products, platforms, and networks, Airavat eliminates the chaos by enabling transactions in one user interface.</p>
<p>Various CeDeFi building blocks are used to facilitate optimal assembly and routing of tasks across platforms, accomplishing user tasks in the most efficient, cost-effective manner.</p>
<p>Airavat may be in its Limited Beta stage, but it is already showcasing its potential.</p>
<p>It connects users with centralized exchanges like Huobi and Binance, decentralized exchanges like Uniswap, Quickswap, and Traderjoe, and even networks like Tezos, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, and Tron. NFT Marketplaces like Opensea, Rarible, and AAVE are also within easy reach.</p>
<p>Users can benefit from swaps across more than 600 USDT trading pairs, offering unprecedented choice and versatility. Moreover, staking is available for Ethereum (ETH), Polygon (MATIC), and Tezos (XTZ), indicating Airavat’s commitment to a diverse range of popular and powerful tokens. The network support is just as robust, covering Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, and Binance Smart Chain.</p>
<iframe width="675" height="506" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rh3eMqXVGsw" title="AiravatBot How-to Series - Part 6 - Staking and Unstaking Cryptocurrencies in the Bot" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h3 id="one-hop-bridge-connectivity-like-never-before">One-Hop Bridge: Connectivity Like Never Before</h3>
<p>Transacting across different coins, protocols, and networks is no longer a labyrinthine task. Airavat provides a single-hop bridge, enabling any-any swaps and borrow/lend actions.</p>
<h3 id="best-price-discovery">Best Price Discovery</h3>
<p>With a market spread across multiple platforms, finding the best price can be a challenge. But not with Airavat, which uses its broad network of integrations to offer real-time best-price discovery.</p>
<h3 id="full-featured-exchange-functions">Full-Featured Exchange Functions</h3>
<p>Airavat isn’t just about convenience - it’s about capability. It supports all standard crypto exchange functions, including spot and spot margin trading, futures and options trading, staking, and lending/borrowing.</p>
<h3 id="innovative-features">Innovative Features</h3>
<p>Beyond standard features, Airavat also introduces innovative offerings like bridge-staking and spread orders. It also allows users to execute repeat actions over time and across exchanges - a sophisticated level of strategy orchestration typically only available to institutional players.</p>
<h3 id="easy-fiat-onoff-ramping">Easy Fiat On/Off Ramping</h3>
<p>Typically, turning your digital assets into traditional money or vice versa involves navigating through several platforms. With Airavat, this tedious process is transformed into a breezy experience. The facilitation of seamless conversions between fiat and crypto gives users the ability to easily move with the market’s pulse.</p>
<h2 id="augmenting-the-tezos-ecosystem">Augmenting the Tezos ecosystem</h2>
<p>The integration of Tezos into the Airavat platform represents a fusion of unique capabilities that enhance each other’s strengths.</p>
<p>Tezos’ Liquid Proof-of-Stake (LPoS) consensus mechanism is a key enabler for Airavat’s staking and borrowing features. It allows users to stake tez and earn rewards, while also providing the flexibility to unlock the value of these staked tokens through Airavat’s borrowing feature.</p>
<p><img src="/images/the-startup-enabling-ai-augmented-crypto-trading-on-telegram-1.png" alt="Tezos Staking incentivized Testnet"></p>
<h5 id="results-of-the-successful-airavat-tezos-staking-testnet-campaign-in-august-2022">Results of the successful Airavat Tezos staking testnet campaign in August 2022</h5>
<p>Airavat empowers Tezos users to unlock the latent value of their staked tez collateral. With Airavat, users can borrow USDC/USDT against their aXTZ liquid staking token. Through this offering freeing up an otherwise idle asset for investment and capital growth, we can expect increased transaction volumes and potentially enhanced liquidity/market depth within the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>The Tezos blockchain’s high throughput and low transaction fees make it an ideal platform for Airavat’s swift bridged trading and derivative offerings, ensuring that users can execute transactions quickly and cost-effectively.</p>
<p>Jumping from USDT/USDC or Fiat to Tezos or FA1.2 tokens can now be done in one smooth hop, and within an impressive 30-second timeframe. Airavat eradicates the multi-step processes typically associated with such operations, saving users precious time and effort.</p>
<p>The integration of the Tezos blockchain into Airavat is looking to set the pace for future blockchain innovation, making the Tezos ecosystem an even more attractive proposition for those venturing into the crypto landscape.</p>
<h2 id="meet-gautam-sampathkumar-founderceo-of-airavat">Meet Gautam Sampathkumar, Founder/CEO of Airavat</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-startup-enabling-ai-augmented-crypto-trading-on-telegram-2.jpg" alt="Gautam Sampathkumar : Founder/CEO of Airavat"></p>
<p>At the heart of Airavat is a visionary dedicated to contributing to the crypto world - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsampath/?originalSubdomain=in">Gautam Sampathkumar</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
"Our commitment to building a cost-effective exchange infrastructure, regardless of market conditions, has led to a platform that scales seamlessly with active users. Even with a lean team size that varies between 1 and 5-6 members, we remain undeterred - our progress continues to march on. Through sunny bull markets and even during what we now term as 'crypto winter,' we stay the course." - Gautam
</blockquote>
<p>With over two decades of invaluable experience in both engineering and leadership roles within Silicon Valley and the Crypto sector, Gautam has consistently demonstrated his talent for creating successful, robust, and innovative enterprises.</p>
<p>Gautam’s portfolio of achievements includes the founding of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/lakshmi-crypto-capital/">Lakshmi Capital</a>, a successful crypto-mining operation that established GPU and ASIC mining facilities in India, Canada, Russia, and the US. Despite the biting cold of the crypto winter, Lakshmi Capital mined over US$1 million worth of crypto, a testament to Gautam’s strategic planning and execution.</p>
<p>Then there’s <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/indra-development-services/">Indra Development Services</a>, a mid-six-figure blockchain development, consulting, and advisory firm that Gautam established. This venture further showcased his deep knowledge of the blockchain industry and his ability to provide strategic advice that drives growth.</p>
<p>Yieldwallet.io is another testament to Gautam’s industry expertise. As a Staking-as-a-Service provider, Yieldwallet.io ran validators for Tezos, Polygon, Harmony, and Mina. At its peak, it handled a delegation of $9 million, generating mid-six-figure revenues and gross profits.</p>
DOM Money's Ingenious Approach To Real-world Crypto Payments
<h2 id="dom-money-is-transforming-cryptocurrency-into-a-truly-viable-medium-of-exchange-strategically-targeting-high-crypto-adoption-regions-and-equalizing-its-qr-payment-presence-from-gaining-recognition-from-vc-firm-antler-to-signing-an-agreement-with-global-hiring-platform-deel-dom-moneys-momentum-is-smashing-barriers-to-financial-inclusion">DOM Money is transforming cryptocurrency into a truly viable medium of exchange, strategically targeting high crypto adoption regions and equalizing its QR payment presence. From gaining recognition from VC firm Antler to signing an agreement with global hiring platform Deel, DOM Money’s momentum is smashing barriers to financial inclusion.</h2>
<p>As we progress further into the 21st century, noteworthy events are triggering monumental changes in our economic landscape. From increased political instability to a more globally-mobile workforce, people have more reason to hold and transfer cryptocurrencies (“crypto”).</p>
<p>We are seeing increasing disfavor of traditional fiat salaries. <a href="https://investors.sofi.com/news/news-details/2022/SoFi-at-Work-Study-Reveals-Three-in-Four-Workers-Are-Stressed-About-Financial-Issues-Spending-9-Working-Hours-Per-Week-Dealing-With-Personal-Finances/default.aspx#:~:text=The%20report%20also,cryptocurrency%20(36%25)">36% of workers surveyed in 2022</a> have indicated they want to be paid fully or partially in crypto. This trend is validated in the global hiring platform Deel’s <a href="https://19498232.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/19498232/Global%20Hiring%20Report/deel_globaldatareport_english.pdf">State of Global Hiring Report</a>, which reported that 5% of all payments made in 2022 through their platform were in crypto - a 150% increase from the previous year despite the bear market.</p>
<p>For some, this is a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2022/01/01/in-2022-workers-will-be-paid-in-bitcoin-and-cryptocurrencies/">hedge against the devaluation of the US dollar</a>, taking into account rising inflation and a lack of confidence in the Federal Reserve’s decisions. But the majority of this demographic are residents of economically-volatile nations with volatile economies, with 67% and 24% of crypto payments on Deel made from the LATAM and EMEA region respectively.</p>
<h4 id="but-as-we-recognize-the-leaps-made-toward-mainstream-crypto-adoption-we-cannot-avert-our-eyes-to-cryptos-limitations-in-fulfilling-our-needs">But as we recognize the leaps made toward mainstream crypto adoption, we cannot avert our eyes to crypto’s limitations in fulfilling our needs.</h4>
<p>The International Monetary Fund sets out <a href="https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2012/09/basics.htm">three broad requirements of money</a>, which needs to function as a 1) store of value, 2) a unit of account, and 3) a medium of exchange.</p>
<p>Cryptocurrencies satisfy the first two requirements. Blockchain permanency and well-designed tokenomics ensure storing of consistent value (1), and stablecoins provide the stability required to act as a common unit of account (2) to measure the worth of goods and services.</p>
<p>Where cryptocurrency runs into trouble is the requirement of being a medium of exchange (3). In other words, crypto cannot be easily used to buy and sell things. It’s strange, given how Bitcoin is literally designed for trustless peer-to-peer transactions.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
In fact, the ultimate use case of crypto is making payments for goods and services. But it’s precisely here where the challenge lies - there aren’t nearly enough vendors or merchants who accept crypto payments.
</blockquote>
<p>It’s a chicken and egg problem - it doesn’t make sense for merchants to accept crypto payments if they can’t pay other merchants in crypto. The issue is further exacerbated by the difficulty in converting crypto to fiat, a deterrent strong enough to warrant totally ignoring crypto.</p>
<h3 id="dom-moneys-mission-is-to-realize-cryptos-ultimate-use-case-of-making-payments-through-fostering-widespread-acceptance-of-everyday-payments-in-crypto">DOM Money’s mission is to realize crypto’s ultimate use case of making payments, through fostering widespread acceptance of everyday payments in crypto.</h3>
<p><a href="https://dom.money/">DOM Money</a>’s approach is not shaped by an overly grand vision, but rather through the lens of a regular person trying to accomplish their basic needs.</p>
<p>Speaking with workers in Europe, Asia, and the LATAM region, this is the conclusion they’ve come to:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>People want to be paid in and hold crypto. They also want to use crypto to make payments in their daily lives, but such options are severely limited.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>They are also aware of the opportunities that DeFi presents, but the knowledge barrier is too great.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>Taking these considerations into account, DOM Money’s wallet simplifies the crypto experience while retaining all of the functionality.</p>
<p>Users can make payments by scanning a QR code at merchant storefronts and easily participate in DeFi simply by choosing an amount and their desired risk level.</p>
<p>All of this goodness is presented in Dom Money’s convenient neobank interface, designed by their seasoned UX consultant, who was responsible for building the first interface of Revolut, which won the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/revolutapp/photos/a.336010243216560/718636771620570/?type=3">2016 UX UK award for Best Transactional Experience</a>.</p>
<p>For DOM Money, security and transaction speed is critical towards ensuring seamless consumer payments, which is achieved through the integration of Tezos. The Tezos blockchain was selected by leading European financial services group Société Générale to <a href="https://www.nomadic-labs.com/news/tezos-selected-by-societe-generale-forge-for-its-central-banking-digital-currency-experiment/">develop a stablecoin for France’s national bank</a>, on the basis of it’s on-chain governance, proof-of-stake consensus model, and formally verified smart contracts making it <a href="https://cryptobriefing.com/tezos-power-frances-cbdc-stablecoin-experiment/">“ideal for high-value financial applications.”</a></p>
<h3 id="qr-code-payments">QR Code payments</h3>
<p>In a strategic move, DOM Money is introducing their crypto payment solution in Asia and Latin America - regions where the adoption of both crypto and QR code payments is already high.</p>
<p>By adhering to national QR payment standards, DOM Money ensures a seamless implementation process. Most merchants in these regions already accept payments through QR codes and do not require any additional setup to accept DOM Money’s crypto payments.</p>
<h4 id="but-the-real-innovation-lies-beneath-the-surface-in-dom-moneys-offramp-solutions">But the real innovation lies beneath the surface, in DOM Money’s offramp solutions.</h4>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
A win-win solution is created for both users and merchants, who can spend and receive crypto and fiat respectively.
</blockquote>
<p>Users can transfer crypto to merchants upon payment, who then receive fiat currency. This process is facilitated by a third-party liquidity provider, who receives the crypto from the user and deposits fiat directly to the merchant’s bank account.</p>
<p>This direct crypto-to-fiat transaction incentivizes merchants to cater to the growing segment of customers who prefer to transact primarily in crypto. Bank fees are eliminated entirely, making transactions cost-efficient. The barrier of having to maintain two separate accounts (one for fiat and another for crypto) is removed, simplifying bookkeeping and reducing the administrative load for businesses.</p>
<h2 id="zero-friction-defi-participation">Zero-Friction DeFi Participation</h2>
<p>For many users, the knowledge barrier to DeFi is simply too high. The world of smart contracts, liquidity pools, and yield farming can seem labyrinthine to the uninitiated.</p>
<p>DOM Money’s solution to this problem is to integrate DeFi into their wallet in a user-friendly manner. Users can easily participate in DeFi simply by choosing an amount they wish to invest and their desired risk level. This makes DeFi more approachable and accessible to users of all experience levels, encouraging wider participation in decentralized financial systems.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
To gain perspective on the potential value of this offering, we can draw parallels from the disruptive impact of robo-advisors on the investment world.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Opening up investing to a wider historically excluded market, the global robo-advisory market is expected to grow from <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/robo-advisory-global-market-report-2023-market-is-expected-to-surpass-205-billion-in-2027-at-a-cagr-of-49-2---long-term-forecasts-to-2032--301809667.html">US$41.52 billion in 2023 to US$205.84 billion in 2027, at a 49.2% CAGR.</a>
</blockquote>
<p>This indicates a substantial demand for user-friendly, straightforward investment platforms, much like DOM Money - which is throwing the gates to DeFi participation wide open to all.</p>
<h2 id="how-does-dom-money-earn-revenue">How does DOM Money earn revenue?</h2>
<h3 id="transaction-fees">Transaction Fees</h3>
<p>One of DOM Money’s primary sources of revenue is the tried-and-tested model of transaction fees. Every time a user conducts a transaction using their DOM Money wallet, a small fee is levied. These fees are intentionally kept minimal to encourage frequent usage and are competitive with traditional banking and cryptocurrency transaction costs.</p>
<h3 id="defi-participation-fees">DeFi Participation Fees</h3>
<p>When users invest their funds via the DOM Money wallet into DeFi projects, a small percentage of the returns generated is retained as a service fee. This aligns DOM Money’s success with the success of its users’ investments, ensuring a shared interest in generating high returns.</p>
<h3 id="premium-services-for-liquidity-providers">Premium Services for Liquidity Providers</h3>
<p>DOM Money also offers premium services for Liquidity Providers (LPs). By providing automation software and other tools to LPs, DOM Money streamlines their operations, saving them time and resources. These services are available for a subscription fee, providing another stable source of revenue.</p>
<h2 id="dom-moneys-journey-to-catalyzing-crypto-adoption-traction-and-successes">DOM Money’s journey to catalyzing crypto adoption: Traction and Successes</h2>
<p>DOM Money’s journey so far has been marked by significant milestones, testifying to both its traction and success in the crypto space.</p>
<p>With a working prototype of the wallet and a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for liquidity providers’ interface, the team has laid a solid foundation for their offering.</p>
<p>The validation of the venture doesn’t stop at product development. DOM Money has been recognized by the prestigious start-up generator and early-stage VC, Antler France. They were also awarded a grant of 8,000 Euros, an endorsement of their vision and the potential of their product, and stand amongst Antler’s esteemed alumni network.</p>
<p>Already, DOM Money is gaining ground in establishing its market presence. In Brazil, they have successfully built a network of liquidity providers, setting the stage for a planned launch in the coming month. This geographic focus represents a strategic entry point to a burgeoning market ripe for crypto and DeFi solutions.</p>
<p>What’s particularly encouraging is the interest expressed by potential B2B2C partners. These partnerships offer a pathway to scale, providing an existing user base to which DOM Money’s services can be offered.</p>
<p>In a testament to the compelling nature of their pitch, they have been invited to sign an agreement with global hiring platform Deel, as well as several smaller global payout providers.</p>
<p>The demand from other crypto wallets for early access to DOM Money’s QR code payment solution shows immense potential for B2B growth, opening another avenue for growth and diversification, while simultaneously enhancing the broader crypto payment ecosystem.</p>
<p>The project’s growing popularity is evident in its robust supporter base on Gitcoin, numbering in the hundreds. DOM Money is rapidly building a community that is excited about their product and believes in their mission.</p>
<p>The traction DOM Money has gained thus far signals strong validation of its vision, product, and execution strategy. With numerous successful achievements and promising opportunities on the horizon, the journey to make crypto a mainstream medium of exchange is well underway.</p>
<h2 id="meet-the-dom-money-team">Meet the Dom Money team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/dom-moneys-ingenious-approach-to-real-world-crypto-payments-1.jpg" alt="Meet the Dom Money team"></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-grigoriev/">Nikolai Grigoriev</a> / Founder, CEO</strong></p>
<p>With a diverse academic background in architecture, design, and arts, Nikolai brings a unique perspective to the team.</p>
<p>He boasts 10 years of experience leading a design and innovation consulting bureau and has also worked with Emercoin on RandPay.</p>
<p>Nikolai has been involved in the development of several innovative products, including</p>
<ul>
<li>The first automated same-day delivery service in the Commonwealth of Independent States</li>
<li>A longevity app to track biological age based on locomotion activity</li>
<li>An automated micro-mobility solution for hotels</li>
<li>A competitor protocol and hardware devices to the LORAWAN protocol on which Helium Network was based</li>
</ul>
<p>Nikolai’s multifaceted experiences and strong leadership capabilities are a driving force behind DOM Money’s innovative approach.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong><u>Stepan Mytchyk</u> / Founder, Solutions Architect</strong></p>
<p>Stepan’s expertise in software development, specifically JS/Node.js, Tezos (Ligo/Archetype), and EVM (Solidity), alongside his background in microcontroller programming and economic cybernetics, makes him a versatile member of the team.</p>
<p>His involvement in the crypto space is extensive, being a Bitcoin maxi since 2014 and a DeFi degen since Uniswap v1. He has also worked as a trader in the crypto department of an Israeli family office, and the head of a team developing automated trading systems for different CEXs.</p>
<p>Notably, Stefan has a strong record in hackathons with a win rate of 77.7%, is a mainnet validator of several substrate networks, and is also a Tezos baker.</p>
<p><a href="https://github.com/stepandra">Github</a></p>
<p><a href="https://bounties.gitcoin.co/stepandra">Gitcoin</a></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong><u>Andrii</u> / CTO</strong></p>
<p>Andrii combines his background in Signal Processing and competitive programming with more than 5 years of full-stack web development experience.</p>
<p>His expertise in building Natural Language Processing and Image Recognition models in the financial space, as well as his role as a high-scale AWS Engineer, demonstrate his technical proficiency.</p>
<p>Andrii has also been involved in crypto since 2017 and has implemented various automated trading strategies. His technical skills are instrumental in maintaining and further developing DOM Money’s tech infrastructure.</p>
</li>
</ul>
How This Startup Unlocks Web3’s $1 Trillion Future For All Businesses
<h2 id="political-upheaval-and-financial-crises-have-failed-to-derail-sri-lankan-startup-hyperglade-today-the-team-is-backed-by-visionary-investors-such-as-draper-associates-partnered-with-leading-brands-and-is-set-to-unlock-the-potential-of-web3-for-all-businesses-to-solve-real-world-use-cases">Political upheaval and financial crises have failed to derail Sri Lankan startup Hyperglade. Today, the team is backed by visionary investors such as Draper Associates, partnered with leading brands, and is set to unlock the potential of Web3 for all businesses to solve real-world use cases.</h2>
<p>Humanity’s technological progress has reached a convergence where Web3 presents irresistible business cases for the world’s most titanic industries.</p>
<p>Currently, blockchain is…</p>
<ul>
<li>Solving Artificial Intelligence’s critical need for Big Data integrity</li>
<li>Automating insurance claims through the use of self-executing smart contracts</li>
<li>Providing end-to-end traceability for supply chains</li>
</ul>
<p>Make no mistake - these aren’t predictions of the future. It’s the reality of today’s technological landscape.</p>
<p>While it all sounds very grand, it doesn’t have to be. Smaller businesses and non-tech enterprises can equally benefit from Web3’s value proposition. For example;</p>
<ul>
<li>Education and healthcare: Trustless environments with blockchain-verified certifications</li>
<li>Retail: Driving customer loyalty/retention through token reward mechanisms</li>
<li>Creative enterprises (art, content creation, software): Intellectual Property protection and automated royalty payments</li>
</ul>
<p>But the realists amongst us would point out a glaring flaw: SMEs may lack the resources or expertise for effective Web3 implementation.</p>
<p>They have a point - and this is precisely why Hyperglade exists.</p>
<h2 id="hyperglade-making-web3-accessible-for-all-businesses">Hyperglade, making Web3 accessible for all businesses.</h2>
<p>Hyperglade is on a mission to add tremendous value-addition to businesses with Web3.</p>
<p>By combining their deep understanding of blockchain with astute business acumen, Hyperglade carefully studies each client’s business processes and customer journeys to curate cost-viable solutions tailored to their particular strategy and goals.</p>
<p><em>“At Hyperglade, we have experienced first-hand how blockchain can democratize aspects of the world. Our vision is to enable blockchain’s positive impact by making it accessible to all.”</em>
<em>- Kalana Muthumuni, CEO of Hyperglade</em></p>
<p>By integrating Tezos, Hyperglade’s solutions benefit from the speed and scalability of the network, offering their clients the stability required for enterprise-level solutions. The self-amending capabilities of the Tezos blockchain allow seamless upgrades without disrupting business systems.</p>
<p>The future is looking bright for enterprise-level solutions on Tezos, and Hyperglade is leading the charge.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hyperglade">Twitter - @hyperglade</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/hyperglade/">LinkedIn</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.hyperglade.com">www.hyperglade.com</a></p>
<h3 id="hyperglades-unique-position-has-already-garnered-significant-recognition">Hyperglade’s unique position has already garnered significant recognition.</h3>
<p>Globally renowned investment firms have been taking note of Hyperglade’s success.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apac-celebrates-hyperglade-and-gaspacks-investments-from-draper-associates-and-mdi-ventures/">Draper Associates, founded by globally acclaimed Silicon Valley investor Tim Draper, has invested USD$350,000 in Hyperglade as part of their seed investment round.</a></p>
<iframe src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7062614237566668801" height="1039" width="504" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Embedded post"></iframe>
<p>As partners with Mastercard to enable fiat payments, Hyperglade has also become a thought leader in the realm of digital payments.</p>
<p>Hyperglade’s gained global attention from playing a critical role in the grassroots development of the Sri Lankan Web3 space. They hosted the first NFT auction in Sri Lanka and introduced fiat payments for NFTs, a first in the region.</p>
<p>These remarkable strides didn’t go unnoticed. Hyperglade was named among the “Most Fundable Startups” by BOV Venture Engine in Sri Lanka and selected to present live on <em>Meet the Drapers</em>, the massively popular <em>Shark Tank</em>-style reality show.</p>
<p>Working with several service-level clients over the past year, Hyperglade has demonstrated the practical utility and wide-ranging application of its platform - from introducing digital tokens for <a href="https://round-table.org/">Roundtable International</a>, to opening up new monetization avenues for Sri Lankan creatives and charities (<a href="https://healsrilankanft.com/">Heal Sri Lanka</a>).</p>
<h2 id="why-hyperglade">Why Hyperglade?</h2>
<p>While Hyperglade’s impressive track record attests to its potential, any discerning investor or potential customer would be examining the demand for their services and the value that they bring. Without further ado, let’s delve into it.</p>
<h3 id="making-web3-integration-affordable">Making Web3 integration affordable</h3>
<p>The main challenge of integrating Web3 for businesses is the hefty price tag that comes with developing systems that support multi-chain smart contracts and existing Web2 APIs.</p>
<p>Hyperglade estimates conservatively that the average cost of Web3 integration for an SME (if they do it on their own) could range from $23,000 to $90,000.</p>
<p>Using Hyperglade’s solution, businesses can reduce the initial capital investment required to launch a blockchain-based solution by over 50%.</p>
<h4 id="so-how-can-hyperglade-do-it-at-a-much-lower-cost-while-maintaining-the-high-quality-they-are-known-for">So how can Hyperglade do it at a much lower cost, while maintaining the high quality they are known for?</h4>
<p>Hyperglade’s development process is highly streamlined through their modular templated approach.</p>
<p>Think of it as a Lego set, where various templates are built from different pre-built components which can be added, removed, and re-arranged. This means that Hyperglade can deploy quickly, saving their clients time and money without compromising the quality or functionality of the Web3 integration.</p>
<p>The credibility of their approach is twofold: ensuring consistency and speed, while also capturing a vast array of business cases.</p>
<p>But how does this translate to affordability for SMEs?</p>
<p>The answer lies in Hyperglade’s monthly subscription model, allowing businesses access to their modular templated platform. They’ve transformed the typically high, upfront capital outlay associated with bespoke Web3 integrations into manageable monthly fees. Now, SMEs can easily reap the benefits of Web3 technology without breaking the bank.</p>
<h3 id="what-is-the-value-of-hyperglades-web3-integration-for-businesses">What is the value of Hyperglade’s Web3 integration for businesses?</h3>
<p>By 2030, blockchain technology is projected to contribute over USD $1 trillion to the global economy. In a <a href="https://www.pwc.com/timefortrust">report</a>, PWC outlines how provenance, financial transactions, and identity management are expected to drive approximately half of this value.</p>
<p>Hyperglade has identified a beachhead market focused on these industries with strong potential to be first adopters of Web3 integration, from retail; education; and alternative financing in capital markets.</p>
<h4 id="retail">Retail</h4>
<p>The retail industry is a perfect candidate to be a Web3 first adopter - specifically, in the area of loyalty programs. Initiatives like Nike’s <a href="https://www.swoosh.nike/location">.swoosh</a> and <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/the-starbucks-odyssey-begins/">Starbucks Odyssey</a> have already been rolled out, with other huge brands keeping a watchful eye out.</p>
<p>Retail has long struggled to solve the puzzle of customer retention, having the <a href="https://explodingtopics.com/blog/customer-retention-rates">lowest rates (63%) amongst all industries.</a> Customers cost money to acquire, and a failure to retain them equals a loss in overall revenue.</p>
<p>Loyalty programs aren’t effective. <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/financial-services/us-fsi-making-blockchain-real-for-loyalty-rewards-programs.pdf">Deloitte points out the leading cause - too many different programs leading to customer confusion and paralysis.</a> The solution has always been an unified rewards ecosystem, which can only be created with blockchain.</p>
<p>Smart contracts fully remove the need for intermediaries, eliminating a brand’s hesitancy to participate for fear of customer data leakage. Brands can leverage on-chain data to gain insight into customer data and deliver the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/11/09/why-personalization-is-the-holy-grail-of-loyalty/">personalized engagement</a> critical for successful loyalty programs. This is especially helpful, given how recent stricter data privacy policies changes (e.g. <a href="https://www.apple.com/sg/newsroom/2023/01/apple-builds-on-privacy-commitment-by-unveiling-new-efforts-on-data-privacy-day/">Apple</a> and <a href="https://blog.google/products/chrome/updated-timeline-privacy-sandbox-milestones/">Google</a>) make understanding customer preferences harder than ever.</p>
<p>But the true game-changer lies in Web3’s ability to open up an entire ecosystem for meaningful collaboration. Brands go from arduously establishing 1:1 partnerships to full exposure to a dizzying range of one-to-many partnerships, scaling customer acquisition like never before.</p>
<p>Customers who sell a brand’s loyalty tokens provide feedback that they aren’t interested, and brands can adjust their offerings accordingly with data-driven insights gleaned from on-chain activity. Comparatively, the buyers of these tokens are more likely to become consumers of the brand. This means that not only are customer acquisition costs removed, but disinterested customers replace themselves with customers with higher lifetime value.</p>
<p>Taking Web3’s transformative potential into account, we can easily understand why <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/financial-services/us-fsi-making-blockchain-real-for-loyalty-rewards-programs.pdf">PWC places a US$54 billion by 2030 valuation on blockchain-based customer engagement.</a></p>
<h4 id="education">Education</h4>
<p>Today, <a href="https://drsaraheaton.wordpress.com/2023/01/28/fake-degrees-and-fraudulent-credentials-in-higher-education-a-synopsis-of-the-book/">the fraudulent academic document industry is already estimated to be valued at at least US$21 billion worldwide.</a> The urgency of this problem is felt not just by education institutions and employers, but also by governments wary of economic harm caused by erosion of workforce quality.</p>
<p>Hyperglade aims to combat this problem, leveraging the ability of blockchain to issue undisputable certificates to ensure peace of mind for employers, institutes, and students.</p>
<p>Currently, Hyperglade is working with Metana, an online platform that provides expert coding bootcamps. CEO Kalana Muthumuni shares with us:</p>
<p><em>“We are currently working with Metana, an online Blockchain and AI course and training platform which wants to create blockchain-embedded certifications.</em></p>
<p><em>In order to create the utility that they need, we’re enabling all the edge cases including the ability to modify tokens, soulbound token ability, and leaving room for extensibility.</em></p>
<p><em>The system would enable them to mint NFT tokens that capture core details of the course, duration and skills gained during the training, and potentially the subsequent employment details.</em></p>
<p><em>Metana is a highly-respected training provider, and its graduates are highly valued in the workforce. For them, it’s important that this level of distinction is not diluted by fake certificates.</em></p>
<p><em>We’re proud that we can support them in this regard, and aim to continue playing our role in fighting academic fraud with blockchain transparency.”</em></p>
<h4 id="capital-markets">Capital Markets</h4>
<p>Rewards are an integral part of many capital markets strategies, encouraging positive behaviors and promoting a deeper engagement among stakeholders.</p>
<p>One initiative that Hyperglade is exploring with their clients is rewarding token holders with tokenized carbon credits. This transforms a regular investment into a tangible contribution towards combating climate change, creating a deeply meaningful relationship between the business and its stakeholders.</p>
<p>Without blockchain technology, this would still be possible - but incredibly challenging to the point of unfeasibility. Attempts to do it the traditional way would be burdened by a lack of transparency, high administrative costs, and challenges in fractional ownership.</p>
<p>With Hyperglade’s robust platform, the complexities of such a distribution process are easily handled. Businesses can explore rewards like fractional ownership tokens of art or real estate, digital collectibles, or access tokens to gated events.</p>
<h2 id="meet-hyperglades-team">Meet Hyperglade’s team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/how-this-startup-unlocks-web3s-1-trillion-future-for-all-businesses-2.jpg" alt="Hyperglade’s Team"></p>
<p>Each member of the Hyperglade team brings with them a rich experience as a founder in their previous roles, now uniting their talents and skills to power Hyperglade’s mission.</p>
<p>The team consists of individuals highly-skilled in their own domains, from computer engineering, finance, marketing, and operations. This collective knowledge enhances their understanding of the industries they serve, and equips them to meet the unique demands of each project.</p>
<p>But Hyperglade wouldn’t be here without its team’s incredible strength of character - the unyielding tenacity of Hyperglade’s veterans has seen them forge through stormy times, relentlessly pushing forward to earn their current position as a high potential Web3 startup.</p>
<p>Kalana shares with us:</p>
<p><blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“Hyperglade’s resilience was on full display in 2022. We kept going through a global crypto collapse, combined with Sri Lanka’s fuel shortages, lack of electricity and a crippling financial crisis.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
It was our greatest test, but not once did we think about backing down. I couldn’t be prouder of my team. We have been battle hardened to face any challenge and are confident of making this a success.”
</blockquote></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalanamuthumuni/">Kalana Muthumuni</a> / CEO
Kalana Muthumuni’s multifaceted background encompasses both computer science and taking products to market. Having co-founded <a href="https://urban.lk/">Urban.lk</a> and possessing a strong track record in consulting and computer science, Kalana is well-equipped to lead Hyperglade to capture the Web3 SaaS market.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakshan-de-silva-a9b11328/">Lakshan De Silva</a> / CGO</p>
<p>Lakshan’s varied experiences have equipped him with a deep knowledge of the start-up ecosystem. As the Co-Founder of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/spectrifyai/">Spectrify.ai</a>, Lakshan De Silva was featured on the show “Meet the Drapers”. His impressive portfolio also includes roles as a Venture Partner at <a href="https://hatch.lk/">Hatch Works</a>, Co-Founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.iloan.lk/">iLoan.lk</a>, and Vice President at <a href="https://veracityai.com/en/">Veracity AI.</a></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dulithawijewantha/">Dulitha Wijewantha</a> / CIO</p>
<p>Dulitha, the Co-Founder of <a href="https://aristotlehq.com/">Aristotle</a> and <a href="https://www.cabbageapps.com/">Cabbage Apps</a>, also serves as a board member for <a href="https://urban.lk/">Urban.lk.</a> He is deeply ingrained in the Web3 space, actively contributing as an advisor, builder, and entrepreneur, which gives him a unique perspective and hands-on knowledge of emerging technologies.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/malindapm/">Malinda Muthumuni</a> / CISO</p>
<p>Malinda Muthumuni is the Founder and CEO of <a href="https://urban.lk/">Urban.lk</a>, Sri Lanka’s pioneering e-commerce platform. His initiative has revolutionized the way Sri Lankans shop online, demonstrating his innovative approach and operational acumen.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gamika-seneviratne-cfa-80337078/">Gamika Seneviratne</a> / CFO</p>
<p>With a strong financial background, Gamika serves as Assistant Director at <a href="https://www.acuitykp.com/">Acuity Knowledge Partners.</a> His past roles include being a Co-Founder of <a href="https://coves.space/">Coves/Saltyware</a> and Head of Product Development at <a href="https://www.yaratechnologies.com/">Yara Technologies</a>. His proficiency in financial modelling and in-depth thematics brings a robust financial perspective to the team.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/manujith-pallewatte/">Manujith Pallewatte</a> / CTO</p>
<p>As a Co-Founder of <a href="https://blockchain.avantrio.xyz/">Avantrio</a>, Manujith Pallewatte has expertise across different roles such as project manager and solutions architect to tech lead, and has contributed to over 15 technically challenging B2B and B2C products. His expansive experience as a full stack engineer and software developer of more than 5 years brings technical depth and versatility to the Hyperglade team.</p>
</li>
</ul>
What the @^#% Do Investors Want From Startup Founders?
<h2 id="can-you-only-raise-funds-if-you-have-connections-are-you-wasting-your-time-sending-cold-emails-you-want-to-know-the-truth---so-weve-set-up-this-conversation-no-holding-back-no-filter-no-pr">Can you only raise funds if you have connections? Are you wasting your time sending cold emails? You want to know the truth - so we’ve set up this conversation. No holding back, no filter, no PR.</h2>
<p>The evolution of the nascent Web3 space hinges heavily on the success of its dynamic and innovative startups, which work tirelessly to develop the space. In turn, many startups rely on venture capital (“<em><strong>VC</strong></em>”) funding for their survival and growth.</p>
<p>Despite its critical role in fueling this digital transformation, the inner workings of the VC landscape remain shrouded in mystery to the very entrepreneurs it seeks to empower.</p>
<p>This article pulls back the curtain, shedding light on the startup funding and VC ecosystem, featuring a raw and unfiltered discussion around its operations and the mindset of its key players.</p>
<p>Join Rachit Gaur and Vikram Bharati, a Web3 startup founder and founder of Draper Startup House respectively as they explore the burning questions that startup founders grapple with daily.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
How do VCs truly operate? Are the intentions of investors at Demo Days genuine, or are they truly there simply for networking or free food? Why do venture capital investments so often seem to occur through connections, and how can startup founders navigate this landscape to attract investors effectively?
</blockquote>
<p>As they delve beneath the glossy exterior of venture capital and startup funding, they provide crucial insights and invaluable guidance for Web3 founders to navigate this complex space with more clarity.</p>
<h2 id="about-rachit-gaur-and-votan-ventures">About Rachit Gaur and Votan Ventures</h2>
<p>Technopreneur and enterprise architect <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachitgod/">Rachit Gaur</a> is passionate about solving problems and impacting the world through creating Web3 solutions. He is also the founder of <a href="https://votanventures.com/">Votan Ventures</a>, winner of the Microsoft Century Program and recognised by NASSCOM and the Government of India for their work. They have also been shortlisted for the Innovate for India Program by MG Motors.</p>
<p>Their tool, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2/#VChained">VChained</a>, is pioneering a sustainable future for the supply chain industry. Their no-code tools give companies and consumers end-to-end traceability of products, carbon footprints and smart data insights. Through blockchain-verified data, VChained empowers companies to finally achieve net zero emissions.</p>
<p>After launching their traceability MVP, VChained has onboarded 3 beta customers, including MG Motors and Asia’s largest B2B pharmaceuticals marketplace.</p>
<p>They have also been shortlisted for the Leap to Unicorn program by CNVC and IDFC First Bank, as well as the Maruti MAIL Program hosted by GHV Ventures.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Learn how you can trace your business to a sustainable future with VChained. <br><br>Explore the importance of traceability in the $50 trillion industry.<a href="https://t.co/Yr3uxQi0CN">https://t.co/Yr3uxQi0CN</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/votanventures?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#votanventures</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vchained?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vchained</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blockchain?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blockchain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blockchaintechnology?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blockchaintechnology</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tezos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/carbonfootprint?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#carbonfootprint</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/logistics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#logistics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/supplychain?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#supplychain</a></p>— Votan Ventures (@votanventures) <a href="https://twitter.com/votanventures/status/1594640785026473985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><em>Rachit also invites all startup founders and VCs to join his <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rachitgod_notime-business-community-activity-7060216120410013696-wZPX/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios">#NOTIME community</a> - explore collaborations, find initial customers for your business, and build traction.</em></p>
<h2 id="about-vikram-bharati">About Vikram Bharati</h2>
<p>Vikram Bharati is the founder of Draper Startup House, has previously led VC Investments at REAPRA Group, and has participated in the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator as a mentor and masterclass host.</p>
<p>Draper Startup House is on a mission to create 1 million new businesses worldwide through its global business ecosystem. With presence in 7 countries across Asia, they are committed to supporting entrepreneurs across the region.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">✅Provides clarity on company-wide goals<br>✅Provides inspiration<br>✅Is easily communicated<br><br>Here’s <a href="https://twitter.com/dshglobal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dshglobal</a> founder <a href="https://twitter.com/vikbharati?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vikbharati</a> enlightening startup founders on a great mission statement in a masterclass during the last cohort of the TZ APAC <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> Incubator. <a href="https://t.co/bUpnQihZOT">pic.twitter.com/bUpnQihZOT</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1627539535851827205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h3 id="rachit">Rachit:</h3>
<p>I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you, Vikram. As you know, I’m the founder of Votan Ventures, and our tool is called VChained.</p>
<p>We’re proud to be part of the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator’s inaugural cohort. The TZ APAC team has been incredibly supportive, helping us refine our pitch and pivot from a supply chain management focus to carbon footprint calculation.</p>
<p>Our traction grew after Demo Day. We gained our first customer at our first pitch event which gathered numerous startup founders and VCs like you. Although they began with a free trial, it was an important step for us.</p>
<p>Through the TTI, we learned a lot about pitching, Lean Canvas models, and business models, so we didn’t have to rebuild or iterate much after that - and we didn’t see too much value in joining other incubator programs.</p>
<p>Since then, we’ve connected with industry professionals in various sectors who are greatly interested in how our solution can help them provide traceability in carbon footprints, enabling accurate emission calculations.</p>
<p>Although we’ve had really good traction, we faced customization challenges with our first customer, which led me to seek VC funding.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
I believe that VC funding is one main challenge that most startups face - and that brings us to today’s conversation. I’m grateful for this opportunity to explore the startup and funding space from your perspective!
</blockquote>
<h3 id="vikram">Vikram:</h3>
<p>I’ll try to share as much as I can, and do my best to be of any value and help here.</p>
<p>We often read headlines about startups raising millions or billions of dollars on a pitch deck, especially in recent years with the growth of Web3 and blockchain. There’s a lot of money circulating, and we probably have friends who have raised millions with essentially no product right? This is the stuff we see and hear all the time.</p>
<p>Before we begin, let me give you some background on the venture capital market in general.</p>
<p>I think it would be beneficial to understand how the VC business works and how money flows in different times, places, and locations.</p>
<p>It helps startups realize that there isn’t an infinite pool of money waiting to be invested.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
The Dutch word for venture capital, "durfkapitaal," translates to "adventure capital," which captures the essence of venture capital well. It's for the adventurous, with the odds of success being the lowest in any investment category.
</blockquote>
<p>Veteran investors who have figured out the business can succeed, just like some gamblers who always win because they know their craft - what and where to play, when to stop, and so on.</p>
<p>So, venture capital is the riskiest form of investment because it’s the earliest stage.</p>
<p>Let’s start with where the money comes from.</p>
<p>VCs need to raise money from others too. I’ll illustrate this with an example.</p>
<p>If you want to start a VC fund to invest in blockchain, you’ll have to pitch to someone who manages, let’s say, a university endowment and allocates capital to different asset classes.</p>
<p>So this fund manager might be investing in the stock market, pensions, and other funds. He might be thinking, “I need some exposure to venture capital; to blockchain, which is the new industry.”</p>
<p>So now, you have to go to him to convince him that you’re worth investing in. You’ll need to present your returns, portfolio, and track record.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
What most startups don't realize is that VCs know the fundraising game because they need to fundraise for their own funds in the first place.
</blockquote>
<p>I’m currently fundraising for my second fund, and I gotta tell you - it’s not exactly the most enjoyable process.</p>
<p>I’m in the market, talking to hundreds of people every month - cold emailing, attending networking events, researching people. I’m trying to get a meeting with these people, to convince them to give me money which I can then invest in startups with.</p>
<p>Down the chain, people are doing the same to me. But up the chain, I’m doing the same, right?</p>
<p>This is probably the least understood thing about venture capital. They have to go and raise money. And I’d say most VC funds fail because they cannot raise money.</p>
<p>This is very relevant right now, with the whole Silicon Banking Valley banking crisis. People get scared, they try to move their money from banks into gold, and they pull their commitments to funds. So now, I’ve got to pull my commitment to investing in your startup because someone has pulled their commitment to my fund.</p>
<p>That’s just one aspect of how the money flow stops, and so it’s a very complicated and difficult game for a venture investor.</p>
<p>Now, the last few years have been very different - an anomaly in the history of money, with zero interest rates and governments printing money. So with all this money sloshing around, we’ve got stories of pitch decks raising $100 M, and that’s only happened in the last 3-4 years.</p>
<p>It’s never happened before, and now that money flow has stopped. The bubble created by easy money has burst, which will have cascading effects throughout the industry.</p>
<p>So anyway, I just wanted to paint the picture of how venture capital generally works, because it is a complex and challenging business. We only hear of the success stories, and most venture funds don’t even return their capital back to their investors.</p>
<h3 id="rachit-1">Rachit:</h3>
<p>These are great insights!</p>
<p>It’s helpful to understand the industry we’re in, especially from the other side of the coin.</p>
<p>I’d like to talk about Demo Days.</p>
<p>I’ve seen incubators work tirelessly to prepare pitches and projects for presentation to VCs like you, often within three to ten minutes. However, I’ve noticed that very few investments are made at the incubator level, with more investments happening at accelerators.</p>
<p>So, what do you think is the mindset of VCs when attending incubator Demo Days?</p>
<h3 id="vikram-1">Vikram:</h3>
<p>When I go to Demo Days, I’m definitely looking for investment opportunities. But I can only speak for myself and not for all other investors.</p>
<p>While we’ve made fewer investments from attending Demo Days compared to those made from warm introductions or other methods, they definitely do exist - we’re still invested in several companies that we’ve met at Demo Days in the past year. Just this morning, we invested in a startup we met at an online Demo Day a few months ago.</p>
<p>There are times when I attend Demo Days without the intention of investing.</p>
<p>Perhaps because I don’t want to upset the person who invited me, or I’ve already looked at some of the companies and didn’t find them interesting.</p>
<p>But even if we don’t have capital available at the moment, we’re always looking for companies to invest in. The reason for this is that there’s a cycle to fundraising.</p>
<p>When I talk to potential liquidity providers, they ask about what our pipeline looks like. So, having good quality companies in our pipeline is important for us to raise funds.</p>
<p>We’re always on the lookout for promising startups to invest in, and the situation can change rapidly - I could close my fund tomorrow and suddenly have a lot of money to invest.</p>
<p>In summary, when I attend Demo Days, I generally look for companies to invest in. There are times when I go without the intention of investing, but those instances are rare.</p>
<h3 id="rachit-2">Rachit:</h3>
<p>Thanks, Vikram.</p>
<p>My intuition is that some of the Demo Day attendees aren’t interested in doing anything at all. They’re just visiting for networking and the sake of maintaining relations.</p>
<p>I’ve also made friends with a junior VC at a fund, who told me that he has quotas to fill - for example, evaluating 100 startups in a month. This means they don’t actually go through the pitch thoroughly but just do it for the sake of hitting their quota.</p>
<p>Is this regular practice?</p>
<h3 id="vikram-2">Vikram:</h3>
<p>Yeah, for sure.</p>
<p>Venture capital is a business, and they need to make money. The employees of this business - the analysts, and associates - like any other job, have KPIs. They have to check the boxes.</p>
<p>Investors get invited to Demo Days all the time. Even if you’re a no-brand venture investor without a track record, you still get invited to Demo Days. You certainly can’t go to all of them - especially the senior folks.</p>
<p>You have to train your junior folks, so you send and empower them. I’d say probably most of those who go to Demo Days are probably juniors, who have to learn on the job and meet goals, KPIs, or referrals.</p>
<p>And I think that’s absolutely okay!</p>
<p>Sometimes you learn the hard way, but I would say most of the folks who go to Demo Days are probably not there to invest. They’re there as part of their job, learning, and networking.</p>
<p>The situation may be different for a Y-Combinator Demo Day, which is sort of like the Holy Grail of Demo Days. But there are thousands of incubators and accelerators, and they may not have the same prestige and network of investors.</p>
<p>So I would say that you’ve got a very accurate reading of the situation.</p>
<p>You know, I go to a lot of Demo Days. I see the same folks there - and they’re like oh it’s free lunch or dinner. They’re there for the food, but you know, I feel that’s okay!</p>
<p>You might meet someone who’s not there to invest but it may turn out to be a very serendipitous meeting. It’s interesting how these things work out.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
Instead of having high expectations of securing investments from investors at Demo Days, startup founders should be looking at it as an opportunity to hone their pitching or public speaking skills, or to gauge interest in their startup.
</blockquote>
<p>That’s what I tell our founders: Don’t expect investments.</p>
<p>You know, raising capital is very hard, but take every opportunity to just get better at selling, without any expectations.</p>
<h3 id="rachit-3">Rachit:</h3>
<p>So now that we’ve established that Demo Days work, although in a small limited quantity - I feel that by depending so much on warm connections, VCs miss out on so many great startup investment opportunities, maybe even the next unicorns.</p>
<p>So I’d like to ask for your insights into why VCs rely so much on getting leads from their connections.</p>
<h3 id="vikram-3">Vikram:</h3>
<p>Ultimately, it’s a business run by humans. Humans like to have confidence in the people they’re investing in, and they want to get to know people first.</p>
<p>If you look at Japanese investors and the way they get to know their potential investees, there’s a lot of time with them, going to lunches, dinners, and drinks. So I think every culture is different.</p>
<p>Every VC has its own way of doing it. To be honest, I don’t know if there’s a right way of doing it - especially at the early stage.</p>
<p>Once you get to series A and B then, then it becomes a game of numbers and figures. The top-quality companies in these stages are already on the radar of investors. That game is slightly different.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
But in the early stage, where you have an MVP and it depends on your charm and your ability to tell a story, this is business very much driven by human emotions.
</blockquote>
<p>Finding startups to invest in is like dating, you know.</p>
<p>In some places, you’ve got to go on a thousand Tinder dates to find someone that you like. But if you’ve got friends who share a similar culture and values to you, they probably know people like that too. So through them, you’ve got a better chance of finding someone who fits - and this makes your life a lot easier.</p>
<p>So, however you look at it, in the VC business there is very much a human element that you can’t remove from the equation.</p>
<p>Ultimately it’s about relationships. And it’s about convincing people that you’re worth taking a bet on.</p>
<p>Sometimes it’s very easy. Sometimes it’s very difficult.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t know if there’s an exact formula but I think you’re better off getting to know more people and making more friendships.</p>
<p>The more people you know, the more networks you have, the more friendships you have, and the more relationships you have.</p>
<p>I think that’s not a bad thing!</p>
<h3 id="rachit-4">Rachit:</h3>
<p>Previously, you spoke about how a VC company is a business. I have a habit of trying to understand the market or the business of a company.</p>
<p>According to a <a href="https://sifted.eu/articles/european-vc-practices">recent survey, out of 851 pitches, only 12% reached the due diligence stage and only 6% resulted in done deals.</a></p>
<p>So, is this a good funnel? Do you see a flaw in this market, and do you have any ideas to make it a little better?</p>
<h3 id="vikram-4">Vikram:</h3>
<p>Yeah, I think it’s an interesting question.</p>
<p>To be honest, I actually feel like those stats are too high. Maybe they’re right, but if it’s 6% - wow, I would say that’s a very good number.</p>
<p>I think it’s much, much less - probably 1-2%, in my experience.</p>
<p>Okay, I’ve raised capital probably 8 times in my life for various reasons - for Draper Startup House and for my previous companies.</p>
<p>But if I were to build another company, I think raising venture capital is something I would never do again. Ever.</p>
<p>Now I know the venture capital business. I’ve been on both sides - I’ve raised money, I’m investing money. So, I feel that I have a holistic experience of venture capital from both sides.</p>
<p>And if I build another company, I’m going to bootstrap it.</p>
<p>The only situation where I would raise money is where I already have the right business model, and it’s just about scaling the company.</p>
<p>But in the early stages where I’m finding product market fit and defining the business model, then I wouldn’t raise money. That’s just my personal thoughts about raising capital.</p>
<p>From what I’ve seen in the market, many startups are in the business of building a startup because they just want to raise money. Fundraising becomes the goal - building the company and improving lives with products and services becomes secondary. That’s not a sustainable environment for business building.</p>
<p>People get enamored by all these great stories of people raising money, and that becomes the goal. This creates bubbles and fraud - a very toxic environment. I think this is a flaw on both the founder and venture sides.</p>
<p>You know, I’ve recently been thinking about money like it’s water. Rivers flow downstream, always trying to go to the ocean because that’s its natural state.</p>
<p>Anywhere in the world, everyone is always looking for returns. So, money’s natural environment is where it can grow - basically, where all the returns are. And that’s where the money is trying to flow to - whether it’s China, Russia, or anywhere else.</p>
<p>So, if you’re not able to raise money - is it an issue with the money or is it an issue with the company?</p>
<p>Money is always on the lookout for opportunities, and if there’s a solid business with a great model and circumstances that encourage money to flow into it, the money will find its way there.</p>
<p>When fundraising, it’s important to ask yourself if you’re the one placing obstacles in the way of money coming to you. Is it your fault, or is there a problem with the money itself?</p>
<p>I think money’s always money. It’s always going to be looking for returns. Maybe the issue is that we’re putting rocks that block the flow and we’re becoming the obstacles to money flowing into the company.</p>
<p>I’m fundraising for funds too, and I’m not having an easy time. So I’m asking myself - what obstacles am I placing in front of money that’s trying to flow to me? Perhaps my thesis on the fund is terrible, and that’s why no money’s flowing in. Having difficulty raising money is my problem, not the money’s. The money is there, seeking to flow toward me.</p>
<p>I can’t control the flow of money. It has its own natural physics. The only thing I can control is how I position myself so the money flows to me.</p>
<p>Anyway, I just want to share that because that’s what I’m thinking about at the moment while I’m fundraising too.</p>
<h3 id="rachit-5">Rachit:</h3>
<p>All right. That makes a lot of sense. You mentioned that if you were to start again, you’d have bootstrapped. Let me share the obstacles I’m facing in my journey right now as a bootstrapped startup.</p>
<p>I feel like I’m in a vicious cycle - to secure funding I need customers, and to close deals with customers I need funding.</p>
<p>It’s encouraging that investors frequently tell me that they can clearly see the need for VChained - that our solution is right on time since relevant regulations will be implemented in 2024. But they also tell me that we’re too early-stage for them and need customers first.</p>
<p>While we do have very interested customers who we can truly help, the issue lies here - I’m 100% bootstrapped, so I don’t have pockets deep enough to customize the solutions as to how they need them.</p>
<p>I’m struggling to break this loop. Perhaps I’m not connecting with enough VCs.</p>
<p>Could you share what you feel should be a good benchmark in terms of how many VCs founders should be reaching out to?</p>
<h3 id="vikram-5">Vikram:</h3>
<p>From my experience, you should be speaking with 300-400 investors.</p>
<p>And I don’t mean simply sending cold messages to them.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
It’s a very competitive space right now. You have to be jumping on a call, or having a conversation with a minimum of 100-200 investors.
</blockquote>
<p>That’s what I’ve observed from all the successful startups that I’ve seen who have raised money in challenging times.</p>
<p>There are startups that talk to just a few people and get money. But those are exceptions.</p>
<h3 id="rachit-6">Rachit:</h3>
<p>What is the ideal way to reach out to VCs?</p>
<h3 id="vikram-6">Vikram:</h3>
<p>There is no ideal way here.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for a formula - there isn’t one.</p>
<p>I think this is the great thing and the bad thing about entrepreneurship, right?</p>
<p>People will tell you that there’s a formula, you have to do things in a certain way, write a certain thing… sure, there may be some tips here and there, but there is no clear-cut formula.</p>
<p>You have to create your own formula to reach out to people.</p>
<p>I think instead of chasing investors, you should be thinking about creating an environment where investors come to you. That’s the strategy that many startups don’t apply.</p>
<h3 id="rachit-7">Rachit:</h3>
<p>Do you mean personal branding or things like showing traction?</p>
<h3 id="vikram-7">Vikram:</h3>
<p>If you have a good product or service, and a good business model, capital will chase you because they will get returns - as we spoke about earlier.</p>
<p>So, just have to put yourself, your product, and your service out there in the market for people to see.</p>
<p>Right now, it’s the easiest time in history to raise money. Now you can be on Twitter and so many other platforms where you can be noticed.</p>
<p>Cold calling, chasing folks - you have to do all that conventional stuff.</p>
<p>But what can you do so investors will come to you and say “I need to talk to you?”</p>
<p>They should be chasing you - to be stalking you and lining up to meet with you.</p>
<p>What are the circumstances that you can create to make that happen?</p>
<p>It’s going to take time. Sometimes, it can take up to two years to raise the first check.</p>
<p>It’s difficult, but if you can focus on building a product or service that can clearly return money to investors, it’s going to be a lot easier to raise.</p>
<h3 id="rachit-8">Rachit:</h3>
<p>Thank you for your guidance!</p>
<p>I was quite intrigued by your sharing of the venture capital industry earlier.</p>
<p>You pointed out that most investments fail - and from one entrepreneur to another, would you be able to share any thoughts on how the VC and startup ecosystem can be improved, especially in the growing Web3 space?</p>
<h3 id="vikram-8">Vikram:</h3>
<p>Venture capital is a very new phenomenon - do you know how old it is? Let’s do the math.</p>
<p>Before the Internet, investments were heavily geared towards hardware and electronics, which required a different approach - often involving the establishment of factories and physical production lines.</p>
<p>It was only around the late 1990s that venture capital truly took off, with the rise of internet startups. So, if we consider that point as the start of modern venture capital, we could say it’s about 25 years old.</p>
<p>So it’s really only in the Internet age that venture capital has truly flourished, especially in the last 10 years with the advent of blockchain technology.</p>
<p>This period coincided with an era of unprecedentedly low-interest rates, essentially free money, which has further fueled the growth of the industry. The last 10 or so years have been particularly transformative due to this zero-interest rate environment, which started around 2009-2010, following the financial crisis of 2008.</p>
<p>So, half the time that modern venture capital has been in existence, it has been supported by this environment of free money.</p>
<p>So I think it’s difficult to draw definitive conclusions about what makes a good business or investment within the venture capital space. We don’t have enough historical data in a variety of different economic environments to make such determinations.</p>
<p>In recent years, the number of people becoming VCs has exploded. There used to only be a handful. Draper Startup House is named after Tim Draper and the Draper family. They were one of the original VCs in the world, investing in semiconductors, way before the Internet.</p>
<p>So, they kind of built the VC business. They took VC out of the US, being the first ones to invest in India and China. They took the GPL fee structure to India, and they invested in Tencent and the first wave of Internet companies in China. So the Draper family has been in the venture business for a very long time.</p>
<p>They’re pioneers - but I’d say 80% of the VC companies today are new. That’s great because it means more investors, so it’s great for founders and whoever’s raising money.</p>
<p>But yeah, venture capital is a very new industry. And I think we don’t have a complete picture, because half of its existence has been in this era of free money.</p>
TZ APAC Celebrates Hyperglade’s and Gaspack’s Investments From Draper Associates and MDI Ventures
<h2 id="two-web3-startups-participating-in-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-tti-have-secured-investments-a-major-milestone-for-every-startup-but-its-more-than-simply-about-the-money---its-a-signal-of-confidence-from-prominent-investors-a-testament-to-the-innovation-and-potential-that-they-see-in-these-projects">Two Web3 startups participating in the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator (TTI) have secured investments, a major milestone for every startup. But it’s more than simply about the money - it’s a signal of confidence from prominent investors; a testament to the innovation and potential that they see in these projects.</h2>
<p>The passion and dedication of Hyperglade’s and Gaspack’s teams toward improving lives with Web3 technology is clearly evident during their tenure in the TTI, from their eager participation in masterclasses and workshops to sharing their insights with the other startup teams.</p>
<p>These investments serve as acknowledgment and affirmation of the relentless pursuit of their vision.</p>
<p><blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“Gaspack and Hyperglade represent the spirit of Web3 passion and innovation from Asia.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
With their gaze toward the future and feet firmly planted on the ground, they build real-world solutions that positively impact lives by leveraging Web3’s cutting-edge capabilities.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
At TZ APAC, these are the startups we’re incredibly proud to stand with and support their journey within our incubator program to project success.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
As Layer 1 ecosystem builders based in Asia, this is what we’re constantly working towards - empowering Asian entrepreneurs and helping catalyze the region’s Web3 revolution.”
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
- Katherine Ng, Managing Director at TZ APAC
</blockquote></p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator/#hyperglade"><span class="larger-text">Hyperglade</span></a>, a Sri Lankan Web3 SAAS firm, received a USD $350,000 investment from global VC firm Draper Associates, founded by world-renowned Silicon Valley investor Tim Draper.</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apac-celebrates-hyperglade-and-gaspacks-investments-from-draper-associates-and-mdi-ventures-1.jpg" alt="Hyperglade"></p>
<h5 id="ceo-of-hyperglade-kalana-muthumuni-speaking-to-tim-draper">CEO of Hyperglade, Kalana Muthumuni, speaking to Tim Draper</h5>
<p>Hyperglade helps businesses leverage the power of Web3, by implementing customized blockchain infrastructure tailored to their business strategy.</p>
<p>Their solutions fall under a wide umbrella - having expertise in all realms of Web3, they’re able to add value to clients across many industries.</p>
<p>Amongst other things, they’re able to help government and educational institutions with verification; retailers with reducing customer acquisition costs and attrition through Web3-powered loyalty programs; and capital market clients with providing rewards to token holders through alternative financing.</p>
<p>Hyperglade is more than an infrastructure provider - with their team’s strong business acumen and Web3 expertise, they align their client’s strategy with technology. As evidenced in their body of work, they fully understand how to effectively lead Web2 companies in the transition to Web3.</p>
<p><blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“The funding we’ve received will go a long way towards our mission of the mass adoption of blockchain, creating a multitude of use cases tailor-made for every company. We believe that the Tezos blockchain, with its strong scalability, security, and decentralization, can be the network of choice to serve our client’s business needs.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
The TTI has helped us multi-dimensionally, most notably in giving us a 360 degree view on the depth and breadth of the Tezos ecosystem, advice on navigating through tough market conditions, and helping us in formulating thought processes and frameworks required in ideation.”
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
- Kalana Muthumuni, CEO of Hyperglade
</blockquote></p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator/#gaspack"><span class="larger-text">Gaspack</span></a>, an Indonesian NFT launchpad, has successfully secured an undisclosed sum in a pre-seed funding round. The leading contributors to this investment were eMerge, the angel investor network of MDI Ventures, and Arise, with participation from 500 Global and Tokoin.</p>
<p><img src="/images/tz-apac-celebrates-hyperglade-and-gaspacks-investments-from-draper-associates-and-mdi-ventures-2.jpg" alt="Gaspacks"></p>
<h5 id="the-gaspack-team-with-investors-emerge-by-mdi-ventures">The Gaspack team with investors eMerge by MDI Ventures</h5>
<p>Gaspack is blazing the trail in connecting brands, creators, and artists with their dedicated fan bases in Web3. They’re building a multi-vertical Web3 empire by capturing popular digital Intellectual Property (IP) and high-network communities, with several high-profile comic projects in the pipeline for their Web3 comic book store Kometh.</p>
<p>By enabling fiat payments for digital collectibles and UX-friendly wallets featuring an in-app NFT collection browser, Gaspacks doesn’t just make it easy for creators to launch NFT projects - but makes them <em>want</em> to join the Web3 revolution.</p>
<p>Having launched 8 NFT projects in the last year and with a 55,000-member strong community on Discord, they’ve generated over USD $12 million in primary and secondary sales transaction volume.</p>
<p>The funds raised by Gaspack will be used to further the development of decentralized IP by strategically attracting top-notch creators, especially from within the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p><blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“This funding is early fuel for Gaspack to create a robust ecosystem and onboard quality creators. It also shows that the trust and conviction in the Web3 space is still unwavering.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
We’re very excited to integrate Tezos into our platform. We share a vision with the Tezos ecosystem of empowering creators through technology. Through Tezos integration, we believe that Gaspack can be the global platform of choice for creators and brands when launching NFT projects.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
We’re also very glad and humbled to be part of the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator! The vast experience of the TZ APAC team will be integral to our future development and iterations.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
The programs offered, like the masterclasses, mentorship, and networking opportunities, are super helpful for accelerating our capabilities as a company.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
We hope that Gaspack and Tezos can achieve great things together, in driving the mass adoption of Web3.”
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
- Novrizal Pratama, CEO of Gaspack
</blockquote></p>
This Web3 Investor Reveals How Founders Can Prove Their Value To VCs
<h2 id="acclaimed-investor-and-advisor-to-startups-in-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-jennifer-cheng-lo-unpacks-the-powerful-intersection-of-creativity-entrepreneurship-and-technology-in-this-exclusive-interview-uncover-her-actionable-advice-on-making-valuable-connections-building-an-influential-online-presence-and-capturing-the-attention-of-vcs">Acclaimed Investor and Advisor to startups in the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator, Jennifer Cheng-Lo, unpacks the powerful intersection of creativity, entrepreneurship, and technology in this exclusive interview. Uncover her actionable advice on making valuable connections, building an influential online presence, and capturing the attention of VCs.</h2>
<p>In the rapidly evolving realm of Web3, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, few personas embody the synergy between innovation and creativity as profoundly as Jennifer Cheng-Lo.</p>
<p>As the Founder and Chair of <a href="https://www.newchiccapital.com/">NewChic Capital Family Office</a>, she invests in life-improving technology with the goal of making a universal impact. But her leadership roles stretch further, including positions in <a href="https://www.aceinvestmentmgmt.com/">Ace Investment Management (AIM) Hedge Fund</a>, <a href="https://www.jennclub.com/">JennClub DAO</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/coinsgroup/">Coins Group</a>.</p>
<p>Jennifer’s early life was a grand symphony of music and creativity, with her perfect pitch guiding her into the prestigious halls of the New England Conservatory and Boston University. Despite tantalizing opportunities in the entertainment world, Jennifer’s compass steered her towards the equally exciting universe of finance and emerging markets. Her journey is a testament to the blending of creators and entrepreneurs, a theme that resonates profoundly in today’s Web3 narrative.</p>
<p>As an upcoming professional who shattered the glass ceiling in the US, Jennifer’s path led her to Asia, where she completed her MBA at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as a Merit Scholarship recipient.</p>
<p>Today, Jennifer, with her deep roots in tradition and an unflinching gaze toward the future, is a beacon for budding Web3 entrepreneurs. She represents the thrilling juxtaposition of culture and modern evolution that Asia symbolizes, and her story is a testament to the untapped potential this vibrant continent holds.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
“I think Asians are creators and builders at heart. It goes without saying that history has shown we have a strong track history of being entrepreneurs. It's in our blood.”
</blockquote>
<p>Jennifer’s portfolio includes a diverse range of startups and partners from Animoca Brands and Grab to Climate-X, Space-X, and more. She boasts a track record of successful exits in Asia, including Groupon, Ensogo Group, and Plukka. As a creator and musician, Jennifer has also released her own NFT collection, showcasing the harmonious union of her creative and entrepreneurial facets.</p>
<p>In this interview, Jennifer shares invaluable insights into the nexus between creativity and entrepreneurship and provides practical advice for Web3 founders on building meaningful connections. She pulls back the curtain on the venture capital world, revealing the qualities she seeks in a founder and the rigorous selection process that leads to investment.</p>
<p>As we delve into her narrative, you’ll discover a leader who embodies vision, innovation, and kindness, and who continues to redefine the boundaries of what is possible in Web3.</p>
<h2 id="1-can-you-briefly-share-your-journey---how-did-you-get-into-web3-and-venture-capital">1) Can you briefly share your journey - how did you get into Web3 and Venture Capital?</h2>
<p>My leap into venture capital happened quite instinctively!</p>
<p>After a few successful entrepreneurial exits and wins as an investor, I felt a spark to start something new - and that’s how NewChic Capital Family Office was born.</p>
<p>NewChic Capital was like a canvas for my entrepreneurial spirit, allowing me to paint bold, innovative strokes by investing directly in other passionate entrepreneurs and co-invest with fund managers in Venture Capital, Private Equity, and alternative assets.</p>
<p>To me, these aren’t just investment avenues – I see them as a way of being able to fund entrepreneurs at scale as well as being a new breed of founders in and of themselves.</p>
<p>Now, being a chair of my own Family Office wasn’t just about pragmatic considerations like allocating my exit money and tax structuring. It was also about setting a powerful example for my three wonderful kids.</p>
<p>Although I leapfrogged the typical route into venture capital, my portfolio reflects a diverse mix of early, mid, and late-stage tech investments that we’ve continued to expand. We’re also limited partners in several fund managers. I’m still receiving offers from the fund and investment space, for which I am deeply flattered and honored.</p>
<p>The exploration of Web3 was a natural continuation of my journey.</p>
<p>Inspired by my younger relatives who started investing in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin early on, I began to follow suit.</p>
<p>Furthermore, two of my partners - Doug and Virginia of Coins Group, with whom I shared an eCommerce exit over a decade ago - successfully launched a company via an ICO to be a major player in the crypto exchange space.</p>
<p>Their journey provided me with early insights into the evolving best practices for investing and risk management in token and coin trading, as well as the equity side of Web3 and fund management.</p>
<p>I enjoy not only managing my own Single Family Office but also investing in other fund managers and founders. I’m a firm believer in learning through doing and collaborating, and I’m excited to continue this journey in the Web3 space!</p>
<h2 id="2-youve-built-up-a-strong-personal-brand-and-have-a-tremendous-online-presence-what-is-the-value-you-see-in-building-up-a-strong-personal-brand-online-for-entrepreneurs-and-can-you-share-advice-on-how-they-can-do-this-meaningfully">2) You’ve built up a strong personal brand and have a tremendous online presence. What is the value you see in building up a strong personal brand online for entrepreneurs, and can you share advice on how they can do this meaningfully?</h2>
<p>Like my journey into entrepreneurship and investing, I’ve found myself stepping into the role of an “unexpected influencer.”</p>
<p>Indeed, I’ve learned to embrace and thoughtfully cultivate my personal brand and online presence since I realized I had a digital footprint (instead of fighting it) – whether through social media or Search Engine Optimization.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
It's immensely valuable for entrepreneurs and creators to do the same because, let's face it, your reputation is tantamount to anything you do.
</blockquote>
<p>Actually, I didn’t set out to build a digital presence from the get-go. It was only in my later childhood that the advent of the Internet and mobile phones happened. By then, I was already a multi-hyphenate creator, an internationally recognized concert pianist, and an award-winning writer and actress.</p>
<p>I simply ensured that I was open to the right partnerships and media coverage, much like how we’ve nurtured our relationship with the Tezos ecosystem over the past few years before officially deciding to serve as an Advisor to the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator Program.</p>
<p>Growing up, my parents and educators always encouraged me to surround myself with knowledgeable individuals with whom I could learn from and collaborate with. I’ve taken this principle to heart and continuously strive to integrate it into my personal and professional spheres, which have become quite intertwined.</p>
<p>In an age of radical transparency, it’s crucial that my voice remains genuine and my journey, track record, and available information are accurate and fact-based.</p>
<p>This is very important as these days, scams are unfortunately rampant, not just in Web3, and it’s vital to uphold myself and others to a higher standard. It’s deeply troubling to see high-profile individuals, myself included, being bullied or impersonated online for exploitative purposes.</p>
<p>I think that an online presence is a double-edged sword. So, it’s crucial to ensure that all the information about you, be it an interview or a social media post, is value-adding, authentic, and timeless. Simultaneously, anyone or any project you choose to invest time in must be thoroughly vetted, curated, and prioritized with the same intensity.</p>
<p>At this point, everyone and every brand needs to understand the importance of establishing, cultivating, and maintaining their brand. It’s not just about being “doxxed” - your reputation is invaluable and, at the same time, incredibly fragile.</p>
<h2 id="3-youre-also-a-content-creator---having-minted-your-piano-performances-as-nfts-and-putting-out-content-like-podcasts-regularly">3) You’re also a content creator - <a href="https://rarible.com/token/0x8896fb9d5f79d4250a1b1d1a37152dc2fa066a85:2?tab=overview">having minted your piano performances as NFTs</a> and putting out content like podcasts regularly.</h2>
<h2 id="weve-spoken-about-how-content-creation-can-help-entrepreneurs---but-what-lessons-from-the-business-world-can-artists-draw-from-to-see-success-in-their-creative-endeavors">We’ve spoken about how content creation can help entrepreneurs - but what lessons from the business world can artists draw from to see success in their creative endeavors?</h2>
<p>I actually do see great synergy between an entrepreneur and a creative! Both are paths that aren’t conventionally encouraged by family or society - they both require great self-conviction and strength, as well as abilities like problem-solving and divergent thinking.</p>
<p>It’s very important for a creative to stay authentic and true to their artistic spirit. But at the same time, art by itself can’t pay the bills. Unfortunately, that cliche is true - so it’s crucial to understand how to commercialize without selling out.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
The life of an artist is spent in pursuit of honing their craft, and I think that the ability to gather resources to fuel that growth is inseparable from that journey.
</blockquote>
<p>So, my message to artists would be to learn to leverage your unique creative perspective for problem-solving and make sure you learn to develop sustainable business models and monetization strategies.</p>
<p>In fact, I urge all creatives to immerse themselves in business principles, be it through formal education, reading books, online research, or working in startups or tech.</p>
<p>Don’t see business as being a boring industry full of blank-faced people in suits. A successful business, whether it’s a viable SME or a future tech unicorn, requires both a creative and a business mind.</p>
<p>In my observation, the most successful entrepreneurs elevate themselves not only just by having great ideas, assembling a winning team, and executing their plans. They also get to the next level by honing their own creative abilities and communicating passionately through authentic storytelling and brand building.</p>
<p>My creative endeavors have laid a solid foundation for my success in business. Contrary to what some might think, I’m not naturally an extrovert. In fact, I was once painfully shy and barely spoke up in class until the age of 10. My mother saw the arts as a vehicle for me to develop emotionally, mentally, and creatively, rather than feeling frustrated and too frightened to express myself.</p>
<p><img src="/images/this-web3-vc-reveals-how-founders-can-prove-their-value-to-investors-2.jpg" alt="Jeniffer Interview Images 2"></p>
<h5 id="photo-credits-gafencu">Photo Credits: <a href="https://www.igafencu.com/">Gafencu</a></h5>
<p>It was my creative pursuits that essentially shaped me as a person, allowing me to learn, adopt a growth mindset, and most importantly, adapt like a chameleon. They’ve enabled me to engage with international media, lead large sales teams, and manage substantial revenue while still in my 20s with ease.</p>
<p>This shift from a fear-based mindset to one of abundance, collaboration, and creativity was a catalyst for my entrepreneurial journey that started in my teenage years.</p>
<p>For me, learning as a business person is a refreshing break that allows me to reset as a creator. I typically handle business, admin, and organizational tasks in the morning or on certain days of the week, reserving afternoons and late evenings for piano, acting, writing, and ideation.</p>
<p>It’s essential to nurture all aspects of yourself, especially in today’s rapidly evolving world, including automation. Everyone should strive to be a better creator, entrepreneur, and investor to avoid being left behind.</p>
<p>By being an investor, I don’t just refer to the traditional meaning of building a financial portfolio - but also investing in oneself, continually upskilling, learning, collaborating, and embarking on new adventures.</p>
<p>Change is the only constant in life, and we need to be ready to embrace it by investing in ourselves and future-proofing our skills.</p>
<p>Let me give you specific examples. Things like VR/AR, user experience design, motion capture, and eco-friendly fashion - they’re all changes that the world has rapidly adopted over the last decade. Creatives who embraced their curiosity and picked up these skills early have been able to become pioneers in their fields, trailblazing the path with their own bold spirits.</p>
<p>We’re all continually trying to balance and optimize our portfolios. The same applies to investing in ourselves, avoiding burnout as a creator or entrepreneur, and learning to manage our lives and time better.</p>
<p>After all, time is the most precious resource we have.</p>
<h2 id="4-you-have-mentioned-that-you-dont-only-look-at-the-teams-track-record-but-also-their-character-for-example-one-senior-executive-having-run-an-ultra-marathon-showed-his-grit-which-led-to-you-investing-in-their-company">4) You have mentioned that you don’t only look at the team’s track record, but also their character. For example, one senior executive having run an ultra-marathon showed his grit, which led to you investing in their company.</h2>
<h2 id="can-you-share-some-of-your-successful-early-investments---and-what-did-you-see-in-these-founders-that-cemented-your-belief-in-them">Can you share some of your successful early investments - and what did you see in these founders that cemented your belief in them?</h2>
<p>I’m glad you’ve highlighted this. Beyond examining objective elements like pitch decks, it’s vital for us to delve into the subjective factors that can either make or break a project. These can often be the ultimate secret sauce behind why one startup outperforms another.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
We look for grit in founders, which encapsulates perseverance. We seek out examples of founders who have managed to rise above adversity, overcome daunting challenges, and continue to evolve and grow when others might simply throw in the towel.
</blockquote>
<p>For instance, we recently invested in a fund manager who displayed remarkable humility despite achieving a substantial exit at a young age. We saw how committed this individual was to fostering connections between portfolio companies, co-investors, and even those outside the portfolio, all in the interest of nurturing a thriving ecosystem.</p>
<p>I highlight this example because life is too short to invest time, capital, or resources in those who don’t merit it.</p>
<p>This could mean the individual’s values, ethics, or morals are questionable or weak. Or people who feign “niceness” only to achieve an end - I believe that being genuine means doing good for its own sake, and that our actions speak for themselves.</p>
<p>One of our approaches to seeking out these crucial “soft factors” is to prioritize the relationship first. We advise a select few, continuously reassess the project, the team, the founders, and the funders, and recalibrate as needed.</p>
<p><img src="/images/this-web3-vc-reveals-how-founders-can-prove-their-value-to-investors-3.jpg" alt="Jeniffer Interview Images 3"></p>
<h5 id="virginia-lam-co-founder-coins-group-jennifer-cheng-lo-and-vivian-wang-ceo-ace-investment-management-after-their-panel-beyond-nfts-and-investing-how-uhnwi-family-offices-institutional-investors-vc-pe-web-2--web-3-hedge-funds-pick-projects-to-support">Virginia Lam (Co-Founder, Coins Group), Jennifer Cheng-Lo, and Vivian Wang (CEO, Ace Investment Management) after their panel “Beyond NFTs and Investing: How UHNWI, Family Offices, Institutional Investors, VC, PE, Web 2 & Web 3 Hedge Funds Pick Projects to Support”</h5>
<p>It’s important to remember that people and companies change over time, for better or worse. We’re all “works in progress,” and the sooner we embrace this, the better off we’ll be.</p>
<h2 id="5-newchic-capital-only-accepts-warm-leads-when-choosing-to-look-at-projects-we-understand-that-this-is-to-improve-your-deal-flow---vcs-simply-dont-have-the-time-or-capacity-to-analyze-the-thousands-of-projects-that-come-your-way">5) NewChic Capital only accepts warm leads when choosing to look at projects. We understand that this is to improve your deal flow - VCs simply don’t have the time or capacity to analyze the thousands of projects that come your way.</h2>
<h2 id="a-can-you-share-more-about-where-most-great-leads-in-your-deal-flow-come-from"><strong>a) Can you share more about where most great leads in your deal flow come from?</strong></h2>
<p>We receive thousands of cold leads and unsolicited deals every month, and while it’s possible to look at them all, it’s impossible to set up meetings with everyone or provide direct feedback.</p>
<p>As an investor, it’s essential to prioritize diligence and quality, which is why our due diligence process is incredibly rigorous. We focus on discovering those rare gems, either directly or through our network of co-investors, funds, and friends, and help polish them with a combination of resources, introductions, and advisory services.</p>
<p>Most of the deals in my network that end up in our Family Office portfolio or our Partner Funds’ portfolios come from other successful entrepreneurs and investor friends, including some featured on our websites.</p>
<p>Some may think it’s unfair that VC investments come from connections or leads from friends.</p>
<p>But remember, the reality is that often, these relationships are borne through years of working together or observing each other’s professional capabilities. It’s natural that you would trust a lead from someone you know to be highly competent and has good judgment.</p>
<p>Some of my best fund managers and founders are doing both roles simultaneously. As decades-long friends of mine, they excel as exited entrepreneurs, operators, executors, investors, and connectors.</p>
<p>Many of my most successful entrepreneur friends, with whom we share portfolios and select deal flow regularly, are serial-exited individuals like myself with 3-5 exits each. If you’d like, you can find some of their bios and backgrounds on <a href="https://www.newchiccapital.com/">NewChicCapital.com</a> and <a href="https://www.jennclub.com/">JennClub.com</a> DAO website.</p>
<h2 id="b-can-you-advise-startup-founders-on-what-moves-they-can-make-to-improve-their-network-and-make-their-way-toward-connecting-successfully-with-vcs"><strong>b) Can you advise startup founders on what moves they can make to improve their network and make their way toward connecting successfully with VCs?</strong></h2>
<p>For founders, one way to enhance your network is to say “yes” to more opportunities to provide help.</p>
<p>While it’s crucial to remain focused on your venture and not attend every social event, in your partnerships, work, and portfolio (if you have one), don’t put all your eggs in one basket.</p>
<p>I recommend aligning with stellar incubators like the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator, which maintains longstanding relationships with VCs, Private Equity firms, Investors, Institutions, and Family Offices. Quality should always take precedence over quantity.</p>
<p>TZ APAC is instrumental for us, as like our other main partners and co-investors, they understand that careful selection is key to maintaining the quality of the pipeline and portfolio. Having TZ APAC as an ally enhances the efficiency of our due diligence process, as the best candidates are already shortlisted for their TZ APAC Tezos Incubator Program for our mentorship.</p>
<p><img src="/images/this-web3-vc-reveals-how-founders-can-prove-their-value-to-investors-4.jpg" alt="Jeniffer Interview Images 4"></p>
<h5 id="from-left-to-right-jivan-tulsiani-head-of-marketing-tz-apac-jennifer-cheng-lo-virginia-lam-co-founder-coins-group-echo-li-northeast-asia-market-lead-tz-apac">From left to right: Jivan Tulsiani (Head of Marketing, TZ APAC), Jennifer Cheng-Lo, Virginia Lam (Co-Founder, Coins Group), Echo Li (NorthEast Asia Market Lead, TZ APAC)</h5>
<p>In line with how excited we are that our ethos and values match with TZ APAC, we encourage all potential portfolio companies, founders, and teams to remain authentic throughout the process.</p>
<p>My advice for founders seeking to make genuine connections would be: Try not to bombard people; aim to add value first rather than being value-seeking.</p>
<p>This is important because while hustling is important, you don’t want to come across as purely transactional or as a social climber in any regard of the term.</p>
<p>All of us are here to contribute positively and in this mindset, you should prioritize community first. Engage in initiatives to give back, whether it’s through mentoring or donating your time or resources. Anyone claiming they can’t afford to give back is likely only interested in making an impact once they’ve secured their own situation, which in itself is self-serving and self-centric.</p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-text">
How do you add value? Make an effort to solve challenges for people. The investors and advisors you're approaching lead busy lives, filled with their own difficulties and pain points.
</blockquote>
<p>Here’s an example of how one engineer managed to capture my attention. A significant issue arose for me when over 100,000 contact details were corrupted due to a system merge.</p>
<p>This engineer took the initiative to solve my problem - importing my Google contacts into one unified location, and moreover, assisted in streamlining my team’s workflow for maximum efficiency by instructing them on how to proficiently utilize software tools.</p>
<p>In response, I personally mentored him for two weeks. Following this, he relocated to the U.S. and co-founded a very successful startup. I’d like to believe that I provided him with a tenfold return on the initial value he added for me.</p>
<p>The key is to be proactive and concentrate on cultivating a relationship from the beginning. Avoid the short-sightedness of pitching and trying to extract immediate value from someone you want to develop a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with.</p>
<p>There are founders and fund managers in my portfolio whom I’ve backed multiple times, so it’s vital to maintain a long-term perspective. Continually adding value and prioritizing giving before receiving is not only appreciated and noted but will serve you well in the long run and far into the future.</p>
15 Promising Web3 Startups: Introducing Cohort 2 of the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator
<h2 id="from-defi-to-ai-and-blockchain-gaming-these-projects-are-built-on-innovative-ideas-and-driven-by-top-tier-teams-theyre-now-supercharging-their-product-and-business-models-with-access-to-the-expert-guidance-and-abundant-resources-the-tti-provides-follow-their-journey-over-the-next-few-months-and-be-the-first-to-know-about-the-exciting-opportunities-they-present">From DeFi to AI and blockchain gaming, these projects are built on innovative ideas and driven by top-tier teams. They’re now supercharging their product and business models with access to the expert guidance and abundant resources the TTI provides. Follow their journey over the next few months, and be the first to know about the exciting opportunities they present.</h2>
<p>On 3 April 2023, Cohort 2 of the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator (<strong>TTI</strong>) was kicked off with Welcome Day.</p>
<p>15 strong teams gathered to introduce themselves and present their product to each other and potential mentors and investors, marking an important step forward in building relationships that will shape the future of Web3.</p>
<p>These projects were carefully chosen for their innovation and the strength of their founding teams. With the support of the Tezos ecosystem and the experienced mentors of the TTI, these teams are well-equipped to move forward and hone their projects into successful businesses.</p>
<p>They will also benefit from access to the TZ APAC network, leading to potential collaborations that can redefine the use-cases that Web3 presents. The sky’s the limit!</p>
<h3 id="about-the-tti">About the TTI</h3>
<p>The TZ APAC Tezos Incubator (TTI) is a program dedicated to nurture the next generation of Web3 entrepreneurs.</p>
<p>From go-to-market and tokenomics to fundraising and pitching techniques, the TTI equips founders with the resources to build real-world Web3 solutions across gaming, DeFi, NFTs and more.</p>
<p><em>Find more information on the support offered by the TTI, click <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/now-open-applications-for-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-cohort-2/#:~:text=What%20can%20teams%20expect%20from%20the%20TZ%20APAC%20Tezos%20Incubator%3F">here</a>.</em></p>
<p><u>Content Page:</u></p>
<div class="long-menu">
<div class="menu-1" style="width: 100%;">
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#airavat"><strong>1. Airavat</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#battle-of-guardians"><strong>2. Battle of Guardians</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#d-ad"><strong>3. D-AD</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#dom-money"><strong>4. DOM Money </strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#gart"><strong>5. G-art</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#gaspack"><strong>6. Gaspack.xyz</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#hyperglade"><strong>7. Hyperglade</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#neah"><strong>8. Néah</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#pinjam"><strong>9. Pinjam Labs</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#pixl"><strong>10. PiXL</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#reneko"><strong>11. ReNeko</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#tanhaji"><strong>12. Tanhaji - The Maratha Warrior</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#walless"><strong>13. Walless</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#zenith"><strong>14. Zenith by Payper Finance</strong></a></p>
<p><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="#adot"><strong>15. Adot</strong></a></p>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="airavat">Airavat</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-1.jpg" alt="Airavat"></p>
<p>Airavat is an AI-powered utility chatbot running on Telegram. It helps users perform both simple and complex tasks across the CeFi and DeFi ecosystems.</p>
<p>Airavat’s vision is to become a mega-aggregator of liquidity from various sources, such as CEXes, DEXes, as well as other marketplaces. In addition, it aims to aggregate a diverse range of assets, including tokens and NFTs.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/airavatbot"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/airavatexchange/"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/AiravatCommunity"><em>Telegram</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/airavatbot/"><em>Facebook</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/AiravatBot"><em>Reddit</em></a></p>
<h2 id="battle-of-guardians">Battle of Guardians</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-2.jpg" alt="Batte of Guardians"></p>
<p>Battle of Guardians (BOG) is the first eSports Fighting Game from Indonesia previously incubated by Good Games Guild (GGG).</p>
<p>They’re the first real-time multiplayer NFT Fighting game, offering Play to Earn (P2E) features with exciting gameplay. Players can own their Fighters as in-game assets - using them in-game, trading them, or even renting them out and receiving benefits while not using them.</p>
<p>BOG is developed on PC, with iOS and Android platforms coming soon with cross-platform multiplayer capabilities.</p>
<p><a href="https://battleofguardians.com"><em>battleofguardians.com</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/BOG_Official_"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/battle-of-guardians"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/battleofguardians"><em>Instagram</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@battleofguardians?_t=8Vfn6izph2X&_r=1"><em>Tik Tok</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr-fgf-sdPXAU2GaKginNww"><em>Youtube</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/battleofguardians" title="Telegram"><em>Telegram</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://discord.com/invite/aKsvG8Kqv6"><em>Discord</em></a></p>
<h2 id="d-ad">D-AD</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-3.jpg" alt="D-AD"></p>
<p>D-AD is a Web3 advertising protocol that doesn’t collect the data of users.</p>
<p>Their technology enables sovereignty over personal web data - improving security and protecting the integrity of data at the same time.</p>
<p><a href="https://0xcatbox.xyz/"><em>0xcatbox.xyz</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourd/about/"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/0xCatbox"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<h2 id="dom-money">DOM Money</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-4.jpg" alt="DOM Money"></p>
<p>DOM Money simplifies your crypto finances with easy payments, savings and investments in a convenient neobank interface, with no blockchain knowledge required. Features include:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Paying with crypto using QR codes in any store and e-commerce in Asia, Latam and Africa using national QR code standards.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Enjoying single-swipe investment in selected DeFi protocols with sustainable business models. Simply choose the risk level and amount you want to invest.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Enjoying easy money management, all-in-one crypto wallet with convenient neobank interface.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Join their early adopters and check all the reasons why they love DOM.</p>
<p><a href="https://dom.money/"><em>dom.money</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/DOMUNSTOPPABLE"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/dom-money/"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<h2 id="gart">Gart</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-14.jpg" alt="Gart"></p>
<p>Gart Platform is a professional generative art NFT aggregator, dedicated to providing a more convenient and intelligent NFT minting and trading experience for generative art collectors.</p>
<p>With a strong focus on developing outstanding user interfaces for primary market mint bots and secondary market trade bots, their tools enable users to manage and trade their NFT collections on fx(hash) and Art Blocks more efficiently and conveniently.</p>
<p>What’s exciting is that users participating in trading activities on Gart can earn their platform tokens, turning every transaction into a rewarding experience with additional rebates when purchasing collectibles and faster sales of user’s collections.</p>
<p>Their advantage lies in offering a one-stop, exceptional user experience with trading tools that cover the most popular generative art projects. Their tools are all on-chain, ensuring the security of user’s accounts.</p>
<p>Users can access most of their platform tools for free.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Gart_one"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<h2 id="gaspack">Gaspack.xyz</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-5.jpg" alt="Gaspack.xyz"></p>
<p>Gaspack aims to transform the way creatives bring their vision to life in the Web3 economy, while promoting inclusivity for NFTs.</p>
<p>Gaspack is the go-to-app for connecting brands, creators, and artists with their dedicated fan bases in Web3. With support for both crypto and local fiat payments, Gaspack makes it easy for anyone to participate in the decentralized future.</p>
<p>By signing up with a simple email, Google, or Apple account, users can seamlessly purchase NFTs using their cards or bank transfers within the Gaspack app.</p>
<p>With a focus on user-friendly design and ease of use, Gaspack is poised to bridge the gap between creators and their fans in the emerging world of Web3.</p>
<p><a href="https://app.gaspack.xyz"><em>gaspack.xyz</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/gaspackxyz"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaspack-nft-launchpad/"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/gaspack.xyz/"><em>Instagram</em></a></p>
<h2 id="hyperglade">Hyperglade</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-6.jpg" alt="Hyperglade"></p>
<p>Hyperglade provides an easy-plug and play cloud based platform for businesses to launch their own blockchain utility using NFTs.</p>
<p>Their primary goal is to help traditional Web2 clients rapidly, seamlessly, and cheaply transition into using Web3 technologies, to solve real world use cases.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/hyperglade/"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hyperglade"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hyper.glade/"><em>Instagram</em></a></p>
<h2 id="neah">Néah</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-7.jpg" alt="Néah"></p>
<p>Néah is the world’s gateway for discovering NFT projects and their intrinsic value.</p>
<p>Think of them as the CoinMarketCap for NFTs, helping users to discover, understand, and engage with any NFT collection.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.neah.xyz"><em>neah.xyz</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/neahxyz"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/neah"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/neahxyz/"><em>Instagram</em></a></p>
<h2 id="pinjam">Pinjam Labs</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-8.jpg" alt="Pinjam Labs"></p>
<p>Pinjam is a decentralized lending protocol that puts unborrowed funds to work in other protocols - generating extra yield for lenders.</p>
<p>On average, current DeFi lending protocols have about 65-70% of unborrowed funds doing nothing at all.</p>
<p>With Pinjam, lenders are able to achieve 100% capital efficiency for their funds - making sure that their every dollar is working for them.</p>
<p><a href="https://pinjamlabs.com/"><em>pinjamlabs.com</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/PinjamLabs"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://discord.com/invite/5F66V8cKqa"><em>Discord</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/pinjam-labs/"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<h2 id="pixl">PiXL</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-9.jpg" alt="PiXL"></p>
<p>PiXL is an RPG (Role Playing Game) that is designed to evolve and constantly change.</p>
<p>There are 5 core concepts of the game:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Play-to-Earn: Players can earn valuable in-game items, trading them on marketplaces built on Tezos like OBJKT.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Education: Players learn about DeFi and Tezos technology like voting and liquid Proof-of-Stake. PiXLtez, its native token, is used to sign transactions, create nodes, and earn block rewards. Eventually, players can run their own node, which makes them more powerful in their game.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Frictionless: By using an entry token, players can easily access the game without incurring gas fees.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>For the environment: All elements of PiXL are made to have a minimal impact on the environment. The quests, enemies and concepts in the game emphasize the reality of the environmental impact of Proof-of-Work NFTs (e.g. monsters in the game are dirty NFTs).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Collaborative: As a love letter to the Tezos community, PiXL will feature collaborations with artists in the community. It also allows players to share their quests with others while maintaining ownership of their Quest NFTs, emphasizing collaboration alongside the concept of self-sovereign identity.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/pixltez"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<h2 id="reneko">ReNeko</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-10.jpg" alt="ReNeko"></p>
<p>ReNeko is a multiplayer anime-themed brawler and character collection game, built on the powerful Unreal Engine 5.</p>
<p>Uniquely, in ReNeko, in-game characters are Vtubers (Virtual YouTubers) who come to life through player interactions. Players unlock skins through building a connection with them, which actively shape the game’s narrative and character development. The result is a dynamic and truly immersive game world, constantly evolving and changing based on player input.</p>
<p>But the true potential of ReNeko lies in its ability to tap into the already-strong and dedicated fan base of Vtubers. By offering players the chance to engage with their favorite Vtuber and collect skins for them, ReNeko has the potential to create a new community of loyal gamers who will not only play the game regularly but also actively promote it to their Vtuber fan communities.</p>
<p>With its groundbreaking focus on Vtubers and unparalleled player-character interaction, ReNeko is set to revolutionize the world of Web3 gaming and become a must-play game for both anime and Vtuber fans alike.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/ReNeko_vtuber"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/reneko/"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<h2 id="tanhaji">Tanhaji - The Maratha Warrior</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-11.jpg" alt="Tanhaji - The Maratha Warrior"></p>
<p>Introducing Tanhaji - The Maratha Warrior, India’s first 3D RPG mobile war game.</p>
<p>The game is designed with unique features that include the use of NFTs for entry and play, rewarding users for playing through Play2Earn mechanics. In addition, users have the option to make in-app purchases and buy merchandise.</p>
<p>Since its launch, the game has been gaining popularity and has already reached 117,000 installs on Android and iOS in Canada. The game promises an immersive experience for users with its stunning graphics, engaging storyline, and emphasis on meaningful values. Get ready to become a warrior and embark on a journey of adventure and discovery with Tanhaji - The Maratha Warrior.</p>
<p><a href="https://Tanhaji.in"><em>Tanhaji.in</em></a></p>
<h2 id="walless">Walless</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-12.jpg" alt="Walless"></p>
<p>Walless is the first Web3 sandbox-wallet with embedded dApps, simplified onboarding, and a unified cross-chain interface.</p>
<p>Their comprehensive and innovative Web3 wallet solution caters to both end-users and developers, and has been open source from day one. Their non-custodial wallet simplifies onboarding with social account logins (no seed phrases required) and offers a user-centric unified layout to deliver a seamless experience to new Web3 users, removing the need to switch between networks.</p>
<p>Additionally, their embedded dApp sandbox allows for endless possibilities for building on their platform, enabling Web2 apps easy onboarding into the world of Web3.</p>
<p>With this approach, Walless has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about crypto wallets.</p>
<p><a href="https://walless.io/"><em>walless.io</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/walless_wallet"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/walless_wallet"><em>Telegram</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/wallessio/"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<h2 id="zenith">Zenith by Payper Finance</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-13.jpg" alt="Zenith by Payper Finance"></p>
<p>Zenith is the world’s first perpetual futures and options exchange on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>With Zenith, users can enjoy 100% on-chain and non-custodial trading, equipped with the ultimate level of control over their assets.</p>
<p>Unlike traditional exchanges that rely on Automated Market Makers (AMMs), Zenith uses the advanced version, Virtual Market Makers (VMM), providing traders with a more sophisticated trading experience.</p>
<p><a href="https://zenith.payperfi.com"><em>zenith.payperfi.com</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/PayperFinance"><em>Twitter</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/payper-finance/"><em>LinkedIn</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/Payper_Finance"><em>Telegram</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://discord.gg/AXjvbngY8P"><em>Discord</em></a></p>
<h2 id="adot">Adot</h2>
<p><img src="/images/14-promising-web3-startups-introducing-cohort-2-of-the-tz-apac-tezos-incubator-15.png" alt="Adot"></p>
<p>Adot is a decentralized Web3 search engine that aims to revolutionize data collection, organization, and delivery.</p>
<p>Adot’s mission is to make high-quality data openly accessible to every developer and user, aggregating and indexing data from both on-chain and off-chain sources.</p>
<p>This decentralized search engine surpasses traditional search engines, by delivering:</p>
<ul>
<li>Personalized search experiences and full privacy to users, who remain in control of their data ownership</li>
<li>Accurate, scalable, and indexed data in seconds</li>
<li>The ability to create custom-made search engines and recommendation systems to any developer with Adot’s SDKs and APIs</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.a.site">a.site</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Adot_web3">Twitter</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/adotweb3/">LinkedIn</a></p>
<p><a href="https://t.me/AdotWeb3_Official">Telegram</a></p>
TZ APAC and DSH Manila: Empowering Filipino Artists Together
<h2 id="from-a-month-long-art-residency-program-for-filipino-artists-to-creating-synergies-with-local-art-communities-heres-how-tz-apac-and-draper-startup-house-aim-to-support-the-arts-in-the-philippines">From a month-long art residency program for Filipino artists to creating synergies with local art communities, here’s how TZ APAC and Draper Startup House aim to support the arts in the Philippines.</h2>
<p>The Philippines has long been making waves in the worlds of Web3 and art, capturing the attention of tech enthusiasts and art appreciators alike.</p>
<p>As the <a href="https://blog.chainalysis.com/reports/2022-global-crypto-adoption-index/">second-highest global adopter of cryptocurrencies</a>, and a robust cornerstone of the thriving Tezos art ecosystem, this archipelago has catapulted itself to the forefront of where art and technology intersect.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/nfts-the-ever-evolving-world-of-art-at-art-basel-hk-2022/">Art Basel Hong Kong</a> to <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists/">Art Moments Jakarta</a> and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-sea-focus-2023-what-to-expect/">S.E.A Focus</a>, the success of exhibitions organized by TZ APAC at world-renowned art exhibitions have been in part due to the works by prominent Filipino artists featured, like <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/bjorn-calleja-the-artist-representing-philippine-art-on-the-global-stage/">Bjorn Calleja</a> and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/inside-the-minds-of-the-stellar-artists-representing-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-amj-2022/#:~:text=Loopymoon%20(Marion%20Olmillo)%20%2D%20People%20Development%20Manager%20by%20profession%2C%20artist%20by%20passion">loopymoon</a>.</p>
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<div class="carousel-caption">TZ APAC hosted a panel “Filipino Artists in the world of NFTs” at Philippine Web3 Festival, 2022
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<p>The buzzing Tezos communities in the Philippines also make the Tezos ecosystem a vibrant place to be, organizing grassroots events like <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tezmas-2022-celebrating-christmas-with-nfts/">Tezmas</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/TezosPHL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TezosPHL</a> community gathered to celebrate <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/christmas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#christmas</a> in style, by doing what they do best: Creating great art.<br><br>Here are your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tezmasph?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tezmasph</a> winners.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tezos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tezmas22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tezmas22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tezmas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tezmas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/christmasArt?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#christmasArt</a> <a href="https://t.co/YWcZh0NHRc">pic.twitter.com/YWcZh0NHRc</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1605038096067985408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2 id="tz-apac-is-thrilled-to-announce-our-latest-partnership-with-draper-startup-house-manila">TZ APAC is thrilled to announce our latest partnership with Draper Startup House Manila</h2>
<p>This collaboration is aimed at empowering Filipino artists to realize their artistic aspirations, and to provide them with the necessary support, resources, and knowledge to flourish in the rapidly-evolving world of Web3 technology and digital art.</p>
<p>The shared vision is to cultivate a thriving community of artists in the Philippines and beyond, driving innovation and creativity in the Web3 ecosystem.</p>
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alt="“At DSH Manila, our vision is to harness the enormous potential of Filipino artistic talent, and allow the creative spirit of the Philippines to shine bright globally.” Cristian Muñoz, Founder of Draper Startup House Manila, Latin America Lead">
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<p>Katherine Ng, TZ APAC Managing Director, echoes Cristian’s enthusiasm for what lies ahead:</p>
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<p>DSH Manila has been diligently working to cultivate a vibrant arts community, with a dedicated artist collective already in place.</p>
<p>In an effort to expand the collective’s reach and enhance its creative potential, DSH Manila will be conducting workshops to introduce members to the Tezos ecosystem. These workshops will provide valuable insights into the exciting possibilities offered by Web3 technology, equipping artists with the skills and knowledge to leverage the opportunities that the Tezos ecosystem offers.</p>
<p>Here’s also what to expect: an exciting month-long art incubator program where artists will live and learn together from experienced mentors, culminating in an exhibition attended by community partners!</p>
<h2 id="art-incubator-and-residency-program">Art Incubator and Residency Program</h2>
<p>Selected artists can benefit from this opportunity to nurture their artistic skills within a supportive and inspiring environment.</p>
<p>Participants are granted access to a private workspace and accommodations at Draper Startup House Manila, as well as specialized tools and resources to facilitate their creative endeavors.</p>
<p>Additionally, the residency provides a platform for fostering collaborations and building networks among fellow artists, further enriching the experience for all involved.</p>
<p>Through the month of April, participants will be working towards creating their own unique masterpiece which will be showcased at a private exhibition. This will be an NFT artwork minted on <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/akaswap-the-nft-marketplace-empowering-creators-and-communities/">AkaSwap</a>, and showcased at an exhibition at the end of the month.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Creative and Career Development Workshops</strong></p>
<p>DSH Manila will organize educational workshops designed to inspire and educate, where participants can learn more about creating opportunities to further their career.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Personal Mentorship Sessions</strong></p>
<p>Successful artists will take participants on a personalized journey, where they can refine their artistic skills and explore new creative avenues.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Art Exhibit and Networking Event</strong></p>
<p>DSH Manila and TZ APAC will invite community partners from our network, such as various gallerists, curators, and collectors. The goal here is to connect participating artists with these community partners, and create a long-lasting synergy between them.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="details-and-selection-criteria">Details and Selection Criteria</h2>
<p>The Art Incubator and Residency Program will run across the entire month of <strong>April 2023.</strong></p>
<p>
<u><b>10</b></u>
artists from different backgrounds will be selected to participate.</p>
<p>The aim is both to nurture upcoming NFT artists, and to allow artists who have only operated in the traditional and digital spaces to be introduced to Web3 and NFTs.
<u><b>Artists who have never minted NFTs before are highly encouraged to apply.</b></u>
</p>
<h2 id="tz-apac-x-draper-ecosystem">TZ APAC x Draper Ecosystem</h2>
<p>From Singapore to Sri Lanka and now the Philippines, TZ APAC and Draper Startup House are leaving footprints all over the Asian region.</p>
<p>Both TZ APAC and Draper Startup House see a wealth of untapped potential in Asia in entrepreneurship and the arts, and are greatly mission-aligned in realizing this potential within the region.</p>
<p><em>The goal of TZ APAC is to empower the Asian champions in Web3 through education, community-building, and strategic partnerships.</em></p>
<p><em>Draper Startup House is on a mission to create 1 million new businesses worldwide through its global business ecosystem. With presence in 7 countries across Asia, they are committed to supporting entrepreneurs across the region.</em></p>
<p>In December 2022, Draper Startup House joined TZ APAC in its quest to empower the next generation of Web3 entrepreneurs with the TZ APAC Tezos Incubator, where DSH Founder Vikram Bharati participated as a mentor and conducted a masterclass.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Way to go <a href="https://twitter.com/tezos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tezos</a>, way to go <a href="https://twitter.com/dshglobal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dshglobal</a> — this is going to be a lot of fun.”<br> <br>A special message from <a href="https://twitter.com/TimDraper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TimDraper</a> as we build up to Demo Day of the EGG Web3 Incubator (EW3I) happening on 7 December. <a href="https://t.co/yg3PGWsO2I">pic.twitter.com/yg3PGWsO2I</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1586928381085757441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>In February 2022, TZ APAC was joined by Tim Draper himself in Colombo, for a solid panel discussion on entrepreneurship to inspire the Sri Lankan entrepreneur community.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hearty congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/dshglobal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dshglobal</a> for its launch in Sri Lanka 👏<br><br>Team <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TzApac</a> was pleased to join <a href="https://twitter.com/TimDraper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TimDraper</a> and the DSH team in Colombo to celebrate this milestone. <br><br>Here are some highlights from the trip: <a href="https://t.co/Z0ANnseu9a">pic.twitter.com/Z0ANnseu9a</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1623562060633366528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>The Art Residency and Incubator Program is the next frontier of this partnership, and TZ APAC is greatly looking forward to the positive impact we can leave together in the Philippines.</p>
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Future-Ready: How Sampoerna Uni Equips Students For Blockchain Success
<h2 id="erik-krauss-vice-rector-of-student-success-shares-wisdom-and-keeps-it-wonderfully-real-from-excelling-in-careers-to-how-you-shouldnt-only-eat-nasi-goreng-to-achieve-success">Erik Krauss, Vice Rector of Student Success, shares wisdom and keeps it wonderfully real: from excelling in careers, to how you shouldn’t only eat Nasi Goreng to achieve success.</h2>
<h3 id="what-skills-do-you-see-as-being-most-critical-for-students-to-have-in-order-to-succeed-in-the-future-job-market-especially-in-terms-of-blockchain-and-other-emerging-technologies">What skills do you see as being most critical for students to have in order to succeed in the future job market, especially in terms of blockchain and other emerging technologies?</h3>
<p>Well, first of all, successful students in this area tend to be really good with technical proficiency and being able to adapt to new technologies. (<strong><em>Laughs</em></strong>)</p>
<p>But that simple answer aside, I’d advise students to focus on foundational skills. This will help them to be well-rounded and always be relevant.</p>
<p>Technology changes quickly - hard tech skills can be obsolete tomorrow.</p>
<p>So, it’s really important that students also focus on honing their professional skills (or soft skills). This is something that’s required for success across any field.</p>
<p>Effective oral communication skills are vital in the workplace, especially in today’s global economy where collaboration and teamwork are increasingly common.</p>
<p>This rings even more true in a complex field like blockchain - students must be able to articulate ideas, discuss concepts, and present information to non-technical stakeholders like colleagues, customers, or investors.</p>
<p>Developing an understanding of the world and its people is also really important.</p>
<p>You know, times have changed since I entered the workforce. We didn’t use to think beyond our home city, and we only interacted with people close to us physically.</p>
<p>Nowadays though, we often work with people around the globe. Students who can communicate effectively with people from different cultures and backgrounds will have a competitive advantage.</p>
<p>The key to this is developing empathy, active listening, and emotional intelligence. Having wide knowledge of culture allows students to put themselves in others’ shoes and communicate with compassion and understanding.</p>
<p>Yes, developing oral communication skills can be tough. In school, some students are hesitant to raise their hand and put themselves forward. But if you don’t do that for yourself, who will?</p>
<p>Be confident and willing to stand up and take a role. Express your ideas.</p>
<p>If you’re at a lower part of the organization, don’t aim to be simply a worker. Show leadership skills and take responsibility for the things that you’re doing.</p>
<h3 id="knowledge-is-increasingly-becoming-accessible-online-how-can-universities-navigate-this-change-in-order-to-best-develop-their-students">Knowledge is increasingly becoming accessible online. How can universities navigate this change in order to best develop their students?</h3>
<p>Universities are still trying to find out what the best mode of communication is.</p>
<p>Following the pandemic, people are saying that the future of education is online.</p>
<p>But we realized that there are limits with online instruction. There are certain kinds of interaction and communication that’s more effective with face-to-face learning.</p>
<p>At this point, it’s still quite strange! There are groups of students who have expressed that they’re thrilled to be back in person at university - but equally there are groups that still wish that they’re at home. (<strong><em>Laughs</em></strong>)</p>
<p>The challenge is to take the best of both models and integrate them well - developing hybrid models, if you will. Ultimately, the question is - what do we do to make an effective classroom?</p>
<p>One of the biggest challenges today is training teachers to conduct effective lessons online. You can’t just take teaching methods and try to staple them online. We have to do things differently, cut things into really small chunks and organize lessons differently.</p>
<p>The pandemic and the subsequent shift to online learning required teachers to learn quickly, and it was tough for them to transition suddenly.</p>
<p>But that’s the next step - we need to focus on training teachers to utilize both in-person and online models effectively. We should also look at providing instructors with the correct tools to do that.</p>
<p>But academic learning isn’t all that universities provide for students. Really, it’s more than simply delivering a product. Caring for students is part of higher education, and it’s important that we also look at how we can provide students with other services. The key thing is to look for as many ways as possible to connect students with normal day-to-day activities.</p>
<p>When we were online, some students became isolated - students from rural areas are more easily affected - and needed health care services. This is tricky to provide online.</p>
<p>We have students from all over the archipelago. We’re always looking for more ways to connect students with us and each other.</p>
<p>Some of the things we try to do include setting up discussion groups. We connect students to mentors and organizations to do online activities.</p>
<p>In terms of career services, we organized a lot of online presentations by alumni. Also, we couldn’t do in-person Olympic events, so we did it online - it was totally different but it turned out really well!</p>
<h3 id="how-important-is-having-hands-on-experience-in-the-technology-and-blockchain-industry-what-are-some-ways-that-students-can-develop-this">How important is having hands-on experience in the technology and blockchain industry? What are some ways that students can develop this?</h3>
<p><img src="/images/future-ready-how-sampoerna-uni-equips-students-for-blockchain-success-1.jpg" alt="“Most educational theories suggest that if you can learn through multiple channels and senses you learn better. Therefore, as a person in administration, I’m always looking for ways to bring hands-on experiences like this blockchain workshop to students.” Eric Krauss, Vice Rector of Student Success, Sampoerna University, Indonesia"></p>
<p>After learning about blockchain, I’m really impressed with its potential!</p>
<p>It’s important to us that we provide students with the fullest possible learning experience.</p>
<p>If you can combine theoretical and practical experience, you learn better.</p>
<p>This isn’t a secret - most educational theories suggest that if you can learn through multiple channels and senses you learn better.</p>
<p>Therefore, as a person in administration, I’m always looking for ways to bring hands-on experiences like this blockchain workshop to students.</p>
<p>This goes for anything - even ancient technologies like welding, building a house are learned better with hands-on experience and real-time feedback.</p>
<h3 id="can-you-share-with-us-the-thought-process-behind-partnering-with-tz-apac-to-deliver-blockchain-skills-to-sampoerna-university-students">Can you share with us the thought process behind partnering with TZ APAC to deliver blockchain skills to Sampoerna University students?</h3>
<p><img src="/images/future-ready-how-sampoerna-uni-equips-students-for-blockchain-success-2.jpg" alt="“Of course, we teach things out of textbooks. But when we bring people and organizations like TZ APAC into discussion or programming, it adds that real world dimension - something that we can’t really provide all by ourselves.” Eric Krauss, Vice Rector of Student Success, Sampoerna University, Indonesia"></p>
<p>Partnerships like this really enhance our university.</p>
<p>Of course, we teach things out of textbooks. But when we bring people and organizations like TZ APAC into discussion or programming, it adds that real world dimension - something that we can’t really provide all by ourselves.</p>
<p>Our instructors have the knowledge. But TZ APAC is on the ground. You’re executing and being incredible experts!</p>
<p>Universities can’t do that in-house. But by establishing partnerships like this, we can bring incredible experiences and extra knowledge in a field that’s developing so thoroughly and hasn’t made its way into our curriculum yet.</p>
<p>Universities are slow. We have to form committees to decide what food to serve at graduation! (<strong><em>Laughs heartily</em></strong>)</p>
<p>Curriculum is slow to catch up with the reality of the world.</p>
<p>This is where TZ APAC comes in - you’re at that place currently. You provide an incredible service to students - a great, great, addition to their education.</p>
<p>Partnerships like this are a great way to get students connected with knowledge.</p>
<p>They are mutually beneficial, and they really formulate a win-win relationship where you can see what our students are like and developing talent within Indonesia. Students benefit from incredible knowledge and connections.</p>
<p>So, that’s why we’re extremely happy to develop partnerships with groups like TZ APAC.</p>
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<div class="carousel-caption">NUS: NUS School of Computing students gathered to build smart contracts at a workshop conducted by the TZ APAC team. </div>
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<h3 id="what-advice-would-you-give-to-students-looking-to-embark-on-a-career-in-emerging-fields">What advice would you give to students looking to embark on a career in emerging fields?</h3>
<p>Take advantage of programs like this!</p>
<p>Students have lots of demands on their time. For example, getting good grades in traditional classes.</p>
<p>But these kinds of experiences are equally as important as formal classes. Students receive knowledge so new it hasn’t found its way into schools yet.</p>
<p>Connecting with people in the field who can give you career advice is really important. The more you connect with people, the more leads you get. It’s a great way of networking.</p>
<p>I’d really urge students to take part in these programs. If you’re entering an emerging field, you need to do everything possible to keep your knowledge up to date - go beyond what’s taught which sometimes emphasizes declining fields.</p>
<p>For example, in my time as an English and Communications major, we were talking a lot about newspapers, print, and even the telegraph!</p>
<p>Clearly, communication went in a wildly different direction.</p>
<p>It’s important to do projects. Anything that’s hands-on…it’s also important to work with professors and do projects with them.</p>
<p>They can teach you how to develop and research, which is really important.</p>
<p>If there’s an emerging field you’re incredibly interested in, it may be challenging to find a job or summer internship. Volunteer your services - if you’re able to do so, offer it for free! Just to learn about what they do in their businesses. Take advantage of that.</p>
<p>Additionally, it’s important for students of ANY field to develop projects where you help out a community in Indonesia that doesn’t have resources. You learn a lot of valuable skills, but you also realize how gratifying and important it is to support your community. Really, students who do that tend to be more successful.</p>
<p>If you have travel opportunities to see emerging fields, take them! The more cultures you’re exposed to, you’ll be a better fit for most organizations. This really helps your career.</p>
<p>Many organizations are multinational. It’s important to go to a country that doesn’t serve Nasi Goreng for every meal! (<strong><em>Laughs heartily</em></strong>)</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to try new opportunities - do things that are daring and different.</p>
<p>Go out of your comfort zone when possible. In emerging technologies, successful companies are pioneering in their fields. They think out of the box, and it’s important for you to be able to get out of your own personal box.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, we’re excited to work with TZ APAC and develop amazing opportunities for the students of Sampoerna University!</p>
5 Questions with Tulika Ahuja: How this Art Curator brings Exhibitions to life
<h2 id="curator-tulika-ahuja-of-mama-magnet-speaks-about-her-curatorial-practices-and-how-web3-can-be-integrated-with-art-shows">Curator Tulika Ahuja of Mama Magnet speaks about her curatorial practices, and how Web3 can be integrated with art shows</h2>
<p>At S.E.A. Focus 2023, the anchor event of Singapore Art Week, the strength and potential of NFTs as an art medium will be on full display.</p>
<p>The Tezos exhibition will take visitors through an audio-visual journey of artworks by six leading Southeast Asian artists, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/osongkalye">Bjorn Calleja</a> from the Philippines, <a href="https://twitter.com/CwndDien">CwndDien</a> and the late <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orkibal/">Orkibal</a> from Malaysia, <a href="http://rezahasni.net/">Reza Hasni</a> from Singapore, as well <a href="https://twitter.com/ykhaamelz">Ykha Amelz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Discokid909">Discokid909</a> from Indonesia.</p>
<p>Curated by Tulika Ahuja of <a href="https://mamamagnet.org/">Mama Magnet</a>, the dedicated 55m<sup>2</sup> exhibition <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> will tie into ‘a world, anew’, the curatorial theme for S.E.A. Focus 2023</p>
<p>Today, we speak to Tulika to find out more about her work, and her inspirations when curating the exhibition.</p>
<h2 id="who-is-tulika-ahuja">Who is Tulika Ahuja?</h2>
<p>Tulika Ahuja is an independent curator building participatory art exhibits on relatable topics. Her work is a dissection of our current times, inviting you to look at our relationship with society and the natural world in alternative ways. Recent exhibitions include <a href="https://mamamagnet.org/Centre-For-Altered-Togetherness"><em>Centre for Altered Togetherness</em></a> (2020) and <a href="https://mamamagnet.org/inner-like-the-outar-1"><em>Inner Like The OutAR</em></a> (2021) for which live digital otherworlds were created collaboratively. She previously worked with Kult Gallery (2016 - 2019) during which she curated DUNE, a sci-fi group show (2018).</p>
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<p>In 2020, Tulika founded curatorial consultancy Mama Magnet, to actively facilitate inter-disciplinary engagements between artists and commissioning industry clients. Mama Magnet works with their network of artists, developers and cultural producers to strategize exhibitions, multimedia and visual art experiences playfully centered around developments in urban, and/or ecological conversations. She empowers artistic agency, while creating encounters for the community to navigate unconventional futures.</p>
<h3 id="could-you-share-more-about-your-curatorial-practice">Could you share more about your curatorial practice?</h3>
<p>I’m an independent curator and writer, building participatory exhibits on relatable topics. My work is a dissection of our current times, inviting audiences to look at our relationship with society and the natural world in alternative ways. Recent exhibitions include Centre for Altered Togetherness (2020), Inner Like The OutAR (2021) and Permission to Dream (2022) for which live digital otherworlds were created collaboratively.</p>
<p>Since 2020, Mama Magnet functions as an alias for curator Tulika Ahuja, facilitating whatever kind of work I do together with my network of artists - be it research, writing, exhibition-making, grant-writing, generating conversations, prototypes or parties. Mama Magnet strategizes multi-media and visual art experiences playfully centered around developments in urban, and/or ecological conversations. We empower artistic agency, while creating encounters for the community to navigate unconventional futures.</p>
<h2 id="what-do-you-find-exciting-about-creating-a-web3-centric-exhibition">What do you find exciting about creating a Web3-centric exhibition?</h2>
<p>I find the Web3 space exciting for storytelling and tapping on under-represented voices. I’m also excited by the potential it brings to streamline creative licensing, remuneration of creative labor and presentation of digital art. It’s doubly exciting that the space is still young, welcoming a lot of innovation and creator-centric ideas.</p>
<h2 id="a-world-anew-is-the-curatorial-theme-for-sea-focus-2023-could-you-share-how-you-conceptualized-living-system-an-nft-show-in-response-to-and-to-synergise-with-the-overarching-theme">“A World Anew” is the curatorial theme for S.E.A. Focus 2023. Could you share how you conceptualized “Living System: An NFT Show” in response to and to synergise with the overarching theme?</h2>
<p>This is a time of global transition and burgeoning mental and ecological instability. As we move forward into ‘A World Anew’, it’s important to do so with clarity and consciousness.</p>
<p>To further contextualize, the internet is buzzing with more activity than before, and we’ve seen our arts and events industry return with a bang in Singapore. But every activity is made better when performed with a rested mind. The exploration of ‘Living System’ speaks to this balance. It invites the viewer to pause and observe amongst artworks performing acts of self-maintenance. The medium of NFTs are actively looping to parallel life’s rhythmic pulses and continuous journeys. They also use visual languages that sway between human and humanoid, acknowledging our many existences.</p>
<h3 id="could-you-provide-us-with-a-glimpse-into-your-curatorial-process-with-regards-to-how-you-selected-this-group-of-talented-and-aesthetically-diverse-artists">Could you provide us with a glimpse into your curatorial process with regards to how you selected this group of talented and aesthetically diverse artists?</h3>
<p>Each of the artists are storytellers and keen observers. Their diversity stems from their processes of art making, and grasp on visualizing life experiences. The purpose of my curation is to create continuity in between the ideas presented, and to fill the gaps with opportunities for audiences to immerse into their narrative worlds. It was also important for me to draw links back to the current status quo of paradigm shifts related to expanding cyberspace, working across multiple time zones, and concurrent existences in material and non-material worlds.</p>
<h3 id="what-kind-of-experience-are-you-hoping-to-create-for-the-viewer">What kind of experience are you hoping to create for the viewer?</h3>
<p>Firstly, I hope the viewer will feel our invitation to stay, observe and respond to the artworks – in the form of acknowledging whatever feelings that may arise. The experience is built to be welcoming, peppered with relatable quirks and imaginative otherworlds.</p>
<p>I hope to create space for personal and communal dialogue with ourselves and each other. How can systems of care manifest in each of us? What do we really need from each other? Can we decide on useful boundaries and coping mechanisms for ourselves? It will be a success if the viewer realizes these questions around activity and rest, because it would mean we’ve helped them pause and pull closer to formulating a system of living that works for them.</p>
Empowering Artists with Web3: Insights and tips from Ykha Amelz & Discokid909
<h2 id="how-can-aspiring-artists-leverage-web3-to-be-successful-why-is-the-spirit-and-tech-of-web3-great-for-artists-and-collaborations-powerhouse-dj-and-visual-artist-duo-d909-and-ykha-share-their-journeys-here">How can aspiring artists leverage Web3 to be successful? Why is the spirit and tech of Web3 great for artists and collaborations? Powerhouse DJ and visual artist duo D909 and Ykha share their journeys here.</h2>
<p>At S.E.A. Focus 2023, the anchor event of Singapore Art Week, the strength and potential of NFTs as an art medium will be on full display.</p>
<p>The Tezos exhibition will take visitors through an audio-visual journey of artworks by six leading Southeast Asian artists, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/osongkalye">Bjorn Calleja</a> from the Philippines, <a href="https://twitter.com/CwndDien">CwndDien</a> and the late <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orkibal/">Orkibal</a> from Malaysia, <a href="http://rezahasni.net/">Reza Hasni</a> from Singapore, as well <a href="https://twitter.com/ykhaamelz">Ykha Amelz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Discokid909">Discokid909</a> from Indonesia.</p>
<p>Curated by Tulika Ahuja of <a href="https://mamamagnet.org/">Mama Magnet</a>, the dedicated 55m<sup>2</sup> exhibition <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> will tie into ‘a world, anew’, the curatorial theme for S.E.A. Focus 2023.</p>
<p>In this article, we feature Discokid909 and Ykha Amelz, the powerhouse DJ and visual artist duo collaborating to give visitors to the Tezos exhibition an experience that stimulates the senses.</p>
<h2 id="who-is-discokid909">Who is Discokid909?</h2>
<img alt="Discokid909" src="/images/empowering-artists-with-web3-insights-and-tips-from-ykha-amelz-&-discokid909-1.png" class="small-pict">
<p>Well known as the man behind the band Rock N Roll Mafia, Hendra Jaya Putra has always been one adventurous person in the electronic music scene. He was active as a DJ around 2004-2017 throughout Bandung, Jakarta, and Bali (Indonesia). But currently, he dives deeper into creating electronic music with his modular synthesizer.</p>
<p>Performing with his new system under the name Discokid909, his music NFT journey can be traced by his minted original tracks which can be found on various Web3 platforms.</p>
<p>They are accompanied by visual artwork and a special D-909 character by Ykha Amelz, his significant other. He has also done a few collaborations with other amazing visual artists like Debbie Tea, Loreng, MicroBeing, Arya Mularama, Wickana, Betok, and Gengoya.</p>
<h3 id="can-you-tell-us-more-about-your-experiences-within-the-music-nft-scene-in-web3-and-the-tezos-ecosystem">Can you tell us more about your experiences within the music NFT scene in Web3 and the Tezos ecosystem?</h3>
<p>My NFT journey began at the Tezos ecosystem where I first learnt everything – from creating a wallet, to minting and listing, and finally collecting NFTs.</p>
<p>The friendly gas fee is a reason behind many creators choosing to mint their work on Tezos - not everyone can afford the trial and error approach of minting and listing on other ecosystems.</p>
<p>So, Tezos has greatly facilitated onboarding and the start of many creators’ NFT journeys.</p>
<p>Through my Web3 journey, I learned to open up more and socialize with the Web3 community - where I got to know so many visual artists and more about their work.</p>
<p>Before I started minting, I was encouraging my wife, Ykha, to mint her NFTs because visual art was booming back then. But only a few months after, Ykha convinced me to try minting my music too as she noticed people starting to mint their music on Tezos. After that, there was a wave of musicians entering Tezos NFT ecosystem. It was quite exciting!</p>
<p>There was also HENradio which highlighted all the music NFTs. I was so proud to be a part of that era and I’m so happy to still be a part of the Tezos ecosystem till this day!</p>
<h3 id="after-you-started-incorporating-art-into-your-work-has-it-impacted-your-style-of-making-music">After you started incorporating art into your work, has it impacted your style of making music?</h3>
<p>At first I minted original tracks that hadn’t been released before. Since I started minting during the pandemic (in the middle of a lockdown), I decided to create new music tracks that would make people smile, boost their vibes, and empower them with the spirit to get through the gloomy pandemic phase.</p>
<p>Ykha’s visual style also has this concept in mind. That’s why it’s only natural that our art makes a great combo, we have the ability to complement each other’s work.</p>
<h3 id="can-you-tell-us-more-about-the-web3-collaborations-that-youve-done-with-other-artists-does-the-spirit-nature-and-technology-of-web3-bring-a-more-collaborative-environment">Can you tell us more about the Web3 collaborations that you’ve done with other artists? Does the spirit, nature, and technology of Web3 bring a more collaborative environment?</h3>
<p>I’ve been really enjoying collaborating with lots of visual artists that already have their own strong visual character. To me, it becomes a fun challenge to produce the music for such different signature styles.</p>
<p>It pushes me to keep learning and exploring more music, but at the same time still preserving my own style. The final result varies and is always a good surprise for both parties.</p>
<p>The spirit and the technology of Web3 really does have the influence and the necessary tools to be a great environment for collaboration. You can mint a collaborative piece together, connecting it to all the artists involved. The best part is you can set it to split the royalties. The transparency of the system makes it easier to encourage fair collaborations between artists. It is something admirable that should be adopted as soon as possible.</p>
<h3 id="the-web3-environment-has-seen-more-collaborations-between-visual-and-audio-artists-for-their-benefit-and-learning-can-you-tell-us-more-about-the-processchallenges-for-artists-who-wish-to-enter-cross-media-collaborations">The Web3 environment has seen more collaborations between visual and audio artists. For their benefit and learning, can you tell us more about the process/challenges for artists who wish to enter cross-media collaborations?</h3>
<p>I think the process is almost the same as doing a cross-media collaboration in real life, beginning with mutual admiration of each other’s work.</p>
<p>In Web3, what needs to be emphasized is building connections with the other artists, trust, continuously creating and delivering your best work while you’re engaging with the community.</p>
<p>It may sound like a juggling act, but this is the challenge. Only through continuous engagement will you find the right people who believe in your work, and vice versa. Lifting each other up is always the way in Web3.</p>
<h2 id="who-is-ykha-amelz">Who is Ykha Amelz?</h2>
<img alt="Ykha Amelz" src="/images/empowering-artists-with-web3-insights-and-tips-from-ykha-amelz-&-discokid909-2.png" class="small-pict">
<p>Ykha is a 2D artist, based in Indonesia. Since 2008, she has been working on various illustration projects. But only after she started drawing her French bulldog Babbot did she finally find her true calling in her artwork. It awakened her inner-child nostalgia for cartoons and comics which became a significant turning point on her illustrative style. While initially a coping mechanism for escaping work frustration, her playful characters took on a life of their own, spreading joy to people who see her art, which led to exhibitions, a book, and collaborations with global brands, such as VANS, COACH, Netflix, Samsung, etc.</p>
<p>Since her NFT debut in mid 2021, she has managed to deliver more epic and colorful pieces. Rendering her stories and chaotic mind into a vibrant world filled with an expanding family of cartoon characters, she’s now stepping into frame-by-frame animation to bring smiles to more people.</p>
<h3 id="what-does-your-collaboration-with-discokid909-and-the-involvement-of-music-bring-out-in-your-practice">What does your collaboration with Discokid909, and the involvement of music bring out in your practice?</h3>
<p>Music has always been there accompanying us when we’re working, when we’re eating, when we’re driving, watching a movie, etc. Like visuals, music creates an energy on its own - it can guide someone to a certain space of mind. So in my practice, mixing music with visuals can create a combo of synchronized energy. Discokid909 and I, we are inspiring and boosting each other through our art, and with that chemistry we hope to give a bigger impact to the viewer of our collaboration.</p>
<h3 id="youve-got-art-that-incorporates-visual-art-and-music-which-takes-the-audience-through-an-experiential-journey-using-sight-and-sound-could-web3-technology-enable-artists-to-involve-other-senses-in-the-future-and-is-that-something-of-creative-value">You’ve got art that incorporates visual art and music, which takes the audience through an experiential journey using sight and sound. Could Web3 technology enable artists to involve other senses in the future, and is that something of creative value?</h3>
<p>I think the incorporation of visual and music has always lifted each other up since I can remember. So it’s not really something new.</p>
<p>But Web3 has managed to give the movement of digital art, whether in visual or in music, a shift in value and respect. Web3 can create such a positive drive that you can even see the rapid art development of the creators in the space.</p>
<p>I’m sure in the near future it will unlock and involve more senses, and that is always going to be something wild and exciting for the creative movement.</p>
<h3 id="you-have-collaborated-with-various-global-brands-like-vans-coach-netflix-and-more-through-your-observation-how-does-web3-technology-enable-them-to-take-their-audiences-through-more-meaningful-journeys-through-art">You have collaborated with various global brands like Vans, Coach, Netflix and more. Through your observation, how does Web3 technology enable them to take their audiences through more meaningful journeys through art?</h3>
<p>Collaborating with artists that are also active in Web3 could bring more positive value and exposure to the brand globally.</p>
<p>I think Web3’s global reach is much stronger than Web2. This is me speaking through experience from finding it hard to show and sell my work in a gallery in my own country, to suddenly showing them in New York, Osaka, Tokyo, LA, and next Singapore, all in one year.</p>
<p>After being active in the space, I also received more collaboration offers from international clients. So, yes the reach is real.</p>
<p>Besides that, Web3 enables brands to explore and create new ideas with the technology - such as maybe doing an online activation for a campaign with platforms like Decentraland, Oncyber, etc, making it a completely whole new journey.</p>
<h3 id="what-would-you-tell-your-creative-peers-looking-to-make-the-most-out-of-web3">What would you tell your creative peers looking to make the most out of Web3?</h3>
<p>That it’s not an instant way to get money, you still have to do all the grinding and the research like a regular job.</p>
<p>Also, the most important thing besides focusing on your art is to make genuine connections between fellow creators, collectors, and the community. It will be very difficult to understand it or make it with only one person’s effort. Support each other, learn together, and through that you’ll find the people who truly connect with your art and help it bloom.</p>
<h3 id="how-are-you-feeling-ahead-of-having-your-art-showcased-in-such-a-prominent-arts-event-during-the-singapore-art-week-what-can-visitors-to-the-exhibition-enjoying-your-art-look-forward-to">How are you feeling ahead of having your art showcased in such a prominent arts event during the Singapore Art Week? What can visitors to the exhibition enjoying your art look forward to?</h3>
<p>We are very honored and very excited to be showing our work in this event. I hope the visitors can enter the room that shows our collaboration and be able to unwind.</p>
<p>Disconnect from the outside and connect with oneself through the art and music that will transport you into a Friday night.</p>
<p><em>This interview has been edited for clarity.</em></p>
How Indonesian artist Binerica is empowered by Web3: Binerica NFT project
<h2 id="fadhli-speaks-about-the-newly-launched-binerica-nft-project-and-how-the-tezos-ecosystem-and-web3-enables-collaborations-between-creators">Fadhli speaks about the newly launched Binerica NFT project, and how the Tezos ecosystem and Web3 enables collaborations between creators.</h2>
<h2 id="about-binerica-and-the-new-album-lima-dimensi">About Binerica, and the new album ‘Lima Dimensi’</h2>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/_binerica">Binerica</a> is a one man band founded by Fadhli Faizal - singer, songwriter, and producer from Jakarta. The band’s name was inspired by the ubiquitous machine language used by almost all computer-based devices, the binary code. It also represents how the music was produced - through a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) on a single computer, with dozens of virtual instruments carrying billions of binary instructions.</p>
<p>Binerica’s new album, ‘<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2Qgt7kKOzv6CzYVGlTM8E6?si=QBNCiDhHTQ6-EvYXaCIhGg">Lima Dimensi</a>’ features synth-wave, psychedelic, and alternative sounds that blend together into a harmonious melody that takes our soul through a contemplative adventure through the cosmos.</p>
<p>‘Lima Dimensi’ is a collective project on Tezos, featuring collaborative work between artists and creators passionate about Web3. This album is a true form of community-based collaboration.</p>
<p><em>“Binerica’s first album can be interpreted as the journey of every human being in searching for answers about the truth of life. We can interpret each message in the lyrics as coordinates that can bring us closer, or keep us away from the truth that we have been looking for.</em></p>
<p><em>Along the way, these coordinates are complemented by visuals from another space and time adventurer named Radhinal Indra, which will enrich the imagination to be able to open up other possibilities about the journey.”</em></p>
<h2 id="about-the-binerica-nft-project">About the Binerica NFT project</h2>
<p>The Binerica NFT project involves two different collections.</p>
<p>The main NFT collection consists of 10 tracks on Binerica’s album, and 25 editions of each track can be minted. Holders of this collection will also be airdropped NFTs of the track artwork, and a music sample which holders can use royalty-free.</p>
<p>Accompanying this will be the Celestial Objects NFT collection, produced by Binerica’s close collaborators. All sales will go directly to the collaborating artists.</p>
<p><em>70% of the funds raised from the NFT mint will be used to fund Binerica’s second album.</em></p>
<p><em>The other 30% of the funds raised will be used to give back to the Web3 community, through buying other music NFTs, especially in the Tezos ecosystem.</em></p>
<p>You can begin your journey at <a href="http://binerica.com">Binerica.com</a>. , and check out the NFTs at <a href="https://objkt.com/collection/KT1N98NPkWTy3pPqS4aS7mwU7AREQWFw1Ra7">Objkt.com</a>.</p>
<h2 id="fadhli-speaks-on-web3-his-inspirations-and-collaborators">Fadhli speaks on Web3, his inspirations and collaborators</h2>
<h3 id="can-you-share-more-about-your-background-in-both-music-and-nfts">Can you share more about your background in both music and NFTs?</h3>
<p>I was exposed to the world of Web3 and NFTs through a couple of friends who’ve been in the Web3 space as collectors and artists.</p>
<p>Long ago, my dream of becoming a musician was blocked by the fact that being signed by a record label was the only path into the music industry. Chasing my dream through that route was hard.</p>
<p>Now, we have multiple paths of breaking into the music industry - so my dream has been reignited once again! Recently, I’ve taken all the lyrics I’ve written over the years and developed them into songs. You can check them out on my <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2Qgt7kKOzv6CzYVGlTM8E6?si=QBNCiDhHTQ6-EvYXaCIhGg">Spotify</a> here.</p>
<iframe style="border-radius:12px; height: 352px !important;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/7MSbCq2BpaEZBfAeWWfppd?utm_source=generator" width="100%" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<h3 id="what-does-nft-technology-mean-for-artists-when-it-comes-to-copyrights-and-royalties">What does NFT technology mean for artists when it comes to copyrights and royalties?</h3>
<p>For me, the most significant thing that NFTs offer is the ability to share royalties with buyers/collectors transparently.</p>
<p>I truly hope that governments continue keeping up with these developments, creating and adjusting policy with regards to copyrights and royalties in Web3, in the interest of protecting artists.</p>
<h3 id="does-web3-enable-you-to-connect-more-closely-with-your-audience-and-community">Does Web3 enable you to connect more closely with your audience and community?</h3>
<p>Absolutely. I’ve made a number of new peers (artists and art enthusiasts) from NFT art communities.</p>
<p>For an indie artist like me to keep thriving, expanding my network is surely a must - and the spirit of Web3 enables that!</p>
<h3 id="what-were-the-inspirations-behind-this-album">What were the inspirations behind this album?</h3>
<p>The biggest inspiration has got to be Carl Sagan. I’m a fan of his, and am passionate about astronomy!</p>
<p>I’ve watched the Cosmos documentary multiple times, which has affected my perspective towards life. Drawing inspiration there, I write down my thoughts and turn them into lyrics.
In fact, the <em>‘Lima Dimensi’</em> album is a result of my interest in astronomy, packed with science fiction concepts. My inspirations here not only come from Sci-Fi themed songs like David Bowie’s <em>‘Space Oddity’</em> but also from Sci-Fi movies like <em>‘Interstellar’</em> and <em>‘Arrival’</em>. These had strong influences on the creation of this album.</p>
<h3 id="how-did-you-meet-your-collaborators-and-decide-to-work-with-them-could-you-share-your-thoughts-on-collaborations-in-web3">How did you meet your collaborators, and decide to work with them? Could you share your thoughts on collaborations in Web3?</h3>
<p>I’ve actually been friends with some of my collaborators before I was into NFTs! Most of them had already been in the Web3 space for quite some time.</p>
<p>I also received help from my friends at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/animal3creative/">Anml3</a>, who introduced me to Web3 and set me up with ideas for the project, including how we could collaborate with other artists for this Binerica NFT project.</p>
<p>My best regards to fellow artists/creators involved in this project: <a href="http://Radhinal.com">Radhinal Indra</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/alinesubi89">Aline Subi</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/anomfarid">Anom Farid</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/studiomune/">Rizki Katamsi</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ghoyo">Adit Ghoyo</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/ociiirthankyou">Rico</a>.</p>
<p>From my point of view, Web3 can help collaborations between artists flourish greatly. It empowers artists through things like royalty sharing, channeling a creative atmosphere, and allowing global networking - these are the essence of conducive artists collaborations.</p>
<p>If artists don’t explore Web3 - that’s quite an opportunity they’re missing!</p>
<p>Speaking of collaboration, I’m looking forward to what companies like Anml3 will accomplish in this space through collaborating with each other. Let’s see!</p>
<h3 id="how-does-your-nft-project-add-value-to-holders-and-the-tezos-ecosystem">How does your NFT project add value to holders and the Tezos ecosystem?</h3>
<p>I truly hope that this NFT project can provide extra value to the holders. One such value-add is that holders can use or reproduce samples from some of my songs without paying royalties. For example, creators can use my music to accompany their works. The usage of those samples are endless!</p>
<p>I also wish that more indie musicians will utilize Tezos as a platform to market their music - considering the strength and friendliness of the Tezos ecosystem. I believe that the Tezos ecosystem is perfect for artists and creators to flourish.</p>
<p><em>This interview has been edited for clarity.</em></p>
Legacy, Community, and Collaboration: CwndDien and Orkibal
<h2 id="find-out-more-about-the-malaysian-duo-that-has-left-a-huge-influence-on-the-south-east-asian-art-scene-in-this-interview-with-cwnddien-orkibals-close-collaborator">Find out more about the Malaysian duo that has left a huge influence on the South East Asian art scene in this interview with CwndDien, Orkibal’s close collaborator.</h2>
<p>At S.E.A. Focus 2023, the anchor event of Singapore Art Week, the strength and potential of NFTs as an art medium will be on full display.</p>
<p>The Tezos exhibition will take visitors through an audio-visual journey of artworks by six leading Southeast Asian artists, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/osongkalye">Bjorn Calleja</a> from the Philippines, <a href="https://twitter.com/CwndDien">CwndDien</a> and the late <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orkibal/">Orkibal</a> from Malaysia, <a href="http://rezahasni.net/">Reza Hasni</a> from Singapore, as well <a href="https://twitter.com/ykhaamelz">Ykha Amelz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Discokid909">Discokid909</a> from Indonesia.</p>
<p>Curated by Tulika Ahuja of <a href="https://mamamagnet.org/">Mama Magnet</a>, the dedicated 55m<sup>2</sup> exhibition <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> will tie into ‘a world, anew’, the curatorial theme for S.E.A. Focus 2023.</p>
<p>In this article, we interview CwndDien, who will be building on the unreleased works of the late Orkibal, and presenting them at the Tezos exhibition.</p>
<h2 id="who-are-orkibal-and-cwnddien">Who are Orkibal and CwndDien?</h2>
<div class="side-by-side-images">
<img alt="Orkibal" src="/images/legacy-community-and-collaboration-cwndien-and-orkibal-1.png" class="side-img">
<img alt="Cwn" src="/images/legacy-community-and-collaboration-cwndien-and-orkibal-2.png" class="side-img-1">
</div>
<div>
<h5 class="caption">Orkibal (left) and CwndDien (right)</h5>
</div>
<p>Identifiable by his unique breed of character designs that live in parallel alien universes, <strong>Orkibal</strong> is a pioneer in the Malaysian urban art scene. His worlds are quirky – ripe with color and play. His characters have lively silhouettes – bold and untamed, yet cute and relatable.</p>
<p>He holds a legacy of two decades, having expressed his vibrant artistry through various mediums, from doodles on canvas, to graffiti, public art murals and NFTs. Orkibal’s ideas always begin with a sketch on paper, motivated by a calling to eliminate the bad, or to simply get lost in an imaginative landscape.</p>
<p><em>Orkibal passed away in March 2022. He is survived by his wife, three children, and a supportive community who keeps his zaniness alive.</em></p>
<p><em>You can view all the amazing tributes to Orkibal by fellow artists using the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TributeToOrk?src=hashtag_click">hashtag #TributetoOrk on Twitter</a>.</em></p>
<p><strong>CwndDien</strong> is an illustrator, concept artist and animation director based in Kajang, Malaysia. He has been working in the animation industry as a character designer for more than 10 years. His influences come from street art, animation, film, music, comics, toys and Japanese culture.</p>
<p>CwndDien shies away from personally labeling his art style, though he remains open to audiences describing his work based on their individual understanding.</p>
<h3 id="youve-been-meaningfully-involved-within-strong-local-art-communities-can-you-share-more-about-the-asian-nft-communities-youre-in-and-what-they-are-like">You’ve been meaningfully involved within strong local art communities. Can you share more about the Asian NFT communities you’re in, and what they are like?</h3>
<p>The NFT community I’m in is <a href="https://nfxt.io/">NFXT io</a>. NFXT is a community that is fun and very supportive of each other. They are very welcoming to new members and will help members who need help minting through the minting party program, which is hosted once a month.</p>
<h3 id="can-you-share-more-about-orkibals-legacy---both-in-terms-of-art-and-the-impact-he-left-on-the-artweb3-community">Can you share more about Orkibal’s legacy - both in terms of art and the impact he left on the art/Web3 community?</h3>
<p>Orkibal has left a huge impact on both the local art industry in Malaysia, as well as the art industries overseas.</p>
<p>We’ve lost a crazy creative touch with bright colors and interesting combinations, which has worked out in a monster world of his own creation.</p>
<p><img src="/images/legacy-community-and-collaboration-cwndien-and-orkibal-3.png" alt="Orkibal-1"></p>
<h5 id="let-them-enjoy-by-orkibal">Let them Enjoy! By Orkibal</h5>
<p><em>“Computers make my monster look super handsome….but everything starts with a sketch on paper.” - Orkibal</em></p>
<h3 id="composability-combining-distinct-components-to-create-something-new-eg-open-source-software-is-critical-in-the-philosophy-behind-web3-its-similar-to-what-you-have-done-with-orkibals-work---do-you-think-that-the-practice-of-enabling-artists-to-collaborate-with-passed-artists-brings-value-to-the-art-world">Composability (combining distinct components to create something new, e.g. open source software) is critical in the philosophy behind Web3. It’s similar to what you have done with Orkibal’s work - do you think that the practice of enabling artists to collaborate with passed artists brings value to the art world?</h3>
<p>I think it is necessary, because it can further develop interesting ideas not to be forgotten.</p>
<h3 id="how-do-you-think-nfts-as-an-art-medium-is-empowering-creatives-across-southeast-asia">How do you think NFTs as an art medium is empowering creatives across Southeast Asia?</h3>
<p>NFTs have actually helped me to get to know more artists beyond Malaysia - from South East Asia, and I was also able to collaborate with some artists from abroad.</p>
<h3 id="how-are-you-feeling-ahead-of-having-your-art-showcased-in-such-a-prominent-arts-event-during-the-singapore-art-week-what-can-visitors-to-the-exhibition-enjoying-your-art-look-forward-to">How are you feeling ahead of having your art showcased in such a prominent arts event during the Singapore Art Week? What can visitors to the exhibition enjoying your art look forward to?</h3>
<p>Well, of course I feel honored to be involved with Singapore Art Week - to represent Malaysia and to be able to share Orkibal’s legacy with visitors from various countries!</p>
<p><em>This article has been edited for clarity.</em></p>
Bjorn Calleja: The artist representing Philippine Art on the global stage
<h2 id="filipino-interdisciplinary-artist-and-contemporary-painter-bjorn-celleja-on-flowing-between-mediums-and-the-power-of-nfts-in-empowering-southeast-asian-artists">Filipino interdisciplinary artist and contemporary painter Bjorn Celleja on flowing between mediums and the power of NFTs in empowering Southeast Asian artists</h2>
<p>At S.E.A. Focus 2023, the anchor event of Singapore Art Week, the strength and potential of NFTs as an art medium will be on full display.</p>
<p>The Tezos exhibition will take visitors through an audio-visual journey of artworks by six leading Southeast Asian artists, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/osongkalye">Bjorn Calleja</a> from the Philippines, <a href="https://twitter.com/CwndDien">CwndDien</a> and the late <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orkibal/">Orkibal</a> from Malaysia, <a href="http://rezahasni.net/">Reza Hasni</a> from Singapore, as well <a href="https://twitter.com/ykhaamelz">Ykha Amelz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Discokid909">Discokid909</a> from Indonesia.</p>
<p>Curated by Tulika Ahuja of <a href="https://mamamagnet.org/">Mama Magnet</a>, the dedicated 55m<sup>2</sup> exhibition <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> will tie into ‘a world, anew’, the curatorial theme for S.E.A. Focus 2023.</p>
<h2 id="who-is-bjorn-calleja">Who is Bjorn Calleja?</h2>
<p>Bjorn Calleja (born 1981, Manila, Philippines) is a Filipino contemporary painter and interdisciplinary artist. He earned his BFA from Far Eastern University, where he later became a part-time lecturer (2016-2017). Aside from exhibiting his work, his early career involved corporate jobs and stints as a graphic designer and co-founded Design. Other Things. (2012-2014), a design studio that employed a team of contemporary visual artists.</p>
<p>Calleja’s work draws on identity, spirituality, art, general and personal history, and the everyday politics, utilizing perspective and a play of scale as metaphor to how we as humans affect the world at large. His paintings, sculptures, installations, and animations are heavily influenced by 80’s and 90’s popular culture, kitsch, the internet, and the aesthetics and textures of Manila’s landscape.</p>
<h3 id="youre-an-interdisciplinary-artist-whose-work-spans-paintings-sculptures-installations-and-digital-animation-where-does-your-love-for-multimedia-come-from">You’re an interdisciplinary artist whose work spans paintings, sculptures, installations and digital animation. Where does your love for multimedia come from?</h3>
<p>I love the physicality of working with my hands, considering that I find my creative practice to be an expression of my humanity.</p>
<p>Working with different mediums opens more possibilities for the work to carry a diversity of meanings and narratives, from the process of each medium, to how they allow people to experience them.</p>
<p>Each medium also reveals different aspects of the human experience - the vibrancy and play of perspective of a painting; the dimensionality and fragility of a ceramic sculpture; and the movement and transformations in my animations, could stand as ideas and context in itself.</p>
<h3 id="would-you-see-your-practice-in-nft-art-and-non-nft-art-complementing-one-another">Would you see your practice in NFT art and non-NFT art complementing one another?</h3>
<p>I like to see them all as part of my art practice. The animations are extensions of my paintings, the digital paintings and collage pieces I tokenized are studies and exercises, and I’m now exploring the idea of 3D scanning my sculptures. The technology allows me as an artist to place value on every aspect of my practice.</p>
<p>I would like to blur the line between what is NFT art and not, the only difference I see is how they are presented and transacted.</p>
<h3 id="when-you-are-inspired-how-do-you-choose-a-particular-medium-to-express-that-in-an-artwork">When you are inspired, how do you choose a particular medium to express that in an artwork?</h3>
<p>It’s funny that my attempts to explore and learn other mediums are the result of me getting bored of the other, but they all answer to the need to express both my energy and ideas depending on what is required by the specific moment.</p>
<h3 id="how-do-you-think-nfts-as-an-art-medium-is-empowering-creatives-across-southeast-asia">How do you think NFTs as an art medium is empowering creatives across Southeast Asia?</h3>
<p>I think it is transforming itself into a new movement, like any subculture that has found its way into the art world.</p>
<p>A lot of Southeast Asian artists are championing the technology of NFTs - not only as a means to make a living from making art - but as a way to interact with the world, open relevant issues and dialogues, and represent our heritage, culture, and identity on a global stage.</p>
<p>It also gives a platform for the digitally-native creators to express their ideas and vision, and evolve and grow as artists.</p>
<h3 id="how-are-you-feeling-ahead-of-having-your-art-showcased-in-such-a-prominent-arts-event-during-the-singapore-art-week-what-can-visitors-to-the-exhibition-enjoying-your-art-look-forward-to">How are you feeling ahead of having your art showcased in such a prominent arts event during the Singapore Art Week? What can visitors to the exhibition enjoying your art look forward to?</h3>
<p>I am again very honored and grateful.</p>
<p>This is a huge opportunity to represent not only my art, but also the communities that I am part of: Philippine art, NFTs, the Filipino NFT community, Tezos artists, and every other part of who I am and what my art represents.</p>
<p>I hope the visitors enjoy the experience and I hope that our participation helps to bridge the gap between the traditional and the digital art worlds.</p>
<p><em>This interview has been edited for clarity.</em></p>
Reza Hasni’s journey of “filling the internet with care, love and light”
<h2 id="find-out-more-about-how-singapore-born-and-berlin-based-artist-reza-hasni-spreads-positivity-through-imagery-and-brings-his-creative-energies-to-the-tezos-exhibition-living-system-an-nft-show">Find out more about how Singapore-born and Berlin-based artist Reza Hasni spreads positivity through imagery and brings his creative energies to the Tezos exhibition ‘Living System: An NFT Show’.</h2>
<p>At S.E.A. Focus 2023, the anchor event of Singapore Art Week, the strength and potential of NFTs as an art medium will be on full display.</p>
<p>The Tezos exhibition will take visitors through an audio-visual journey of artworks by six leading Southeast Asian artists, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/osongkalye">Bjorn Calleja</a> from the Philippines, <a href="https://twitter.com/CwndDien">CwndDien</a> and the late <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orkibal/">Orkibal</a> from Malaysia, <a href="http://rezahasni.net/">Reza Hasni</a> from Singapore, as well <a href="https://twitter.com/ykhaamelz">Ykha Amelz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Discokid909">Discokid909</a> from Indonesia.</p>
<p>Curated by Tulika Ahuja of <a href="https://mamamagnet.org/">Mama Magnet</a>, the dedicated 55m<sup>2</sup> exhibition <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> will tie into ‘a world, anew’, the curatorial theme for S.E.A. Focus 2023.</p>
<h2 id="who-is-reza-hasni">Who is Reza Hasni?</h2>
<p>A Singaporean motion artist and illustrator based in Berlin, Germany. Patterns of sacred geometry form core themes, along with influences of 90’s Internet pop and club culture.</p>
<p>Reza’s illustration and motion graphics practice feeds into collaborations in music, installations, augmented reality and fashion around Europe and Asia. These additional mediums add layers of interactivity to his work, allowing immersive experiences for audiences in the virtual and physical.</p>
<p>His first solo exhibition, Mystic Island, launched at UltraSuperNew Singapore in 2017. In 2020, Reza and collaborators launched ‘Centre for Altered Togetherness’, a second solo virtual exhibition that traveled to mihn 宀 gallery Hong Kong for a physical showcase in 2021.</p>
<p>His work has been featured on It’s Nice That, Vice, The Straits Times, Adobo Mag, Neocha, Vogue to name a few.</p>
<h3 id="youve-been-an-artist-since-2007-and-youve-experienced-first-hand-how-web2s-increased-connectivity-has-impacted-art-over-the-years-how-do-you-think-web3-will-change-the-relationship-between-artists-and-the-audience">You’ve been an artist since 2007, and you’ve experienced first-hand how Web2’s increased connectivity has impacted art over the years. How do you think Web3 will change the relationship between artists and the audience?</h3>
<p>Web3’s main advantage is that it directly connects us artists to our respective art collectors and our fans without geographical constraints, unlike Web2 where we are controlled by bigger platforms and algorithms that have other agendas.</p>
<p>This direct connection helps us build strong and long-lasting relationships, human to human. This also cuts out the middleman and helps us artists to take full control and build our careers on our own terms. If we don’t like how an NFT marketplace is running the show, we can take our creations elsewhere and not have to worry about re-building a community from scratch.</p>
<h3 id="can-you-share-with-us-about-the-development-of-your-style-and-what-would-you-share-with-artists-looking-to-develop-their-unique-style">Can you share with us about the development of your style, and what would you share with artists looking to develop their unique style?</h3>
<p>The development of my collage style is a continuum process of deconstruction and reconstruction, relearning and unlearning everything that I experienced over 17 years of working, communicating and observing.</p>
<p>I use my art as another mode of thought, a way to express the stories stirred up in my imagination, illustrating an interpretive picture of everything that is around me, from Internet searches, fantasies, past destinations, cultures, conversations, experiences and loads of good vibes.</p>
<p>My work is a contemporary reflection of our world and its unseen energies. It can be seen as a visual representation of an alternate world or a way to escape from the limitations of our reality. But my main intention of it all is to spread positivity through imagery.</p>
<p>Never give up dreaming, learning and unlearning.</p>
<h3 id="you-once-said-that-your-art-aims-to-fill-the-spiritual-void-that-technology-has-left-us-with-how-do-you-see-web3-empowering-or-enabling-your-practice">You once said that your art “aims to fill the spiritual void that technology has left us with”. How do you see Web3 empowering or enabling your practice?</h3>
<p>Technology hasn’t left us with a void, so as to speak, but in general, industrialisation encourages consumption before citizenship or care.</p>
<p>With the internet constantly evolving, we’re able to control our usage better: more user-centric or, at best, creator-centric, instead of platform business-centric.</p>
<p>Thus we can now inject a more humanist approach to things – from consumers to citizens, filling the internet with care, love and light instead of white noise and greed.</p>
<h3 id="how-do-you-think-nfts-as-an-art-medium-is-empowering-creatives-across-southeast-asia">How do you think NFTs as an art medium is empowering creatives across Southeast Asia?</h3>
<p>It gives many talented and undiscovered artists opportunities to get known by bigger art collectors around the globe.</p>
<p>Geographical limitations are no longer a constraint, and with Web3 it makes things a lot easier and more transparent as smart contracts and royalties are programmed to execute fairly when a piece of art is sold and resold among collectors.</p>
<p>This art can quickly be created, bought and sold anywhere in the world. It also opens up exciting dialogues for streamlining how digital art can be used by other non-art industries.</p>
<h3 id="how-are-you-feeling-ahead-of-having-your-art-showcased-in-such-a-prominent-arts-event-during-the-singapore-art-week-what-can-visitors-to-the-exhibition-enjoying-your-art-look-forward-to">How are you feeling ahead of having your art showcased in such a prominent arts event during the Singapore Art Week? What can visitors to the exhibition enjoying your art look forward to?</h3>
<p>First of all, I am so thankful for this opportunity. Whether audiences interact with the ‘Entity’ artworks hypnotically, aesthetically or in a contemplative manner, my works are spaces built for accommodating interpretation. If others can find a way to be with my works, by journeying along with their predetermined change, they can relearn their personal realities.</p>
<p><em>This interview has been edited for clarity.</em></p>
The Tezos Ecosystem at S.E.A. Focus 2023: What to Expect
<h2 id="look-forward-to-enjoying-breathtaking-nfts-from-six-leading-southeast-asian-artists-learning-from-subject-matter-experts-at-insightful-panels-and-more-during-the-singapore-art-week-festival">Look forward to enjoying breathtaking NFTs from six leading Southeast Asian artists, learning from subject matter experts at insightful panels and more during the Singapore Art Week festival.</h2>
<p>The dawn of Web3 has provided artists with the power to reach global audiences, be fairly compensated for their artwork and be positive change makers for their communities. This will be exemplified at the Tezos NFT Exhibition at Singapore Art Week’s S.E.A. Focus 2023.</p>
<p>‘Living System: An NFT Show’ will take visitors through an audio-visual journey of artworks by six leading Southeast Asian artists. As part of the experience, visitors will be able to engage directly with art NFTs. Claiming a unique edition of one of the showcased artworks as a digital souvenir is part of the experience, as well as gaining an understanding of how NFTs can help artists further their craft.</p>
<p>Panels hosted by TZ APAC, featuring top Web3 leaders, will also share insights into the function and impact of communities in the NFT art space, and examine the intersection of how technological revolutions like blockchain and artificial intelligence will shape art.</p>
<p>The TZ APAC team will also be hosting a number of exciting giveaways, leading up to and during the Tezos exhibition. The community can look forward to receiving limited edition t-shirts by artists from the Tezos ecosystem:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>At the exhibition itself, collected together with the Tezos NFT.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Through giveaways on TZ APAC’s <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tz_apac/">Instagram</a> - in addition to t-shirts, tickets to S.E.A. Focus will be given out as well. Follow and stay tuned for more details.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="living-system-an-nft-show">‘Living System: An NFT Show’</h2>
<p>Curated by <a href="https://mamamagnet.org/">Mama Magnet</a>, the dedicated 55m<sup>2</sup> exhibition <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> will tie into ‘a world, anew’, the curatorial theme for S.E.A. Focus 2023.</p>
<p>Showcasing numerous projected works by leading local and regional artistic talents in the Tezos ecosystem, <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> will portray an exchange of rituals in a context of shifting paradigms across technology, materials, mental space, and time. The visual language and/or audio of the artists featured sways between human and humanoid, creating self-reflective dialogues about humanity’s Living System — from activity and rest, to the mundane and magic in life’s journeys.</p>
<p>The artists include <a href="http://www.instagram.com/osongkalye">Bjorn Calleja</a> from the Philippines, <a href="https://twitter.com/CwndDien">CwndDien</a> and the late <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orkibal/">Orkibal</a> from Malaysia, <a href="http://rezahasni.net/">Reza Hasni</a> from Singapore, as well <a href="https://twitter.com/ykhaamelz">Ykha Amelz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Discokid909">Discokid909</a> from Indonesia.</p>
<img alt="Bjorn Calleja" src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-s.e.a-focus-2023-what-to-expect-1.png" class="small-pict">
<p><strong>Bjorn Calleja</strong> is a Filipino painter and interdisciplinary artist. He earned his BFA from FEU, where he became a part-time lecturer. Calleja’s early career involved corporate jobs and stints as a graphic designer, Calleja co-founded Design.Other Things., a design studio that employed a team of contemporary visual artists.</p>
<p><em>“Logos is a collection of animated paintings featuring a googly-eyed humanoid figure, my representation of humanity or a logo that implies our identities as either person, people, or humans, and how we navigate through our existence via perpetual loops of transformations suggesting the highs and lows of our Sisyphean journey.”</em> - Bjorn</p>
<img alt="CwndDien" src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-s.e.a-focus-2023-what-to-expect-2.png" class="small-pict">
<p><strong>CwndDien</strong> is an illustrator, concept artist and animation director based in Kajang, Malaysia. He has been working in the animation industry as a character designer for more than 10 years. His influences come from street art, animation, film, music, comics, toys and Japanese Culture. CwndDien shies away from personally labeling his art style, though he remains open to audiences describing his work based on their individual understanding.</p>
<img alt="Discokid909" src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-s.e.a-focus-2023-what-to-expect-3.png" class="small-pict">
<p><strong>Discokid909’s</strong> music NFT journey can be traced by his minted original tracks on various Web3 platforms. His fresh groovy beats are accompanied by visual artwork and a special D-909 character by his significant other, Ykha Amelz, or in collaborations with other amazing visual artists like Debbie Tea, Loreng, MicroBeing, Arya Mularama, Wickana, and Gengoya.</p>
<img alt="Reza Hasni" src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-s.e.a-focus-2023-what-to-expect-4.png" class="small-pict">
<p><strong>Reza Hasni’s</strong> works are a contemporary reflection of our world and its unseen energies. They are often not limited by the constraints of the physical world. Construction, deconstruction and rebirth are recurring themes in his artwork - Spreading Positivity through Imagery.</p>
<p>Reflecting on life’s experiences, this series is a rearrangement of paths and sequences, giving birth to a new cycle of life. The illustrated entities are explorers, being reborn online. The artist injects spiritual streams of consciousness into our digital footprints, to enable a formation of better versions of ourselves.</p>
<img alt="Ykha Amelz" src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-s.e.a-focus-2023-what-to-expect-5.png" class="small-pict">
<p><strong>Ykha Amelz</strong> is a 2D artist, based in Indonesia. Since 2008, she has been working on various illustration projects. But only after she started drawing her French bulldog Babbot did she finally find her true calling in her artwork. It awakened her inner-child nostalgia for cartoons and comics which became a significant turning point on her illustrative style. While initially a coping mechanism for escaping work frustration, her playful characters took on a life of their own, spreading joy to people who see her art, which led to exhibitions, a book, and collaborations with global brands, such as VANS, COACH, Netflix, Samsung, etc.</p>
<p>Since her NFT debut in mid 2021, she has managed to deliver more epic and colorful pieces. Rendering her stories and chaotic mind into a vibrant world filled with an expanding family of cartoon characters, she’s now stepping into frame-by-frame animation to bring more smiles to people.</p>
<img alt="Orkibal" src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-s.e.a-focus-2023-what-to-expect-6.png" class="small-pict">
<p>Identifiable by his unique breed of character designs that live in parallel alien universes, <strong>Orkibal</strong> is a pioneer in the Malaysian urban art scene. His worlds are quirky – ripe with color and play. His characters have lively silhouettes – bold and untamed, yet cute and relatable.</p>
<p>He holds a legacy of two decades, having expressed his vibrant artistry through various mediums, from doodles on canvas, to graffiti, public art murals and NFTs. Orkibal’s ideas always begin with a sketch on paper, motivated by a calling to eliminate the bad, or to simply get lost in an imaginative landscape.</p>
<p>Orkibal passed away in March 2022. He is survived by his wife, three children, and a supportive community who keeps his zaniness alive.</p>
<h2 id="panels-at-sea-focus-2023">Panels at S.E.A. Focus 2023</h2>
<h3 id="tezos-presents-come-together--building-communities-in-the-nft-art-space-8th-january-2pm---3pm">Tezos presents: Come Together – Building Communities in the NFT Art Space (8th January 2pm - 3pm)</h3>
<p>The NFT art space is one of diverse creative communities coming together – a space of creation, collection, experimentation and connection.</p>
<p>This conversation looks at the varied communities in Web3/ NFTs , and asks questions about this rapidly evolving space. How does an NFT art community form? How do its different members – curators, creatives, collectors, and collectives – interact? What impact do NFT communities have on the non-blockchain art world, and vice-versa?</p>
<p><u>Panelists:</u></p>
<p>Tulika Ahuja (<em>Curator, Founder, Mama Magnet</em>)</p>
<p>Bjorn Calleja (<em>Filipino Visual Artist</em>)</p>
<p>Clara Peh (<em>Curator; Founder, NFT Asia</em>)</p>
<br>
<p>Moderated by Marissa Trew (<em>Senior Content Lead, Blokhaus Inc</em>)</p>
<h3 id="tezos-presents-braver-new-world-a-conversation-about-art-in-a-world-of-ai-and-nfts-14th-january-2pm---3pm">Tezos presents: Braver New World? A Conversation about Art in a World of AI and NFTs (14th January 2pm - 3pm)</h3>
<p>What might the future of art look like? Considered disruptive by many, the impact of AI and NFT in art also suggests a radical – ‘braver’ – new world to come, with significant implications on art collecting.</p>
<p>This panel considers questions such as, why are NFTs valued as art? With the advancements of AI-generated art, what will happen to human artists? From the traditional notions of aesthetics, to contemporary and digital art practices, we discuss what makes art ‘valuable’.</p>
<p><u>Panelists</u></p>
<p>Joyce Toh (<em>Head of Exhibitions, S.E.A. Focus</em>)</p>
<p>David Tng (<em>Head of Growth, TZ APAC Tezos</em>)</p>
<p>Kevin Lim (<em>Acting Director, Innovation and Technology Group, Y-Lab, National Gallery Singapore</em>)</p>
<br>
<p>Moderated by Chris Milliken (<em>CEO/Founder, PengWine and NFT collector</em>)</p>
Tezos NFT Exhibition Showcases Leading Southeast Asian Artists at Singapore Art Week’s S.E.A. Focus 2023
<h2 id="at-the-tezos-exhibition-living-system-an-nft-show-visitors-can-experience-the-dynamism-of-nft-art-and-claim-a-coveted-edition-of-one-of-the-showcased-artworks-as-a-digital-souvenir-at-sea-focus">At the Tezos exhibition “Living System: An NFT Show”, visitors can experience the dynamism of NFT art and claim a coveted edition of one of the showcased artworks as a digital souvenir at S.E.A. Focus.</h2>
<p>The strength and potential of NFTs as an art medium will be at the forefront of <a href="https://seafocus.sg/">S.E.A. Focus</a> 2023, the anchor event of <a href="https://www.artweek.sg/">Singapore Art Week</a>, in an exhibition powered by pioneering Layer 1 Proof-of-Stake blockchain, <a href="https://tezos.com/">Tezos</a>. Running from 6 to 15 January 2023, <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> will showcase collections by six leading artists across Southeast Asia, each distinguished by their own unique styles and disciplines.</p>
<p>The Tezos exhibition made headlines in the 2022 edition of the event as the first showcase powered by a public blockchain to present an Asia-centric NFT collection at S.E.A. Focus during Singapore Art Week. The NFT showcase at S.E.A. Focus 2023 will immerse visitors in an interactive NFT art experience through visual and audio formats, and be able to claim a unique edition of one of the showcased artworks as a digital souvenir.</p>
<p>Curated by <a href="https://mamamagnet.org/">Mama Magnet</a>, the dedicated 55m<sup>2</sup> exhibition located at the heart of the Tanjong Pagar Distripark, <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> will showcase numerous projected works by leading local and regional artistic talents in the Tezos ecosystem. They include <a href="http://www.instagram.com/osongkalye">Bjorn Calleja</a> from the Philippines, <a href="https://twitter.com/CwndDien">CwndDien</a> and the late <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orkibal/">Orkibal</a> from Malaysia, <a href="http://rezahasni.net/">Reza Hasni</a> from Singapore, as well <a href="https://twitter.com/ykhaamelz">Ykha Amelz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Discokid909">Discokid909</a> from Indonesia. Tying into ‘a world, anew’, which is the curatorial theme for S.E.A. Focus 2023, <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> portrays an exchange of rituals in a context of shifting paradigms across technology, materials, mental space, and time. The visual language and/or audio of the artists featured sways between human and humanoid, creating self-reflective dialogues about humanity’s Living System — from activity and rest, to the mundane and magic in life’s journeys.</p>
<p>The six artists were commissioned to create three artworks each for this exclusive exhibition and onsite visitors will be gifted an edition of one of the highly coveted pieces. This interactive activation was created in collaboration with <a href="https://akaswap.com/">akaSwap</a>, an NFT platform built on Tezos, and will be facilitated by the TZ APAC team, who have executed similar best-in-class activations across the region including the recent Tezos exhibitions at <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/nfts-the-ever-evolving-world-of-art-at-art-basel-hk-2022/">Art Basel Hong Kong</a> and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists/">Art Moments Jakarta</a>. The NFT will be claimed and stored in a Tezos blockchain wallet that can be created in real time with a few easy clicks.</p>
<p>Participating in <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> provides Filipino contemporary painter and interdisciplinary artist Bjorn Calleja a platform to strengthen his community and identity. “This is a huge opportunity to represent not only my art, but also the communities that I am a part of, such as the Filipino NFT community, Tezos artists, as well as every other part of who I am and what my art represents,” he said. “NFTs as an art medium is transforming itself into a new movement. A lot of Southeast Asian artists are championing the technology of NFTs not only as a means to make a living from making art, but as a way to interact with the world, open relevant issues and dialogues, and represent our heritage, culture, and identity on a global stage.</p>
<p>Singaporean motion artist and illustrator Reza Hasni is equally buoyed by the opportunities NFT as an art medium presents, sharing that “web3 makes things a lot easier and more transparent as smart contracts and royalties are programmed to execute fairly when a piece of art is sold and resold among collectors. This art can quickly be created, bought and sold anywhere in the world. It also opens up exciting dialogues for streamlining how digital art can be used by other non-art industries.”</p>
<p>The adoption of NFTs echoes the optimism shared by the artists. As a region with a large tech-savvy and mobile-first population, 4 out of the top 10 countries in the <a href="https://www.finder.com/sg/nft-statistics">Global NFT adoption table</a> hail from Southeast Asia.</p>
<p><strong><em>David Tng, Head of Growth at TZ APAC</em></strong>, said: “Southeast Asian artists are actively embracing NFTs as a medium to share their works on, which have enabled them to reach global audiences, be fairly compensated for their artwork and be positive changemakers for their communities. To have the opportunity to showcase some of the world’s leading talent is at the heart of what the Tezos ecosystem is recognized for. This is in line with S.E.A. Focus’ commitment to advance Southeast Asian art in all mediums including NFTs and propelling it onto the global stage. We look forward to celebrating the spirit of innovation in today’s art space with visitors, who can expect an immersive experience in an exhibition that will showcase the diversity and dynamism of NFTs as a medium for digital art.”</p>
<p><strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show’</strong> aims to connect and empower artists worldwide through blockchain technology, an ethos that is at the heart of the Tezos ecosystem. It’s an activation that follows on from a year of collaborating with leading art events across the world and developing partnerships dedicated to furthering the creative economy. Crypto and Web3 entrepreneur Cordell Broadus <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/cordell-broadus-partners-with-tezos-foundation-to-launch-the-champ-medici-arts-fund/">recently partnered with the Tezos Foundation</a> to launch the Champ Medici arts fund, a $1 million initiative to support emerging artists across Asia and the world.</p>
<p>In addition to hosting visitors at <strong>‘Living System: An NFT Show,’</strong> the TZ APAC team will be collaborating with S.E.A. Focus to put together two panels that will feature leading experts in the arts community and discuss relevant topics that include building communities in the NFT space and the convergence of artificial intelligence and art. Tezos’ energy-efficient design and low costs for minting and transacting NFTs has attracted a diverse global community of artists, collectors, and builders. With Tezos home to major NFT platforms such as fxhash, akaSwap objkt.com, and Teia.art, more artists are choosing to create on Tezos than ever before. In less than a year, over 1.2 million unique works of generative art have been collected on fxhash alone.</p>
Reliving 2022 — a momentous year for the Tezos ecosystem in Asia
<h3 id="from-supporting-startup-founders-and-artists-to-students-and-developers-the-team-left-no-stone-unturned-in-their-quest-to-empower-the-asian-champions">From supporting startup founders and artists to students and developers, the team left no stone unturned in their quest to empower the Asian Champions.</h3>
<p>From Day 1 of 2022, the TZ APAC team united towards one mission: To empower the Asian champions to flourish in Web 3.0.</p>
<p>Relive all the milestones, events and programs led by the Tezos ecosystem in Asia this year with the video above and the article below.</p>
<h2 id="the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program">The TZ APAC Egg Web3 Incubator Program</h2>
<p>In September, the <a href="https://tzapac.notion.site/TZ-APAC-EGG-Web3-Incubator-d4b9a1adf7654a96b0dd063207e96304">EGG Web3 Incubator (EW3I) program</a> kicked off, equipping founders with the resources to build real-world Web3 solutions on Tezos, supported by strong ecosystem partners.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Way to go <a href="https://twitter.com/tezos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tezos</a>, way to go <a href="https://twitter.com/dshglobal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dshglobal</a> — this is going to be a lot of fun.”<br> <br>A special message from <a href="https://twitter.com/TimDraper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TimDraper</a> as we build up to Demo Day of the EGG Web3 Incubator (EW3I) happening on 7 December. <a href="https://t.co/yg3PGWsO2I">pic.twitter.com/yg3PGWsO2I</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1586928381085757441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The teams were matched with mentors from TZ APAC’s network - all of whom were leaders from organizations such as <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1570340711920443392">Draper Startup House</a>, Crypto.com Capital and Amber Group.</p>
<p>Founders were also able to benefit from the 20 masterclasses and workshops conducted, personal 1-1 mentorship sessions, and pitching clinics.</p>
<p>Cohort 1 of the EW3I concluded with a Demo Day on 7 December 2022, where project founders gathered at the TZ APAC Developer Hub to pitch to investors and venture capitalists.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was a memorable day at the <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TzApac</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> Developer Hub which was buzzing with passionate pitches from founders at more than 20 startups who were articulating their solutions in front of a room full of VCs and investors. <a href="https://t.co/UTAFL9mJpj">pic.twitter.com/UTAFL9mJpj</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1601088408130314243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p><em>Cohort 2 of the Egg Web3 Incubator is opening soon - you can view <a href="https://tzapac.notion.site/TZ-APAC-EGG-Web3-Incubator-d4b9a1adf7654a96b0dd063207e96304">this page</a> for more information.</em></p>
<h2 id="education">Education</h2>
<p>Education is another big priority for TZ APAC. The team seeked to empower the next generation of computer scientists and Web3 builders through university collaborations, workshops, hackathons and partnering with the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).</p>
<h3 id="hackathons-and-developer-workshops">Hackathons and Developer Workshops</h3>
<p>Asia is home to the most promising talent in blockchain development. Hackathons proved to be a valuable arena for developing blockchain expertise - teams that showed potential were onboarded into the EW3I.</p>
<p><u>TezAsia Hackathon 2022</u> <br><br>TZ APAC organized the <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apac-and-tezos-india-join-forces-to-launch-tezasia-the-largest-web3-hackathon-in-asia/">TezAsia Hackathon</a> alongside Tezos India, which gathered over 11,000 participants. Two of the winners, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-3/#ThirdMedia">Third Media</a> and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-3/#:~:text=Projects%20Covered%3A-,1.%20Lumos,-2.%20ThirdMedia">Lumos Protocol</a>, were inducted into the EW3I.</p>
<p><u>Wanxiang Hackathon 2022</u> <br><br>TZ APAC also partnered with the Wanxiang Hackathon 2022, which gathered China’s most talented builders. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/road-to-demo-day-part-6-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program/#FindTruman">FindTruman</a> took first place not just amongst the 10 teams who signed up for the Tezos track, but was also crowned World Champion - beating all teams from other tracks. They were then onboarded into TZ APAC’s EW3I program.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🏅<a href="https://twitter.com/FindTruman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FindTruman</a> — WORLD CHAMPION of 2022 <a href="https://twitter.com/WXblockchain?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WXblockchain</a> Fall Hackathon! Moreover, we were awarded SPONSOR AWARDS of <a href="https://twitter.com/tezos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tezos</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/protocollabs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@protocollabs</a>! <br><br>✨We are very honored to present our project at “Closing Ceremony of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2022WXBlockchainSummit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#2022WXBlockchainSummit</a>”!<br><br>👉 Details: <a href="https://t.co/2nRNpa2nKP">https://t.co/2nRNpa2nKP</a> <a href="https://t.co/vUKbEtSr7J">pic.twitter.com/vUKbEtSr7J</a></p>— FindTruman (@FindTruman) <a href="https://twitter.com/FindTruman/status/1575087550762340352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h3 id="collaborations-with-leading-institutions">Collaborations with leading institutions</h3>
<p>In May 2022, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/nus-computing-joins-forces-with-tz-apac-to-develop-singapores-next-generation-of-tech-innovators/">TZ APAC partnered with National University of Singapore (NUS) School of Computing to set up the Centre for Nurturing Computing Excellence</a>, which empowers students to learn from real-world industry experts in fields such as blockchain technology, cloud computing, and data science.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some of the brightest minds at <a href="https://twitter.com/NUSComputing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NUSComputing</a> gathered this morning to understand more about <a href="https://twitter.com/tezos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tezos</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smartcontracts?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#smartcontracts</a> with the <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TzApac</a> team.<br><br>Thank you everyone for coming down on such a fine Saturday, asking thought-provoking questions and participating actively! <a href="https://t.co/0f4zyqs42o">pic.twitter.com/0f4zyqs42o</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1573552219110383616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The team also hosted workshops in Singapore for the talented students of Nanyang Technological Institute and the <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1554449977807478785?s=20&t=AEjEnBXkjB-LmdNVBYc3Uw">Institute of Technical Education College Central</a>.</p>
<p>In Korea, students were also hosted at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrboVGSYkks&ab_channel=EWHA-CHAIN">workshops withEWHA chain</a>.</p>
<p>Over in Hong Kong, the team hosted a developer workshop for the MBA students at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.</p>
<p>In Malaysia, a partnership with Asia Pacific University gave students insights into the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>The Tezos ecosystem also partnered with the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), recognized as the most prestigious computer science competition for secondary school and high school students around the world.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">📸 Early Architect and Co-Founder of <a href="https://twitter.com/tezos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tezos</a> Arthur Breitman interacting and sharing insights with some of the world’s brightest young computer programmers at a Q&A session on Day 7 of the IOI in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. <a href="https://t.co/RN7PHL2LHb">pic.twitter.com/RN7PHL2LHb</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1558487364263354368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 id="furthering-the-creator-economy">Furthering the creator economy</h2>
<p>The TZ APAC team also takes pride in building strong communities of creators across Asia. Participating in renowned art events, organizing contests and hosting workshops helped uplift the flourishing Tezos artist community in Asia.</p>
<h3 id="art-events">Art Events</h3>
<p><u>S.E.A Focus 2023</u> <br><br>The Tezos exhibition at S.E.A Focus 2022 during Singapore Art Week highlighted works of artists from across the world. </p>
<p><u>Art Basel Hong Kong (ABHK) 2022</u> <br><br>The Tezos NFT exhibition <i><a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/nfts-the-ever-evolving-world-of-art-at-art-basel-hk-2022/">‘NFTs + The Ever-Evolving World of Art.’</a></i> at Art Basel Hong Kong highlighted captivating generative works from <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/pioneering-nft-artists-set-to-illuminate-art-basel-hong-kong-2022/">over 20 artists</a> introducing visitors to the world of NFTs.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wonderful vibes here at the <a href="https://twitter.com/tezos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tezos</a> exhibition at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArtBaselHongKong2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArtBaselHongKong2022</a>! <a href="https://t.co/vzGri4ICwU">pic.twitter.com/vzGri4ICwU</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1530493555856224256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p><u>Art Moments Jakarta 2022</u> <br><br>Earlier this year, TZ APAC partnered with Art Moments Jakarta 2022 to deliver the <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1585932534558658560">NFT Art Prized Moments competition</a> on <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/akaswap-the-nft-marketplace-empowering-creators-and-communities/">akaSwap</a>. The winning artworks were displayed at the physical art fair, along with the Tezos exhibition titled “NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized” where the works of <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/inside-the-minds-of-the-stellar-artists-representing-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-amj-2022/">leading Asian artists</a> were showcased.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3 countries, 6 artists, plenty of immersive experiences. <br><br>Welcome to the Tezos exhibition at <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtMomentsJKT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArtMomentsJKT</a> 2022. <a href="https://t.co/0YOLaPKOAc">pic.twitter.com/0YOLaPKOAc</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1588905684191842304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p><u>Crypto Art Shanghai</u> <br><br>At Crypto Art Shanghai, participants had an entire day devoted to the theme of Tezos - with a keynote workshop and panel covering both NFT art and projects. </p>
<h3 id="competitions-workshops-and-discussions-for-creators">Competitions, workshops, and discussions for creators</h3>
<p>Competitions held this year provided opportunities for creators to connect with each other. Contests such as Art Prized Moments and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tezmas-2022-celebrating-christmas-with-nfts/">Tezmas</a> highlighted the creative power of artists from across the region.</p>
<p>Workshops were also a big focus for this year. At Crypto Art Week Asia, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/man-and-machine-generative-art-featuring-radarboy3000/">radarboy3000 presented on generative art</a>, and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/crypto-art-week-2022-a-celebration-of-asian-artistic-culture/#:~:text=Tezos%20presents%3A%20%E2%80%9CProvenance%20in%20NFTs%20and%20upgrades%E2%80%9D%2C%20a%20lecture%20by%20Ruanth%20Chrisley%20Thyssen%20(29%20September%202022%2C%204%2D5%20pm)">Ruanth Thyssen spoke about Provenance in NFTs</a>.</p>
<p>At the Dali Web3 event in August, the team hosted a community meetup and a series of workshops where over 60 developers were introduced to Tezos.</p>
<p>Developer workshops in South Korea also introduced Tezos to thousands of attendees and viewers through keynote talks at MetaSeoul Gamecon 2022, and Blockchain Week in Busan.</p>
<h3 id="highlighting-the-stories-journeys-and-talents-behind-the-extraordinary-artists-in-the-tezos-ecosystem">Highlighting the stories, journeys and talents behind the extraordinary artists in the Tezos ecosystem</h3>
<p>Through the various TZ APAC social media platforms (<a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?heroEntityKey=urn%3Ali%3Aorganization%3A68027015&keywords=tz%20apac&origin=RICH_QUERY_TYPEAHEAD_HISTORY&position=0&searchId=0b6015f7-87a6-48f3-aa30-c027a0737096&sid=sTm">LinkedIn</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tz_apac/">Instagram</a>), we cast a spotlight on the <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/starsoftzapac-from-artists-to-innovators-meet-the-stellar-individuals-across-apac-building-on-tezos/">#StarsofTZAPAC - an initiative designed to highlight the stories of prominent artists and builders on the Tezos ecosystem</a>.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We’re still reeling from all the love shared for yesterday’s story on <a href="https://twitter.com/hariankompas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HarianKompas</a>’ foray into <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Web3?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Web3</a>: <a href="https://t.co/2Dp9WYSmyj">https://t.co/2Dp9WYSmyj</a> <br> <br>In today’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarsOfTZAPAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StarsOfTZAPAC</a>, we uncover the passion and vision of one of the masterminds behind this acclaimed campaign — <a href="https://twitter.com/helmantaofani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@helmantaofani</a>. <a href="https://t.co/TWYXzF6iKG">pic.twitter.com/TWYXzF6iKG</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1582292117350555648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1/6 <br><br>You may have seen his stellar works displayed during the Singapore Art Week and in other global exhibitions, but <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DYK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DYK</a> that the very popular <a href="https://twitter.com/gogoporen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gogoporen</a> was once an NFT skeptic?<br><br>In this week’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarsofTZAPAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StarsofTZAPAC</a>, we find out more about his inspirations: <a href="https://t.co/n9L22OfYKF">https://t.co/n9L22OfYKF</a> <a href="https://t.co/GExSGGGDif">pic.twitter.com/GExSGGGDif</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1550395332432801792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1/7<br><br>From working in machine learning to becoming a generative artist, we find out more about <a href="https://twitter.com/pointline_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pointline_</a> and why she made the jump into <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFTs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFTs</a> in this week’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarsofTZAPAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StarsofTZAPAC</a>. <a href="https://t.co/nksHZpTmcY">pic.twitter.com/nksHZpTmcY</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1552928868759388161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/cslim_aiart?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cslim_aiart</a> was an engineer developing AI for 10 years, working on fields like autonomous driving and blockchain. In 2020, he moved towards a new calling: NFTs.<br><br>Fast forward to today, his art is set to be featured at the world’s leading art fair <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtBasel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArtBasel</a> HK.<br>Here is his story: <a href="https://t.co/fWwWMKYB4V">pic.twitter.com/fWwWMKYB4V</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1528640686379114497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Through the TZ APAC Content Hub, we also seeked to empower artists and deliver stories of local art ecosystems flourishing in Asia, and celebrations of culture like <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation/">Indonesia</a> and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/merdekaverse-malaysias-independence-day-in-the-metaverse/">Malaysia’s</a> Independence Day.</p>
<p>(<em>You can check the</em> <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/categories/creator/"><em>‘Creator’</em></a> <em>category to stay updated on the Tezos arts community.</em>)</p>
<h3 id="community-meetups">Community Meetups</h3>
<p>Through all the various events conducted through Asia, the TZ APAC team was delighted to connect with members of the Tezos community across Asia.</p>
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<h2 id="participation-in-some-of-the-most-prominent-events-in-the-region">Participation in some of the most prominent events in the region</h2>
<h3 id="singapore-fintech-festival-2022">Singapore Fintech Festival 2022</h3>
<p>For Asia’s premier fintech event, the team rolled out activations that introduced real-life use cases to visitors, and facilitated the sharing of Web3 knowledge through a series of panels and talks.</p>
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<p>Minting of the SFF2022 Proof of Attendance Token</p>
<p>Visitors to this year’s SFF were able to mint their own personalized SFF2022 Proof of Attendance Token on Tezos.</p>
<p>The activation generated the highest amount of mints with over 2,600 NFTs minted!</p>
<p><img src="/images/reliving-2022-a-momentous-year-for-the-tezos-ecosystem-in-asia-17.png" alt="SFF2022"></p>
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<p>Panels at SFF2022</p>
<p>TZ APAC Managing Director, Katherine Ng, took the Global Plenary stage, speaking to a captivated audience. She also participated in a high-level roundtable discussion with influential figures on the latest Web3 affairs.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We're here at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFF2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SFF2022</a>, where <a href="https://twitter.com/kathyjah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kathyjah</a> is speaking about Building Resilient Web3 Companies and Communities in APAC! <a href="https://t.co/drf6pFru7o">pic.twitter.com/drf6pFru7o</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1587675251365711873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We’re live at the Global Plenary stage at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFF2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SFF2022</a>, where <a href="https://twitter.com/kathyjah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kathyjah</a> is joined on stage by <a href="https://twitter.com/MissWorldLtd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MissWorldLtd</a>’s Karolina Bielawska and <a href="https://twitter.com/calvinelcheng?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@calvinelcheng</a> to share their valuable insights on tokenization of the creator economy! <a href="https://t.co/UzOj6UK3BG">pic.twitter.com/UzOj6UK3BG</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1588099567954059264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<li>
<p>Lab Crawls</p>
<p>TZ APAC opened its doors to participants of SFF 2022 as part of the <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apac-gathers-top-web3-leaders-for-sff-2022-innovation-labs-crawl/">Innovation Lab Crawl</a>. Some of Web3’s most senior personalities gathered to discuss crucial Web3 topics, glean important insights, and network with other like-minded professionals.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2/8 <br> <br>Important discussions on crucial Web3 topics were held, and participants managed to pick up important insights and exchange ideas with other like-minded professionals. <a href="https://t.co/64vwySebPT">pic.twitter.com/64vwySebPT</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1588013325677662209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h3 id="other-events-tz-apac-participated-in">Other events TZ APAC participated in</h3>
<p>Other notable events that TZ APAC participated in include:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/blockchain-web3-and-green-finance-intersect-at-point-zero-forum-switzerland/">Point Zero Forum Switzerland</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1565270088739000320">Singapore Digital Economy Forum 2022 by Business China</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1542695498066173955?s=20&t=0whNDNsoyJlI7f536erpxw">Bloomberg’s APAC Blockchain Forum 2022</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkVTaonJW1E/?hl=en">Women in Payments Symposium</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1567806325454942209">Endowus Wealthtech Conference</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1565270104341766144?s=20&t=AEjEnBXkjB-LmdNVBYc3Uw">Coinfest Asia</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1569983745276653569">Indonesian Blockchain Conference</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1565270100382363650">Techsauce Global Summit Thailand</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1565270080950190080">Korea Blockchain Week</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="global-sponsorships">Global Sponsorships</h2>
<p>In 2022, the team also got the chance to celebrate global partnerships with friends of the Tezos ecosystem in Asia.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How's everyone liking <a href="https://twitter.com/ManUtd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ManUtd</a>'s new training kit? 🤩 <br><br>The 20-times Champions of England are in Bangkok for pre-season and were preparing for the showdown against arch rivals <a href="https://twitter.com/LFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LFC</a> happening tonight.<br> <br>The passion from the fans here has been amazing. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mutour2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mutour2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/E9ub2nFJWm">https://t.co/E9ub2nFJWm</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1546682668489707521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SingaporeGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SingaporeGP</a> is back, and we have some exclusive <a href="https://twitter.com/McLarenF1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@McLarenF1</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/tezos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tezos</a> merchandise for 15 lucky winners!<br><br>Here’s how to take part: <br><br>1. Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TzApac</a> Twitter<br>2. Like and RT this tweet <br>3. Tag 3 friends<br><br>Campaign ends on 2 Oct, so start racing your way to some attractive merch! <a href="https://t.co/G5z0V5fEFl">pic.twitter.com/G5z0V5fEFl</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1575435432514686980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h3 id="launched-the-tz-apac-developer-hub">Launched the TZ APAC Developer Hub</h3>
<p>May 2022 saw the opening of the TZ APAC Tezos Developer Hub - a space for the Web3 community in Asia to collaborate, innovate and create.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thanks to all who dropped by to our <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TzApac</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFT</a> community mixer on Friday night bringing together an amazing collective of Asian NFT artists and collectors cc <a href="https://twitter.com/NFTAsiaOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFTAsiaOfficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/awstofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@awstofficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFTAsia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFTAsia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CleanNFTs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CleanNFTs</a> <a href="https://t.co/jPjaHI0nvs">https://t.co/jPjaHI0nvs</a></p>— Katherine Ng (@kathyjah) <a href="https://twitter.com/kathyjah/status/1553666529899622401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's heating up here at the <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TzApac</a> Tezos Developer hub. Lots of meaningful connections and riveting conversations taking place at today's mixer 🍹<a href="https://twitter.com/kathyjah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kathyjah</a> @HeartsofJT <a href="https://t.co/Z5K25eutgK">pic.twitter.com/Z5K25eutgK</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1550431656812548096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 id="media-coverage">Media Coverage</h2>
<p>The team is also grateful for the media coverage from the region’s most prominent publications including <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2022-05-27/-bloomberg-daybreak-asia-full-show-05-27-2022?fbclid=IwAR0fT4a7JWYwQ33HsPbNZyoxzXbBQyrCyVyBr61h_pQdjKjeNgor4FYO77I">Bloomberg</a>, <a href="https://www.bworldonline.com/arts-and-leisure/2022/06/06/452961/nfts-a-technology-to-bridge-a-gap-in-the-art-world/?fbclid=IwAR1MMmFwj4oic3LZ3O8W5NgSZc4OY3WcvaXT5JCSzj9DQElt_ZzqI9m0Or8">BusinessWorld</a>, <a href="https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3171891/closing-blockchain-gender-gap-calls-more-token-inclusivity">South China Morning Post</a>, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nus-computing-joins-forces-tz-010000270.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGheEIeSE8UGJUyDvmkiH7CN5yfXNLj8FK5_GLS1hfnZjjx1MgfP_6BVookfSnksJ9zXxOv2j16By2kzqA_zROu8vAUvoQk3Hdyl0HStwlRrPtFoD0ZXbEBOvpaWUAoK_vhY9JsrOzNQsgyYx8_JKd5fGTJ4NOJkDSCG84PG_9tz">Yahoo Finance</a>, <a href="https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2022/04/19/how-much-is-too-much-recontextualizing-blockchains-environmental-narrative.html">Jakarta Post</a>, <a href="https://vogue.sg/metaverse-editor-tz-apac-clean-nfts/">Vogue</a> and Harian Kompas.</p>
<p>2022 has been a year full of purpose, meaning and milestones. Stay tuned to the exciting activities, events and programs lined up for the new year on the TZ APAC Content Hub and social media platforms.</p>
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Road to Demo Day, Part 6: Deep-Dive into Projects of the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator Program
<h2 id="read-about-findtrumans-ai-generated-content-dream-to-earn-model-pentas-bringing-an-asean-flavor-to-the-tezos-ecosystem-and-how-naans-mobile-app-elevates-web3-user-experience">Read about FindTruman’s AI Generated Content “Dream-to-Earn” model, Pentas bringing an ASEAN flavor to the Tezos ecosystem and how Naan’s mobile app elevates Web3 user experience.</h2>
<p><strong>Content Page:</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#FindTruman " style="text-decoration: none;">1. <u>FindTruman </u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Pentas" style="text-decoration: none;">2. <u>Pentas</u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Naan " style="text-decoration: none;">3. <u>Naan </a></u></strong></p>
<h2 id="FindTruman">FindTruman: Harnessing the power of AI Generated Content</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-6-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-1.png" alt="FindTruman"></p>
<p>FindTruman is creating a decentralized co-creation Web3 platform, aiming to disrupt the traditional gaming industry, ensuring creators receive what they deserve and incentivizing them to build better games for players. With their native Artificial Intelligence in Generated Content (AIGC) platform, players can be creators, spurring innovation on the platform.</p>
<p>Following FindTruman being crowned World Champion of the 2022 Wanxiang Fall Hackathon, they were onboarded into <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator/">TZ APAC’s Egg Web3 Incubator program</a>. They have also placed third in both the Asia Blockchain Gaming Alliance & Klaytn Blockchain Gaming Hackathon 2022, and the “Buidl It” Polygon Global Hackathon 2022.</p>
<h3 id="artificial-intelligence-in-generated-content">Artificial Intelligence in Generated Content</h3>
<p>FindTruman’s AI allows users to use machines to create content like images, videos, 3D media, and even music. This is done through human input like descriptions, prompts, or parameters.</p>
<p>For example, users can type in <em>“Create a painting of a boy holding a balloon, in the style of Pablo Picasso”.</em> An image matching the description will be generated.</p>
<p><u>Copyright issues</u> <br>This begs the question, however, of who does the copyright to that image belong to? Would it belong to the user who generated the image, or Picasso whose style was studied and reproduced by the AI?</p>
<p>FindTruman solves <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23444685/generative-ai-copyright-infringement-legal-fair-use-training-data">the copyright issues</a> with blockchain. Users (“style definers”) can upload their own original content, which allows the AI to learn from their style. For the example above, the style definer would be Picasso.</p>
<p>Subsequent users can choose from their preferred style models when generating content, and even combine existing styles to make new ones - which leads to ever-evolving innovation in content creation.</p>
<p>The blockchain records all copyrights involved, for the style definer and the AIGC creator. When the content is traded or the copyright is sold, both these parties receive their fair portion of the copyright profits.</p>
<p><u>Building communities around Ai</u> <br><br>FindTruman’s algorithm marks users with implicit tags whenever they perform actions like creating, purchasing, and commenting. The algorithm then creates vertical communities of like-minded individuals around these tags. When everyone in this community has the ability to create content, this forms a peer-to-peer value creation system with high levels of innovation.</p>
<p><u>Breaking down barriers - “Dream to Earn”</u> <br><br>FindTruman makes it easy for everyone to freely create content. Beyond this, FindTruman also provides a platform that allows users to easily monetize their content. The AIGC can be used in FindTruman’s story-based gameplay platform (of which FindTruman already has over 30 million users), various blockchain games, and even the metaverse. </p>
<h3 id="meet-the-team-behind-findtruman">Meet the team behind FindTruman</h3>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-6-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-3.jpg" alt="FindTruman Team"></p>
<p>FindTruman’s team is well-established both in Web3 technologies and AI. Having entered the blockchain space in 2013, they’ve made an undeniable impact.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was great having the <a href="https://twitter.com/FindTruman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FindTruman</a> team of <a href="https://twitter.com/bingxue_zhang?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bingxue_zhang</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Miura7728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Miura7728</a> over 🙌<br> <br>From winning the 2022 Fall Wanxiang Hackathon where they participated in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> track to taking part in the EGG Web3 Incubator, the super duo are on a riveting journey in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/web3?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#web3</a> this year. <a href="https://t.co/d3xImnMZX3">pic.twitter.com/d3xImnMZX3</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1580082570506956802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Will Bing, CEO, has founded the Web2 “king of social apps” for young people in China, with over 30 million registered users, and an average usage time of 2 hours per day. This social game allows users to interact with others to solve challenges and complete story campaigns together.</p>
<p>Dr. Bing Zhang, CMO, is currently an academic scholar at the National University of Singapore, participating in the Singapore National Blockchain Innovative Program.</p>
<p>Dr. Lyon Hou, CTO, is the founder of an AI engine company.</p>
<h2 id="Pentas">Pentas: Bringing ASEAN flavor to NFTs</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-6-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-4.png" alt="Pentas"></p>
<p>Pentas is an inclusive NFT ecosystem and marketplace that seeks to empower content creators of heritage, cultural and traditional values through the digital preservation of assets. With a strong focus on community, education, a focus on blockchain mass adoption, and promoting Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS), Pentas offers a full suite that makes it popular amongst creators.</p>
<p>Pentas has been established for a year as the first ASEAN-focused NFT marketplace. With strong focus on its roots and communities, spotlights on local creators from the region, and an organic community-first approach, Pentas brings a strong local flavor into the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<h3 id="what-does-pentas-offer">What does Pentas offer?</h3>
<p><u>NFT Marketplace</u> <br><br>Pentas’ marketplace has already seen US $2.5 million in transaction volume over the past 12 months. It supports digital art, collectibles, tickets/access passes/tickets, music tracks, and digital merchandise.</p>
<p>The User Interface is clean and intuitive, and allows users to view statistics like top artists and collectors, as well as recent trading activity.</p>
<p>The “Recent feeds” feature allows users to scroll and view works that the community enjoys. Reminiscent of Instagram, Pentas has cleverly adopted the proven-to-work “scrolling” model, giving users a seamless experience in art enjoyment. Upon using this, it’s immediately apparent how this fosters a genuine appreciation for art amongst the Pentas community.</p>
<p><u>Community Building</u> <br>Pentas has amassed quite the community, with 24.9K Twitter followers and 6.2K Discord members. Involved community members have a direct line to the team, ensuring a two-way communication channel that allows for improvement based on constructive feedback.</p>
<p>Pentas provides resources and support for its members, including education and organizing physical and virtual meetups. Community-led events have included workshops, webinars, minting parties, and meetups.</p>
<p><u>Education</u> <br>Pentas Skool is one of their approaches to onboarding Web2 users and spearheading Web3 adoption. Recently, they have signed a <a href="https://twitter.com/pentas_io/status/1583300203880525824">Memorandum of Understanding with Universiti Teknologi Mara. </a></p>
<p><u>Enterprise Outreach</u> <br><br>Pentas offers enterprise solutions, providing real life use cases of NFT technology.
</p>
<p>Recently, they were named the official NFT platform for the 32nd Malaysian Film Festival, in partnership with National Film Development Corporation Malaysia. Through Pentas, key stakeholders (producers, directors) will be exposed to how Web3 can transform the film industry.</p>
<p>Pentas has also partnered with Selangor Football Club, to launch the Red Giants Non-Fungible Collection. On top of providing curated experiences for collectors, Pentas also deploys NFT tickets to football matches - resolving the main pain point of the football industry, counterfeit tickets.</p>
<h3 id="meet-the-team-behind-pentas">Meet the team behind Pentas</h3>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-6-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-5.png" alt="Pentas Team"></p>
<p>Pentas’ team has a multi-discipline background, ranging from blockchain development, cyber-security, and social media content creation.</p>
<p>Mo tells us what he loves about the team:</p>
<p><em>“Everyone has different skill sets and a role to play. Much like a football team, you need every player to fill their respective positions well. That’s the Pentas team in a nutshell!”</em></p>
<p><a href="http://pentas.io"><em>Pentas.io</em></a></p>
<h2 id="Naan">Naan - The Web3 App</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-6-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-6.jpg" alt="Naan"></p>
<p>Naan is more than a wallet - it connects users to the broader Web3 ecosystem, allowing them to buy NFTs with credit cards, offering staking and curated DeFi, and a native widget store for dApps.</p>
<p>Naan’s beta version has already been downloaded on iOS and Android over 6800 times, and has seen over 7700 wallets created, with over 1000 Monthly Active Users. Naan has also successfully processed $45,000 worth of tez purchases with fiat money. With their new launch, Naan foresees a minimum five-fold growth in 6 months.</p>
<h3 id="what-does-naan-offer">What does Naan offer?</h3>
<p><u>Seamless mobile experience</u> <br>While NFTs have exploded in popularity recently, the experience of collecting them on mobile is far from perfect. Despite <a href="https://messari.io/report/state-of-tezos-q3-2022">Tezos’ quarter-over-quarter growth in terms of NFT collectors</a>, the majority of collectors still miss out on major drops because they are not on mobile according to Naan’s research. Naan solves with their incredibly smooth mobile User Experience.</p>
<p><u>Easy exploration of the Tezos ecosystem</u> <br>Naan allows users to browse different projects and dApps, discovering their user persona along the way. Their native widget store features different dApps, from NFT marketplaces to DeFi platforms and games.</p>
<p>Naan also has a TikTok-style feed, which will display artworks sourced from the best curators. Users can follow other collectors, and receive notifications.</p>
<p><u>Easy onboarding of Web2 users</u> <br>By providing a simple login solution that allows users to login through connecting their social accounts, Naan is able to double wallet creation rates. </p>
<h3 id="meet-the-team-behind-naan">Meet the team behind Naan</h3>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-6-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-7.jpg" alt="Naan Team"></p>
<p>Bernd and Om have a wealth of experience in building complex products with the best User Experiences in the Web3 space. They have built:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Plenty.Network - one of the most successful DeFi projects in the Tezos ecosystem with over $700M in transaction volume, and the only Tezos bridge to Polygon and Ethereum.</p>
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<li>
<p>Ctez.app - a novel solution for tez staking in DeFi which enjoys strong usage from members of the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
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<p>Bernd Oostrum has a background in Software Engineering, Product Design and Management and has been in Web3 since 2015. Once he saw the potential of Web3, he left his job to start Tezsure, the team behind Naan. Having seen DAOs being hacked and being an original contributor to Ethereum’s ICO, Tezos came naturally to Bernd. He has also built blockchain solutions for the Dutch Government. Now, Bernd is working on mainstream adoption and discovery solutions with Naan.</p>
<p>Om Malviya holds a Bachelor’s degree in IT from Delhi College of Engineering. Since his early days as a student, Om has been passionate about building complex products. Om is a holistic builder, understanding the importance of marketing and user acquisition strategy. In 2016, Om co-founded ItsBlockchain.com, India’s first and largest crypto media publication. Subsequently, Om started Tezsure with Bernd.</p>
<p>In early 2020, Om and Bernd started Tezos India, which has now grown to be one of the leading blockchain adoption firms in India, which have some of the best developers, startups and integrations adding value to the Tezos Ecosystem.</p>
<h2 id="whats-happening-on-demo-day-7-december">What’s happening on Demo Day, 7 December?</h2>
<p>Demo Day will see the project founders participate, where they will be given 3 minutes to present their pitch to some of industry’s top mentors and investors participating.</p>
<p>These investors will then make their assessment - of the project’s quality and potential, business strategy, and even the founders themselves. Investors will include high-profile figures from esteemed organizations like Newman Capital, Draper Startup House, Amber Group, Samadhi Ventures.</p>
<p>The mentors in attendance include Vikram Bharati (Draper Startup House), Laurent Dedenis (Chainstack), Cici Lu (Vennlink), Bobby Ong (CoinGecko), Mona Zoet (RegPac Revolution), TZ APAC’s own Julian Low, and many more.</p>
Road to Demo Day, Part 5: Deep-Dive into Projects of the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator Program
<h2 id="learn-about-how-web3-can-enhance-the-quality-of-our-social-activities-and-experiences">Learn about how Web3 can enhance the quality of our social activities and experiences.</h2>
<p>The two projects featured in Part 5 are disruptors in their own rights. All Access Anonymous is set to revolutionize the live music industry, while Quilt is enabling relationships and trust across Web3.</p>
<p><strong>Projects Covered:</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#All Access Anonymous " style="text-decoration: none;">1. <u>All Access Anonymous </u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Quilt" style="text-decoration: none;">2. <u>Quilt</u></a></strong></p>
<h2 id="All Access Anonymous">All Access Anonymous: Bringing true value to the experience economy</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-5-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-1.png" alt="All Access Anonymous"></p>
<p>All Access Anonymous (“<strong>AAA</strong>”) is taking aim at the stranglehold that current ticketing giants have on the experience economy, and giving back artists, promoters, and fans the equity they deserve. Creators (artists & festival promoters) and fans can now interact in an open and fair social economy, through a decentralized network with a DAO-based token and NFT economy.</p>
<p>The experience economy is projected to be worth <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/events-industry-market-size-worth-151500879.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJejxnWUWDvh11_O3XUZDYPnnD3Gyz1icWuxgOJ5k37zX-F6lgScfWeKfX7A7Vk7Is44JfXyxvV0TKqgmKcdmbADFpMhArRN6QxLXqSNTdXrvkm4Fd6HGyWaxKJUToqZz6x4DNPCU0Xo94_hB6E5e_DjOGoBTNZ6oDv47qWRUqAY">$2,194.4 Billion by 2028</a>, with <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/live-music-market-32-of-growth-to-originate-from-apac--research-insights-highlight-growing-preference-for-purchasing-tickets-using-mobile-applications-as-key-driver--industry-revenue-worldwide-from-2020-to-2025-301498170.html">32% CAGR for the APAC region</a>. However, there is an imbalance of power between conglomerates and independent promoters. For example, independent promoters overpay up to 25% on TradFi loans.</p>
<p>AAA uses Web3 technologies to break this monopoly down, supporting and uplifting independent promoters and core stakeholders of the experience economy. By providing cutting-edge technological and economical infrastructure, AAA will facilitate a renaissance of fan-creator engagement and industry-wide collaboration. Collectives of independent promoters will be empowered, and fans can look forward to diversified live music experiences.</p>
<p>The need for AAA is demonstrated by industry acknowledgement, which takes the form of 51 South East Asian promoters having already signed up. When AAA goes live, instant mass roll-out will occur, creating potentially $2 Billion in gross merchandise value on the blockchain.</p>
<h3 id="how-does-aaa-bring-value-for-users">How does AAA bring value for users?</h3>
<p>Just as platforms such as Spotify and Shopify have empowered musicians and creators with a platform to share and monetise their creations, AAA will facilitate a full-stack platform for independent promoters to empower them and unlock a new era of monetization and cross-collaboration.</p>
<p>Promoters can earn tokens that accrue value based on the events they list and get access to a growing treasury where the majority of earnings are given out as loans or grants. So, AAA’s collective success will be the promoter’s success, making it in the promoters’ interest to want other promoters’ events to succeed. This facilitates a cross-collaborative environment amongst promoters, supported by AAA’s shared database allowing for cross-marketing (based on customer wallet spending habits). Apart from Web3 financing tools, AAA’s no-code tech stack also includes DAO-as-a-Service tooling that allows Promoters to set up DAOs with their individual fan communities.</p>
<p>Fans can enjoy the ability to purchase guaranteed authentic tickets, and sell them easily in a transparent secondary market. They earn tokens as they buy tickets, which allows them to redeem ticket upgrades, money-can’t-buy experiences, contribute to music festivals to have a say, and have transparency in terms of where their money is going.</p>
<h3 id="the-industry-heavy-hitters-behind-aaa">The industry heavy-hitters behind AAA</h3>
<p>AAA’s team is a roster of exceptionally talented and experienced characters from various industries. With the perfect balance of established business intelligence and experience, empowered by strong work ethics and dynamic execution, AAA are able to effectively focus on their mission and inspire others to join them along the way.</p>
<p>The founding duo, Iqbal Ameer (CEO), and Marvin Das (COO) are both highly successful entrepreneurs in the live music and blockchain industries.</p>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-5-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-2.jpg"
class="side-images-1" alt="Ankit">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Iqbal Ameer, over his 12 year tenure in the live music industry, has masterminded some of South East Asia’s biggest award-winning festival brands, such as Rockaway Music Festival and It’s The Ship. His keen business acumen and deep love for the music festival industry inspires him daily to drive this industry forward. </p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
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<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-5-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-3.jpg"
class="side-images-1" alt="Palak">
<div>
<p class="image-text">With over 7 years in the blockchain space, serial entrepreneur Marvin Das played a crucial role in the launch of XDC network, and has since gone on to found both AAA and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-1/#Quurk:~:text=Quurk%3A%20Empowering%20youth%20and%20uplifting%20human%20capital">Quurk.</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<p>Both collectively and independently, the core team has participated in and launched multiple NFT related projects, most notably DuckDrop for It’s the Ship festival – Asia’s largest festival on a cruise ship, de-risking some aspects of the festival and increasing fan engagement through multiple activations.</p>
<p>Iqbal shares more about AAA’s story:</p>
<p><em>“AAA rose as a phoenix, from the ashes of the pandemic-inflicted economic devastation of the live music industry, with the mission to drive innovation and value towards core stakeholders of the industry – eliminating vampiric intermediaries and empowering independent promoters and fans became our singular focus.</em></p>
<p><em>We believe that if promoters and fans are incentivised to become stakeholders of frontier technology and ecosystems, the entire industry will thrive and discover novel ways to cooperate and add value.</em></p>
<p><em>We live our mission in a healthy, sustainable and passionate work-play balance; celebrating our wins, driving collaboration and empowering individuals to contribute and collectively work towards success.”</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.all-access.io">http://www.all-access.io</a></p>
<h2 id="Quilt">Quilt Chat: Connecting the people of Web3</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-5-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-4.png" alt="Quild"></p>
<p>Quilt aims to create an interconnected Web3 by creating a decentralized, multi-chain social protocol and marketplace which enables seamless socialization across chains.</p>
<p>People are social. Virtually every popular online platform (even video games) allows users to have conversations through direct messages, yet most NFT marketplaces do not have a chat function. Arguably, it may be more beneficial for marketplaces to cut out communication so that users can’t negotiate, resulting in more royalties for the marketplace.</p>
<p>But Quilt sees things differently. They understand that communication is the lifeblood of progress, and its critical role in user experience and mainstream adoption. Their creative social network and marketplace fosters community building, and makes Web3 a safe and social space for creators and users alike.</p>
<h2 id="what-are-some-of-quilts-features">What are some of Quilt’s features?</h2>
<p><u>The Lounge - A Native Marketplace for Digital Creators</u> <br>On Quilt, users can list their digital artworks for the world to see, or put it up for auctions. If other users like it, they can drop the seller a message and start a negotiation. This enables flexibility, and increases the total volume of transactions on Quilt.</p>
<p><u>Chat dApp - Social Features</u> <br>It’s easy to start conversations with like-minded people on Quilt, both individually and collectively. This allows creators and collectors to receive constructive feedback and build their network.</p>
<p><u>Customized Profiles - Be Yourself, Be Seen</u> <br>Identity is at the root of everything human. Quilt allows users to be truly authentic, expressing themselves through their art.</p>
<h3 id="meet-the-founding-team-behind-quilt">Meet the founding team behind Quilt</h3>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-5-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-5.png"
class="side-images-1" alt="Ankit">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Abduljalaal, co-founder, is an energetic Sales Representative with a proven record of expanding product market share, and increasing revenue. Out of sheer curiosity, he entered the Web3 space through participating in the 2021 Chainlink hackathon. Since then, he has never stopped researching, and has dived into the technical aspects like smart contract development.</p>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-5-deep-dive-into-projects-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-program-6.png"
class="side-images-1" alt="Palak">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Chandan Das, co-founder, is an experienced blockchain developer, with years of experience building dApps and participating in hackathons. He has a firm grasp of Solidity, and has worked on projects using Truffle, Ganache, Infura, and Moralis. </a></p>
</div>
</div>
<p>Abduljalaal explains: <em>“Why I’m so proud of my team is because we got here through sheer force of will. We had a vision of what we wanted to achieve and kept grinding. We’ve been able to pull each other along, learning along the way.</em></p>
<p><em>I believe that as a team, we can succeed because we’ve listened to the community and each team member has first-hand experiences with the challenges in the Web3 space. We see it as an opportunity to better the space, leaving a lasting legacy and help change the narrative that crypto and Web3 is a place for scammers, to a space where you can make amazing friends and conduct business.”</em></p>
<p><a href="https://quilt.chat">https://quilt.chat</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Quilt_chat">https://twitter.com/Quilt_chat</a></p>
<h2 id="whats-happening-on-demo-day-7-december">What’s happening on Demo Day, 7 December?</h2>
<p>Demo Day will see the project founders participate, where they will be given 3 minutes to present their pitch to some of industry’s top mentors and investors participating.</p>
<p>These investors will then make their assessment - of the project’s quality and potential, business strategy, and even the founders themselves. Investors will include high-profile figures from esteemed organizations like Newman Capital, Draper Startup House, Amber Group, Samadhi Ventures.</p>
<p>The mentors in attendance include Vikram Bharati (Draper Startup House), Laurent Dedenis (Chainstack), Cici Lu (Vennlink), Bobby Ong (CoinGecko), Mona Zoet (RegPac Revolution), TZ APAC’s own Julian Low, and many more.</p>
Cordell Broadus partners with Tezos Foundation to launch the Champ Medici Arts Fund
<h2 id="the-1-million-initiative-is-set-to-support-emerging-artists-with-rush-philanthropic-arts-foundation-named-first-beneficiary-at-miami-art-week">The $1 Million initiative is set to support emerging artists, with Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation named first beneficiary at Miami Art Week.</h2>
<p>Crypto and Web3 entrepreneur Cordell Broadus today announced the launch of the Champ Medici Arts Fund, a $1 Million philanthropic effort in partnership with The Tezos Foundation to support emerging artists across the globe looking to build and create works on the Tezos blockchain. Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, the non-profit co-founded by visual artist Danny Simmons, music mogul Russell Simmons and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons of legendary hip hop group Run-DMC, becomes the inaugural recipient of the first Champ Medici Arts Fund grant, which will see them create and launch an upcoming piece on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>A multi-faceted business entrepreneur and son of music icon Snoop Dogg, Cordell is widely known throughout the metaverse as his Bored Ape NFT, Champ Medici. Over the years, he has gained recognition for championing crypto currency and Web3 in its early stages, becoming one of the most influential figures at the forefront of the industry and as an avid supporter of the arts.</p>
<p>“I am excited to announce this partnership with The Tezos Foundation, that will bring new artists to Tezos, one of the world’s most advanced and artist friendly blockchains. I have been an advocate for blockchain technology since its early stages and believe it’s here to stay. My mission has always been to support up and coming artists and to provide access to innovative forms of artistic expression especially for minority groups. The Champ Medici Arts Fund was founded as a result of this goal. We hope this endeavor will impact artists looking to access technology for their work and look forward to building future collaborations within the Tezos ecosystem,” states <strong>Cordell Broadus</strong> aka Champ Medici.</p>
<p>Tezos, an energy-efficient blockchain, has garnered global acclaim as the blockchain of choice for artists and institutions looking to mint NFTs sustainably and responsibly. The Champ Medici Arts Fund will provide monetary grants for emerging artists as well as onboarding to the Tezos community, a diverse, global network of artists, collectors and creators looking to explore NFTs as a new medium for creative expression.</p>
<p>“The Tezos ecosystem is known for its incredible artists who are pushing the boundaries of digital art. I’m honored that Champ Medici has selected Tezos for this initiative and will be joining this flourishing community of creative talent. It’s fantastic that Rush Arts will be named as its first beneficiary. My hope is that this empowers a whole new wave of up-and-coming artists, from a diverse range of backgrounds, to start their Web3 journeys," <strong>Mason Edwards</strong>, Chief Commercial Officer of the Tezos Foundation adds.</p>
<p>The Tezos Foundation is a non-profit organization which deploys resources to entities and initiatives in support of the Tezos ecosystem. Recently, the Tezos Foundation established the Tezos Foundation Permanent Art Collection, a $1.2 million effort to support emerging artists from across the globe – curated by activist and mentor Misan Harriman, Chair of the Southbank Center in London. Serpentine Galleries also recently announced a multi-year partnership with the Tezos Foundation leveraging the open-source, energy efficient blockchain.</p>
<p>This initiative between Tezos and Champ Medici was facilitated by Gushcloud International, a global technology driven creator and media company. Gushcloud represents and manages Champ Medici’s business interests, and TZ APAC is the leading Asia-based blockchain adoption entity supporting the Tezos ecosystem. In recent times, Gushcloud has been a forefront leader in Web3, and has worked with celebrities and traditional brands to help them move successfully into the space. Althea Lim, Co Founder and Group CEO of Gushcloud International and Katherine Ng, Managing Director of TZ APAC, will also join the bench of leaders forming the fund subcommittee.</p>
<p>“Rush Arts has been around for nearly thirty years and we are pleased to head into a new season to support our artists with the adoption of NFTs, especially since minority urban audiences are often the last to benefit from early adoption of new technologies” said visual artist and author <strong>Danny Simmons</strong>, chairman of the board of Rush Arts.</p>
<p>Simmons added, “By partnering with Champ Medici, his fund and the Tezos ecosystem, we plan to onboard talented emerging Black artists and educate them on how to leverage Web3 to grow their careers.”</p>
<p>Co-founded in New York City in 1995, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is devoted to supporting emerging underrepresented artists with exhibition opportunities as well as providing inner city youth with significant exposure to the arts. Rush Arts founded were the sites of early career exhibitions of artists like Simone Leigh, Wangechi Mutu, Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas, Sanford Biggers, Allison Janae Hamilton and many other artists that are dominating the contemporary art scene today.</p>
<p>The Champ Medici Arts Fund will host an exclusive VIP event on December 3, 2022, at Art Basel Miami Beach to honor Danny Simmons and the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation for their work over the past thirty years of providing support for emerging Black artists and access to the arts for underrepresented communities</p>
<p>The Champ Medici Arts Fund will officially launch on January 2, 2023. The fund will begin accepting applications on December 5, 2022, at <a href="http://www.champmedicigroup.io/thearts">www.champmedicigroup.io/thearts</a>*.</p>
<p><em>*This article will be updated with a link to the application page on December 5, 2022.</em></p>
Road to Demo Day, Part 4: Deep-Dive into Projects of the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator Program
<h2 id="find-out-more-about-the-exciting-innovation-that-genesy-evolv-petven-and-game-geeks-bring-into-the-web3-space">Find out more about the exciting innovation that Genesy, Evolv, Petven, and Game Geeks bring into the Web3 space.</h2>
<p>The first 1/1 Open Curation art marketplace built on Tezos, evolving NFTs, a metaverse for passed pets, and a blockchain-gaming platform. Part 4 of this article series brings you Genesy, Evolv, Petven, and Game Geeks.</p>
<p><strong>Content Page:</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Genesy " style="text-decoration: none;">1. <u>Genesy </u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Evolv" style="text-decoration: none;">2. <u>Evolv</u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Petven " style="text-decoration: none;">3. <u>Petven </a></u></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Game Geeks " style="text-decoration: none;">4. <u>Game Geeks </a></u></strong></p>
<h2 id="Genesy">Genesy: Quality art, accessible for all</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-4-1.jpg" alt="Genesy"></p>
<p>The Tezos ecosystem is celebrated for the quality of its art, from the strength and collaborative nature of its art communities, as well as dedication to supporting creators.</p>
<p>Genesy is on a mission to democratize art by launching the first Open Platform for 1/1 art NFTs on Tezos. With a strong belief that art should be accessible to all, Genesy provides artists and collectors the opportunity to mint and collect rare digital art created by the talented artists in the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<h3 id="what-are-11-art-nfts">What are 1/1 Art NFTs?</h3>
<p>Currently, most NFTs are minted as part of a series of several digital pieces. On the other hand, 1/1 NFTs are only ever minted once - so, only one edition of that artwork will ever exist.</p>
<p>1/1 Art NFTs are a prime example of how NFT technology brings back digital scarcity, making art collection in the Internet age possible again.</p>
<p>In July 2022, the art community organized <a href="https://twitter.com/1of1xtz/status/1542223596931936256">Tezos 1/1 Art NFT week</a>, in order to promote and celebrate high-value rare pieces of art on Tezos. This Twitter-focused event attracted <a href="https://nftbiker.xyz/event?name=1of1&sort=date">7213 minted works, and raised a total sales figure of $287,456</a>. Further, <a href="https://messari.io/report/state-of-tezos-q3-2022#:~:text=NFT%20sales%20volume%20(XTZ)%2C%20which%20hit%20an%20all%2Dtime%2Dhigh">in Q3 2022 Tezos NFT sales volume reached an All-Time-High</a>, jumping 42% from the previous year.</p>
<h3 id="accessibility-for-all-curation-by-community-and-data">Accessibility for all, Curation by Community and Data</h3>
<p>At Genesy, the team believes in openness and decentralization but also understands that curation is important for artists and collectors. While platforms should be open to everyone, quality artworks should be prominently showcased.</p>
<p>To achieve this balance of accessibility and quality, Genesy harnesses both the power of data and community.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><u>Data - their “Open Curation” model</u> <br>Genesy leverages the power of data analytics to help users make decisions for creating, buying, and selling art.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><u>Community - the human element</u> <br>Data isn’t just about numbers - it also empowers trust between people.</p>
<p>For example, Genesy knows that top charts alone don’t help buyers understand what artwork has value, and they harness the power of community to solve this problem. </p>
<p>Genesy makes this possible, by introducing “Circle”. Users can add “friends” to their network, and the artworks that users’ friends collect will be displayed along with popular artists within the Circle. New buyers can make buying decisions by looking at what their trusted friends have bought.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="the-alchemist-of-art-and-tech-guido-mologni">The alchemist of Art and Tech, Guido Mologni</h3>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-4-2.jpg"
class="side-images-1" alt="Guido Mologni">
<div>
<p class="image-text">For over a decade, Guido Mologni has been involved professionally in the contemporary art market as a fair director and art dealer. In 2016, Guido decided to get into tech, aiming to bring innovation and excitement to the art world. </p>
<p class="image-text">Guido has long been a staunch native of the Tezos ecosystem, being an early user of Hic En Nunc, fxhash, 8bidou and type.art. </p>
</div>
</div>
<p>He says: <em>“Over the past few years, I’ve been an active buyer of NFTs created on Tezos. I was quite early on HEN, fxhash, 8bidou and type.art, and I appreciate how meaningful the Tezos art community is.</em></p>
<p><em>In particular, I’ve been lucky to collect artworks from some amazing artists such as Quasimodo, Kevin Abosch, Helena Sarin, Iskra Velitchkova, Caesuras, Sarah Zucker, Manoloide and many more.”</em></p>
<p>Guido is also experienced in the world of startups, in particular social e-commerce in art. His past experiences have taught him well what users enjoy (like a simple and clean user interface), and will serve him well at Genesy,</p>
<p>At Genesy, Guido is joined by Simon and Nadia, a full-stack developer with proven knowledge of blockchain engineering and an award winning UX/UI designer respectively.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.genesy.xyz">http://www.genesy.xyz</a></p>
<h2 id="Evolv">Evolv: Designed to upgrade NFTs to the next generation</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-4-3.jpg" alt="Evolv"></p>
<p>Evolv is a platform created to help brands seamlessly launch the next generation of upgradeable dynamic NFTs, which aims to gamify and reward users for interacting with the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>Actions and interactions (e.g. providing liquidity on a DEX) may trigger conditions to upgrade each NFT to a higher tier of rewards and utilities. This allows brands and companies to engage meaningfully with users like never before, taking them through a Web3 experiential journey.</p>
<h3 id="what-are-dynamic-nfts">What are dynamic NFTs?</h3>
<p>Evolv’s proprietary infrastructure makes NFTs dynamic, which means that they can be upgraded through interaction and engagement. These NFTs can change based on input from data feeds (like changing background according to weather) through their inhouse oracle.</p>
<p>Evolv’s infrastructure also allows NFT issuers to reward users for interactions, incentivizing them to participate in campaigns. This unlocks long-term utility for NFTs.</p>
<p>For example,</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Evolving Event NFT Tickets</p>
<p>These could be issued at events, where each NFT will evolve based on the users’ interactions - each one being a unique memento of their journey. The information could include records of booths visited or contact information of new friends.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Interactive Proof-of-Attendance Protocol (PoAP) tokens</p>
<p>These NFTs could act as certificates or digital records of tasks completed, or educational courses attended. With Evolv’s NFTs, individuals may have records of competency all stored in one NFT.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Brand rewards</p>
<p>Brands are able to interact with audiences in many different ways. For example, they can take consumers through a branded experiential/gamified journey, and reward them at different stages.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="evolvs-proof-of-concept">Evolv’s Proof of Concept</h3>
<p>Evolv’s previously launched pilot project, Demons.World, was built on the same concept of evolved NFTs. The reception from the market has been unbelievable - having sold out instantly all 4 times they minted.</p>
<p>From there, 97% of all NFTs reached the maximum level (in terms of upgrades) in 2 days, demonstrating the potential for strong engagement.</p>
<p><strong><em>“With the launch and success of our pilot product demons.world, we have already validated the concept of upgradable dynamic NFTs. Our aim is to superimpose that same concept and offer it as a service to other brands - so that they can build stronger consumer relationships.”</em></strong> - Madhav Khandelwal, Founder</p>
<h3 id="the-team-behind-evolv">The team behind Evolv</h3>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-4-4.jpg" alt="Evolv Team"></p>
<p>In 2018, Madhav started his blockchain journey by designing Web3 products for over 12 projects. Subsequently, Madhav joined Zilliqa as a Product and Brand Designer, designing over 20 projects in his two-year span in Zilliqa which most prominently includes DeFi Products with a total TVL of over $600 million USD.</p>
<p>Madhav is joined by Bibek Koirala and Utkarsh Kulshrestha as co-founders, and here’s what he has to say:</p>
<p><strong><em>“Our team is extremely passionate about building the future of the Web! The opportunity to do so isn’t available to everyone - and we’re beyond grateful to be able to build what we’re building.”</em></strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolvnft">https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolvnft</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Evolvnft">https://twitter.com/Evolvnft</a></p>
<h2 id="Petven">Petven: Immortalizing your pets on blockchain</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-4-5.jpg" alt="Petven"></p>
<p>Many share an intense bond of love with their animal companions, and the joy they bring into everyone’s lives is immeasurable. According to psychologists, <a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/10-ways-heal-after-losing-pet/#:~:text=can%20be%20even%20more%20traumatic%20than%20losing%20a%20family%20member">the passing of pets can be even more traumatic than losing a family member</a>.</p>
<p>Petven is a metaverse where you can immortalize your pets onto the blockchain, along with all treasured memories. Rendered in beautiful 3D, this fairyland-like metaverse allows you to spend time with your pets again in an open-world concept, and even visit your friends’ old pets! You can mint accessories as NFTs, and trade them on an open marketplace. With Petven, you can go about their day, knowing that their Web3 guardian angels are forever with you, on the blockchain.</p>
<p>Sitting at the intersection of the <a href="https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/pet-care-market">$150.67 B</a> pet industry and the metaverse (<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/growth-marketing-and-sales/our-insights/value-creation-in-the-metaverse">$5 trillion by 2030</a>), Petven offers a truly unique experience like no other. Other than its first-mover advantage, Petven fills a clear void in the market. Out of 100 pet owners surveyed, 95% responded that they would be eager to use Petven.</p>
<h3 id="what-will-petven-offer">What will Petven offer?</h3>
<p>Petven aims to deliver true value, through a well-thought out Web3 ecosystem. Petven will generate highly realistic 3D models of users’ pets, minting them as interactive NFTs. Through a membership model, users will be able to access beautiful accessories for their pets, trading them on an open marketplace.</p>
<h3 id="meet-joan-huang-animal-lover-and-creative-visionaire">Meet Joan Huang, animal lover and creative visionaire</h3>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-4-6.jpg"
class="side-images-1" alt="Joan Huang">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Growing up around dogs, cats, rabbits, and chickens, Joan is a born animal lover. She holds two degrees - one in Fashion and Textile Design and one in Information Management. </p>
<p class="image-text">Having started her career as a database programmer and subsequently making waves in the fashion industry as a business professional (even winning some startup prizes for Sustainable Fashion), Joan is well-placed to bring her creative vision to the blockchain.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>Joan’s strengths as a founder lie beyond her tenacity. In her endeavors, she shines in leadership, branding, art direction, business development, sales and strategy. She tells us that as a founder, she enjoys doing and seeing things differently, which allows her to create new things that she truly loves and believes in. It is this open mind and out-of-the-box thinking that brewed up Petven.</p>
<p>Interestingly, Joan’s initial direction in Web3 was a little different - a metaverse streetwear line quirkily titled “Excuse Miaow”. While this idea quickly gained traction, Joan’s mind opened up towards a direction that only blockchain would fulfill: Petven.</p>
<p><em>“Over the years, I dream of the animals that I’ve loved visiting me in my dreams. I think of them as my guardian angels, but always wake up feeling sad that they’re gone. I wished I had a way to immortalize them forever, and visit them whenever I feel sad,” said Joan.</em></p>
<p>This inspired Petven - a place where people like her could go to relive cherished memories with their pets.</p>
<p><em>“These moments are truly exciting for me, when people love my idea and give me support”, said Joan.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://petven.xyz">https://petven.xyz</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/petven_official">https://twitter.com/petven_official</a></p>
<h2 id="Game Geeks">Game Geeks: Bringing fun to blockchain</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-4-7.png" alt="Game Geeks"></p>
<p>Game Geeks is a team that believes that the gaming industry is rapidly growing and that game developers are finally getting the worth they deserve. Game Geeks aims to assist gamers and creators in honing their products and talents, by transforming the gaming industry by integrating it with blockchain technology. The vision is a decentralized gaming hub used by almost all games, from hypercasual games to classic gaming genres.</p>
<h3 id="how-does-game-geeks-address-the-current-state-of-blockchain-gaming">How does Game Geeks address the current state of blockchain gaming?</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Most games are Play2Earn</strong></p>
<p>To most people, blockchain gaming is Play2Earn. While this isn’t surprising, following the wild success of well-known games like Axie Infinity and Stepn, Game Geeks wishes to make it clear that the emphasis of blockchain gaming should first and foremost be the fun it gives to players.</p>
<p>Game Geeks will host games of many genres, from hypercasual to First Person Shooters (FPS), Real Time Strategy (RTS), and Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>They don’t have proper tokenomics</strong></p>
<p>For blockchain games, stable tokenomics are very important for the health of the game. But creating a stable token-based ecosystem is an area of expertise all on its own.</p>
<p>Game Geeks will enable a solid game ecosystem, which will utilize the same token and tokenomics for all games. This will reduce difficulty for players, who may not have expertise in areas like bridging or swapping tokens.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Developers aren’t blockchain-empowered</strong></p>
<p>The skills required for game development and blockchain programming are completely separate. Game Geeks helps to seamlessly on-board these developers, for example creating reusable assets which can be used in multiple games.</p>
<p>In the future, Game Geeks will roll out a NFT marketplace, a gaming asset store/launchpad, and a feature where every game will have different in-game modes (from competitive to casual).</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="meet-the-team">Meet the team</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-4-8.jpg" alt="Game Geeks Team"></p>
<p>Sanket Nighot and Ayush Yadav both started their journey as Co-Founders of Game Geeks at the Tezos India Fellowship 2021, an intensive 8-week mentor led program. Since then, they’ve amassed a wealth of experience in blockchain, from battle-testing their skills on various projects and now leading a truly innovative startup.</p>
<p>Sanket is an Information Technology graduate, with rich experience working on blockchain projects like Lords of the Lands and Payper Finance. As a blockchain developer, he is proficient with Smartpy, Ligo, Solidity. Having worked closely with the Tezos India team as a Bootcamp and Hackathon mentor, Sanket’s rich experience ensures that Game Geeks is on a steady path to success.</p>
<p>Ayush has graduated with a degree in Computer Science, and is working as a software engineer. He is passionate about blockchain, and is a full-stack developer with hands-on experience with a wide variety of languages including Javascript, Python, and Nodejs.</p>
<p><strong><em>“We have studied the current Web3 gaming industry thoroughly, and we know where improvement is needed. We can use the Tezos blockchain to give gamers the great gaming experience they deserve!”, said Ayush.</em></strong></p>
<p><a href="https://gamegeeks.online">https://gamegeeks.online</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/GameGeeksOnline">https://twitter.com/GameGeeksOnline</a></p>
<h2 id="whats-happening-on-demo-day-7-december">What’s happening on Demo Day, 7 December?</h2>
<p>Demo Day will see the project founders participate, where they will be given 3 minutes to present their pitch to some of industry’s top mentors and investors participating.</p>
<p>These investors will then make their assessment - of the project’s quality and potential, business strategy, and even the founders themselves. Investors will include high-profile figures from esteemed organizations like Newman Capital, Draper Startup House, Amber Group, Samadhi Ventures.</p>
<p>The mentors in attendance include Vikram Bharati (Draper Startup House), Laurent Dedenis (Chainstack), Cici Lu (Vennlink), Bobby Ong (CoinGecko), Mona Zoet (RegPac Revolution), TZ APAC’s own Julian Low, and many more.</p>
<p>This article takes you through the 22 projects that are set to elevate the Web3 ecosystem.</p>
Road to the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator Demo Day: Projects Deep Dive Part 3
<h2 id="find-out-how-lumos-thirdmedia-and-gebo-are-building-the-future-of-nfts-content-monetization-and-tokenization-of-real-world-assets">Find out how Lumos, ThirdMedia, and Gebo are building the future of NFTs, content monetization, and tokenization of real-world assets.</h2>
<p>With 2 weeks to Demo Day, we highlight the problems that the three projects are trying to solve, as well as the vision of the founders behind the organizations.</p>
<p><strong>Projects Covered:</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Lumos" style="text-decoration: none;">1. <u>Lumos</u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#ThirdMedia" style="text-decoration: none;">2. <u>ThirdMedia</u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Gebo" style="text-decoration: none;">3. <u>Gebo</a></u></strong></p>
<h2 id="Lumos">Lumos Protocol, powering the next-generation of functional NFT utility</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-3-1.jpg" alt="Lumos"></p>
<p>With Lumos Protocol, NFT assets are taken to a next level of utility. Lumos allows you to load up NFTs with any digital asset, which in turn become child assets, which are sub-assets that are attached to a parent asset. It features cutting-edge mechanics for NFTs such as time-locked withdrawal of child assets, programmable interest on the child assets, and many more. This enables impressive use cases for blockchain projects across DeFi, Gaming, DAOs, and Creator Economy.</p>
<h3 id="meet-gunit">Meet Gunit</h3>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-3-2.jpg"
class="side-images-1" alt="Gunit">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Gunit, founder of Lumos, is a full stack developer, with a curious mind that has taken him across FinTech, Computer Vision, and Mobile App Development. </p>
<p class="image-text"><i>“I love being in the blockchain space because it’s so exciting and fast-paced. I like what Web3 represents - it’s a very philosophical idea that technology has finally somewhat caught up with. I think my primary drive is a need to know things. I enjoy learning, and am always chasing knowledge!”</i></p>
<p class="image-text">This thirst for knowledge is what led him into Web3:</p>
<p class="image-text"><i>“While I was freelancing in tech, a client once asked whether I accept payment in Bitcoin. I spent some time reading whitepapers. Tezos had the most interesting one. The more I read, the more I liked the blockchain. After joining some communities and buying my first NFT in 2021, I fell into the rabbit hole. Currently, I’m learning about ZK-proofs.” </i></p>
</div>
</div>
<p>Gunit shares more about his vision about the future:</p>
<p><strong><em>“I think the craze around NFTs is dying down a bit (though Tezos NFT sales are through the roof), which signifies that the market for NFTs is maturing. The next generation of NFTs will be fully utility-driven. So, now is the right time for Lumos to build for the next wave of backward-compatible NFTs.”</em></strong></p>
<h3 id="what-can-lumos-do">What can Lumos do?</h3>
<p>Lumos allows NFTs to own other tokens (aka child tokens). These child tokens can be:</p>
<ol>
<li>Coins like Tez/Bitcoin/Ethereum</li>
<li>Fungible tokens like game or dApp utility tokens</li>
<li>Non-fungible tokens</li>
<li>Interest-bearing tokens - Lumos makes this possible by bridging to the Yupana DeFi Protocol, the first open-source and non-custodial lending protocol on Tezos</li>
</ol>
<p>Lumos also is built for versatility, with time-locks built in natively. For example, you can define when a certain token can be withdrawn, creator royalties, minimum or maximum token deposits, and more.</p>
<p>With Lumos, it’s possible to make dApps like vesting contracts, index funds, and escrow platforms with just NFTs. It also gives artists and designers new and innovative ways to integrate NFTs into their art or game mechanics. For example, artists may use Lumos to chain their NFTs with other NFTs.</p>
<h3 id="lumos-use-cases">Lumos Use Cases</h3>
<p><u>For Artists</u></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Chained NFTs: Artists can chain NFTs together, and this chain can be sold on the open marketplaces. The revenue generated can be split between the artists.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Dynamic NFTs: Create art that changes based on the amount of tokens that is locked inside the NFTs.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Music NFTs: Artists can lock individual songs inside NFTs and customize release conditions for each song.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><u>Charities and Content Creation</u></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Supporters of both charities and creators can load up NFTs, programmed such that only the charity or the creator can withdraw the interest that NFTs generate.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Content can be unlocked once an NFT is loaded up with a specific amount of tokens.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><u>Gaming</u></p>
<p>Imagine Pokémon Go with all the benefits of Web3 technology.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Geo-tagging: NFTs can be loaded up with interest-bearing tokens, geotagged to certain locations. They can be configured such that the first person to reach the NFT will be able to withdraw the generated interest, while leaving behind the principal amount to generate interest for the next player.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>NFT Battling: The power of an in-game NFT item can scale based on its stored interest.
In NFT battles, the winning NFT gets to withdraw a part of the tokens inside the losing NFT. This financially incentivises players to keep playing, to make their NFTs more valuable.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><u>DeFi</u></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>NFT Index Funds: An NFT can now act as a basket which tracks a group of tokens. It can be fractionalised as well so that multiple people can share ownership of the basket of tokens.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Liquidity Mining Multipliers: Owning an NFT enables higher multiples of liquidity mining rewards for a specific Liquidity Pool.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Vesting Contracts: Lumos enables time-locking of tokens inside NFTs. This enables vesting contracts that have an added functionality of being tradable.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><u>DAOs</u></p>
<p>New models of DAO governance can be built by using the functionality of vesting tokens inside NFTs.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Time Locking: Holding a specific number of time-locked tokens in a DAO would give you the same voting power as someone who owns a higher number of tokens but has not time-locked them. This can reduce the parity between members with deep pockets and those without.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Mailboxes: NFTs can act as mailboxes for communicating with members of the DAO.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/LumosProtocol">https://twitter.com/LumosProtocol</a></p>
<h2 id="ThirdMedia">ThirdMedia, giving back control to creators</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-3-3.jpg" alt="ThirdMedia"></p>
<p>Today, creators are heavily dependent on centralized platforms to serve their content. These platforms have the final control over the content, the monetization, the content consumer.</p>
<h3 id="introducing-the-next-generation-creator-economy-space---thirdmedia"><strong>Introducing the next-generation Creator Economy Space - ThirdMedia</strong></h3>
<p>ThirdMedia is a decentralized-yet-private content sharing SAAS product, which offers all the benefits of Web3 technology.</p>
<p>ThirdMedia’s mission is to solve the problem of centralization in the creator economy space, giving control of content and monetization back to creators via a platform that is powered by blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs.</p>
<p>For creators, they offer:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ultimate creative control over their content</li>
<li>Full access to and control of monetization</li>
<li>15GB worth of storage free</li>
<li>Full royalties from their content</li>
<li>Data security using encryption</li>
</ul>
<p>For consumers, they offer:</p>
<ul>
<li>An effective and real way to support and invest into their favorite creators through:
<ul>
<li>Direct donation</li>
<li>Minting fee for access NFTs</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Token-gated access to the content</li>
<li>A seamless User Interface</li>
</ul>
<p>To make the platform more engaging & interesting, the team is actively developing the product and brain-storming on different gamifications that could be applied.</p>
<p>ThirdMedia has received positive validation from some established creators and the number of creators ready to be onboarded has now crossed double digits.</p>
<h3 id="the-talent-stacked-founding-team-talk-about-thirdmedia">The talent-stacked founding team talk about ThirdMedia</h3>
<p>Ankit Shubham and Palak Mantry are a team of engineers who completed their B. Tech in Computer Engineering from IIT Delhi and VJTI (Mumbai).</p>
<p>Ankit won the prestigious <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apac-and-tezos-india-join-forces-to-launch-tezasia-the-largest-web3-hackathon-in-asia/">Tezasia Hackathon 2022</a>, and was invited to participate in TZ APAC’s EW3I program. Subsequently, Palak joined the team and together, they’ve been working to create an impact.</p>
<p>Ankit and Palak have also impressively been shortlisted in the Pioneer Track of the Polygon Fellowship (a 0.7% acceptance rate). The wealth of experience accumulated during this time is a great asset in developing a project that can truly reach mainstream adoption.</p>
<p><strong><em>“The team believes and is strongly practicing collaboration and trust. There is a shared mutual goal for taking the project to new heights. Our level of expertise and eagerness to explore the blockchain domain and to solve problems to revamp authentication and give content creators a valuable platform makes us stand out.”</em></strong></p>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-3-4.jpeg"
class="side-images-1" alt="Ankit">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Ankit is a software engineer by trade, delving full-time into solving real world problems with top-tier knowledge of Web3 solutions. He understands NFTs from both technical and business perspectives. Having been formally introduced to blockchain in 2018 at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, he has since published research papers, contributed to open-source projects, and secured multiple bounties/grants for his prototypes:</p>
<ul style="width: 76%">
<li>Protocol Lab’s Next Step Microgrant worth $5000</li>
<li>Bounty for ‘Best use of IPFS/Filecoin for File Storage’ worth $4000 at Data DAO Hackathon 2022</li>
<li>Bounty for Best NFT project worth $2000 at Unfold Hackathon 2022</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-3-5.jpg"
class="side-images-1" alt="Palak">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Palak is currently a Technology Analyst at Morgan Stanley. She is extremely focused on honing both her leadership and technological skills. Through her experience and expertise of freelancing, hackathons, publishing research papers, she is determined to build something of her own in the Web3 space. She also gives back to the community - as a Founder and Lead of the Google Development Student Club representing her Institute at a global community level.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>When asked about the challenges they faced along the way, they shared their thought process.</p>
<p><strong><em>“The first challenge was finding a genuine problem to solve, which would reach the masses and create an impact. The next step was to identify whether the solution lies in Web3, and how we could make the best use of Web3 tools to provide an end-to-end solution. Along the way, validating the idea was crucial - conformity psychology is tricky for all founders, because people always say yes to ideas!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Our mentor Julian Low has been a visionary for our product! His strong guidance on market research, and on fine-tuning our product, is proving to be a crucial driving force for ThirdMedia.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>In the EW3I program, we hope to grow our network, showcase our product, learn from the other founders, mentors, VCs, in the incubator and thus engineer our company for success!”</em></strong></p>
<p><a href="https://linktr.ee/ThirdMediaCompany">https://linktr.ee/ThirdMediaCompany</a></p>
<h2 id="Gebo">Gebo, the Money Protocol</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-3-6.jpg" alt="Gebo"></p>
<p>Gebo is an Investment DAO, where members team up to make investments, or back startups as a group. Gebo is now introducing the Defi-as-a-Service model, which will enable traditional and blockchain-native organizations to access services that are similar to SaaS-like DeFi services securely and compliantly.</p>
<p>Gebo will facilitate fair automated and trust-minimized exchange of any off-chain (physical or digital) value for on-chain assets in a permissionless peer-to-peer way. It will enable the collective maintenance and exchange of NFTs alongside off-chain assets.</p>
<ul>
<li>Asset tokenization is forecasted to be a <a href="https://www.addx.co/files/bcg_ADDX_report_Asset_tokenization_trillion_opportunity_by_2030_de2aaa41a4.pdf">$16.1 trillion business opportunity by 2030</a>.</li>
<li>The “traditional” DeFi market is projected to be worth <a href="https://www.emergenresearch.com/press-release/global-decentralized-finance-platforms-market">$506.92 billion by 2028</a>.</li>
<li>DeFi-as-a-Service and Institutional DeFi poised to become a <a href="https://forkast.news/institutional-defi-trillion-dollar-industry-blockdata/">$1 trillion industry</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="what-are-the-market-conditions-that-gebo-operates-in">What are the market conditions that Gebo operates in?</h3>
<p>Gebo’s Defi-as-a-Service concept will include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Financial services for businesses via APIs</li>
<li>Consultancy</li>
<li>Wallet confidence and reputation</li>
<li>Business airdrops</li>
<li>Direct token minting (as NFTs) into the user’s wallet</li>
</ul>
<p>Gebo will also allow issuing Programmable Money backed by any asset, owned collectively or individually.</p>
<h3 id="cbdcs">CBDCs</h3>
<p><u>What are CBDCs?</u><br>Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are digital tokens, similar to cryptocurrency, but issued by a central bank.</p>
<p>Regulators have already moved beyond discussions, with the <a href="https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fintech-notes/Issues/2022/02/07/Behind-the-Scenes-of-Central-Bank-Digital-Currency-512174">People’s Bank of China, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and BCDU having launched pilot programs</a>.</p>
<p><u>Why are CBDCs important?</u><br>Stable money (like stablecoins) is essential for DeFi. Thomas Moser points out that a CBDC would entail lower risks for DeFi than a redeemable stablecoin because central bank money <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/central-banks-can-push-defi-into-mainstream-swiss-national-bank-official">“does not entail counterparty risk”, and that “a central bank cannot go bankrupt, since it issues irredeemable money”</a></p>
<p>Gebo will allow issuing of digital currencies, backed by any asset which can be owned collectively or individually. Real-world assets can be tokenized, traded, and transferred directly into users’ wallets. The tokens can be thought of as trustless forward contracts for these real-world assets, powered by smart contracts.</p>
<p>With CBDCs in DeFi, Gebo expects hundreds of trillions worth of liquidity to be brought into DeFi, with large institutions entering the space and real world assets moving on-chain.</p>
<h3 id="meet-the-team-behind-gebo">Meet the team behind Gebo</h3>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-3-7.jpg" alt="Gebo Team"></p>
<p>Gebo’s team is a group of crypto-enthusiasts that have worked together since 2015. They’ve had experience in software and business development, having worked with Java since its inception in 1995. They’ve also built financial services and apps, gambling and payment solutions, and several companies and start-ups.</p>
<p><strong><em>“We’ve been together for years. We all have jobs, families, and real lives. But if there is a need or a mutual interest, we always come together and just work. Everyone knows what to do, no time to waste. Beautiful.”</em></strong></p>
<p>In 2020, after being split because of the pandemic, they regrouped online to build on Tezos. The first DeFi product they’ve delivered was <a href="https://opusdei.money/">Opus Dei Money</a> - a P2P lending and borrowing service on Tezos, audited by Inference AG.</p>
<p>They explain their mission, ‘Creating the financial goodwill between finance and the new Web’:</p>
<p><strong><em>“It is obvious that the world is changing. We see Web3 as not just a buzzword nor an endpoint, but the beginning of unseen changes in society.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>We believe that after Web3 there will also be a Web4, 5, 6, and 7, up to the level where operations of logistics, traveling, consumer behavior, or society, in general, are organized and secured by the Akasha-like network. With that in mind, what we are building now is a foundation for the future.”</em></strong></p>
<h2 id="whats-happening-on-demo-day-7-december">What’s happening on Demo Day, 7 December?</h2>
<p>Demo Day will see the project founders participate, where they will be given 3 minutes to present their pitch to some of industry’s top mentors and investors participating.</p>
<p>These investors will then make their assessment - of the project’s quality and potential, business strategy, and even the founders themselves. Investors will include high-profile figures from esteemed organizations like Newman Capital, Draper Startup House, Amber Group, Samadhi Ventures.</p>
<p>The mentors in attendance include Vikram Bharati (Draper Startup House), Laurent Dedenis (Chainstack), Cici Lu (Vennlink), Bobby Ong (CoinGecko), Mona Zoet (RegPac Revolution), TZ APAC’s own Julian Low, and many more.</p>
Road to the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator Demo Day: Projects Deep Dive Part 2
<h2 id="learn-how-blockchain-can-transform-supply-chains-empower-game-developers-and-supercharge-content-creation-with-vchained-acxyn-and-magicnfty">Learn how blockchain can transform supply chains, empower game developers, and supercharge content creation with VChained, Acxyn, and MagicNFTy.</h2>
<p>How can blockchain lead the charge against climate change, give indie game developers the funding they deserve, and change the landscape of content creation?</p>
<p>In the lead up to Demo Day, we highlight how VChained, Acxyn, and MagicNFTy can revolutionize these industries using cutting-edge Web3 solutions.</p>
<p><strong>Projects Covered:</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#VChained" style="text-decoration: none;">1. <u>VChained</u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Acxyn" style="text-decoration: none;">2. <u>Acxyn</u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#MagicNFTy" style="text-decoration: none;">3. <u>MagicNFTy</a></u></strong></p>
<p><em>Read more about Part 1 <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-1/">here</a>.</em></p>
<h2 id="VChained">VChained: Tracing the path to sustainability</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2-1.png" alt="VChained"></p>
<p>In 2020, global trade was crippled by the pandemic, exposing glaring holes in the supply chain industry. The next year however, <a href="https://news.crunchbase.com/transportation/supply-chain-venture-capital/">a record-breaking $7 billion of investments</a> poured in. What opportunities do VCs see in this space?</p>
<p>Fighting climate change requires fixing <a href="https://www.accenture.com/ro-en/insights/supply-chain-operations/supply-chains-key-unlocking-net-zero-emissions#:~:text=Supply%20chains%20are%20often%20the,so%20at%20an%20advanced%20level">supply chains, which are responsible for 60% of all carbon emissions in the world</a>. However, carbon footprints are impossible to track. Even regulation fails on a practical level. For example, <a href="https://www.eyeonesg.com/2021/06/india-imposes-new-esg-reporting-requirements-on-top-1000-listed-companies/">India has imposed ESG reporting requirements for all companies by 2030</a>, but companies do not even have access to that technology - until now.</p>
<p>VChained is pioneering a sustainable future for the supply chain industry, helping companies to achieve net zero emissions through blockchain-verified data. Its simple, no-to-low-code interface grants companies and consumers end-to-end traceability of products, carbon footprints and smart data insights. It is also highly-customizable, allowing users to easily build their own backend, enabling custom flows and logic.</p>
<p>Other technologies may also transform supply chains - from Internet of Things to hyper-automation (blending AI and machine learning) and next-generation robots. The best part? Blockchain can integrate them, enhancing supply chains with its signature interoperability, speed, and safety.</p>
<h4 id="why-use-blockchain-technology-over-digital-databases">Why use blockchain technology over digital databases?</h4>
<p>There’s no doubt that digitalization is much more efficient and traceable than paper records. But why use blockchain technology?</p>
<p>With digital databases, double-spending easily occurs. In addition, document forgery is still possible, like <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/singapore-files-105-more-charges-against-oil-trader-hin-leong-founder-ok-lim-2021-06-24/">Hin Leong’s $2.23 billion in fraudulent disbursements</a>.</p>
<p>Blockchain is decentralized and immutable. There is no risk of data loss, corruption, or data tampering. With VChained, a data entry creates a block, which is added on-chain and can be accessed simply by scanning a QR code. This heavily upgrades supply chains with next-level security; operational efficiency, and reduced costs.</p>
<p>In addition to what databases can check (prices, raw materials), VChained is also able to track other parameters like product quality, deliveries, invoices - and even carbon footprints. It can also identify specific weak links that databases can’t - for example, whether a product is missing because of an employee misplacing it or a stocktaking failure.</p>
<p>Traditionally, systems are siloed, which means that many different systems are used to track products at different stages of its lifecycle. VChained provides interconnectivity across:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Industries: While other products focus on one specific industry, VChained is cross-industry compatible, tying all these together in one ultimate solution.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Technologies: VChained provides convenience through effortless integration. Existing solutions can be integrated directly with their APIs, which means that full migrations aren’t needed. Automation of flows and IOT devices are linked, eliminating the need for manual entries and allowing for triggers through simple texts, phone calls, or sensors.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Learn how you can trace your business to a sustainable future with VChained. <br><br>Explore the importance of traceability in the $50 trillion industry.<a href="https://t.co/Yr3uxQi0CN">https://t.co/Yr3uxQi0CN</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/votanventures?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#votanventures</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vchained?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vchained</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blockchain?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blockchain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blockchaintechnology?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blockchaintechnology</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tezos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/carbonfootprint?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#carbonfootprint</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/logistics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#logistics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/supplychain?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#supplychain</a></p>— Votan Ventures (@votanventures) <a href="https://twitter.com/votanventures/status/1594640785026473985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h3 id="meet-votan-ventures-the-team-behind-vchained">Meet Votan Ventures, the team behind VChained</h3>
<p>Votan Ventures (VV)’s mission is to help the world trust what they buy with blockchain-powered transparent, efficient and sustainable supply chains.</p>
<p>The speed of which VV is building is impressive. In 2020 when VV was established, they’ve helped over 20 companies develop blockchain solutions from scratch, or migrate traditional processes over.</p>
<p>In 2021, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/building-indias-next-generation-of-blockchain-talent-with-microsoft-for-startups-and-tezos#:~:text=Projects%20from%20the%20final%20cohort%20include%20Votan%20Venture%E2%80%99s%20one%2Dstop%20solution%20for%20software%20development%20products%20and%20services">VV competed with 500 startups to win the Microsoft Century</a> program <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/innovative-tezasia-hackathon-winners-build-asias-green-tomorrow-with-blockchain-today#:~:text=TZ%20APAC%20and%20Tezos%20India%20have%20also%20partnered%20with%20Microsoft%2C%20Skoda%20and%20Tech%20Mahindra%20to%20deliver%20the%20MICROSOFT%20CENTURY%20PROGRAM%20%E2%80%93%20a%20corporate%2DSME%20bridge%20program%20that%20seeks%20to%20uncover%20blockchain%2Dbased%20solutions%20on%20Tezos%2C%20for%20industry%2Dspecific%20use%20cases.">delivered by TZ APAC and Tezos India</a>, designed to identify enterprise-ready blockchain solutions for industry specific use cases. After winning and receiving a grant, VChained was built. Today, a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is out with a beta version already available for use.</p>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2-2.png"
class="side-images-1" alt="Vijay Sharma">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Vijay Sharma, CEO, is a retired gazetted officer from the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India. With over 30 years of experience in managing the telecommunications supply chain, Vijay provides ever-reliable industry expertise to the team. </p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2-3.png"
class="side-images-1" alt="Rachit Gaur">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Rachit Gaur, CTO, immerses himself in blockchain. Since 2017, he has worked with tech giants and startups to solve enterprise-level problems, across 20 blockchains. He has delivered a document traceability solution for the French Government, written most of the code for <a href="https://tatum.io/">Tatum</a>, 5 different NFT marketplaces, built NPM libraries used by over 21 thousand projects, and more.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2-4.jpeg"
class="side-images-1" alt="Filip Dite">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Filip Dite, Marketing Advisor, has extensive experience in Web3 marketing. He met Rachit during his time growing Tatum from the ground up as Marketing Head, where he was responsible for all campaigns and partnerships. </p>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="https://vchained.com">https://vchained.com</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/votanventures">https://twitter.com/votanventures</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/votanventures">https://www.instagram.com/votanventures</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/votanventures">https://www.linkedin.com/company/votanventures</a></p>
<h2 id="Acxyn">Acxyn, enabling game developers access to powerful Web3 tools and tokenization</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2-5.JPG" alt="Acxyn"></p>
<p>Acxyn is a GameFi start-up aiming to empower game developers with benefits such as novel cross-game compatible data and capital monetisation strategies. With a strong vision for the future of the gaming industry, Acxyn is committed to providing game developers with the Web3 tools they need to succeed. The first platform of its kind, Acxyn can potentially revolutionize the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/07/gaming-pandemic-lockdowns-pwc-growth/">$235.7B gaming industry</a>.</p>
<p>The typical independent game developer is a craftsman, passionate about delivering value and joy to the world through bringing his creative vision to life. He’s great at making games, but one problem exists - <em>he’s not a businessman</em>. Creating quality games and monetizing them are two entirely different core skill sets.</p>
<p>The truth is while <a href="https://vginsights.com/insights/article/indie-games-make-up-40-of-all-units-sold-on-steam">53% of all Steam games are indie</a>, only <a href="https://indiegamehaven.com/how-many-indie-games-are-successful/#:~:text=70%25%20of%20all%20indie%20games,to%20fund%20a%20second%20project">7% of indie games generate enough revenue to fund their next game</a>.</p>
<p>This shows that while there is huge demand for indie games, monetizing their games is a huge challenge for developers. In order to survive, <a href="https://coindcx.com/blog/cryptocurrency/web2-to-web3-how-will-the-gaming-giants-incorporate-gaming-principles/#:~:text=developers%20had%20to%20put%20monetization%20at%20the%20core%20of%20the%20game%20because%20there%20was%20no%20other%20way%20to%20grow%20for%20a%20developer.">monetization has to be at the core of the game</a>, inundating gamers with advertisements or in-game purchases. To gamers, the shift to <a href="https://themchenrymessenger.com/opinion-modern-video-games-have-lost-their-charm/#:~:text=Recently%2C%20many%20popular,the%20gaming%20community.">this model is seen as greedy and cash grabbing</a>.</p>
<p>Web3 technology offers an entirely new way for developers to make money off their product. But the challenge for developers are similar - they aren’t blockchain engineers nor tokenomic experts either. Acxyn is here to help.</p>
<p>In a nutshell, Acxyn utilizes Web3 technologies to provide developers with smart data, which is used to automatically tokenize game economies and intellectual property. With their Plug n’ Play infrastructure, game developers need zero knowledge of blockchain to reap all the benefits that Acxyn provides.</p>
<h3 id="what-features-does-acxyn-offer-that-helps-game-developers-make-money-and-higher-quality-games">What features does Acxyn offer that helps game developers make money, and higher-quality games?</h3>
<p><u>An intuitive, no-code dashboard which game developers can use to better manage their games</u></p>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2-6.png" alt="Acxyn Games"></p>
<p><u>AI-Powered Data Tools</u> <br>Acxyn’s Proprietary Valuation Algorithm is the backbone of their platform. It’s an aggregation of metrics like a game’s Daily Active Users, in-game transactions, amount of time spent, and more. The better a game’s score is, the more rewards developers and players will receive. Developers can also utilize this as feedback to make improvements, or as a credit score when raising funds from investors.</p>
<p>Based off this score, Acxyn’s no-code DeFi tools automatically tokenizes game assets, creating an in-game economy akin to a ‘micro-GDP’. It’s also possible for players to invest in games with potential to score highly in the future, which allows smaller developers access to early bootstrapping liquidity.</p>
<p>For all games, their tokens will be paired with a reserve currency which acts as an underlying asset class, leading to new revenue streams via Acxyn’s native DeFi Open Finance tools.</p>
<p><u>Commercialisation of Intellectual Property</u> <br>Intellectual property valuation is important as it determines the total value of the game during M&A/purchase negotiations, or for financial reporting. It’s also critical during licensing agreements, when other games, shows or movies wish to pay game developers to use their IP. But just like how game developers aren’t businessmen, they aren’t lawyers either.</p>
<p>Acxyn not only handles the legal registration of IP for game developers, but also puts a token value in it based on the Proprietary Valuation Algorithm. Finally, indie games may benefit from licensing of IP - which is a huge profit driver for larger titles. This also changes the game for developers, through enabling undercollateralized lending and borrowing, and securing financing through pledging IP as collateral.</p>
<h3 id="the-strong-minds-behind-acxyn">The strong minds behind Acxyn</h3>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2-7.jpg" alt="Acxyn 1"></p>
<p>Acxyn’s team is a mix of great team chemistry, business intelligence and strong work ethic. Across the team, they’re equipped with unique and highly-specialized skill sets from business design, economic design, infrastructure architecture and development, marketing and operations.</p>
<p>The team is highly-experienced, being in traditional IT, Web3 hardware and software infrastructure, GameFi, and DeFi since 2015. They’ve launched several NFT and GameFi projects, and designed/developed multiple product and token ecosystems.</p>
<p>Despite being a true pioneer in this space, Acxyn has made incredible progress since they were founded 3.5 months ago. 60 game development studios have already signed their interest in being part of Acxyn’s launch, including Virtuous, Streamline, Agate, and <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-1/#Quurk">Quurk</a>.</p>
<p>They will be presenting their MVP at Demo Day, 7 December.</p>
<p><a href="http://acxyn.xyz">http://acxyn.xyz</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/acxyn/about">https://www.linkedin.com/company/acxyn/about</a></p>
<h2 id="MagicNFTy">MagicNFTy, bringing Web3 to Social Media</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2-8.jpg" alt="MagicNFTy"></p>
<p>MagicNFTy is a no-code community management tool, which allows influencers to easily harness blockchain technology. With MagicNFTy, content creators can easily create brand tokens, token-gate their content, and manage their communities. This provides a new level of control and transparency for content creators and ensures that they are fairly compensated for their work, and gives them full ownership over their content.</p>
<p>Today, the creator economy is worth a whopping US$104.2 billion.</p>
<p><a href="https://influencers.club/2022/06/14/creator-economy-market-size/">Industry statistics</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li>42 billion social media users</li>
<li>200 million creators</li>
<li>2 hours and 27 minutes spent on average on social media every day per user globally</li>
</ul>
<p>In an industry that shows such rapid year-on-year growth, it’s not surprising that in 2022 alone <a href="https://influencers.club/2022/06/14/creator-economy-market-size/">$2.7B has been invested</a> into startups in the Creator Economy. Currently, 23 of these startups are valued over $1B - and of these, 14 have crossed this milestone in 2022.</p>
<p>These statistics suggest that for Creator Economy Startups, the time to thrive is now.</p>
<h3 id="how-does-magicnfty-solve-the-issues-with-web2-social-platform">How does MagicNFTy solve the issues with Web2 social platform?</h3>
<p><u>Social media platforms are too centralized</u> <br>Platforms, not creators, are the ones taking <a href="https://www.antler.co/blog/the-new-creator-economy-a-guide-on-web3-creator-platforms">the lion’s share of the money</a>. MagicNFTy uses NFT technology, and royalty smart contracts to allow creators to directly monetize their content..</p>
<p><u>Content is ultimately dictated by the algorithm that social media platforms use</u> <br>Algorithm-fed short video content is powering social media right now. This means that creators have to focus on chasing what the algorithm wants, instead of creating quality content. With MagicNFTy, creators can truly create for their community instead of catering to algorithms.</p>
<h3 id="what-features-does-magicnfty-offer">What features does MagicNFTy offer?</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p><u>Web3 enabled landing pages</u><br>
Creators may build a “wall” to showcase their creativity or products. This is where all the content is
posted and engagement happens.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><u>Online storefronts</u><br>
MagicNFTy makes it easy for creators to sell products like merchandise or tickets, without leaving the
platform.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><u>Minting NFTs</u><br>
Creators can mint their work into NFTs, benefiting from not just the initial sale but also royalties when
they are traded on the secondary market.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><u>Token-gated content and products</u><br>
Through NFT technology, creators can provide a personalized experience to all their fans. Different NFTs
will give different levels of access to the creator.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><u>Community management and analytics tools</u><br>
Creators can easily manage community engagement - staying connected through things like airdrops and chat
platforms.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><u>Brand tokens</u><br>
Creators can reward their communities for their engagement in an impactful and authentic way.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="aditya-warade-the-founder-of-magicnfty">Aditya Warade, the founder of MagicNFTy</h3>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-demo-day-projects-deep-dive-part-2-9.jpeg"
class="side-images-1" alt="Aditya Warade">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Having plied his trade in the PR arena, Aditya is well-versed in the content creation industry. More recently, he’s been in the product team for a conversation AI startup. At MagicNFTy, Aditya focuses largely on product development, which spans client interviews, creating UI/UX, and business development. </p>
<p class="image-text"><strong><i>"I enjoy finding solutions to issues and working on projects that could affect how we go about living our daily lives. I think that creating products that are easy to use and don't require the user to spend extra time learning new things would revolutionize the world." - Aditya</strong></i></p>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="about-the-egg-web3-incubator-program-and-demo-day-on-7-december">About the EGG Web3 Incubator program, and Demo Day on 7 December</h2>
<p>On 15 September, TZ APAC kicked off the EW3I where 23 teams from 8 countries were chosen for their incredible potential to create real-world Web3 solutions.</p>
<p>Get an overview of these 23 projects here: <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator/"><em>The 23 Projects on Tezos Changing the Game: Inside Cohort 1 of the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator</em></a></p>
<p>The EW3I provides these budding projects with access to resources and support including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Grants up to $10,000</li>
<li>$10,000 worth of AWS Credits</li>
<li>Developer hours from Tezos India</li>
<li>Personal 1-1 mentorship with industry professionals</li>
<li>Marketing and PR support (Articles, Social Media support, AMAs)</li>
<li>Pitching clinics</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://magicnfty.com">https://magicnfty.com</a></p>
<h3 id="whats-happening-on-demo-day-7-december">What’s happening on Demo Day, 7 December?</h3>
<p>Demo Day will see the project founders participate, where they will be given 3 minutes to present their pitch to some of industry’s top mentors and investors participating.</p>
<p>These investors will then make their assessment - of the project’s quality and potential, business strategy, and even the founders themselves. Investors will include high-profile figures from esteemed organizations like Newman Capital, Draper Startup House, Amber Group, Samadhi Ventures.</p>
<p>The mentors in attendance include Vikram Bharati (Draper Startup House), Laurent Dedenis (Chainstack), Cici Lu (Vennlink), Bobby Ong (CoinGecko), Mona Zoet (RegPac Revolution), TZ APAC’s own Julian Low, and many more.</p>
Road to the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator Demo Day: Projects Deep Dive Part 1
<h2 id="in-the-first-part-of-a-series-of-articles-highlighting-the-projects-building-game-changing-web3-solutions-on-tezos-as-part-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-ew3i-we-cast-a-spotlight-on-boom-interlace-quurk-and-teztrack">In the first part of a series of articles highlighting the projects building game-changing Web3 solutions on Tezos as part of the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator (EW3I), we cast a spotlight on Boom, Interlace, Quurk, and Teztrack.</h2>
<p>The countdown has started - three weeks left to Demo Day (7 December 2022)!</p>
<p>On 15 September, TZ APAC kicked off the EW3I where 23 teams from 8 countries were chosen for their incredible potential to create real-world Web3 solutions.</p>
<p>Get an overview of these 23 projects here: <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator/"><em>The 23 Projects on Tezos Changing the Game: Inside Cohort 1 of the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator</em></a></p>
<p>The EGG Web3 Incubator provides these budding projects with high levels of support, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Grants up to $10,000</li>
<li>$10,000 worth of AWS Credits</li>
<li>Developer hours from Tezos India</li>
<li>Personal 1-1 mentorship with industry professionals</li>
<li>Marketing and PR support (Articles, Social Media support, AMAs)</li>
<li>Pitching clinics</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="whats-happening-on-demo-day-7-december">What’s happening on Demo Day, 7 December?</h3>
<p>Demo Day will see the project founders participate, where they will be given 3 minutes to present their pitch to some of industry’s top mentors and investors participating.</p>
<p>These investors will then make their assessment - of the project’s quality and potential, business strategy, and even the founders themselves. Investors will include high-profile figures from esteemed organizations like Newman Capital, Draper Startup House, Amber Group, Samadhi Ventures.</p>
<p>The mentors in attendance include Vikram Bharati (Draper Startup House), Laurent Dedenis (Chainstack), Cici Lu (Vennlink), Bobby Ong (CoinGecko), Mona Zoet (RegPac Revolution), TZ APAC’s own Julian Low, and many more.</p>
<p>4 of the projects looking forward to making a flying impression of themselves during Demo Day include Boom, Interlace, Quurk, and Teztrack. Here’s a deeper look into their vision and journeys</p>
<p><strong>Projects Covered:</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Boom" style="text-decoration: none;">1. <u>Boom</u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Interlace" style="text-decoration: none;">2. <u>Interlace</u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Quurk" style="text-decoration: none;">3. <u>Quurk</a></u></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Teztrack" style="text-decoration: none;">4. <u>Teztrack</u></a></strong></p>
<h2 id="Boom">Boom, the next generation platform blending e-commerce and social media</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-1.png" alt="Boom"></p>
<p>Boom is the world’s first Web3 Social-Fi marketplace that combines consumer retail storefronts and products, cryptocurrency, and NFTs.</p>
<p>Today, many brands rely heavily on social platforms and influencer marketing, blurring the lines between brands/sellers and content creators. Imagine a platform where creators and sellers can be one and the same - taking branding, social marketing, and e-commerce to the next level.</p>
<p>Uniquely, on it <strong>screenshots or saving images are impossible on Boom -</strong> which brings back true digital scarcity, and highlights the value proposition of NFTs. Its native features include Boom Bazaar (where brands can reward and connect with their community using NFTs), and Boom Social (token-gated private chat groups and communities).</p>
<p>With over 1,100 signups (as of 27 October 2022) for Boom’s pre-access, it is clear that crypto-natives immediately see the value of Boom, and its potential to change the e-commerce game.</p>
<h3 id="exploring-the-problem-solving-potential-of-boom">Exploring the problem-solving potential of Boom</h3>
<p>Boom explains that with traditional Web2 social and e-commerce platforms, the main issues that creators and sellers face are the lack of monetization and the risk of data privacy.</p>
<ul>
<li>In<u> traditional e-commerce</u>, one-way communication funnels are used. Products are pushed from the top
(brands and companies) to the bottom (consumers - who aren’t a part of the brand experience).
</li>
<ul>
<li>Brands have to face extreme competition, where they also have to compete with their own hosts who launch
their own native product, leveraging on data of their hosted brands.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>For<u> content creators</u>, the only way of monetization that current social platforms offer is through
advertising.</li>
<ul>
<li>While everyone can be a creator now (we’ve seen how small accounts can create fantastic content that goes
viral), only top creators can live off that income.
</li>
<li>They also risk being banned arbitrarily and denied access to their income, since they do not own the content
they create.
</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p>Boom exists to solve the severe deficiencies of traditional e-commerce and social platforms, by offering a trading ecosystem where everyone can be a creator of tradable, utility-packed, social NFTs, which may grant access to virtual social clubs, podcast events and much more within the platform itself.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Retailers are empowered to set-up customizable storefronts (which accept payment in cryptocurrency). They may also launch NFTs, which unlock custom experiences on Boom Social, the social half of the Boom ecosystem. Through this, retailers can enhance their branding and community.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Users are made a core part of the brand experience, through interacting with the ecosystem, while generating revenue by trading their Social NFTs within the Boom Ecosystem.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>All parties enjoy full control over their content and generated revenue, and can deploy funds freely and quickly - regardless of transaction size, and with extremely low transaction costs.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Boom envisions that in 6-8 years, it will be a critical disruptor of consumer and social markets, as the leading blockchain Social Commerce Ecosystem globally.</p>
<h3 id="meet-the-founders">Meet the Founders</h3>
<p>Ani and Felix are seasoned blockchain natives, and have over 12 years of combined experience in the space under their belt, across various roles in leadership, operations, and technical domains.</p>
<p><em>“What we love about our team is that we are tenacious, persistent, bold and pragmatic in driving our vision forward. Hard-and-smart working individuals, Ani & Felix are the right one-two-punch combination who are technically knowledgeable, savvy, and aware of the growing landscape of Web3!”</em> - Ani Srinivas</p>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-2.png"
class="side-images-1" alt="Ani Srinivas">
<div>
<p class="image-text"><strong>Ani Srinivas</strong>, <u>CEO & CTO</u> of Boom, is a Program Manager for an automotive group in Toronto, with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and a Double Master’s in Industrial Engineering and Project Management.</p>
<p class="image-text">Since 2016, Ani has worked on several tokenomic architectures, composed technical whitepapers, as well as provided strategic operations advisory for a myriad of blockchain project ecosystems. He has also been involved in the development of several Web-3 protocols, particularly in the domain of Social NFTs, where he scaled a product from 1,000 active users to 100,000 active users in a span of 7 months. </p>
<p class="image-text">Additionally, Ani’s consulting has allowed him to draft technical whitepapers, design tokenomic architectures, as well as create unique utilities for NFTs.</p>
<p class="image-text">Placing emphasis on both technical expertise and the emotional intelligence required to facilitate and steer ships to fruition, Ani’s leadership will take Boom to the leading spot it deserves.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-3.png"
class="side-images-1" alt="Felix Sim">
<div>
<p class="image-text"><strong>Felix Sim</strong>, <u>Co-Founder & COO</u> of Boom, has been active in the blockchain space since 2018, with experiences across different areas within blockchain. He has consulted and guided various crypto projects on strategy and operations.</p>
<p class="image-text">Felix has accumulated extensive experience in finance and accounts during his time as an external auditor. With his entrepreneurial mindset, it isn’t surprising that he has already started his own business in the education industry. </p>
<p class="image-text">It was in 2018 that Ani met Felix in a Discord channel. Holding similar philosophies about blockchain, they quickly became good friends. During this time, Felix was rapidly gaining expertise in driving operations and strategic efforts for various protocols, particularly in community-driven projects, signaling to Ani that he was the right fit for Boom.</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="what-inspired-boom-and-how-did-the-team-get-here">What inspired Boom, and how did the team get here?</h3>
<p>Ani says: <em>“We witnessed several intelligently driven NFT/Social NFT projects, which failed due to a severe lack of utility. The primary “utility” the founders found in these projects was only based on the hype of purchasing NFTs and getting more users to the platforms. No focus was given on how to sustain the ecosystem after the users were on-boarded.</em></p>
<p><em>For instance, when thousands of users were on-boarded to a social NFT platform that we consulted for, there was no incentive for users to continue using that system - because there was nothing that could be done with the purchased NFTs.</em></p>
<p><em>So, over a period of time, the interest in the platform dropped along with hype and momentum. That NFT platform, like many others, lost the trading volume fees that they were so critically dependent on. It’s clear that for users to have long-term appetite for social & non-social NFT platforms, providing utility is crucial.</em></p>
<p><em>It was during these dark times that the concept of Boom was born. It is the first product that simultaneously gives true underlying value to NFTs, while addressing the critical problems of current Web2 ‘Dump Commerce’ platforms. Since Boom’s inception, we have received tremendous positive momentum from varied external inputs, and we are extremely excited to continue on this trajectory!”</em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.boooooooooom.com">https://www.boooooooooom.com</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/whatsboom">https://twitter.com/whatsboom</a></p>
<h2 id="Interlace">Interlace, inspired by real people with real problems</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-4.png" alt="Interlace"></p>
<p>Interlace is a platform built to connect decentralized organizations (DAOs) to connect with contributors and freelance workers, providing on-chain reputation management, contributor onboarding, and “Proof of Work” payment transparency.</p>
<p>Let’s start by examining the tailwinds that Interlace is leveraging upon.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Exponential growth of DAOs</strong></li>
<ul>
<li>From 2021-2022, the <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/number-of-daos-increases-8x-along-with-spike-in-votes-and-proposals">number of DAOs have grown from 700 to over 6000</a>, and this growth shows no signs of
slowing.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Exponential growth of freelance economy</strong></li>
<ul>
<li>Globally, there are <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN">over 1.56 billion freelancers</a> (per the World Bank).</li>
<li>In the US alone, freelancers make up around <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/193953/seasonally-adjusted-monthly-civilian-labor-force-in-the-us/">37% of the workforce</a>, earning $1.2 trillion in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Exponential growth of Web3 freelancers</strong></li>
<ul>
<li>25,000 posted Web3 roles on <a href="https://web3.career/">Web3.career</a>, from 3500 organizations</li>
<li><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/winning-formula-how-europes-top-tech-start-ups-get-it-right">100,000 contributors to Web3, with 34,000 contributions from Web3 developers.</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Rise of the decentralized work economy</strong></li>
<ul>
<li>The explosive growth of decentralized organizations and freelancing brings rise to decentralized work. <U>The
two are compatible due to their distributed and flexible nature</u>. Allowing people to work wherever, whenever,
and on whatever they want.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p>Web3 blockchain will completely transform the existing conventional processes of the different sectors. Some experts at Market Research Future predict that in 2023, the Web3 sector will be worth over 6 trillion dollars. Web3 will continue to grow at a CAGR of 44.6% from 2023 to 2030, making it one of the fastest growing sectors for the next decade.</p>
<h3 id="danielle-spence-the-woman-behind-interlace">Danielle Spence, the woman behind Interlace</h3>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-5.jpg" class="side-images-1" alt="Danielle Spence">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Meet Danielle Spence, the founder of Interlace. With over 7 years of product design experience and specialization in designing consumer-facing products, Dani’s skill sets are much needed in the world of Web3. In fact, she also co-founded the NFT collective <u>korii</u>, which helps inform interested artists how to start an NFT collection.</p>
<p class="image-text">But as we know, Web3 isn’t exactly the most beginner-friendly. In fact, it takes quite a great deal of courage and humility to take the first step into a space with complex terms, knowledge requirements and an entirely unique culture</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong><em>“Two years ago, I found the transition to Web3 very intimidating and questioned the safe path to contribution. Nevertheless, my curiosity of the space outweighed that uncertainty, so I continued my exploration.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>I started like how you start with anything new in life, with the guidance and support of someone with experience. That experience came in the form of a community; that community called itself a DAO. After learning more about the Web3 space through this DAO, I was starting to feel more confident in my ability to contribute, so I extended myself to do some design work for the DAO to build my reputation. But things began to get messy when design asks turned into full-on workloads with unrealistic timelines and compensation.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>I realized that not only was my contribution pathway hazy with no direction leading to my pursuits and goals, but many people needed clarification on what it takes to be a DAO contributor and how they can be one. <u>That’s when I created InterLace</u>, a platform to streamline the process and help people transition into the world of DAO contribution. InterLace is doing that by setting clear expectations and strategies to contribute to Web3.”</em></strong></p>
<p>Dani shares more about her mission and challenges:</p>
<p><strong><em>“My mission is to create a safe space for decentralized organizations and contributors to connect, contribute, and build. With a short runway trying to push things forward with our Mission & Vision can sometimes feel a bit difficult. But what keeps us going is the value and impact the InterLace Marketplace will have on people.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>We’re so grateful for the support and resources provided in this program and what we have learned so far. Things are looking up!”</em></strong></p>
<p>Dani also feels blessed to have her team standing behind her:</p>
<p><strong><em>“The awesome thing about my team is that they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty, and love identifying and solving any problems that arise.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>We’re the right team to solve this problem because we’re composed of people that understand the frustrations and pain points people face transitioning from Web2 to Web3. We’re here to help break the ice by connecting a wide range of people and skill sets to DAOs and Web3 projects.”</em></strong></p>
<h3 id="the-issues-with-web3-work-and-the-solution-that-interlace-presents">The issues with Web3 work and the solution that Interlace presents</h3>
<p>Dani’s challenges are far from unique - the reality is that every day on the ground, Web3 natives seeking work are stumped by how to proceed, and DAOs looking for human capital face novel challenges.</p>
<p>To go deeper, the issues that these stakeholders face are:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>For <strong>DAOs and protocols</strong> - Web3 communities that work towards building out their mark in Web3, and occasionally need to look outside their core team to accomplish a task so that they can focus on core activities, we have a marketplace of qualified contributors. DAOs and protocols usually turn to Telegram, Discord, or Twitter to find Web3 talent. However, there is little to no verification process of contributor’s qualifications.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>For <strong>Contributors/Freelancers</strong> - crypto-natives or people new to Web3 that want to build Web3 portfolios and on chain contributions. The main frustrations are lack of project and payment transparency when working with a DAO.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Let’s take a deeper look at some of the challenges that Web3 freelancers face.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Connection</strong>: There’s no easy way to put yourself out there as a contributor to find DAOs. Additionally, DAOs can find talent through job boards, but benefit greatly if they are able to get the contributors already existing in their community.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Onboarding</strong>: The main communication channel for DAOs, Discord, lacks a process for members to gain context and information. It is difficult to onboard contributors and get them up to speed, giving them the right information and resources at the right time.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Contributing</strong>: DAOs struggle to scope out work for contributors creating a lack of transparency for both contributors and DAOs.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>So what does Interlace do to improve the lives of freelancers and DAOs?</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Web3 Skills Profile and Market Place</strong> - Having done their research, Interlace recognizes that the Web3 product won't be designed for crypto maxis. Instead, it will be designed for blockchain natives. That's why they’re focused on creating a seamless experience that simplifies the process of developing a Web3 resume by focusing the user's attention on a small number of key processes that require engagement upfront.</li>
<ul>
<li>Decentralized organizations can easily search and filter contributors by task or skill set, and even find potential contributors in their own communities.</li>
<br>
<li>Decentralized organizations can create a profile that lists how potential contributors can help. Potential contributors can also view their mission and values to understand if the DAO is right for them.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Interlace Onboarding</strong> - After finding a contributor that a decentralized organization is eager to work with, DAOs can streamline the onboarding process with Interlace. Role specific tools such as Discord, Google Docs, Figma, Github, Vercel, etc will be used. Onboarding information such as mission, vision, values are shared with the contributor to help ensure fit into the culture of the organization, as well as key contacts and work streams. An onboarding checklist will be provided for contributors to complete such as sending a wallet address to HR subDAO, requesting additional access, or completing legal forms. Now the DAO has a database of contributors that are actively working and can label them in work streams. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>“Proof of Work” Transparency</strong> - There's been talk about decentralized organizations conflating labor and community, and that's mainly due to the lack of processes and project expectations</li>
<ul>
<li>Interlace’s “Proof of Work” solution to Work Transparency: Once a decentralized organization finds a suitable contributor for the task and both parties are aligned, Interlace's built-In automation will kick in, which allows for a seamless task process and payment transparency with our <strong>scope of work</strong> and <strong>escrow contracts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p>Interlace is already working on partnerships, aiming to integrate platforms such as Achievement, Attendance, and Participation Protocols, Educational/Learn-to-Earn Platforms, Identity Systems, Proof-Of-Personhood Protocols, and Marketing (Quest-to-Earn) platforms.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.interlace.community">https://www.interlace.community</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Interlacehq">https://twitter.com/Interlacehq</a></p>
<h2 id="Quurk">Quurk: Empowering youth and uplifting human capital</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-6.jpg" alt="Quurk"></p>
<p>Quurk is driving a new advent of learner-oriented Regenerative Finance (ReFi) game economies in Web3, by building games that educate and reward learning outcomes whilst creating social impact with youths-at-risk. Built on the fundamentals of ReFi capital by a team with years of experience in serious games, the Quurk ReFi ecosystem advocates a sustainable economic model that goes beyond just rewards.</p>
<p>Being in an industry projected to be worth USD$32.7 billion by 2030, Quurk has a team that has won multiple awards (including Most Downloaded Content in the US App Store in the Education category).</p>
<p>Quurk aims to be recognised as the innovation leader in developing game-based learning products that provide equitable access to education for all, generate positive social impact, and upskill and uplift human capital.</p>
<h3 id="exploring-the-problem-solving-potential-of-quurk">Exploring the problem-solving potential of Quurk</h3>
<p><strong>The Problem</strong></p>
<p>Currently, <a href="https://www.pwc.com/reaching-yes">an overwhelming number of youth are ill-equipped with the relevant skills needed to fulfill the demand of the workforce</a>, as we move forward toward a 4th industrial revolution. The current education system is not enough - alongside additional factors like limited access to information and infrastructure for nurturing the next generation in developing countries.</p>
<p>While education has always been a driving force for the underprivileged to escape the grips of poverty; it has now become a significant debt burden for many families around the world. The education system has consistently become more expensive, more stringent, and less engaging - creating an ever-growing disparity. The advent of Web3 presents a clear pathway and opportunity to achieving a free and equitable education for all.</p>
<p><strong>The Solution</strong></p>
<p>Enter <strong>‘serious games’</strong> - an industry projected to be worth $32.7b by 2030. It harnesses the entertainment and engagement factor of video games, combined with learning strategies, knowledge and structures to help learners gain better understanding of topics and gain complex competencies.</p>
<p>However, while game-based learning is rising to the fore as an effective and progressive tool for learning, its business model is still very much traditional - from the typical subscription-based to licensing-based models. These traditional models put <u>undue risk to a game launching in the space</u>, requiring considerable traction for a game to break even, notwithstanding the need to measure its social impact on its users.</p>
<p>So how does Quurk leverage decentralized technology to de-risk a game’s entry into the market?
By adopting a free-to-play model backed by a <strong>Regenerative Finance (ReFi) token ecosystem</strong>, Quurk will drive velocity and liquidity in the ecosystem. Additionally, their ReFi model will upskill and uplift human capital, creating new job opportunities by providing economic incentives aligned with education to allow users to apply and monetise their knowledge gained.</p>
<p>This also encourages a community-centric approach that facilitates great P2P exchange, achieving community goals, and generates profits that can be channeled to initiatives for social impact by helping to <strong>educate youths in at-risk communities</strong>.</p>
<p>Further, data driven analytics provide a comprehensive blueprint for Quurk to identify successful learners, improvise pedagogical design and gameplay.</p>
<p>Quurk’s initial product is the world’s first Web3 powered gamified learning environment, <strong>Pastopia</strong> - a sandbox environment to fund, create, and sustain their vision of equitable access to education.</p>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-10.png" alt="Pastopia"></p>
<p>In Pastopia, users can:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Access Quurkverse, a marketplace that will allow players to freely interact and transact their items, as well as issue bounties to incentivise players to build for them.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Learn and Earn - Players not only earn token rewards, but also accreditation that will have real world value. Income is reinvested into at-risk youths.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Participate in Game-Based Learning - Utilizing Gagne’s Conditional Learning Theory to create open world games centered on fundamentals of Computational Thinking for STEM.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Use Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) that not only record a player’s progress but are nested to allow an arbitrary system of tradable traits.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The core of their gameplay is founded on the principles of computational thinking that’s imbued into their STEM curricular design and coding, creating a game-based approach to help educate users as they quest to make gains in the vast gameverse, developing the long term development of a student.</p>
<p><strong>In summary, this is what Quurk offers:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>An entertaining yet content-rich learning game that makes learning fun</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Equitable access to coding curriculums from world renowned organizations in the form of open-world gameplay for youths</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>A channel for players to earn accreditation through gameplay stored in their soul-bound token</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Community-centric P2P model that allows for a more invested community and a more rewarding experience</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Accreditations on the blockchain and token rewards</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="the-team-behind-quurk">The team behind Quurk</h3>
<p>Quurk’s team consists of members that have been in the Web3 space since 2015, with experiences spanning successful ICO launches, NFT projects, developing core token economics, and technology architecture. The team’s co-founder and lead developer have significant experience in the education space, with the latter still working as a lecturer at a local university.</p>
<p>The <u>co-founding team</u> commands decades-long expertise in both game-based learning and blockchain, launching multiple projects in crypto whilst winning several accolades for game-based learning along the way.</p>
<p>The <u>game development team</u> has more than a decade’s experience in developing successful award-winning game products as well as NFT projects in the space.</p>
<p>The <u>blockchain team</u> consists of individuals that are highly experienced in designing token economy and blockchain architecture. They have launched multiple projects in the space of GameFi, DeFi and Layer 1 technologies.</p>
<p>The team has also forged valuable connections in the space. On top of being a part of TZ APAC’s EGG Web3 Incubator, they have also established a partnership with 42, a world renowned coding academy to integrate their curriculum into Quurk’s gameplay.</p>
<p><strong><em>“Our team members share a common passion and have an extensive knowledge in education, game-based learning and blockchain technology. Our founding team understands the importance of giving back to education as beneficiaries ourselves and how education has played an intrinsic role in uplifting the living standards of mankind.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Our shared passion and combined knowledge and experience has banded us together to start a project that can bring about a profound change to how education functions in a world dominated by technology and knowledge. We will harness the power of gaming and blockchain to bring about a radical transformation that will result in education being more equitable for everyone.” - Marvin Das, Co-Founder (Quurk)</em></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.quurk.xyz/">www.quurk.xyz</a></p>
<h2 id="Teztrack">Teztrack, your one-stop shop for all things Tezos</h2>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-7.png" alt="Teztrack"></p>
<p>There’s no shortage of things to do in the vibrant Tezos ecosystem, home to over <a href="https://tzstats.com/activity">2 million</a> active artists, NFT collectors/traders, gamers, blockchain enthusiasts, and DeFi hunters. However, there currently isn’t a way to track your total balance of coins/tokens and NFTs across all wallets, nor discover new projects, which is absolutely crucial for power users.</p>
<p>Teztrack offers a current solution to a current problem. Teztrack is designed to provide users with an all-in-one portfolio tracker, social network, and home base in the Tezos ecosystem. Their Social-Fi integrated platform is a beautiful synthesis of convenience and community, where users can explore the latest in the Tezos ecosystem across NFT, DeFi, and gaming. With easy access to data and insights, users can look forward to smarter spending decisions, tighter communities, and a smooth experience in the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<h3 id="who-is-behind-teztrack">Who is behind Teztrack?</h3>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-8.jpg" alt="Teztrack-1"></p>
<p>The team and company behind Teztrack is MySekolahKripto - one of the Tezos ecosystem’s strongest supporters on the ground, doing good work to empower people with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the tricky world of Web3. They educate local communities through both online channels and physical classes, utilizing a not-for-profit business model where sales & grants received are used to provide free courses for the Malaysian community.</p>
<p>With a mission to expand beyond Malaysia and penetrate global markets as a Web3 community hub and more, MySekolahKripto is a young, hungry, and crypto-passionate team.</p>
<p><strong><em>“We want to do more to <u>enhance Web3 adoption in Malaysia, increase exposure, and cash inflow</u> of Tezos tokens and coins, <u>adoption of wallets</u> like Kukai and Temple, and especially <u>support all Malaysian projects</u> within the Tezos ecosystem! Through Teztrack, we will also provide people with <u>hands-on knowledge on how to use and operate the Tezos chain and bakers (validators)</u>,
<u>developer tools</u>, <u>digital identity</u>, and <u>DeFi</u>. We hope to instill the true spirit of decentralization in our users.”</em></strong></p>
<h3 id="everything-else-you-need-to-know-about-teztrack">Everything else you need to know about Teztrack</h3>
<p><img src="/images/road-to-demo-day-part-1-featuring-tz-apacs-egg-web3-incubatees-9.jpg" alt="Teztrack-2"></p>
<p><a href="https://info.sekolahkripto.org">https://info.sekolahkripto.org</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/MySekolahKripto">https://twitter.com/MySekolahKripto</a></p>
For Artists, Developers, and Community: the Tezos ecosystem at the Philippine Web3 Festival
<h2 id="from-14-18-november-2022-the-philippine-web3-festival-celebrates-blockchain-gaming-nfts-esports-crypto-and-more-heres-what-tz-apac-is-up-to---workshops-artist-panels-and-a-community-lunch-for-friends-of-tezos-in-the-philippines">From 14-18 November 2022, the Philippine Web3 Festival celebrates blockchain gaming, NFTs, eSports, crypto, and more! Here’s what TZ APAC is up to - workshops, artist panels, and a community lunch for friends of Tezos in the Philippines.</h2>
<p>The sheer passion for Web3 in the Filipino community truly shines through. Since the Web3 mania that changed the lives of many swept through the country in 2021, it’s clear that our Filipino friends are at the forefront of the Web3 transformation. Today, the Philippines rank 2<sup>nd</sup> in the Global Crypto Adoption Index, boasting of an incredible 15% crypto penetration rate.</p>
<p>Featuring prominent names like Yat Siu (Animoca Brands), Gabby Dixon (YGG), Jeffrey Zirlin (Sky Mavis), and John Verlin Santos (Titik Poetry), the Philippine Web3 Festival promises to showcase the future of Web3 in front of the world’s most engaged audience.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHWeb3Fest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PHWeb3Fest</a>, spotted at the the epicenter of Web3 adoption. 🇵🇭<br><br>This Nov 14-18, we're celebrating blockchain gaming, DeFi, NFTs, crypto, & more with some of Web3's best!🔥 <br><br>Join us for a week of exciting activities! Get your tickets at <a href="https://t.co/XHljl90ipE">https://t.co/XHljl90ipE</a> 🚀 <a href="https://t.co/kdIJXLFQWv">pic.twitter.com/kdIJXLFQWv</a></p>— Philippine Web3 Festival | 📅NOV 14-18 📍BGC (@phweb3festival) <a href="https://twitter.com/phweb3festival/status/1588542128497606661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>Of course, what’s an Asian Web3 festival without the Tezos ecosystem?</p>
<p>The Philippines has always demonstrated artistic excellence and strong community spirit on the Tezos chain. Talented Filipino artists like <a href="https://twitter.com/bjorncalleja">Bjorn Calleja</a> (featured at <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/pioneering-nft-artists-set-to-illuminate-art-basel-hong-kong-2022/">Art Basel HK</a>), <a href="https://twitter.com/_loopymoon">loopymoon</a> (featured at <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tezos-artists-at-nfts-inner-worlds-immortalized/">AMJ 2022</a>), and <a href="https://twitter.com/jakestudyos">Jakestudyos</a> (featured at <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/crypto-art-week-2022-a-celebration-of-asian-artistic-culture/">Crypto Art Week Asia</a>) have served as inspiration for artists worldwide. The vibrant Tezos communities in the Philippines have also <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1472782011341230083">organized heartwarming campaigns</a> to support each other. It should come as no surprise that TZ APAC will present a number of compelling activities at the Philippine Web3 Festival.</p>
<h4 id="tz-apac-presents-filipino-artists-in-the-world-of-nfts-panel-15-november-2022-3-pm">TZ APAC presents: “Filipino Artists in the world of NFTs” Panel (15 November 2022, 3 PM)</h4>
<p>Filipino artistry has always been shining brightly on the Tezos chain. At this talk hosted by TZ APAC’s Ivan Larin, three seasoned Tezos artists will share about their experiences in Web3, challenges, and the inspiration behind their work.</p>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/for-artists-developers-and-community-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-the-philippine-web3-festival-1.jpeg" class="side-images-1" alt="Bjorn Calleja">
<div>
<p class="image-text"><a href="https://twitter.com/bjorncalleja">Bjorn Calleja</a>, painter and interdisciplinary artist, is a true inspiration for the Philippines NFT art community - his work has been featured at major exhibitions like Art Fair Philippines and Art Basel Hong Kong. Inspired by life, his vibrant work explores the trinity of identities, and the concept of man versus environment.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/for-artists-developers-and-community-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-the-philippine-web3-festival-2.jpeg" class="side-images-1" alt="Jopet">
<div>
<p class="image-text"><a href="https://twitter.com/AriasJopet/photo">Jopet Arias</a>, describes himself as a “forerunner, digital nomad, and visual artist”. As a painter who traverses both material mediums and the metaverse, his work intercepts reality with the metaphysical, spiritual and Divine. He uses different technologies to alter the audience experience, and to explore various aspects of his story. </p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/for-artists-developers-and-community-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-the-philippine-web3-festival-3.jpeg" class="side-images-1" alt="Sheila">
<div>
<p class="image-text"><a href="https://twitter.com/sheilaaledesma">Sheila Ledesma</a>, is a graphic artist whose work is rooted in play. With collages as her primary source of creative expression, she pieces together fragments of ideas to form fresh perspectives. Sheila digs into the intersection of collage and abstract expressionism to create a representation of her inner world. </p>
</div>
</div>
<h4 id="tezos-presents-how-can-artists-enter-web3-15-november-530-pm">Tezos Presents: How Can Artists Enter Web3? (15 November, 5.30 PM)</h4>
<p>As an artist, entering the new world of Web3 may be daunting. While the Filipino Tezos communities are dedicated to helping up newer artists, there’s no better place to hear about the space at this main stage, where interdisciplinary artist <a href="https://twitter.com/TitikAtSigya">John Verlin Santos</a> will be speaking.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Meet Titik Poetry's CEO, <a href="https://twitter.com/TitikAtSigya?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@titikatsigya</a> — speaker at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHWeb3Fest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PHWeb3Fest</a>!<br><br>Verlin leads a local NGO/art collective that inspires people through passion-driven programs & promotes art as a career. He's part of other <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cryptoart?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cryptoart</a> communities & joins huge events.✒️ <a href="https://t.co/NfhSubFINT">https://t.co/NfhSubFINT</a> <a href="https://t.co/HSWqkBtyTv">pic.twitter.com/HSWqkBtyTv</a></p>— Philippine Web3 Festival | 📅NOV 14-18 📍BGC (@phweb3festival) <a href="https://twitter.com/phweb3festival/status/1590675705305497600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>John is the founder and CEO of Titik Poetry, an art collective that aims to inspire more individualism through passion-driven programs, initiate charitable acts, and to promote art as a career. Being part of various communities such as Cryptoart PH, NFT PH, and Tezos Philippines, he has also participated in huge crypto-art events such as Crypto Art Week Asia, NFT Art Fair 2022, Meatspace Web3 Art Gallery, AMAC 2022 and more.</p>
<p>In this workshop, participants will be introduced to:</p>
<ul>
<li>The current state of the NFT community in the Philippines (e.g. projects, marketplaces, themes, objectives, and causes)</li>
<li>The Filipino NFT art champions on the world stage, and the keys to their success</li>
<li>Opportunities, advice and tips on entering the space!</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="tezos-developer-workshop-introduction-to-tezos-blockchain-and-building-on-tezos-smart-contracts-16-november-6-pm-at-draper-startup-house-manila">Tezos Developer Workshop: Introduction to Tezos Blockchain and Building on Tezos Smart Contracts (16 November, 6 PM at Draper Startup House Manila)</h4>
<p>TZ APAC and BitPinas are hosting their first developer workshop in the Philippines! Learn about the foundation of blockchain, smart contracts, together with TZ APAC’s Bryan Goh and Ivan Larin.</p>
<p>In this workshop, developers will:</p>
<ul>
<li>Be introduced to the Tezos blockchain, the different types of smart contract languages existing on Tezos, and provided with resources on how to build on Tezos.</li>
<li>Get started on the SmartPy platform, which is coded in the Python Framework and requires a basic understanding of Python programming.</li>
<li>Hear from our community partners: Web3 Philippines, Ownly, SparkPoint, SparkLearn EdTech.</li>
<li>Take part in a developer group activity with our partner leads as judges.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://bit.ly/tezos-workshop-phweb3fest"><em>Reserve your spot here now!</em></a></p>
<h4 id="tz-apac-community-lunch-17-november-1230-pm">TZ APAC Community Lunch (17 November, 12.30 PM)</h4>
<p>While Web3 has seen many solid friendships forged through virtual platforms like Twitter and Discord, it’s always nice to meet up in real life and put faces to names. TZ APAC is organizing a community lunch at Mamou - delicious food and great conversation never fails to tighten bonds!</p>
<p>Joining this lunch will be our friends in the Philippines, from various communities like Tezos PHL, Crypto Art PH, Galleria Paloma, Titik Poetry, and more!</p>
<p><em>This event is by invitation only.</em></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkM0XDWrP67/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkM0XDWrP67/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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akaSwap: The NFT Marketplace Empowering Creators and Communities in Asia
<h2 id="akaswap-an-nft-marketplace-based-on-tezos-hosted-the-nft-art-prized-moments-ii-competition-where-the-winning-works-will-be-physically-exhibited-at-amj-2022-founders-aluan-wang-and-jinyao-lin-talk-about-the-platform-their-strong-focus-on-asian-communities-and-akaswaps-unique-features">akaSwap, an NFT marketplace based on Tezos, hosted the NFT Art Prized Moments II competition, where the winning works will be physically exhibited at AMJ 2022. Founders Aluan Wang and Jinyao Lin talk about the platform, their strong focus on Asian communities, and akaSwap’s unique features.</h2>
<p>akaSwap is an intuitive, user-friendly, green NFT trading platform that enables users to easily create, collect, and trade NFTs. Founded by <a href="https://twitter.com/IOivm">Aluan Wang</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/jinyaolin">Jinyao Lin</a>, akaSwap puts an interesting spin on NFTs, allowing collectors to enjoy the experience, and empowering all creators with market liquidity.</p>
<p>akaSwap is so much more than just another marketplace. With many unique features such as <a href="https://akaswap.com/about#akadao">akaDao</a>, <a href="https://akaswap.com/about#whatIsArtistclub">Artist Clubs</a>, <a href="https://akaswap.com/about#whatIsGacha">gacha</a>, <a href="https://akaswap.com/about#whatIsBundle">bundles</a>, and even a metaverse (<a href="https://akaverse.app/">akaVerse</a>), the platform empowers the arts community to explore and connect with artists.</p>
<h3 id="nft-art-prized-moments">NFT Art Prized Moments</h3>
<p>akaSwap is also the platform of choice for NFT Art Prized II Moments Competition, the first ever competition for NFT creators/artists in Southeast Asia. Here, artists were invited to submit works according to the theme of ‘Conti Nunace’. Over 180 artists entered this competition, which was held in collaboration with Art Moments Meta, the team behind Art Moments Jakarta 2022.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Over 180 talented artists across Indonesia competed in Art Prized Moments II where they created art on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> in the build up to <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtMomentsJKT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArtMomentsJKT</a>. <br> <br>They had their eyes on the goal: to have their works showcased at the physical exhibition from 4 to 6 Nov. <br><br>Here are the Top 10 👇</p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1585493419266174976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>The winners of the NFT Art Prized II Moments Competition will have their work featured at a physical AMJ 2022 exhibition in Jakarta, on 4-6 November. There will also be a special exhibition by 6 transformative artists in the Tezos ecosystem across Southeast Asia - <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists/">“NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized”</a>.</p>
<p>The rest of the entries can be viewed at <a href="https://www.akaswap.com/curation/NFTArtPrizedMomentsII">akaswap.com</a>.</p>
<h3 id="the-people-and-vision-behind-akaswap">The people and vision behind akaSwap</h3>
<p><strong>Aluan</strong>, who holds a master’s degree in New Media Arts, has been involved in new media and interactive design for the past ten years. As an artist, his work is inspired by his native land and culture, often incorporating fantasy and cyberpunk culture, as well as his trademark geometrical shapes/forms, and breakbeat music. With Aluan’s intense viewpoints and esthetics, his work often results in impactful visual banquets. Aluan is also an educator who has taught open-source software and related tools such as processing or Pure Data in art museums and galleries.</p>
<p><strong><em>“During my years of working with generative art, I never once thought that I would enter the commercial market. So when I saw <a href="https://www.artblocks.io/">Art Blocks</a>, it was a great inspiration for me. In February 2021, I first started to create NFTs. Initially, I minted on Foundation but soon, all of my work was released on Hic et Nunc.”</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>Jinyao</strong> is a man who has explored many frontiers of art, as well as earned the right to be called Dr Lin. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music and New Media from Taipei National University of the Arts, as well as a PhD in Computer Science. A cross-discipline artist, Jinyao has achieved a lot in theater, digital art, and music. These accomplishments include winning the Hong Kong Dance Award in 2012 and the Grand Prize of the Taipei Sky Creative Competition.</p>
<p><strong><em>“Aluan was my first friend who jumped into Web3. Initially, I was publishing my work at <a href="https://www.fxhash.xyz/">fxhash</a>, a generative art platform on Tezos. But both Aluan and I felt that it was important to create a platform for everyone in Taiwan and the local area, which led to us creating akaSwap.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>We believe that a local market is important in order to empower the local community. With so many possibilities in the Web3 world, smart contracts are very important. So, we need to have our platform in order to enable new and interesting ways of creating art.”</em></strong></p>
<p>Aluan adds on that the spirit of inclusivity was also a strong motivation behind creating akaSwap:</p>
<p><strong><em>“While NFTs are a global market where senior creators can be discovered quickly, newer creators are likely to be drowned out. Therefore, by creating an Asia-based platform, we can cultivate the local arts scene, discover young artists, and also connect with local art museums and galleries so that more critical artifacts can enter Web3 in the right way.”</em></strong></p>
<p>But of course, starting a new venture on this scale is no easy task - especially given that NFTs are a new medium.</p>
<p><strong><em>“Being known and loved by the world is the hardest thing to do.” - Aluan</em></strong></p>
<p>Tapping on Aluan’s experience as a teacher, the duo held numerous workshops in Taiwan in order to educate people on the Web3 space, in the right way. Today, akaSwap has fostered a culture of very active dialogue in Taiwan. Some team members take the lead on smart contract education, while others teach newer artists and collectors on blockchain basics, such as using encrypted wallets correctly. To them, creating a decentralized environment where everyone can have fun is the right thing for them to do.</p>
<p>Jinyao asserts that for them, community is the most important thing to focus on. He highlights the importance of working with more artists, providing them with easy onboarding to NFT creation, and creating an inclusive experience for all participants in the Web3 environment.</p>
<h3 id="building-and-strengthening-the-tezos-community-in-taiwan">Building and Strengthening the Tezos community in Taiwan</h3>
<p>akaSwap has commanded a position at the heart of a tight-knit community of Taiwanese artists and collectors through its dedication to the local arts scene. Aluan tells us more:</p>
<p><strong><em>“More and more artists and collectors are joining our Tezos community. There is a solid Tezos group in Taiwan, which includes akaSwap; <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/volumedao">VolDAO</a> (an organizer of NFT collectors), a <a href="https://t.me/+idCfl-ZtIf9mNzQ1">Telegram</a> group with over 1400 people, and a <a href="https://discord.gg/MFPq6UTY">Discord</a> server with over 3700 members. We also have a strong connection with the Real World art scenes - we collaborated with Art Taipei to build a ‘Crypto Art Zone’. Our community isn’t only virtual, but it’s centripetal as well.”</em></strong></p>
<p>The Taiwanese Tezos community has been extremely proactive, organizing their own exhibitions and talks, collaborating with government agencies to organize various workshops, and even running a <a href="https://matters.news/@23designinfo">Taiwanese Tezos ecosystem NFT media platform</a>!</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We choose <a href="https://twitter.com/TezosBakingBad?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TezosBakingBad</a> and talk about Tezos NFT on <a href="https://twitter.com/AkaswapCom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AkaswapCom</a>. The photos of the 2-day forum "Encounter: The 1st forum of Tezos NFT" in Taipei. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tezos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tez?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tez</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CleanNFT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CleanNFT</a> <a href="https://t.co/sh9npXLwT3">pic.twitter.com/sh9npXLwT3</a></p>— VolDAO (@VolumeDAO) <a href="https://twitter.com/VolumeDAO/status/1508392315471085573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>It is heartening to see local communities come together and work to uphold Tezos being inclusive and accessible to all.</p>
<h3 id="on-akaswaps-features">On akaSwap’s features</h3>
<p>Aluan talks about akaDao, akaSwap’s native token (which users are rewarded with through making transactions).</p>
<p><strong><em>“We were inspired by Hic et Nunc, which allowed early backers to earn tokens through buying artwork.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>We thought it would be interesting for users to participate in community governance through akaDAO, so we opened a feature called ‘Artist Club’ that allows fans to support artists by staking akaDAO. Staking is built on trust, and fans can be rewarded when the artist’s work sells. akaDao ties together the relationship between artists and fans.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Many artists choose to open artist clubs to give back to fans in the most direct way - the sales of artworks are distributed to club members, in a revenue share model.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Here’s something interesting - you can see the co-created works between artists and fans. There was once when fans planned a ‘Spy Operation’, and created many works to pay tribute to the artist. It’s clear that the Artist Clubs not only help artists to maintain fans, but better connect with them.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>In addition, many features of the akaSwap require akaDAO to use (such as Gacha, Bundles, etc). In the future, akaDAO will be needed to vote on the development of new features of akaSwap. akaDAO is just like a ticket that helps us understand the most important needs of users.”</em></strong></p>
<p>It is clear that the community enjoys the features that akaDao powers.</p>
<p><strong><em>“Some artists use Gacha to sell their own club pass, and collectors can also effectively use these two functions to promote the market liquidity of their collections. We have also observed that some collectors are utilizing Gacha and Bundles for curation purposes.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>The Gacha is inspired by the Japanese theme of ‘Ichiban Rewards’. Each pack of Gacha has a ‘last prize’, which is given to the purchase of the last buyer. The value of the last prize is usually the most precious. It’s an interesting process, how to design a great pack of Gacha.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>As for Bundles, we refer to them as ‘Lucky Bags’ - a Bundle can have multiple artworks, and some artists will use it to sell their own series.”</em></strong></p>
<p>On akaVerse, Aluan tells us that it is their latest feature, rolled out in September 2022.</p>
<p><strong><em>“Artists and collectors can use akaVerse to exhibit their art works and collections. Of course, in addition to displaying their art, they can also use the akaVerse Showroom for curations. We will also provide a Showroom for Art Taipei 2022. Here, akaVerse can help galleries to better understand the Web3 ecosystem and community.”</em></strong></p>
<p>Lastly, Aluan tells us why we should use akaSwap:</p>
<p><strong><em>“akaSwap is more than just a NFT marketplace. Many of the features we’ve talked about are unique.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>For the general public, akaSwap is an easy-to-use and friendly trading platform. For artists, we provide many unique services to help artists manage themselves and communicate with fans.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Also, we place great importance on the community’s suggestions, and look forward to working with them to create a better Tezos ecosystem.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>We look forward to more collectors, artists and galleries joining in the future. We will grow together and guide each other along the way, making the NFT ecosystem more active and mature.”</em></strong></p>
Tezos Artists at “NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized.”
<p>Where change is an unstoppable force, art remains a steady companion.</p>
<p>It evolves gloriously in aesthetics, medium, and practice.</p>
<p><em>NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized.</em> offers a continuation, evolution, and eternalization of what guides us and preserves our identity. It immortalizes the journeys, possibilities, and vulnerabilities that resonate with our lives.</p>
<p>In this interactive exhibit, take a piece of the stories told by some of Indonesia and Southeast Asia’s creators, and explore their inner worlds.</p>
<p>Step into this new digital frontier of art creation with us.</p>
<h3 id="AryaMularama"><u>Arya Mularama</u><br><br> There's birth, there's death, and in between there's maintenance</h3>
<h4 id="artwork-titles">Artwork titles</h4>
<p>Deed</p>
<p>Encounter</p>
<p>Path</p>
<h4 id="artist-statement">Artist Statement</h4>
<p><em>There’s birth, there’s death, and in between there’s maintenance</em> talks about how humans can be repaired or even reprogrammed to become a better self; fixing and adjusting ourselves like a machine and because of that, we become less of ourselves and more adjusted to the Machines (system) around us.</p>
<div class="artist-section">
<h4>Artist Bio</h4>
<img src="/images/tezos-artists-at-nfts-inner-worlds-immortalized-1.PNG" alt="Arya Mularama">
<h5 class="caption">Arya Mularama, 2022</h5>
<div>
<p>Arya Mularama's art mixes pop culture references with the melodramatic aspects of mental illness. Balancing dark themes with levity using a colorful touch, Mulamara's works stem from his anxiety, and him questioning his/our existence and the universe.</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="Diela"><u>DIELA (Diela Maharanie)</u><br><br> ✦ controlled chaos ✦</h3>
<h4 id="artwork-titles-1">Artwork titles</h4>
<p>Days like this</p>
<p>Dancing inbetween</p>
<p>The end is the beginning</p>
<h4 id="artist-statement-1">Artist Statement</h4>
<p>✦ <em>controlled chaos</em> ✦ is a journey collection and a part of DIELA’s visual diary. The collection consists of artworks that are inspired by her daily thoughts and emotions that need to be expressed in a visual form, as she sometimes finds it hard to say it in words.</p>
<div class="artist-section">
<h4>Artist Bio</h4>
<img src="/images/tezos-artists-at-nfts-inner-worlds-immortalized-2.JPG" alt="Diela">
<h5 class="caption">© diela maharanie</h5>
<div>
<p>DIELA (Diela Maharanie) is an illustrator and visual artist based in Indonesia, whose works are mostly bright and colorful, filled with vibrant patterns of super saturated hues but also hint at a mystery for the character. DIELA's colors and patterns come across in dreamy illustrations and ethereal imagery. She loves to explore different mediums for her works like embroidery and tufted rugs. She has collaborated with major global brands like Instagram, Apple Music, Intel, Samsung, and many more.</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="Hamlatul"><u>Hamlatul Arsy (a.k.a The Curious Unicorn)</u><br><br>The Hidden Princess</h3>
<h4 id="artwork-titles-2">Artwork titles</h4>
<p>The Hidden Princess #12 — Awaiting my rainbow</p>
<p>The Hidden Princess #13 — Serendipity</p>
<p>The Hidden Princess #14 — Inertia</p>
<h4 id="artist-statement-2">Artist Statement</h4>
<p>A story of light and darkness. A story of love and loss. A story of a gentle soul remaining grateful no matter what the obstacles may be. A magical journey into the life of a hidden princess that lives in all of us. The search for strength, love, and independence continues.</p>
<p>A collection of 412 unique pieces. 3 of these unique pieces are currently exhibited.</p>
<p>Toward the end of 2023, a solo exhibition will be held to showcase the entire collection.</p>
<div class="artist-section">
<h4>Artist Bio</h4>
<img src="/images/tezos-artists-at-nfts-inner-worlds-immortalized-3.jpg" alt="Hamlatul">
<h5 class="caption">Hamlatul Arsy Mulia / The Curious Unicorn, 2022</h5>
<div>
<p>Hamlatul Arsy a.k.a The Curious Unicorn, is a story, visual development artist, and mover of pixel traveling in a vehicle with a deep passion for meaningful spaces, imagination, and stories.</p>
<p>On a never-ending journey that began at the age of 5; an adventure that has allowed her to explore both traditional and digital spaces, constantly finding creative ways to bring them together in a tradigital world.</p>
<p>An ever-growing visual library filled with travels, adventure, curiosity, and meaning has informed not only Hamlatul's art but also her worldview.</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="loopymoon"><u>loopymoon (Marion Olmillo)</u><br><br>The Flow of Time</h3>
<h4 id="artwork-titles-3">Artwork titles</h4>
<p>The Past</p>
<p>The Present</p>
<p>The Future</p>
<h4 id="artist-statement-3">Artist Statement</h4>
<p><em>The Flow of Time</em> consists of The Past, The Present, and The Future.</p>
<p>The Past</p>
<p>The past is forever. It has been minted into eternity, and serves as a marker for everyone to remember.</p>
<p><em>Special feature:</em> 10 randomly chosen collectors of this work would receive an airdrop of one edition of loopymoon’s previous creation that was minted in the past, prior to this exhibition.</p>
<p>The Present</p>
<p>The present is a celebration. It is a gift that we continuously receive, but it is fleeting.</p>
<p><em>Special feature:</em> 10 randomly chosen collectors of this work would receive an airdrop of an additional edition from loopymoon’s current creation <em>The Flow of Time —</em> either The Past or The Future — which will be minted during the duration of this exhibition.</p>
<p>The Future</p>
<p>The future is an unknown. It is a gift ready to be received, but only for those who are ready.</p>
<p><em>Special feature:</em> 10 randomly chosen collectors of this work would receive a special 1/1 edition airdrop of loopymoon’s future creation, which will be randomly minted between 1 – 2 months after the end of this exhibition.</p>
<div class="artist-section">
<h4>Artist Bio</h4>
<img src="/images/tezos-artists-at-nfts-inner-worlds-immortalized-4.jpg" alt="loopymoon">
<h5 class="caption">loopymoon (Marion Olmillo), 2022</h5>
<div>
<p>loopymoon is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, collector, and enthusiast who loves to create and design trippy and surreal visual experiments and journeys. He loves to experiment with new frontiers in NFTs, GAN art, and such. loopy’s work has been featured in various exhibitions, from Web3 platforms and virtual galleries to hybrid physical x digital shows in more recent months.</p>
<p>loopy has always been a massive supporter of the Tezos artists community and is proud to be one of the OGs who tried to build and expand it right from the start. As a collector, he is proud of his 2000+ nft art collection on Tezos composed of epic creations by 1,400 unique artists around the world.</p>
<p>Lastly, loopy is also a proud member of the NFT and Crypto Art Philippines group / movement and is always ready to introduce and onboard his fellow Filipinos to the world stage.</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="SarisaKojima"><u>Sarisa Kojima</u><br><br>Sweet Eyes</h3>
<h4 id="artwork-titles-4">Artwork titles</h4>
<p>Sound of the forest</p>
<p>Healing</p>
<p>Growing</p>
<h4 id="artist-statement-4">Artist Statement</h4>
<p>Japanese culture, Asian philosophy, fantasy, and manga techniques, combine to create <em>Sweet Eyes</em>. This series offers a glimpse into a different way of seeing the world — one steeped in tradition yet open to new ideas and ways of thinking.</p>
<p>This series is inspired by Sarisa’s life background as a transgender person who grew up in a multicultural environment. Her imagination, characters, and scenery comes from Asian philosophy, Japanese pop culture, LGBTQ community. It expresses who she wants and can not be in real life, and the character that represents herself.</p>
<div class="artist-section">
<h4>Artist Bio</h4>
<img src="/images/tezos-artists-at-nfts-inner-worlds-immortalized-5.png" alt="Sarisa Kojima">
<h5 class="caption">(C) Sarisa Kojima, courtesy Hip Magazine, Chiang Mai</h5>
<div>
<p>Sarisa Kojima is a half-Thai-Japanese multidisciplinary artist. Both cultures influenced her art style.</p>
<p>After finishing her bachelor's in Art History (Thai Art Major) in 2011, she obtained a Master's degree in Visual art and researched Japanese Woodcut Print-making from 2012-2015. In addition, she studied overseas as an exchange student in Australia, Sweden, and Germany during her college time.</p>
<p>During her career, she was 1 of 9 artists for Thailand Brand-new Artist 2013, selected from more than 2,000 candidates all over the country. Throughout the year, she has been exhibiting her work overseas, such as Setouchi Biennale 2013, and at galleries mainly in Thailand and Japan.</p>
<p>Sarisa has been working in the creative industry for over 15 years with a passion for Asian culture, myths, folklore, and philosophy communicated through manga and Japanese woodblock art styles.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="TommyChandra"><u>Tommy Chandra</u><br><br>To be Continued</h3>
<h4 id="artwork-titles-5">Artwork titles</h4>
<p>fig.1 | SPACE</p>
<p>fig.2 | TIME</p>
<p>fig.3 | LIFE</p>
<h4 id="artist-statement-5">Artist Statement</h4>
<p>To be <em>Continued</em> is a series that questions continuity. Space and time are the two components that build the sequence of life in the universe. In physics, there is a mathematical model that combines space and time into one continuity. Everything that is created is relative, will gradually change, and continue over and over again.</p>
<p>Tommy tries to break down space, time, and life into different parts, imagining that each of these components goes through its own process. Some come, some go. Some are lost, some are returned. One thing that is absolute is continuity itself.</p>
<p>SPACE, symbolized by the impossible room, which was inspired by M.C. Escher’s <em>Relativity</em>. TIME, represented by the Sun and Moon, 2 timepieces. LIFE, symbolized by evolution and metamorphosis.</p>
<div class="artist-section">
<h4>Artist Bio</h4>
<img src="/images/tezos-artists-at-nfts-inner-worlds-immortalized-6.jpg" alt="Tommy Chandra">
<h5 class="caption">(c) Tommy Chandra, 2017, courtesy HEIMLO, Jakarta</h5>
<div>
<p>Tommy Chandra is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Indonesia. Influenced by his architectural background, Tommyʼs works are characterized by sleek, geometrical, surreal shapes and details. Tommy has also partnered with local and international brands, having most notably been appointed as the very first Google Doodle guest artist from Indonesia in 2014. He also founded a small design studio, HEIMLO. Portfolio can be found here: <a href="http://be.net/tommychandra" style="color: #dca10d">be.net/tommychandra<a/></p>
</div>
</div>
The Tezos ecosystem at SFF 2022: Here’s what you can expect
<h2 id="mint-a-personalized-sff-2022-proof-of-attendance-token-learn-from-prominent-web3-leaders-and-pick-up-insights-from-panel-discussions-with-thought-leaders-in-the-industry">Mint a personalized SFF 2022 Proof of Attendance Token, learn from prominent web3 leaders and pick up insights from panel discussions with thought leaders in the industry.</h2>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/web3-beyond-the-hype">McKinsey</a>, the financial services industry has been the leading trailblazer in the adoption of Web3 technology and digital assets. The massive potential of Web3 is clear - with $32.4 billion in VC investments in 2021 even at a nascent stage. However, McKinsey also asserts that <strong><em>“regulatory oversight, user experience, and the underlying technology will all need to further mature for mainstream adoption to occur.”</em></strong></p>
<p>The Singapore FinTech Festival returns as an in-person event in 2022 with the theme of <strong><em>‘Building Resilient Business Models amid Volatility and Change’</em></strong>. Visitors can expect a continuation of an annual presence of the Tezos ecosystem at the Singapore Fintech Festival. In last year’s edition, TZ APAC collaborated with SFF to host Linkin Park founder Mike Shinoda, who shared his knowledge and experience on the convergence of media and finance in the context of Web 3.0.</p>
<p>This year, the Tezos ecosystem will be supercharging its activities at SFF 2022 through a range of Web3 activities and activations, including a Proof of Attendance Token to enhance visitor experience, Innovation Lab Crawls and insightful panel discussions.</p>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-sff-2022-heres-what-you-can-expect-1.jpg" alt="SFF Lab Crawl Schedule"></p>
<h3 id="mint-your-unique-sff2022-proof-of-attendance-token">Mint your unique SFF2022 Proof of Attendance Token</h3>
<p>Visitors to this year’s SFF are able to <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tezos-to-launch-proof-of-attendance-token-at-singapore-fintech-festival-2022/">mint their own personalized SFF2022 Proof of Attendance (PoA) Token on Tezos</a>. For visitors taking their first step into Web3, you can look forward to understanding more about the unlimited potential of NFTs.</p>
<p>Non-fungible Token (NFT) technology is a core underpinning of Web3. In addition to gaining popularity in the arts and entertainment industry, its business use cases are also apparent. With the digital representation of real-world assets and smart contracts, NFTs offer security, transparency, and flexibility. Some of its enterprise applications include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Tokenizing identity certification and documentation, assuring authenticity and efficiency</li>
<li>Represent ownership of real-world and digital property, bypassing the need for intermediaries</li>
<li>Providing transparency and provenance in supply chain and product authentication</li>
<li>Managing ownership of trademarks and Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
<p>TZ APAC has also organized a visitor experience where collectors of the SFF 2022 PoA token will enjoy the utility of claiming a coffee treat.</p>
<p><em>The SFF PoA NFT collection can be done at a designated area at the heart of Hall 3 of the Singapore Expo, right next to the ecosystem stage.</em></p>
<h3 id="panels-and-talks-by-industry-leaders-at-sff-2022">Panels and talks by industry leaders at SFF 2022</h3>
<h4 id="building-resilient-web3-companies-in-apac---2-november-2022-1-pm">“Building Resilient Web3 Companies in APAC” - 2 November 2022, 1 pm</h4>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-sff-2022-heres-what-you-can-expect-2.jpg" alt="Singapore Fintech Festival"></p>
<p>TZ APAC Managing Director Katherine Ng will be involved in two panel discussions during SFF 2022. In this panel on “Building Resilient Web3 Companies in APAC”, attendees can expect to uncover insights on:</p>
<ul>
<li>The current state of Web3 and crypto; and the megatrends within</li>
<li>The unique culture of blockchain ecosystems from leading crypto-natives</li>
<li>Blockchain adoption and regulation outlook in South East Asia</li>
</ul>
<p>Speakers: <em><strong>Katherine Ng</strong> (Managing Director, TZ APAC), <strong>Hong Qi Yu</strong> (CEO, Tokenize Xchange), <strong>Elroy Cheo</strong> (Crypto Entrepreneur), and <strong>Jonathan Levin</strong> (Co-Founder/CSO, Chainalysis)</em></p>
<p>Moderated by <strong>Gabriel Yang</strong> (Director, ARC the Community)</p>
<p><em>The panel will be on 2 November 2022, from 1 - 1.30 pm.</em></p>
<h4 id="a-case-for-a-web-30-impact-tokenizing-the-multi-billion-dollar-influencer-market---3-november-530-pm">“A case for a Web 3.0 Impact: Tokenizing the Multi-billion Dollar Influencer Market” - 3 November, 5.30 pm</h4>
<p>The incumbent entertainment sector is getting disrupted positively for artists; with the advent of tokenization, artists and celebrities can monetize their intangibles and trade these new economy digital assets. This first-of-a-kind dialogue will examine some of these trends with market makers and producers.</p>
<p>In this panel, attendees can expect to uncover insights on:</p>
<ul>
<li>The role of exchanges in developing these markets</li>
<li>The opportunities as seen through the eyes of artists</li>
<li>Building web3 ecosystems</li>
</ul>
<p>Speakers: <em><strong>Katherine Ng</strong> (Managing Director, TZ APAC) and <strong>Karolina Bielawska</strong> (Reigning Miss World)</em></p>
<p><em>Moderated by <strong>Calvin Cheng</strong> (Co-founder of XelebX)</em></p>
<p><em>The panel will be on 3 November 2022, from 5.30 - 6 pm.</em></p>
<h3 id="sff-innovation-lab-crawl-by-tz-apac-tezos-developer-hub">SFF Innovation Lab Crawl by TZ APAC Tezos Developer Hub</h3>
<p>The TZ APAC Tezos Developer Hub is opening its doors to participants of SFF 2022 as part of the Innovation Lab Crawl. Riveting discussions on crucial Web3 topics are high on the agenda, with some of the industry’s most senior personalities gathering on 31 October and 1 November for a host of action-packed panels. In addition to gleaning important insights, participants will also get the opportunity to network and exchange ideas with other like-minded professionals in the Web3 and FinTech spaces.</p>
<p><img src="/images/the-tezos-ecosystem-at-sff-2022-heres-what-you-can-expect-3.jpg" alt="SFF Event Calendar"></p>
<ul>
<li>Day 1 will see <strong>Julian Kwan</strong> <em>(Co-Founder, Investax)</em> and <strong>Alice Chen</strong> <em>(Co-Founder, InvestaX)</em> talk about e-Variable Capital Companies, the new corporate structure for investment funds in Singapore, and on Investax as a platform.</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><strong>Hong Zhuang</strong> <em>(Founder, ShuttleOne)</em> and <strong>Julian Low</strong> <em>(Adoption Consultant, TZ APAC)</em> will discuss the future of Real World Assets in DeFi.</p>
<ul>
<li>Day 2 will cover the future of corporate governance and the role of RegTech in Web3.</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">The leading figures talking about this will include <em><strong>Frederick Fung</strong> (Head of Adoption, TZ APAC) and <strong>Franck Nouyrigat</strong> (Founder, Electis), <strong>Daniel Lee</strong> (Head of Web3, Banking Circle), <strong>Lynette Goh</strong> (Founding Member, Avium), <strong>Koen Vanderhoydonk</strong> (Founder & CEO, The Connector), <strong>Wan Wei Soh,</strong> (Co-Founder & CEO, IKIGUIDE Metaverse Collective [IMC]) and <strong>Mona Zoet</strong> (Founder, RegPac Revolution).</em></p>
<p>You may read more about the SFF Innovation Lab Crawl <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tz-apac-gathers-top-web3-leaders-for-sff-2022-innovation-labs-crawl/">here</a>.</p>
<p>Register for <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sff-lab-crawl-asias-top-leaders-share-about-defi-tokenization-and-more-tickets-430085305727">Day 1</a> and <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sff-lab-crawl-the-future-of-corporate-governance-and-regtech-in-web3-tickets-430087030887">Day 2</a> of the Lab Crawl on Eventbrite.</p>
<p><em>For participants who are joining in-person, the location of the Lab Crawl is 36 Robinson Rd, #07-05, Singapore 068877.</em></p>
<p><em>A link to join the Lab Crawl virtually will also be provided for those who are unable to attend in-person.</em></p>
Inside the minds of the stellar artists representing the Tezos ecosystem at AMJ 2022
<h2 id="6-brilliant-creators-across-4-countries-in-1-exhibition-here-are-your-starsoftzapac-art-moments-jakarta-edition">6 brilliant creators. Across 4 countries. In 1 exhibition. Here are your #StarsofTZAPAC, Art Moments Jakarta edition.</h2>
<p>Arya Mularama. Hamlatul Arsy. DIELA. Loopymoon. Sarisa Kojima. Tommy Chandra. These are names that are synonymous with artistic talent and creativity. Their works are all set to decorate the walls of the dedicated 72m<sup>2</sup> <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists/">Tezos exhibition at AMJ 2022 from 4 to 6 Nov</a>.</p>
<p>They may have different styles, but one common denominator binds them all: That their enchanting works are inspired by the stories, skills and experiences that they have picked up in their life and artistic journeys. Their success has not been overnight - the stunning visuals of their work belies many years of hard work and adversity in their journey.</p>
<p>This month’s edition of #starsoftzapac is a special one. It’s an Art Moments Jakarta edition, where we dive into the minds of each of these artists’ journeys, stories and careers so far.</p>
<h3 id="arya-mularama-gogoporen---the-kid-who-loved-to-draw-on-anything-but-just-grew-older">Arya Mularama (Gogoporen) - The kid who loved to draw on anything, but just grew older</h3>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/inside-the-minds-of-the-stellar-artists-representing-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-amj-2022-1.PNG" class="side-images-1" alt="Arya Mularama">
<div>
<p class="image-text">As humans, we all need to adapt and reprogram ourselves to fit into this world (system). But there’s a price to pay - a little bit of our soul.</p>
<p class="image-text">That’s the inspiration behind Arya’s collection exhibited at AMJ 2022, <strong><em>“There's birth, there's death, and in between there's maintenance”.</em></strong> It features works of characters fixing themselves, to meet certain standards that life demands from us, mirroring how everyday we try to be a little bit better.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>For Arya, art has always been therapy and a medium for expression. Inspired by the anxiety he experiences, his art speaks to the duality of human nature. His work sits at the intersection of where dark meets light, balancing an eclectic, vibrant, pop culture style with underlying themes of mental illness.</p>
<p>Arya describes himself as a kid who loves to draw on anything, who simply got older. In his early days, he started by exhibiting his work in group shows, posting daily sketches, and doing murals for brands. Today, he has since risen to be one of the most renowned artists in the Tezos ecosystem. Under his art identity ‘Gogoporen’, Arya has sold over 5,000 NFTs. The 5,555 editions of his GOGOS collaboration sold out in less than three hours, despite being a totally secret stealth drop with no marketing whatsoever.</p>
<p>To Arya, NFTs themselves encapsulate the theme of “Continuity” - a progression of how we collect art physically, now moving onto the digital space. In addition, Arya views the community spirit found in the Tezos art scene as a continuous cycle.</p>
<p>As a rookie artist, Arya was grateful to the established artists that helped him to get to where he is now. Today, he hopes to carry this same spirit of community on and continue to provide the same guidance and support for newer artists coming to Tezos. A strong supporter of Tezos, Arya has this to say:</p>
<p><strong><em>“The art scene in Tezos is super awesome because it’s an art community where people fully support each other instead of trying to compete.”</em></strong></p>
<p>Having graced AMJ 2022 with his unique and vibrant style, Arya hopes that he can inspire the creation and appreciation of art, especially at this time when NFTs allow people to directly collect from and connect with artists.</p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://twitter.com/gogoporen">https://twitter.com/gogoporen</a></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://www.instagram.com/aryamularama">https://www.instagram.com/aryamularama</a></p>
<h3 id="sarisa-kojima---an-artist-shaped-by-multi-cultural-influences">Sarisa Kojima - An artist shaped by multi-cultural influences</h3>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/inside-the-minds-of-the-stellar-artists-representing-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-amj-2022-2.png" class="side-images-1" alt="Sarisa Kojima">
<div>
<p class="image-text">Born in Okinowa and raised in Thailand, a plethora of multi-cultural influences shape Sarisa’s work along with her own experiences in life as a Thai-Japanese transgender artist. Channeling her creativity through illustration, Japanese calligraphy, textile, coding and programming, and performance art, it is clear that Sarisa’s muses have inspired her craft.</p>
<p class="image-text">Sarisa’s work for AMJ features Sweet Eyes, her avatar in a fantasy world. It expresses who she wants to be in real life, but cannot be. Disagreeing with mainstream narratives that often present femininity as fragility, her work also features tigers as a symbol of strength. Her art is inspired by her background as a transgender person grew up in a multicultural environment - especially influenced by Asian philosophy, Japanese pop culture, and the LGBTQ community.</p>
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<p>Finding a passion for art when she was little, Sarisa found out that creating art allowed her to express negative feelings and escape cruel reality. Having studied Japanese woodblock print for her diploma and working as a full-time artist in 2012, she turned pressure into incredible creations.</p>
<p>However, Sarisa was no exception to the fact that art can rarely cover the full living costs of an artist, and this made her go back to working at a corporate job. Fortunately for her, 2015 saw her quitting to take a break - and it was this time onwards that she discovered NFTs and reconnected with art, allowing her to start her journey as an artist again.</p>
<p>For Sarisa, NFTs and continuity are two concepts that go hand-in-hand.</p>
<p><strong><em>“I had to stop creating art because of the difficulty of earning enough income to live on. But after the world implemented NFT technology, it made me see the future of the creative economy. This was my unexpected return to creating art.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>It’s such a suitable time; the right material came into human life, while many artists started giving up on their careers. This new tech can shape the art scene into the next chapter as it allows me to continue with my creation.”</em></strong></p>
<p>She explains that the concept of continuity is essential when it comes to NFTs. Because NFTs are stored on a blockchain, they can theoretically exist forever. This gives them a level of permanence that other digital assets don’t have</p>
<p><strong><em>“The fact that NFTs can be used to create a permanent record of ownership for digital assets makes them ideal for use cases where continuity is essential. For example, an artist could sell an NFT that represents a digital artwork, and the buyer would then own that artwork forever. “</em></strong></p>
<p>Sarisa recognizes the growth potential for the Tezos NFT art scene in Asia.</p>
<p><strong><em>“There are already a few artists from Asia starting to gain recognition in the NFT space and I think we will see more and more artists from Asia getting involved in the coming months and years. Though, there are still more milestones that can be pushed to support the art scene on Tezos</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Asia is also becoming interested in NFTs. However, there is no doubt that there is significant potential for growth. With more platforms emerging and more people becoming aware of the technology, we could see a boom in NFT art in Asia over the next few years.”</em></strong></p>
<p>Finally, Sarisa has this to say about AMJ 2022:</p>
<p><strong><em>“With so much to offer, there’s something for everyone at Art Moments Jakarta. Whether you’re interested in learning more about NFT art or simply want to enjoy some beautiful artwork, you’re sure to find something that resonates with you. And who knows, maybe you’ll even discover a new favorite artist!”</em></strong></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://twitter.com/SarisaKojima">https://twitter.com/SarisaKojima</a></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://www.instagram.com/sarisakojima">https://www.instagram.com/sarisakojima</a></p>
<h3 id="tommy-chandra---the-architect-turned-stellar-creator">Tommy Chandra - The architect turned stellar creator</h3>
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<img src="/images/inside-the-minds-of-the-stellar-artists-representing-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-amj-2022-3.jpeg" class="side-images-1" alt="Tommy Chandra">
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<p class="image-text">An illustrator and graphic designer by profession since 2008, Tommy’s training as an architect is visible in his work - sleek, precise, detailed, and involving geometric shapes.</p>
<p class="image-text">Art is Tommy’s break from his daily routine of design and illustration, where he explores different styles and possibilities. It is also a medium for self-improvement. Now that blockchain and NFT technology is integrated into art, every day presents a new learning opportunity for Tommy to explore.</p>
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<p><strong><em>“NFTs continue the idea of combining technology and art. The smart contract and royalty setup help artists to solve traditional issues. This technology really defines the concept of Continuity.”</em></strong></p>
<p>On his submission for AMJ 2022, Tommy explains that it is a series that questions continuity. Space and time are the two components that build the sequence of life in the universe. In physics, there is a mathematical model that combines space and time into one continuity. Everything that is created is relative, and will gradually change and continue over and over again.</p>
<p><strong><em>“I try to break down space, time, and life into different parts, imagining that each of these components goes through its own process. Some come, some go. Some are lost, and some are returned. One thing that is absolute is continuity itself.”</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>SPACE is symbolized by the impossible room, inspired by M.C. Escher’s “Relativity”.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>TIME is represented by the Sun and (the phase of) Moon, two timepieces, and is also a homage to Salvador Dali’s melting clock.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>LIFE is symbolized by evolution and metamorphosis. The digital moth was inspired by Van Gogh’s blue butterflies. We spend our lives now in a “new” digital space. The evolution in the digital era still continues and like a moth/butterfly, it keeps changing into a better one.”</em></strong></p>
<p>With numerous prominent Asian Tezos artists and art/NFT exhibitions being held in Asia, Tommy sees the Tezos arts ecosystem in Asia as only capable of growth, and that these artists will be globally recognized in the future.</p>
<p><strong><em>“I am really happy for this rare opportunity and I hope more people, fellow artists, and collectors can look at and appreciate my work in Art Moments Jakarta. I hope that at AMJ 2022, visitors will find a way to enjoy art, new knowledge about NFT, and maybe free NFTs :)”</em></strong></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://twitter.com/toramichan">https://twitter.com/toramichan</a></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://www.instagram.com/tommychandra/">https://www.instagram.com/tommychandra/</a></p>
<h3 id="diela-diela-maharanie---the-enchanting-mind-that-practices-art-as-a-language">DIELA (Diela Maharanie) - The enchanting mind that practices art as a language</h3>
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<img src="/images/inside-the-minds-of-the-stellar-artists-representing-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-amj-2022-4.JPG" class="side-images-1" alt="Diela">
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<p class="image-text">Diela Maharanie is a self-taught illustrator and visual artist with more than 13 years of experience in the field, who has collaborated with some major global brands such as Instagram, Apple Music, Intel, Samsung, and many more. Her works are mostly bright and colorful, filled with vibrant patterns of super saturated hues but also hint at a mystery for the character.</p>
<p class="image-text">While Diela’s love for digital art is strong, she also enjoys exploring and applying her illustration experience in different mediums like embroidery and tufting. Speaking through her work, DIELA finds zen in her art. Art is a language, to communicate what she feels and to dismantle the chaos in her mind.</p>
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<p>Her submission for AMJ 2022, ✦ <strong><em>controlled chaos</em></strong> ✦, features artwork expressing her daily thoughts and emotions that can’t be expressed in words. To DIELA, NFTs represent continuity - they are a tool to immortalize and authenticate her digital works, which will be preserved long after she’s gone.</p>
<p><strong><em>“I’ve had the best experience with the Tezos NFT art community. I first learned to collect digital works on the Tezos blockchain - collecting from other artists, and artists supporting each other - this is the vibe within the Tezos community!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>For AMJ 2022, it’s an achievement for me as an artist. I hope people appreciate digital art as much as they do traditional art, and experience the fun of collecting NFTs! :D”</em></strong></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://twitter.com/dielamaharanie">https://twitter.com/dielamaharanie</a></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://www.instagram.com/dielamaharanie/">https://www.instagram.com/dielamaharanie/</a></p>
<h3 id="loopymoon-marion-olmillo---people-development-manager-by-profession-artist-by-passion">Loopymoon (Marion Olmillo) - People Development Manager by profession, artist by passion</h3>
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<img src="/images/inside-the-minds-of-the-stellar-artists-representing-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-amj-2022-5.jpg" class="side-images-1" alt="Looopymoon">
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<p class="image-text">Trippy. Colorful. Cosmic. </p>
<p class="image-text">These are the words that come to mind when admiring loopymoon’s work, the nature of which alludes to the aptness of his artist name.</p>
<p class="image-text">Hailing from the Philippines, Loopymoon explains that his name is a reflection of his diverse creative background and his love for the night sky.</p>
<p class="image-text"><strong><em>“On one side, I like to experiment with colorful and trippy acrylic paintings, and on the other I like to strategize and create digital compositions which includes branding, graphic design, UI design et cetera.</strong></em>
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<p><strong><em>My goal is to bring the ’loopiness’ of naturally flowing paint onto the digital realm. And so I started by creating, combining, and collecting digital patterns.”</em></strong></p>
<p>To loopymoon, art is both liberty and a place of refuge from life’s crazy challenges. Creating art teaches him the joy of freedom and expression through artistic experiments, on both physical and digital canvases.</p>
<p>When asked about the inspiration behind The Flow of Time, his collection for AMJ 2022, loopymoon muses:</p>
<p><strong><em>“I like to reflect and daydream whenever I get the chance. Recently, I reflected about the reality of time - how the past two years went by like a blur. Or maybe it’s just one of the effects of long term Covid on me! Haha.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>The past is immutable (like blockchains) - what’s done is done. It now serves as a memory that serves to guide us in the present and in the future.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>The present however is a celebration - a gift that we continuously receive. It is fleeting, which is why it is important to be in it, to always be in the present.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>The future is still unknown - a mystery. Like the present, it is also a gift - but it is given only to those who want it and are ready.”</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>The Flow of Time consists of The Past, The Present, and The Future.</em></strong></p>
<p>These three pieces (like the rest of the works in this exhibition) will be minted into NFTs and be given out (chosen at random) as part of the “NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized” experience. Collectors of loopymoon’s NFTs enjoy special utility, very fitting of the artwork’s namesake. 30 lucky collectors will receive airdrops of his past, present and future works!</p>
<p>On how NFTs intersect with the concept of ‘Continuity’, loopymoon gives a shout out to Scarletbox.io. In this platform, the works of celebrated Filipino artists or National Artists are minted into NFTs for collectors. This not only preserves their art, but also keep their works relevant in this new digital generation. Ultimately, for him NFTs function as a bridge to connect creators to their audience, transcending time and space.</p>
<p>Being a collector of over 2900 Objkt NFTs on Tezos, loopymoon also puts his money (TEZ) where his mouth is. For this seasoned collector and artist, the best collections undoubtedly come from Asian Tezos artists.</p>
<p><strong><em>“There are already well-established Tezos NFT movements or communities within Asia, and it makes me proud to be part of this art scene.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>I hope visitors will be inspired by the things that they will see and experience in Art Moments Jakarta. I hope they feel the same passion that the artists felt when they worked on their creations.”</em></strong></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://twitter.com/_loopymoon">https://twitter.com/_loopymoon</a></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://www.instagram.com/_loopymoon">https://www.instagram.com/_loopymoon</a></p>
<h3 id="hamlatul-arsy-aka-the-curious-unicorn---the-global-citizen">Hamlatul Arsy (a.k.a The Curious Unicorn) - The global citizen</h3>
<div class="image-box">
<img src="/images/inside-the-minds-of-the-stellar-artists-representing-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-amj-2022-6.jpg" class="side-images-1" alt="Hamlatul">
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<p class="image-text">Hamlatul aka The Curious Unicorn is a Bruneian-Indonesian visual development artist and 2D animator, based in Singapore.</p>
<p class="image-text">If you guessed that Hamatul holds great love for unicorns, you’re right - but not in the way that you may think.</p>
<p class="image-text"><strong><em>“To me, Unicorns are majestic and beautiful and they represent something that is rare and highly valued. This is my vision and dream; to aspire to reach these heights by staying curious, continuously seeking inspiration and knowledge, and telling my stories, so that others may be inspired to do the same. To be yourself, because no one else is you. “</strong></em>
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<p>It was at the tender age of five that she attended her first art class, and without knowing it - that was when the seed of artistic passion was planted in her soul. However, it was only years later that she understood that the roots will only flower, grow and stay alive when nurtured. So, her relationship with art is two-way:</p>
<p><strong><em>“Because of Art, I have traveled and explored, experienced unforgettable memories, and lived in different parts of the world. Because of Art, I have learned independence. On the other hand, it is also because of the way I lived which has also informed the art that I make.”</em></strong></p>
<p>And it was art that chronicled her story, following 2001 when her life took a deep dive. A journey, adventure, experience - of love and loss, success and failures, light and darkness, and the search for The Hidden Princess living inside all of us. The essence of you.</p>
<p>This personal story inspired her collection, The Hidden Princess, 412 unique pieces; a mix of traditional and digital paintings, animation, and installations. Amlatul has thoughtfully picked 3 pieces from this collection to be exhibited at AMJ 2022.</p>
<p>Having her plans to attend AMJ 2020 struck down by the pandemic, she attended it virtually. It was one of the few things that kept her inspired and sane during lockdowns at the peak of the pandemic.</p>
<p><strong><em>“Having Art Moments feature my work is an honor and a privilege, and meaningful to her journey as an artist. To always continue moving forward and being grateful, even in the midst of difficulty and trouble.”</em></strong></p>
<p>She hopes that through the stories and works of the artists exhibited at AMJ 2022, visitors are able to be inspired, spark curiosity, provoke imagination, and create meaningful memories.</p>
<p>Hamlatul feels that continuity is all around us - we experience continuity in our lives every day without even planning, realizing, or thinking about it. Continuity helps to keep things in order, and makes us feel comfortable and safe.</p>
<p>But she also points out Heraclitus’ famous quote, “The only constant is change”.</p>
<p><strong><em>“Change is hard, but it is inevitable. I see NFTs as continuous progress, continuously changing. NFTs have allowed and provided artists with new opportunities and avenues to practice their craft and at the same time, learn new technologies that we never thought could be linked to our craft.”</em></strong></p>
<p>In 2017, she was first introduced to NFTs by an art mentor of hers. Minting her first NFT in 2021, she has since then connected with artists all over the world and has also built great friendships with many of them.</p>
<p><strong><em>“In 2021, a friend in Brunei introduced and encouraged me to mint some of my pieces on HEN, and invited me to a channel with a network of artists who are passionate about doing the same things as me. I am very inspired by the Tezos artists in Asia. To see the support that artists have amongst each other is refreshing. The level and skill of art have also tremendously improved over the last year.”</em></strong></p>
<p>And finally, Hamlatul shares with us some of the wisdom gleaned from her journey:</p>
<p><strong><em>“One important lesson I learned is gratitude and to live a life of adventure and curiosity. Always remain open to new knowledge and experiences, so you will always have new material in your mental library to draw from when you are creating your works. Get out there and live, and let your life inspire you.”</em></strong></p>
<p>Hamlatul Arsy is currently working on her own short film as well as a solo art exhibition titled; The Hidden Princess.</p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://twitter.com/hammycorn">https://twitter.com/hammycorn</a></p>
<p><a style="color: black;" href="https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousunicorn/">https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousunicorn/</a></p>
Art Moments Jakarta’s Tezos Exhibition Showcases 6 Transformative Southeast Asian Artists
<h2 id="nfts-inner-worlds-immortalized-is-set-to-showcase-artworks-created-by-prominent-artists-in-the-tezos-ecosystem-from-4-to-6-november-2022"><em>“NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized”</em> is set to showcase artworks created by prominent artists in the Tezos ecosystem from 4 to 6 November 2022.</h2>
<p>NFT art will make waves at this year’s Art Moments Jakarta (AMJ) in an exhibition built on Tezos. “NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized” will showcase the works of six leading artists from across the region, three of whom are prominent creators in Indonesia.</p>
<p>Each artist is distinguished by their own unique styles and disciplines, effectively showcasing the diversity, strength, and potential of NFTs as an art medium. Tezos also returns to AMJ as Official Blockchain Partner, while TZ APAC will be contributing to the art fair as an Official Community Partner.</p>
<p><em>Tickets are open to the public (150,000 IDR for a Day Pass / 300,000 IDR for 3 Day Pass). They can be purchased on the BCA Mobile App, or <a href="https://www.artmomentsjakarta.com/">artmomentsjakarta.com</a>, and in-person.</em></p>
<h3 id="nfts-inner-worlds-immortalized-at-art-moments-jakarta-2022">“NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized” at Art Moments Jakarta 2022</h3>
<p>With a dedicated 72m<sup>2</sup> exhibition space located at the center of the Gandaria City Hall (GC Hall), “NFTs: Inner Worlds, Immortalized” will see numerous projected works by NFT artists in the Tezos ecosystem hailing from Indonesia such as <strong>DIELA</strong> (Diela Maharanie), <strong>Arya Mularama</strong> and <strong>Tommy Chandra</strong>. The exhibition will also see regional representation, with creators Sarisa Kojima, loopymoon (Marion Olmillo) and Hamlatul Arsy (a.k.a The Curious Unicorn) from Thailand, Philippines and Brunei respectively joining the local trio.</p>
<p style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Arya Mularama</p>
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<img src="/images/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists-1.PNG" class="side-images-1" alt="Arya Mularama">
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<p class="image-text">Arya Mularama's art mixes pop culture references with the melodramatic aspects of mental illness. Balancing dark themes with levity using a colorful touch, his works stem from his anxiety, and him questioning his/our existence and the universe.</p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://twitter.com/gogoporen">https://twitter.com/gogoporen</a></p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/aryamularama">https://www.instagram.com/aryamularama</a></p>
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<p style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">DIELA (Diela Maharanie)</p>
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<img src="/images/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists-2.JPG" class="side-images-1" alt="Diela">
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<p class="image-text">DIELA (Diela Maharanie) is an illustrator and visual artist based in Indonesia, whose works are mostly bright and colorful, filled with vibrant patterns of super saturated hues but also hint at a mystery for the character. DIELA’s colors and patterns come across in dreamy illustrations and ethereal imagery.</p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dielamaharanie/">https://www.instagram.com/dielamaharanie/</a></p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://twitter.com/dielamaharanie">https://twitter.com/dielamaharanie</a></p>
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<p style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Sarisa Kojima</p>
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<img src="/images/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists-3.png" class="side-images-1" alt="Sarisa Kojima">
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<p class="image-text">Sarisa Kojima is a Thai-Japanese artist based in Thailand. She has been working in the creative industry for over 15 years. Her artworks show passion for Asian culture, myths, folklore, and philosophy communicated through manga and Japanese woodblock art styles.</p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://twitter.com/SarisaKojima">https://twitter.com/SarisaKojima</a></p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarisakojima">https://www.instagram.com/sarisakojima</a></p>
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<p style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">loopymoon (Marion Olmillo)</p>
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<img src="/images/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists-4.jpg" class="side-images-1" alt="Loopymoon">
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<p class="image-text">loopymoon is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, and collector who loves to create and design trippy surreal visual experiments and journeys. He experiments with new frontiers in NFTs, GAN art, etc. loopymoon’s work has been featured in various exhibitions, from Web3 platforms / virtual galleries to hybrid physical x digital shows.</p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://twitter.com/_loopymoon">https://twitter.com/_loopymoon</a></p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/_loopymoon">https://www.instagram.com/_loopymoon</a></p>
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<p style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Tommy Chandra</p>
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<img src="/images/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists-5.jpeg" class="side-images-1" alt="Tommy Chandra">
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<p class="image-text">Tommy Chandra is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Indonesia. Influenced by his architectural background, Tommyʼs works are characterized by sleek, geometrical, surreal shapes and details.</p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tommychandra/">https://www.instagram.com/tommychandra/</a></p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://twitter.com/toramichan">https://twitter.com/toramichan</a></p>
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<p style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Hamlatul Arsy (a.k.a The Curious Unicorn)</p>
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<img src="/images/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists-6.jpg" class="side-images-1" alt="Hamlatul">
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<p class="image-text">A story, visual development artist, and mover of pixels traveling in a vehicle with a deep passion for meaningful spaces, imagination, and stories.</p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousunicorn/">https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousunicorn/</a></p>
<p style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://twitter.com/hammycorn">https://twitter.com/hammycorn</a></p>
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<p>For the artists, participating in AMJ 2022 represents another milestone in their illustrious careers so far. “It’s another achievement in my journey as an artist to be featured in Art Moments Jakarta. I hope more people appreciate digital art as much as other types of art, and experience the fun of collecting NFTs,” said DIELA. For Tommy Chandra, NFTs share a fitting intersection with the theme of AMJ. “NFTs is the next technology that really defines the concept of “Continuity’. It continues the idea of combining technology and art. The smart contract and royalty setup of NFTs help artists solve traditional issues,” he shared.</p>
<p><img src="/images/art-moments-jakartas-tezos-exhibition-showcases-6-transformative-southeast-asian-artists-7.jpg" alt="image 7"></p>
<h5 id="visitors-will-be-gifted-an-nft-at-the-live-minting-experience-onsite-a-similar-activation-was-carried-out-by-the-tz-apac-team-at-art-basel-hong-kong-earlier-this-year">Visitors will be gifted an NFT at the live-minting experience onsite. A similar activation was carried out by the TZ APAC team at Art Basel Hong Kong earlier this year.</h5>
<p>In collaboration with <a href="https://akaswap.com/">akaSwap</a>, an NFT platform based on Tezos, the six artists were commissioned to create three artworks each for this unique exhibition. Visitors will be gifted an edition of one of the artworks on display when they participate in a live-minting experience onsite facilitated by the TZ APAC team, who have carried out similar best-in-class activations across the region including the <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/nfts-the-ever-evolving-world-of-art-at-art-basel-hk-2022/">Tezos exhibition at Art Basel Hong Kong earlier this year</a>. The NFT will be minted and stored in a Tezos blockchain wallet that can be created within a few easy clicks.</p>
<p>Commenting on the upcoming exhibition, TZ APAC Head of Marketing Jivan Tulsiani said: “Southeast Asian and Indonesian artists are actively embracing digital artworks in the form of NFTs, which have enabled them to reach new audiences, be fairly compensated for their artwork and be positive changemakers for their communities. We look forward to celebrating the spirit of innovation in today’s art space at Art Moments Jakarta. The Tezos exhibition welcomes everyone keen on enjoying the creations of some of the region’s top artists in the Tezos ecosystem, collecting a memorable NFT and understanding more about the medium.”</p>
<p>In addition to the physical exhibition, the NFT Art Prized Moments II NFT competition was also held in the build up to Art Moments Jakarta. Winners of the competition, all of whom have created NFTs on akaSwap, will have their artwork exhibited in various spaces outside the Tezos exhibition. Visitors can also look forward to insightful panel discussions such as “The Future of NFTs” which will host discussions between experts such as Tommy Chandra and TZ APAC’s Head of Growth David Tng. The panel will take place on 5 November 2022, from 7pm to 8.30pm Jakarta time.</p>
TZ APAC gathers top Web3 leaders for SFF 2022 Innovation Lab Crawl
<h2 id="participants-can-look-forward-to-picking-up-insights-on-topics-like-regulatory-technology-tokenization-e-vccs-and-corporate-governance-from-leaders-at-shuttleone-investax-capbridge-regpac-and-more">Participants can look forward to picking up insights on topics like regulatory technology, tokenization, e-VCCs and corporate governance from leaders at ShuttleOne, InvestaX, Capbridge, RegPac and more.</h2>
<p>The TZ APAC Tezos Developer Hub is opening its doors to participants of SFF 2022 as part of the Innovation Lab Crawl. Riveting discussions on crucial Web3 topics is high on the agenda, with some of the industry’s most senior personalities gathering on 31 October and 1 November for a host of action-packed panels. In addition to gleaning important insights, participants will also get the opportunity to network and exchange ideas with other like-minded professionals in the Web3 and FinTech spaces.</p>
<p><em>For participants who are joining in-person, the location of the Lab Crawl is 36 Robinson Rd, #07-05, Singapore 068877</em></p>
<p><em>A link to join the Lab Crawl virtually will also be provided for those who are unable to attend in-person.</em></p>
<p>Here is a breakdown on the activities planned out for the Innovation Lab Crawl at the TZ APAC Tezos Developer Hub.</p>
<h3 id="day-1-monday---31st-october-2022">Day 1 (Monday - 31st October 2022)</h3>
<h4 id="tz-apac-presents-uncover-all-things-e-vcc-tokenization-and-defi-from-asias-top-web3-leaders">TZ APAC presents: Uncover all things e-VCC, tokenization, and DeFi from Asia’s top Web3 leaders.</h4>
<p>The <a href="https://investax.io/knowledge-center/blog/what-is-the-vcc-structure-and-why-you-should-know-about-it">Variable Capital Company (VCC)</a>, per InvestaX, is a new corporate structure for investment funds in Singapore, under which multiple funds or collective investment schemes may be gathered under the umbrella of a single corporate entity, and yet remain ring-fenced from each other. As of 2022, over 400 VCCs have been established in Singapore, demonstrating eager adoption despite operating in an economy reeling from a pandemic.</p>
<p>“Project e-VCC” was an initiative led by InvestaX to explore the potential of tokenization of the Singapore VCC structure. Tezos was selected as the blockchain protocol provider for this global-first initiative. Here are some key findings:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>e-VCCs can streamline the fund management industry using blockchain technology, reducing intermediaries and redundant processes.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Tokenization of a VCC is applicable at both umbrella VCC and sub-fund VCC levels. This gives investors greater flexibility in allocation, as well as reduced legal liabilities.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Decision makers from organizations such as ShuttleOne, InvestaX and Capbridge are set to share exclusive insights on e-VCC structures, Tokenization of Private Markets and NFTs, and the future of Real World Assets (RWA) in Decentralised Finance (DeFi). The sessions will conclude with a networking session with other movers and shakers in Web3.</p>
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<p>11.00 - 11.30 am: <u style="font-style: italic;">On e-VCCs, the InvestaX platform, and Tezos Smart Contracts</u></p>
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<p>Attendees can expect to uncover insights on:</p>
<ul>
<li>Utilization of Tezos smart contracts in e-VCCs</li>
<li>InvestaX’s competitive advantage</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Speakers: <strong>Julian Kwan</strong> (Co-Founder, Investax) and <strong>Alice Chen</strong> (Co-Founder, InvestaX)</em></p>
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<p>11.30 am - 12.00 pm: <u style="font-style: italic;">Tokenization of Private Markets</u></p>
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<p>Attendees can expect to uncover insights on:</p>
<ul>
<li>Tokenization in the private markets</li>
<li>Digital ownership of real estate</li>
<li>Fractionalising art & collectible items</li>
<li>Digitizing wealth and estate planning</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Speakers: <strong>Julian Kwan</strong> (Co-Founder, Investax), and <strong>Alice Chen</strong> (Co-Founder, InvestaX)</em></p>
<p><em>Moderated by <strong>Katherine Ng</strong> (Managing Director, TZ APAC)</em></p>
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<p>12.00 - 12.30 pm: <u style="font-style: italic;">NFT and the Future of Real World Assets (RWA) in Decentralized Finance (DeFi)</u></p>
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<p>Attendees can expect to uncover insights on:</p>
<ul>
<li>The world of possibilities with new asset classes opened by the Defi Summer in 2021</li>
<li>The greater diversification of risks that RWAs on public blockchain allow</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Speaker: <strong>Hong Zhuang</strong> (Founder, ShuttleOne)</em></p>
<p><em>Moderated by <strong>Julian Low</strong> (Adoption Consultant, TZ APAC)</em></p>
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<p>12.30 - 1.30 pm - <u style="font-style: italic;">Networking Session</u></p>
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<p><a href="https://bit.ly/3CoGcjk"><em>Register for Day 1 now at Eventbrite</em></a></p>
<h3 id="day-2-tuesday---1st-november-2022">Day 2 (Tuesday - 1st November 2022)</h3>
<h4 id="tz-apac-x-regpac-presents-the-future-of-corporate-governance-and-the-role-of-regtech-in-web3">TZ APAC x RegPac presents: The future of corporate governance and the role of Regtech in Web3.</h4>
<p>Just a decade ago, the digital asset market barely existed. And now, by the end of 2022, we are on track to hit USD $90 billion - in the NFT space alone. The opportunities and pitfalls in this fledgling market are dizzying, and navigating this space can be treacherous. But how can these digital assets be a tool to accelerate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) adoption?</p>
<p>Day 2 of the EGG Incubator Lab Crawl will explore the future of corporate governance in the Web3 era, how digital assets can be used to accelerate ESG adoption, its challenges & benefits, and showcase examples to help you navigate through its waters with ESG and compliance in mind.</p>
<p>Come discover a more in-depth look at digital assets from world leaders, get insights about how you can protect your assets, and engage and network with leaders and other members of the community.</p>
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<p>4 - 5 pm: <u style="font-style: italic;">The Future of Corporate Governance</u></p>
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<p>Attendees can expect to uncover insights on:</p>
<ul>
<li>The importance of digitization in a post-covid world</li>
<li>How e-voting can benefit from blockchain technology</li>
</ul>
<p>A short demo of Electis will also be shown.</p>
<p><em>Speakers: <strong>Frederick Fung</strong> (Head of Adoption, TZ APAC) and <strong>Franck Nouyrigat</strong> (Founder, Electis)</em></p>
<p><a href="https://xtz.news/adoption/the-future-of-corporate-governance-access-will-use-tezos-based-e-voting-solution-for-their-2022-election/">Read more about how ACCESS used the blockchain-based e-voting solution developed by ELECTIS to elect their new board members at the 2022 AGM here.</a></p>
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<p>5 - 5:45 pm: <u style="font-style: italic;">RegTech and ESG Adoption in Web3</u></p>
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<p>Attendees can expect to uncover insights on:</p>
<ul>
<li>The importance and relevance of Digital Assets</li>
<li>Digital Assets from a risk management perspective</li>
<li>How Web3, metaverse, and ESG are linked to each other from a risk management perspective</li>
<li>The benefits of Digital Assets and how it may used in accelerating ESG adoption, and its challenges ahead</li>
</ul>
<p>There will also be a showcase of how digital assets can be used to drive ESG adoption.</p>
<p><em>Speakers: <strong>Daniel Lee</strong> (Head of Web3, Banking Circle), <strong>Lynette Goh</strong> (Founding Member, Avium), <strong>Koen Vanderhoydonk</strong> (Founder & CEO, The Connector), <strong>Wan Wei Soh</strong>, (Co-Founder & CEO, IKIGUIDE Metaverse Collective [IMC])</em></p>
<p><em>Moderator: <strong>Mona Zoet</strong> (Founder, RegPac Revolution)</em></p>
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<p>5.45 - 7 pm: <u style="font-style: italic;">Networking Session</u></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sff-lab-crawl-the-future-of-corporate-governance-and-regtech-in-web3-tickets-430087030887">Register for Day 2 now at Eventbrite</a></p>
Inside Harian Kompas' Journey Into Web3 on Tezos
<h2 id="indonesias-leading-newspaper-harian-kompas-is-the-next-recognized-name-to-join-the-flourishing-creator-economy-on-tezos-we-hear-from-helman-taofani-and-ruanth-chrisley-thyssen-on-this-milestone-move-and-what-this-means-for-some-of-the-countrys-most-talented-creators">Indonesia’s leading newspaper Harian Kompas is the next recognized name to join the flourishing creator economy on Tezos. We hear from Helman Taofani and Ruanth Chrisley Thyssen on this milestone move and what this means for some of the country’s most talented creators.</h2>
<p>Harian Kompas has cemented its status as one of Indonesia’s leading newspapers, reaching 3.8 million readers across the archipelago. A strong ethos of adapting to changing times has been instrumental in maintaining and growing a loyal community of readers. The team pioneered a Web2 strategy in the early days of the Internet with the launch of Kompas.com in 1995. In 2010, it was one of the earliest adopters of the QR code.</p>
<p>So what’s next for Harian Kompas?</p>
<p><a href="https://objkt.com/profile/tz1bfY1qGhMDGPUCmxDiMx4fbnyMSdaJfjaq/created"><strong><em>“Loka/Masa” - the first Tezos NFT collection</em></strong></a></p>
<p>You may have guessed it — a foray into Web3.</p>
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<div class="caption-1"><p><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1Xb8ZA9eLq1K82a5qrfhX2PW9ooT7w6WKU/22" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">Fire Proof</a></p></div>
<div class="caption-1">A Soldier from the Female Navy Corps demonstrates her battle skills. In celebration of Indonesia's National Navy Soldier Education Day, in Surabaya.</div>
<div class="caption-1">Photographer: Iwan Setyawan (SET)</div>
<div class="caption-1">Loka: Surabaya, East Java</div>
<div class="caption-1">Masa: May 2003</div>
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<img src="/images/inside-harian-kompas-journey-into-web3-on-tezos-2.png" class="img-carousel" alt="Trainspotting">
<div class="caption-1"><p><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1Xb8ZA9eLq1K82a5qrfhX2PW9ooT7w6WKU/7" style="font-weight: bold;">Trainspotting</a></p></div>
<div class="caption-1">Children bravely playing with kites when a train passes near them in Kesatriyan Village, Blimbing District, Malang.</div>
<div class="caption-1">Photographer: Hendra A Setyawan (HAS)</div>
<div class="caption-1">Loka: Malang, East Java</div>
<div class="caption-1">Masa: May 2008</div>
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<img src="/images/inside-harian-kompas-journey-into-web3-on-tezos-3.png" class="img-carousel" alt="It's a Plane">
<div class="caption-1"><p><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1Xb8ZA9eLq1K82a5qrfhX2PW9ooT7w6WKU/20" style="font-weight: bold;">It's a Plane?</a></p></div>
<div class="caption-1">A rider performs an acrobatic maneuver, as a spectator snaps a picture during a motocross event in Serang.</div>
<div class="caption-1">Photographer: Danu Kusworo (DNU)</div>
<div class="caption-1">Loka: Serang, Banten</div>
<div class="caption-1">Masa: May 2005</div>
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<p>From September to December 2022, 57 editions of Kompas’ 57 most aesthetically striking photos (from 2003 to 2018) from its archives will be released as NFTs, for a total supply of 3249. These photos hold their value as journalistic products, including time and location stamps, and remain unprocessed to convey the original narratives. They can be minted on Objkt.com, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/5-tips-for-creating-amazing-art-from-objkt-coms-curator/">one of the leading marketplaces on Tezos.</a></p>
<p>For years, Harian Kompas has been celebrated for the quality of its published photography. With a decorated roster of photojournalists, their pages have been filled with beautifully composed photographs from talents like Kartono Riyadi, Julian Sihombing, and Arbain Rambey. Moving into Web3 was the next logical step — Harian Kompas is now eternalizing photos that capture the most pivotal moments in Indonesia’s history, and enabling its photographers to be part of the booming creator economy in the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>To gain an exclusive insight into this campaign, we caught up with the mastermind of this move, Helman Taofani, Commercial Development Manager at Harian Kompas. Joining him is Ruanth Chrissley Thysson, a trusted advisor for the organization and a leading Web3 community enabler in Indonesia.</p>
<h3 id="meet-the-creative-minds-behind-harian-kompas-nft-and-web3-ventures">Meet the creative minds behind Harian Kompas’ NFT and Web3 ventures</h3>
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<img src="/images/inside-harian-kompas-journey-into-web3-on-tezos-4.jpeg" class="side-images-1">
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<p class="image-text">Having spent almost two decades as a creator in print media, there’s no better person to lead Harian Kompas’ NFT strategy than Helman. From a young age, Helman fell in love with art and writing. Starting as a graphic designer at Harian Kompas in 2015, years of hard work and dedication led him to his current position.</p>
<p class="image-text">One thing remained constant throughout his life - his identity as a creator. In addition to his work for Harian Kompas, Helman is also a published travel writer and a prolific blogger. The incredible potential that Web3 and NFTs can offer creators is incredibly clear to Helman.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.helmantaofani.com/">https://www.helmantaofani.com/</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<p>In this interview, Helman shares with us why Harian Kompas decided to launch NFTs on Tezos, the newspaper’s philosophy on the creator economy, and what this means for both Web3 creators and the community.</p>
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<img src="/images/inside-harian-kompas-journey-into-web3-on-tezos-5.jpeg" class="side-images-1">
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<p class="image-text">Ruanth is a Dutch-Moluccan mix, growing up primarily in Dubai, and Singapore, and a graduate of the Royal College of Art (UK), National Film and Television School. In 2019, his work got Oscar nominated as well as 3 BAFTA nominations between 2019-2022. He fell in love with blockchain tech in 2015, bought his first NFT in 2017, and hasn’t stopped since. A founder of Metarupa, the first Indonesian NFT Community, Ruanth is currently advising brands and persons on the wonderful world of NFTs. </p>
<p><a href="https://ruanth.com">https://ruanth.com</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.metarupa.com">https://www.metarupa.com</a></p>
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<h3 id="we-are-creators-too---their-thoughts-on-web3-nfts-the-creator-economy-and-more">“We Are Creators Too” - their thoughts on Web3, NFTs, the creator economy, and more</h3>
<p><strong><em>Harian Kompas was founded in 1965 and is Indonesia’s most influential newspaper today. Being such a pioneering institution, it’s amazing news that Kompas is entering the world of Web3. Was it a hard decision to make, given that NFTs are not fully accepted by the public yet?</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Helman:</p>
<p>Kompas has always had a progressive mindset. We pioneered Web2 media with Kompas.com in 1995, the early days of the Internet. Back in 2010, we embraced the early adoption of the QR code. The next logical progression is into Web3. So, we would like to participate in the space as creators too. In June, we’ve featured Balinese artist <a href="https://twitter.com/rakajanas?lang=en">Rakajana</a>, who’s also on Tezos, on the front page!</p>
<p><img src="/images/inside-harian-kompas-journey-into-web3-on-tezos-10.png" alt="Rakajana"></p>
<p>We have also noticed a trend - a growing culture of people paying for content, demonstrated by the success of Netflix and Disney +. Incidentally, the same thing is happening in Web3, where people are paying for art as NFTs.</p>
<p>As creators ourselves, we stand fully behind the principles behind Web3. We see NFTs as a gateway into a world where people appreciate each other’s creations, whether it be photographs, paintings, journalism or other forms of media.</p>
<p>When we enter this space, we have to be humble. Our first position has to be as creators, to explore and learn this new technology.</p>
<p><strong><em>It’s fascinating that when we talk about Web3 creators, we think of individual artists. But it doesn’t strike us that news media companies are actually creators too. And they’re huge. So, it’s very exciting to see Kompas take a step into Web3.</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Helman:</p>
<p>Yes, you’re absolutely correct. At its core, a media company is actually a massive congregation of creators. There are photographers, content writers, and designers. Web3 is something that can empower media too, allowing us to tap into a global ecosystem of creators, and audiences.</p>
<p><strong><em>Could you share with us the thought process behind this NFT release? What was Kompas’ intention, and why did you choose to release photos as NFTs?</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Helman:</p>
<p>Earlier this year, the trend was Profile Picture (PFP) artwork and projects. But when we discussed what direction we wanted to take, we decided to stay true to our identity and strengths in the media space.</p>
<p>Previously in June, we released a project on Ethereum called Narasi Fakta Terkurasi. 57 of the most important news articles were minted on-chain as single unique NFTs. The next creative asset that we explored was photography. We’ve always prided ourselves on having some of the most talented photographers in Indonesia, and we have millions of photographic assets in our archive. We will stick to our strengths in journalism, which will always be relevant.</p>
<p>Speaking of art and community, those are the reasons why we’ve chosen Tezos to be our blockchain of choice for Loka/Masa. But now, we’ve noticed that Tezos has a thriving community of photographers, with a genuine love for the craft.</p>
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<p><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1PALpufdvDF6i8k7gBZXUFx8YR9WFoDnba/21" style="font-weight: bold;">Baybayin</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/alingjoy20">Alingjoy</a></p>
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<div class="caption-1">Location: National Museum, Philippines</div>
<div class="caption-1">Baybayin is one of the ancient writing scripts in the Philippines long before the Spanish colonization. Baybayin is actually a Tagalog word that means "to spell". As you can see in the background, the symbols on the window are the letters used in writing Baybayin. And beneath the symbols are their corresponding meaning. When using Baybayin, you should spell the word in how you pronounced it.</div>
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<img src="/images/inside-harian-kompas-journey-into-web3-on-tezos-7.png" class="img-carousel" alt="Story Of Life">
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<p><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/akaswap/10862" style="font-weight: bold;">Story Of Life</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/fierzafajri">penangkapcahaya</a></p>
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<div class="caption-1">This is a portrait of life. When we were little, the old ones happily accompanied the young to play. Until those who used to play will become old and accompany the next generation.</div>
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<img src="/images/inside-harian-kompas-journey-into-web3-on-tezos-8.png" class="img-carousel" alt="In Search of Better Day">
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<p><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/776452" style="font-weight: bold;">In Search of Better Day</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/prakosoalfi">alfxxx</a></p>
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<div class="caption-1">For the sake of better day, we asked for help from others. Will they help us?</div>
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<img src="/images/inside-harian-kompas-journey-into-web3-on-tezos-9.png" class="img-carousel" alt="BERMAIN">
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<p><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/582664" style="font-weight: bold;">BERMAIN</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/dianefurry">Diane Furry</a></p>
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<div class="carousel-caption">“Surprise drop for celebrating 1K friends on Twitter & also marking my first month on the metaverse. Thank you all for your support. I'm glad to be a part of this community. 🖤🤍”</div>
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<p><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/532006" style="font-weight: bold;">Pause</a></p>
<p><a href="https://objkt.com/profile/govindarumi/created">Govinda Rumi</a></p>
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<div class="caption-1">In photographs, moments are paused forever.</div>
<div class="caption-1">A reminder to myself that in this fast-paced world, we tend to forget to slow down, to appreciate all the good and beautiful things around us.</div>
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<p>We want to be able to connect with our fellow artists on Tezos, through our shared appreciation of photography. So, we’ve chosen 57 of our best photos from a professional viewpoint. We consider things like composition, colors, and visual aesthetics. Perhaps these photos may have strong historical significance, but we’re not talking to the community through that medium - but instead as photographers.</p>
<h3 id="choosing-to-mint-on-objktcom-the-largest-nft-marketplace-on-tezos">Choosing to mint on Objkt.com, the largest NFT Marketplace on Tezos</h3>
<p><strong><em>Why did you choose Objkt.com as the marketplace to mint?</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Helman:</p>
<p>Simply, we’d like to lower the barrier to entry to collecting NFTs as much as possible. As I’ve shared before, we chose Tezos to mint on because the photography community is thriving there. Naturally, we’d choose the most popular platform where people can jump in right away and start interacting with us.</p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Ruanth:</p>
<p>There’s a reason why Objkt is so popular. It’s the smoothest mint on Tezos I’ve experienced so far. And the community is very strong too.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/5-tips-for-creating-amazing-art-from-objkt-coms-curator/">In this article, Objkt.com curator Ombeline Rosset shares 5 insider tips on creating breathtaking art on one of the most prominent marketplaces in the Tezos ecosystem.</a></p>
<h3 id="the-impact-of-harian-kompas-nft-launch-on-creators-and-bridging-the-gap-with-the-non-web3-public">The impact of Harian Kompas’ NFT launch on creators, and bridging the gap with the non-Web3 public</h3>
<p><strong><em>Having such a recognized brand come into the space is significant, especially for Web3 communities of photographers and artists. What does this mean for these creators?</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Helman:</p>
<p>We’d like to communicate to our fellow Tezos creators and collectors that we are joining the community with a roster of photographers. Hopefully, together we can form a strong community and culture of photography NFTs, and build up a thriving Tezos ecosystem!</p>
<p>We’re also trying to lower the barrier to entry to photo collection, which is why we’ve priced the NFT mint quite affordably. We want to encourage people to start collecting again, which was something we did back in the analog days.</p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Ruanth:</p>
<p>I think it’s very hopeful that a brand like Kompas is embracing NFTs. Kompas may not have been the first to enter, but they’re one of the most impactful simply because they believe in the creator’s culture. We wanted to make it inclusive, and as Mas Helman said — Kompas has taken steps to make it as easy as possible to collect the NFTs. Our focus is to bridge the gap between creators and collectors.</p>
<p>In this bear market, there is very little happening. But now, if you talk to a creator and tell them that Kompas is releasing NFTs on Tezos and multiple blockchains, it’s very encouraging. When you’ve got such a big company doing this, creators get inspired. Yesterday, I was in my NFT community Discord where photographers come to hang out and chat. I mentioned that Kompas was releasing NFTs, and immediately some of the works of our photographers got sold. In bear markets, a little bit of hope sparks a little more. The network effect of brands entering this space is very uplifting.</p>
<h3 id="showing-how-its-done---leading-the-way-in-giving-fair-payments-to-creators">Showing how it’s done - leading the way in giving fair payments to creators</h3>
<p><strong><em>Despite owning the full intellectual property rights to the photographs, Kompas is still choosing to split 50% of the royalties with photographers. Clearly, Kompas is embracing the spirit of Web3, and it is very encouraging to all creators. Was this a hard decision to make?</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Ruanth:</p>
<p>We suggested splitting royalties with photographers and Harian Kompas was immediately very open to it. They’re leading the way and setting an example for how other brands should enter the space.</p>
<p>As we’ve experienced, big brands entering the space is exciting but also subject to a lot of scrutiny. We’ve definitely had good feedback. Our creator community feels like Harian Kompas has entered the space with sincerity and a genuine desire to see the creator economy succeed.</p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Helman:</p>
<p>Well, our intention was always to inspire a thriving creator scene in Web3. So, naturally, we have to show this spirit. Anyway, we’ve always appreciated our creators such as content writers, photographers, designers, and more at Harian Kompas. To show them love by sharing royalties with them - it was an easy choice.</p>
<p>We are thankful to Mas Ruanth and the Metarupa community, for helping us to understand this space from a creator’s position. We considered things like what would make creators happy? Having their work appreciated and royalty share for example. Perhaps other brands may want to leverage on their branding power, but for us - we are creators first before a brand. And I think our community understands that.</p>
<h3 id="nft-utility-merchandise-and-harian-kompas-lokamasa-nft-exhibition-at-the-national-museum-in-jakarta">NFT utility, merchandise, and Harian Kompas’ “Loka/Masa” NFT Exhibition at the National Museum in Jakarta</h3>
<p><strong><em>The majority of people who know Harian Kompas have no familiarity with Web3. How do you see them involved in Kompas’ move into Web3, and will you offer utility to attract them?</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Helman:</p>
<p>First of all, we hope that we’ll be able to bring the artistic revolution that’s happening in Web3 to the mainstream public. The team has been very open to initiatives that inspire mass adoption, and there’s a lot of amazing content in the space that I’m sure will inspire people and bring joy into their lives with the vibrance and community spirit of Web3 creators.</p>
<p>Of course, we see creators of all kinds turning to Web3 eventually. On a Twitter Spaces recently, one of our listeners pointed out that in Web2, the main way of making a living for photographers is to sell them as stock photos. But people aren’t buying to collect, but rather to use them. In Web3 where creators make their works into NFTs, photographers may release them as digital collectibles, a new way for people to directly support or invest in them. This way, fans become patrons and collectors turn into a tight-knit community built around an appreciation of that photographer’s art.</p>
<p>Currently, physical benefits are clearer to non-Web3 folk. So, one of the strategies to onboard them is to also offer “phygital” utilities through NFTs - a blend of physical and digital utilities. Each NFT will be worth 1 point, and the collected points may be exchanged for limited edition custom printed merchandise including postcards, T-shirts, our photography book “Untitled”, and a full-sized acrylic print of the photograph. Each will have edition numbers printed on them, and will only be printed once.</p>
<p>One of the things we’re really excited about is a physical showcase of our NFTs at the National Museum in Jakarta on October 28. Due to the pandemic, we’ve not had any exhibitions for the past 3 years. This time though, it’s going to be different - it’s available on the blockchain, and more importantly, the audience can collect the artwork! At the October 28 exhibition, printed postcards of the 57 photos will be on sale, and buyers will also receive a NFT. This is what we mean by “phygital” utility, and with this we hope to onboard more people onto Web3.</p>
<p><strong><em>Can you give us a sneak preview of any future things that Harian Kompas might release as NFTs?</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline;">Helman:</p>
<p>Of course. At Harian Kompas, our archives go back a long way. We have many forms of media, like printed media, photographs, and infographics. The written content NFT scene has already kickstarted. There are also many exciting things to explore. But one thing is for sure - we stay true to our core. Journalism, that’s our identity.</p>
The 22 Projects on Tezos Changing the Game: Inside Cohort 1 of the TZ APAC EGG Web3 Incubator
<h2 id="60-founders-22-projects-8-different-countries-here-is-a-look-at-the-talented-teams-building-real-world-web3-solutions-in-cohort-1-of-the-incubator-program">60 founders. 22 projects. 8 different countries. Here is a look at the talented teams building real-world web3 solutions in Cohort 1 of the incubator program.</h2>
<p>TZ APAC’s EGG Web3 Incubator seeks to nurture APAC’s next generation of Web3 entrepreneurs. On Welcome Day (14 September 2022), 22 teams driving innovative projects gathered to introduce themselves and kickstart their journey. They were watched closely by the experienced mentors in the program, all seasoned and influential Web3 figures seeking diamonds in the rough that have the potential to be the next game-changing startup.</p>
<h2 id="whats-happening-on-demo-day-7-december">What’s happening on Demo Day, 7 December?</h2>
<p>Demo Day will see the project founders participate, where they will be given 3 minutes to present their pitch to some of industry’s top mentors and investors participating.</p>
<p>These investors will then make their assessment - of the project’s quality and potential, business strategy, and even the founders themselves. Investors will include high-profile figures from esteemed organizations like Newman Capital, Draper Startup House, Amber Group, Samadhi Ventures.</p>
<p>The mentors in attendance include Vikram Bharati (Draper Startup House), Laurent Dedenis (Chainstack), Cici Lu (Vennlink), Bobby Ong (CoinGecko), Mona Zoet (RegPac Revolution), TZ APAC’s own Julian Low, and many more</p>
<p>This article takes you through the 22 projects that are set to elevate the Web3 ecosystem.</p>
<p><strong><u>Content Page:</u></strong></p>
<div class="long-menu">
<div class="menu-1">
<p><strong><a href="#Acxyn" style="text-decoration: none;">1. Acxyn<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#All Access Anonymous" style="text-decoration: none;">2. All Access Anonymous<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Boom" style="text-decoration: none;">3. Boom<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Carbonite Club" style="text-decoration: none;">4. Carbonite Club<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Circle of Games" style="text-decoration: none;">5. Circle of Games<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Evolv" style="text-decoration: none;">6. Evolv<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#FindTruman" style="text-decoration: none;">7. FindTruman<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Game Geeks" style="text-decoration: none;">8. Game Geeks<u></u></a></strong></p>
</div>
<div class="menu-2">
<p><strong><a href="#Gebo" style="text-decoration: none;">9. Gebo<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Genesy" style="text-decoration: none;">10. Genesy<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Interlace" style="text-decoration: none;">11. Interlace<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Lumos Protocol" style="text-decoration: none;">12. Lumos Protocol<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#MagicNFTy" style="text-decoration: none;">13. MagicNFTy<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Ownly" style="text-decoration: none;">14. Ownly<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Pentas" style="text-decoration: none;">15. Pentas<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Petven" style="text-decoration: none;">16. Petven<u></u></a></strong></p>
</div>
<div class="menu-3">
<p><strong><a href="#Quilt Chat" style="text-decoration: none;">17. Quilt Chat<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Quurk " style="text-decoration: none;">18. Quurk <u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#TezTrack" style="text-decoration: none;">19. TezTrack<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Third Media" style="text-decoration: none;">20. Third Media<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#VChained" style="text-decoration: none;">21. VChained<u></u></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="#Xanadu" style="text-decoration: none;">22. Xanadu<u></u></a></strong></p>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="Acxyn">Acxyn</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-20.JPG" alt="Acxyn"></p>
<p>Acxyn is a DeFi start-up aiming to empower game developers with value such as novel cross-game compatible data and capital monetisation strategies. With a strong vision for the future of the gaming industry, Acxyn is committed to providing game developers with the tools they need to succeed in this bold move that could potentially revolutionize the US$312B gaming industry.</p>
<p><a href="http://acxyn.xyz">http://acxyn.xyz</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/acxyn/about">https://www.linkedin.com/company/acxyn/about</a></p>
<h2 id="All Access Anonymous">All Access Anonymous</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-1.png" alt="All Access Anonymous"></p>
<p>All Access Anonymous is taking aim at the stranglehold that current ticketing giants have on the experience economy, and giving back artists, promoters, and fans the equity they deserve. Creators (artists & festival promoters) and fans can now interact in an open and fair social economy, through a decentralized network with a DAO-based token and NFT economy.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.all-access.io">http://www.all-access.io</a></p>
<h2 id="Boom">Boom</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-2.png" alt="Boom"></p>
<p>Boom is a Web3 Social-Fi marketplace that combines consumer retail storefronts & products, cryptocurrency, and NFTs. Uniquely, on it screenshots or saving images aren’t possible - which brings back true digital scarcity, and unleashes the sky-high potential of NFTs. Its native features include Boom Bazaar (where brands can reward and connect with their community using NFTs), and Boom Social (token-gated private chat groups and communities).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.boooooooooom.com">https://www.boooooooooom.com</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/whatsboom">https://twitter.com/whatsboom</a></p>
<p>Sign up for early beta access filled with perks!</p>
<p><a href="https://tinyurl.com/BoomBetaAccess">https://tinyurl.com/BoomBetaAccess</a></p>
<h2 id="Carbonite Club">Carbonite Club</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-3.png" alt="Carbonite Club"></p>
<p>Carbonite Club is an on-chain anonymous identity builder. Users complete tasks, which are recorded on the blockchain as proof of competency in these skills as portfolio NFTs. Users learn and earn at the same time, and have access to a powerful analytics tool that empowers their efficient learning.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.carbonite.club/">https://www.carbonite.club/</a></p>
<h2 id="Circle of Games">Circle of Games</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-9.png" alt="Circle of Games"></p>
<p>Circle of Games is a player-driven Web3 gaming platform, where players can play, compete and earn through multiple fun games within the ecosystem. Built by a strong team of gaming industry veterans, COG’s philosophy is that gaming, whether Web2 or Web3, should be a fun and rewarding experience for all.</p>
<p><a href="https://circleofgames.com">https://circleofgames.com</a></p>
<h2 id="Evolv">Evolv</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-4.jpg" alt="Evolv"></p>
<p>Evolv creates the next generation of interactive NFTs, which aims to gamify and reward users for interacting with the Tezos ecosystem. With the integration of level-up smart contracts, actions (e.g. providing liquidity on a DEX) may trigger conditions to upgrade each NFT to a higher tier of rewards and utilities.</p>
<p><a href="https://evolv.art">https://evolv.art</a></p>
<h2 id="FindTruman">FindTruman</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-5.png" alt="FindTruman"></p>
<p>FindTruman is a top Web2 story-gameplay company creating a decentralized co-creation Web3 platform, aiming to disrupt the traditional gaming industry, ensuring creators receive what they deserve and incentivizing them to build better games for players. With a native content editor, players can be creators, spurring innovation on the platform.</p>
<p><a href="https://findtruman.io">https://findtruman.io</a></p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@FindTruman">https://medium.com/@FindTruman</a></p>
<h2 id="Game Geeks">Game Geeks</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-6.png" alt="Game Geeks"></p>
<p>Game Geeks aims to transform the gaming industry by integrating it with Tezos blockchain technology. The vision is a decentralized gaming hub used by almost all games, from hypercasual games to classic gaming genres like First Person Shooters (FPS), Real Time Strategy (RTS), and Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs). An advanced gaming dashboard provides gamers with analytics and digital assets management, as well as a native asset marketplace.</p>
<p><a href="https://gamegeeks.online">https://gamegeeks.online</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/GameGeeksOnline">https://twitter.com/GameGeeksOnline</a></p>
<h2 id="Gebo">Gebo</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-16.jpg" alt="Gebo"></p>
<p>Gebo is an Investment DAO, where members team up to make investments, or back startups as a group. Gebo is now introducing the Defi-as-a-Service model, which will enable traditional and blockchain-native organizations to access services that are similar to SaaS-like DeFi services securely and compliantly.</p>
<p>Gebo will facilitate fair automated and trust-minimized exchange of any off-chain (physical or digital) value for on-chain assets in a permissionless peer-to-peer way. It will enable the collective maintenance and exchange of NFTs alongside off-chain assets.redefine what it means to invest in and manage digital assets, setting a new standard for the industry.</p>
<p><a href="https://gebo.finance">https://gebo.finance</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/gebofinance">https://twitter.com/gebofinance</a></p>
<h2 id="Genesy">Genesy</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-15.jpg" alt="Genesy"></p>
<p>Genesy is on a mission to democratize the art system by launching the first Open Platform for 1/1 Art Nfts on Tezos. With a strong belief that art should be accessible to all, Genesy provides artists and collectors the opportunity to mint and collect Rare Digital Art from the amazing artist community of the Tezos ecosystem. Genesy will leverage an open curation model based on data and analytics. Armed with top-tier developer talent and being veterans in the Tezos NFT sphere, Genesy will set the stage for a true cultural revolution.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.genesy.xyz/">www.genesy.xyz</a></p>
<h2 id="Interlace">Interlace</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-18.png" alt="Interlace"></p>
<p>The rise of web3 brings further decentralization in the labor economy, ultimately empowering the freelance economy. Our platform is built for decentralized organizations to connect with individual problem solvers on a task-based scope. InterLace is positioned to be the go-to decentralized intermediary by providing on-chain reputation building, contributor onboarding, and “proof of work” payment transparency.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.interlace.community">https://www.interlace.community</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Interlacehq">https://twitter.com/Interlacehq</a></p>
<h2 id="Lumos Protocol">Lumos Protocol</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-21.jpg" alt="Lumos Protocol"></p>
<p>With Lumos Protocol, NFT assets are taken to a next level of utility. Lumos allows you to load up NFTs with any digital asset, which in turn become child assets. It features cutting-edge mechanics for NFTs such as time-locked withdrawal of child assets, programmable interest on the child assets, and many more. This enables impressive use cases for blockchain projects across DeFi, Gaming, DAOs, and Creator Economy.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/LumosProtocol">https://twitter.com/LumosProtocol</a></p>
<h2 id="MagicNFTy">MagicNFTy</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-22.jpg" alt="MagicNFTy"></p>
<p>MagicNFTy is a no-code community management tool, which allows influencers to easily harness blockchain technology. With MagicNFTy, content creators can easily create brand tokens, token-gate their content, and manage their communities. This provides a new level of control and transparency for content creators and ensures that they are fairly compensated for their work, and gives them full ownership over their content.</p>
<p><a href="https://magicnfty.com">https://magicnfty.com</a></p>
<h2 id="Ownly">OWNLY</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-7.png" alt="OWNLY"></p>
<p>OWNLY is an artist launchpad and marketplace focused on single-edition non-generative NFT art. Artists can launch their own single-edition NFT artworks, sell them directly to collectors, and retain full control over their creative output. OWNLY will support artists by adding valuable utilities through the innovative applications of NFTs such as Augmented Reality, 3D versions, GameFi, and more. In addition, OWNLY allows artists to connect with collectors and build a following for their work.</p>
<p><a href="https://ownly.market">https://ownly.market</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/ownlyio">https://twitter.com/ownlyio</a></p>
<h2 id="Pentas">Pentas</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-8.png" alt="Pentas"></p>
<p>Pentas is an inclusive NFT marketplace that seeks to empower content creators of heritage, cultural and traditional values through the digital preservation of assets. With a strong focus on community, education, a focuses on blockchain mass adoption, and promoting Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS), Pentas offers a full suite that makes it popular amongst creators.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pentas.io/">Pentas.io</a></p>
<h2 id="Petven">Petven</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-19.jpg" alt="Petven"></p>
<p>Petven is a metaverse where people can pay homage to and immortalize their pets onto the blockchain, with their realistic 3D motion art. Petven aims to bring healing, joy, and happiness to those who have lost their pets.</p>
<p><a href="https://petven.xyz">https://petven.xyz</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/petven_official">https://twitter.com/petven_official</a></p>
<h2 id="Quilt Chat">Quilt Chat</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-12.png" alt="Quilt Chat"></p>
<p>Quilt aims to create an interconnected Web3 by creating a decentralized, multi-chain social protocol and marketplace which enables seamless socialization across chains. This is the solution to the centralization of data and lack of privacy on Web2 platforms like Twitter, and the centralization of NFT marketplaces which goes against Web3 ethos.</p>
<p>Quilt’s social protocol will support the creator economy by allowing NFT creators the means to receive commissions, set NFT auctions, and much more from users without needing to use exchanges such as Opensea and Rarible. Quilt also supports Game-Fi, allowing their users to trade and socialise their Web3 Game Assets in-game.</p>
<p><a href="https://quilt.chat">https://quilt.chat</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Quilt_chat">https://twitter.com/Quilt_chat</a></p>
<h2 id="Quurk">Quurk</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-10.jpg" alt="Quurk"></p>
<p>Quurk is driving new advent of learner-oriented ReFi game economies in Web3, by building games that educate and reward learning outcomes whilst creating social impact with youths-at-risk. Built on the fundamentals of regenerative human capital by a team with years of experience in serious games, Quurk ReFi ecosystem advocates a sustainable economic model that goes beyond just rewards.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.quurk.xyz/">www.quurk.xyz</a></p>
<h2 id="TezTrack">Teztrack</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-13.png" alt="Teztrack"></p>
<p>Teztrack is designed to be your all-in-one portfolio tracker, social network, and home base in the Tezos ecosystem. Their Social-Fi integrated platform is a beautiful synthesis of convenience and community, where users can explore the latest in Tezos NFT, DeFi, and gaming together.</p>
<p><a href="https://info.sekolahkripto.org">https://info.sekolahkripto.org</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/MySekolahKripto">https://twitter.com/MySekolahKripto</a></p>
<h2 id="Third Media">Third Media</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-14.png" alt="Third Media"></p>
<p>The company’s mission is to revamp authentication using our developed protocol AuthFA2 and to have an array of groundbreaking applications with AuthFA2. One of the major sectors we are targeting is giving content creators a service to livestream their content with 0 streaming charges.</p>
<p>The product aims to solve the problem of centralization in the creator economy. As of the current state, creators are heavily dependent on centralized platforms to serve their content. These platforms have the final control over the content, the monetization and the content-consumers. We aim to give back this control back to the creators via a platform which is powered by blockchain, cryptocurrencies and NFTs.</p>
<p><a href="https://linktr.ee/ThirdMediaCompany">https://linktr.ee/ThirdMediaCompany</a></p>
<h2 id="VChained">VChained</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-17.png" alt="VChained"></p>
<p>VChained aims to enable complete transparency by enabling traceability and authenticity by simply scanning a QR code.</p>
<p>VChained is a sustainable low-code and no-code solution for supply chain management and traceability built for mass adoption by any supply chain, irrespective of their industry. It lets you track products and carbon footprints throughout the product lifecycle with Blockchain.</p>
<p>With VChained, there is no need for migration. Instead of using the dashboard, you can directly integrate the solution with APIs or connect your IOT devices or simply clone our open-source library and host your own backend with customizations.</p>
<p><a href="https://vchained.com">https://vchained.com</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/votanventures">https://twitter.com/votanventures</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/votanventures">https://www.instagram.com/votanventures</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/votanventures/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/votanventures/</a></p>
<h2 id="Xanadu">Xanadu by MinistryXR</h2>
<p><img src="/images/the-22-projects-changing-the-game-inside-cohort-1-of-the-tz-apac-egg-web3-incubator-11.png" alt="Xanadu"></p>
<p>With Xanadu, the metaverse represents freedom - for entertainers, artists, and creatives to work their magic unconstrained by any limits. Ministry XR brings the metaverse to the common man, accessible without barriers like VR goggles or massive programs to download.</p>
<p>Recently, Xanadu hosted Merdekaverse, the biggest Malaysian National Day festival in the metaverse, complete with a parade with Tunku Abdul Rahman and Sudirman. Stay tuned for continued events with a strong focus on the APAC region!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.xanadu.asia">https://www.xanadu.asia</a></p>
McLaren Racing Launches 7-page Comic NFTs On Tezos Ahead Of Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix
<ul>
<li>
<p>McLaren Racing is set to drop a 7-page comic NFT from 1st to 7th October 2022, starting at the Singapore Grand Prix 2022 and ending at the Japanese Grand Prix 2022.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The NFTs are minted on the energy-efficient <a href="https://tezos.com/">Tezos</a> blockchain, an Official Technical Partner of McLaren Racing. Fans can purchase the NFTs on <a href="https://mclarenracingcollective.com/">McLaren’s Racing Collective website</a> for USD 9.99 per page.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The purchase of NFTs go beyond just the ownership of the comic art— fans stand to gain access and rights to attend virtual calls with McLaren, win McLaren merchandise, and receive invitations to McLaren management calls.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Formula 1 powerhouse <a href="https://www.mclaren.com/racing/">McLaren Racing</a> launches a 7-page Comic series of NFTs on the energy-efficient Tezos — also an official Technical Partner of the team — ahead of the Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix happening on 2 October and 9 October respectively. The campaign will see individual NFTs dropped, with each page released daily. The drop will begin at the Singapore Grand Prix 2022 while the final piece will be dropped at the Japan Grand Prix 2022. 400 editions of each page will be minted on <a href="http://www.mclarenracingcollective.com">McLaren’s Racing Collective website</a> and will be available for USD 9.99 per page.</p>
<p>The 7-page comic series of NFTs is created by Vietnamese multi-disciplinary designer and specialist in cyberpunk illustration Meine Nguyen. The comic is based on the story of how two McLaren interns set out to carry out a task given to them by CEO Zak Brown to keep an eye on the team’s mascot and “Head of Speed” Mr. Speedy K Kiwi, who ended up escaping and journeying throughout Asia.</p>
<p>Fans purchasing the NFTs will be awarded with attractive benefits that will give them exclusive access to the McLaren Racing team in various ways. Purchase of a single page of the comic will give fans the right to attend a virtual call with McLaren. For fans that purchase multiple pages, each page will be counted as an entry into a raffle for McLaren prizes such as McLaren T-shirts, posters, and caps. If a fan obtains all 7 NFTs, they will receive a free printed physical-version of the 7-page comic. Furthermore, MCL35M/Gulf livery car owners who purchase the NFTs will receive an automatic invitation to a call with McLaren representatives.</p>
<p>The campaign is part of McLaren Racing’s efforts to engage its fans in Asia, which is home to <a href="https://nfthours.com/on-google-asia-pacific-leads-the-world-in-nft-searches/">four out of five</a> of the most NFT-curious countries in the world. Central and Southeast Asia alone account for <a href="https://www.asiafinancial.com/asia-becomes-the-epicentre-of-the-global-nfts-craze">35 percent</a> of the <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/xe/en/insights/industry/technology/technology-media-and-telecom-predictions/2022/sports-nfts-digital-media.html">USD 22 billion</a> global NFT industry. It is predicted that NFTs for sports will exceed USD 2 billion in transactions this year, which is double the figure of 2021.</p>
<p>Powered by the Tezos blockchain, The McLaren Racing Collective is a platform where fans and collectors can purchase McLaren Racing digital collectibles or non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Last year, Tezos joined hands with McLaren Racing for a multi-year technical partnership across Formula 1, IndyCar and esports. For McLaren and Tezos, sustainability through innovation is an important asset of this partnership. Tezos branding is represented across the McLaren Formula 1 team and on the race suits of McLaren F1 drivers.</p>
<p>“We are excited to launch our latest NFT drop on the energy-efficient Tezos blockchain that has been specially curated with the talented Meine Ngyuen. This campaign is a crucial part of our quest to engage fans and provide them with exclusive access to the team, especially in a region where NFTs are gaining in popularity and racing is a huge passion,” said Lindsey Eckhouse, Director, Licensing, eCommerce and eSports for McLaren Racing. “Fans can look forward to magnificent artwork that is not only based on a captivating storyline, but also encapsulates the rich heritage and culture of Asia. With its energy-efficient design and low transaction fees, the Tezos ecosystem has cultivated a vibrant community of NFT artists, collectors, and builders from around the world.</p>
<h3 id="about-mclaren-racing">About McLaren Racing</h3>
<p>McLaren Racing was founded by New Zealand racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966, since then McLaren has won 20 Formula 1 world championships, more than 180 Formula 1 grands prix, the Indianapolis 500 three times, and the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt.</p>
<p>The team competes in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, the NTT INDYCAR Series with Arrow McLaren SP drivers Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist, and the Extreme E Championship with Emma Gilmour and TannerFoust. McLaren will compete in Season Nine of the FIA Formula E World Championship in 2022/23.</p>
<p>McLaren was the first F1 team to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in 2010 and has retained it since on a bi-annual basis, most recently in February 2021. The team was also the first in F1 to be given the FIA Sustainability Accreditation Award at a three-star level in 2013 as part of the FIA Environmental Certification framework, before becoming a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Commitment in 2021.</p>
Man and Machine: Generative Art, featuring radarboy3000
<p>Generative art is a category that is gathering pace in the Tezos ecosystem with many popular artists leading the charge in this new realm.</p>
<p>On 28 September, 4-5 PM, TZ APAC will be presenting a lecture by leading generative artist and organizer of Crypto Art Week Asia 2022, radarboy3000.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gain insights on how to make generative art on the blockchain with artist and CAWA founder <a href="https://twitter.com/radarboy3000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@radarboy3000</a>. <br><br>Get your passes to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CryptoArtWeekAsia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CryptoArtWeekAsia</a> today 🎟️ <a href="https://t.co/GNow9yHEjO">https://t.co/GNow9yHEjO</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TzApac</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crypto?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crypto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nftcommunity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nftcommunity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nftart?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nftart</a> <a href="https://t.co/wSl50fk5ge">pic.twitter.com/wSl50fk5ge</a></p>— ♥️💛💚💙 CryptoArtWeekAsia | 28-30 Sept 2022 (@cryptoartasia) <a href="https://twitter.com/cryptoartasia/status/1574645061064990720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h3 id="what-is-generative-art">What is generative art?</h3>
<p>In generative art, humans rely on autonomous systems (e.g. software, AI, machines, or natural language rules) to create artwork.</p>
<p>One of the earliest examples of generative art was a musical game created by the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1972. In this game, fragments of music were randomly picked from dice rolls, which were then joined together to complete the piece.</p>
<p>Here are some key principles of generative art:
<p style="text-decoration: underline !important; font-weight: bold !important;">Collaboration between man and machine</p>
</p>
<p>Generative art is about a partnership between two parties - the human artist and the system. It isn’t about replacing the human element, but rather about creating synergy between human creativity and automated efficiency.</p>
<p>While generative artists aren’t the ones holding the brushes, they create the code and work with the system to create masterful pieces. Through the input of code, prompts, and instructions, artists passionately communicate their inspiration, emotions, and desires through shapes and colors. This is a skill on its own — the degree of skill reflects the quality of the output. In fact, AI developer/NFT artist CS Lim firmly believes that for the best results, <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/talking-ai-driven-nft-art-with-korean-artist-cs-lim/">the designer and user of AI for artistic endeavors should be the same person</a>.</p>
<p>Further, despite all that machines can do, they cannot fully replicate the human sense of aesthetic judgment, philosophy, and emotions. For that, you need a human to be the conductor, guiding it with creative vision.</p>
<p style="text-decoration: underline !important; font-weight: bold !important;">Autonomy must be involved</p>
<p>Generative art requires some degree of autonomy from the system. This is also known as “randomness”.</p>
<p>When creating the generative code, artists set the parameters of randomness - the set of variables (what colors, thickness of lines, number of circles) that determines the final product. This is usually done through algorithmic functions.</p>
<p>With NFTs, the ones with rare traits are highly valued. Collectors all hope to get rare pieces - this randomness is part of what makes the game so exciting.</p>
<h3 id="whats-the-link-between-generative-art-and-nfts">What’s the link between generative art and NFTs?</h3>
<p>CryptoPunks, the first historically significant NFT project, was born out of a generative algorithm by Larva Labs. 10,000 NFTs were generated, every single one unique with a combination of random attributes like hair, color, and species.</p>
<p><img src="/images/man-and-machine-generative-art-featuring-radarboy3000-1.png" alt="man and machine 1"></p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/collab-currency/punks-squiggles-and-the-future-of-generative-media-d2d3e9df623b"><em>Credit</em></a></p>
<p>CryptoPunks “OG” collector Snowfro was inspired to start Art Blocks, the first platform solely focused on generative blockchain art. The first generative art project launched there was Chromie Squiggles, which successfully proved that generating tens of thousands of non-identical outputs was possible.</p>
<p>Smart contracts are a great tool for making generative art. Essentially, actions are triggered upon hitting certain conditions. For example, when minting an NFT, the transaction hash itself may act as the random condition upon which NFT traits are selected. Since then, it has become increasingly popular for artists to make generative art on blockchain - through smart contracts, instead of algorithms.</p>
<p>However, veteran generative artist and teacher at MIT Media Lab Zach Lieberman point out a barrier commonly faced by artists - the cost of minting an NFT on Ethereum. However, he also notes that <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/layer2/culture-week/2021/12/17/how-nfts-put-generative-artists-on-the-map/">“many in the generative art community have turned to the Tezos blockchain for lower-cost experimentation”</a>.</p>
<p>On Tezos, the open platform <a href="https://www.fxhash.xyz/"><strong>fxhash</strong></a> was created with the philosophy of being accessible to all artists, with no curation nor gatekeeping. Artists publish Generative Tokens (GT), stored on the Tezos chain. When collectors mint the GT, the minting transaction generates a unique hash that acts as a seed alongside the original GT, creating a completely unique piece of generative artwork as an NFT.</p>
<p>For artists or collectors interested in generative art, come find out more from experienced generative artist radarboy3000 on 28 September. He will also cover how to mint a generative NFT on fxhash.</p>
<h3 id="who-is-radarboy3000">Who is radarboy3000?</h3>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/radarboy3000">radarboy300</a>, also known as George Galanakis, is a well-known generative artist with an incredible body of work in the NFT space. He describes himself as a crypto artist, creative hacker, and techno utopianist. Living in Singapore, he’s also the organizer of Crypto Art Week Asia 2022.</p>
<p>Since young, George has always been attracted to code and computer graphics. Starting his career in experimental new media design, he soon became an award-winning designer and disc/video jockey. While success in the advertising industry naturally followed him, George’s nature dictated that he would be drawn to more experimental work like data/generative art and sound, and motion reactive graphics.</p>
<p><strong><em>“I never really fit, being this weird hybrid artist, technologist (before there was a thing called a creative technologist), I don’t think they ever knew what to do with me.”</em></strong></p>
<p>In order to push himself and further explore the world he loved, George started the practice of coding daily, building his own Javascript library. The process of creatively coding artwork every day has truly allowed George to find his own monochromatic minimalistic style and vibe that his fans enjoy today.</p>
<p>In 2020, George discovered crypto and unsurprisingly dove in head first.</p>
<p><strong><em>“Although I was still comparatively early, I was annoyed with myself that I hadn’t paid closer attention to what was going on and jumped in sooner. I’ve always loved tech and art, so it felt like this new crypto art world was made for me."</em></strong></p>
<p>George’s work and NFTs are inspired by the aesthetics of dance music culture, 80’s computer graphics, and early generative artists. Of course, for George, NFTs are more than just a trend or artistic medium.</p>
<p><strong><em>“I think of myself as a creative hacker and a techno-utopianist, so my work always has an element of that in it.”</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>“For me, my interest has always been in crypto art, which is different from NFTs. Crypto art is a techno-utopian art movement that’s using technology as an integral part of the art.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Crypto art is already paving the roads to an ideal society - it enables us to think in new ways, imagine, and build new realities. NFTs have enabled an art explosion never before seen in the history of the world.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Art, culture, and freedom are heavily interlinked. More art means more-vibrant sub-cultures, free-er societies, and more social justice. Some may look at art and think it’s trivial. But artists define civilizations and artists imagine our future into reality. So, really, there’s nothing more important than art.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>While wild NFT speculation in the bull market has polluted the movement, NFTs have given so many people a creative outlet and given a whole new generation a new love and appreciation for art. Now, everyone can collect - and most people have collected more art in the last year than in their entire lives. This is amazing.”</em></strong></p>
<p>Being the maverick that he is, one of George’s art projects is to hack and disrupt art itself. He decided to create a community of like-minded artists who shared a similar goal of bubbling up weirdness and brilliance and supporting each other to grow. This was the path to the creation of Crypto Art Week Asia, which George is convinced will blow people away by the sheer amount of talent taking part.</p>
<p><strong><em>“I hope visitors to CAWA can take away that art can be experienced, which is what CAWA is all about. The movement has evolved and matured, and so has the talent in Asia.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Art and music will forever be intertwined, and experience design and AV performances are the future. As I mentioned previously, the NFT bubble helped a lot of artists but also did some harm in terms of perception. So, most importantly, I hope people come away with a new love and appreciation for this new form of art and the artists. And I especially hope they have a good time. We have over 150 artists, dancers, musicians, DJs, performers, and more. This is not your usual art show!”</em></strong></p>
Crypto Art Week 2022: A Celebration of Asian Artistic Culture
<h2 id="from-28-30-september-crypto-art-week-asia-will-light-up-singapores-haw-par-villa-with-the-charm-and-vibrance-of-art-produced-by-some-of-asias-stellar-creators-experience-a-showcase-of-what-the-best-talents-across-the-region-can-do-get-mesmerized-by-visually-stunning-art-and-party-to-live-music-from-the-hottest-djs-for-your-learning-pleasure-tz-apac-has-also-organized-a-series-of-intriguing-talks-and-workshops-by-leading-generative-artist-radarboy3000-and-oscar-nominated-sound-director-ruanth-chrisley-thyssen">From 28-30 September, Crypto Art Week Asia will light up Singapore’s Haw Par Villa with the charm and vibrance of art produced by some of Asia’s stellar creators. Experience a showcase of what the best talents across the region can do. Get mesmerized by visually stunning art and party to live music from the hottest DJs. For your learning pleasure, TZ APAC has also organized a series of intriguing talks and workshops by leading generative artist radarboy3000 and Oscar-nominated sound director Ruanth Chrisley Thyssen.</h2>
<p>TZ APAC is proud to be a sponsor of Crypto Art Week Asia (CAWA) 2022, which brings together a wide variety of artistic styles from all over Asia, and an incredibly stacked lineup of musical talents from all over Asia. From classical to street art, avant-garde experimental styles and cutting-edge aural performances, CAWA 2022 promises to supercharge the community’s creative batteries.</p>
<h3 id="workshop-talks-and-meetups-organized-by-tz-apac">Workshop, talks, and meetups organized by TZ APAC</h3>
<p>The spirit of learning and community is intertwined with art. Artists can look forward to a series of events and workshops organized by TZ APAC that seek to shed knowledge on new artistic frontiers and build tight-knit communities.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crypto Art Week Asia showcases the latest and greatest in crypto art from across Asia. <br><br>This year, <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tzapac</a> will be hosting three events at <a href="https://twitter.com/cryptoartasia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cryptoartasia</a> across 28 to 30 September. <br><br>Find out more 👇 <a href="https://t.co/OmwvVOII0C">pic.twitter.com/OmwvVOII0C</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1572525315041423361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<ul>
<li>Tezos presents: Generative Art Lecture by radarboy3000 (28 September 2022, 4-5 pm)</li>
</ul>
<p>Take a step into the future, and learn how to harness the power of technology to break artistic boundaries. Accomplished generative artist and founder of CAWA, radarboy3000 shares his hard-won experience and insights on how he creates such breathtaking generative art. There will also be a Q&A session, where artists and fans may learn more about his process and views on NFT art.</p>
<ul>
<li>Tezos presents: “Provenance in NFTs and upgrades”, a lecture by Ruanth Chrisley Thyssen (29 September 2022, 4-5 pm)</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://ruanth.com/">Ruanth Chrisley Thyssen</a> is a 1x Oscar Nominated, 2x BAFTA Nominated Sound Designer, and has long been involved in the world of NFTs.</p>
<p>Like all pieces of artwork, the Mona Lisa’s storied history plays a huge role in its value and place in culture today. For NFTs, transaction and ownership history is recorded on the blockchain, which helps to ensure authenticity and transparency. Artists and serious collectors will greatly benefit from the knowledge imparted by Ruanth, which will allow them to create, trade, and collect NFTs with peace of mind.</p>
<ul>
<li>Creative Coder Meet Up and Sharing, supported by Tezos (30 September 2022, 4-5 pm)</li>
</ul>
<p>The Tezos ecosystem continuously seeks to educate, enable and empower artists. What better way to do so then to encourage a tight-knit community of passionate individuals?</p>
<p>At the Creative Coder meet-up, creatives will be immersed in a vibrant environment where they can connect with each other and share their hard-earned knowledge, skills, and experience. For any artists with a budding or established interest in creative coding, this will be a valuable opportunity to make genuine connections with other passionate artists seeking to improve their craft.</p>
<h3 id="tezos-artists-at-cawa-2022">Tezos artists at CAWA 2022</h3>
<p>CAWA 2022 is organized by the one and only George Galanakis, also known as radarboy3000. George is an experimental new media artist, who is well-known in the South East Asian art scene. He’s also been a long-time supporter of the Tezos ecosystem and has played a significant role in building up its vibrant art scene. With George at its helm, it isn’t surprising that CAWA has attracted an incredibly deep talent pool that calls Tezos home, including some of our #StarsofTZAPAC!</p>
<p>Some of these artists include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Arya Mularama (<a href="https://twitter.com/gogoporen">Gogoporen</a>)</li>
</ul>
<p>Gogoporen’s work sits at the intersection of where dark meets light, balancing his vibrant pop culture style with underlying themes of mental illness. Inspired by his anxiety, his art speaks to the duality of human nature.</p>
<p>CAWA attendees will be delighted to hear that the ticket is a unique beautiful NFT profile picture designed by Gogoporen.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1/6 <br><br>You may have seen his stellar works displayed during the Singapore Art Week and in other global exhibitions, but <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DYK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DYK</a> that the very popular <a href="https://twitter.com/gogoporen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gogoporen</a> was once an NFT skeptic?<br><br>In this week’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarsofTZAPAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StarsofTZAPAC</a>, we find out more about his inspirations: <a href="https://t.co/n9L22OfYKF">https://t.co/n9L22OfYKF</a> <a href="https://t.co/GExSGGGDif">pic.twitter.com/GExSGGGDif</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1550395332432801792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/cslim_aiart">CS Lim</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Hailing from South Korea, CS Lim is an AI developer who seeks to share with us through art a glimpse of the secret world that he sees through the eyes of AI. Inspired by vast and mysterious concepts of the universe that modern physics explores, CS Lim expresses the idea of the multiverse. A true trailblazer, Lim’s bold work is rapidly gaining renown within the Tezos NFT ecosystem.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/cslim_aiart?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cslim_aiart</a> was an engineer developing AI for 10 years, working on fields like autonomous driving and blockchain. In 2020, he moved towards a new calling: NFTs.<br><br>Fast forward to today, his art is set to be featured at the world’s leading art fair <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtBasel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArtBasel</a> HK.<br>Here is his story: <a href="https://t.co/fWwWMKYB4V">pic.twitter.com/fWwWMKYB4V</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1528640686379114497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/jakestudyos">Jakestudyos</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Jakestudyo’s work embodies a story of inspiration, hope, and healing. Growing up in the Phillippines, his bold and unapologetic artistic style is shaped by ubiquitous street art from unconformist visionaries who use the world as their canvas. Diagnosed with depression, Jakestudyos uses his art as self-expression and to communicate his mental health journey, pouring his heart and soul into playful yet thought-provoking visual pieces and flowing poetry verses.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇵🇭 He hails from the streets of Manggahan in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Philippines?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Philippines</a><br>🎨 Took to art and writing to heal from dysthymia<br>🌐Thrives in a supportive and strong <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFT</a> community<br><br>Let’s usher in the Easter weekend with a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarsofTZAPAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StarsofTZAPAC</a> feature on the one and only <a href="https://twitter.com/jakestudyos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jakestudyos</a>👇 <a href="https://t.co/Myi7Kbhnsd">pic.twitter.com/Myi7Kbhnsd</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1514505021437911040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Other talented artists on the Tezos ecosystem that will be at CAWA 2022 include:</p>
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<h3 id="live-music-performances-and-art-battles">Live Music Performances and Art Battles</h3>
<p>Don’t forget to put your dancing shoes on! With an incredibly eclectic lineup that promises to keep us moving all night long, CAWA 2022 captivates us with the latest rhythm and riffs in the world of sound.</p>
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<div class="carousel-caption">CAWA Opening Party, 6:00 PM Weds Sep 28: Not to be missed, as we start CAWA off with a bang, featuring the deepest of deep house. </div>
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<div class="carousel-caption">Luminescence, 6.00 PM Thurs Sep 29: Lasers, experimental sound, and generative data combine into a crypto performance with radarboy3000, Mantravine, featuring Rupak and Mischief Makers.</div>
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<div class="carousel-caption">Secret Walls, 7:00 PM Thurs Sep 29: The world-famous paint battle Secret Walls comes to the shores of Singapore for the very first time! Artists will go head-to-head in a 2 vs 2 freestyle battle featuring local artists, Ceno2, Slac Satu, Antz, and Arya Mularama. DJ Vandal helms the deck for Secret Walls - expect an eclectic mix of hip-hop and breaks!</div>
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From Token2049 to F1 : What the Tezos Ecosystem Is up to at Asia Crypto Week
<h2 id="the-streets-of-singapore-will-be-buzzing-during-the-week-of-26-september-the-formula-1-singapore-gp-is-back-after-two-years-token2049-makes-its-debut-in-the-lion-city-and-crypto-art-week-asia-promises-to-be-yet-another-stellar-festival-of-art-music-and-experiences-the-tz-apac-team-looks-forward-to-celebrating-this-momentous-week-with-the-artists-entrepreneurs-developers-and-leaders-flying-in-from-all-over-the-world-for-asia-crypto-week">The streets of Singapore will be buzzing during the week of 26 September. The Formula 1 Singapore GP is back after two years, TOKEN2049 makes its debut in the Lion City and Crypto Art Week Asia promises to be yet another stellar festival of art, music and experiences. The TZ APAC team looks forward to celebrating this momentous week with the artists, entrepreneurs, developers and leaders flying in from all over the world for Asia Crypto Week.</h2>
<p>TOKEN2049, FIL-Singapore Summit, Crypto Art Week Asia, Formula 1 Singapore GP — the upcoming week is packed with exciting events for Web3 and beyond. Singapore is all set to gather world leaders, crypto entrepreneurs, VCs, artists and investors based in town and abroad.</p>
<p>The Web3 community will have unlimited opportunities to build new relationships and explore game-changing collaborations at a host of events that the Tezos ecosystem in Asia will be participating in and organizing. From exclusive dinners with crypto’s favorite celebrities and exquisite Formula One hospitality, to insightful artist workshops and web3 community lunches, here is what you can look forward to:</p>
<p><img src="/images/from-token2049-to-f1-what-the-tezos-ecosystem-is-up-to-at-asia-crypto-week-1.jpeg" alt="TOKEN2049"></p>
<p><strong><em>Find out more about <a href="https://www.asia.token2049.com/">TOKEN2049</a> and <a href="https://www.cryptoartweekasia.com/">Crypto Art Week Asia</a> on their respective websites</em></strong>.</p>
<h3 id="token2049-28-30-september">TOKEN2049 (28-30 September)</h3>
<p><img src="/images/from-token2049-to-f1-what-the-tezos-ecosystem-is-up-to-at-asia-crypto-week-2.jpg" alt="TOKEN2049-1"></p>
<h5 id="image-taken-from-the-token2049-website">Image taken from the <a href="https://www.asia.token2049.com/">TOKEN2049</a> website</h5>
<p>What happens when you put crypto’s brightest minds and most influential figures within an environment jam-packed with a host of workshops, meetups, and networking events?</p>
<p>An abundance of innovation and collaboration is what we are predicting. The TZ APAC team will be complementing the high-level conversations and brainstorming sessions at the TOKEN2049 main conferences with the following activities:</p>
<ul>
<li>Tezos Lounge at Marina Bay Sands (28 September)</li>
</ul>
<p>The Tezos Lounge located at Marina Bay Sands will provide the Web3 community with a conducive, closed-door space to network, collaborate and brew the next game-changing partnership. Visitors to the Tezos Lounge can look forward to treats such as exclusive Tezos t-shirts designed by popular Indonesian Artist Arya Mularama and Formula 1 merchandise.</p>
<ul>
<li>TZ APAC Community Lunch and Mixer (29 September)</li>
</ul>
<p>Artists, developers and friends of the Tezos ecosystem across Asia flying in for Asia Crypto Week will be hosted at a scrumptious lunch at Thirty Six Brewlab and Smokehouse.</p>
<ul>
<li>Champ Medici Sushi Pop Up (29 September)</li>
</ul>
<p>The Champ Medici Sushi Pop Up hosted by Gushcloud and Tezos will gather some of the region’s top Web3 leaders, investors and tastemakers. Guests can look forward to rubbing shoulders with renowned crypto entrepreneur and influencer <a href="https://twitter.com/champmedici">Champ Medici</a>. In addition to being a serious NFT collector, he’s fully immersed himself in the Web3 world - having consulted for high-profile projects such as Moonpay, The Sandbox, and Snoop Dogg’s Web3 ventures. The event is also organized in conjunction with RAPPU Handroll Bar, one of Singapore’s trendiest sushi hand roll restaurants.</p>
<ul>
<li>Champ Medici VIP Networking Party (30 September)</li>
</ul>
<p>The TZ APAC team and its guests will also be participating in the Champ Medici VIP Networking Party at the Mandala club. The party will feature The Last Generation Immersive Experience as well as Champ Medici and Snoop Dogg’s NFT Gallery.</p>
<h3 id="dataverse-x-tezos-panel-discussion---at-the-cultural-frontier-art-on-the-blockchain-27-september-355--435pm">Dataverse x Tezos Panel Discussion - At the Cultural Frontier: Art on the Blockchain (27 September, 3.55- 4.35pm)</h3>
<p>Part of the larger FIL-Singapore Summit, The Digital Identity & Art Renaissance Forum on 27 September will feature a number of talks, including a segment hosted by Tezos artists.</p>
<p>Described as the Web3 Pinterest with a strong focus on data sovereignty, Dataverse allows you to access and curate all your favorite NFTs in one place. This allows for cross-chain integration across 6 different major blockchains - Tezos of course being one of them. Dataverse has invited artists in the Tezos ecosystem to host a panel discussion titled “At the Cultural Frontier: Art on the Blockchain”.</p>
<p>Moderator <a href="https://twitter.com/claracxw">Clara Peh</a> is a curator in both the non-digital and NFT art spaces, and is founder of artist-led nonprofit community NFT Asia. She will be joined by digital art aficionado <a href="https://www.warrragwag.com/about">warrragwag</a>, as well as the stellar generative artist <a href="https://twitter.com/ComboRandom">Random Combo</a>.</p>
<p>They’ll be talking about the inspiration behind their work, their methodology, and experiences with the Tezos blockchain and community. With Clara’s deep insight, warrragwag’s bold work with abstract art and architectural visualization, as well as Random Combo’s expertise with generative systems, participants can look forward to an action-packed panel discussion!</p>
<h3 id="crypto-art-week-asia">Crypto Art Week Asia</h3>
<p>For one spectacular week, artists from all over the continent will come together to exhibit their work, share their process, and connect with others in the field. This is a rare opportunity to see some of the most innovative and exciting work being created in the emerging field of Crypto Art, so join us in supporting the artists involved.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crypto Art Week Asia showcases the latest and greatest in crypto art from across Asia. <br><br>This year, <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tzapac</a> will be hosting three events at <a href="https://twitter.com/cryptoartasia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cryptoartasia</a> across 28 to 30 September. <br><br>Find out more 👇 <a href="https://t.co/OmwvVOII0C">pic.twitter.com/OmwvVOII0C</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1572525315041423361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Here are the activities we will be putting together:</p>
<ul>
<li>Tezos presents: Generative Art Lecture by radarboy3000 (28 September 2022, 4-5pm)</li>
</ul>
<p>There’s something special about generative art. The artist’s role is more like that of a conductor, orchestrating different codes to create the final work. In this lecture, the founder of CAWA, experimental new media and generative artist <a href="https://twitter.com/radarboy3000">radarboy3000</a> shares valuable insights and insider tips on how he makes his pieces come alive with such clarity. There will also be a Q&A session, where artists and fans may learn more about his process and views on NFT art.</p>
<ul>
<li>Tezos presents: “Provenance in NFTs and upgrades”, a lecture by Ruanth Chrisley Thyssen (29 September 2022, 4-5pm)</li>
</ul>
<p>Provenance has always been a critical part in the world of non-digital art. But what does that look like in the world of digital art and NFTs?</p>
<p><a href="https://ruanth.com/">Ruanth Chrisley Thyssen</a> is a 1x Oscar Nominated, 2x BAFTA Nominated Sound Designer, and has long been involved in the world of NFTs. This promises to be a fascinating talk exploring the cutting edge of digital art preservation.</p>
<ul>
<li>Creative Coder Meet Up and Sharing, supported by Tezos (30 September 2022, 4-5pm)</li>
</ul>
<p>The Tezos ecosystem continuously seeks to educate, enable and empower artists. At the Creative Coder meet-up, creatives, coders, and creative coders will get together to connect, and share their knowledge, skills, and experience in order to create amazing forms of art. Newer code artists can also get more deeply involved within the community, and learn more from what seasoned coders have to share.</p>
<h3 id="f1-grand-prix">F1 Grand Prix</h3>
<p><img src="/images/from-token2049-to-f1-what-the-tezos-ecosystem-is-up-to-at-asia-crypto-week-3.jpg" alt="TOKEN2049-2"></p>
<p>After two years, The Formula 1 Singapore GP is back. There is clearly no better way to Asia Crypto Week than with one of the most thrilling races in the calendar. Friends of the Tezos ecosystem will be hosted at the Formula One paddock Club, for the McLaren Formula 1 Experience. They’ll be in the thick of the action during this race weekend, enjoying exclusive tours of the garage, exquisite cuisine and unique insights into race strategy.</p>
<p>In anticipation of the Grand Prix, the Tezos ecosystem across Asia will be hosting social media campaigns to reward followers with exclusive McLaren Racing Merchandise.</p>
<p>Stay tuned to <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac">TZ APAC Twitter</a> for more updates in the build up to the race weekend.</p>
Merdekaverse: Celebrate Malaysia’s Independence Day in the metaverse
<h2 id="on-31-august-2022-malaysia-will-celebrate-its-65th-independence-day-in-the-metaverse-welcome-to-the-merdekaverse">On 31 August 2022, Malaysia will celebrate its 65th Independence Day in the metaverse. Welcome to the <em>Merdekaverse</em>.</h2>
<p>The <a href="http://merdekaverse.com"><em>Merdekaverse</em></a> is the world’s first national day metaverse festival, hosted on <a href="https://www.ministryxr.com/">Ministry XR</a>’s <a href="https://www.xanadu.asia/">Xanadu</a> metaverse platform.</p>
<p>Ministry XR is a company advancing how humanity learns, works, and plays through spatial computing.</p>
<p>Part agency and part lab, the team behind Ministry XR is also responsible for pushing the boundaries of what the metaverse can provide communities. In its early stages, Xanadu benefited from a Tezos Ecosystem Growth Grant (EGG) that helped the team fund development and create a virtual space that today can host a landmark event at scale.</p>
<p>Behind Xanadu is the idea that everyone should experience a ‘new freedom’ – the freedom to express themselves online through live events, festivals, and interactions in a user-friendly way.</p>
<p>Through these types of interactions, the team behind the project hopes to build a thriving community. To Joseph Anthony, Chief Experience Officer of Ministry XR, the <em>Merdekaverse</em> festival is a tangible expression of cultural identity and community brought to life.</p>
<p><img src="/images/merdekaverse-malaysias-independence-day-in-the-metaverse-1.jpg" alt="Joseph Anthony"></p>
<h5 id="joseph-anthony-chief-experience-officer-at-ministry-xr">Joseph Anthony, Chief Experience Officer at Ministry XR</h5>
<p><em>“Merdeka”</em> is a word in Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia meaning “independent” or “free”.</p>
<p>According to Joseph, the concept of the metaverse is still unknown to most Malaysians, and the team from Ministry XR wanted to create something that had mass appeal.</p>
<p>“To do just that, we created <em>Merdekaverse</em> - a metaverse festival with huge Malaysian names, games, and art that draws upon nostalgia, pride, and typical Malaysian-ness,” said Joseph.</p>
<p>“It makes me realize that we can actually be a part of a bigger picture, finally”, he says.</p>
<h3 id="merdekaverse--malaysias-big-day-online"><em>Merdekaverse</em> – Malaysia’s big day online</h3>
<p>At its heart, the <em>Merdekaverse</em> festival is a fully immersive event bursting with national pride. Over three weeks (from 25 August to 16 September), participants can join in a wealth of unique experiences in Xanadu.</p>
<p>On the eve of 31 August, at 12am sharp, Xanadu City will undergo a magical transformation into “Merdeka City”.</p>
<p>Partygoers can expect a huge parade starting at noon on Independence Day. They’ll get to walk with Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, traveling in his 1951 Nash Rambler.</p>
<p>After the huge live event, everyone will head down to Xanadu’s superb seaside venue, Xanadu Beach. There, they’ll be treated to a landmark concert by Malaysia’s own music royalty, a ‘virtual’ Dato Sudirman.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the Sudirman portion of the festival is also quite exclusive – only 200,000 visitors will be ‘admitted’ at any one time.</p>
<p><img src="/images/merdekaverse-malaysias-independence-day-in-the-metaverse-2.png" alt="Dato Sudirman"></p>
<h5 id="catch-malaysian-icon-dato-sudirman-at-xanadu-beach-during-the-world-first-merdekaverse-festival">Catch Malaysian icon Dato Sudirman at Xanadu Beach during the world-first Merdekaverse festival.</h5>
<p>Throughout the three-week festival, visitors can log in anytime and participate in games where they can win Tezos coins. Visitors can take their coins to the NFT gallery in-world and become a patron of the arts by purchasing original NFT artworks and collectibles.</p>
<p>To wrap things up, Xanadu Beach will host a mega party with Xanadu’s very own resident DJ creation - DJ Raohu.</p>
<p>Joseph says, “she’s a tiger mom by day, and she plays house at night. Abide by her rules or suffer a night of boredom”.</p>
<p>“Oh, we also created an original song with her!”</p>
<p>Joseph says that one of the key differences in the experience of celebrating in a metaverse environment like Xanadu is the sheer range of activities on offer.</p>
<div class ="pull-out-quote">
<blockquote>There’s engagement right from the start in the city with a parade to get you hooked. Then Tunku Abdul Rahman takes you to the square where a celebration happens. Then straight to a concert at the beach. All the while, you’re right there as it happens, live. You could never do this in real life. </blockquote>
<br>
<br>
</div>
<h3 id="the-metaverse-and-malaysia--made-for-each-other">The metaverse and Malaysia – made for each other</h3>
<p><img src="/images/merdekaverse-malaysias-independence-day-in-the-metaverse-3.jpeg" alt="Merdekaverse 2"></p>
<p>The rise of the metaverse provides a wealth of opportunities for the region and Malaysia in particular. From emerging digital artists to developers looking to create authentic and immersive experiences for new audiences, Malaysia’s journey into virtual worlds is just getting started.</p>
<p>“The metaverse isn’t just the future - it’s now”, says Joseph. “Malaysia has a diverse collection of content that will be able to have new life in the metaverse. Artists, entertainers, and content creators will be able to create their own economy in ways not possible now.”</p>
<p>As for Xanadu, Joseph says he hopes the community uses the platform to help creativity and entertainment thrive.</p>
<p>“Our metaverse will be a special place that is constantly growing and making content richer for the world.”</p>
<p>To enter the <em>Merdekaverse</em>, click here: <a href="http://merdekaverse.com">merdekaverse.com</a></p>
17 Indonesian NFT artists across 17 different cities pay tribute to their nation on 17th August
<h2 id="17-artists-across-17-cities-on-17-august">17 artists. Across 17 cities. On 17 August.</h2>
<h2 id="some-of-indonesias-stellar-creators-have-gathered-to-produce-breathtaking-pieces-of-art-on-tezos-as-a-tribute-to-their-nation-for-its-77th-independence-day-in-a-campaign-jointly-organized-by-idnft-and-tz-apac">Some of Indonesia’s stellar creators have gathered to produce breathtaking pieces of art on Tezos as a tribute to their nation for its 77th Independence Day in a campaign jointly organized by IDNFT and TZ APAC.</h2>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-1.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>From the action-packed metropolis of Jakarta, and the tranquil mountainous surroundings of Batu to the culturally rich province of Jambi and the thriving port city of Makassar, the Tezos ecosystem in Indonesia is rife with magnificent creative talent.</p>
<p>To commemorate Indonesia’s 77th Independence Day, TZ APAC and <a href="https://www.idnft.id/">IDNFT</a> <strong>have</strong> partnered to celebrate this momentous occasion through an important pillar of the nation’s culture: Art.</p>
<p>In the build up to 17 August, a roster comprising 17 of the country’s brightest artistic minds across 17 cities have been curated by IDNFT, all of whom have created breathtaking artwork on Tezos around the theme: “<strong>optimism and a renewed spirit</strong>”.</p>
<p>Here are their stories:</p>
<h3 id="puspa-harsono-blitar">Puspa Harsono, Blitar</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-2.jpg" alt="Puspa Harsono"></p>
<p>Storyteller, fiction writer, visual artist, and voice talent <a href="https://twitter.com/puspaharsono">Puspa Harsono</a> hails from Blitar. She hopes to inspire artists worldwide with her whimsical, naturalist illustrations.</p>
<p>Her inspiration comes from the people of her hometown and her passion for nature - a hallmark of Indonesia that is well-known globally.</p>
<p>“I want people to embrace nature because it is damaged,” she urges. “And if we don’t do something, humans, animals, and plants will lose their homes.”</p>
<p>“The city of Blitar is the City of the Proclaimer, where the First President of the Republic of Indonesia is buried. Of course, I inherited his fighting spirit to continue to build and inspire everyone,” she continues.</p>
<p>“I am in this city trying to continue to provide all the knowledge I have in the world of non-formal education, namely studios and tutoring. Hopefully there will be future generations who are competent not only in the academic field but also in non-academic fields.”</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-3.jpg" alt="Puspa Harsono Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Puspa Harsono - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1WJ2HH16erJbVToX5x18UQiXFxpiKNTus3/2">"Synergy of hope"</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">4/4 Eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>Puspa describes her Independence Day artwork – <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1WJ2HH16erJbVToX5x18UQiXFxpiKNTus3/2">Synergy of hope</a> – as a symbol of walking through the past with the goal to build a better future for Indonesia.</p>
<p>“With our synergy with nature and the history of our ancestors, the good wishes that we pray for every day and the things we execute will all be beautiful and good in time,” the artist explained in her <a href="https://twitter.com/puspaharsono/status/1556904031423188993?s=20&t=E2ksSTTHgl3oXjet4BMfaQ">Twitter thread</a>.</p>
<p>Her art aims to depict “the spirit of freedom” and recovering faster and rising stronger.</p>
<p>According to Puspa, NFTs are not widely known in her hometown yet, but the movement is fast-growing as it is driven by a “solid community that helps people strengthen each other.”</p>
<h3 id="ghulam-rock-malang">Ghulam Rock, Malang</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-4.png" alt="Ghulam Rock"></p>
<p><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/ghulamgrax">Ghulam Rock</a> (aka Ghulam Grax) is a digital illustrator based in Malang, East Java. He is the CEO of a successful studio that produces illustrations, packaging design, and motion graphics.</p>
<p>His art is mainly inspired by Chris Wahl, an Australian digital illustrator known for his comic and fantasy art, including animation work on <em><strong>Iron Giant, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and Wreck it Ralph</strong></em>.</p>
<p>Ghulam said his personal work, a fusion of pop and comic art, has flourished due to increased government, community, and industry support for the arts in recent years. He also mentioned artists have been receiving more opportunities facilitated by the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-1"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-32.png" alt="Ghulam Rock Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Ghulam Rock - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1NaUvNeBP8EzhCyTsbmYZSTmM3yRzs4YP7/3">"Synergy of Hope"</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">4/4 eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>Ghulam welcomes the creation of NFTs – especially this 17 August – in the spirit of community and collaboration.</p>
<p>Ghulam believes the Indonesian NFT art scene is growing, though there is room for improvement. His message to other artists is, “Do it yourself. Don’t make others restless. Bring your art to the community and sell it. But remember you are not rich yet!”</p>
<h3 id="paldipaldi-bandung">Paldipaldi, Bandung</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-5.jpg" alt="Paldipaldi"></p>
<p>Otherwise known as Faldian Irfandi, <a href="https://twitter.com/paldipaldi">Paldipaldi</a> is a graphic designer and illustrator with eclectic tastes in film, literature, TV, music, and art. He grew up in Bandung, a city with a thriving art and design scene he says left an indelible impression on him.</p>
<p>Other influences include his father, and his love for childhood comic books and cartoons that now informs his artistic style. When he’s not creating NFTs, he applies his design talents to t-shirts, stickers, posters, and mobile phone cases.</p>
<p>As a keen observer of daily life, he takes everyday moments and mixes them with crazy ideas. He then adds the surrounding details in his outline drawing style.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-2"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-6.jpg" alt="Paldipaldi Art"> <br>
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Paldipaldi - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1ApNuBjoccaLZs5SBU6ioQ1oNudEyF8ttj/5">"Ghost - 17Agustusan"</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">"Keep fighting! I've got your back!"</h5>
<h5 class="caption">30/30 eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>For this national day of pride, Paldipaldi’s theme is fighting spirit.</p>
<p>“I’m trying to send the message that, no matter how many times we fall, standing up is the best way to fight. I think this is a perfect message for everyone, especially those who live in Indonesia. No matter what you have or are going through, keep fighting!”</p>
<p>According to Paldipaldi, the Indonesian NFT scene right now is “surprising and amazing”.</p>
<p>“Many artists are coming to the surface to show their art, which is great. It’s not just the famous ones. There are so many artists I haven’t heard of showing their beautiful art in many genres and styles.” he says.</p>
<p>Furthermore, he feels that the Tezos ecosystem is the “perfect place” to begin selling art, especially in the NFT space.</p>
<p>“You can learn a lot about how to deliver and promote your art and also meet good friends that can help take your art to a higher level. But the most important thing is that, as Tezos is quite affordable, we can respect and support our fellow artists by purchasing and sharing each other’s art.”</p>
<h3 id="mismar___-salatiga">Mismar___, Salatiga</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-7.jpg" alt="Mismar___"></p>
<p>Describing himself as a ’naive’ artist, <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/Mismar___">Mismar___</a> has gained recognition in the NFT world for his contemporary surrealist works depicting ghosts, monsters, and mystical concepts in vibrant primary colors.</p>
<p>His commitment to producing digital art that causes no environmental harm attracted him to Tezos, as the network’s low carbon footprint was part of his clean crypto mandate.</p>
<p>He cites his greatest inspiration as Henry Mattise’s cutout paper and childish paintings, from which he developed his own style that he continues to adapt.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-3"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-8.jpg" alt="Mismar___ Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Mismar__ - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1TmShRyBqLcGTNP8ACbntCTyBJwzeouCK5/47">'100% Merdesa'</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">3/3 Eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>“This day is 100% about <em><strong>Merdeka</strong></em> (the Indonesian word for independence), and my art is 100% about independence and prosperity. As they say in Indonesia – <em><strong>Merdeka atau mati</strong></em> (Independence or death)!“</p>
<p>According to the artist, the Indonesian NFT scene is crowded, but there is a well-established community. The community has helped him by providing exposure and the ability to reach collectors from the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<h3 id="reyhan-alfarabby-pratama-padang">Reyhan Alfarabby Pratama, Padang</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-9.jpg" alt="Reyhan Alfarabby Pratama"></p>
<p>Born in Padang, West Sumatra, <a href="https://twitter.com/reyhanapratama_">Rey</a> is a graphic design creator, illustrator, and award-winning photographer who cites his birthplace as the source of nourishment that fuels his art, brain, and soul.</p>
<p>Rey is a multi-faceted character – he has a degree in Agricultural engineering and Biosystems, and works in marketing and public relations in the arts.</p>
<p>He is inspired by artists such as Affandi, Salvador Dali, and Hayao Miyazaki.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-4"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-10.jpg" alt="Reyhan Alfarabby Pratama Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Rey - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/766229">Frame on our desk</a>
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<h5 class="caption">8/8 eds</h5>
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</p>
<p>Rey’s piece is intended to convey the soul of diversity. His Independence Day artwork titled ‘<a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/766229">Frame on our desk</a>’ is a tribute to seeing photos of family and friends at the desk, becoming a supplement to life after being in difficult times.</p>
<p>Rey said that the Indonesian NFT art scene is “very powerful right now”, with the diversity of the Tezos ecosystem allowing him to continue to create art, and even make a living out of it.</p>
<h3 id="fierza-garut">Fierza, Garut</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-11.jpg" alt="Fierza"></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/fierzafajri">Fierza Fahmi Fajri</a> took up photography as a hobby in his hometown of Bandung, not realizing he was on his way to a successful career behind the lens.</p>
<p>His first foray into the professional world was photographing music concerts and theater shows. Like many artists, he has many strings to his bow, which includes wedding, product and brand photography, and more recently, journalism and documentaries.</p>
<p>His greatest inspiration is Ansel Adams, the American landscape photographer and environmentalist famed for his black-and-white American West photos and founder of Group f/64, a collective of photographers who favored sharp focus and full tonal range.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-5"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-12.jpg" alt="Fierza Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Fierza - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/766199">Broken dreams</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">10/10 eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>Fierza wanted to convey that the word ‘Merdeka’ today differs from when Bung Karno and Bung Hatta read the proclamation.</p>
<p>According to him, “Independence today means being able to work freely. I hope that this year Merdeka is not only about freedom of work but also about building self-confidence in a wider space.”</p>
<p>His Independence Day artwork ‘<a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/766199">Broken dreams</a>’ illustrates that there are people standing in the midst of destruction, and “being independent in Indonesia is as difficult as surviving against the world, always being met with difficult choices.”</p>
<p>However, it is still possible for dreams to come true despite the struggles.</p>
<p>Fierza says that Indonesia’s culture of togetherness can be seen in the many communities and NFT activists connecting with each other every day.</p>
<p>He adds that with the rise of blockchain technology and the Tezos ecosystem, art no longer only belongs to those who go to art school or display their works in galleries, but is now accessible to all.</p>
<p>“More Indonesian artists are gaining recognition in the NFT world. The Tezos ecosystem is a great platform for those starting out.”</p>
<h3 id="yusufdesi9n-makassar">Yusufdesi9n, Makassar</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-13.jpg" alt="Yusufdesi9n"></p>
<p>NFT creator, logo designer, illustrator and graphic designer Muh Yusuf Aulia Ramadhan (aka <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/yusufdesi9n">Yusufdesi9n</a>), was born in Makassar City.</p>
<p>He says growing up in the iconic cultural center has broadened his world perspective and laid the creative foundations for his abstract, anime-adjacent illustrations.</p>
<p>“The inspiration for my characters is a collaboration between robots and monsters,” he explains.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-6"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-14.jpg" alt="Yusufdesi9n Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Yusufdesi9n - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1RVLBmsoHdQwJwYqBbFwyXwjKGGxyQPVPC/7">Strength From Within</a>
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<h5 class="caption">10/10 eds</h5>
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</p>
<p>Yusufdesi9n’s Independence Day artwork – ‘<a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1RVLBmsoHdQwJwYqBbFwyXwjKGGxyQPVPC/7">Strength From Within</a>’ aims to tell the audience that everyone has “an extraordinary potential within themselves.”</p>
<p>He believes that strength and enthusiasm will be enhanced when accompanied by science, and it can support the nation and its advancements.</p>
<p>“I want to tell everyone they have extraordinary potential within themselves. I also want to break down people’s concept of ‘can’t’ when creating art. I also want to acknowledge Indonesia’s history of great strength in fighting for independence since 17 August 1945,” he said.</p>
<p>“I’d like us to reflect on the character of our nation’s heroes. We are individuals who embody that character, and it shows in Indonesia’s amazing artists and creative people producing great works of art for the wider world.”</p>
<p>Yusufdesi9n is impressed by how the Tezos ecosystem supports artists to share and grow together based on their experiences.</p>
<p>According to him, “the platform supports artists to share and grow together based on their experiences. It also provides collaboration opportunities between those new to NFTs and more experienced creators. My presence in this world is not because I walk alone, but because I meet other great artists and experience their spectacular works.”</p>
<h3 id="simboliatt-nusa-tenggara-timur">Simboliatt, Nusa Tenggara Timur</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-15.jpg" alt="Simboliatt"></p>
<p><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/simboliatt">Simboliatt’s</a> hails from Denpasar and Lombok, and his abstract, tribally inspired works are fast gaining momentum on the Tezos blockchain’s NFT platform.</p>
<p>His works are inspired by his everyday musings, with designs depicting dragons, devils, gods, and mortals locked in struggles for the soul, and esoteric concepts such as the juxtaposition of hatred and kindness.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-7"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-16.jpg" alt="Simboliatt Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Simboliatt - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1A6rrr7GH1un823bYPJcS8sib2z4YshvNL/26">Fosy</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">20/20 eds</h5>
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</p>
<p>Simboliatt says that it’s important to keep your spirits high, and always face things – whether bad or good.</p>
<p>His message for the Indonesian creative community is to “keep the spirit, be confident, and not give up on their work.” The message is especially apt at a time when the NFT community in Indonesia is booming.</p>
<p>“The NFT art community is getting bigger and the Tezos ecosystem has created good times and opened opportunities for small artists and creators,” Simboliatt added.</p>
<h3 id="addien-fachruroji-jakarta">Addien Fachruroji, Jakarta</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-17.jpg" alt="Addien Fachruroji"></p>
<p>Illustrator and 3D modeler <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/addienfch">Addien’s</a> NFT art is a mash-up of anime and robotics. His inspiration, however, comes from a more traditional source – Jakarta and its rich tapestry of history, people, and culture.</p>
<p>“As the capital city of Indonesia, it’s easy for people from different regions to gather, adapt and evolve into something new,” he explains.</p>
<p>He also draws inspiration from concept artist Bryanlie, streetwear brand <a href="https://www.machine56.com/info">machine56</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotaro_Ishinomori">Shotaro Ishinomori</a>, a Japanese manga, anime and tokusatsu artist famous for Cyborg 009, Super Sentai and Kamen Rider.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-8"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-18.jpg" alt="Addien Fachruroji Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Addien - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/766438">RE:BORN</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">17/17 eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>Addien says that his Independence Day piece is about having freedom as a creator, and he wants to tell his audience to not be afraid – “just draw!”</p>
<p>He is also positive about the NFT ecosystem in Indonesia, citing its richness and uniqueness.</p>
<p>“The Tezos NFT movement is a sketchbook platform for creators that has provided a foundation for them to pour out their idealism,” he says.</p>
<h3 id="jajang-febriyanto-jajangstd-sidoarjo">Jajang Febriyanto (JajangStd), Sidoarjo</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-19.jpg" alt="Jajang Febriyanto"></p>
<p>Home for <a href="https://twitter.com/jajangstd">Jajang</a> is Bantarbarang, a remote village and the birthplace of Indonesia’s national hero, General Sudirman.</p>
<p>Encouraged by teachers and family to explore his love of drawing, he studied fine arts in university. Now a successful creator in the Tezos ecosystem, he hopes to pass on his experience and inspire up-and-coming artists to do the same.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-9"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-34.gif" alt="Jajang Febriyanto Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">JajangSTD - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT18pbePhRZyhT4TvAwjCAsgrnAMkVNXumpc/13">"OTOK OTOK”</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">17/17 eds</h5>
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</p>
<p>Jajang has created a piece of art that embodies the spirit of rising and fighting “like our heroes who fought for the unity of the Indonesia nation.”</p>
<p>He shared that he speaks through his art, and the Tezos blockchain has created a “solid NFT community” in Indonesia, which is still growing each day.</p>
<h3 id="lolmbrill-batu">Lolmbrill, Batu</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-20.png" alt="Lolmbrill"></p>
<p>Also known as <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/lolmbrill">Mbrill</a>, the anime and cartoon creator from Malang City in East Java says his work is partly inspired by childhood memories of Disney, Looney Tunes, and Tom and Jerry cartoons.</p>
<p>His early work was stylistically similar to <strong><em>The Simpsons</em></strong> and <strong><em>Futurama</em></strong>, but he gravitated to the rubber hose animation technique over time. The technique was pioneered in 1930s America, and is defined by curvy lines and classic Max Fleischer characters such as Felix the Cat and Betty Boop.</p>
<p>It is also the hallmark of the artist’s signature character, Boney. “He is a representation of my childhood. Boney loves to draw. So in all my work, he is always there,” he says.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-10"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-21.png" alt="Lolmbrill Art">
<div class ="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Lolmbrill - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/766527">Spirit of Heroes</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">Never give up, and Keep Fighting for your dreams.</h5>
<h5 class="caption">17/17 eds</h5>
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</p>
<p>For Independence Day, Lolmbrill created a piece that embodies the spirit of rising up and fighting, like the “heroes who fought for the unity of the Indonesian nation.”</p>
<p>“Merdeka! Like our Indonesian heroes who never gave up, we must be strong and better at all times,” he says.”</p>
<p>According to Mbrill, more Indonesian artists are exploring NFTs, with more and more fellow artists and communities supporting each other everyday.</p>
<p>“For me, Tezos is home because it’s where I started my NFT journey. I am happy to have made friends with artists and collectors from the Tezos ecosystem.”</p>
<h3 id="mukhlis-absart-jambi">Mukhlis ABSart, Jambi</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-22.jpg" alt="Mukhlis ABSart"></p>
<p><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/absart6">Mukhlis</a> grew up in the small village of KP Baru, in Indonesia’s Jambi province. He had little exposure to art, but has now become a rising star in the NFT community.</p>
<p>Mukhlis’ vibrant, kaleidoscopic pieces are inspired by cubist and surrealist artists, and Aliran, a Malaysian reform movement advocating for social justice.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-11"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-35.png" alt="Mukhlis ABSart Art"></p>
<h5 class="caption">Mukhlis - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1E8gYV4aJQi3WoRLMcEj2XTq1r23Bvz1pa/11">"Rupa Rupa Indonesia"</a>
</h5>
<p>Mukhlis shared that his Independence Day artwork aims to showcase respect for the Indonesian heroes.</p>
<p>On the topic of art and NFTs, Mukhlis says that the art world in Indonesia is fast-growing, and that the Tezos community is very helpful</p>
<p>“One of the main benefits I get from being part of this community is that I get to know artist friends from all over Indonesia.”</p>
<h3 id="nxrmal-majalaya">NXRMAL, Majalaya</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-23.jpg" alt="NXRMAL"></p>
<p>The origin of <a href="https://twitter.com/nxrmalist">NXRMAL’s</a> psychedelic artworks and animations are stories collected from a nomadic and difficult childhood.</p>
<p>Originally from Nepal, his education was limited due to finances and his mother’s death when he was young. Choosing to find inspiration in his life journey has empowered him to triumph over adversity through his art.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-12"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-24.jpg" alt="NXRMAL Art">
<div class="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">NXRMAL - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1DJyahd73TRwHPdaQNCDSuDpo9hp45VxpK/40">RISE SANG SAKA!!!</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">We will never fall. We must always be on top.</h5>
<h5 class="caption">17/17 eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>NXRMAL says that his Independence Day artwork was created to describe the passion burning in Indonesia, including how the nation struggled to achieve independence and face modernization.</p>
<p>“There is still a long way to go, but with a sense of difference, we are united. Don’t stop trying to get better. We must keep fighting.”</p>
<p>The artist said that the country now has many NFT artists and communities with their own styles and characteristics.</p>
<p>“They support each other in different ways. The Tezos ecosystem was the start of my NFT journey and their events introduced me to new people, creators, and collectors. It comes with a strong community and has paved the way for creators to thrive.”</p>
<h3 id="mamedz-purwakarta">Mamedz, Purwakarta</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-25.jpg" alt="Mamedz"></p>
<p><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/mamedzproject">Mamedz</a>, aka Achmed Muhammad Jamal, is a Bandung-based illustrator whose designs draw from traditional Indonesian art.</p>
<p>He cites <a href="https://tenhundredart.com/">Ten Hundred</a>, a Seattle-based painter, muralist and designer, as one of his key inspirations.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-13"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-26.jpg" alt="Mamedz Art">
<div class="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Mamedz - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1UFG16gZs81bSmRSzS9bA16KtFUJeZqfMo/7">THE APPARANCE SERIES || THE ASSISTANCE OF UNITY</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">17/17 eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>Mamedz wants to share via his artwork that unity is the key and “with trust and hope, we can all become something.”</p>
<p>When asked about the Indonesian NFT scene, he said that it is “absolutely amazing right now”.</p>
<p>“Thanks to the Tezos ecosystem and NFTs, I have been able to become something, and I can pay for medication for my son.”</p>
<h3 id="aphrodita-wibowo-tangerang">Aphrodita Wibowo, Tangerang</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-27.jpg" alt="Aphrodita Wibowo"></p>
<p><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/wibowoaphrodita">Aphrodita</a> is best known for her colorful craft creations. Born and raised in Rembang, a small town beyond the reach of technological advances and artistic trends, Aphrodita said that she was fortunate her parents exposed her to art.</p>
<p>But it wasn’t until studying arts and culture in Yogyakarta that she decided to fully immerse herself in the art world. “It strengthened my heart, and now it is my future,” she says.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-14"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-28.jpg" alt="Aphrodita Wibowo Art">
<div class="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Aphrodita Wibowo - <a href="https://twitter.com/WibowoAphrodita/status/1557183685535100929?s=20&t=HPkeV4WVxcQMYV3_PbtUeA">Kita!</a>
</h5>
<h5 class="caption">17/17 eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>Aphrodita wants to remind people of memories from their childhood.</p>
<p>“Childhood is the best time to be free and have fun. We make friends with anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, caste. We all play together,” she said.</p>
<p>“For craftsmen like me, independence means being able to freely follow your heart. Everyone has their own life conditions and situations. Being able to work according to your passion is a privilege. That is independence.”</p>
<p>Aphrodita is proud that there are many Indonesian artists whose names and works are well known in the NFT world.</p>
<p>“I always thought living in a developing country would mean I was always behind in some ways, but that’s not how it is with NFTs. Not only is the work diverse, but so are the people. I have met many NFT artists with no previous art background and the family and friendships I have made are solid. We help and support each other through shilling spaces and posts, and use platforms such as Discord to share our NFT experience and knowledge.”</p>
<h3 id="akira-surabaya">Akira, Surabaya</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-29.jpg" alt="Akira"></p>
<p>Little is known about the mysterious <a href="https://twitter.com/Akira_nft">Akira</a> – apart from the fact he hails from Surabaya, and he creates enigmatic dreamscape works he says are partly inspired by fellow Indonesian NFT creator <a href="https://twitter.com/benangbaja">BenangBaja</a>.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-15"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-30.jpg" alt="Akira Art">
<div class="list-caption">
<h5 class="caption">Akira - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1C8GgGoT8qzCge2VUa6yaKcdTj542LpwAi/33">Creative Warrior</a>
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<h5 class="caption">10/10 eds</h5>
</div>
</p>
<p>His works convey the freedom of making art.</p>
<p>“If we stay free in making works of art we can advance the creative industry in Indonesia to the international scene.”</p>
<p>Furthermore, he added that artists in Indonesia are “creative fighters who have a fighting spirit to support other creative fighters in Indonesia.”</p>
<p>This speaks volumes about his thoughts on the NFT community in Indonesia, which Akira says is “great”.</p>
<p>“We help each other out and, together, we are getting bigger. I started on Tezos, and have learnt a lot about blockchain and NFTs from the Tezos art community. It is like home for me.”</p>
<h3 id="irham-catur-prasetya-purwokerto">Irham Catur Prasetya, Purwokerto</h3>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-31.jpg" alt="Irham Catur Prasetya"></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/igamagi__?t=E4doHGcv9QvqI_FjsmXf-Q&s=0">Irham</a> started sketching plants to help her mother recall their names and characteristics while working in her family’s garden nursery in her hometown of Purwokerto.</p>
<p>She fell in love with the intricate world of plants and bugs, and hopes one day to use her drawings to create a plants and bugs encyclopedia. She loves spending time in her garden and nature, and cites Alphonse Mucha’s timeless art nouveau as a work that inspires her time after time.</p>
<h4 id="art-and-independence-day-16"><strong>Art and Independence Day</strong></h4>
<p><img src="/images/17-indonesian-tezos-nft-artists-pay-tribute-to-their-nation-33.png" alt="Irham Catur Prasetya Art">
<h5 class="caption">Irham - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1P1v6poYw19zFF7CHPTuw3tvM8xGRHCgNt/31">Persatuan | Unity</a>
</h5>
</p>
<p>Irham has introduced the concept of kindness via her floral illustrations, with a touch of the nation’s colors of red and white.</p>
<p>Her inspiration is her mother, who always said that being kind does not have any requirements and everyone deserves it.</p>
<p>“I also want to say keep your chin up, soldier on, and the world’s weight will never put your knees to the ground.”</p>
<p>Irham says that the NFT community in Indonesia is really supportive.</p>
<p>“Even if there are ups and downs, people keep pushing each other. I can’t believe we have so many amazing artists in our beloved country. Tezos is quick to give us the latest NFT news, which is really informative and helpful.”</p>
Exploring Asia’s Web3 gaming potential with leading blockchain consultant Leah Callon-Butler
<h2 id="web3-gaming-is-a-growing-application-of-blockchain-technology-that-is-transforming-the-video-game-industry-and-creating-a-new-gamer-economy-where-people-can-play-to-earn-and-genuinely-own-and-leverage-digital-collectibles-related-to-a-game">Web3 gaming is a growing application of blockchain technology that is transforming the video game industry and creating a new gamer economy, where people can ‘play-to-earn’ and genuinely own and leverage digital collectibles related to a game.</h2>
<p>What does the financialization of computer gaming mean for how developers and gamers create value for each other?</p>
<p>TZ APAC speaks with industry stalwart Leah Callon Butler, director at Emfarsis, an advisory and investment firm focused on Web3 innovation for social impact. Leah is also a Coindesk opinion columnist and the writer and narrator of the viral mini-documentary <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/PLAYTOEARNGAMING">Play-to-Earn: NFT Gaming in the Philippines</a>.</p>
<p><img src="/images/exploring-asias-gamefi-potential-with-leading-blockchain-consultant-leah-callon-butler-1.jpg" alt="Leah Callon Butler moderating at Consensus 2022"></p>
<h5 id="leah-callon-butler-moderating-at-consensus-2022-presented-by-coindesk-austin-convention-center-austin-texas-usa---10-jun-2022-photo-credit-coinbase--photo-by-dylan-johnson">Leah Callon Butler moderating at Consensus 2022 presented by CoinDesk, Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas, USA - 10 Jun 2022. Photo credit: Coinbase / Photo by Dylan Johnson</h5>
<h3 id="a-multi-billion-dollar-industry-in-asia">A multi-billion-dollar industry in Asia</h3>
<p>Gaming is already a multi-billion-dollar industry across the Asia-Pacific region, and more than half of the world’s three billion gamers reside in APAC.</p>
<p>In-game purchases are not new, given the recent strong growth in mobile gaming across Asia, many of which embrace a ‘freemium’ model. However, blockchain is driving gaming innovation through economic incentives for players.</p>
<p>Blockchain-driven Web3 gaming is an innovative approach to monetizing gaming. It not only supports in-game purchases but empowers gamers through verifiable ownership of in-game assets that can be on-sold or traded on secondary markets, and the capacity to earn crypto rewards that can be exchanged for other cryptocurrencies or fiat currency.</p>
<p>Expert blockchain consultant Leah believes Web3 gaming play-to-earn games will increase income-earning opportunities for people in emerging nations of Southeast Asia — in the same vein as Web2 innovations like the freelance marketplace Fiverr and ride-sharing and delivery app Grab.</p>
<p>“Web3 will advance these concepts to ensure that the people who bring value to these platforms, communities, and economies are properly rewarded for the investment of their time, skill, and advocacy,” Leah said.</p>
<p>Leah said the nascent Web3 gaming sector could radically alter the socio-economic trajectory of many Asian countries and she was bullish on its long-term potential, although it has challenges to overcome — including concerns about play-to-earn being exploitative or scammy.</p>
<h3 id="how-nft-gaming-is-changing-game-development">How NFT gaming is changing game development</h3>
<p>More than half of the decentralized app industry activity is attributable to gaming, with more than <a href="https://dappradar.com/blog/dappradar-crypto-games-report-5-blockchain-games-continue-to-defy-the-bear-market#A16z">US$4.9 billion invested</a> in blockchain gaming already in 2022.</p>
<p>Developers are eagerly exploring the use of blockchain and NFTs in gaming for financial gain —through transaction fees and the market value of a game’s native coin— but also as a means to engage and reward active and loyal players.</p>
<p>Some key considerations for successfully developing games on the blockchain include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Building on a network that balances decentralization, scalability, and security, such as the Tezos blockchain: enabling fast, cheap and sustainable transactions so the game’s economy can expand rapidly without making costs exorbitant.</li>
<li>Carefully planning a game’s tokenomics, and the utility, scarcity, and originality of digital collectibles that support game-play to ensure the demand for, and value of, tokens and assets can grow.</li>
</ul>
<p>Web3 gaming apps may simply incorporate crypto rewards and NFT sales, or be more fully decentralized, such as being governed by a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) that gives players some control over the rules, rewards, and fees within a game.</p>
<p>Leah said that, like in many industries disrupted by blockchain, the decentralization of ownership and governance in gaming would encounter pushback from some traditional companies due to the threat to existing business models.</p>
<p>“But eventually, they get on the ‘innovate or die’ train and try to avoid their own Kodak Moment. Decentralization, at some level, is inevitable in my eyes,” she said.</p>
<p>In relation to blockchain infrastructure, Leah said it was important to think about reducing the friction that many users have come to expect from blockchain products and platforms, and striving towards an interconnected economy across all games.</p>
<p>“I want to live in a multi-chain world where the different features of different blockchains are all appreciated, while infrastructure that is built for interoperability allows us to enjoy the best of all worlds, and UX/UI makes us feel like it’s all totally seamless,” she said.</p>
<p>“I believe it’s Web3 gaming that will drive this forward for the rest of the industry because gamers really expect and demand this kind of simplicity, throughput, interoperability, and so on.”</p>
<p>She said NFT game developers had a headstart on envisioning and building an open metaverse.</p>
<p><img src="/images/exploring-asias-gamefi-potential-with-leading-blockchain-consultant-leah-callon-butler-2.jpg" alt="Leah Callon Butler moderating at Consensus 2022"></p>
<h5 id="leah-callon-butler-moderating-at-consensus-2022-presented-by-coindesk-austin-convention-center-austin-texas-usa---10-jun-2022-photo-credit-coinbase--photo-by-dylan-johnson-1">Leah Callon Butler moderating at Consensus 2022 presented by CoinDesk, Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas, USA - 10 Jun 2022. Photo credit: Coinbase / Photo by Dylan Johnson</h5>
<h3 id="how-are-economic-incentives-influencing-gamers">How are economic incentives influencing gamers?</h3>
<p>NFT gaming is the most dominant category of decentralized application in terms of usage, according to <a href="https://dappradar.com/blog/dappradar-x-bga-blockchain-games-report-january">data from DappRadar</a>, with some of the most popular games attracting millions of daily active users.</p>
<p>Typically, players earn a game’s native token through winning battles, completing quests or doing in-game tasks and can also earn rewards through staking tokens.</p>
<p>Players can acquire in-game assets and resources through buying, trading, or winning non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that can represent avatars, characters, skills, weapons, and virtual real estate.</p>
<p>In her role as a filmmaker, Leah took an in-depth look at how NFT gaming in the Philippines helps people supplement their income, typically as a side hustle.</p>
<p>She said many Filipino play-to-earn gamers were skilled in using a range of Web3 technologies and took a strategic approach to optimize core gaming mechanics like creating new NFT assets (known as breeding or crafting), which can accrue transaction fees.</p>
<p>“So, for example, they’d get up at 2am on a Sunday to execute their breeding strategy because they’d recognized that it was the most cost-efficient time to do it.</p>
<p>“These players are extremely sophisticated, and I think that’s one of the most fascinating aspects of this phenomenon, given that (previously) no one had expected these rural populations within emerging nations to be able to develop these kinds of advanced web3 skills.”</p>
<p>Leah said that although some in the mainstream gaming community were against play-to-earn because they argue that fun should not be monetized — the truth is that all games are monetized.</p>
<p>“The only difference in web3 is ‘who’ is able to capture that value and become rightful part-owners in the platform.”</p>
<p>She said that, unlike mature, much-loved AAA games, NFT gaming was still being pioneered and would initially attract gamers who appreciate the relatively novel concept of digital property ownership.</p>
<p>“The people who play these games will be looking for something different than what they can get in a AAA game, that is, the ability to become part-owners in the virtual worlds and communities that they are helping to build. Which is also why the creators of blockchain games today needn’t waste too much of their time attempting to convert those who are opposed to their ideas.</p>
<p>“People are spending more and more of their time online, and our identities are becoming increasingly digital, so eventually, I think people will realize that there is value in being able to ‘own’ your virtual property.</p>
<p>“The concept of digital property ownership is fundamental to Web3 and the open metaverse, but I think today, the normie/noob realm is still mostly stuck in a “right click and save” loop.”</p>
<h3 id="how-can-people-get-paid-to-play-and-build-blockchain-games">How can people get paid to play and build blockchain games?</h3>
<p><img src="/images/exploring-asias-gamefi-potential-with-leading-blockchain-consultant-leah-callon-butler-3.png" alt="Leah Callon Butler moderating at Consensus 2022"></p>
<h5 id="image-credit-dogami">Image Credit: <a href="https://dogami.com/">Dogami</a></h5>
<p>To benefit from blockchain games’ money incentives, players need to set up a compatible cryptocurrency wallet that connects to their chosen game — to both purchase coins or NFTs required to join a game and to manage rewards.</p>
<p>As well as exploring games that interest them, gamers need to weigh up the risks of their investment against each game’s earning potential. They should also consider the time and effort required to make a profit and the overall viability and security of the project.</p>
<p>Some trending games built on the secure and energy-efficient Tezos network include:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://dogami.com/">DOGAMI</a>: Where players raise virtual NFT puppies, nurturing them to adulthood through training, customizations, and challenges within the ‘Petaverse.’</li>
<li><a href="https://tezotopia.com/">Teztopia</a>: A real-time space adventure strategy game where players battle, collect NFTs and claim land</li>
<li><a href="https://playwithbrio.com/">Play with Brio</a>: The first eSports skill-based game on the Tezos blockchain that lets players win crypto in head-to-head matches of classic cards and word games.</li>
<li><a href="https://emergentstcg.com/">Emergents</a>: A trading card game where players build a deck of unique characters set in the Emergents Universe of superheroes.</li>
<li><a href="https://stoneage.originx.games/">StoneAge</a>: A virtual world where Stone Age culture comes to life, where players form clans and perform world-building tasks like farming and building shelters.</li>
</ul>
<p>Joining a gaming guild also has the potential to boost earnings. Guilds bring multiple players and their digital assets together so new players can lend community assets to earn yields, based on a profit-sharing arrangement.</p>
<p>For developers interested in launching games on the Tezos blockchain, support is available through the <a href="https://gaming.tezosindia.org.in/">Tezos India Game Launchpad</a>, including grants valued at $10,000 and access to incubation programs with TZ APAC.</p>
<p>Additionally, a new decentralized marketplace for NFT games being built on the Tezos blockchain called Game Geeks is currently seeking to collaborate with individual developers or teams globally, to help them bring their games or concepts to the blockchain through its <a href="https://gamegeeks.notion.site/gamegeeks/DevGeeks-Program-b001896e73f2448e83b995fc3527f0d8">DevGeeks program</a>.</p>
<p>Whether you’re a gamer or a game developer, it’s the ideal time to embrace the potential of blockchain technology in creating a virtuous circle of value and a new gamer economy.</p>
NFTs are creating a splash in China's art scene
<p>In 2021, Chinese singer A Duo hit the headlines for <a href="https://nftevening.com/a-duo-nft-drop-stirs-up-chinese-market/">raising $47,000 at an auction</a> by selling a non-fungible token (NFT) of a song.</p>
<p>The rise of NFTs represents a real opportunity for Chinese artists to leverage technology to connect directly with fans and collectors while dramatically increasing their earning potential.</p>
<p>The Tezos ecosystem’s flourishing artistic community and commitment to growing blockchain adoption in Asia is also supporting the growth of NFT art in the world’s most populous nation.</p>
<h3 id="the-creative-and-market-potential-of-chinas-nft-art-scene">The creative and market potential of China’s NFT art scene</h3>
<p>A 2020 <a href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1210841.shtml#:~:text=The%202020%20Chinese%20Musician%20Report,income%20from%20music%20in%202020">Chinese Musicians Report</a> found that less than half of Chinese musicians make any income from their music, a situation that’s likely familiar for artists across many disciplines.</p>
<p>While A Duo was already a high profile musician, her successful NFT song sale reflects the new power of the creator economy — where audiences will clamor for desirable digital content produced by independent artists, designers, musicians, writers, and celebrities.</p>
<p>Consequently, NFTs are emerging as a key way for Chinese artists at all levels to monetize their content and make meaningful connections with their fans.</p>
<p>Asia’s appetite for digital collectibles is strong, and despite regulatory caution, including a government ban on cryptocurrency, NFT art has already escaped obscurity in China.</p>
<p>In March 2021, <a href="https://jingculturecommerce.com/ucca-lab-virtual-niche-nft-exhibition/">UCCA Lab</a>, an offshoot of China’s foremost contemporary art museum, held what was described as “the world’s first major institutional crypto-art exhibition” titled Virtual Niche: Have You Ever Seen Memes in the Mirror?</p>
<p>The UCCA NFT exhibition showcased the works of over 60 artists, including pieces by Beeple, hot on the heels of the artist’s record-breaking $69 million NFT sale at Christie’s auction house — which was a global milestone in the rise of NFTs.</p>
<p>NFT art continues to gain momentum through significant real-world exhibitions across Chinese territories, such as <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/pioneering-nft-artists-set-to-illuminate-art-basel-hong-kong-2022/">Art Basel Hong Kong</a>, and through branded displays and collaborations, in line with a burgeoning local online market for NFT collecting.</p>
<h3 id="tezos-artist-community-in-china-finds-an-audience-via-nfts">Tezos artist community in China finds an audience via NFTs</h3>
<p>Artists are boosting their careers, and China’s art scene more broadly, by minting and selling NFTs on Tezos.</p>
<p>One of China’s top NFT creators, <a href="https://twitter.com/song11ting">Song Ting</a>, helped to develop the open source community in China and began curating exhibitions to showcase local blockchain-based culture in 2019.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Next up, we have a trailblazing <a href="https://twitter.com/Forbes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Forbes</a> 30 Under 30 artist who curated China’s first auctioned <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFT</a> in traditional auction houses. The beauty of her work is a result of a marriage of three worlds: blockchain, AI and art. <br><br>Presenting an icon of the Chinese art space -<a href="https://twitter.com/Song11Ting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Song11Ting</a>! <a href="https://t.co/RvSu6DNNaA">pic.twitter.com/RvSu6DNNaA</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1528934960702398465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>Her artwork — which uses NFTs, animation, and AI to breathe new life into traditional imagery and topics from Chinese literature — has generated significant interest in China. In fact, she made history by achieving the first sale of a blockchain-based artwork via a traditional Chinese auction house.</p>
<p>Ting’s preference for the Tezos blockchain is due to its colorful ecosystem and her desire to promote clean NFTs.</p>
<p>“As an ambassador of <a href="https://www.olymp-arts.org/index/Index/about_us.html">International Olymp’Arts</a>, I needed to find a more sustainable and energy-friendly way to create digital artworks. ‘NFTs for good’ is very important to me, so Tezos was a logical choice.”</p>
<p>Beijing-based algorithmic artist, <a href="https://twitter.com/reva_fyw">Reva</a>, transitioned from working as a software engineer to becoming a full-time creative in late 2018, with her main source of income now being NFT sales.</p>
<p>She also co-founded <a href="https://www.weirdao.io/">WeirDAO</a>, a collective predominantly comprised of China-based NFT artists, designed to encourage peer-to-peer communication and collaboration.</p>
<p>“It’s important for artists to help each other. Especially at this stage.”</p>
<p>Reva said the evolution of NFTs enabled Chinese artists to expand their horizons, support each other through art focussed ecosystems like Tezos, and forge new relationships with collectors.</p>
<p>“It also allows collectors to collect the artworks they like. This allows the diversity of art to develop. And it may bring a new aesthetic to digital art.”</p>
<p>Chinese NFT artist, <a href="https://twitter.com/riniifish">Riniifish</a> — known for her animated pieces that convey a tiny yet vibrant universe of bugs — believes the Chinese market may take a bit longer to embrace more diversity in aesthetics, as many are still wary of taking a chance on crypto-art.</p>
<p>“That being said, the NFT community in China is getting bigger and bigger, and there are some awesome artists that I know here who are very talented. They keep their minds open, which is very cool,” Riniifish said.</p>
<p>She said minting NFTs has helped her grow in her identity as an artist and gain more opportunities, such as a collaboration with a fashion brand and an upcoming solo exhibition in Milan, Italy.</p>
<p>Riniifish highlighted the Tezos ecosystem’s friendly community vibe that encompassed a mix of art styles and world views: “In this community, we put aside our prejudices and experience a beautiful paradox of embracing individuality while blending the West and the East.”</p>
<h3 id="marketplaces-and-blockchain-development-fuel-the-growth-of-nfts-in-china">Marketplaces and blockchain development fuel the growth of NFTs in China</h3>
<p>In some respects, the Chinese Government has been at the forefront of blockchain application through its development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) known as the digital yuan.</p>
<p>However, the country’s ban on cryptocurrency transactions and trades makes buying and selling digital collectibles more limited. Still, an increasing number of marketplaces cater to creators and collectors.</p>
<p>Some major tech companies involved in China’s NFT space, like JD.com, Baidu and Alibaba affiliate Ant Group, have <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3184021/china-nfts-tencent-and-ant-group-join-industry-pledge-ban">committed to a range of self-regulation measures</a>, such as requiring real-name authentication and only supporting legal tender for sales.</p>
<p>Another government-backed initiative that will expand access for Chinese NFT artists and collectors is the Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN). This public-private nationwide infrastructure project will support the deployment of applications built on public chains to spur mass adoption of the technology across China.</p>
<h3 id="tezos-ecosystem-supporting-chinas-growth-in-the-nft-space">Tezos ecosystem supporting China’s growth in the NFT space</h3>
<p>Advancing the Tezos ecosystem in Asia is also fostering the growth of Chinese NFT art.
For example, cultivating the talent of China-based teams building on the Tezos blockchain through various grants has helped drive innovative projects that support a flourishing arts scene. For instance, the NFT art curation and universal identity platform <a href="https://dataverse.art/">Dataverse</a>, which has seen more than 60 million data streams created since its launch.</p>
<p>There are also plans for Tezos NFTs to feature in a number of significant events on the Chinese arts calendar, such as <a href="https://www.photofairs.org/">Photofairs Shanghai</a> and displays held in the <a href="http://www.westbund.com/en/">West Bund</a> cultural district, bringing digital assets into the physical world.</p>
<p>Despite the regulatory barriers to blockchain and NFTs in China, there’s clearly booming interest in the exploration of the technology — being led by creatives, developers, and collectors on the Tezos blockchain, helping democratize the art scene.</p>
These are the top tools for new Tezos NFT Creators in Asia
<h2 id="are-you-starting-to-explore-the-wonderful-world-of-tezos-nfts-this-handy-list-has-you-covered-from-educational-projects-to-creation-tools-and-more-asias-blockchain-innovators-have-created-the-tools-you-need-to-get-started">Are you starting to explore the wonderful world of Tezos NFTs? This handy list has you covered. From educational projects to creation tools and more, Asia’s blockchain innovators have created the tools you need to get started.</h2>
<h3 id="educational-nft-resources">Educational NFT Resources</h3>
<h4 id="salamax-cutie">Salamax Cutie</h4>
<p><a href="https://objkt.com/profile/tz1Q5GufoThBFaS5HPBWusXcLu1AGUHRAHkc/created">Salamax Cutie</a> is an art collective of students and young professionals that aims to use poetry as a form of entertainment and a platform for education. This community-driven project inspires individuals through passion-driven programs, initiating charitable acts, and promoting art as a career.</p>
<p>The project provides a wealth of knowledge that helps Filipino artists to kickstart their careers in the NFT space. Programs such as workshops, seminars, physical events, art exhibits, artist hubs, and apprenticeships are all part of the mix.</p>
<p>Importantly, Salamax Cutie wants to produce not just artists but promote an artistic culture within the country.</p>
<h3 id="data-management-and-tracking-tools">Data management and tracking tools</h3>
<h4 id="dataverse">Dataverse</h4>
<p><a href="https://dataverse.art/">Dataverse</a> is a private space for managing cross-chain metaverse assets, including NFTs, POAPs (proof of attendance protocols - a new way of keeping an immutable record of your life experiences, including virtual and in-person events), and social relations. The goal of the platform is to build a secure cyberspace where users take control of their data as well as a composable data infrastructure.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Introducing the newly-launched <a href="https://twitter.com/DataverseArt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DataverseArt</a> - the first secure personal space for the Metaverse. Helping users to control their online digital persona in one place, it works like a personal museum and information aggregator for cross-platform and cross-chain content management. <a href="https://t.co/CJhOOzkDLl">pic.twitter.com/CJhOOzkDLl</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1534460768439402497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>The project is the brainchild of OwnershipLabs from China. Dataverse supports the curation of a user’s NFTs across numerous marketplaces, including Opensea, Objkt.com, and MagicEden.</p>
<p>Part personal museum and part information aggregator for cross-platform and cross-chain content management, Dataverse is a powerful offering for those interested in adding an additional layer of security and ease to their NFTs online.</p>
<p>What’s more, the Dataverse app sits as an extension in Chrome – what could be easier than that?</p>
<h4 id="nftscan">NFTScan</h4>
<p><a href="https://www.nftscan.com">NFTScan</a> is a professional NFT explorer and analytics platform, which will soon onboard the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p><img src="/images/these-are-the-top-tools-for-new-tezos-nft-creators-in-asia-1.jpg" alt="NFTScan"></p>
<h5 id="credit-nftscan">Credit: NFTScan</h5>
<p>As of the end of June 2022, the Open API platform launched by NFTScan has accumulated over 1000 developer registered accounts. The platform’s vision is to provide developers with secure and stable data services, and users with concise and efficient retrieval services for NFT related data.</p>
<h3 id="nft-creation-tools">NFT creation tools</h3>
<h4 id="sweatynft">SweatyNFT</h4>
<p><img src="/images/these-are-the-top-tools-for-new-tezos-nft-creators-in-asia-2.jpg" alt="Sweaty NFT"></p>
<h5 id="credit-sweaty-nft">Credit: Sweaty NFT</h5>
<p>If you’re an artist about to launch your NFT career but don’t know how to get started, SweatyNFT has your back. <a href="https://sweatynft.com/">SweatyNFT</a> is an all-in-one, no-code NFT toolset for artists.</p>
<p>The team behind the platform noticed that there was a serious lack of tools that artists can use to generate images without coding skills. With SweatyNFT, artists don’t have to interact with code in order to make a generative collection and set traits.</p>
<p>According to founder Sarisa Kojima, the team behind SweatyNFT started out wanting to support the ‘creator economy’, but found there weren’t enough tools to support new artists. Instead of waiting for someone else to build them, Kojima and her co-founders decided to do it themselves. The team received a TZ APAC Ecosystem Growth Grant (EGG) and got to work.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“I was a full time artist before becoming an NFT artist. The moment I sold my first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFT</a> changed how I valued myself as an artist. NFTs enable artists to gain absolute freedom.” - <a href="https://twitter.com/SarisaKojima?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SarisaKojima</a> on being an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFTartist?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFTartist</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/creatoreconomy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#creatoreconomy</a> and, building on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tezos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tezos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarsofTZAPAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StarsofTZAPAC</a> <a href="https://t.co/4zGkqwOPp0">pic.twitter.com/4zGkqwOPp0</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1509757371077201928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>Smart Contract and cross-chain compatibility are a must for creators, and SweatyNFT is striving to meet the needs of the entire NFT community, especially in the areas of character and skin generation for the Metaverse.</p>
<p>The Tezos FA.2 contracts integration is currently under development and will be available soon. In addition to Smart Contract deployment, SweatyNFT is also releasing a ‘Lazy Minting’ widget for artists’ websites.</p>
<h4 id="sphereart">Sphere.ART</h4>
<p>One of the winners of the inaugural TezAsia Hackathon in 2021, <a href="https://sphere.art/howitwork">Sphere.ART</a> has taken a unique approach to the concept of an NFT marketplace.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1/<a href="https://twitter.com/SphereART_NFT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sphereart_NFT</a> is a perfect example of how ideas can evolve into a full-fledged Web3 solution after a hackathon. <br><br>This week’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarsofTZAPAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StarsofTZAPAC</a> are co-founders <a href="https://twitter.com/maadhav_sharma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@maadhav_sharma</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KunalJa93189148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KunalJa93189148</a> who were participants in last year’s TezAsia. <br><br>Here is their story: <a href="https://t.co/LoQKZ02Flx">pic.twitter.com/LoQKZ02Flx</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1540263002473402368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>The platform allows creators, designers, and developers to mint original 3D sphere NFTs on the Tezos blockchain. The platform’s unique functionality allows users to move the camera to orbit around each 3D Sphere NFT. This gives the users freedom to look around the NFT and have a close-to real-life three-dimensional view, playing with the concept of how art is viewed in virtual space.</p>
<p>The platform’s 3D Sphere Art Editor allows creators to craft their original work without the need for complex 3rd party software or powerful machines to assist in rendering the design. Easy to learn and to use, the editor also auto-saves all your work, so you’ll never accidentally lose your original work.</p>
<h3 id="nft-marketplaces">NFT Marketplaces</h3>
<h4 id="akaswap">akaSwap</h4>
<p><img src="/images/these-are-the-top-tools-for-new-tezos-nft-creators-in-asia-3.jpg" alt="akaSwap"></p>
<h5 id="credit-akaswap">Credit: akaSwap</h5>
<p><a href="https://akaswap.com/">akaSwap</a> is a friendly, open and green NFT platform based on Tezos. On akaSwap, everyone can easily create, trade, and collect various NFT from all over the world. Founder <a href="https://twitter.com/IOivm">Aluan Wang</a> is a veteran digital artist based in Taiwan, and akaSwap represents a logical progression for Wang from artist and community leader to marketplace creator.</p>
<p>akaOBJ is a word coined by the platform to refer to an NFT minted on akaSwap. NFTs on akaSwap can be anything including pictures, videos, sounds, and visual arts. Users enjoy unlimited trades and also earn akaDAO – an FA2l token related to the platform.</p>
<h4 id="kalamint">Kalamint</h4>
<p><img src="/images/these-are-the-top-tools-for-new-tezos-nft-creators-in-asia-4.jpg" alt="Kalamint"></p>
<h5 id="credit-kalamint">Credit: Kalamint</h5>
<p><a href="https://kalamint.io/">Kalamint</a> is the first community-driven NFT marketplace on the Tezos blockchain. The team behind Kalamint is extremely sensitive to their community’s needs and has launched new features like an auction feature to answer community requests.</p>
<p>The platform allows users to both mint and trade NFTs, benefiting from Tezos’ lower gas fees compared to other leading blockchains. The platform is free and connects easily with Temple wallet.</p>
Mental health, Marvel comics and 90s culture: Meet Indonesian artist Gogoporen
<h2 id="indonesian-artist-arya-mularma-known-as-gogoporen-hails-from-jakarta-and-uses-marker-pens-acrylics-and-watercolors-to-create-drawings-influenced-by-comic-books-skateboard-culture-and-90s-culture">Indonesian artist Arya Mularma, known as Gogoporen, hails from Jakarta and uses marker pens, acrylics, and watercolors to create drawings influenced by comic books, skateboard culture, and 90s culture.</h2>
<p><a href="https://objkt.com/profile/gogoporen/created">Gogoporen</a> has been drawing since he was a youngster, but it’s only been in the last few years following the NFT revolution that he has been able to make a living from his art.</p>
<p>“Art was never a full-time thing for me,” he says, “I was working in the advertising industry, but I got tired of the never-ending deadlines and long hours, and so I quit my job and decided to put more effort into my art.”</p>
<p>Gogoporen began exhibiting his work in group shows and doing murals for brands. He later returned to a less-demanding advertising role which still gave him time for his nascent art career.</p>
<p>“I was able to pursue my passion and keep things in balance – working on my art for various community projects and within the skateboarding scene as well as keeping a day job.”</p>
<h3 id="inside-gogoporens-work">Inside Gogoporen’s work</h3>
<p><img src="/images/mental-health-marvel-comics-and-90s-culture-meet-indonesian-artist-gogoporen-3.webp" alt="Gogoporen - Galan’s Hunger"></p>
<h5 id="gogoporen---galans-hunger">Gogoporen - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/498209">Galan’s Hunger</a></h5>
<p>Gogoporen says anxiety and his questioning of existence feed the themes of his work, which combines pop culture references with allusions to mental illness. But there’s always a colorful, fun approach that helps viewers see his work without feeling too gloomy.</p>
<p>“The inspiration for my work comes from everywhere; it could be a song, a picture, or a feeling or quote,” he says. “But mostly it happens when I am alone, and my brain is in overdrive.”</p>
<p>He says he was aware of NFTs for a few years before taking the leap and joining the world of NFT art.</p>
<p>“I was a skeptic at first, but then some friends started making them and I got curious.” Back then, he says, the NFT world was exclusive, and artists needed invitations to join the networks, but this has changed with the rise of Tezos and the ecosystems around it, he adds.</p>
<p>It was May 2021 when he finally took the leap into the world of NFTs – but for a fairly mundane reason: “I needed money to buy a PS5.”
He initially joined Hic et Nunc (HEN) after asking friends and colleagues about the best way to start minting NFTs. “Also, the gas fees on the Tezos blockchain are very low,” he says.</p>
<p>“After I joined HEN, I was blown away by how supportive the Tezos community is. I was just starting out and only had a few followers on my Twitter, but the Tezos community helped me grow my followers and allowed my artwork to gain more recognition.”</p>
<p>Gogoporen has sold over 5,000 NFTs on the Tezos blockchain, while his <a href="https://objkt.com/collection/gogos">GOGOS</a> collaboration with artist <a href="https://twitter.com/0x00000010?lang=en">0x10</a> was made up of 5,555 editions and sold out in less than three hours from going live with a stealth drop. “There was no marketing and we kept it secret until it was time to mint.”</p>
<p>Since then, Gogoporen has exhibited at Singapore Art Week alongside many other artists working in the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p>His NFT work, Galan’s Hunger, depicted a Marvel Comics supervillain who is known to swallow whole planets lying in his path. “It was intended to reflect the seemingly unstoppable surge of cryptocurrency in general and NFTs in particular.”</p>
<p><img src="/images/mental-health-marvel-comics-and-90s-culture-meet-indonesian-artist-gogoporen-2.webp" alt="Gogoporen & 0x10 - GOGO#3090"></p>
<h5 id="gogoporen--0x10---gogo3090">Gogoporen & 0x10 - <a href="https://objkt.com/asset/gogos/3090">GOGO#3090</a></h5>
<p>His advice for up-and-coming NFT artists is simple and refreshing, saying all they need to do is keep creating, stay healthy and stay sane.</p>
GeckoCon 2022: Asian artists in the world of NFTs on Tezos
<h2 id="tz-apacs-head-of-marketing-jivan-tulsiani-discussed-all-things-art-with-three-outstanding-asian-creators-in-the-tezos-ecosystem-at-geckocon-2022">TZ APAC’s Head of Marketing Jivan Tulsiani discussed all things art with three outstanding Asian creators in the Tezos ecosystem at GeckoCon 2022.</h2>
<p><a href="https://events.hubilo.com/geckocon-2022/home">GeckoCon 2022</a> – The Decentralized Future – was held on 14 to 15 July, and aimed to bring participants up to speed on how Web3 will empower the decentralized future.</p>
<p>The event was graced by some of the biggest names in the Web3 space – from exchanges and venture capitals, to GameFi projects and NFT artists – with Tezos as a silver sponsor.</p>
<p>The panel discussions helmed by thought leaders and innovators from across the blockchain sphere were chock full of insights and information on how Web3 will impact the future of the Creative Economy, Finance, Governance, Business and more.</p>
<p>TZ APAC’s Head of Marketing, Jivan Tulsiani, moderated the panel “Asian Artists in the World of NFTs” with artist Bjorn Calleja, Teia Community representative and artist MuMu, as well as Sweaty Labs Co-founder Sarisa Kojima.</p>
<p>Read on to delve into insights on all things art and NFTs from these highly-regarded artists in the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<h3 id="an-introduction-to-the-speakers">An introduction to the speakers</h3>
<p><img src="/images/geckocon-2022-asian-artists-in-the-world-of-nfts-on-tezos-3.webp" alt="Bjorn Calleja, Jivan Tulsiani, Bottom L-R: Mumu, Sarisa Kojima"></p>
<h5 id="top-l-r-bjorn-calleja-jivan-tulsiani-bottom-l-r-mumu-sarisa-kojima">Top L-R: Bjorn Calleja, Jivan Tulsiani, Bottom L-R: Mumu, Sarisa Kojima</h5>
<p><a href="https://linktr.ee/bjorncalleja">Bjorn Calleja</a> is a visual artist who hails from Manila, Philippines. He shared that he is mostly a painter, but dabbles in sculpting, installations, as well as animations which he mints as NFTs.</p>
<p>Sarisa Kojima is a multidisciplinary artist who is of Thai and Japanese descent. She is also the co-founder of <a href="https://sweatynft.com/">SweatyNFT</a>, an all-in-one, no-code NFT toolset for artists.</p>
<p><a href="https://linktr.ee/mumu_thestan">Munira Humzah</a>, AKA MuMu, is a Malaysian visual artist and poet who creates pixel art and animation. She told the panel that she dabbles in a lot of various art forms, but most people in the NFT world would know her for her pixel art.</p>
<h3 id="q-how-did-you-get-started-on-tezos">Q: How did you get started on Tezos?</h3>
<p><strong>MuMu</strong>: I initially started minting my art on Ethereum in February 2021, but as we all know, the carbon footprint and energy usage is very high, and that’s when I started looking into alternatives.</p>
<p>I got invited into a Discord group on <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/clean-nfts-provide-financial-security-for-taco-bunny-artist-mumu/">clean NFTs</a>, and an artist there was minting on Tezos, which caught my interest, and so I made the shift to Tezos too.</p>
<p><strong>Bjorn</strong>: I started minting on Hic et Nunc (HEN) in March 2020, and I was introduced by a good friend James, who’s also the one who introduced me to crypto in 2017.</p>
<p>When I started minting, it was on an account called Tezos PH which features Filipino artists. I later learnt about the complexities that might come up when minting with several artists, so I created my own wallet and minted my own work.</p>
<p><strong>Sarisa</strong>: I was already trading crypto, but I didn’t realize we were able to mint NFTs on Tezos until I was invited by my partner in August 2021.</p>
<p>Even though I wasn’t an artist at that time, I had studied art previously, and I started creating my own illustrations to mint on Tezos. Since Tezos had affordable gas fees, it allowed me to experiment with my art style.</p>
<h3 id="q-what-is-art-to-you-and-what-is-your-biggest-inspiration">Q: What is art to you, and what is your biggest inspiration?</h3>
<p><strong>Bjorn</strong>: Art has been my profession for almost half my life, and I don’t know anything that I can do better than making art. Art for me is experiencing the world, and sharing my experiences with the world.</p>
<p><img src="/images/geckocon-2022-asian-artists-in-the-world-of-nfts-on-tezos-1.gif" alt="Antiparadise"></p>
<h5 id="antiparadise-by-bjorn-calleja"><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/hicetnunc/132475">Antiparadise</a> by Bjorn Calleja</h5>
<p>Everyday, I gather information by existing and I use that information and experience as tools for me to create art. Art is very crucial for survival – not just personal survival – but also for the survival of a nation, community or culture. It records the triumphs and downfalls of humanity.</p>
<p>My inspiration for making art comes from my childhood where I was born and raised – the city of Manilla – and every layer of my personality that I can represent through art.</p>
<p><strong>Sarisa</strong>: I started painting when I was a little kid, and it was just another world for me. I kept doing it because it comforted me and allowed me to express my imagination. I’ve since felt that art is beyond appearance or visuals, but it is something that you have to use your other senses to figure out.</p>
<p><img src="/images/geckocon-2022-asian-artists-in-the-world-of-nfts-on-tezos-2.webp" alt="Manipulation 04: Complicated"></p>
<h5 id="manipulation-04-complicated-by-sarisa-kojima"><a href="https://objkt.com/asset/KT1WEji9WGfZqYLxNGzQE7ChndgX1GrX2rkX/3">Manipulation 04: Complicated</a> by Sarisa Kojima</h5>
<p>My inspiration for my art is my life and culture. Like Bjorn, most artists have so many inspirations in life – the meaning and philosophies behind it, and artists express that through their freations.</p>
<p><strong>MuMu</strong>: Art is self-expression, and it’s anything which you find beauty in, that relates and connects with you in some way. It doesn’t have to be visual – music, spoken word and film-making is art too. It can be anything as long as there is an emotion that you can experience from it.</p>
<p><img src="/images/geckocon-2022-asian-artists-in-the-world-of-nfts-on-tezos-2.gif" alt="OBJKT#712460 – Seeing Through by Mumu "></p>
<h5 id="objkt712460--seeing-through-by-mumu"><a href="https://teia.art/objkt/712460">OBJKT#712460 – Seeing Through</a> by Mumu</h5>
<p>Anything can inspire me, and the work of other artists is one of them. When I started minting NFTs and connecting with other artists, I got to learn about other disciplines of art that I was never exposed to before.</p>
<h3 id="q-how-important-is-community-in-the-nft-space">Q: How important is community in the NFT space?</h3>
<p><strong>Mumu</strong>: NFTs to an outsider seems like easy money, but it’s actually really hard. First, we have to go through a lot of learning just to understand minting and blockchain technology. There’s a lot of technicalities that we need to learn, and just in that sense, it’s good to have a community.</p>
<p>In terms of Web3, we’re building something that we collectively own, so having a good community where we can all create something that we’re proud of is important.</p>
<p><strong>Sarisa</strong>: We are at the period where people are just starting to know about NFTs, so community is one of the important drivers of the space. If I did not happen to know about NFTs on Tezos from others in the community, I would not be part of this space today.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“So it became my goal to empower other artists as I believe it will help grow the ecosystem. This is becoming our central vision and what we are trying to solve. This is why we created <a href="https://twitter.com/sweatynft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sweatynft</a> - to reach out to others, support artists and achieve goals together.” <a href="https://t.co/IfeIYpxo5a">pic.twitter.com/IfeIYpxo5a</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1509757381789462530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>This is something really new and needs a lot of onboarding resources. I’m really glad because I started telling the Thai community about NFTs, and now we have come together to create a community which is expanding everyday. I believe it’s really important to spread knowledge about NFTs, Web3 and DeFi, and make everyone stronger together. This is how the ecosystem grows.</p>
<p><strong>Bjorn</strong>: The Filipino communities here are being supported with grants from TZ APAC, and it’s important that we educate not just about the blockchain and NFTs, but also how to start creating and being creators.</p>
<p>This group of Filipino artists use spoken word as their medium, and are also venturing into visual art and are starting a movement to educate the younger generation. The community shapes the roots from the ground up, like what happened with Teia. It was built by the community.</p>
<h3 id="q-what-would-be-your-top-three-actionable-tips-for-other-nft-artists">Q: What would be your top three actionable tips for other NFT artists?</h3>
<p><strong>Bjorn</strong>: The first would be to manage your expectations. I never really expected anything from my art, but I still try to give it my best, and I feel 100% gratitude and appreciation if I get rewarded.</p>
<div class="twitter">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">From growing up without significant exposure to arts, to having his work featured in one of the world’s leading art fairs. <a href="https://twitter.com/bjorncalleja?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BjornCalleja</a> is a true inspiration for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFTPhilippines?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFTPhilippines</a> Community. <br><br>Uncover his story in the first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StarsofTZAPAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StarsofTZAPAC</a> ABHK Special feature. <a href="https://t.co/NFyu7tMqpM">pic.twitter.com/NFyu7tMqpM</a></p>— TZ APAC (@TzApac) <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1527543444847173632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p>Next is something I live by – the grander the intention, the stronger the foundation. As artists, we are doing something bigger than ourselves all the time. If you have deeper intentions than making a big profit, you will continue to push and create even if we’re in the bear market.</p>
<p>Lastly, I heard this piece of advice from an artist sharing about art as a career in the Philippines. He said that art should not be considered a career, as if you consider it a career, you’re setting yourself up for either success or failure. But consider it as a practice, since it’s something we do everyday.</p>
<p><strong>Sarisa</strong>: Before jumping into DeFi and NFTs, you first need to be aware of your financial situation and only jump into it if you’re ready, since it’s high risk.</p>
<p>Next, know about the different platforms out there and prepare yourself for advancement. I took so long to reconnect with digital art, and only did so after reaching out to communities and learning from them.</p>
<p><strong>MuMu</strong>: You have to do a lot of research when getting into NFTs, and it can be overwhelming but it’s important. Start by researching the basics – what a blockchain is, how it works, and what are NFTs. It might be too technical, but you have to understand it before you start out.</p>
<p>Next, understand what your purpose or ethos is. Why are you getting into NFTs? Is it just because of the hype or money, or are you exploring the technology? You need to know this before making other decisions like what type of art to produce, and what platforms to mint on.</p>
<p>Lastly, connect with other artists and developers because this is all new. We are all still early in the game and everyone needs each other.</p>
Blockchain, Web3, and green finance intersect at Point Zero Forum Switzerland
<h2 id="the-invite-only-event-saw-luminaries-including-founders-investors-and-policymakers-gather-in-zurich-switzerland-to-drive-a-meaningful-exchange-of-ideas-to-advance-fintech-and-web3-in-the-digital-economy">The invite-only event saw luminaries, including founders, investors, and policymakers gather in Zurich, Switzerland, to drive a meaningful exchange of ideas to advance FinTech and Web3 in the digital economy.</h2>
<p>Tezos Foundation President Roman Schnider and TZ APAC Managing Director Katherine Ng joined representatives from over 200 organizations, including development banks, sovereign wealth funds, central banks, and government departments in the inaugural event.</p>
<p>Across 30 on-stage discussions, 9 regulatory sessions, and 15 workshops and think tanks, the attendees canvassed a range of issues at the intersection of the global financial system, technology, and climate change. Importantly, attendees zeroed in on the finance and technology sectors’ commitments to the world’s 2030 climate action goals under the Paris Agreement.</p>
<p>Moreover, the forum successfully brought together the latest developments and thinking around Web3 and sustainable finance, and unpacked the evolution of the DeFi sector and the opportunity it presents.</p>
<p>As President of the Tezos Foundation and a leader in global blockchain, Roman spoke on a panel devoted to the topic of adaptive regulatory approaches to DeFi. The 10-person discussion looked at the development of DeFi protocols and their benefits to the wider financial system, retail consumer protections and regulatory jurisdiction, obligations for centralized regulated exchanges, and thinking beyond the Crypto Travel Rule.</p>
<p><img src="/images/blockchain-web3-and-green-finance-intersect-at-point-zero-forum-switzerland-1.webp" alt="Katherine Ng (second from right) at Point Zero Forum 2022"></p>
<h5 id="katherine-ng-second-from-right-at-point-zero-forum-2022">Katherine Ng (second from right) at Point Zero Forum 2022</h5>
<h3 id="where-blockchain-and-sustainable-finance-intersect">Where blockchain and sustainable finance intersect</h3>
<p>According to Minister of State <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAH8yaMBBCs-5cZJw981uP21cY-m4ftm4eY">Alvin Tan</a>, the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/mas/">Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)</a> is playing a role in developing global and regional taxonomies and green standards, and building Singapore into a green finance hub.</p>
<p>Part of that journey involves Singapore’s increasing engagement with blockchain organizations and the nation’s interaction with the sector as a regional blockchain hub.</p>
<p>According to Katherine, the blockchain sector has heard MAS’ and other regulatory organizations’ calls about blockchains’ need to commit to a sustainable future. The momentum comes even as Web3 technology disrupts – and arguably makes more efficient – global financial systems.</p>
<p>“That’s why more than 200 blockchain companies and individuals launched the <a href="https://cryptoclimate.org/">Crypto Climate Accord</a>, committing to net-zero operations and 100% renewable energy-powered blockchains by 2030”.</p>
<p>As recognized by the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/organisation-eco-cooperation-development-organisation-cooperation-developpement-eco/">OECD - OCDE</a> and the EU alike, blockchain can imbue greater integrity and trust in the sustainability sector and provide clarity to make more meaningful inroads in addressing climate change in a verifiable way.</p>
<h3 id="tezos-uniquely-positioned-as-a-sustainable-layer-1-public-blockchain">Tezos uniquely positioned as a sustainable Layer 1 public blockchain</h3>
<p>A lot has been written about blockchains and the potential energy and carbon footprint they carry. “But not all blockchains are created equal,” says Katherine.</p>
<p>“Tezos is a pioneering Layer 1 Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain and has been recognized as an energy-efficient alternative to more traditional Proof of Work (PoW) chains.”</p>
<p>According to a report released in 2021 by the French arm of PwC, the total annual carbon footprint of the Tezos blockchain is equivalent to the average energy footprint of <a href="https://tezos.com/carbon/">17 global citizens</a>. With this type of commitment toward energy efficiency, PoS chains such as Tezos can help accelerate ESG assessments and enable green finance initiatives.</p>
<p><img src="/images/blockchain-web3-and-green-finance-intersect-at-point-zero-forum-switzerland-2.webp" alt="Point Zero Forum 2022"></p>
<h5 id="point-zero-forum-2022-aligning-innovation-and-regulation-in-a-defi-world-how-an-adaptive-and-centralized-regulatory-approach-can-shape-a-protected-future-of-finance">Point Zero Forum 2022: Aligning Innovation and Regulation in a DeFi World: How an Adaptive and Centralized Regulatory Approach can Shape a Protected Future of Finance</h5>
<h3 id="singapore-at-the-forefront-of-green-finance-initiatives">Singapore at the forefront of green finance initiatives</h3>
<p>Singapore has already implemented numerous green finance initiatives, including the <a href="https://www.acra.gov.sg">Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority</a> (Acra) and <a href="https://www.sgx.com/regulation/about-sgx-regco">Singapore Exchange Regulation</a> (SGX RegCo) sustainability reporting advisory committee and the Singapore Government’s Green Bond Framework.</p>
<p>When it comes to initiatives incorporating blockchain, the most visible example to date comes from MAS’ <a href="https://www.mas.gov.sg/development/fintech/Green-FinTech#:~:text=Project%20Greenprint%20is%20a%20collection%20of%20initiatives%20that,ESG%20ecosystem%20to%20enable%20green%20and%20sustainable%20finance.">Project Greenprint</a>. The project is a collection of initiatives that aims to harness technology and data to enable a more transparent, trusted, and efficient ESG ecosystem to enable green and sustainable finance.</p>
<p>As part of the project, a blockchain-based network of ESG registries records and maintains the provenance of ESG certifications and verified data.</p>
<h3 id="blockchain-the-answer-in-an-accountable-world">Blockchain the answer in an accountable world</h3>
<p>As reporting requirements on ESG increase, tracking and verifying any entity’s ESG credentials is becoming more crucial to organizations. Being able to re-risk and point to an indelible ledger recorded on a blockchain not only helps ensure the boxes are ticked in the regulatory sense, it arguably results in greater efficiencies with the potential to lower the costs of compliance and reporting overall.</p>
<p>And, when governments, blockchains, and the finance sector work together, they can ensure a robust and transparent sustainable future for all.</p>
Tezos Anniversary Special: TZ APAC’s Katherine Ng answers some of the community’s burning questions
<h2 id="its-the-fourth-anniversary-of-tezos-genesis-block--june-30-2018-050732-pm-gmt">It’s the fourth anniversary of Tezos: Genesis Block – June 30, 2018, 05:07:32 PM GMT.</h2>
<p><img src="/images/tezos-anniversary-special-tz-apacs-katherine-ng-answers-some-of-the-communitys-burning-questions-2.jpeg" alt="tezos"></p>
<h5 id="credit-tezos">Credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/tezos/status/1542553706679476224">Tezos</a></h5>
<p>Last Friday (30 June 2022), Tezos celebrated four years since the network launch. Here are some of the milestones Tezos has hit in the past four years:</p>
<ul>
<li>10 upgrades</li>
<li>Over 2.4 million blocks</li>
<li>Over 100 million transactions</li>
<li>Over 2 million funded accounts</li>
</ul>
<p>TZ APAC celebrated with an exclusive anniversary AMA with Managing Director Katherine Ng on the entity’s newly launched <a href="https://discord.gg/mb7zc6wrgq">Discord channel</a>.</p>
<p>Here’s a recap on some of the questions that were addressed.</p>
<h3 id="q-what-are-the-advantages-and-features-of-tezos-as-a-blockchain">Q: What are the advantages and features of Tezos as a blockchain?</h3>
<p>There are many reasons why Tezos is competitive not only in the NFT scene, but also as a blockchain.</p>
<p>One advantage is the self-governance aspect, which has allowed for Tezos to upgrade 10 times over the last two years, more than any other blockchain on the market.</p>
<p>Additionally, each one of these upgrades have focused on delivering lower gas fees to users and greater smart contract ability to developers.</p>
<p>Another advantage, and one of the most important, is that Tezos has a relatively small carbon footprint which makes it much more energy-efficient than other Proof-of-Work blockchains.</p>
<h3 id="q-as-an-artist-who-wants-to-enter-the-world-of-nfts-why-is-tezos-a-better-blockchain-to-start-on-as-compared-to-the-other-networks">Q: As an artist who wants to enter the world of NFTs, why is Tezos a better blockchain to start on as compared to the other networks?</h3>
<p>As one of the first and longest running Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains, Tezos operates without the large energy requirements required of other types of blockchains.</p>
<p>It only costs a fraction of 1 tez to create (or “mint”) an NFT on Tezos – that means Tezos NFTs are eco-friendly and more accessible for people around the world.</p>
<p>Many small artists are moving to the Tezos blockchain because of its low cost mint price. It’s also really easy to start and put your work out there.</p>
<p>Besides the low cost and energy efficiency, Tezos also boasts of a very strong artist-led community. It was recently the Tezos Art Week, and you can read more about the Tezos community of artists <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/tezos-art-week-special-inside-the-minds-of-some-of-the-top-nft-artists-in-the-ecosystem/">here</a>.</p>
<p><img src="/images/tezos-anniversary-special-tz-apacs-katherine-ng-answers-some-of-the-communitys-burning-questions-3.jpeg" alt="tezos"></p>
<h5 id="tezos-exhibition-at-art-basel-hong-kong">Tezos exhibition at Art Basel Hong Kong</h5>
<p>Moreover, NFT sales have in fact surged on Tezos-based NFT marketplaces such as fx(hash) and Objkt.com, while competing marketplaces were experiencing periods of decline. Furthermore, major brands also regularly choose to build on Tezos.</p>
<p>All of this could be attributed to the fact that Tezos NFTs are regarded an “anomaly” in the NFT space — the works are often considered a bridge between technology and traditional art, rather than “crypto art” or profile picture (PFP) NFTs like popular projects Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks.</p>
<h3 id="q-after-the-jakarta-upgrade-does-the-wallet-still-need-to-choose-the-network-for-example-the-rollup-of-ethereum-requires-network-selection">Q: After the Jakarta upgrade, does the wallet still need to choose the network? For example, the rollup of Ethereum requires network selection.</h3>
<p>Tezos recently launched its 10th upgrade – Jakarta with a new feature called Transaction Optimistic Rollups, which will introduce Layer 2 addresses to the blockchain.</p>
<p>This is a stepping stone to the more permanent and unique Enshrined Rollups which are under development by the various Tezos developer teams, and you can see it as a short-term and experimental scaling solution. This can be changed in future protocol upgrades, should the community desire it.</p>
<p>The second major advancement in Jakarta 2 are Michelson Tickets, an exciting new way for Tezos developers to avoid centralized smart contracts for tokens. Think of them as a more trust-minimized, decentralized version of Tezos FA2 tokens and Ethereum ERC-20 tokens.</p>
<p>Once these features are fully rolled out, it’s likely that Ethereum developers and ones from other POS chains will migrate to Tezos.</p>
<p>To find out more about the latest Jakarta upgrade, click <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/jakarta-the-latest-tezos-upgrade-is-live/">here</a>.</p>
<h3 id="q-tezos-is-now-home-to-some-of-the-biggest-nft-marketplaces-does-tezos-nfts-have-a-fragment-function">Q: Tezos is now home to some of the biggest NFT marketplaces. Does Tezos NFTs have a fragment function?</h3>
<p>Tezos is an open source blockchain and all projects and people who want to develop applications on it are welcome.</p>
<p>If there is a demand for fractionalisation, there will definitely be people who will fill the need in the market, so it all depends on the product-market fit.</p>
<p>We have seen fx(hash) being conceived to fill the demand for a generative art platform on the Tezos ecosystem, so anything is possible.</p>
<h3 id="q-does-tezos-have-plans-to-develop-a-stablecoin">Q: Does Tezos have plans to develop a stablecoin?</h3>
<p><img src="/images/tezos-anniversary-special-tz-apacs-katherine-ng-answers-some-of-the-communitys-burning-questions-4.jpeg" alt="tezos"></p>
<h5 id="tezos-exhibition-at-art-basel-hong-kong-1">Tezos exhibition at Art Basel Hong Kong</h5>
<p>Yes, this is on our radar. USDT <a href="https://bakingsheet.tezoscommons.org/issues/the-baking-sheet-issue-103-1208387">recently announced</a> that it will launch on Tezos. This launch will further highlight Tether’s dedication to pioneering collaboration and interoperability within the growing digital asset space and we hope that it will attract other stablecoins as well.</p>
<h3 id="q-does-tz-apac-have-any-events-for-developers-or-users-in-the-next-few-months">Q: Does TZ APAC have any events for developers or users in the next few months?</h3>
<p>TZ APAC and Tezos India are bringing back the TezAsia hackathon – one of the most-anticipated Web3 hackathons in Asia, with over 10,000 sign-ups.</p>
<p>TezAsia welcomes aspiring newcomers, advanced coders, students, professionals, and blockchain enthusiasts. Participants stand a chance to win $100,000 in prizes and an additional $100,000 in early-stage grants. The hackathon opens up opportunities to work with the best dApps, platforms, mentors and Tezos-based entities in the ecosystem.</p>
<p>Registrations are still open, and you can sign up <a href="https://unstop.com/competition/tezasia-hackathon-tezos-india-357710">here</a> to begin developing your Web3 project now.</p>
<h3 id="q-itll-be-the-web3-world-in-the-future-what-role-would-tezos-play">Q: It’ll be the Web3 world in the future. What role would Tezos play?</h3>
<p>Web 3.0 is a reshaping of the global network using cryptocurrencies and blockchain. Relying on these two technologies, the future Internet can communicate with each other without manual intervention or centralized supervision, and complete the verification and recording of transactions.</p>
<p>Since last year Tezos has onboarded name brands and institutions such as GAP, Evian, Redbull, Manchester United, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and more, with a goal to be the bridge to onboard institutions into the Web3 world.</p>
<p>For example, TZ APAC’s <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/nus-computing-joins-forces-with-tz-apac-to-develop-singapores-next-generation-of-tech-innovators/">partnership with NUS Computing</a> to set up the Centre for Nurturing Computing Excellence will see students being empowered to learn from real-world industry experts in fields such as blockchain technology, cloud computing and data science.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t end here – the Tezos ecosystem will continue to empower creators, developers, institutions and enterprises to explore and embrace blockchain technology.</p>
TZ APAC and Tezos India Join Forces to launch TezAsia - the Largest Web3 Hackathon in Asia
<h2 id="now-in-its-second-year-the-tezasia-hackathon-acts-as-a-launchpad-for-start-up-teams-and-developers-looking-to-build-game-changing-web3-solutions-on-the-tezos-blockchain">Now in its second year, the TezAsia Hackathon acts as a launchpad for start-up teams and developers looking to build game-changing web3 solutions on the Tezos blockchain.</h2>
<p>Setting a precedent for driving innovation-based culture in the Web3 arena, Tezos India and TZ APAC have co-organized the month-long TezAsia Hackathon, spanning the entire Asia-Pacific region. Registrations are open, and applications are being rolled out for the hackathon, which begins on July 10th.
TezAsia is a Web3 hackathon that welcomes aspiring newcomers, advanced coders, students, professionals, and blockchain enthusiasts. Participants stand a chance to win $100,000 in prizes and an additional $100,000 in early-stage grants. The hackathon opens up opportunities to work with the best dApps, platforms, mentors and Tezos-based entities in the ecosystem.
To kickstart the registration process (open until July 10th), the team behind the hackathon has utilized the <a href="https://unstop.com/competition/tezasia-hackathon-tezos-india-357710">Unstop platform</a>. Aspiring candidates can register themselves for free individually or in teams of four members.</p>
<h3 id="themes-to-center-on-scale-and-innovation">Themes to center on scale and innovation</h3>
<p>Candidates can choose amongst two themes - ‘Small but great’ and ‘Disrupt all the things’- or from a wide range of tracks. Among the themes, the former focuses on building a simple dApp on the Tezos blockchain, and the latter allows for teams with a disruptive vision to showcase a POC/MVP of their dream Web3 product.</p>
<p>Candidates can also find a detailed list of ideas on the platform to increase their chances of winning in each category. There have been around 10,000 registrations to date, an astonishing c. 700% increase on last year’s total of 1,422 registrations.</p>
<p>According to Om Malviya, President of Tezos India, the TezAsia Hackathon is a one-size-fits-all moment for people to enter and contribute to the Tezos ecosystem through a spectrum of activities mentored by global leaders.</p>
<p>“It will be a defining moment for those aspiring students and enthusiasts with the singular goal of learning and achieving massive heights in their lives,” he said.</p>
<p>Commenting on the hackathon, Katherine Ng, newly appointed Managing Director of TZ APAC, said: “With its young, digitally-native, and ambitious population, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing rapid Web3 adoption across NFT and crypto wallet ownership in Asia”.</p>
<p>“As of last year, almost half of the global crypto market capitalization is based in the APAC region, which has given rise to some of the industry’s up-and-coming projects and established unicorns.”</p>
<h3 id="a-schedule-packed-with-collaboration-and-mentorship">A schedule packed with collaboration and mentorship</h3>
<p>Beginning on July 10th with a kick-off webinar, the hackathon features extensive 7-day workshops, held until July 20th, followed by a building and mentoring session from July 21st to August 5th. The workshops will take developers through building a dApp from end-to-end on Tezos and explain each step of development from learning Tezos’ smart contract language to token standards, several integration libraries, and the Tezos blockchain more generally.</p>
<p>Participants will also explore interesting ideas and lessons about building projects on Tezos through content and resource sharing. Lastly, the participants will submit their final projects between August 5th and August 12th, when the official evaluation phase is due to take place.</p>
<h3 id="dedicated-prizes-up-for-grabs">Dedicated prizes up for grabs</h3>
<p>The winners of the TezAsia Hackathon 2022 can expect an eye-catching award of up to $15,000. Additionally, each track’s winner will receive:</p>
<h4 id="small-but-great">Small but Great:</h4>
<ol>
<li>DeFi</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Winner $5,000</li>
<li>Runner-up $3,000</li>
<li>Second Runner-up $2,000</li>
</ul>
<ol start="2">
<li>NFT & Gaming</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Winner $5,000</li>
<li>Runner-up $3,000</li>
<li>Second Runner-up $2,000</li>
</ul>
<p>Best in any other track (Tools & Wallets and Web3 integration with Web2 Track): Winners will get a cash prize of $1,500.</p>
<h4 id="disrupt-all-the-things">Disrupt All The Things</h4>
<ol>
<li>Defi</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Winner $15,000</li>
<li>Runner-up $10,000</li>
</ul>
<ol start="2">
<li>NFT & Gaming</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Winner $15,000</li>
<li>Runner-up $10,000</li>
</ul>
<p>Best in any other track (Tools & Wallets and Web3 integration with Web2 Track): Winner will get a cash prize of $6,000.</p>
<p>All participants will also receive an Exceptional Performance Certificate as an NFT.</p>
<h3 id="creating-impact">Creating impact</h3>
<p>The discovery of women-led businesses and opportunities has always been a challenge especially when it comes to funding and matching with the right investors.</p>
<p>Hence, there’s a special track for Women in Tech (WIT) which focuses on building a crypto equity crowdfunding platform - similar to licensed ECF platforms like Kickstarter - to create a marketplace that focuses on women-led or women empowerment businesses.</p>
<p>The winner of this track will get a reward of $10,000.</p>
<p>Beyond prizes, candidates can expect to grab some face time with blockchain-focused VCs, who will be attending pitches to hear what entrants have to say and examine the problems they are trying to solve in greater detail. A detailed description of prize and grant money is available on the <a href="https://unstop.com/competition/tezasia-hackathon-tezos-india-357710">Unstop platform</a>.</p>
<p>Budding Tezos developers – now is your time to enter the TezAsia Hackathon 2022!</p>
#StarsofTZAPAC: From Artists to innovators, meet the stellar individuals across APAC building on Tezos
<h2 id="as-part-of-a-special-series-we-highlight-the-work-being-done-throughout-the-tezos-ecosystem-in-asia-by-ambitious-entrepreneurs-innovative-nft-artists-original-thinkers-and-problem-solvers--the-starsoftzapac">As part of a special series, we highlight the work being done throughout the Tezos ecosystem in Asia by ambitious entrepreneurs, innovative NFT artists, original thinkers, and problem solvers – the #StarsofTZAPAC.</h2>
<h4 id="mumu-the-stan-aka-moon-hmz-visual-artist-malaysia">Mumu the Stan (AKA Moon HMZ), visual artist, Malaysia</h4>
<p><img src="/images/image40.jpg" alt=" Mumu the Stan (AKA Moon HMZ)"></p>
<p>Munira Humzah, AKA Moon HMZ, is a Malaysian visual artist who got her start when she joined ‘stan Twitter’, where fans of different celebrities and artists share their love of their favorite’s work. Moon, as she’s mostly known amongst her own growing base of fans, decided to start posting her own art, which caught the eye of founding member of Linkin Park, Mike Shinoda.</p>
<p>At Shinoda’s urging, Moon minted some of her quirky pixel art on the Tezos blockchain – it was a transformative moment. Moon now counts Shinoda as one of the <a href="https://twitter.com/mikeshinoda/status/1362511584099143681?s=20&t=krpuV7meQjG0p06QW-qefA">first</a> and perhaps most prominent collectors of her art – and he’s not the only one. The artist’s work quickly gained notoriety amongst the Tezos clean NFT community, so much so that Moon was able to quit her ‘everyday’ job to pursue her artistic career full time.
See more of Moon’s work at: <a href="https://linktr.ee/mumu_thestan">mumu the stan aka MOON HMZ | Linktree</a></p>
<h4 id="tommy-chandra-graphic-artist-indonesia">Tommy Chandra, graphic artist, Indonesia</h4>
<p><img src="/images/image3.png" alt="Tommy Chandra"></p>
<p>Tommy Chandra is an Indonesian graphic designer and visual artist whose work extends from his day job bringing to life visual stories for Indonesian and global brands. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Tommy started searching for inspiration. His love of tech and art collided in the form of the NFT craze, and Tommy started to mint his bold style – influenced by his training as an architect and daily pop culture – into NFTs.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image22.png" alt="Tommy Chandra, The Journey"></p>
<h5 id="title-tommy-chandra---the-journey">Title: Tommy Chandra - The Journey</h5>
<p>For Tommy, minting his NFTs on the Tezos blockchain is an easy decision because of the relatively cost-effective gas fees and the network’s energy efficiency compared to other blockchains. Now, Tommy is working on a new project called OSISO, and in October this year, he will hold an offline exhibition collaborating with an artist, architect, and visual designer.
See more of Tommy’s work: <a href="https://www.behance.net/tommychandra">Tommy Chandra on Behance</a></p>
<h4 id="jarret-cross-multidisciplinary-artist-philippines">Jarret Cross, multidisciplinary artist, Philippines</h4>
<p><img src="/images/image19.jpg" alt="Jarret Cross"></p>
<p>Jarrett Cross hails from Manila in the Philippines and was exposed to art and music from a young age through his musician parents. In elementary school, Cross started guitar lessons and joined in street dance sessions with local b-boys. High school saw Cross truly lean into his multidisciplinary talents, simultaneously practicing for an international career in dance while also playing cello for the local high school orchestra. His Hip Hop dance skills eventually took him around the world.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image18.png" alt="Jarrett Cross - Through the Spectrum, Philippines, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="jarrett-cross---through-the-spectrum">Jarrett Cross - Through the Spectrum</h5>
<p>Back in the Philippines, Cross delved into photography and digital art. At the time the pandemic gripped the region, Cross was working as a full-time artist. When events and live gigs stopped, he turned to NFTs as a way to connect with potential audiences for his work. After discovering the Tezos blockchain through the online event OBJKT4OBJKT, Cross realized the costs of minting NFTs on the Tezos blockchain were much less compared to other blockchains.
According to Cross, hanging out on H=N (minting platform hic et nunc) and collecting other artists’ work and being collected by others brought him a lot of joy. “The works of art I saw in Tezos were insane and immensely refreshing as it introduced me to other forms, mediums, and styles of art,” he said.</p>
<h4 id="sarisa-kojima-sweatynft-artist-and-founder-tz-apac-egg-grantee-thailand">Sarisa Kojima, SweatyNFT, artist and founder. TZ APAC EGG Grantee. Thailand</h4>
<p><img src="/images/starsoftzapac-from-artists-to-innovators-meet-the-stellar-individuals-across-apac-building-on-tezos-1.png" alt="SweatyNFT"></p>
<h5 id="credit-sweatynft">Credit: SweatyNFT</h5>
<p>Sarisa Kojima is a multidisciplinary artist with a formal art education and is the co-founder of SweatyNFT – an all-in-one toolkit for artists looking to mint their own NFTs. Sarisa is a passionate advocate for what she calls the ‘creator economy’ – the ability of blockchain technologies like Tezos to unlock value and audiences for artists.</p>
<p>In creating SweatyNFT, Kojima and her team sought to help facilitate the transition for artists from traditional methods of reaching collectors and fans to Web3. With no coding experience, creators can mint multiple NFTs at once, allowing for instant scale of their original art.
Learn more about SweatyNFT at <a href="https://sweatynft.com/">SweatyNFT: Tools for NFT Artists, NFT Art Generator, Smart Contract Manager</a></p>
<h4 id="whats-an-egg">What’s an EGG?</h4>
<p>The TZ APAC and Tezos India Ecosystem Growth Grants (EGG) program funds creators and developers exploring and utilizing the Tezos network. Simply put, it’s a way to help innovators across Asia build game-changing solutions on Tezos</p>
<h4 id="liquibrium-tz-apac-egg-grantee">Liquibrium, TZ APAC EGG Grantee</h4>
<p><img src="/images/liquibrium.png" alt="SweatyNFT"></p>
<p>Liquibrium is a decentralized exchange for the Tezos ecosystem which focuses on stable assets and provides the most optimum exchange value. A stablecoin exchange is one of the foundational pieces for any blockchain ecosystem enabling other DeFi applications to be built on top of it. The team aimed to build this missing piece for the Tezos network, to make the Tezos Defi space more liquid and accelerate its growth.</p>
<p>The team behind Liquibrium realized that they needed to bootstrap a significant amount of liquidity pre-launch. This was required to service a larger group of users at launch by enabling more swaps, in turn boosting APY (Annual Percentage Yield) for their existing LPs.</p>
<p>The EGG was instrumental for the team in securing liquidity and helping cover other costs as part of the project.</p>
<p>Discover more about <a href="https://www.liquibrium.finance/">Liquibrium</a></p>
<h4 id="twitz-nft-tz-apac-egg-grantee">TwiTz NFT, TZ APAC EGG Grantee</h4>
<p><img src="/images/twitz.png" alt="SweatyNFT"></p>
<p>TwiTz is an innovative Tezos blockchain powered platform that allows people to claim ownership of their Tweets by minting them into NFTs.</p>
<p>TwiTz lets users immortalize their Tweets on-chain, which otherwise would be stored in a centralized system like Twitter where they can be removed or censored anytime. The project has evolved quite a bit in terms of features and UX but still sticks to its true purpose.</p>
<p>Start turning your tweets into NFTs on TwiTz here: <a href="https://www.twitznft.xyz/">TwiTz NFT</a></p>
<h4 id="why-not-start-your-own-tezos-project">Why not start your own Tezos project?</h4>
<p>Whether you’re an avid gamer, a developer, a creator looking to start your career as a digital artist, or a curious cat looking for something interesting to explore in the world of Web3, there’s perhaps never been a more opportune moment to get started on your own Tezos blockchain project.</p>
<p>For inspiration on the full list of projects across the Tezos community worldwide, check out <a href="https://tezosprojects.com/">Tezosprojects</a>.</p>
<p>For more information on TZ APAC and Tezos India’s EGG program, find out more <a href="https://tzapac.notion.site/tzapac/TZ-APAC-x-Tezos-India-EGG-2b897520e92749e8a41265fde924c3a7">here</a>.</p>
Some of the top projects on the Tezos blockchain in Asia right now
<h2 id="powerful-use-cases-are-the-foundation-of-building-a-successful-blockchain-based-application-or-project-discover-how-creators-and-developers-across-asia-are-leveraging-the-tezos-ecosystem-to-drive-innovation-in-nfts-the-arts-gaming-and-managing-data-and-credentials">Powerful use cases are the foundation of building a successful blockchain-based application or project. Discover how creators and developers across Asia are leveraging the Tezos ecosystem to drive innovation in NFTs, the arts, gaming, and managing data and credentials.</h2>
<p><img src="/images/some-of-the-top-projects-on-the-tezos-blockchain-in-asia-right-now-6.webp" alt="infographic"></p>
<h3 id="1-twitz-tweets-made-eternal-to-give-content-creators-legitimacy">1. TwiTz: Tweets made eternal, to give content creators legitimacy</h3>
<p>Momentous tweets can quickly and easily be immortalized on the Tezos blockchain as an NFT with the <a href="https://twitter.com/TwiTzNFT">TwiTz application</a>. TwiTz is led by Indian developer Soumya Ghosh Dastidar, who received a Tezos India Fellowship to explore his passion for building on blockchain—including access to mentors and resources.</p>
<p>A minting request is triggered simply by replying to a tweet with a mention of <a href="https://twitter.com/TwiTzNFT">@twitznft</a> and the connected Twitter username, or a Tezos address or domain. Only the creator of a tweet can claim ownership of the NFT, but other users can ‘gift’ a minted tweet to its original author. Minted tweets are added to the Objkt.com marketplace.</p>
<p>“We are pretty excited for the community to mint some cool and memorable tweets for themselves and others!” the TwiTz team recently tweeted.</p>
<h3 id="2-game-geeks-creating-a-hub-for-decentralized-and-nft-gaming">2. Game Geeks: Creating a hub for decentralized and NFT gaming</h3>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/GameGeeksOnline">Game Geeks</a> aspires to become the home of blockchain gaming. Powered by the Tezos blockchain, Game Geeks provides a dynamic marketplace where users can play games, bet and win on the platform’s native tokens, acquire NFTs and in-game assets, and compete for recognition and prizes via a public leaderboard.</p>
<p>Founder Sanket Nighot said the platform will launch by June 30, 2022, starting with beta program registrants and a free loyalty NFT distribution. He developed Game Geeks with the support of a Tezos India Fellowship and said it was the ideal blockchain to build great Dapps on.</p>
<p>“The faster transaction rate, reduced gas fees, great supportive community, experts and mentors—these are some of the best things about Tezos blockchain,” Nighot said.</p>
<p><img src="/images/some-of-the-top-projects-on-the-tezos-blockchain-in-asia-right-now-1.png" alt="Game Geeks"></p>
<h3 id="3-salamax-cutie-empowering-artists-through-nft-art-minting-and-learning">3. Salamax Cutie: Empowering artists through NFT art minting and learning</h3>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SalamaxCutie">Salamax Cutie</a> provides real-world support for Filipino performance artists to mint NFT art on the Tezos blockchain—it emerged from Titik Poetry, an art collective based in the Philippines that promotes poetry as a career and for social impact.</p>
<p>Jake Cezar, an artist and core member of Salamax Cutie, said the initiative grew organically after fellow artist Jarrett Cross helped him set up a Temple Wallet and sent him 1 tez to mint his artworks.</p>
<p>Eventually, Cezar paid the gesture forward by sharing a tez with another artist, who did the same—creating a movement called #1tezledtoanother that resulted in the whole collective of poets being onboarded on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>“Basically, #1tezledtoanother is sending a tez to another artist to kickstart their journey into NFTs that hopefully, soon can help sustain their art and later on, can help others too,” Cezar said. Salamax Cutie also helps artists navigate NFT marketplaces and enhance their knowledge through AMAs, seminars, workshops, and events.</p>
<h3 id="4-dataverse-private-spaces-that-give-metaverse-users-data-sovereignty">4. Dataverse: Private spaces that give metaverse users data sovereignty</h3>
<p>Dataverse is a self-described ‘Robin Hood’ for metaverse users: it frees people from the monopolies of traditional Internet companies through a secure, private folder system on Web3 where users can safeguard their sovereign identity, and organize and access their own data. Dataverse’s encrypted data spaces lets users manage cross-chain metaverse assets including NFTs, POAPs, user profiles, preferences, and web2 content.</p>
<p>Josephine Zhang—a partner at Ownership Labs, the China-based team behind Dataverse—said that since its launch, more than 60 million data streams have been created in Dataverse.</p>
<p>Zhang said it was important that Dataverse built in support for the Tezos ecosystem due to the blockchain’s popularity with artists, and to enable artists to put their multi-chain works in one place. “With Tezos actively helping us connect with people, we’ve onboarded a lot of artists as well as worked with NFT marketplaces,” she said.</p>
<p><img src="/images/some-of-the-top-projects-on-the-tezos-blockchain-in-asia-right-now-4.png" alt="Dataverse"></p>
<h5 id="watch-the-video-at-httpswwwyoutubecomwatchvc4wzz5ldmsu">Watch the video at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Wzz5lDMSU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Wzz5lDMSU</a></h5>
<h3 id="5-xanadu-by-ministryxr-metaverse-experiences-for-art-and-entertainment">5. Xanadu by MinistryXR: Metaverse experiences for art and entertainment</h3>
<p>An idyllic virtual world awaits entertainers, artists, brands, and fans across Southeast Asia in the Xanadu metaverse. Dubbed an ’entertainment city’, Xanadu combines augmented and virtual reality, social media, online gaming, NFTs, and crypto in a lifelike digital environment where users can interact via an avatar—all accessible using a web browser.</p>
<p>Performers can deliver immersive virtual concerts; brands can run virtual town halls or retail stores; and artists can leverage the Tezos blockchain to create, display and sell NFT artworks in 360-degree walkthroughs within Xanadu. CEO Ivan Khoo said the metaverse “…gives people a chance to directly fund their favorite artists so that they can produce more cool stuff for everyone out there.”</p>
<p><img src="/images/some-of-the-top-projects-on-the-tezos-blockchain-in-asia-right-now-5.png" alt="Xanadu | Metaverse"></p>
<h5 id="credit-xanadu--metaverse">Credit: <a href="https://www.xanadu.asia/">Xanadu | Metaverse</a></h5>
<h3 id="6-nextid-making-it-easy-to-issue-secure-certificates-anchored-to-blockchain">6. NextID: Making it easy to issue secure certificates anchored to blockchain</h3>
<p>Singapore-based company NextID streamlines the effort of producing high-quality blockchain-based certificates. With clear benefits for sectors like academia, e-learning, government, and HR management, the company’s NextCertTM application issues tamper-free, verifiable credentials that can be used to authenticate documents, qualifications, awards, and artwork.</p>
<p>Through a Tezos Foundation grant, NextID is now working on integration with the Tezos blockchain. CEO Bill Claxton said, “We felt that supporting an internationally respected blockchain with fast confirmation time and low gas fees would be helpful to our customers.”</p>
<p><img src="/images/some-of-the-top-projects-on-the-tezos-blockchain-in-asia-right-now-3.png" alt="NextID"></p>
<h5 id="credit-photo-by-john-schnobrich-on-unsplash">Credit: Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash</h5>
<h3 id="7-sweatynft-a-gateway-to-generative-art-for-artists-without-coding-knowledge">7. SweatyNFT: A gateway to generative art for artists without coding knowledge</h3>
<p>SweatyNFT is a no-code toolset that simplifies generative art NFT creation. Artists can generate up to 10,000 unique, randomly-generated artworks and launch their collections via marketplaces on multiple blockchains.</p>
<p>The project team received a Tezos Ecosystem Growth Grant to develop an integration with the Tezos blockchain, making NFT minting more accessible for its thriving art community.</p>
<p>Co-founder <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1510066280417558532">Sarisa Kojima</a>, a Thai-Japanese NFT artist, made it her mission to empower less tech-savvy artists and support the Creator Economy by building SweatyNFT.</p>
<p>“As an individual artist and a person who is really into Tezos, I look forward to collaborating and growing the ecosystem as much as possible. I see a lot of room to fulfill this on the Tezos blockchain.”</p>
<p><img src="/images/some-of-the-top-projects-on-the-tezos-blockchain-in-asia-right-now-2.png" alt="SweatyNFT"></p>
<h5 id="credit-sweatynft">Credit: SweatyNFT</h5>
5 Tips for Creating Amazing Art from Objkt.com’s curator
<h2 id="5-insider-tips-from-objktcom-curator-ombeline-rosset-on-creating-breathtaking-art-on-one-of-the-most-prominent-marketplaces-in-the-tezos-ecosystem">5 insider tips from Objkt.com curator Ombeline Rosset on creating breathtaking art on one of the most prominent marketplaces in the Tezos ecosystem</h2>
<p>A strong appetite for NFT art across Asia means the time is right for creators to capitalize. The Tezos ecosystem boasts some of the most active creative communities, providing both established and emerging artists the opportunity to mint and sell their original NFT artwork in a low-cost, energy-efficient way.</p>
<p>The market for NFT art has grown enormously, and is now approaching parity with traditional art, with US$41 billion of digital art NFTs sold in 2021 compared to US$50 billion spent on traditional works. Asia in particular is eager for digital collectibles, with data showing that Asian countries including Singapore, China and the Philippines make up the top five slots for internet searches for NFTs.</p>
<p>One of the leading NFT marketplaces is <a href="https://objkt.com/">Objkt.com</a>, which aims to connect all NFTs created on the Tezos blockchain through one single platform. Here, Objkt.com’s curator Ombeline Rosset shares insider tips on how artists can create innovative and desirable NFT art that will find an audience among the platform’s thousands of NFT collectors.</p>
<h3 id="tip-1-choose-a-vibrant-clean-nft-art-ecosystem">Tip 1: Choose a vibrant, clean NFT art ecosystem</h3>
<p>When asked why creators should consider minting on the Tezos blockchain, Ombeline highlights the ecosystem’s energy-efficiency and strong creative community as its main advantages over other NFT minting options.</p>
<p>“Tezos uses less energy than other blockchains, and it’s important because the difference in energy consumption is huge,” she said.</p>
<p>She’s not exaggerating. The difference becomes stark when comparing the energy required to mint one NFT on Ethereum versus Tezos: Ethereum uses around 332kWh, while Tezos uses just 200mWh, a reduction by a factor of approximately 1.5 million.</p>
<p>Ombeline highlights that the artistic community on the Tezos ecosystem is also unlike any other in the NFT space.</p>
<p>“The arts community is very active. It has been from the beginning, starting with Hic Et Nunc (HEN), which was an underground community of many artists from around the world and a very diverse community who were really focused on the art and not really focused on speculating—just artists getting interested in the new tech and experimenting.”</p>
<p>Another appealing feature for creators is low gas fees due to its proof-of-stake design and significant scaling advantages over a network such as Ethereum.</p>
<h3 id="tip-2-focus-on-making-great-nft-digital-art">Tip 2: Focus on making great NFT digital art</h3>
<p>As the sole curator for Objkt.com, Ombeline spends a lot of her time discovering new NFT artists and artworks to showcase on the platform.</p>
<p>She says there’s room for all kinds of styles of NFT art, but the most popular pieces currently tend to be generative art made with code: “It’s a good moment for generative artists to mint on the platform.”</p>
<p>For instance, Ombeline said she admires the work being produced by Japanese digital artist <a href="https://objkt.com/profile/tz1bMBGiPAcaA693CWUwZts4RdwE6Dn2N4Fz/created">Kazumasa Teshigawara</a> and also points to the success of generative artist <a href="https://objkt.com/profile/tz1eJF2r9JsfDLAswoo5iCDk6Qv2yWt6fbMX/created?fa2=KT1KEa8z6vWXDJrVqtMrAeDVzsvxat3kHaCE">William Mapan’s ‘Dragons’</a> collection.</p>
<p>She said another sought-after style for NFT art collectors is quirky, illustrated GIFs such as those <a href="https://objkt.com/profile/lucrece/created">created by Des Lucréce</a>, a second-generation Asian immigrant living in the US whose ‘Monsters’ project was born out of creating portraits of people expressing Asian xenophobia.</p>
<p>“Traditional artists can still do well, but they may need to work a bit harder to get exposure.”</p>
<p>She commends the NFT art of <a href="https://objkt.com/profile/bjorncalleja/created">Bjorn Cajella</a>, a contemporary artist from the Philippines who “does very interesting animated paintings."</p>
<p>Ombeline recommends artists focus on developing their own style, the story behind their art, and connecting with interested collectors rather than trying to follow NFT digital art trends.</p>
<p>“You might be able to sell well at first, but trying to copy a style just to make sales is not a great long-term strategy, and it can be confusing for your collectors.”</p>
<h3 id="tip-3-price-and-sell-your-nft-art-with-collectors-in-mind">Tip 3: Price and sell your NFT art with collectors in mind</h3>
<p>Patience is key for artists new to the marketplace who want to make a living from making and selling NFT digital art.</p>
<p>“Some artists come back to me after three days worrying that they didn’t sell out, but I tell them you need to wait. It’s not common to have an immediate sell-out unless you collaborate with an artist who already has a high profile,” Onbeline said.</p>
<p>She said pricing should be influenced by the overall market, the artists’ prominence, and whether they are selling a unique one-off or multiple editions, which are usually offered at a lower cost.</p>
<p>“If a new artist mints an NFT, collectors may wait a bit before spending much money on a 1/1, to see what kind of art they create and how they interact with the community—because 1/1s are more expensive and it’s a bigger decision.”</p>
<p>“I would say artists should take a look at the market and also consider whether they need to sell straight away because they need income, and price a piece based on those factors. Then the most important aspect is getting exposure.”</p>
<p>She said that artists can choose from auctions, offers, and listings on Objkt.com, and each release method has its pros and cons.</p>
<p>“The solution is to keep in touch with collectors and discuss with them the best way to release pieces and what will be best for them,” Ombeline suggests.</p>
<p>“For the artists who become successful, the biggest factor is always the marketing and the community they create—with a solid community on the platform, you have collectors who support the artist drop after drop.”</p>
<h3 id="tip-4-get-comfortable-with-the-nft-minting-process">Tip 4: Get comfortable with the NFT minting process</h3>
<p>Ombeline said that while Objkt.com is quite intuitive to use, she recommends learning about minting and experimenting with the process in advance of any release.</p>
<p>She’s personally created <a href="https://medium.com/@cabline1/links-to-articles-you-can-find-here-da0725652e65">numerous guides</a> to help creators get started, including instructions on creating and synching a wallet, collaborating with others, creating collections, and batch minting.</p>
<p>“If an artist plans a big drop, I’d suggest they do a test run beforehand. Don’t announce a drop and leave it to the last minute to try to mint for the first time in case you run into issues. As always, the first time you use something you don’t understand everything yet,” she said.</p>
<p>“The thing is, it’s always possible to burn a piece if there’s any issue, or change the name of your collection, and other changes—which means you can make mistakes at the beginning.”</p>
<p>She said creators should plan ahead to complete details during minting, such as the royalties percentage, what the split of royalties is for a collaborative project, and the licensing rights they want to apply to their artwork.</p>
<p>Ombeline warns new creators to keep in mind that minting duplicates can be against the rules, unless you state it explicitly.</p>
<p>“So if you mint a 1/1 and it’s the exact same image used in editions, you need to make that very clear in the description. Even if the pieces are on a different blockchain, the collector needs to know whether it is or is not actually unique.”</p>
<h3 id="tip-5-be-active-in-the-community-and-ask-to-be-featured">Tip 5: Be active in the community and ask to be featured</h3>
<p>Establishing a presence in the NFT digital art scene requires active involvement, and according to Ombeline, Twitter is the best channel.</p>
<p>“Twitter is a place where artists support each other. They not only post about their art but also interact with other artists they like and recommend works. It’s the easiest way to get exposure and initiate collaborations with established artists on the Tezos ecosystem,” she said.</p>
<p>Artwork is also featured on Objkt.com’s homepage, such as the site’s ‘Hidden gems’ and ‘Hot collections’ sections—but how do you get the platform’s attention?</p>
<p>Spamming Ombeline’s DMs on Twitter or tagging your posts with #Objkt is not the best way to go about it. Instead, for transparency reasons, she encourages artists to post via a <a href="https://discord.gg/JkMXrVQstW">dedicated Discord channel for curation requests</a>.</p>
<p>“It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be featured because there are more than one million pieces on Objkt.com.”</p>
<p>She also directly seeks out artwork that deserves exposure, especially NFT art made by women and underrepresented groups who are less likely to ask for recognition.</p>
Tezos Art Week Special: Inside the minds of some of the top NFT artists in the ecosystem
<h2 id="the-tezos-art-week-is-dedicated-to-celebrating-art-minted-on-tezos-around-the-globe-weve-curated-an-exclusive-deep-dive-into-the-inspirations-and-creative-processes-fuelling-creators-across-the-tezos-ecosystem-in-apac-and-around-the-world">The Tezos Art Week is dedicated to celebrating art minted on Tezos around the globe. We’ve curated an exclusive deep dive into the inspirations and creative processes fuelling creators across the Tezos ecosystem in APAC and around the world.</h2>
<h3 id="bjorn-calleja-philippines">Bjorn Calleja, Philippines</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image4.jpg" alt="bjorn calleja"></p>
<h4 id="about-bjorn">About Bjorn:</h4>
<p>Bjorn Calleja is a contemporary painter and interdisciplinary visual artist living and working in Manila in the Philippines. His work is highly influenced by his childhood’s aesthetics, popular culture, kitsch, and the Manila landscape drawing on ideas around identity, spirituality, politics, history, and art history.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I am inspired by life, the trinity of identities (person, people, human), and humans versus their environments. The animations I mint as NFTs are narratives of transformation and looping journeys that speak of internal struggles and triumphs of existence.</p>
<p>The evolution of my art has had a journey of its own, from studying the foundation of traditional painting, to relearning ways to break the techniques, which involved a lot of happy accidents and mastery of mistakes. I was able to develop a style, characters, and a universe that I could claim as mine.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image27.gif" alt="Bjorn Calleja, The Exit, Philippines, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain "></p>
<h5 id="bjorn-calleja---the-exit">Bjorn Calleja - The Exit</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>First and most importantly it’s the eco-friendliness and energy efficiency of Tezos NFTs. Second is the quality of the art and artists that make up the Tezos community. Adding to that is the energy of the early Tezos community - I’ve met a lot of good and interesting people, and made a number of good friends.</p>
<p>I started my NFT journey with Hic et Nunc, mainly because this was the only available option at the time, but I’ve also minted a few pieces on OBJKT.com and Versum.xyz. I am excited about the inception and evolution of both platforms.</p>
<h3 id="tommy-chandra-indonesia">Tommy Chandra, Indonesia</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image3.png" alt="Tommy Chandra"></p>
<h4 id="about-tommy">About Tommy</h4>
<p>Tommy Chandra is a veteran illustrator and graphic designer with over 14 years of experience from Indonesia. Chandra first became interested in the world of Tezos NFTs during the pandemic, when he was looking for inspiration. His love of tech and art found a home in the rapidly expanding NFT scene, and he quickly garnered a following for his unique, bright and visually complex artworks.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-1">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>My inspirations include the built environment, robots, and daily pop culture. I would say my style is sleek, geometric based and detailed with vibrant colors. I think my style is influenced by my education in architecture early on.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image22.png" alt="Tommy Chandra, The Journey, Indonesia, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="tommy-chandra---the-journey">Tommy Chandra - The Journey</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-1">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>I first discovered Tezos in May 2021. I chose to mint on Tezos because of its affordable gas fees and its green credentials. The small amount of gas fees really helps budding creators to enter the NFT world.</p>
<p>Besides that, I find the Tezos community solid and supportive of each other. The first platform I used was Hic et Nunc (later called TEIA) and I am still using it now. I also use OBJKT.com now for my OSISO project (bit.ly/OSISONFT).</p>
<p>Why do I like OBJKT.com? Because I can create several collections on one platform!</p>
<p><img src="/images/image35.png" alt="Tommy Chandra, People and Building, Indonesia, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="tommy-chandra---people-and-building">Tommy Chandra - People and Building</h5>
<h3 id="mumu-the-stan-aka-moon-hmz-malaysia">Mumu the Stan (AKA Moon HMZ), Malaysia</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image40.jpg" alt=" Mumu the Stan (AKA Moon HMZ)"></p>
<h4 id="about-moon">About Moon</h4>
<p>Malaysian visual artist and poet Mumu the Stan, AKA Munira Hamzah, AKA Moon, got into the world of Tezos NFTs through her fun and accessible pixel art. One memorable online interaction with acclaimed Linkin Park musician, producer and artist, Mike Shinoda, launched her career in a new direction.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-2">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I love exploring a bunch of styles, as I can get bored of doing the same thing over and over quite easily. In terms of my pixel art, I am inspired by how simple it can look although it isn’t quite as easy as it seems. Reducing something to a few pixels yet having it still be recognizable is a fun challenge. It’s sort of like a puzzle.</p>
<p>I absolutely love the 8-bit look. Something so cute and seemingly simple can bring so much joy to people. Aside from that, creating pixel animations frame by frame and pixel by pixel is a meditative process for me. Taking things one step at a time, without knowing what the outcome will be is quite liberating</p>
<p><img src="/images/image12.gif" alt="Mumu the Stan, Cu-Pak’s Rocket World, Malaysia, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="mumu-the-stan---cu-paks-rocket-world">Mumu the Stan - Cu-Pak’s Rocket World</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-2">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>When I first started minting NFTs, the minting and transaction costs on other blockchains were really quite hard to swallow.</p>
<p>When I got to know the environmental cost of NFTs, however, was when I really stopped and asked myself whether I wanted to keep doing this. I started researching alternatives and clean NFTs, and was invited into the clean NFT Discord. There, we discussed and learned a lot about Proof of Stake blockchains. Joanie Lamercier started minting on Tezos on Hic et Nunc and it seemed interesting to me, and I started minting there too.</p>
<p>Other than the clean NFT factor, the community is amazing, and the fact that Tezos has self amendability is just one of the things I love about it.</p>
<p>Currently, I use Teia the most because it is a community run and community owned platform, with an ethos of decentralization, egalitarianism, representation, and empowerment that I absolutely believe in.</p>
<h3 id="cs-lim-south-korea">CS LIM, South Korea</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image25.png" alt="CS LIM"></p>
<h4 id="about-cs-lim">About CS LIM</h4>
<p>CS LIM is an artist with an engineering background. He was an engineer working on AI and autonomous driving. He started his journey into generative art about three years ago, and became aware of NFTs in March 2020.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-3">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I would say it is a combination of chance and my experience. I was fortunate enough to make good use of the opportunities presented to me. I don’t think I was clever and prepared well in advance. Rather, I like to solve problems that happen by chance. I think the style of my work also stems from a drive to solve problems. My major focus was AI, and I just liked the arts. All I did was bring them together.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image41.png" alt="CS LIM - Rainy Day, South Korea, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="cs-lim---rainy-day">CS LIM - Rainy Day</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-3">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>As the burden of fees gradually increased on other blockchains and the experience of using those networks became poor, other alternatives had to be considered. Currently, I am using various blockchains including Tezos. For Tezos, the pleasant network environment and friendly community are very impressive. I’m designing several generative art collections, and I think I can share them on fxhash soon.</p>
<h3 id="reva-china">Reva, China</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image1.png" alt="Reva"></p>
<h4 id="about-reva">About Reva</h4>
<p>Reva is a digital artist who mainly creates generative art. She studied computer graphics and after completing postgraduate studies worked as an algorithm engineer in movie, VR, and AR for six years. She has been creating generative art since 2018.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-for-your-work">What’s the inspiration for your work?</h4>
<p>My main inspiration comes from math and interesting algorithms. My computer science background has a great influence on my creative thinking. I often look at the formation and development of things in this world from the perspective of science and technology, and like to explore the relationship between rationality and sensibility.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image15.jpg" alt="Reva, Murmurs of Byte Streams, China, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="reva---murmurs-of-byte-streams">Reva - Murmurs of Byte Streams</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-4">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>In the beginning it was because I saw a lot of artists starting to get into Hic et Nunc to post their work. Out of curiosity, I went to visit the site and found that the temperament of this platform is very special, and the artistic and creative atmosphere of the community is very good.</p>
<p>When I first started creating NFTs, I was mainly active on other public chains. Later, after learning about Tezos, I published works on Hic et Nunc, OBJKT.com, and fxhash. I especially like the fxhash platform because its minting mode is great for algorithmically generated artists.</p>
<h3 id="sarah-ridgley-usa">Sarah Ridgley, USA</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image7.png" alt="Sarah Ridgley"></p>
<h4 id="about-sarah">About Sarah</h4>
<p>Sarah Ridgley’s artistic background is in printmaking. Before she discovered generative art, Ridgley worked with letterpress and risograph printing. When Ridgley discovered generative art, she was captivated by the concept of drawing with code.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-4">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>My personal style is focused on reflecting themes in nature and the natural world. I enjoy exploring different ways to create lines and shapes, and developing my own techniques to create texture and organic patterns. I also spend a lot of time working with color and have developed my own palettes that I refer to throughout my work.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image23.png" alt="Sarah Ridgley - Memory of Nymphaeas #89, USA, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="sarah-ridgley---memory-of-nymphaeas-89">Sarah Ridgley - Memory of Nymphaeas #89</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-5">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>I love Tezos because it’s so easy to get started and allows for a lot of experimentation without a high investment cost. I released some work on Hic et Nunc when it was still a pretty new platform and the community was just lovely. My first on-chain generative Tezos project (Memory of Nymphaeas) was on the Endless Ways platform, which is now sadly not open any more. But that’s the beauty of the blockchain, my work and code will always live on.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image14.png" alt="Sarah Ridgley - Memory of Nymphaeas #30, USA, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="sarah-ridgley---memory-of-nymphaeas-30">Sarah Ridgley - Memory of Nymphaeas #30</h5>
<h3 id="yazid-azahari-brunei">Yazid Azahari, Brunei</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image42.jpg" alt="Yazid Azahari"></p>
<h4 id="about-yazid">About Yazid</h4>
<p>Yazid’s background might seem a little unconventional and not at all art-related. From a young age he had a thing for computers and making things with them. Yazid dabbled with graphics software like Photoshop, Flash, and made websites. Research through his work brought about an understanding of the potential for expression and creativity through NFTs, and in early 2021 his first pair of mints appeared on NFT marketplace Rarible.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-5">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I was inspired by creators in the space who seemed to have a similar background as me - people who were working in tech/software and found a way to make use of the same skills to create art. Through their journeys, it showed me that it was possible to find creative fulfillment from the practice of art.</p>
<p>In terms of my stylistic inspirations, it’s really all over the place. You’d be able to find hints of early computer art, mid-century graphic design styles, classic abstract/minimalist art in my work. I’m attracted to minimalist art because of my fascination with logo design and branding, the possibility of conveying entire feelings and messages with the simplest elements.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image29.gif" alt="Yazid Azahari, Make Noise, Brunei, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="yazid-azahari---make-noise">Yazid Azahari - Make Noise</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-6">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>One of the original reasons I minted on Tezos—Hic et Nunc, in particular— was because I wanted to mint NFTs on a platform that could support interactive OBJKTs created using the software that a lot of generative artists use, which is p5js.</p>
<p>At the time, they were one of the few that were open and were conducive to experimentation (by way of affordable mint costs as well as having a community that was supportive of the format). ‘MAKE NOISE’ was created using p5js, but didn’t utilize the interactive OBJKT format.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image9.png" alt="Yazid Azahari, Gestalt, Brunei, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="yazid-azahari---gestalt">Yazid Azahari - Gestalt</h5>
<h3 id="marcelo-soria-rodriguez-spain">Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez, Spain</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image26.jpg" alt="Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez"></p>
<h4 id="about-marcelo">About Marcelo</h4>
<p>Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez always had an interest in creative endeavors; art in all its forms and also in creative displays in other disciplines. He co-founded Databeers, a data literacy movement, to spread truths and dispel myths about data and data science. He finds art to be an invaluable tool to think and reflect on change, and to express what hasn’t come yet to be.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-6">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>My first long-form project, Entretiempos, comes from my love of Sonia Delaunay and other painters from her time. I find inspiration in music, in geometry, in feelings. In light and shadow.</p>
<p>I use art as a tool to think: thinking and making art feed back into each other. I also like to write my thoughts from time to time around certain topics. I like to think about the consequences of advanced machines, and whichever kinds of new intelligence that may arise.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image10.png" alt="Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez, Entretiempos #941, Spain, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="marcelo-soria-rodriguez---entretiempos-941">Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez - Entretiempos #941</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-7">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>I saw a tweet by Mario Klingemann, @quasimondo, about the now disappeared Hic et Nunc, and I loved the feel there. I was relatively early (my first mint was #809 in the platform). I stayed there for as long as it lived. The community was incredible, and there was an energy I have seldom found elsewhere. When fxhash came around, a good friend and also an artist told me about it and I rushed to create my first project, which I completed in around one day, building off some rough idea I had played with for some days.</p>
<p>The various platforms I have used to mint, sell and collect in Tezos enable open-ended discovery and exploration through the ultra-low gas fees. It also helps to know that you don’t need to carbon-offset your work heavily.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image36.png" alt="Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez,Contrapuntos #131, Spain, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="marcelo-soria-rodriguez---contrapuntos-131">Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez - Contrapuntos #131</h5>
<h3 id="iskra-velitchkova-bulgaria">Iskra Velitchkova, Bulgaria</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image32.jpg" alt="Iskra Velitchkova"></p>
<h4 id="about-iskra">About Iskra</h4>
<p>Iskra Velitchkova came to the world of NFTs through her career in Data Visualization. A successful career in Information Design leading her own firm gave her the opportunity to work with some of the top businesses in the world across machine learning. Many philosophical questions arose and Velitchkova realized that art was the only way to cover those concerns. She quit her job and spent a year gathering all her experience over almost a decade. She started playing with physical elements and materials in her process and the NFTs followed.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-7">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>My biggest inspiration is nature and people. I am quite obsessed with connections - what connects us to each other, to our context, what makes us similar, and what makes us different. I truly believe working in a team with machines can lead us to new answers to very old questions. All my works aim to connect the human part of the generative narrative with the power that machines can bring to the dialogue.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image34.png" alt="Iskra Velitchkova, Pravö II, Bulgaria, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="iskra-velitchkova---pravö-ii">Iskra Velitchkova - Pravö II</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-8">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>I will always remember my landing in Hic et Nunc as the only time in my life that I felt being in the right moment, in the right place. I felt automatically connected with the platform and the community. I believe we should understand platforms as channels to communicate and each one offers different contexts to the space, but the community is something bigger.
When it comes to Tezos I have published in HEN, Versum, OBJKT, and fxhash. The Tezos ecosystem feels really unique.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image39.png" alt="Iskra Velitchkova, Pravö III, Bulgaria, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="iskra-velitchkova---pravö-iii">Iskra Velitchkova - Pravö III</h5>
<h3 id="song-ting-china">Song Ting, China</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image20.jpg" alt="Song Ting"></p>
<h4 id="about-song-ting">About Song Ting</h4>
<p>Song Ting is considered one of China’s top NFT artists in one of the most exciting NFT markets in the world. Her work - Peony Dream – sold for RMB 667,000 (c. 100,000 USD). It was the first sale of a blockchain-based artwork held at an auction house better known for selling traditional Chinese works including calligraphy. She is also a 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 artist.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-8">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I am inspired by Chinese traditional literature and works written hundreds or thousands of years ago. These have had a very profound influence on me since I was in kindergarten. Some of my own family are university teachers on Chinese traditional literature. I was seven when I started to read my family’s books on the topic.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image5.png" alt="Song Ting - 牡丹亭rêve (Peony Dream), China, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="song-ting---牡丹亭rêve-peony-dream">Song Ting - 牡丹亭rêve (Peony Dream)</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-9">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>As ambassador of International Olymp’ Arts, I needed to find a more sustainable and energy-friendly way to create digital artworks. ‘NFTs for good’ is very important to me, so Tezos was a logical choice.</p>
<h3 id="ryan-bell-usa">Ryan Bell, USA</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image30.jpg" alt="Ryan Bell"></p>
<h4 id="about-ryan">About Ryan</h4>
<p>NFTs entered Bell’s radar in 2019. He was fascinated with smart contract design, experimenting with zero knowledge proofs, VyperLang’s 721 implementation, and active in The Graph’s NFT metadata standards calls. He built many early NFT subgraphs. The art came much later.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image21.png" alt="Ryan Bell, Organized Chaos #50, USA, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="ryan-bell---organized-chaos-50">Ryan Bell - Organized Chaos #50</h5>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-9">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I’m continually inspired by new mechanisms and ideas that are being explored within the space. For generative art specifically, I think Chromie Squiggle nailed it and really got the ball rolling. Now, fxhash has my attention.</p>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-10">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>Hanging out in the Proof community, I kept seeing these stunning, experimental pieces that collectors were sharing. I checked out the platform docs, grabbed the p5 repo on Github, and I was hooked.</p>
<h3 id="random-combo-singapore">Random Combo, Singapore</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image13.jpg" alt="Random Combo"></p>
<h4 id="about-random-combo">About Random Combo</h4>
<p>Trained as a computational physicist and currently working as a full-time researcher, Qingnan Tang AKA Random Combo spends most of his day crunching numbers, coding, and modeling.</p>
<p>He enjoys dealing with complex systems and observing patterns, then understanding them. Part of the excitement comes from the appreciation of the beauty embedded in the high level of complexity, as is the case for many of the gen art systems. He has been creating generative art systems for several years now.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-10">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>Both my scientific background and Chinese art background forged my style of art. The former encourages me to explore the fundamental concepts: circles, rectangles, flow fields, noise, etc.</p>
<p>Once I truly perceive the power of these basic elements, I am able to reach “coherence” in them. That usually leads to complex yet simple art forms, and I really enjoyed creating art this way. The latter infused ink painting elements into my art works. I explored the realm of traditional art with modern generative tools, which I think will open up new possibilities. Zhu and Mei are artworks that signify this.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image8.png" alt="Random Combo, Mei, Singapore, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="random-combo---mei">Random Combo - Mei</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-11">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>Tezos in my opinion has a great artistic community. I’ve used Hic et Nunc when it was still around and also fxhash.</p>
<h3 id="nicolas-sassoon-canada">Nicolas Sassoon, Canada</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image37.jpg" alt="Nicolas Sassoon"></p>
<h4 id="about-nicolas">About Nicolas</h4>
<p>Nicolas Sassoon is a Franco-Canadian artist. His work is primarily digital, featuring digital animations which he considers the core of his practice. He also creates numerous other art forms like prints, sculptures, and installations.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-11">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I’ve always been fascinated by natural forces, in particular the ocean, and by screen-based graphics, in particular early computer graphics.</p>
<p>I’m interested in depicting landscapes, natural forces, and other forms through very simple visual elements made of pixels, colors, motion and light - how computer graphics can express materiality and physical experiences through abstraction and limited visual means.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image43.gif" alt="Nicolas Sassoon, Home Study - House at Dawn #1, Canada, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="nicolas-sassoon---home-study---house-at-dawn-1">Nicolas Sassoon - Home Study - House at Dawn #1</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-12">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>I started minting on Tezos last year after discovering a lot of incredible artists on Hic et Nunc. Today I use mostly OBJKT and Versum but I’m not tied to a specific platform.</p>
<p>The quality of the art, the level of accessibility of Tezos, and the amazing communities of artists surrounding the Tezos platforms are all important reasons why I enjoy minting on Tezos.</p>
<h3 id="jinyao-lin-taiwan"><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1530115321507373057">Jinyao Lin</a>, Taiwan</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image31.png" alt="Jinyao Lin"></p>
<h4 id="about-jinyao-lin">About Jinyao Lin</h4>
<p>Jinyao Lin is a digital artist from Taiwan. He graduated from the National Taipei University of the Arts with a Bachelor of Music and Master of Fine Arts (New Media), and a PhD of Computer Science, from the National Taiwan University. He has had a deep fascination in both arts and computing since he was young.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-12">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I like to explore algorithms that create interesting graphics, especially computers that can do very detailed and mass calculations. I enjoy finding out how to make graphics with chaos and order.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image24.png" alt="Jinyao Lin, Mythologic, Taiwan, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="jinyao-lin---mythologic">Jinyao Lin - Mythologic</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-13">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>I minted my first NFTs on akaSwap, a Tezos platform and there are many Asian artists there. Soon after, I started to publish my work on fxhash.</p>
<h3 id="aluan-wang-taiwan">Aluan Wang, Taiwan</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image11.png" alt="Aluan Wang"></p>
<h4 id="about-aluan">About Aluan</h4>
<p>In 2021, Aluan Wang created a twitter account “ileviovm”, which is ‘Aluan Wang’ spelled out after cryptography. He used this new identity to join the crypto art community. In the last few years, Wang has made a living through his original digital art and design, and taught open source software at museums and universities. He is also the founder of akaSwap, an NFT platform built on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-13">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>Much of my inspiration comes from my previous artistic training. Until I was 25, I thought I was going to be a watercolor painter. That’s why I like to use code to describe complex textures and brushstrokes with an oriental style.</p>
<p>Being in visual design has given me a special perspective on symbols, and I like to hide secrets in the pictures. Art is like a creator’s diary, and I’m happy to create my own little universe.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image33.png" alt="Aluan Wang, Chaos Culture, Taiwan, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="aluan-wang---chaos-culture">Aluan Wang - Chaos Culture</h5>
<p>Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</p>
<p>I joined the tezos community in March 2021 because I wanted to create and also I recognized the cost of publishing works on other blockchains was too high. When I found Hic et Nunc, the gas fees were very low by comparison, and the activities were very interesting. I was happy to join the community.</p>
<h3 id="aleksandra-jovanić-serbia">Aleksandra Jovanić, Serbia</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image17.jpg" alt="Aleksandra Jovanić"></p>
<h4 id="about-aleksandra">About Aleksandra</h4>
<p>Depending on the circumstances, Jovanić may introduce herself as an artist and programmer, or as a professor at the University of Arts in Belgrade. Jovanić started her NFT journey in 2021 after years in the field of the arts.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-14">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I’m often fascinated by various obscure psychological phenomena. How we as humans observe and interpret the world around us, and most recently unraveling complexity through visualizing abstract ideas or previously incomprehensible data.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image2.png" alt="Aleksandra Jovanić, CHROMATLAS VOL.3, Serbia, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="aleksandra-jovanić---chromatlas-vol3">Aleksandra Jovanić - CHROMATLAS VOL.3</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-14">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>My first ever mint was on Tezos. I chose it because of the ecological concerns (of other blockchains) and accessibility, but stayed for the art and community. Also, the fact that interactive pieces can be easily minted on Tezos platforms is crucial for my work. I started with HEN, and slowly moved to fxhash.</p>
<h3 id="shih-yun-yeo-singapore"><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1527819746330267648">Shih Yun Yeo</a>, Singapore</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image6.jpg" alt="Shih Yun Yeo"></p>
<h4 id="about-shih-yun-yeo">About Shih Yun Yeo</h4>
<p>Shih Yun Yeo loves Chinese ink and has been painting for more than 20 years. He is fascinated with using unconventional tools like toy robots, brooms, and DIY brushes to create his works.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-15">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>I fell in love with ink in the early days back in Lasalle. I experimented with ink, getting different effects by mixing ink and water on watercolor paper. My first experience with ink excited me so much that when I went to the San Francisco Art Institute, I had a deep desire to explore ink as a medium. I grew to appreciate its characteristics through the years. I have always admired the basic yet strong quality of black as a color, its boldness and infinite possibilities.</p>
<p>When I started creating NFTs, I wanted to make ink the star, juxtaposing the traditional ink medium with technology, merging physical and digital realms, and using analog and digital processes at different stages of creation.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image16.png" alt="Shih Yun Yeo, Ink In Space, Singapore, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="shih-yun-yeo---ink-in-space">Shih Yun Yeo - Ink In Space</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-15">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>I was introduced to Tezos by artists I met at CAWA (Crypto Artweek Asia) as it is eco-friendly and super cheap to mint my works compared to other blockchains. I also mint on akaSwap as it was founded by Taiwanese generative artist Aluan Wang and I thought it is cool to support another fellow artist! It is also quite user-friendly.</p>
<h3 id="jarrett-cross-philippines">Jarrett Cross, Philippines</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image19.jpg" alt="Jarrett Cross"></p>
<h4 id="about-jarrett">About Jarrett</h4>
<p>Jarrett Cross is a multidisciplinary artist based in Manila, Philippines. His connections to the arts are familial; both of his parents are musicians and they exposed Cross to art and music from a very young age. His artistic endeavors extend across Hip Hop dance, visual arts, and music.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-16">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>The beauty of the fractal universe we live in is my biggest source of inspiration in art and in creating NFTs. The interconnectedness of all things and the mysteries and adventures of everyday life inspire and fuel me.</p>
<p>My style was created through self art therapy. The effects of the pandemic on me during the first months were dreadful. Art became my therapy. The process was cathartic to me as I surrendered to an automatistic state then proceeded with intuitive painting. It was my way of taking care of my mental health.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image18.png" alt="Jarrett Cross - Through the Spectrum, Philippines, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="jarrett-cross---through-the-spectrum">Jarrett Cross - Through the Spectrum</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-16">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>I found out about Tezos through the second OBJKT4OBJKT (a virtual exhibition). I saw that minting on Tezos was so much cheaper compared to other blockchains.</p>
<p>I mainly use Hic et Nunc/Teia for my abstract works. I admire the interface of HEN, even if it is quite tricky at first, because it highlights more of the art from the artists. I also use OBJKT for my series as it allows us to curate it by collection on the platforms.</p>
<h3 id="jakestudyos-philippines">Jakestudyos, Philippines</h3>
<p><img src="/images/image38.jpg" alt="Jakestudyos"></p>
<h4 id="about-jakestudyos">About Jakestudyos</h4>
<p>Jakestudyos is a full-time artist from the Philippines. The artist grew up in the streets of Manggahan, Pasig, and loved to draw since he was a child to the point that his family pushed him to become an architect while growing up. He embarked on a healing journey by creating art and writing verses after being diagnosed with dysthymia in November 2020.</p>
<h4 id="whats-the-inspiration-behind-your-work-17">What’s the inspiration behind your work?</h4>
<p>Street art is the biggest inspiration for my creations. In a developing country, art isn’t a career people typically think of. Street art is the most accessible for me. Plus, the typography and letterings on hand painted movie posters and billboards I’ve seen outside the mall when I was growing up.</p>
<p><img src="/images/image28.png" alt="Jakestudyos, Ungguyan, Philippines, featured on TZ APAC, Minted on the Tezos blockchain"></p>
<h5 id="jakestudyos---ungguyan">Jakestudyos - Ungguyan</h5>
<h4 id="why-did-you-choose-to-mint-nfts-on-tezos-what-platform-do-you-use-and-why-17">Why did you choose to mint NFTs on Tezos? What platform do you use and why?</h4>
<p>Tezos is very accessible to us. With the low cost mint price, it’s really easy to start and put your work out there. I started at Hic et Nunc last year and am now minting on OBJKT. Why? It’s also about a low carbon footprint. Plus, the community behind it.</p>
What are DAOs and how do they work on the Tezos blockchain?
<h2 id="through-decentralized-autonomous-organizations-daos-blockchains-like-tezos-are-freeing-organizations-from-traditional-governance-constraints">Through decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), blockchains like Tezos are freeing organizations from traditional governance constraints.</h2>
<p>DAOs unlock the potential of innovative, distributed forms of governance that flatten organizational hierarchies and empower online communities. Discover why DAOs could revolutionize how groups and companies are controlled and how the transparent and immutable nature of the Tezos blockchain is making it possible.</p>
<h4 id="what-are-decentralized-autonomous-organizations">What are Decentralized Autonomous Organizations?</h4>
<p>DAOs are open-source, blockchain-based organizations that are governed from the bottom up by members. Community members use governance tokens to cast votes on proposals regarding the activities of the DAO and the use of treasury funds.</p>
<p>Unlike traditional companies, which are created by filing legal documents to a central authority and are controlled by a central leadership team, DAOs are created by deploying code to a public ledger and are controlled by community members.</p>
<p>While undeniably innovative, doing away with boards and bosses can sometimes create a lack of direction. Corresponding self-management frameworks—which establish clear organizational rules through a constitution—offer a way to overcome this issue, such as the holacracy model used by companies such as Zappos.</p>
<p>DAOs function according to rules defined in a smart contract: code that runs on a blockchain. Nobody can alter the code and change the rules of the DAO, except through the voting mechanism, which itself is defined in the smart contract.</p>
<p>The decentralized autonomous organization structure—being code-based and open-source—gives rise to several advantages over traditional ways of governing an organization:</p>
<ul>
<li>DAOs are inherently transparent and enhance trust;</li>
<li>They’re more resistant to collusion; and,</li>
<li>If carefully planned, they can incentivize desirable behavior among members—such as providing liquidity—through the rules defined in the smart contract itself.</li>
</ul>
<p>One issue that can arise for DAOs is the possibility of one member, or a small bloc, monopolizing voting power and effectively centralizing leadership. This is a serious consideration for DAOs, but it can be minimized through thoughtful DAO implementation, including well structured tokenomics, appropriate token distribution strategies and the use of secure multi-signature wallets.</p>
<h4 id="what-are-some-different-types-of-daos">What are some different types of DAOs?</h4>
<p>Although all decentralized autonomous organizations are blockchain-based and community-governed, there is significant diversity in terms of types of DAOs.</p>
<p>That’s because DAOs can be created for many different purposes, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Governing a decentralized exchange (like MakerDAO);</li>
<li>Granting pooled funds to projects (like Aave Grants DAO); or</li>
<li>Allowing members to share funds to invest collectively (such as Crypto Island DAO).</li>
</ul>
<p>Depending on their goal, DAOs require different structures, tokenomics and rules. Other common forms of DAOs include collector DAOs, entertainment DAOs, social DAOs, and service DAOs. Each has its own tailored structures and rules.</p>
<h4 id="examples-of-daos-on-the-tezos-blockchain">Examples of DAOs on the Tezos blockchain</h4>
<p>As a blockchain that features highly secure smart contracts, the Tezos blockchain makes sense for teams considering what blockchain to structure their DAO off, as these two interesting examples show.</p>
<p><strong>Projects utilizing decentralized on-chain governance</strong></p>
<p>The Tezos ecosystem’s features support high-value DAOs that govern stablecoin protocols and decentralized exchanges, and Kolibri DAO is a prime example.</p>
<p>Kolibri DAO is the first fully decentralized DAO running on the Tezos blockchain, having launched in July of 2021. It provides fully decentralized governance for the Kolibri algorithmic stablecoin protocol, which was launched in February 2021 and has quickly become one of the leading DeFi projects on the Tezos blockchain, with over US$11 million in total value locked in the protocol at the time of writing.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://kolibri-xtz.medium.com/announcing-kolibri-dao-6687eb528cb">launch of the DAO</a> was the final step in the founders’ gradual decentralization plan, “with the goal of ensuring on our way out that no other entity can ever unilaterally control the protocol.”</p>
<p>Handing over control to the community allows users to submit proposals and to vote on proposals using the DAO token, kDAO. The tokenomics of Kolibri DAO initially gave the founders a significant stake in released kDAO and thus powerful voting rights. As the ecosystem has matured, more governance token shares have been released into the community, which now has majority control over decision-making.</p>
<p>The primary way for users to acquire kDAO governance tokens and earn voting rights is to contribute liquidity, which earns them liquidity mining rewards in the form of kDAO.</p>
<p>In addition to being used for governance, some kDAO goes into a community fund to pay for ongoing improvements to the protocol—as voted by the community. Currently, 35% of kDAO tokens are set aside for the community fund.</p>
<h4 id="real-world-governance-meets-on-chain-governance">Real-world governance meets on-chain governance</h4>
<p>Another thought-provoking potential application of a DAO on the Tezos blockchain is Reno DAO, which is exploring digitizing the governance of the city of Reno, Nevada.</p>
<p>Reno DAO’s purpose would be to bring financial benefits to citizens by monetizing assets such as public art and real estate. While the DAO is still in an ideation stage, Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve described her vision for the DAO on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqXW0Kt-RzU">TezTalk Radio podcast</a>: “I really want to create a local economy that can benefit all of my citizens… a community of things that we can all own together in our city and be able to monetize that. And look at ways we can really benefit each other in our local economies.”</p>
<p>Schieve envisions conferring voting rights in the DAO through the ownership of a governance token called RenoCoin. Reno DAO collaborator, Theodore Clapp, said the token could initially be distributed equally among citizens of Reno.</p>
<p>“Obviously structured in a much different way, the behavior is similar to buying shares in a company. The more Reno Coin you have, the more ownership of the DAO you have, which would be the Reno economy. That’s why we want to equally drop it to the Reno citizens, so everyone has an equal share of the DAO; of course they can sell it if they want to,” Clapp said.</p>
<p>Clapp believes the Tezos blockchain is an ideal home for Reno DAO primarily due to its scalability, low gas fees, sustainability, and the formal verification of smart contract code which minimizes the risks of serious bugs.</p>
<p>He said another important factor in the decision to use the Tezos blockchain was the availability of resources, tools, and frameworks that ease the creation of DAOs, such as the DAO smart contract framework Homebase.</p>
<p><strong>Homebase: streamlining DAO smart contract creation</strong></p>
<p>The creation and deployment of DAOs has typically required significant technical knowledge and coding skill. However, the Tezos ecosystem now features some powerful tools to significantly reduce the technical barriers users face when seeking to create their own DAO.</p>
<p><a href="https://tezos-homebase.io">Homebase</a>, a web app for the Tezos ecosystem, was developed with the express goal of democratizing DAO creation and making the benefits of decentralized, transparent governance available to any interested parties, be that projects, organizations, or communities.</p>
<p>Essentially, Homebase is a user interface (UI) built on top of <a href="https://github.com/tezos-commons/baseDAO">BaseDAO</a>, which is a generic smart contract framework that can be used as a base layer for the creation of DAOs on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p><strong>What makes Homebase so useful for creating DAOs?</strong></p>
<p>DAO blockchain smart contracts are not simple, but Homebase abstracts away the complexity for the end-user. Rather than needing to know how to code Tezos smart contracts, users can simply interact with the Homebase UI to input information and select options, and Homebase will generate the DAO smart contract code based on the BaseDAO framework.</p>
<p>With Homebase, users can define many of the most important rules in the DAO smart contract, such as the proposal system, quorum thresholds, and parameters of the DAOs governance token.</p>
<p>Homebase Product Manager Gregory Rocco believes the growth of DAOs on the Tezos blockchain will come from two key use cases; decentralized governance of protocols and decentralized governance of public-goods funds.</p>
<p>“On the public-goods side, a DAO becomes an interesting means to allocate funding based on levels of interest in particular goods or services that token holders deem to be worthy. For example, bakers in the Tezos ecosystem can fund a DAO with a percentage of their block rewards and re-allocate that tez towards tooling to better help baking infrastructure,” Rocco said.</p>
<p>“On the decentralized project side, you can effectively remove a centralized team and continue to minimize trust from any core protocol by enabling DAO participants to tweak parameters as a collective body.”</p>
<p>As more Web3 projects emerge and more communities and organizations begin to migrate on-chain, the demand for the kind of decentralized governance offered by DAOs will likely increase. Digital and crypto economies are changing how people work and generate value, so it’s only natural there will be a paradigm shift in how companies operate and engage with stakeholders as well. DAOs may well be the future of corporate governance and accountability.</p>
<p>Tools and frameworks like Homebase and BaseDAO, in addition to features like formal verification of smart contracts, ensures the Tezos blockchain is well-positioned to be able to cater to this demand and provide the functionality needed by the next wave of creators and cutting-edge projects.</p>
Asia: A Global Blockchain Frontrunner
<h2 id="a-melting-pot-of-culture-geography-and-industry-asia-is-re-emerging-as-a-global-superpower-and-blockchain-plays-a-fundamental-role-in-driving-the-economic-social-and-institutional-change-at-the-heart-of-the-transformation-as-scholar-parag-khanna-states-the-asian-century-has-begun">A melting pot of culture, geography, and industry, Asia is re-emerging as a global superpower. And blockchain plays a fundamental role in driving the economic, social, and institutional change at the heart of the transformation. As scholar Parag Khanna states, the ‘Asian century’ has begun.</h2>
<h4 id="shifting-demographics-and-the-new-middle-class">Shifting demographics and the new middle class</h4>
<p>From technologists to academics, governments to creators, Asia is embracing blockchain as a cornerstone of the new digital economy. It’s a historical moment that has been brewing throughout two decades of sweeping economic reform. Just over 20 years ago, Asia accounted for less than one-third of global GDP. By 2040, that number is forecast to increase to 50 percent. Recent McKinsey Global Institute research shows that China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand were just seven of 71 developing economies considered ’long-term performers’ in that they consistently maintained at least 3.5 percent GDP growth for an entire 50-year period.</p>
<p>Furthermore, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam achieved at least 5 percent GDP growth over 20 years. The result has seen swift societal improvements such as longer life spans, improved literacy, and a fast-tracked digital transformation, industrialization, and urbanization. It is a change that has come incredibly fast, catapulting large population segments from low socio-economic backgrounds into the middle-class - and even the downright wealthy - within one generation. By 2030, it is estimated that one billion people in Asia will join the global middle class, thanks to economic growth and digital transformation.</p>
<h4 id="web-30---the-great-disruptor">Web 3.0 - the great disruptor</h4>
<p>While the Western world has been at the forefront of technological developments, it is Asia that is emerging as blockchain’s epicenter. Almost half of cryptocurrency trading occurs on exchanges in Asia, making the region a fertile ground for blockchain adoption. Hand in hand with blockchain’s increasingly pervasive presence is Web 3.0 and its disruption of Web 2.0 giants. Web 3.0 technologies have played a lead role in tipping the balance of power towards an internet that puts ownership - and financial reward - into the hands of creators and users.</p>
<p>While seemingly untouchable juggernauts such as Spotify and YouTube pocket billions from user-generated content - as well as personal data - Web 3.0 empowers users with the ability to maintain control of their work and potentially generate income from their endeavors. The burgeoning NFT art scene that blockchain networks such as Tezos nurture is one such example. The booming blockchain gaming industry is another, with a colossal community of play-to-earn (P2E) gamers embracing this new monetization model.</p>
<p>“The rising talent of Asian artists is testament to the fast growing NFT and Web 3.0 movement, which continues to gain momentum in the region,” says Katherine Ng, Head of APAC Marketing and Operations at TZ APAC. “What I’m most excited about with NFTs and Web 3.0 is the ability to bring financial inclusion to an expanding digital creator economy. Inherently inclusive and democratic, this decentralized ecosystem is showing artists they can be owners of the digital communities they create around their art while being fairly compensated.”
Powering this Web 3.0 digital revolution in Asia is a tech-curious young population. Home to more than 4 billion people, Asia Pacific is home to 60% of the world’s youthful population. A consumer Technology Association study reveals that, relative to the US, a higher percentage of Asian consumers identify as early adopters of new technologies.</p>
<p>McKinsey Global Institute research reveals that industries such as virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, robotics, drones, and artificial intelligence (AI) now account for nearly half of global investment in venture capital inside Asia. We’re already seeing this play out with the enormous pools of digital consumers supporting the thriving and innovative blockchain technology sector.</p>
<p>These era-defining innovations have also created new opportunities that weren’t possible just a few years ago. Built on a decentralized digital economy, Blockchain networks such as Tezos foster a strong foundation of community that rewards participation. NFTs are a prime example. For the first time, artists and creators can create their own digital artworks and access highly engaged crypto audiences who find value in their work. The opportunity to affordably mint digital creations and get paid (some, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/indonesia-student-makes-a-million-selling-expressionless-selfies-as-nfts-2022-1">really well</a>) by a global marketplace hungry for unique perspectives has transformed societal norms and broken through the traditional art world’s high barriers to entry.</p>
<h4 id="the-financial-opportunity">The financial opportunity</h4>
<p>Another powerful factor influencing blockchain adoption is that the Asian economy is increasingly looking inwards rather than out. With the continued development of new industrial capabilities and increased manufacturing of more products on home soil, there is less reliance on foreign imports. What’s more, Asia isn’t bound by the same tightly integrated trade entity as the European Union or NAFTA. Today, 52 percent of Asian trade is intra-regional, compared to just 41 percent in North America. This concept of a ‘self-contained Asia’ is also reflected in the opportunities blockchain technologies present across verticals as diverse as gaming, finance, and commerce.</p>
<p>One of the most critical issues blockchain technology addresses is financial parity. The Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising ten countries within the region, has shown support for the technology through its <a href="https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Updated-AEC-2025-CSAP-14-Aug-2018-final.pdf">2025 Strategic Action Plan</a>. With a goal to deliver financial products and services to a broader, under-served community, including micro, small and medium enterprises, the Community Blueprint also outlines the need to “promote innovative financial inclusion via digital platforms.”</p>
<p>Put into practice, blockchain is opening up opportunities for many to engage with the finance sector for the first time. Despite solid economic growth in the region, more than 70% of the adult population in Southeast Asia remains either ‘underbanked’ or ‘unbanked’ due to cumbersome requirements or lack of access to formal credit history. And while cash remains king, crypto and other blockchain technologies have disrupted the status quo by offering a decentralized way for people from all socioeconomic backgrounds to participate in the economy. With privacy built into its DNA, an added layer of protection is provided that Web 2.0 services, governments, and banks don’t offer.</p>
<p>For emerging Asian countries, the option to bypass the limitations of conventional banking for the freedom of decentralized finance (DeFi) is a game-changer. Blockchain networks such as Tezos are at the forefront of this movement enabling brands, developers, and creators to bring their works to the masses with the potential to earn a living.</p>
<p>True to this theme, Katherine believes there are two choices in life: repeat or evolve. “Our first landmark NFT exhibition at Art Basel Hong Kong: NFTs and the Ever-Evolving World of Art, made waves in Asia’s tech, finance, art and media circles. For the first time, we achieved 50% Asian artist representation at the exhibition, the world’s largest and most prestigious global art fair.”</p>
<h2 id="institutional-change">Institutional change</h2>
<p>At an institutional level, blockchain’s broad spectrum applications show what’s possible in creating meaningful change. From government, education and health, institutions are fueling blockchain’s digital transformation across Asia as they explore ways to boost productivity, security, and transparency at scale.</p>
<p>With ambitious plans to strengthen its digital economy, Vietnam is transforming Ho Chi Minh City into a smart city by using blockchain technology to mitigate risk and streamline processes. In Indonesia, which is considered to have the most complicated election process in the world with 193 million people spread over 17,000 islands, blockchain technology has successfully improved the transparency and integrity of <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/worldeconomicforum/2019/05/23/how-blockchain-strengthened-indonesian-democracy-and-could-the-same-elsewhere/?sh=77e821392c3a">election results</a>.</p>
<p>In the education sector, institutions are exploring the benefits of blockchain technology for record-keeping to enable students to take control of their accreditations without the need for an intermediary to verify authenticity. Another exciting possibility is using the technology to compile a virtual record of a person’s educational achievements throughout their lifetime.</p>
<h4 id="social-upheaval-for-the-better">Social upheaval for the better</h4>
<p>From its inception and unlike traditional financial services, cryptocurrency and blockchain have never been the exclusive domain of mainstream middle and upper classes. By improving political processes, health systems, and providing financial and entrepreneurial opportunities to the marginalized and those that old-guard institutions overlook, blockchain technology has the capacity to be a catalyst for diversity and inclusion.</p>
<p>Not-for-profit <a href="https://www.diversityinblockchain.io/">Diversity in Blockchain</a> is one of several groups committed to ensuring diverse people and communities are included in the artistic and creator opportunities blockchain presents.</p>
<p>As Katherine explains, there is a wealth of advantages these different perspectives can bring to NFT technologies. “My hope is to provide the best platform for Asian NFT generative artists to empower their art and voices and bridge the gap between the most serious art collectors and museum directors in the world. At the same time, sustainable spaces for representation are created when these digital creators are empowered to share their personal and collective identities through their art, without censorship and with true ownership,” she adds.</p>
<h4 id="investing-in-blockchain-growth">Investing in blockchain growth</h4>
<p>Singapore-based <a href="https://tribex.co/accelerator/">Tribe Accelerator</a> is a global blockchain incubator that selects the most promising growth-stage startups tackling real-world problems and supercharges their go-to-market strategies through its worldwide network.</p>
<p>The accelerator team works with the portfolio companies to co-design go-to-market strategies through partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, governments, and tech companies to drive mass adoption of their solutions.</p>
<p>Crunchbase recognizes the organization as one of the top 100 accelerators in the world. To date, Tribe Accelerator’s achievements include:</p>
<ul>
<li>32 nodes worldwide</li>
<li>1,200+ blockchain companies connected</li>
<li>100+ countries covered globally</li>
<li>S$70M raised by portfolio companies</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="a-new-center-of-gravity">A new center of gravity</h4>
<p>Home to some of the largest global companies, 60% of the world’s youth population, 50% of all internet users, and the fastest-growing blockchain market, Asia is the new center of global consumption and the largest economy in the world. As the decentralization of the internet and the opportunities provided by blockchain technologies continue their march on every facet of society, a new century of Asian leadership is here and with it an innovative generation setting new standards of what’s possible.</p>
India Art Fair: Tezos India brings Clean NFT Art to the Masses
<h2 id="tezos-india-and-befantastic-welcomed-visitors-into-the-world-of-digital-art-through-a-superlative-web3-experience-quite-unlike-anything-indias-burgeoning-art-scene-had-seen-before">Tezos India and BeFantastic welcomed visitors into the world of digital art through a superlative Web3 experience quite unlike anything India’s burgeoning art scene had seen before.</h2>
<p>Tezos India, the leading organization promoting the Tezos blockchain community in India, and BeFantastic, a TechArt platform that originated in Bangalore in 2017, recently joined forces to bring the world of clean NFTs and digital art to the 2022 India Art Fair.</p>
<p>An exclusive booth at India’s largest art exhibition exposed thousands of visitors to exclusive digital art NFTs minted on the Tezos blockchain, known for its energy efficiency.</p>
<p>Appearing on large format screens, the pieces attracted everyone from budding artists looking to make a name for themselves in India’s emerging digital arts sector to collectors and the curious public. According to Tezos India’s Poorvi Sachar, the partnership with BeFantastic and the inclusion of emerging Tezos NFT artists as part of the exhibition was merely the next logical step in Tezos India’s aim to onboard new and talented digital artists to the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>“We’re focused on activating art sponsorships, curation workshops, and partnering with platforms that enable artists, curators, and collectors to engage and evolve”, said Sachar.</p>
<h4 id="education-through-interaction">Education through interaction</h4>
<p>The activity was accompanied by a range of interactive features where visitors could get closer to the world of NFTs and artists. “A Selfie with Van Gogh NFT” allowed visitors to take a selfie with Van Gogh’s portrait, while visitors could also win original NFT works, including <em>Whale Tales</em> by artists Arnab Chakravarty (USA), Nikita Teresa Sarkar (India), Padmanabhan J (India), Sayak Shome (India) & Uma Khardekar (India), an art project that uses AI-generated imagery to interactively present stories about the role whales play in mitigating climate change.</p>
<p>Likewise, on the theme of climate change, the interactive online experience entitled <em>Earthling Meditations</em> by artists A. Morgan McKendry (USA), Edward Hutchins (Singapore), and Liactuallee (India), acted as a tool to meditate upon and collectively explore complex feelings around climate change. It was based on contemplative practices centered around nature, mindfulness, and community to spur climate action.</p>
<p>The projects were also accompanied by dialogs entitled <em>Neural Networking</em> and <em>NFTease</em>, which talked about how Artificial Intelligence and blockchains impact arts and culture.</p>
<p>Tezos India President Om Malviya, with Aparajita Jain, Director of Nature Morte, Founder of Terrain.art; Raghava KK (Artist) and Vasundhara Das, Actor, Musician & Radbot Creator, took part in <em>NFTease</em> – a panel that addressed some of the burning questions about the rise of NFTs and how the growing sector interacts with traditional art economies and peoples’ everyday lives.</p>
<h4 id="a-cultural-phenomenon">A cultural phenomenon</h4>
<p>Sachar said that the significant interest the artists and artworks have received off the back of the event are rooted in India’s enduring appreciation for arts and culture.</p>
<p>“Since time immemorial, the Indian people have depicted stories of their cultures in the form of artistic representation. It is deep-rooted in Indian society”, she said.</p>
<p>“In this new era, digital art is another way to express and share perspective with society with the added benefit of bringing new ways to interact.”</p>
How DOGAMÍ’s virtual NFT companions became an international success
<h2 id="in-late-february-2022-the-worlds-first-petaverse-dogami-launched-to-the-sound-of-raucous-cheers-from-avid-fans-across-the-tezos-community-in-conversation-with-dogami-ceo-max-stöckl-we-learn-how-the-dogami-team-has-capitalized-on-their-early-success-why-they-chose-tezos-and-what-they-have-in-store-for-the-rest-of-2022-and-beyond">In late February 2022, the world’s first ‘Petaverse’, DOGAMI, launched to the sound of raucous cheers from avid fans across the Tezos community. In conversation with DOGAMI CEO Max Stöckl, we learn how the DOGAMI team has capitalized on their early success, why they chose Tezos, and what they have in store for the rest of 2022 and beyond.</h2>
<p>Ask anyone in the Tezos community about one of the most successful NFT drops in recent times, and the name <a href="https://dogami.com/">DOGAMI</a> inevitably comes up. DOGAMI bills itself as the world’s first Petaverse, a mobile augmented reality (AR) game where players can adopt and raise a 3D dog NFT and earn $DOGA tokens as part of their gameplay. Each DOGAMÍ collectible will interact with the DOGAMI game, allowing owners of the virtual dogs to grow them (think: Tamagotchis from the 90s) and eventually compete with them in different games. DOGAMI also has its own native marketplace, where fans can collect and trade to build their collection.</p>
<p>According to Max Stöckl, the launch went smoothly, with the initial NFT drop of 8,000 DOGAMI NFTs selling out while at the same time avoiding bots, ensuring the NFTs went to fans across the community. “The secondary market (for DOGAMI NFTs) has been incredible”, said Stöckl, “it’s around six times the original price right now for a bronze-level DOGAMI. It’s amazing”.</p>
<p><strong>“Currently, we stand at about 2.5M XTZ in transaction volume across (NFT marketplaces) Objkt.com, Rarible.com, and our own marketplace.”</strong></p>
<p>DOGAMI’s early success is in part due to the huge community interest in the project and the efforts the DOGAMI team took to engage with the community, including exclusive looks at the design direction of the each of the four levels of DOGAMI NFTs (bronze, silver, gold, and diamond), and sneak peeks of the game’s design, which is due to launch later in 2022. Stöckl said the motivations for fans buying into the project are almost as varied as the DOGAMIs themselves. “Some just like the fact that the crypto price and the NFT price is so stable. Others are quite happy about the design. Others are here because they want to have a virtual replica of their dogs, and others are just here for the gaming. It’s really this wonderful mixture of different interests coming together. However, the largest common denominator in our audience is the passion for dogs”</p>
<p>“Personally, I really like the vibe on the Discord; it’s usually positive and constructive.”</p>
<h4 id="building-on-tezos">Building on Tezos</h4>
<p>Stöckl was quick to point out that the decision by the team to base DOGAMI on the Tezos blockchain has been a factor in the project’s initial success. “We’re big fans of the technology, and I’m very impressed by the recent Ithaca update.</p>
<p>“Updating any software while it operates is tricky, so upgrading a running ‘operating system’ like a blockchain without any disruption feels like magic. The guys & girls at the core developer teams like Nomadic Labs have done an amazing job.”</p>
<p>“Both the core developer teams and also the Tezos Foundation have been amazingly supportive. We’d love to see even more grassroots projects in the Tezos ecosystem.”</p>
<h4 id="no-rest-for-the-team-in-2022">No rest for the team in 2022</h4>
<p>Far from resting on their collective laurels, the DOGAMI team have stacked the remainder of 2022 with a plethora of releases and updates to keep fans engaged.. Fans can expect a second NFT drop, while the team is also planning a series of accessory drops with big-name sports and fashion brands. The team also aims to launch the ‘puppy’ phase of the DOGAMI gaming experience; like the Tamagotchis that are perhaps DOGAMI’s digital ancestors, each NFT puppy goes through a lifecycle. ‘Owners’ need to bond with their virtual companion to help them grow. Once launched, players will also be able to earn $DOGA tokens.</p>
<p>“Once the puppy phase is released, we’re going to work on the adult phase for the rest of the year”, said Stöckl, “then we’ll deliver that in due course”.</p>
NFTs in Asia: How the journey of making, selling and buying art has advanced
<h2 id="few-people-in-asia-had-heard-of-non-fungible-tokens-nfts-just-a-few-years-ago-but-now-nfts-are-creating-an-artistic-and-economic-boom-in-the-region-we-spoke-to-three-distinct-voices-from-asias-arts-community-to-explore-the-impact-digitization-and-blockchain-technologyin-the-form-of-nftshave-had-on-the-asia-arts-scene-what-does-it-mean-for-creators-audiences-and-those-whove-traditionally-made-their-businesses-or-investments-around-art">Few people in Asia had heard of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) just a few years ago, but now NFTs are creating an artistic and economic boom in the region. We spoke to three distinct voices from Asia’s arts community to explore the impact digitization and blockchain technology—in the form of NFTs—have had on the Asia arts scene. What does it mean for creators, audiences, and those who’ve traditionally made their businesses or investments around art?</h2>
<h4 id="creating-nft-art-an-artists-perspective">Creating NFT art: an artist’s perspective</h4>
<p>Brunei-based generative artist <a href="https://hicetnunc.art/yazid">Yazid Azahari</a> minted his first NFT in early 2021 and says adopting the technology has changed how he thinks about creating art.</p>
<p>“Prior to that, I don’t think I truly ever allowed myself to accept the identity of an ‘artist’—that I could create art because I wanted to, and have people appreciate and wish to own it. Seeing the interest and appreciation also drove me to want to continue improving my craft,” Azahari said.</p>
<p>“Now, I truly believe anyone serious enough about it can experience creative fulfillment from creating art through NFTs.”</p>
<p>Azahari has a thriving career in the technology industry after taking what he describes as the ‘pragmatic route’ to study IT, but he has been creating visual and code-based art since his teens and also dabbled in graphic design as a side gig.</p>
<p>He revived his interest in code-based art in recent years, using software to produce generative art in the form of interactive NFTs that produce variations of a work with a click.</p>
<p>“I loved that you could use code to generate a large number of creative permutations of the same artwork using the exact same codebase.”</p>
<p>Azahari has since successfully released a number of NFT collections featuring his abstract, minimalist style of digital art and participated in <a href="https://www.cryptoartweekasia.com/artists/yazid-azahari">Crypto Art Week Asia</a>. He’s chosen to make and sell his digital art NFTs via several <a href="https://tezos.com/nftgallery/#marketplaces">marketplaces that use the Tezos blockchain</a> including collections on <a href="https://www.fxhash.xyz/generative/44">fx(hash)</a> and <a href="https://hicetnunc.art/yazid">Hic Et Nunc (HEN)</a>, which he favored due to their inherently low fees, open nature, unique technical capabilities, and strong sense of community.</p>
<p>In particular, Azahari likes how fx(hash) enables creators and collectors to more easily mint and access pieces that change over time.</p>
<p>“The platform has unique technical abilities that allows artists to publish “generators” and for collectors to mint unique iterations of the generator as individual generative art NFTs—something that could be found on other chains but either had a long curation queue or was financially restrictive due to the network fees.”</p>
<p>He thinks the medium opens up economic and career opportunities for creators from previously under-represented locations in Asia and around the world.</p>
<p>Azahari’s comments are epitomized by his work being featured alongside 21 other artists supported by TZ APAC at this year’s <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/pioneering-nft-artists-set-to-illuminate-art-basel-hong-kong-2022/">Art Basel Hong Kong</a>, the premier arts event for Asia and part of Art Basel’s global calendar of events.</p>
<p>“In my case, I’ve never felt better or more fulfilled about using my skills and abilities to create things, so I plan on continuing to create art through NFTs for as long as the practice allows me to feel this way about my craft.”</p>
<h4 id="how-nfts-have-changed-art-a-curators-insights">How NFTs have changed art: a curator’s insights</h4>
<p>Joyce Toh is an independent contemporary art curator with over 20 years of experience in the arts and cultural sector in Singapore and overseas, including the role of senior curator of the Singapore Art Museum.</p>
<p>Toh said the rapid rise of crypto art and NFTs would not negate other types of contemporary art but has shifted presentation methods and the make-up of audiences and collectors as well.</p>
<p>“We’re going to see a lot more work on screens as opposed to physical, real world spaces,” she said.</p>
<p>She said that while conventional notions of art are object-based—a painting or a sculpture—many long-standing contemporary art styles like performance art, conceptual art, video, and new media are non-physical and have been presented in major shows but less collected.</p>
<p>“An NFT is visually a lot more accessible: viewership can be distributed to a lot more people across the world because all you need is a screen. Some might say, ‘If a million people can view it, what’s the value?’ But I’d say ownership is quite different from simply viewing a work.”</p>
<p>The role of curators in working with artists and preparing works for exhibit according to themes will not change according to Toh, but more effort may be needed to make crypto art meaningful to audiences.</p>
<p>“As it is a new media, there’s quite a lot of interpretation that has to be done. Some audiences are savvy, but many are new to digital art and are skeptical. We need to give people some clues so it’s not so alien or bizarre,” Toh said.</p>
<p>“I do see there is a distinct new breed of art lover, and these are simply people who are far more adept with living in the crypto world, so it’s almost certainly a much younger audience.”</p>
<p>Toh believes digital asset ownership will become commonplace. She is also co-founder of an art-tech startup launching in June 2022 called <a href="https://www.arto.global/about.html">ARTO</a>, which is a social discovery app for people to engage and consume art in ways that fit their lifestyles. ARTO offers original artworks, art merchandise, and digital collectibles, such as NFTs.</p>
<p>“What we see with digital natives is that life in the digital space is very rich and full—the metaverse seems far-fetched to some people but if you consider how much time younger people spend online, this is the space that consumers are in, and it’s the space ARTO wants to be in,” she said.</p>
<p>Toh said after the shock of NFTs’ impact in the past two years, such as the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/11/arts/design/nft-auction-christies-beeple.html">$69 million dollar sale</a> of Beeple’s digital art NFT, the traditional art scene is quickly becoming more open-minded and expansive.</p>
<p>“The newsworthiness of NFTs has brought art to a lot more people’s attention. It’s getting people excited and talking about art—and the more people curious about art, the better.”</p>
<p>In terms of what collectors should look for when buying NFT art, Toh said people should seek out what they enjoy in their hearts and mind, and not purchase art based on a trend.</p>
<p>“I believe art is fundamental to our humanity no matter what form it takes. If you’re going to collect something—whether it’s physical or digital—if it speaks to you, it’s worth it, even if its price in the market fluctuates.”</p>
<h4 id="the-value-of-nft-art-a-collectors-outlook">The value of NFT art: a collector’s outlook</h4>
<p>Collecting digital art because it speaks to your heart is a philosophy embraced by Ting Song, who’s collection currently boasts over 1,000 art NFTs. This includes a personal collection of around 400 NFTs and over 700 pieces owned by a DAO Song created, which collected them through Objkt—the largest NFT marketplace on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>With roots in China’s open-source culture, including organizing hackathons in her youth, Song is an emerging crypto art influencer (named by <a href="https://generationt.asia/people/ting-song">Tatler Asia in 2021</a> as a young leader shaping Asia’s future). She’s also a recognized artist—currently touring her immersive play called <a href="https://www.tingmuseum.art/peony-dream-reve">Peony Dream</a>, which combines AI and human characters and embedded NFTs—and has curated multiple physical and virtual exhibitions of NFTs.</p>
<p>Her growing NFT art collection reflects her passion for bringing the world of blockchain, AI, and art together.</p>
<p>“I started collecting when I sold my first NFT artwork in 2020. I received precious love and support, and I want to spread that love and support too,” Song said.</p>
<p>Song has purchased NFTs from artists from Korea, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia and gravitates towards art based on engineering innovation, traditional ethnic culture topics, and Web3 approaches to re-imagining fine art.</p>
<p>While Song collects based on her interests, she also views NFTs as a long-term investment that offers peace of mind and carefully researches each piece.</p>
<p>“They are born in digital ways, so they should be stored and collected in digital form. I am enjoying the dividends of the growth of the digital economy.</p>
<p>“I will usually choose a period of time when I feel very chill, and have a cup of tea, open my browsers and start looking and doing my own research to discover and buy NFTs.</p>
<p>“After using my detective skills to explore artists, I feel HEN on the Tezos blockchain is one of the best platforms because there are many famous artists selling, they have some of the strongest works at low prices, and it’s an ecosystem that’s full of diversity.”</p>
<p>Song enjoys interacting with, and showcasing, her NFT art collection—she even built an online exhibition space called <a href="https://www.tingmuseum.art/home">Ting Museum</a>.</p>
<p>“I coded and built an art metaverse for myself to display my beloved artworks and the collections of others. Over 500,000 people have viewed the museum, and I’ve also created six exhibitions with more than 100 artists from all over the world participating.”</p>
<p>She believes it’s more likely that future generations will refer to art forms like NFTs or games (rather than an oil painting) when they reflect on the current era.</p>
<p>“The past is important, and the present is also important. We may be witnessing the rolling of the wheel of cultural history—the world is different from art history. Because the definition of “art” is often in the hands of later generations.”</p>
Pioneering NFT artists set to illuminate Art Basel Hong Kong 2022
<h2 id="pioneering-asian-and-global-generative-nft-artists-are-set-to-illuminate-art-basel-hong-kong-2022-at-250m-tezos-nft-exhibition">Pioneering Asian and Global Generative NFT Artists Are Set to Illuminate Art Basel Hong Kong 2022 at 250m² Tezos NFT Exhibition</h2>
<p>Pioneering Asian and global generative NFT artists are set to illuminate <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/articles/nfts-the-ever-evolving-world-of-art-at-art-basel-hk-2022/">Art Basel Hong Kong 2022 </a>at a 250m² Tezos NFT exhibition. With a dedicated 250m² exhibition space located at Hall 1A of Hong Kong’s Convention & Exhibition Centre, ‘NFTs + The Ever-Evolving World of Art’ will see numerous projected works by leading generative and NFT artists hailing from the region across Brunei, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea. The exhibition will also see global representation, with artists from both North America and Europe, specifically from Bulgaria, Canada, France, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland, and the United States. Below, we profile each of the artists, their inspirations, and their work.</p>
<h4 id="shih-yun-yeo">Shih Yun Yeo</h4>
<p>A celebrated Singaporean contemporary artist, <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1527819746330267648?s=20&t=ntWVPS7Mzz-HgahiCAi97A">Shih Yun’s work</a> has been exhibited around the world and she’s won multiple awards for her paintings. Her painting, “Conversations with Trees” was a finalist, and was awarded the People’s Choice Award, in the Sovereign Asian Art Prize in 2012. Her digital art is influenced by abstract expressionism and reinterprets traditional forms and mythologies using new media, performance art and NFT video art.</p>
<h4 id="qingnan-tang">Qingnan Tang</h4>
<p>The Singapore-based physicist and artist shares his oriental and abstract generative NFT art under the moniker Random Combo, with a number of sought-after collections minted on NFT marketplaces powered by the Tezos network. Developed using code, the imagery of Random Combo’s art often includes landscapes that evoke a sense of beauty and zen, such as his ‘Mei’ collection.</p>
<h4 id="chae-seok-lim">Chae-seok Lim</h4>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1528640686379114497?s=20&t=1b_1YQTR-XuMG-E1un0hOA">CS LIM</a>’s background includes working as an engineer and developer on AI and blockchain projects. The South Korean artist takes an experimental approach to applying AI to create generative NFT art that depicts landscapes that blend traditional eastern genres with western expressionism. He’s interested in how AI models can produce infinite worlds and transitions as a way to interpret quantum mechanics theories that challenge our ideas about the nature of reality.</p>
<h4 id="nicolas-sassoon">Nicolas Sassoon</h4>
<p>Nicolas is a French-Canadian artist whose focus is on using early computer imaging processes to create digital art. He enjoys working within the limitations of simple computer graphics to explore the contemplative and fantastical nature of screen-based space through pixelated forms, figures, geometric designs (moiré patterns), and architectural studies. He has exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, House of Electronic Art Basil, and New York Fashion Week.</p>
<h4 id="lionel-radisson">Lionel Radisson</h4>
<p>Lionel uses code, and particularly JavaScript, to generate unique artworks that blend randomness, abstract expressionism and geometric patterns. Known as makio135 in the cryptoart world, this French creative coder is always looking to push the artistic limits of generative art to discover new techniques. This explorative outlook is also represented in the themes of his work—his ‘Hōrō’ collection inspires a sense of discovery through abstract scenes that mix “the purity of architectural lines with the unpredictable movements of passers-by.”</p>
<h4 id="yazid-azahari">Yazid Azahari</h4>
<p>Creating interactive digital art NFTs is something Yazid is known for—generating a large number of permutations of the same artwork using the same codebase. Aesthetically, his generative art incorporates early graphic design, abstract and minimalist styles including occasional pop art influences. Yazid is also a successful IT industry professional working in Brunei. He minted his first NFT in 2021, has released multiple collections and was a featured artist and speaker at Crypto Art Week Asia.</p>
<h4 id="munira-hamzah">Munira Hamzah</h4>
<p>Munira is a Malaysian-based poet, songwriter and artist, who creates digital art under the aliases Moon and <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1523174700574134273?s=20&t=vfNEEf2VlUsrWQOidAZhmQ">Mumu the stan</a>. She worked in the creative industry before pursuing art full-time and makes pixel art and bold digital illustrations that touch on pop culture as well as themes of mental health, feminism and religion. She began by sharing fandom art, and received support online via her idol Mike Shinoda from the band Linkin Park—who was an early collector of her NFTs. She’s also an advocate of clean NFTs.</p>
<h4 id="charles-bjorn-zarraga-calleja">Charles Bjorn Zarraga Calleja</h4>
<p>A painter and animator, <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1527543444847173632?s=20&t=v9nzMstny1T2afNE6oLHug">Charles</a> is one of the Philippines most popular NFT creators. His work has been exhibited widely, both locally and abroad. His signature style features cartoonish and grotesque characters, often with large or drooping eyes, and typically a bright color palette. He experimented with animation for many years to add a new layer of meaning to his paintings before discovering NFT minting on the Tezos blockchain, where he “finally found a home for these GIFs.” Charles mints animated GIFs created using hand-painted frames, which feature narratives of transformation and journeys that speak of internal struggles and triumphs of existence.</p>
<h4 id="iskra-velitchkova">Iskra Velitchkova</h4>
<p>Iskra creates art using generative technology, neural networks and computer learning as well as plastics, canvas and clay. Her use of multiple techniques that mix digital and physical forms reflects her interest in exploring both limits and traditional roots. Her generative art depicts abstract and figurative images and asks the question: ‘Can machines make us more human?’ Iskra is a Bulgarian generative artist currently based in Madrid, whose background includes a career in data visualization and information design.</p>
<h4 id="michaël-zancan">Michaël Zancan</h4>
<p>A French creator who has been passionate about programming since he was a teen, Michaël has practiced painting, street art and drawing throughout his art career before becoming a leading figure in the experimental NFT art style of plotter art. Michaël’s code-based images exist as NFTs and can also be transferred to paper via a computer-directed pen plotter—giving the quality of being handmade. He describes himself as ‘Bewitched by density, plant and trees’ and often creates images of stone monoliths and other structures in natural, overgrown scenes.</p>
<h4 id="sarah-ridgley">Sarah Ridgley</h4>
<p>By exploring the space between the hand-drawn and the computer-drawn, Sarah is a US-based generative artist who aims to blur the boundaries and reflect a collaboration between humans and computers. She makes generative art using code and algorithms to introduce random parameters, stating that “All my work is the result of highly-ordered chaos.” Her digital art takes inspiration from nature, often with a painterly style, and more abstract pieces that feature textures, lines and repeating patterns. She’s also released generative poetry NFTs based on algorithmic asemic writing.</p>
<h4 id="aleksandra-jovanić">Aleksandra Jovanić</h4>
<p>Aleksandra is a Serbian artist, programmer, web designer and professor of new media at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade. She creates interactive art, generative art and art games that explore nonlinear narratives and the use of computer games logic and rules. While simplified shapes and lines feature in her work, the imagery hints at real-world concepts—she describes her pieces as ‘borderline figurative’.</p>
<h4 id="song-ting">Song Ting</h4>
<p>One of China’s leading NFT artists and a blockchain influencer across Asia, <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac/status/1528934960702398465?s=20&t=1b_1YQTR-XuMG-E1un0hOA">Ting</a> combines poetry, performance, AI and cryptoart to create conceptual artwork that reimagines traditional Chinese culture. She’s participated in, and curated, multiple NFT art exhibitions, worked with multiple global brands on NFT projects, been named by Forbes in its ‘30 under 30’ list, and made the 2021 Tatler Asia list of 300 rising leaders shaping Asia’s future.</p>
<h4 id="park-se-jin">Park Se Jin</h4>
<p>Se Jin, who’s known as the artist 08AM, creates paintings and digital art including 3D animations of pixel art and wearable NFTs that are inspired by popular culture including street art. His artwork has been exhibited widely across South Korea—where he’s based—and internationally. 08AM has also collaborated with brands including Samsung Electronics, File and Pringles.</p>
<h4 id="fan-yi-wen">Fan Yi Wen</h4>
<p>Chinese algorithmic artist Yi Wen is a programmer who has worked as an R&D engineer in the film industry and on virtual and augmented reality projects. Yi Wen’s interest shifted to exploring the relationship between technology and art, and their works—created under the name Reva—have been displayed at multiple exhibitions. A full-time crypto artist since 2020, Reva creates generative, GLSL and fractal art that explores the collision between machine and nature.</p>
<h4 id="matt-deslauriers">Matt DesLauriers</h4>
<p>Matt is a Canadian-born artist based in London who writes code and algorithms to produce images, 3D models and instructions for plotter art. His generative art NFTs feature other-worldly landscapes in the form of topographic maps and stratified landforms. His interactive installations have been displayed in special events at the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Art Gallery of Ontario.</p>
<h4 id="wieslaw-borkowski">Wieslaw Borkowski</h4>
<p>Wieslaw, who is better known as the artist Baiwei, is Polish but has largely lived and practiced his art in China, where he gained a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Painting—becoming the first foreigner to win the Grand Prix award for the best diploma thesis. His artwork fuses East and West traditions and has appeared in numerous solo and group exhibitions across China and globally.</p>
<h4 id="eko-33">Eko 33</h4>
<p>Eko33 has been creating art using computers since 1999 when he first began experimenting with his Commodore SX-64. He has taught creative coding at world-class art schools in France and Switzerland and had his first exhibition at Seoul’s Museum of Art during the International Media Art Biennial and was featured at Art Basel Miami 2021. His abstract generative art NFTs span concepts such as time, utopia and the fine line between order and chaos.</p>
<h4 id="marcelo-soria-rodriguez">Marcelo Soria-Rodriguez</h4>
<p>Based in Madrid, Marcelo is a digital strategist and generative artist who experiments with different techniques and AI to find—and push—the boundaries of cognitive-emotional spaces. He uses technology as a medium and a subject, aiming to create digital art that resonates and has an impact. His abstract and geometric digital art NFTs touch on themes such as string theory, impermanence, time scales and music.</p>
<h4 id="ryan-bell">Ryan Bell</h4>
<p>Ryan is an US-based generative artist who also works as a software engineer. He believes generative art enables people to explore a piece from different angles, much like sculpture—where the artist sculpts the process. His creative process typically starts with writing algorithms to solve a technical problem to discover interesting results. Ryan’s often playful and colorful digital art NFTs explore topics including autonomous machines and modern physics.</p>
<h4 id="jinyao-lin">Jinyao Lin</h4>
<p>Jinyao has an impressive academic record including a Masters of Fine Art, a PhD in Computer Science and Bachelor of Music. The award-winning Taiwanese composer and artist creates works covering multimedia, installation art, drama, music and generative art NFTs. Lin often uses photos of nature and scenery as references for inspiring his artwork. His NFT collections have been featured by fashion magazine Marie Claire.</p>
<h4 id="aluan-wang">Aluan Wang</h4>
<p>A creative coder and new media artist, Aluan is an internationally recognised pioneer of Taiwan’s audiovisual art field. He’s won the top prize at Digital Art Festival Taipei multiple times. His artwork tends to focus on social issues and a concern for the land and culture through creations that incorporate elements of fantasy and a cyberpunk style.</p>
<h4 id="max-oshima">Max Oshima</h4>
<p>Also known as lunarean, Max is a software developer and admired emerging NFT artist. Lunarean discovered generative art recently through the works of Jared Tarbell and was fascinated by systems like chaotic attractors and fractals where simple rules can produce beautiful, complex results. His successful ‘Solace’ collection minted on the Tezos blockchain featured striking imagery of sand dunes made up of hundreds of thousands of tiny points.</p>
NUS Computing Joins Forces with TZ APAC to Develop Singapore’s Next Generation of Tech Innovators
<h2 id="asia-based-blockchain-adoption-entity-tz-apac-will-be-spearheading-the-blockchain-curriculum-at-new-centre-for-nurturing-computing-excellence">Asia-based blockchain adoption entity TZ APAC will be spearheading the blockchain curriculum at new Centre for Nurturing Computing Excellence</h2>
<p>TZ APAC is pleased to announce a partnership with the National University of Singapore School of Computing (NUS Computing) to set up the Centre for Nurturing Computing Excellence. Led by Associate Professor Tan Sun Teck from NUS Computing, the new Centre will empower students to learn from real-world industry experts in fields such as blockchain technology, cloud computing, and data science.</p>
<p>Singapore is fast becoming a leader in blockchain technology, and the blockchain ecosystem in Singapore and around the world has seen substantial growth in recent years. To meet the growing demand, it is crucial for top schools such as NUS Computing to build a strong talent pipeline in this fast-growing field and to ensure that computing talents in the country are well-equipped to harness the potential of blockchain technology, in combination with other complementary technologies, to contribute towards Singapore’s digital economy.</p>
<p>“Over the past few years, Singapore has established itself as a leading destination for tech enterprises in breakthrough industries. By partnering with pioneering organizations such as TZ APAC, students will have the opportunity to benefit from real-world expertise at a critical juncture of their education,” said Associate Professor Tan from NUS Computing. “In establishing this Centre for Nurturing Computing Excellence, we hope to raise the bar for computing education in the country and across the region, as we nurture the next generation of tech talent.”</p>
<p>Assoc Prof Tan is also responsible for training and coaching students participating in internationally-renowned programming contests such as the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI), and the International Collegiate Programming Contest. In 2021, he led the Singapore IOI team to achieve the best showing in its history, winning 3 gold medals and a silver medal.</p>
<p>The IOI is a competition of significance across the crypto ecosystem, with many leading figures across the industry having participated. Notably, early architect of Tezos Arthur Breitman was an IOI contestant who represented France and secured a bronze medal. Other prominent figures in the Tezos ecosystem who have participated in the IOI include the President of France-IOI Mathias Hiron and Nomadic Labs Senior Software Engineer Mehdi Bouaziz. In addition, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin was a bronze medalist who competed for Canada.</p>
<p>To boost blockchain literacy amongst students involved with the IOI as well as secondary and tertiary students, TZ APAC will create a blockchain developer curriculum where students will be able to learn directly from TZ APAC team members across hybrid virtual and in-person classes, workshops, hackathons and tutorials based on use cases within the Tezos ecosystem. With education as a key priority within the Tezos ecosystem, the establishment of the Centre for Nurturing Computing Excellence comes on the back of past engagements with other higher education institutions across the region including Kyoto University, Nagoya University, and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.</p>
<p>Colin Miles, newly-appointed CEO of TZ APAC, said: “Over the past year, we’ve seen a great deal of progress across Asia’s blockchain ecosystem in terms of meaningful adoption and TZ APAC has played a significant role in driving this growth — whether across enterprising projects building on Tezos or pioneering NFT artists looking to enter the digital frontier. In partnering with NUS Computing, we hope to advance a future in which blockchain education isn’t something limited to niche developer communities, but a vital part of computing curriculums across some of the region’s leading universities.”</p>
<p>TZ APAC’s commitment to Singapore is timely considering that investments in the country’s blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem saw a tenfold increase from 2020 to 2021, with 82 deals valued at a combined US$1.48 billion according to KPMG. In line with this, the TZ APAC Tezos Developer Hub will also be launched in the central business district of Singapore.</p>
<p>TZ APAC, along with other community entities, is backed by a ~US$1.2 billion ecosystem war chest stewarded by the Tezos Foundation to support some of the most promising local and regional projects. Serving as the entity’s new APAC headquarters at City House, the TZ APAC Tezos Developer Hub is a testament to TZ APAC’s long-standing commitment to cultivating blockchain talent in Singapore and across the region.</p>
Adopting the blockchain: who is involved and what is at stake?
<h2 id="regardless-of-the-protocol-used-a-blockchain-has-a-lot-of-moving-parts-there-are-many-layers-to-a-blockchain-protocol-and-quite-a-few-stakeholders-involved-along-the-way-here-we-look-at-the-different-parts-of-the-blockchain-and-who-has-a-hand-in-getting-it-moving">Regardless of the protocol used, a blockchain has a lot of moving parts. There are many layers to a blockchain protocol, and quite a few stakeholders involved along the way. Here we look at the different parts of the blockchain and who has a hand in getting it moving.</h2>
<h3 id="key-parts-of-the-blockchain-and-key-stakeholders">Key parts of the blockchain and key stakeholders</h3>
<h4 id="layer-one---the-infrastructure-layer">Layer one - the infrastructure layer</h4>
<p>A blockchain is a collection of components or layers, the first being the hardware infrastructure layer. When it comes to blockchain, this hardware layer is a group of peer-to-peer machines computing, validating and recording transactions on a shared ledger. The result is a distributed database, or ledger storing all the transactions carried out on the blockchain.</p>
<p>The hardware layer has a number of stakeholders, in particular those people who operate nodes in the blockchain. The hardware layer is also comprised of the cloud providers who host the DApps written for the particular blockchain protocol in question.</p>
<h4 id="layer-two---the-data-layer">Layer two - the data layer</h4>
<p>The second layer is the data layer which, in a blockchain, is expressed as linked blocks containing transactions. The data structure consists of two elements: pointers and a linked list. The linked list is the chain of blocks containing data, while the pointers refer back to the previous block.</p>
<p>The data layer is a Merkle tree of binary hashes, providing security, integrity, and irrefutability. Data contained in the blockchain is digitally signed, with a private key to sign the transactions and a public key - anyone with the public key can use it to verify the block signer. The digital signature ensures data can’t be tampered with, because tampering renders the signature invalid.</p>
<p>Stakeholders in the data layer include anyone who is processing transactions on the blockchain (that is, adding blocks) as well as the node providers and those developers who are writing smart contracts and dApps for the blockchain.</p>
<h4 id="layer-three---the-network-layer">Layer three - the network layer</h4>
<p>Layer three is the network layer, or the P2P layer as it’s commonly known. Each machine in the blockchain acts as a node and the network layer binds them together and allows them to communicate. Discovery, transactions and block propagation are all handled by the network layer.</p>
<p>The network layer has several stakeholders, including those operating the node and those with vested interests in creating blocks, writing smart contracts, and developers handling dApps.</p>
<h4 id="layer-four---consensus">Layer four - Consensus</h4>
<p>The fourth layer is consensus, and without a consensus layer a blockchain cannot exist. The consensus layer, regardless of the blockchain protocol being used - in the case of Tezos it’s Liquid Proof of Stake - permits block validation, block order, and ensures that there is agreement on transactions.</p>
<p>For the consensus layer, stakeholders are everyone involved in the blockchain, from those baking blocks and transacting to developers and node providers.</p>
<h4 id="layer-five---the-application-layer">Layer five - the application layer</h4>
<p>Finally, there’s the application layer. This consists of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). It’s further divided into the application and execution layers. Scripts, APIs, user interfaces and frameworks are all part of the application layer.</p>
<p>This final layer has a number of stakeholders. Everyone involved in the blockchain has an interest in ensuring the application layer functions, but those with a particular interest include those people writing smart contracts and dApps for the blockchain.</p>
<h3 id="protocol-layer-stakeholders">Protocol layer stakeholders</h3>
<p>There are three groups of stakeholders in the protocol layer – developers, researchers, and academia.</p>
<p>The role of developers depends on whether the blockchain is a private or public chain. In the case of a public chain, the underlying protocol is open source, meaning anyone can access it. Developers have the job of setting up the protocols serving the networks. They can also, through the consensus process, submit changes to the protocol.</p>
<p>With a private blockchain, developers have a different role. They have the job of developing the underlying protocol and submitting changes privately to the blockchain operator.</p>
<p>Researchers and academia can contribute to either type of blockchain, with their changes to the algorithm also going through the consensus process.</p>
<h3 id="network-layer-stakeholders">Network layer stakeholders</h3>
<p>The network layer is composed of two groups of stakeholders: the validator nodes and a blockchain ecosystem’s participants.</p>
<p>For validators, the networking layer dictates how the underlying protocols operate. Validators run nodes, which store a complete copy of the blockchain in question on their devices/ operating systems.</p>
<p>There are limited numbers of nodes with a private blockchain, and the number of validators are therefore not as important. For a public blockchain, the nodes are the essence of the blockchain’s decentralized nature. The more nodes, the more entities are there to validate transactions on the network.</p>
<p>When designing the network, it’s also important to consider who is participating in the network (public or private); what the transaction and energy costs will be; the difficulty of participating in the network, including the specialized hardware required for a node; and finally, how large the network is going to be.</p>
<p>For the blockchain ecosystem, regulators will play an increasing role in the future. Although public blockchains lack centralized authority, private blockchains, particularly those in the financial services industries, will likely become subject to regulation as time goes on.</p>
<h3 id="application-layer-stakeholders">Application layer stakeholders</h3>
<p>The top layer, or the application layer, has five groups of stakeholders, including developers, entrepreneurs, corporations, end-users, and investors.</p>
<p>Developers are the ones in the trenches, doing the actual technical work of coding the blockchain, along with the smart contracts and dApps. It’s critical to have developer support early on, as well as professional product managers who can scope the project and communicate in a language developers understand.</p>
<p>Entrepreneurs build applications on top of the blockchain protocols. Their motivation is varied, as some will simply want to make a profit, while others are disruptors looking to innovate beyond existing industries and services.</p>
<p>End users are the people who use applications and services on the blockchain. Their buy-in is important because it informs what entrepreneurs develop. End users impact the businesses created on the blockchain, and they exist because current services do not match their needs, so they are looking toward non-traditional services. This could be art, currency or smart contracts.</p>
<p>Corporations are looking to blockchain solutions, particularly private blockchain, to solve business problems that can’t be fixed using existing technologies. They interact with both external and internal stakeholders, especially regulators and end-users.</p>
<p>Finally, as their name suggests, venture capitalists provide the working capital to establish a blockchain infrastructure. They are motivated by the hunt for outsized returns on their investment, looking for better ways of doing business.</p>
<h3 id="energy-usage">Energy usage</h3>
<p>When selecting a blockchain, the decision also needs to come down to energy efficiency of the chain and the amount of energy it requires to run and complete transactions. Proof of Work blockchains use up excessive energy as they demand high computing power, with the greenhouse effects coming from massive power consumption.</p>
<p>Tezos uses a Liquid Proof of Stake as its consensus method, a technique which is far more energy efficient than Proof of Work. With PoS, trust is put in the number of tokens held by a baker (Tezos parlance for mining). The bakers then take turns baking the next block in the chain, instead of competing through raw computing power. This component changes the energy requirements of the blockchain.</p>
<p>Put another way, choosing the right blockchain protocol matters when building a sustainable blockchain business.</p>
<p>Hurdles and blockers: what they are and how to address them</p>
<p>We will come out and say it: building an enterprise, or enterprise applications on the blockchain isn’t easy. There are hurdles and blockers getting in the way. Two of the best tips for getting around these are to:</p>
<ol>
<li>Engage a good blockchain consultant</li>
<li>Get involved with advocacy groups and adoption entities</li>
</ol>
<p>Here, we look at some of the other details which might get in the way of your blockchain initiative:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Stakeholders. It’s important to take into account the people involved in any decision to implement a blockchain solution. Stakeholders and steering committees within large organizations such as financial institutions involve between six and ten key decision makers. Within an organization, the adoption of blockchain is seen as a huge technical undertaking that involves a number of departments, including technology, risk, compliance, legal and business operations. Without the help of a blockchain consultant, it is very difficult for employees to scope out the business requirements, risk mitigations, and technical requirements.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Full stack readiness. To develop a blockchain project or to integrate blockchain goes beyond just smart contract development. This can include everything from front-end to back-end development. It is important to plan for the full stack architecture and understand the technical requirements before commencing.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Deciding on the right blockchain. Choosing the right blockchain for the project is critical. Will the blockchain be used for just data storage or does it involve complex operations? These factors will determine the right blockchain for different use cases.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Speaking the right language. Different blockchains also mean utilizing different programming languages and requires hiring developers with specific technical knowledge. A popular blockchain like Ethereum which uses Solidity may have more hits when searched on Google. However, at the same time a more diversified community such as Tezos has a more tight-knit developer community which offers the ability to exchange ideas and provide support.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Security. Blockchain isn’t necessarily more secure than other solutions; there are just different ways to attack it. This is because policy matters. People maintaining the policy should not be the ones who execute it, and vice versa.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>There is also some argument about the enforceability of smart contracts which is beyond the scope of this article. Put simply, whether or not a smart contract is enforceable comes down to jurisdiction law - contracts written across multiple jurisdictions, as could well happen with a smart contract on a distributed ledger, haven’t been tested in court.</p>
Applying blockchain across different markets and regulatory environments
<h2 id="the-china-scenario">The China scenario</h2>
<p>In late 2021, the People’s Bank of China cracked down on cryptocurrency. From September, all crypto-related activities became illegal, including trading digital assets, order matching, token issuance, and derivatives. Along with making crypto illegal in mainland China, the order also forbade overseas crypto exchanges from providing services within China.</p>
<p>In part, this is because crypto is unregulated, a situation that doesn’t mesh with China’s top-down command economy. But while cryptocurrencies and trading is illegal, the underlying technology, blockchain, has a lot of support from China’s leadership.</p>
<p>China has determined it will become a global leader in technology and manufacturing through its Made in China 2025 plan. This plan has two goals – to reduce China’s reliance on foreign countries and to become a high-tech, high value-add manufacturing hub. And blockchain has a part to play in these goals, with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling on the country in 2019 to adopt blockchain technologies as a way of promoting innovation.</p>
<p>China’s efforts to adopt blockchain were bolstered in April 2020 with the establishment of the National Blockchain and Distributed Accounting Technology Standardization Technical Committee. Committee members include big players like JD.com, Ant Financial, Huawei, and others. It will also bring in researchers from academic institutions, as well as members of local governments.</p>
<p>The nation’s commitment to blockchain technology is underscored by the fact China has established a national Blockchain-Based Service Network (BSN), of which Tezos is a part. The BSN is designed as a hosting platform for small and large companies engaged in blockchain-related activities.</p>
<p>The BSN framework is composed of government departments, banks, and tech companies and is designed to allow participants the ability to construct their own blockchain applications at a minimal cost. The blockchain service is built on the Alibaba cloud.</p>
<p>The main government regulatory agency for blockchain within China is the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAoN). All blockchain-related activities must register with this agency, but it’s not the only blockchain regulatory agency: others include The People’s Bank of China, The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the China Banking Regulatory Commission.</p>
<h3 id="blockchain-initiatives-in-china">Blockchain initiatives in China</h3>
<p>Despite banning cryptocurrencies, the People’s Bank Of China has expressed interest in creating a central bank digital currency (CBDC) – the digital yuan. China is leading the world in CBDC; in April 2021, the nation had finished research and development, built a technology platform and launched a live version of its CBDC, known as DC/EP, or Digital Currency Electronic Payment.</p>
<p>This platform is under trial in a number of cities, including Chengdu, Shenzhen and Suzhou, while the Chinese central government has also flagged that it is going to release the digital yuan by the 2022 Winter Olympics. This move has boosted public awareness and acts as a hard deadline for implementation.</p>
<p>Finance, technology, and energy are the primary industries using blockchain in China at present; in line with its plan to become a technology leader by 2025.</p>
<p>For example, the Baidu Credit Collection Platform has partnered with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to use blockchain for collection tasks, increasing information sharing and transparency.</p>
<p>Other notable initiatives include Tencent Cloud for warehouse pledge financing to record the authenticity of goods. At the same time, JD Finance and UnionPay have created a platform to share credit information to guard against fraud.</p>
<p>With China leading the world in terms of blockchain patents and its stated goal to become a global leader in technology, blockchain has a powerful role in getting the country to where its vision lies. Banning cryptocurrency doesn’t undermine the importance of blockchain technologies to China in both the short and medium-term.</p>
<h3 id="growth-in-southeast-asia">Growth in Southeast Asia</h3>
<p>Blockchain holds significant promise for Southeast Asia, a region often hampered by regulatory, jurisdictional, and geographic inefficiencies. While the region has around 69 percent of people connected to the internet, it remains underbanked, with approximately 73 percent of its population relying on cash instead of banking services.</p>
<p>For these unbanked citizens, blockchain offers the most opportunities. The growth in e-commerce, as well as the rise of value-add industries like manufacturing and digital services, means that using blockchain to provide funds transfer is a huge potential market. But it might be banks that miss out, as much of the action in the funds transfer space is being led by new generation fintech companies. Traditional financial institutions will need to adapt quickly or risk getting left behind.</p>
<p>One report from Boston Consulting Group found that 49 percent of urban residents in SEA already use a digital wallet for payments, a number it estimates will reach 84 percent by 2025.</p>
<p>The Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has embraced blockchain in its Economic Community 2025 Strategic Action Plan for Financial Integration, driving this growth in blockchain uptake. This program is designed to promote financial inclusion via blockchain-based banking and financial services platforms.</p>
<p>In addition to these efforts, countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines have invested in blockchain education efforts. Singapore, for example, has launched a $9 million program called The Singapore Blockchain Innovation Program, intended to bolster research and development in blockchain applications.</p>
<p>Singapore also announced in 2017 that it was regulating digital token offerings, and in the same year, it introduced a tokenized version of the Singapore dollar. Singapore’s government has also been a pioneer in revolutionizing cross-border payments. Project Ubin (now named Partior) is a collaborative project with DBS and J.P. Morgan to explore the use of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) for clearing and settlement of payments and securities.</p>
<p>Over in Thailand, blockchain has been boosted by the introduction of cryptocurrency laws in 2018. Its central bank has also supported efforts to integrate blockchain-powered solutions in cross-border payments, security settlement, and supply chain management.</p>
<p>The Philippines has also been an early adopter of blockchain to distribute government bonds. This collaboration between the Philippine Bureau of Treasury, UnionBank, and the Philippine Digital Asset Exchange has created an app powered by blockchain technology to make it easier and more efficient for citizens to invest in retail treasury bonds.</p>
<p>Blockchain is one key way governments across the region are looking to increase efficiency and reduce friction within the financial system and bring citizens who remain unserved by traditional banks, into the digital ecosystem.</p>
<p>It is also a significant plank in policies to improve supply chains and boost energy markets across the region.</p>
<h3 id="global-industry-growth-using-blockchain">Global industry growth using blockchain</h3>
<p>Blockchain has the promise to disrupt industries globally. In this section, we look at a range of businesses where blockchain technology is already having an impact. Additionally, we scope a handful of others where the potential of blockchain is just beginning to be felt.</p>
<h4 id="banking">Banking</h4>
<p>With many people in developing parts of the world unbanked and many more sending remittances home to their families, blockchain has the potential to make payments smoother, cheaper, and more efficient.</p>
<p>With traditional banking, if one party sends a remittance to another person overseas, they are charged a fee. For example, to send a $100 remittance from the UK to a market like India, the average fee across all providers, including MTOs, banks, and Western Union is around 9%, and to a market like China it is 18.2%. The payment also takes time – anything from several days to a week – and isn’t always secure.</p>
<p>Using a peer-to-peer network like blockchain, the commercial banking system is disrupted as it removes the role of intermediaries when processing a transaction. It removes many of the traditional fees associated with banking, such as minimum balance fees, exchange costs, and overdraft charges. Peer-to-peer transactions via blockchain rely on a transaction fee, which is significantly cheaper and faster to process than the traditional financial system.</p>
<p>Using the previous example, the fee on a $100 payment might only be $1, and the transfer happens instantaneously. And because the blockchain is immutable, the transaction is secure and can’t be erased. With blockchain, there’s no central authority, and so there’s no “ticket clipping” as the funds traverse from one party to another.</p>
<p>One disruptor is Singapore-based ShuttleOne, the first prize winner of the Singapore Fintech Festival Global Fintech Awards. The company, founded by CEO Hongzhuang Lim, uses the Tezos blockchain to help informal workers remit money in a low-fee, transparent way. This represents a huge opportunity, as some estimates indicate there are two billion people around the world who are unbanked.</p>
<p>Blockchain-based finance has the potential to be an inclusive system for unbanked populations, allowing them to have a cost-efficient means of transferring money.</p>
<p>The founder of ShuttleOne integrated the Tezos blockchain, with its correspondingly lower energy consumption and gas fees, because it is secure, scalable, and affordable.</p>
<h4 id="cybersecurity">Cybersecurity</h4>
<p>The problem with cloud computing is that there is a single point of entry for bad actors. Databases, while stored in the cloud, are centralized in data centers, making it easy for a hacker to gain access.</p>
<p>On blockchains, nodes are decentralized, so there’s no single point of failure – and if a hacker changes a block, the nature of the blockchain means that it won’t be verified with the distributed nodes. To accomplish anything nefarious, a hacker would need to hack over half the network (a 51 percent attack), which given the decentralized nature of the network and the sheer number of nodes (depending on the scale of the blockchain), is unlikely. This is why blockchains need to hit a critical mass before they become secure. A 51 percent attack on a chain with ten nodes is much easier than an attack on a 100-node chain.</p>
<p>However, data privacy remains one of the main challenges with blockchains. According to Australia’s <a href="https://research.csiro.au/blockchainpatterns/general-patterns/data-management-patterns/encrypting-on-chain-data/">CSIRO</a>, all information on a blockchain is available to all participants, and new participants who join public chains can access all the data recorded on the chain to date. It poses a cybersecurity paradox for decision-makers who like blockchain’s decentralized nature. Surely then, the only answer is to centralize access, but that nullifies one of the great benefits of decentralization.</p>
<p>The answer is private keys. Private keys allow on-chain data to be encrypted, and preserves the privacy of participants on the chain by encrypting data using symmetric or asymmetric means before adding the data to the chain. Keys are shared off-chain, and only those with access to the key can then decrypt the data embedded in a particular transaction.</p>
<p>Blockchain can also be used for identity management and record-keeping, which means the cybersecurity industry is likely to be disrupted sooner rather than later by innovations in blockchain technology.</p>
<h4 id="supply-chains">Supply chains</h4>
<p>Goods in the supply chain can all be verified using blockchain technology from the point they are produced. This includes raw materials (important with minerals and other valuable resources, which could come from illicit sources) and food.</p>
<p>One sector already using blockchain to verify its goods is the Pacific Islands tuna industry in conjunction with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The partnership’s Blockchain Supply Chain Traceability Project tracks tuna from where it is fished and produced to suppliers and eventually the end consumer.</p>
<p>Apply this logic to all supply chains, and the prospect of blockchain becomes compelling. Goods are traced at every stage of their journey; producers and consumers know they are getting the product they paid for, as its provenance is recorded on the blockchain.</p>
<h4 id="healthcare">Healthcare</h4>
<p>Health data is some of the most personal data anyone has. It’s also a target for hackers, as it’s stored in centralized databases. Stealing healthcare data can lead to identity theft, extortion, or just bad publicity.</p>
<p>With a decentralized ledger, healthcare data is available anywhere in the world. This works well for all types of medical information, but vaccination status is one area where it may be particularly effective. For example, travelers would be able to demonstrate their vaccine status while abroad if the information is stored on the blockchain. This sets a precedent for the existence of a verified ‘universal medical record’ for every individual, which may assist in the management of future health crises.</p>
<p>Therefore, it makes sense to record healthcare metadata with blockchain technology. The data is instantly accessible, secure, immutable, and acts as a single source of truth. Hackers cannot corrupt the data, and there is universal trust that the information is legitimate.</p>
<p>Blockchain can also play a role in the medical supply chain. Counterfeit medicines are a real problem, particularly in the developing world – using supply chain blockchains, every dose of medicine is traceable from the producer to the consumer, with the provenance proven at every step of the chain.</p>
<h4 id="government">Government</h4>
<p>Again, the problem with voting is the mechanism is centralized and open to corruption. Using blockchain technology, identities are verifiable, and each vote is counted and can’t be altered. Once a vote is added to the blockchain, it can’t be changed or erased.</p>
<p>One example is the French village of Verneuil-sur-Seine, in Yvelines, which used an application called Avosvotes on the Tezos blockchain to vote on a road planning decision. When voting on the proposal, individuals’ identities were manually verified, and the proof of vote was stored as a certificate on the blockchain. Those interested were able to follow along and track voting participation in real-time.</p>
<p>Blockchain also offers the potential to minimize citizen ID intermediation for government services. Each citizen’s ID is stored on the blockchain, making it secure and allowing for one-to-one correlation between an individual and their identity.</p>
<p>A new development is decentralized identifiers (DIDs). The W3C DID Working Group is currently developing a standard for DIDs. DIDs have implications for all identity documents, including passports, tax file numbers, and social security. By storing this data on the blockchain, they are immutable and far less vulnerable to fraud.</p>
Selecting the Right Blockchain
<h2 id="public-or-private-blockchains--which-is-right-for-your-organization">Public or private blockchains – which is right for your organization?</h2>
<p>A public blockchain is a network that is free for all to participate in, without any restrictions. Anyone can see the ledger and take part in the consensus process. Tezos, for example, is a public blockchain, which means anyone can add nodes (or ‘bake’ in the Tezos ecosystem) and use the blockchain for transactions.</p>
<p>A private blockchain, on the other hand, gives an organization authority over the network and is therefore not open to public participation.</p>
<p>This section looks at the advantages and disadvantages of public and private blockchains and provides guidance on which option could be the right fit for your company’s needs.</p>
<p>What is a public blockchain?</p>
<p>Blockchains were originally conceived as a public, open-source platform. All public blockchains have a consensus mechanism, and anyone can participate, build, transact with their peers, and take part in the consensus mechanism.</p>
<p>Public blockchains are fully decentralized - no one person, organization, or group holds power to decide what activity occurs on-chain. Every block added to the chain is immutable, providing excellent security and a complete record of all prior transactions.</p>
<p>Additional benefits include total transparency (as all participants can see the ledger), high security (see the immutability of blocks on-chain), and an open environment. Participants can also generate value by mining or baking blocks and participating in the consensus mechanism.</p>
<p>Depending on the KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures dApps (decentralized apps) use on public chains to verify IDs, users may be able to fully own their private keys and data stored in their on-chain wallets, known as decentralized identities. These wallets are depicted as smart contract addresses on block explorers and can also be anonymous. These users can transact with any business if the underlying blockchain technology supports it.</p>
<p>From a regulatory lens, opportunistic bad actors could capitalize on the lack of regulation to engage in illegal activities such as money laundering or the trafficking of controlled substances. Despite this, the community can work to punish bad actors and restore balance to the network. This can be done by auditing the flow of funds on-chain due to the transparent nature of the blockchain. So while there is no central authority, there are centrally-guiding principles of immutability and transparency embedded into smart contract code. This creates a system of checks and balances. Eliminating their transaction processing rights is one such punishment.</p>
<p>Public chains are also more resilient as their nature stems from accumulated code security. Put simply, Tezos offers software that has survived the constant challenge of securing large-scale public blockchains. This means they have reached a level of safety that’s not attainable by enterprise-driven efforts. These enterprise efforts only have accumulated experience in securing the chain in the form of a number of private deployments.</p>
<p>In essence, a public blockchain, by its very nature, is strengthened by the number of nodes participating in the network. A private chain simply can’t compete in terms of scale and exposure to a wider range of network events.</p>
<p>Overall, public blockchains offer full empowerment to their users. It is not governed by a central authority and all users are equally free and able to participate, generate value, or transact business.</p>
<p>Of course, enterprises utilizing public blockchains will need to comply with the laws of the country they’re operating their node (or nodes) in, subject to Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations in particular.</p>
<h4 id="mempools">Mempools</h4>
<p>This is where a mempool comes into the picture. A mempool is a set of all pending transactions, with all transactions being broadcast via a blockchain’s nodes. It’s possible for every node to have a different mempool to its peers, and bakers on the Tezos
network are able to choose any transaction they like from the mempool. This means bakers can be selective by only processing transactions that are compliant with local regulations.</p>
<p>Mempools, however, don’t have to be public. Private mempools let a transaction issuer conduct operations on a private server, such as transfers and smart contract deployment. That server is only accessible to a group of select bakers authorized to validate the operations on that particular private node. This can offer enterprises an added layer of privacy and security when conducting transactions on a public blockchain.</p>
<p>Because mempools don’t have to be public, it’s critical that enterprises should consider building their blockchain applications and businesses on the public blockchain. This enables transactions to be conducted in compliance with local regulations. Furthermore, privacy is possible, the gas fees are low and because the software is open source, a business can design and launch a project on-chain.</p>
<p>The following section looks at private blockchains, how they differ from their public peers, and why a user or company may choose to create a private blockchain.</p>
<h4 id="private-blockchain">Private blockchain</h4>
<p>The main difference between public and private blockchains is that private blockchains are created by a single entity (or consortia) and therefore only have a partially decentralized authority. It’s not possible for just anyone to create a node or participate in the consensus mechanism.</p>
<p>Because their ledgers are not public, private chains are, as their name suggests, private, which could suit corporate users well. A private blockchain could be used for corporate intellectual property, internal transactions, and any other activity where the ability to view the ledger publicly (as in a public blockchain) would not suit corporate interests. Private blockchains are generally more efficient than their public peers because of the limited number of nodes. With a public chain, the more nodes, the greater the computational power required, and the longer a transaction takes to write to the blockchain. A private chain only allows a handful of nodes or users, and so adding blocks to the chain takes less time, energy, and resources.</p>
<p>The gas fees (that is, the fees charged to write a transaction to the blockchain) can be significantly less than many public chains, although this varies from public blockchain to public blockchain.</p>
<p>Private blockchains also don’t have the problem of illegal activity because only approved players can create nodes and write transactions to the chain. Corporations can also write the rules for their private blockchain, and everyone who participates is bound to those rules.</p>
<p><img src="/images/private-versus-public.png" alt="private versus public blockchain"></p>
Harnessing the Blockchain: Build or Buy
<p>One of the key technological revolutions of the last two decades has been the rise of software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS). In the past, companies would install on-premise software and hardware, managing and maintaining their infrastructure internally while dealing with the imposed costs and challenges.</p>
<p>SaaS changed all that. Businesses can now outsource their hardware and software requirements to cloud providers who do all the maintenance and management for a simple fee. Infrastructure is scaled up and down depending on needs, which means that companies can shift their tech needs from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operational expenditure (OpEx). Simply put, tech isn’t the core business of most organizations, so it makes sense to outsource it to organizations with technology as their core competency.</p>
<p>What does this have to do with blockchain? The same choices businesses faced when deciding to move to SaaS and PaaS (and the cloud) are now presenting themselves to companies wanting to embrace blockchain technology. They’re faced with deciding whether to build their solution on the public blockchain, create a private solution fitting their own needs, or to outsource it to another company specializing in providing blockchain as a service (BaaS).</p>
<p>The question for most enterprise-level tech leaders is, should your organization ‘buy or build’ a blockchain solution? What factors - including talent, time to market, and how to gain internal traction - should you consider? Let’s consider.</p>
<h4 id="nailing-the-basics">Nailing the basics</h4>
<p>A blockchain is a decentralized ledger that makes it possible to register, confirm and transfer all manner of contracts and property. That’s why it initially gained traction in the financial services space. The Australian Securities Exchange, for example, was an early adopter of blockchain to verify transactions carried out on its trading boards.</p>
<p>The central technical innovation associated with blockchain is distributed ledger technology (DLT), defined as “the use of decentralized digital trust verification through encrypted digital signatures.” [1]</p>
<p>There are several key advantages of blockchain for business, including high fault tolerance, a single view of events; transparent verifiability; and data ownership without a central authority.</p>
<h4 id="where-to-focus">Where to focus</h4>
<p>Organizations wanting to use blockchain as part of their business have a choice – they can either buy, borrow or build. However, it’s vital that an enterprise focuses on an option that’s not disrupting for the sake of disruption. Instead, blockchain implementation needs to be a real value-add to existing business processes.</p>
<p>Although blockchain promises new business opportunities, at the earliest stage of a decision, it’s critical to start small and iterate often. It’s also important to introduce a blockchain program in areas offering the least risk in terms of both change management and the day-to-day running of the business.</p>
<p>So how should you choose when it comes to deciding whether to buy or build your company’s blockchain solution? In essence, it comes down to operational focus.</p>
<p>If your blockchain efforts are aimed at purely providing better solutions for internal processes, it may make more sense to build an implementation in-house. Larger organizations, such as Facebook, have taken the route of buying-in talent through acquisition. Facebook, in this instance, undertook an acqui-hire of Chainspace, a move that brought its blockchain efforts up to speed without the need to build an internal team from scratch.</p>
<p>Most companies won’t have Facebook’s resources to buy a company just for the sake of decreasing their time to market. This is where an internal project, starting small, can make all the difference.</p>
<h4 id="in-house-implementation">In-house implementation</h4>
<p>Building a blockchain solution internally lets a business control all the moving parts and separates the noise from the project’s actual value. It also builds people and technical skills capability, which will pay dividends in the long term. Building internally also allows you to scale quickly (assuming you can find the right talent) and focus on the business areas where a blockchain program can make a real difference.</p>
<p>Naturally, building internally will be taxing on your resources. Your team must have the skills, time, and operational infrastructure to support your blockchain efforts. And those skills are in high demand and don’t come cheap. According to global recruitment firm, Randstad, in a market like Singapore an experienced blockchain engineer can cost upwards of SGD 15,000 monthly.</p>
<p>Doing the job yourself means that it’s easy to underestimate the amount of time it will take and overestimate the pay-off at the end of the project.</p>
<p>And just because you are building internally doesn’t necessarily reduce your reliance on external vendors. The project will still require suppliers who can take care of your storage needs, network, encryption, user experience, and smart contract development. All this requires a budget, which will naturally need to be factored in from the beginning of the project.</p>
<p>Whether or not there is an advantage to doing the project internally depends on the number of partially or fully decentralized apps (dApps) share the underlying technological infrastructure you have built.</p>
<h4 id="outsourcing-the-project---baas">Outsourcing the project - BaaS</h4>
<p>As we have seen with the rise of SaaS over the last two decades, many organizations don’t have – nor want – the internal capability to invest in, deploy, maintain, and manage technology infrastructure. This is where ‘Blockchain as a Service’ (BaaS) comes into play.</p>
<p>Prominent players, including IBM, have already developed BaaS, and it’s available here today on the same terms as how other SaaS offerings are made. A company contracts with a service provider, their needs can scale up or down depending on requirements, and it’s available for a simple fee – no infrastructure or maintenance required.</p>
<p>IBM’s service has historically been built on the open-source, community-based Hyperledger Fabric Platform, which was developed by the Linux Foundation. It has support for on-prem infrastructures and third-party clouds, and is built using an open-source codebase.</p>
<p>Why use BaaS instead of building in-house? It depends on your requirements. BaaS providers can help with legal requirements – important if your organization is operating in a highly regulated environment, such as the financial services sector.</p>
<p>According to McKinsey[2], it’s critical for companies to tailor their strategic approaches to blockchain regarding their market position. This means organizations that don’t want to build, can hire the services needed to get their blockchain efforts up to speed while meeting regulatory requirements</p>
<p>BaaS also has advantages over a public blockchain because they are seen as ‘permissioned’ networks. These permissioned networks, hosted on private computing networks, have controlled access and editing and management rights, compared to a public chain where authority is entirely decentralized, and the needs for corporate control can’t be met.</p>
<p>Other advantages of BaaS include reducing the cost of experimentation. With BaaS, a company can easily roll out a blockchain program, measure its effectiveness, and then iterate based on the results of the experiment. These sorts of trials aren’t as easily achieved using an in-house solution.</p>
<p>Further advantages include being able to gauge the market fit of any project and the ability to ‘sell’ the project to management. That is, a project that can easily be tweaked or even terminated will gain more traction with board members than deploying infrastructure and personnel on an internal project, with variable results.</p>
<p>Finally, the time to market a project built using BaaS is going to be significantly faster than infrastructure built internally. With the blockchain ecosystem moving so fast, it may make sense to buy rather than build so that the organization can quickly pivot to take advantage of changing market forces.</p>
<p>In summary, if your organization has smart contracts it wants to deploy, or it wants to build dApps on the blockchain, then BaaS makes sense as the service provider has done all the infrastructure work for you - all you need to do is execute on your plan.</p>
<h4 id="on-public-blockchains-and-why-they-are-the-future">On public blockchains and why they are the future</h4>
<p>According to a report from Forrester and Ernst & Young, while many companies are building private blockchains, 75 percent of those private users believe the best path to the future is on a public network.</p>
<p>Where private blockchains have their advantages is if they are only being used for internal and partner use. Developing in-house may make more sense in this instance, as it can be kept entirely private, it is controlled by the organization and doesn’t need to scale. It’s also a customizable solution, meaning the organization can build something specifically for their own purposes.</p>
<p>Public blockchains are scalable and secure once they reach a critical mass. Proof of Stake blockchains are also more affordable than their Proof of Work rivals in terms of the gas (transaction) fees charged for a transaction on the network.</p>
<p>It’s often more cost-effective to deploy smart contracts and conduct transactions on a public blockchain. The costs of running a private network could exceed the value of the work being done on it, while the service fees for BaaS could, similarly, be higher than simply paying gas fees for a transaction on a public network.</p>
<p>Building on the public blockchain also means network maintenance is carried out by a broad range of participants, unlike a private chain where networks must be maintained by the central authority. Network upgrades are also developed and deployed without any additional capital requirements from an enterprise user. In addition, a public blockchain, with enough adoption, also means there is competition among developers to improve new and existing applications and solutions. This means the relevance of the blockchain is maintained in a fast-moving tech landscape.</p>
<p>This is because the network is upgraded based on community and developer consensus. Upgrades do not need to rely on an enterprise’s own capacity to advance the blockchain functionality. Depending on the blockchain’s core technological design and strength of its developer network and community of users, it can adapt and upgrade as and when required.</p>
<p>Finally, a public blockchain means there is interactivity between different projects on the same chain. Multiple projects by different organizations can ‘interact’ within the same ecosystem, allowing them to use different enterprise services rather than being limited to their own. For example, if a business is building a product or platform as part of a new business model or revenue stream, then it makes sense to build on a network with the broadest community participation. This creates tools that this large pool of users would find helpful and would want to use.</p>
<p>For enterprise, open blockchain networks are the future. Just as we currently use open source software to run our organizations, and the open internet to communicate, open blockchains will enable new ways of doing business and even new ways of structuring businesses.</p>
<p>Key Takeaways:</p>
<p>Internal projects make sense only in limited circumstances, including the need for control and the desire to build blockchain capability within the organization.</p>
<p>Building internally can be expensive; people with blockchain experience are hard to find and command high salaries.</p>
<p>Gaining traction for the project from management is easier using a BaaS solution as it allows experimentation and the project to scale as needs dictate.</p>
<p>Time to market is faster using BaaS, and companies can benefit from experienced partners.</p>
<p>Open blockchains are the future of business and are the springboard to the Web3 future so many are building towards.</p>
<p>[1] <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12525-019-00386-3">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12525-019-00386-3</a>
[2] <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/blockchain-">https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/blockchain-</a></p>
NFTs and the race towards clean crypto
<h2 id="as-the-topic-of-nfts-and-blockchains-environmental-impacts-heats-up-among-technologists-creators-and-activists-we-address-the-crucial-talking-points-and-look-into-how-key-stakeholders-are-looking-to-reduce-their-carbon-footprint--the-tezos-network-is-not-shying-away-from-examining-the-blockchain-networks-companys-carbon-footprint">As the topic of NFTs and blockchain’s environmental impacts heats up among technologists, creators, and activists, we address the crucial talking points and look into how key stakeholders are looking to reduce their carbon footprint. The Tezos network is not shying away from examining the blockchain network’s company’s carbon footprint.</h2>
<h4 id="the-growth-of-nfts">The growth of NFTs</h4>
<p>Since digital artist Kevin McCoy minted Quantum (the first non-fungible token) in 2014, NFTs have slowly but steadily infiltrated the art world and mainstream popular culture.</p>
<p>When COVID-19 shuttered the world in 2020, the medium started gaining momentum outside gaming and digital artist communities. Brands including Nike, Pizza Hut, and Dolce and Gabbana flocked to the potential new revenue stream.</p>
<p>From 2020 to 2021, NFT trading increased 21,000% to reach $17.6 billion, while the number of NFT crypto wallets rose from 89,000 to 2.5 million.</p>
<p>Notably, in March 2021, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey sold his first tweet as an NFT for almost $3 million, while digital artist Beeple put traditional auction house Christie’s on the NFT map by selling his collage, The First 5000 Days for $69 million. Collectibles now account for $8.4 billion in NFT sales and have an almost cult-like following among the public and celebrities. But as NFTs become more coveted, there is an inevitable increase in carbon emissions.</p>
<h4 id="nfts-and-the-environment">NFTs and the environment</h4>
<p>With the growth of any technology comes environmental scrutiny. Critics argue against the volume of emissions created by the cryptocurrencies that enable NFT buying and selling. And it’s true; NFT marketplaces that run on proof of work (PoW) consensus mechanisms require vast amounts of electricity to power the hardware and blockchains they run on.
On the other hand, proponents contend NFTs are a comparatively small cog in the blockchain machine. Without NFTs, miners would still be solving puzzles, adding blocks and generating tokens. According to a PWC report, <a href="https://tezos.com/2021-12-06-Tezos-LCA-Final.pdf">Study of the Environmental Impact of the Tezos Blockchain</a>, it’s the puzzle-solving element that drains enormous amounts of mostly dirty energy from these Proof Of Work global grids.</p>
<p>Blockchain for Climate Foundation founder and executive director, Joseph Pallant, likens estimating NFT carbon culpability to calculating an individual’s share of emissions from a commercial plane flight.</p>
<p>“If you’re on the plane, you’re responsible for a portion of its emissions. But if you hadn’t bought the ticket, the plane probably would’ve taken off with other passengers and polluted the same amount anyway”, said Pallant.</p>
<h4 id="the-road-to-cleaner-greener-blockchain">The road to cleaner, greener blockchain</h4>
<p>Across the industry, there is an evolving sustainability agenda aimed at ethically supporting the burgeoning creator economy. Governments too are under pressure to address blockchain’s environmental concerns. As part of an aspirational plan toward a clean electricity grid, the White House announced a report investigating if digital assets such as NFTs “impede or advance efforts to tackle climate change.”
On a global scale, the Crypto Climate Accord has the support of more than 45 blockchain, finance, energy, and tech companies to “achieve net-zero emissions from the electricity consumption associated with crypto-related operations by 2030.”</p>
<p>On a smaller yet no less significant level, developments in carbon offsets and alternative energy sources are already in use by blockchains and creators alike.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Digital artist Beeple has pledged to invest in renewable energy and conservation initiatives to offset what he estimates is $5000 in carbon emissions per collection.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Collectibles company OneOf has adopted Tezos blockchain’s liquid proof of stake (LPoS), which means minting an NFT now uses about the same energy as a Tweet. In July 2021, they partnered with the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, promising a percentage of revenue to United Nations Human Rights climate change support programs.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="tezos-baked-in-sustainability-from-day-one">Tezos baked in sustainability from day one</h4>
<p>The Tezos blockchain launched in June 2018 with its game changing Liquid Proof of Stake consensus mechanism. It has an estimated annual energy consumption of just 0.001 TWh compared to leading Proof of Work (PoW) blockchains which can consume around 75 TWh - 152 TWh. Unlike PoW protocols, recording and verifying transactions on LPoS doesn’t require heavy-duty investment in power-hungry hardware that can handle the complexities of solving complex mathematical problems at speed.</p>
<p>In August 2021, the network reduced its carbon footprint even further with the launch of its seventh upgrade, the Granada protocol, which introduced the following improvements:</p>
<ul>
<li>Decreased gas consumption by a factor of three to six (an average reduction of approximately 50 percent) in the execution of already deployed contracts.</li>
<li>The Emmy* algorithm replaced Emmy+, reducing the time between blocks from 1 minute to 30 seconds, cutting power costs.</li>
<li>Deployment of smart contracts reduced gas consumption (the fee a baker pays in Tez tokens to complete a transaction on the blockchain).
The Tezos network is built on a Liquid Proof of Stake consensus, estimated to reduce energy consumption by 99%. While traditional proof of work protocol requires heavy-duty investment in power-hungry hardware that can handle the complexities of puzzle-solving, proof of stake miners are selected on the value of their blockchain holdings.</li>
</ul>
<p>The PWC report Study of the environmental impact of the Tezos blockchain chart shows the effect of the Granada update on the price of gas transactions from March to November 2021.</p>
<p><img src="/images/nfts-and-the-race.png" alt="evolution of the gas to transaction"></p>
<h4 id="crypto-artists-embrace-digital-proofofgreen">Crypto artists embrace digital #ProofOfGreen</h4>
<p>While big blockchain and the activists battle it out, at the coalface of the debate (pun intended), a passionate number of NFT creators are exclusively using sustainable networks to mint and sell.
Rather than abandon the history-making opportunity to make money from their craft, they’re using #ProofOfGreen as a selling point. An initiative of the Crypto Climate Accord, NFT buyers are also increasingly prioritizing this proof of sustainable minting as a critical factor in their purchasing decision.</p>
<p>Singapore-based NFT artist Speak Cryptic is one such artist who is putting the environment first, choosing the Tezos network because of its lower carbon footprint, “It played a huge role in my decision,” he said.</p>
Profile: Speak Cryptic’s crypto art odyssey
<h2 id="speak-cryptic-is-a-singapore-based-performance-and-street-artist-constantly-reinventing-himself-through-new-mediums-in-his-latest-incarnation-hes-turning-his-art-into-nfts">Speak Cryptic is a Singapore-based performance and street artist constantly reinventing himself through new mediums. In his latest incarnation, he’s turning his art into NFTs.</h2>
<p>Born Farizwan Fajari, Speak Cryptic is known for his interactive performance art and graffiti-inspired work. The 42-year-old has exhibited in museums and galleries from Paris to Venice, Yokohama, and more.</p>
<p>His journey to become an NFT innovator in Singapore’s art community began at age 14 when he enrolled in LASALLE College of the Arts. During a 2005 street campaign called Speak in Cryptic, based on works centered around censorship, his fellow artists branded him with the stage name Speak Cryptic. The name has remained, as have his street art origins. “I approach everything with a street artist mentality,” he says.</p>
<p>He also draws inspiration from finding the profound in the simple. “I’m just inspired by daily life - stuff I read and listen to. Sometimes there’s a song that reminds me of a memory, which conjures up an image, and I’ll base my work on that. My works are visual narratives, usually a snapshot of an instant or a moment,” he explains.</p>
<p>“Recently, my works are based on meditations on certain things, events, and feelings. The process has changed over the past couple of months from a measured approach to an automatic one.”</p>
<p>Speak describes himself as “a Singaporean Malay of Boyanese descent who was brought up on a healthy dose of punk rock.” All these elements are prevalent in his work. In Malay culture, the Boyanese are depicted as powerful sorcerers. In Speak’s work, they are depicted repeatedly as black and white, woodcut illustrations of fiendish imps.</p>
<h4 id="the-journey-to-nft-digital-art">The journey to NFT digital art</h4>
<p>Street and performance art are associated with rebellion against the art world’s often elitist ecosystem of established galleries and museums, so the leap into NFTs as a platform for art seems like a natural progression.</p>
<p>In 2020, at almost 40 years of age, Speak was planning to slow down. A year later, he minted his first NFT on the Tezos blockchain and sold it in one day. He is now considered a pioneer in the Singapore NFT art scene. Of his decision to cancel early retirement, he says, “I’ve been really lucky to showcase my work in different mediums in Singapore and other parts of the world. When I first heard of NFTs, I thought it was another opportunity to show my art to more people, so I decided to give it a shot.”</p>
<p>Like mastering painting and drawing, there was a learning curve. “I had heard about crypto and the blockchain but had no idea what it was really about. It’s different for everyone, but I learn better by doing. Having conversations with people also helped a lot. I’ve been lucky to have met some amazing people who have been generous with their knowledge.”</p>
<p><img src="/images/weight-001.jpg" alt="The Weight of Water">
<em>Weight #05 from ‘The Weight of Water’ series on Objkt.com</em></p>
<h4 id="why-tezos">Why Tezos?</h4>
<p>“Tezos, to me, is punk rock and that’s what I liked about it. From the start, Tezos has been a place for collaboration and experimentation. And because it runs on Proof of Stake, it’s more accessible and affordable to not only mint works but also collect them.”</p>
<p>The Tezos blockchain’s relatively low energy use compared to other blockchains appeals to aspiring digital artists for several reasons. It is cheaper, artists are conscious of reducing their environmental impact, and it’s also becoming increasingly important to demonstrate sustainable minting to potential buyers. “That played a huge role in my decision,” he says.</p>
<p>Another drawcard was the increasing social commentary around the potential of NFTs to empower artists to make a living, reach more consumers, and bypass traditional channels.</p>
<p>“The Tezos blockchain was the first blockchain for many who wanted to give NFTs a go. I’ve seen more people leaving their jobs to pursue art in the last year than ever before, and it’s amazing,” he says. “The potential of NFTs to solve the issue of the provenance of an artwork is something else to be excited about.”</p>
<h4 id="syncing-the-old-world-with-the-new">Syncing the old world with the new</h4>
<p>For now, NFTs command the bulk of his attention, but Speak is not ready to turn his back on the traditional mechanisms of the artist/gallery owner relationship. “Sure (NFTs) can bypass existing traditional channels and their gatekeepers, but we need to recognize that traditional galleries are often a good thing. Having a gallery represent an artist has proven beneficial for both parties,” he explains.</p>
<p>“Art critics and writers have played an important role in shaping culture and thought. So I think there’s room for everyone in the NFT space.”</p>
<p>In December 2021, Speak Cryptic’s ‘The Weight of Water’ exhibition opened simultaneously in Paris and Singapore, with the Singapore edition taking place in the artist’s studio on a by-appointment basis due to COVID-19 measures and the Paris exhibition taking place at Bulles en Tête - a joint effort by Spaceless Gallery and Chan + Hori Contemporary. Sponsored by Tezos, the collection included 34 ink on paper works – and in a harmonious coupling of traditional and ultramodern – 6 NFT artworks.</p>
<p><img src="/images/weight-002.jpg" alt="The Weight of Water">
<em>Weight #02 from ‘The Weight of Water’ series on Objkt.com</em></p>
<p>For other artists considering dabbling in selling NFTs, he advises, “At this point, NFTs are an evolution, not a revolution. It’s an added experience. NFTs are for everyone, but not everyone should be doing NFTs. If you are curious, and it makes sense to you, then for sure, proceed (but with caution). But if you are not into it, that’s fine as well. We should always continue to have these conversations with the intent of wanting to learn and be better.”</p>
Women in blockchain: How Tezos India is boosting diversity in tech
<h2 id="promoting-gender-diversity-in-blockchain-how-tezos-india-marked-womens-history-month">Promoting gender diversity in blockchain: How Tezos India marked Women’s History Month</h2>
<p>The contribution of women across all spheres of life is critical to creating a more equitable society, and blockchain is no exception. In celebration of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_History_Month">Women’s History Month</a> in March, we explore two initiatives spearheaded by Tezos India to empower women in blockchain.</p>
<p>Tezos India’s commitment to advancing women in blockchain and helping to increase gender diversity in tech is perfectly demonstrated by its recent <a href="https://shecrypt.ml/">SheCrypt</a> campaign and collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University For Women (IGDTUW).</p>
<h4 id="virtual-sessions-inspire-women-to-kick-start-their-blockchain-journey">Virtual sessions inspire women to kick-start their blockchain journey</h4>
<p>SheCrypt is a series of free online discussions, masterclasses and mentorship opportunities offered throughout March 2022 to inspire and support budding female blockchain enthusiasts in South Asia.</p>
<p>Over 360 people have registered for SheCrypt to learn more about careers in the world of blockchain and how innovation across the sector is taking shape. Participants will receive a certificate of completion and surprise rewards from Tezos India.</p>
<p>Head of Developer Adoption for Tezos India, Poorvi Sachar, said SheCrypt would help the industry benefit from diversity by tackling gender-based issues, sharing knowledge, and showcasing women leaders in tech.</p>
<p>“The way women think and execute is not the same as men; they bring a different perspective — women’s contributions in crypto add a new angle to solving problems,” Sachar said.</p>
<p>“One of the barriers to increasing the number of women in tech is that it’s male-dominated, and therefore they have few examples they can admire and look up to. Having more women in blockchain will uplift other women.”</p>
<p>“If you have role models, you can learn from their experiences. It’s easier to relate to your own gender, and it gives you the confidence to take a risk.”</p>
<p>SheCrypt’s virtual events feature speakers from various roles and businesses to give women in Asia a holistic understanding of the ’next big thing’ in tech.</p>
<p>“We didn’t want to focus only on developers or technical skills. We want to encourage women from all walks of life to understand the fundamentals of blockchain and what their journey could look like.”</p>
<p>Some of the innovative and inspiring women featured include CEO of Bluejay Finance Sherry Jiang, Head of Sales for Elliptic Yvonne Ng, Co-founder of OroPocket Tarusha Mittal, Head of PR and Community for Wazirx Priyanka Sharma, NFT artist <a href="https://www.tzpulse.com/articles/going-down-the-nft-rabbit-hole-with-linkin-parks-mike-shinoda-and-digital-artist-mumu-the-stan">Mumu The Stan</a>, and CEO of Drife Firdosh Sheikh.</p>
<p>Sachar said many participants had also opted into the mentoring component of the campaign, offered in collaboration with <a href="https://www.pinkstripes.org/">Pinkstripes</a>, which would enable one-on-one collaboration over a three-month period to help women with their professional goals.</p>
<p>“We’re so proud of the great response to the SheCrypt campaign and hope to build on that momentum going forward as we genuinely want to see more women in blockchain.</p>
<p>“Since the industry is small right now, it’s a great time for women to leverage their strengths and get involved in blockchain.”</p>
<p>She said Tezos India would continue to engage with SheCrypt audiences through a regular e-newsletter and future opportunities tailored for women in tech.</p>
<h4 id="educating-female-developers-to-provide-pathways-for-women-in-blockchain">Educating female developers to provide pathways for women in blockchain</h4>
<p>While SheCrypt gives women a broad view of potential career paths in blockchain, Tezos India also believes that nurturing technical talent is key to unlocking the full potential of blockchain technology, and the Tezos ecosystem, in Asia.</p>
<p>Tezos India recently partnered with <a href="https://www.igdtuw.ac.in/index.php">Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University For Women</a> (IGDTUW) to empower female students through access to technical workshops, industry experts, and hackathons.</p>
<p>IGDTUW student and tech enthusiast Smridhi Gupta helps plan and implement learning opportunities as the Tezos Student Chapter Lead.</p>
<p>“When this opportunity came along, I was ecstatic to establish my university’s first blockchain-oriented chapter,” Gupta said.</p>
<p>“The main objective is to make blockchain more accessible.”</p>
<p>Having been avidly learning about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology since 2020, she said there was a shortage of good resources that are also affordable for students.</p>
<p>“Our collaboration with Tezos India is the icing on the cake as it provides us with resources and impeccable guidance that we need for our endeavor,” she said.</p>
<p>“Just a fortnight ago, Tezos IGDTUW also organized a series of very <a href="https://youtu.be/ttEWXW0GvrQ">successful workshops</a> which started with a basic introduction to blockchain and concluded with deploying smart contracts on Tezos.”</p>
<p>Gupta said there was a lot of positive feedback and ideas generated for future workshops from the more than 40 students who participated.</p>
<p>“I think the feedback matters the most. As women and their opinions are often silenced, sometimes they develop a mindset that their voice doesn’t matter.”</p>
<p>In April, the IGDTUW Tezos Student Chapter’s first mentorship cohort will begin, giving female programmers the chance to explore the Tezos network, interact with mentors and learn from their experiences.</p>
<p>“There is an inarguable dearth of women programmers in the blockchain community and the tech world in general. I feel that a major reason for this issue is the lack of good guidance,” Gupta said.</p>
<p>She went on to say that education was a powerful tool for improving women’s confidence and inspiring them to push the boundaries, which would lead to better gender diversity and healthier competition in the blockchain field.</p>
<p>“Good education is all about learning how the world has changed and realizing that we can change it too.</p>
<p>“Inclusivity is very crucial for the success of any company, and having more women developers would actually give the community a set of fresh perspectives.”</p>
10 Clean NFT Projects on Tezos you need to know about
<h2 id="tezos-has-quickly-become-the-blockchain-of-choice-for-artists-and-creatives-looking-to-mint-digital-art-music-and-other-creative-endeavors-as-non-fungible-tokens-nfts-now-big-brands-ranging-from-formula-1-to-fashion-are-joining-the-party">Tezos has quickly become the blockchain of choice for artists and creatives looking to mint digital art, music and other creative endeavors as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Now, big brands ranging from Formula 1 to fashion are joining the party.</h2>
<p>The passion economy, a term venture capitalist Li Jin coined in 2019, is the new attention economy. And it’s enabling digital artists to monetise their creations while providing fans with access to their idols via unique online memorabilia.</p>
<p></p>
<p>It’s not just up and coming artists embracing the Tezos blockchain. In 2021, Christie’s announced $150 million in non-fungible token sales, the esteemed auction house’s highest sales in five years.</p>
<p></p>
<p>But global brands and events are quickly realizing there’s more to it than jumping on the NFT bandwagon and that there are tangible benefits to choosing the right blockchain solution and that includes the environmental factor.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The Tezos network’s energy-efficient Proof of Stake design has an estimated annual energy consumption of around 0.001 TWh. This means minting NFTs on Tezos is not only better for the environment but also more cost efficient for creators.</p>
<p></p>
<ol>
<li>OneOf.com, May 2021</li>
</ol>
<p><a href="https://music.oneof.com/about">ONEOF</a> uses more than 2 million times less energy per NFT than other platforms. It also gives pop culture and sport fanatics the chance to bid on or buy a digital piece of music or sporting history. A generation-agnostic marketplace includes an NFT of Muhammad Ali’s 2016 Sports Illustrated cover, ‘Gravity’ a rare diamond-tier NFT of Ben Ditto artworks featuring pop star Pia Mia’s creative direction, and a black Gibson ES-335 gloss acoustic electric guitar signed by Rolling Stones legend, Keith Richards, and accompanied by a four-second NFT of Richards signing the guitar at NYC’s Germano Studios. $0 minting cost means fans of all budgets can afford to connect with their favorite musicians and sporting legends. Users can purchase NFTs with a credit card, or bid on items.</p>
<p></p>
<ol start="2">
<li>Red Bull Racing, December 2021</li>
</ol>
<p>The extreme sports brand has launched a range of <a href="https://www.redbullracing.com/int-en/rbr-tezos-official-blockchain-partner">DIGITAL COLLECTIBLES</a> celebrating their star champions. For $399, you can own copies of a video montage of Red Bull Racing’s driver and Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, whose collective wins, podiums, and pole positions famously stopped rival Lewis Hamilton from beating Michael Schumacher’s record of 7 world championships.</p>
<p></p>
<ol start="3">
<li>Ubisoft Quartz, December 2021</li>
</ol>
<p>Ubisoft Quartz is the gaming giant’s <a href="https://quartz.ubisoft.com/welcome/">NFT MARKETPLACE PLATFORM</a>. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is their latest release and features collectible digits players can use in-game, buy, trade, or sell. The playable digits provide an enhanced mission experience. They are released in limited edition batches, remember their owner’s name, and feature a visible, engraved serial number.</p>
<p></p>
<ol start="4">
<li>Mike Shinoda - Ziggurats, December 2021</li>
</ol>
<p>Mike Shinoda is an American artist whose claims to fame span singer, songwriter, musician, rapper, record producer - and creator of <a href="https://ziggurats.xyz/">ZIGGURATS</a>, the first generative NFT mixtape launched on Tezos. Named after the ancient Mesopotamian multi-layered temples in which Gods were believed to live at the top, this collection of 5,000 unique audio and visual NFTs derived from Shinoda’s art and music offer varying levels of rarity.</p>
<p></p>
<ol start="5">
<li>McLaren, January 2022</li>
</ol>
<p>The <a href="https://mclarenracingcollective.com/">MCLAREN RACING COLLECTIVE</a> allows Formula 1 fans to get under the hood and build a digital imprint of their 2021 Monaco Grand Prix classic, the Gulf-liveried MCL35M. The experience involves collecting all 22 NFT digital pieces and virtually constructing the car from scratch. The second release of its kind, it’s a race against the clock to complete the build. For those who can’t make the deadline, future drops will provide another shot at the title.</p>
<p></p>
<ol start="6">
<li>The GAP, January 2022</li>
</ol>
<p>With a simple mission to help Gen X find the right pair of jeans, the iconic fashion label is reaching out to Gen Z with its <a href="https://nft.gap.com/object/18">GAP THREADS NFT</a>. Running with a ‘be yourself’’ theme, offerings include a Brandon Sines’ animation called Make your Mark, starring two deep thinking existentialists, Frank Ape, and The Buffer, talking about freedom of self-expression. How does this help sell jeans and T-shirts? The auction winner gets a limited edition Frank Ape X Gap - Always Play hoodie and a hand penned note from Sines.</p>
<p></p>
<ol start="7">
<li>DOGAMÍ, February 2022</li>
</ol>
<p><a href="https://dogami.com/">DOGAMÍ</a> is the first mass-market NFT play-to-earn AR mobile game, where you adopt and raise your 3D dog and earn $DOGA in the ‘Petaverse’. Taking the title as the world’s first ‘Petaverse’ and powered by Tezos, players can collect, raise, and trade their pampered pooches as NFTs. Dogami released 8,000 NFTs in late February, which is now sold out, and recently the project announced a partnership with ‘The Sandbox’ to bring DOGAMÍ avatars into The Sandbox metaverse.</p>
<p></p>
<ol start="8">
<li>Cleveland Cavaliers, February 2022</li>
</ol>
<p>NBA basketball team the Cleveland Cavaliers have launched a clean NFT platform that lets fans create their own digital locker, and collect digital pieces. Fans were invited to open their virtual <a href="https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/nft-launch-220202">MY CAVS LOCKER NFT</a>, which also unlocked access to more digital collectibles – such as Kevin Love’s sensational pass to Cedi Osman for a 3-pointer. Throughout the season, more fan rewards and hidden treasures will be released to keep engagement at peak performance levels.</p>
<p></p>
<ol start="9">
<li>Kia and Robo Dog, February 2022</li>
</ol>
<p>Kia America released its first ever NFT drop based on Robo Dog, the character featured in the automotive giant’s Super Bowl LVI ad. Ten thousand Robo Dog NFTs with predefined breed, age, size, gender, coat length and color were released on a first-in basis in February 2022. Designed to replicate the real world of dog ownership where older and larger dogs are less popular, <a href="https://www.kia.com/us/en/kia-petfinderfoundation">ROBO DOG NFTS</a> featuring these characteristics are more rare. Proceeds of the drop go to the Petfinder Foundation.</p>
<p></p>
<ol start="10">
<li>Papa Johns Pizza, March 2022</li>
</ol>
<p>One of the world’s most famous pizza outlets has launched its own <a href="https://www.nfthotbag-papajohns.com/faqs.html">NFT SERIES</a> on Tezos - the largest NFT giveaway to date. The collection of 19,840 NFT ‘hot bags’ are being given away free every time hungry customers order a pizza with Papa Johns, and arrive in a customer’s nominated Tezos wallet. Why 19,840? The number has special significance to Papa Johns as the company was founded in 1984.</p>
/RESPAWN recap: The Future of blockchain gaming on Web 3.0
<h2 id="on-8-february-2022-the-tezos-ecosystem-held-its-first-respawn-virtual-event-featuring-a-star-studded-cast-of-blockchain-gaming-thought-leaders-providing-a-glimpse-behind-the-curtain-and-into-the-future-of-web-30-gaming">On 8 February 2022, the Tezos ecosystem held its first RESPAWN virtual event featuring a star-studded cast of blockchain gaming thought leaders providing a glimpse behind the curtain and into the future of Web 3.0 gaming.</h2>
<h4 id="the-rise-of-web-30">The rise of Web 3.0</h4>
<p>According to Alexis Bonte, Stillfront Group, COO, Web 3.0 is the rebirth of Web 2.0 and the dawn of mobile internet, but with one major difference – there’s a lot more money coming in sooner and faster. This means the window for start-ups to scale is much smaller, so they’re going to be more aggressive. “The incumbents, the big sports and gaming executives will have less time to react before the start-ups eat their cake,” he said during a panel discussion.</p>
<p>In the same chat, Max Stoeckl, Dogami co-founder and CEO, said Web 3.0’s play-to-earn model is driving a change in consumer attitudes that will continue to grow. “We can now build games that enable a larger pool of players to earn money or assets they can sell on a liquid market. This revenue opportunity will alter the expectations of traditional players,” he said.</p>
<p>However, Bonte urged caution around overselling the capacity of play-to-earn as a sustainable gaming model. “A small minority of talented creators and gamers will potentially make decent revenue out of it,” he said. “But that will be very small. It’s important we think about play-and-earn that way.”</p>
<h4 id="yield-guilds">Yield Guilds</h4>
<p>As <a href="https://www.tzpulse.com/articles/teztalks-radio-exploring-the-world-of-blockchain-and-tokenized-gaming">YIELD GUILD GAMES</a> proclaims on its sign-up page, play-to-earn guilds are fast becoming ’the settlers of the new worlds in the metaverse’. The rise of guilds - player communities who play games and monetize their efforts - has been driven by NFTs and the opportunity to own a digital asset such as an avatar, picture, or ticket.</p>
<p>They can sell to other players. In a chat about <em>What Gaming and Sports Executives Should Know About Web 3.0,</em> Stoeckl said the rise of gaming guilds is the modern incarnation of World of Warcraft (WoW) devotees selling items on eBay in the early 2000s.</p>
<p>While gaming giant Blizzard cracked down and banned WoW eBay sales, blockchain game publishers have created official markets gamers can cash into. It will be interesting to see how traditional game publishers and sports executives react.</p>
<p>From Emfarsis director Leah Callon-Butler’s perspective, the guilds have changed the Web 3.0 gaming space.</p>
<p>“The idea that people pool their assets and make them available to others who want to use them but don’t want to own them is now a benchmark,” she said in a discussion about Exploring the Web 3.0 Universe.</p>
<p>It’s not a new business model, but it’s available in the metaverse, and it’s become the standard very quickly. Guilds have also created interest in blockchain gaming and NFTs, which has driven up the price of assets and raised a huge amount of money. As for what’s next - we’ve only scratched the surface. "</p>
<h4 id="web-30-opportunities-for-emerging-asian-markets">Web 3.0 opportunities for emerging Asian markets</h4>
<p>With high English language levels, a history of early adoption of new technology, and more than 400 million mobile gamers in Southeast Asia alone, Asian markets are a natural target for blockchain gaming studios. Mobile-first, socially and digitally savvy gaming communities have championed widespread awareness of NFTs, with many now releasing their own.</p>
<p>In the Philippines, blockchain gaming already has a solid foothold. In the pandemic-ravaged region, Axie Infinity now has <a href="https://sg.news.yahoo.com/thetan-arena-battles-axie-infinity-155128025.html">2.5 MILLION DAILY ACTIVE USERS</a>. Callon-Butler believes the game’s dramatic rise in popularity during this time is because it provided a lifeline to many locked down, out-of-work Filipinos, empowering them to earn much-needed income while also entertaining themselves while stuck at home. “People are putting food on the table because of blockchain gaming from the Philippines to New York,” she said.</p>
<p>Digital wallet Metamask, meanwhile, has 26 million users, and 20% are from the Philippines. The potential of Asian markets is supported by the fact they are consistently the fastest to scale with new technology and have different behavioral gaming preferences from the West, where desktop and PC are still king. “Gameplay mechanics are dramatically different in Asia, and making money is highly appealing,” said ATTN chairman Ivan Yeo.</p>
<h4 id="value-to-everyday-people">Value to everyday people</h4>
<p><a href="https://www.tzpulse.com/articles/tezos-network-developers-an-introduction-to-blockchains-and-web-3-0">BLOCKCHAIN AND WEB 3.0</a> are leading a slow but steady disruption in mental models of interacting with technology. As Stoeckl pointed out, “while Google and Facebook capitalize on their users’ data without giving anything back other than their services, Web 3.0 gaming provides a token that rewards people for the data they’ve given and that has been exploited on their behalf.”</p>
<p>While this aspect is undoubtedly appealing, the human desire to connect is also at the heart of the explosion of blockchain gaming. With more than 1200 active blockchain games in the pipeline, how much you can cash out versus the people you can connect with is redefining the notion of value.</p>
<p>Singaporean artist, ShiGGa Shay, believes NFTs keep people playing and drive the ecosystem, but community is also a huge factor. “When a lot of people are on to something, they meet other people who like it. This attracts more people, and the opportunities for collaboration are endless.”</p>
<p>As Ivan Yeo perfectly summarized, “Web 2.0 was focused on monetizing the fans, not the value for gamers themselves. Gamers played in exchange for entertainment, but Web 3.0 gaming is about how to create value for the end-user through financial value and social economy.”</p>
<h4 id="speakers-and-themes">Speakers and themes</h4>
<p>Hot topics of the day and the thought leaders addressing them included:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoCdunoUtbA">WHAT SHOULD GAMING AND SPORTS EXECUTIVES KNOW ABOUT WEB3</a> <strong>(00:00:00)</strong></p>
<p>Speakers: Alexis Bonte, Stillfront Group, COO and Max Stoeckl, Dogami co-founder and CEO</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoCdunoUtbA">THE FUTURE OF THE GAMER EXPERIENCE</a> <strong>(00:56:44)</strong></p>
<p>Sebastien Borget, The Sandbox, co-founder and COO</p>
<p>Ivan Goncharov, CCP Games, product manager</p>
<p>Bilal El Alamy, Dogami, co-founder and CTO</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoCdunoUtbA">THE RISE OF COMPETITIVE GAMING. WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE WORLD OF ESPORTS?</a> <strong>(01:50:00)</strong></p>
<p>Corey Burkhart, Emergents TCG, game designer</p>
<p>Dan Madesclaire, Team Vitality, apEX</p>
<p>Leeston Bryant, McLaren Racing, Senior marketing manager eSports</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoCdunoUtbA">EXPLORING THE WEB3 REVOLUTION</a> <strong>(02:37:30)</strong></p>
<p>Leah Callon-Butler, Emfarsis, director</p>
<p>Ivan Yeo, ATTN, chairman</p>
<p>ShiGGa Shay, artist</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoCdunoUtbA">BUILDING SPORTS COMMUNITIES</a> <strong>(03:29:40)</strong></p>
<p>Lindsey Eckhouse, McLaren Racing, director of Licensing</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoCdunoUtbA">CHANGES IN CREATOR & BRAND ENGAGEMENT TRENDS</a> <strong>(04:10:15)</strong></p>
<p>Brian David-Marshall, InterPop, President and Publisher</p>
<p>Guillaume Martin, Golden Goals, COO</p>
<p>Alon Goren, DraperGorenHolm, founding partner</p>
<p>Mark Soares, Blokhaus, founder and CMO</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoCdunoUtbA">METAVERSE: CONTENT CREATORS AND STREAMING PLATFORMS</a> <strong>(05:01:00)</strong></p>
<p>Khleo Thomas, Actor</p>
<p>Rédouane Ramdani, Co-Founder - Snipfeed</p>
<p>Shannon Wells, Head of Community and Governance - Livepeer</p>
<p>Joab Garza, Founder - GIF Games</p>
Digital Governance and the Promise of Blockchains in Supporting Democratic Systems
<h2 id="theres-a-quiet-revolution-taking-place-in-asias-boardrooms-and-policy-circles-blockchain-technology-represents-a-leap-in-both-corporate-governance-and-the-emerging-concept-of-digital-governance-it-changes-how-democratic-systems-build-consensus-and-put-power-back-into-the-hands-of-stakeholders">There’s a quiet revolution taking place in Asia’s boardrooms and policy circles. Blockchain technology represents a leap in both corporate governance and the emerging concept of digital governance. It changes how democratic systems build consensus and put power back into the hands of stakeholders.</h2>
<p>According to The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) 2021 Democracy Index survey, which ranks 167 countries across various factors, including their electoral processes, civil liberties, and levels of political participation, global freedoms hit a record low last year. The index’s global average fell to 5.28 out of 10, the lowest since the EIU started the survey in 2006, with less than half the world living under what could be considered a form of democracy.</p>
<p>Even before the pandemic, voter apathy in democracies reached an all-time high. From boardrooms to parliamentary floors around the world, leaders have been looking for ways to lower barriers to engagement, especially amongst digital-native generations from millennials to Gen Z.</p>
<p>With the advent and maturation of blockchain technologies over the last decade, it seems they just may have found it.</p>
<p>In Thailand, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) has developed a blockchain-based election voting system that uses a hybrid model allowing citizens who lack digital literacy to vote.</p>
<p>Likewise, in the Philippines, which has a large diaspora of overseas workers numbering in the tens of millions, the government looked at blockchain-based voting solutions to get more of their diaspora to vote, running mock trials in 2021.</p>
<p>The COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary blip in governments and other organizations in Asia and worldwide testing forms of digital governance, such as e-voting (characterized as a frictionless form of collective decision-making by digital means). Amid continuing border closures, physical distancing measures, and lockdowns, the need for easy, secure, and above all transparent tools to facilitate various forms of governance seems like a logical fix to keep the gears of good governance turning.</p>
<p>Unlike other forms of digital voting - historically dogged by episodes of hacking, data theft, and privacy issues - solutions built on blockchains offer a way for democratic systems to thrive in decentralized, transparent ways that promote integrity in government and business.</p>
<p>Blockchains’ secure and immutable nature means voting can take place over a computer or mobile device instead of having voters traipse into the local polling center or cast a mail-in-ballot that’s then processed manually by election officials. And as any tech boffin will tell you, the technification of legacy systems typically means a cost reduction.</p>
<p>Purely on economic grounds, the concept of lowering the Cost of Voting (COV) makes sense. Take, for instance, the 2020 U.S. presidential election. According to sources like CNN and the BBC, the 2020 race cost c. USD 14.4 billion - the most expensive election ever. While much of the cost rested with fundraising done by candidates and spent on wooing voters, a good portion also sat with U.S. taxpayers in the administration of the election at state and federal levels. Simply put, votes tracked through a blockchain provide for a quicker, tamper-proof way of counting votes in real-time, which may lead to greater voter participation, better ballot security, and all at a fraction of the cost.</p>
<h4 id="digital-governance-and-the-blockchain">Digital governance and the blockchain</h4>
<p>The term ‘Electronic Governance’ or ’e-Gov’ first circulated in academic circles in the 1990s and extends to government services and aspects of election processes and governance. However, with the promise of blockchain technologies, the term ‘digital governance’ has started to gain prominence. Blockchains like the Tezos network provide an indelible record of any transactions on the chain; their unalterable nature severely limits the potential for interference or abuse of power.</p>
<p>Other characteristics of blockchain tech lend themselves to fundamental aspects of inclusive governance largely because the motivations of blockchain’s early progenitors sprung from the desire to democratize systems. In a world where almost every system supporting civilization is increasingly centralized and unequally distributed - from the global financial system to government, business, and access to resources - blockchains decentralize power structures and provide a technological base to build and record consensus. And the foundation of consensus, it can be argued, is trust.</p>
<p>Nobel prize-winning economist Kenneth Arrow posited that trust is a social lubricant and essential for collective undertakings. If Arrow is right, then how can blockchains - characterized by their ’trustless’ nature - engender the very thing needed to propel the next evolution in governance (and government, for that matter)?</p>
<h4 id="one-of-singapores-leading-blockchain-associations-demonstrates-a-use-case-for-blockchain-led-e-voting">One of Singapore’s leading blockchain associations demonstrates a use-case for blockchain-led e-voting</h4>
<p>A recent board election for the Association of Crypto-Currency Enterprises and Start-ups Singapore (ACCESS) provides an ideal example of how blockchain technology can facilitate robust digital governance. The non-profit, which works with government and regulatory bodies, educational institutions, and the business sector to promote blockchain engagement and adoption in Singapore, allowed stakeholders to elect new board members using a decentralized electronic voting platform called ELECTIS.</p>
<p>The ELECTIS app combines several technologies to facilitate frictionless and secure electronic voting. The app uses DJANGO for user authentication and open source SDK Election Guard to configure the election and create smart contracts (among other tasks).</p>
<p>The app uses the Tezos blockchain to create a transaction to update the contract with an IPFS fingerprint of the artifacts to supply proof of election. Through the use of blockchain, ELECTIS is able to provide all of the most important hallmarks of a democratic election process, including safety and anonymity, safe encryption, and ballot tracking.</p>
<p>Whether through apps like ELECTIS or government-sponsored election technologies, blockchain’s involvement in democracy’s digital evolution should usher in an era of greater accessibility for stakeholders at all levels of society. The digitization of voting mechanisms and other forms of digital governance seems like a logical step in a world where people have the power to vote in their pocket in the form of a smartphone - and perhaps that’s just what we need for good governance to thrive.</p>
Ithaca: What Tenderbake and liquidity baking could mean for Tezos users
<h2 id="the-tezos-ithaca-upgrade-brings-several-improvements-to-tezos-consensus-model-including-deterministic-finality-and-a-shift-away-from-a-roll-based-model-to-an-optimized-stake-based-model-in-this-article-we-take-a-deep-dive-into-some-of-these-changes--and-what-they-mean-for-users">The Tezos Ithaca upgrade brings several improvements to Tezos’ consensus model, including deterministic finality and a shift away from a roll-based model to an optimized stake-based model. In this article, we take a deep dive into some of these changes – and what they mean for users.</h2>
<h2 id="the-ithaca-upgrade-to-the-tezos-protocol-proposes-an-improved-finality-model-tenderbake-and-extends-the-liquidity-baking-of-the-tezos-network-here-we-cover-how-the-ithaca-proposal-would-achieve-faster-blockchain-finality-how-it-improves-on-the-granada-proposals-emmy-consensus-and-what-this-all-means-for-tezos-users">The Ithaca upgrade to the Tezos protocol proposes an improved finality model, Tenderbake, and extends the liquidity baking of the Tezos network. Here we cover how the Ithaca proposal would achieve faster blockchain finality, how it improves on the Granada proposal’s Emmy* consensus, and what this all means for Tezos’ users.</h2>
<p>Before diving deep, let’s establish what achieving finality means for a blockchain system and how it was achieved before Tenderbake.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="what-is-blockchain-finality">What is blockchain finality?</h4>
<p></p>
<p>At the risk of sounding too trite, the best way to understand blockchain finality is through an analogy. Let’s say Tom walks into a restaurant and orders a meal which he pays for using fiat currency. He swipes his debit card, and the value of his meal is deducted from his balance. The restaurant owner trusts that the transaction will not be reversed, so Tom’s payment has attained ‘finality’.</p>
<p>In blockchain terms, blockchain finality is a method to affirm that all well-formed blocks (transactions that have been validated) will not be revoked or taken down after they have been appended to the blockchain.</p>
<p>In other words, users who intend to perform fast transactions like Tom and the restaurant owner would need to rely on a finality mechanism; one that’s fast, reliable, and suits their purpose.</p>
<p>The most common protocol for achieving finality is a Nakamoto consensus-based mechanism that prioritizes availability over consistency, and applies a <strong>probabilistic approach</strong> to assume finality.</p>
<p>For probabilistic finality, Transaction A is said to reach finality after several blocks of transactions have been validated after the Transaction A block. For example, in Bitcoin, a transaction is considered final if six confirmations or blocks have been added after the transaction, which takes about an hour to occur.</p>
<p>The other way of achieving finality, which Tendermint popularized, prioritizes <strong>consistency over availability</strong> and assumes finality when a transaction block is validated and added to the blockchain. This is known as a <strong>deterministic approach</strong>.</p>
<p>If you’ve not heard of Tendermint, it’s software for securely and consistently recording and replicating transactions and applications across many nodes in the same order. Tendermint transactions are validated when two thirds of validators agree on the block added to the network.</p>
<p>Now we get to the truly interesting part for Tezos blockchain boffins. <a href="https://research-development.nomadic-labs.com/a-look-ahead-to-tenderbake.html">TENDERBAKE</a> is a version of Tendermint adapted for the Tezos blockchain. Tenderbake can confirm finality after two blocks have been added to the blockchain. The August 2021 Granada upgrade across the Tezos network implemented <a href="https://research-development.nomadic-labs.com/faster-finality-with-emmy.html">EMMY*</a>, a probabilistic finality mechanism. The proposed Ithaca update - Tezos’ ninth proposal – would implement a deterministic approach to achieve finality.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="improving-finality-through-tenderbake">Improving Finality Through Tenderbake</h4>
<p></p>
<p>Tenderbake is one of the major updates of the Tezos’ Ithaca proposal. It’s tailored to match the Tezos architecture by only using communication primitives and network assumptions that are supported by the Tezos network. That means that Tenderbake is designed to support Tezos network architecture and thus allow the calling of functions within the network.</p>
<p>It adopts the Tendermint consensus model, however not carte blanche; Tenderbake assumes that participants have loosely synchronized clocks, a <a href="https://research-development.nomadic-labs.com/a-look-ahead-to-tenderbake.html#wa">WEAKER BUT REASONABLE NETWORK ASSUMPTION</a>.</p>
<p>Through the Tenderbake’s new deposits scheme, deposits are based on a stake instead of individual baking/endorsement actions, found on Emmy*, which requires a security deposit each time a delegate wants to bake or endorse, to guarantee honest behavior.</p>
<p>It also offers the possibility to easily reduce the minimal time between blocks, which may be proposed in future Tezos protocol amendments.</p>
<h4 id="other-improvements-of-tenderbake-to-the-tezos-network">Other improvements of Tenderbake to the Tezos Network</h4>
<p>Tenderbake comes with other significant changes:</p>
<ul>
<li>It would reduce the minimum number of tokens required to be selected as a baker (or validator) from 8,000 tez to 6,000 tez.</li>
<li>The protocol now uses an optimized stake-based model compared to the initial roll-based model to allocate rewards, meaning bakers will receive rewards depending on their current stake instead of the number of rolls they own.</li>
<li>It changes the baking and endorsement rewards. Baking rewards will be credited instantaneously instead of freezing rewards for five cycles like in Emmy* mechanism. Provided validators have at least 2/3 of their endorsement slots included in blocks, it distributes the total sum of endorsement rewards for a cycle at the end of each cycle.</li>
<li>When staking, delegates are required to freeze at least 10 percent of their stake in advance to obtain baking and endorsement rights.</li>
<li>The node’s storage layer and pre-validator have been optimized to handle the big bump from 256 to 7,000 endorsement slots per block.</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="understanding-the-ithaca-proposal">Understanding the Ithaca Proposal</h4>
<p>Liquidity baking was a novel concept from the Granada proposal that added a new Decentralized Exchange contract to the Tezos protocol between tez and tzBTC. Liquidity baking incentivizes users through a subsidy to provide liquidity to the contract. Originally proposed as one of the key features of the Granada proposal, it incorporates a safety precaution called a ‘liquidity baking sunset level’, where the subsidy expires automatically. However, the Ithaca proposal can renew the sunset level, as seen by the protocol amendment.</p>
<p>The proposal’s major update is the Tenderbake finality mechanism and the extension of the liquidity baking sunset to 819,200 blocks, or twenty voting periods(approximately ten months).</p>
<p>To make up for the liquidity baking extension, Ithaca lowered the threshold for activating the escape hatch from 50% to 33%.</p>
<p>Also, the proposal introduces several minor improvements, such as enabling the pre-checking of operations by increasing the number of gossiped operations on the network, aimed at improving the Tezos network’s transaction throughput.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="how-does-it-benefit-tezos-users">How does it benefit Tezos users?</h4>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Faster transactions:</strong> Tenderbake takes only a minute to attain finality, meaning faster transactions for users of the Tezos network.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Safer during asynchronous periods:</strong> With this feature, Tezos users enjoy safer transactions with Tenderbake. Although users might have a few downtimes, transactions are secure and would pick up from where they left off once synchrony is restored.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Reduced entry rate for validators:</strong> It lowers the barrier to Tezos users who intend to become validators from 8000 to 6000 tez. In turn, it reduces time to bake blocks, and overall, greenhouse gas effects forecast a win-win for everyone. Reducing the entry rate for validators encourages more users to consider becoming bakers, which will help increase network security.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="in-summary">In summary</h4>
<p>Ithaca introduces a deterministic consensus model, Tenderbake, and the liquidity baking level extension. Although it did not pass the Exploration period, the core developers plan to present a revised version of Ithaca that addresses technical matters.</p>
<p>It promises to make the Tezos network super fast (instantaneous withdrawal) with a better user experience, reduced baking barriers, and improves the overall greenhouse gas effects forecast.</p>
<p>Through the Ithaca proposal, an average Tezos user would enjoy a safe one-minute finalization time better than Emmy*, which has a six minute finality time.</p>
<p><em>Image by Tezos via Unsplash</em></p>
Developers come together for Asia's largest blockchain hackathon
<h4 id="asias-largest-blockchain-hackathon-the-inaugural-tezasia-hackathon-recently-wrapped-up-having-seriously-upped-the-ante-for-blockchain-development-and-adoption-across-apac">Asia’s largest blockchain hackathon, the inaugural TezAsia Hackathon, recently wrapped up, having seriously upped the ante for blockchain development and adoption across APAC.</h4>
<p>In partnership with <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a> and <a href="https://chainstack.com/">CHAINSTACK</a>, the month-long event promoted adopting and developing innovative new technologies on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>
The theme for TezAsia was “creating a sustainable blockchain future” and covered three distinct tracks core to Tezos’ promise as a public LPoS blockchain: DeFi, NFTs and Collectibles, and Tools and Wallets. Participants were urged to consider creating environmental awareness by deploying a sustainable alternative to the current world processes and making a difference for a better and greener world.</p>
<p>1400 registrations, 1600 individual participants, 36 projects, and over 10 hours of dedicated workshopping later, gamified carbon currency solution, <a href="https://hsrambo07.github.io/tezco-landing/">TEZCO</a>, was selected by the month-long event’s five judges as the winner.</p>
<p>In second place was <a href="https://radiate.finance/">RADIATE FINANCE</a>, a streaming protocol where users can create a stream to transfer tokens in real-time. Omni Swap – a credit default swaps solution on blockchain to remove over-collateralization requirements in loans facilities – came in third. The winners received grants of up to USD 10,000 each, allowing them to take their projects to the next level.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="a-new-open-format">A new, open format</h4>
<p>Unlike other hackathons - where generally only development pros take part - TezAsia was open to anyone with a vision and a desire to push the boundaries of what blockchain tech can do for people, the planet, and profit. Newcomers, advanced coders, students, working professionals, blockchain enthusiasts, and others were all welcome.</p>
<p>Through ongoing mentoring and a series of dedicated workshops, participants learned more about articulating, planning, and building their Tezos blockchain-based solutions. Over two weeks, the workshops covered topics as varied as writing and deploying smart contracts, token standards, diving into the front-end design and build of dApps (decentralized applications), and wallet integrations. Moreover, the sessions were conducted by some of Asia’s top blockchain-based company founders, including Plenty DeFi, Cryptonomixc, Hover Labs, Air Gap, and Kalamint.</p>
<h4 id="they-came-they-hacked-they-conquered">They came, they hacked, they conquered</h4>
<p>Given TezAsia is the first event of its type in the region, what’s especially impressive is the sheer quality of the talent on show.</p>
<p></p>
<p>According to TezAsia judge and President of the Blockchain Game Alliance, Sebastien Borget, some of the projects born from the TezAsia hackathon were outstanding in the quality of their presentation, MVP product readiness, and execution from the participants.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“‘I’m impressed and confident in what will come in the future of the Tezos ecosystem”, said Borget.</p>
<p></p>
<p>TZ APAC’s Head of Growth, David Tng, said the sheer quality and output of the participants demonstrate Asia’s potential for being a global leader in blockchain technology is only just getting started.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“This isn’t theoretical stuff - some of these concepts are going on to market-ready status at lightning speed”, says Tng. “It’s shining a light on Tezos-based developer talent in the region, and I have to say that talent is formidable. It’s an exciting time for blockchain in Asia.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>Beyond TezAsia, TZ APAC, and Tezos India have also partnered with Microsoft, Skoda, and Tech Mahindra to deliver the <a href="https://www.lumoslabs.co/microsoftcentury">MICROSOFT CENTURY PROGRAM</a> – a corporate-SME bridge program that seeks to uncover blockchain-based solutions on Tezos for industry-specific use cases.</p>
Comparing Tezos with other blockchains
<h2 id="tezos-is-a-third-generation-blockchain-protocol-capable-of-writing-smart-contracts-minting-nfts-underpinning-dapps-and-uses-tez-xtz-as-its-native-cryptocurrency-here-we-take-a-high-level-overview-of-how-tezos-compares-to-other-blockchains-including-ripple-polkadot-and-ethereum">Tezos is a third-generation blockchain protocol capable of writing smart contracts, minting NFTs, underpinning dApps, and uses tez (xtz) as its native cryptocurrency. Here we take a high-level overview of how Tezos compares to other blockchains including Ripple, Polkadot, and Ethereum.</h2>
<h4 id="tezos-and-polkadot--a-high-level-comparison">Tezos and Polkadot – a high-level comparison.</h4>
<p>Both Tezos and Polkadot are decentralized peer-to-peer networks, however there are fundamental differences that set each of these third-generation blockchain protocols apart.</p>
<p></p>
<p>On the one hand, Tezos is particularly known for its inexpensive transaction fees, formally verified smart contracts, and the minting of NFTs. These qualities are what makes Tezos the default platform for NFT creators.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Polkadot, on the other hand, is more concerned with blockchain interoperability, allowing different blockchain networks to communicate and share data with each other. Additionally, Polkadot requires these protocols to stake or bid on slots to be included in the network.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Tezos comes out ahead in terms of experience running on-chain governance, having successfully upgraded seven times over the last two years, with the eighth upgrade on its way. It is able to avoid contentious hard forks and the Tezos protocol can be seamlessly upgraded so long as a majority of stakeholders agree on the new direction, via its Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS) consensus mechanism.</p>
<p></p>
<p>To qualify to vote, stakeholders need only hold a certain number of tez (currently 8000 tez, otherwise known as one “roll”). Those who have less than one roll, can delegate their vote to a baker.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The ‘liquid’ characteristic of this Proof of Stake mechanism means there is little friction for token holders on Tezos to change which baker they delegate their voting power to, which can in turn, incentivise greater community coordination.</p>
<p></p>
<p>It is worth noting that Polkadot is also forkless, but it relies on a Nominated Proof of Stake (NPoS) protocol where only selected (or ‘nominated’) validators are allowed to participate in the consensus protocol. Unlike Tezos, this forkless development is relatively new, having only been implemented in June 2020.</p>
<p></p>
<p>With DPoS, Polkadot token holders participate in securing the network by staking their tokens in one of two ways – they can either run a node as a validator or nominate/stake to an already existing validator. On the Tezos system, voters do not need to be nominated. As mentioned, they simply need to hold a minimum of one roll to earn direct voting rights.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="tezos-compared-to-ripple">Tezos compared to Ripple</h4>
<p>
An individual company privately holds Ripple, and while it can execute smart contracts and mint NFTs (though it does not boast any sizable NFT market) just as Tezos does, its primary role is as a funds transfer mechanism.</p>
<p></p>
<p>This financial transfer mechanism works similarly to the familiar SWIFT system used by traditional banks and financial institutions. Where it’s superior to SWIFT is that transactions are instantaneous, and can be conducted in any currency, be it crypto or fiat currency.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Many large financial institutions back Ripple, and as a global payment protocol, unlike other blockchains, Ripple is not designed to replace banks but to augment their existing operations.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Like Tezos, Ripple is technically also decentralized but uses a distributed consensus method to validate transactions. Transactions are validated by participating nodes that verify the authenticity of a transaction by conducting a poll in real-time, allowing virtually instantaneous transaction confirmations, without the need for a central authority.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Under Tezos’ LPoS system, validators are held accountable. For example, delegate misbehaviour, such as not paying out rewards or charging high fees, can quickly be detected. If this happens, the community is quick to call them out for their misbehavior and bring it to an end.</p>
<p></p>
<p>However, the most important aspect of Ripple to note is that it is centrally controlled, and its token release mechanism is solely at the discretion of the Ripple shareholders. Ripple nodes are also far more centralized than Tezos nodes, meaning that it’s much harder to run one than it is a Tezos node.</p>
<p></p>
<p>On top of that, it is very hard to become a Ripple validator. Put simply, not just anyone can join the Ripple network and participate in the consensus mechanism in any meaningful way.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="tezos-compared-to-cardano">Tezos compared to Cardano</h4>
<p>Tezos and Cardano use similar consensus methods in that they both rely, as most next-generation blockchains do, on proof of stake rather than proof of work (such as is used by older, easily forked protocols like Bitcoin).</p>
<p></p>
<p>Tezos uses a PoS consensus mechanism called Emmy*, which adds blocks to the chain through validators, known as bakers. As mentioned before, anyone with 8000 tez (or one “roll”) can become a baker, and the more tez possessed by a stakeholder, the higher their chance of being selected for baking.</p>
<p></p>
<p>8000 tez is known as a ‘roll.’ The network selects 256 random rolls to vote on the block’s authenticity before it is accepted. Network participants are incentivized with additional rewards for their work as validators. These rewards are shared by both the baker and its delegators.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Like Tezos, Cardano uses a PoS algorithm, but in its case, uses a mechanism called Ouroboros. The algorithm divides the blockchain into what are known as ’epochs,’ which are further divided into ‘slots’ lasting one second.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Cardano’s protocol chooses a random slot leader for every block from staked pools, with the slot leader verifying the transaction and adding to the blockchain. However, settlement delays are introduced, as the slot leader must consider the last few blocks of the chain as transient. Like Tezos, participants are rewarded for approving transactions and building the blockchain.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Both Tezos and Cardano have smart contract and NFT capabilities, but…</p>
<p></p>
<p>While Cardano has NFT capabilities, Tezos prevails as the preferred place for creators to mint their NFTs because of its energy efficiency and affordability (including Mumu, creator of the Tezos Taco Bunny meme).</p>
<p></p>
<p>Moreover, Cardano only recently added smart contracts to its blockchain after a successful Alonzo hard fork, launched in September 2021. To date, Cardano has around 30 contracts where Tezos can lay claim to hundreds.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Thus, Cardano is still in the very early stages of developing these technical capabilities and has some way to go before it catches up to Tezos.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Tezos and Cardano also take different design approaches.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Tezos exhibits a single layer for the settlement and computation of transactions, whereas Cardano divides this into two different layers. The rationale behind Cardano’s design is to split the settlement part of a transaction from its computation part.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Cardano Settlement Layer is designed to register the end value or result of the transaction. The Cardano Computation Layer is where transactions are processed, including smart contract execution, contract calls, and other operations. This approach provides Cardano flexibility in comparison to other blockchain networks.</p>
<p></p>
<p>When it comes to smart contracts, Tezos is far ahead of Cardano. On Tezos, there are exponentially more smart contracts and smart contract iterations than its competitor.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Tezos has a single layer for both computations as well as settlements. It is built with a modular design to provide the same level of flexibility without distributing operations into two layers.</p>
<h4 id="tezos-compared-to-ethereum">Tezos compared to Ethereum</h4>
<p>Where Tezos has an advantage over Ethereum is that Tezos is self-amending. Upgrades to the protocol can happen without a hard fork, making Tezos extremely agile. With a traditional blockchain like Ethereum, making a significant change to the protocol leads to a split, as happened with Ethereum and Ethereum Classic. Ultimately, this means Ethereum is far less capable of rapid evolution than Tezos.</p>
<p></p>
<p>This self-amending feature was cited as one of the reasons that a large consortium of automakers decided to build on Tezos. BMW, Audi, Porsche, and a few other large automotive manufacturers, have decided to use Tezos to verify the authenticity of the firmware installed in their cars, for example.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Besides favoring the self-amending feature, the automakers also praised the fact that Tezos can clear significantly more transactions per second than Ethereum. Although Tezos is technically more centralized, the advantage of that is its speed. This appeals to large manufacturers and other corporations, who find transaction speed more important than building on the most decentralized protocol. Having said this, Tezos is still markedly more decentralized than the likes of other blockchains like Ripple (as explained above).</p>
<p></p>
<p>Tezos also commands cheaper gas fees to conduct transactions than Ethereum, where network congestion can make even the simplest of transactions significantly more expensive. As of October 2021, the average gas fee on Ethereum was approximately USD $105.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The recent Tezos Granada update is the seventh major update to the protocol and was completed in August of 2021. The upgrade replaced the previous Emmy+ consensus algorithm with Emmy* – cutting block times in half from approximately one minute to thirty seconds. Along with this reduction, Granada has made smart contracts on the network more efficient, reducing gas consumption by three to six times (with some contracts seeing a decline of a factor of eight), compared to the previous fees.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Another major area where Tezos has an advantage over Ethereum is in its environmental friendliness. Using Proof of Stake requires around two million times less energy than Proof of Work blockchains like Ethereum to conduct an equivalent transaction.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Some estimates of Ethereum’s annual energy consumption place it at around 26TWh with a draw of 3 gigawatts, which is comparable to the annual energy consumption of Ecuador, a country of 17 million people.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Compare that to Tezos’ energy consumption, which is around 60MWh, with a continuous draw of 7 kilowatts. To put it differently, if the carbon footprint of an Ethereum transaction is roughly the size of a polar bear, the equivalent transaction on Tezos would be the size of a snowflake on that polar bear’s snout.</p>
<p></p>
<p>This lower energy consumption also leads to gas improvements and reductions in consumption. This decline in gas consumption lets developers deploy richer, more interesting and increasingly complicated applications on Tezos at a reasonable cost.</p>
<p><img src="/images/how-does-it-compare.jpeg" alt="This is an image"></p>
<h4 id="so-what-should-i-use-the-tezos-blockchain-for">So, what should I use the Tezos blockchain for?</h4>
<p>
There is an almost infinite number of use cases for the Tezos blockchain. The infrastructure layer provides tools that let developers create interactive end-user applications – these could be games, financial applications, virtual real estate, and smart contracts.</p>
<p></p>
<p>With its energy efficiency, Tezos is also an effective store of real-world value via its native token, tez, while creators can mint NFTs knowing that they are using an environmentally friendly blockchain.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Tezos is a proven blockchain with a market capitalization of around USD $7 billion at the time of writing. With over 10 million contract calls, and low gas fees for people minting NFTs, Tezos has become a place for creators, both artistic and those of value. Tezos has arrived, but in many ways is only just getting started.</p>
Proof of Stake and its variants – a guide
<h2 id="liquid-proof-of-stake-is-tezos-preferred-consensus-mechanism-but-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-compare-to-other-proof-of-stake-algorithms">Liquid Proof of Stake is Tezos’ preferred consensus mechanism, but what is it, and how does it compare to other Proof of Stake algorithms?</h2>
<p>First, what is a blockchain ‘consensus’? In essence, consensus is the method the computers (or nodes) running a blockchain’s ledger use to track transactions, communicate with one another, and maintain network security.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Within the broad blockchain church, there are two primary consensus mechanisms. The first, Proof of Work, is used by Bitcoin and Ethereum (although Ethereum is slated to change to a Proof of Stake algorithm sometime soon). Proof of Work validates transactions by solving computationally-complex problems, with the first node to solve the problem receiving rewards for doing so.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The second mechanism is Proof of Stake. Proof of Stake (PoS) comes in several varieties, which we will examine shortly.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Tezos runs on a variant of Proof of Stake called Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS) – see section below. There are multiple reasons that make LPoS a compelling consensus mechanism for a blockchain to operate on. However, the primary benefit is that LPoS allows delegators to maintain ownership over their tez when they assign voting rights to a validator (or ‘baker’). LPoS is also considered superior to other PoW mechanisms because it is less energy intensive to run the network and to validate nodes. To understand how LPoS works, how it compares to other PoS variants, and why PoS is inherently better than Proof of Work, read on.</p>
<p></p>
<h2 id="the-issues-with-proof-of-work">The issues with Proof of Work</h2>
<p>Proof of Work is computationally intensive, requiring a lot of energy, as the nodes must solve a hash (or a cryptographic problem) to add blocks to the blockchain. The node (or miner) that solves the hash first receives rewards for validating the block in the form of additional cryptocurrency. As noted, Proof of Work is very energy-intensive, with some estimates placing the energy costs of Bitcoin in the region of USD $1 million per day.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Another problem is that it takes a long time to validate transactions using PoW, and the gas fees (that is, the transaction fees), are often very high, disincentivizing the use of the network. A third issue is that only the miner who solves the hash gets the reward, meaning other competing nodes will have consumed power for nothing.</p>
<p></p>
<p>All in all, the shortcomings of the Proof of Work system are not easy fixes, which has made room for a more efficient alternative.</p>
<p></p>
<h2 id="proof-of-stake-and-its-variants">Proof of Stake and its variants</h2>
<p>Proof of Stake is a different consensus method, where token holders are incentivized to validate blocks using a semi-random process. In this process, the network votes on who will validate the block. The selected node (or baker, in Tezos parlance) gets to approve the block and add it to the blockchain. The baker also receives additional tokens as a reward for ‘baking’ the block, usually through transaction fees. Bakers also receive incentives for attesting to other validators’ blocks.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Researcher Sunny King introduced the concept of Proof of Stake (PoS) in 2012. Under PoS, validators stake tokens to secure the network – as noted, this contrasts with the PoW concept where the miner with the greatest amount of computing power wins.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The Tezos PoS protocol gives bakers who stake a minimum of one roll to the network (currently valued at 8000 tez) the opportunity to participate in the consensus mechanism.</p>
<p></p>
<p>There are a few positives relating to PoS. These include:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>PoS is less computationally intensive than PoW. This means lower energy costs, which is a plus for the environment. This is somewhat negated by miners operating in geographies where renewable energy is abundant but is a moot point where energy is fossil fuel-based.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>PoS is inherently more decentralized than other networks. This is because PoW networks require large amounts of computing power, which incentivizes miners to invest in large mining pools. Because PoS doesn’t incentivize validators to pool their resources, the network can remain more decentralized.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>There are a few PoS variants. Tezos uses Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS), while related PoS consensus mechanisms include Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), Bonded Proof of Stake (BPoS), Nominated Proof of Stake (NPoS), and others, which we will examine in turn.</p>
<p></p>
<h2 id="liquid-proof-of-stake-lpos-">Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS) </h2>
<p>Tezos uses what’s known as a Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS) as its consensus mechanism. With LPoS, delegation is optional. Token holders (in the case of Tezos, those with less than 8000 tez, or one ‘roll’) can delegate voting rights to bakers. With the ’liquid’ methodology, token holders retain custody of their tokens when they delegate their voting rights. Simply put, this makes the network more egalitarian as it enables anyone to vote either directly (as a baker) or indirectly by delegating their vote to a baker. Delegators are also able to change which baker they stake their tez to in a relatively easy manner, so their tokens are not locked in with a particular baker.</p>
<p></p>
<h2 id="delegated-proof-of-stake-dpos">Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS)</h2>
<p>DPoS is similar to LPoS, but with a key difference. Under DPoS, users stake their tokens and vote on which delegates get to create the new block on the blockchain. Each token holder gets to vote on who validates transactions on the network, and the power of the vote is determined by the number of tokens held by the delegate. In essence, the more tokens you hold, the more likely you are to become a validator and reap the rewards (of more tokens) from being delegated.</p>
<p></p>
<h2 id="bonded-proof-of-stake-bpos">Bonded Proof of Stake (BPoS)</h2>
<p>BPoS is very similar to LPoS in that token holders can delegate their voting rights, and the tokens are non-custodial. This means, like LPoS, token holders, regardless of their stake, can take part in voting for protocol amendments.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Where BPoS differs from LPoS is when there is a safety or liveness fault, some of the validators and delegators’ stake is slashed as opposed to LPoS, where only the validator faces slashing. This means that if a delegator tries to engage in underhand activity, which runs against the protocol, they lose part of their stake.</p>
<p></p>
<h2 id="nominated-proof-of-stake-npos">Nominated Proof of Stake (NPoS)</h2>
<p>NPoS varies from other PoS consensus mechanisms because validators are automatically selected, but those validators need to build their reputations for reliability within the broader community. NPoS validators build their reputation by offering lower gas fees for transactions, and voting in the interests of the community. They also need to stake their native tokens, which get slashed if they do not adhere to the protocol.</p>
<p></p>
<p>There is some slight terminology deviation with NPoS too – delegators are called ‘nominators’ (hence the term NPoS). The nominator selects a validator and supports them by locking up a number of tokens. Validators are also limited in number by the overall protocol governance, and like other PoS mechanisms, they are selected by their total network stake.</p>
<p></p>
<p>NPoS lets all token holders continuously participate in the network.</p>
<p></p>
<h2 id="h2-hybrid-proof-of-stake-hpos">H2: Hybrid Proof of Stake (HPoS)</h2>
<p>HPoS is, as its name suggests, a hybrid between Proof of Work and Proof of Stake, where both mechanisms work together to ensure network security. Under these rules, miners produce new blocks and validators vote on their validity.</p>
<p></p>
<h2 id="why-choose-lpos-over-other-consensus-methods">Why choose LPoS over other consensus methods?</h2>
<p>One answer is that LPoS is less environmentally taxing than competing consensus mechanisms, offering an order of magnitude improvement over the Proof of Work algorithms used by Bitcoin and Ethereum.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Developers writing smart contracts will enjoy lower gas fees, greater energy efficiency and enhanced security. These elements of a PoS blockchain’s design mean validators can afford to minimise the fees they charge, making it more affordable for the end user.</p>
<p></p>
<p>This makes LPoS, and the Tezos network in particular, more attractive than rivals. LPoS also encourages broader participation and the creation of more nodes, which helps to further secure the network.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>Image via Unsplash. Credit: Tezos</em></p>
Singapore Art Week: From generative art to minting NFTs, crypto art has arrived in Asia
<h2 id="singapore-art-week-marked-the-arrival-of-nft-art-in-asia-with-an-exhibition-curated-by-tz-apac-and-crypto-art-week-asia-titled-tezos-nfts-the-new-north-star-the-exhibition-featured-prominent-digital-artists-from-singapore-indonesia-malaysia-and-south-korea-who-have-minted-their-artwork-on-the-tezos-blockchain">Singapore Art Week marked the arrival of NFT art in Asia with an exhibition curated by TZ APAC and Crypto Art Week Asia, titled Tezos NFTs: The New North Star. The exhibition featured prominent digital artists from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea who have minted their artwork on the Tezos blockchain.</h2>
<p>radarboy3000 (otherwise known as George Galanakis) founded <a href="https://www.cryptoartweekasia.com/">CRYPTO ART WEEK ASIA</a> when he realized crypto art was very Western-centric, and lacked adequate Asian representation.</p>
<p>“In Asia, there’s a cultural thing that art is not a career. There was also the need to mint on U.S. time, and there are language barriers,” he said. “Crypto Art Week was designed to combat all these perceptions.”</p>
<p>To shift this perception, TZ APAC and Crypto Art Week Asia partnered to produce an exhibition focused on showcasing 16 of Asia’s leading NFT artists at <a href="https://www.tzpulse.com/articles/newnorthstar-seafocus">S.E.A. FOCUS 2022</a> – an STPI project that also aims to foster a deeper appreciation of contemporary art and artists in Southeast Asia – in conjunction with Singapore Art Week.</p>
<p>Shown on a series of digital screens, the works on display were as varied as the artists themselves; from radarboy3000’s ever-morphing generative work to static, almost impressionistic pieces depicting Asian landscapes, created by artificial intelligence.</p>
<p>While the exhibition was a clear display of prominent digital artists in the region, it was more symbolic of the arrival of the crypto art scene in Asia.</p>
<p>One of the most interesting aspects of the exhibition is the journey visitors took to eventually make their way to the NFT portion of the show. As visitors entered the S.E.A. Focus gallery, they were greeted with an exhibition featuring some of Asia’s most established artists working in mediums such as oils, clay, fabrics, metal, and more.</p>
<p>This is art as visitors expect it: beautiful, at times confronting, and utterly unattainable for many would-be collectors unless they have deep pockets.</p>
<p>This is in stark contrast to the crypto world, where there is a different idea about value. In the traditional art world, value is apportioned by galleries and curators; that’s not the case in the crypto world, where value is given by the community.</p>
<p>Compared to the traditional art exhibition, the Tezos NFT space offered visitors something more accessible and more exciting. Some of the art moves, slave to the whim of an underlying algorithm, and the larger Prism screens hanging in a portrait configuration on the walls feature a QR code.</p>
<p>Upon scanning, visitors were taken to each artist’s profile page on the largest NFT marketplaces on Tezos, Objkt.com and Hic et Nunc (or HEN, as it’s commonly known). Then and there, a casual viewer can instantly become a collector by directly purchasing the artist’s works from these marketplaces, using tez (Tezos’ native cryptocurrency).</p>
<p>radarboy3000 said he selected artists who were active in the community but had not had the exposure of other artists in the space.</p>
<p>He said the crypto market is more of a ‘fan’ market, something akin to the music market, where collectors can obtain an edition of a work at a price that’s not prohibitive, as a means of supporting an artist whose work they enjoy.</p>
<p>The exhibition also featured one of radarboy3000’s latest generative artwork using a hash from the blockchain, titled Permanence. “It takes the hash to generate the artwork and then injects the artwork back into the blockchain,” he said. “It’s a slice of time on the blockchain, and it’s all real-time generative.”</p>
<p>Beyond being a visual illustration of the blockchain in action, the piece also served another purpose - it allowed spectators to directly experience the minting process as they interacted with the artwork. A QR code enabled spectators to instantly create a Kukai account (a Tezos-based crypto wallet), mint an NFT, and have it synced with their wallet.</p>
<p>For many visitors, this was likely the first time they have directly interacted with generative crypto art, and mint an NFT of it, as part of a co-creative process.</p>
<p>With a high foot traffic, as well as 848 generative artworks being minted and the creation of 345 wallets over the course of ten days, the exhibition helped to develop and deepen people’s understanding of crypto art, the minting process, and the notion of digital ownership.</p>
<p>And for radarboy3000, there was the additional benefit of promoting the crypto art world to a wider audience of collectors, creators and general art enthusiasts.</p>
<p>“The crypto art world,” he concluded, “is a more interesting and sustainable model for the artists.”</p>
Nomadic Labs partners with PwC in France to analyze the Tezos blockchain's environmental footprint
<h2 id="in-a-landmark-report-prepared-by-pricewaterhousecoopers-advisory-sas-in-partnership-with-nomadic-labs-a-french-subsidiary-of-tezos-foundation-users-and-bakers-across-the-tezos-blockchain-have-gained-crucial-insights-into-the-energy-efficiency-of-the-blockchain-and-its-implications-for-usage-at-scale">In a landmark report prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory SAS in partnership with Nomadic Labs, a French subsidiary of Tezos Foundation, users and bakers across the Tezos blockchain have gained crucial insights into the energy efficiency of the blockchain and its implications for usage at scale.</h2>
<p>To ensure the report’s findings were accurate, Nomadic Labs hired Hélène Lelièvre (Enviroconseil), an LCA professional with a wealth of experience in eco-design and carbon footprint analysis, to conduct an independent critical review. The review occurred in two rounds between June to September 2021 and October and November 2021.</p>
<h4 id="the-lca-report-methodology">The LCA Report Methodology</h4>
<p>The report, prepared following the methodological requirements of the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards, analyzes the impact and energy indicators based on the environmental flows on IT equipment’s Product Environmental Footprint Category rules. To ascertain its accuracy, an external reviewer, Lelièvre, used ISO 1404 and sample tests as expressed in ISO/TS 14071.</p>
<p>According to the report, the researchers ran one node as a baker, performed a transaction on the blockchain, and consumed one gas unit for a smart contract to study the network’s environmental impact.</p>
<p>Nomadic Labs used the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Center to compare the magnitude of the contribution of each potential impact and provide a normalization factor relative to the reference unit.</p>
<p>Also, elemental analyses alongside environmental flow and life cycle impact/energy indicators were carried out to show the greenhouse effect impact and evaluate the consumption of resources, and emission of pollutants to air, water, and land.</p>
<h4 id="results">Results</h4>
<p>The analysis is based on data collected from a panel of bakers from mid-March to end-April 2021, Tezos explorers, bibliographic literature, and recognized LCA databases.</p>
<p><img src="./images/nomadic-labs-pic-1.png" alt="This is an image"></p>
<p><img src="./images/nomadic-labs-pic-2.png" alt="This is an image"></p>
<p><img src="./images/nomadic-labs-pic-3.png" alt="This is an image"></p>
<h4 id="key-findings">Key findings</h4>
<p>As seen in graphs 1 and 2 above, the number of transactions increased dramatically in 2021. Gas consumption also increased until August 2021, when the Tezos blockchain introduced the Granada protocol. The Granada protocol was the seventh protocol upgrade of the Tezos blockchain and promised to fix several bugs and attend to minor improvements, including gas reduction, faster blocks, and decentralized “liquidity baking” between Tezos and Tezos Bitcoin.</p>
<p></p>
<p>As expected (and now verified), the launch of the Granada protocol saw a reduction in the number of holdings required for proof of stake.</p>
<p>The report showed the relationship between holdings and the energy consumption needed to bake a new block. It explains that the lesser the holdings, the less energy consumption it takes to bake a new block.</p>
<p>The indicative results from the table above considered only the bakers’ nodes and must be considered together with the data, hypotheses, and limitations detailed in the original report. For example, in 2021, running one node for a year as a baker represents around 161 kg CO2 eq., making one transaction on the blockchain 2.46 g CO2 eq. and consuming one gas unit for a smart contract 2.44E-4 g CO2 eq.</p>
<h4 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h4>
<p>In a win for users of the Tezos blockchain everywhere, the report demonstrated that the network’s Liquid Proof of Stake structure proves to be one of the most energy-efficient blockchain candidates around. Its energy efficiency is not only good for the planet but suitable for users, including bakers, artists, gamers, and others using the blockchain to mint NFTs or create smart contracts for uses like DeFi. As indicated by the drop in gas consumption in August 2021, there might be a need to cut down holdings required for proof of stake to save the planet even more.</p>
<p>While this article is only a summary of the report showing the energy efficiency of Tezos blockchain, read the report to discover more insights.</p>
<p><strong>Download and read the information report</strong> <a href="https://tezos.com/2021-12-06-Tezos-LCA-Final.pdf">HERE</a>.</p>
TZ APAC Celebrates Asian Digital Artists in Industry-First NFT Showcase at S.E.A. Focus as part of Singapore Art Week 2022
<h2 id="the-exhibition-will-also-feature-a-live-minting-showcase-where-visitors-can-mint-a-one-of-a-kind-piece-of-generative-art-on-the-tezos-blockchain">The exhibition will also feature a live minting showcase where visitors can mint a one-of-a-kind piece of generative art on the Tezos blockchain</h2>
<p><strong>SINGAPORE — 11 January 2022</strong> — <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/">TZ APAC</a>, the leading Asia-based blockchain adoption entity for the Tezos ecosystem, is unveiling an NFT art collection featuring some of the continent’s leading digital artists and illustrators at S.E.A Focus during <a href="https://www.artweek.sg/">SINGAPORE ART WEEK 2022</a> which will be running from 14 to 23 January 2022. Entitled “<a href="https://www.tzpulse.com/articles/newnorthstar-seafocus">NFTS: THE NEW NORTH STAR</a>”, Tezos is the first public blockchain to present an Asia-centric NFT collection of this kind at S.E.A. Focus and Singapore Art Week. The exhibition aims to connect and empower artists worldwide through blockchain technology.</p>
<p>The collection was developed in collaboration with S.E.A. Focus, a showcase of Southeast Asian contemporary art, and with <a href="https://www.cryptoartweekasia.com/">CAWA</a> (Crypto Art Week Asia), one of the world’s largest crypto art showcases. Centred around the theme <strong>chance…constellations</strong>, S.E.A. Focus is the anchor event of this year’s Singapore Art Week and will be exhibiting over 150 artworks from over 50 artists and 24 galleries in the region.</p>
<p><strong>David Tng, Head of Growth at TZ APAC</strong>, said: “The utility of NFTs has come a long way in the past year, having impacted the art world from the ground up. No longer limited to traditional pathways, NFTs have offered alternatives to a new generation of creatives in terms of creating, exhibiting, owning, and monetising their own work. In a diverse region that has embraced innovation head on, we’ve seen a great deal of growth within the NFT ecosystem and this Tezos-powered showcase is a testament to and a celebration of the exciting developments and talent that we’re seeing across Asia.”</p>
<p>The collection will feature works that were minted on the Tezos blockchain from over 15 digital artists from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, India, and Brunei, with each participating artist distinguished for their own style, aesthetic, and discipline. From the nostalgic 90s comic book aesthetics brought to life by Indonesian artist Arya Mularama to the fusion of traditional and contemporary disciplines in Singaporean artist Yeo Shih Yun’s ink paintings, the collection not only emphasises the diversity of the continent and its influences, but also the myriad of creativity that NFTs stand to bring to the art-making process.</p>
<p>Aside from exhibiting these art works, TZ APAC will also be hosting a live minting showcase on-site at the S.E.A. Focus gallery space. The experience will allow viewers and visitors to experience firsthand the process of minting an NFT, enabling them to leave the exhibition with their own one-of-a-kind generative artwork. The generative artwork algorithm was developed by award-winning artist radarboy3000, renowned for his works with international brands including luxury goods giant Cartier, Disney, and Coca Cola. These works will be minted onto the Tezos blockchain and will be accessible via Tezos’ browser-based Kukai wallet. Users will automatically be issued a wallet at the point of minting, created via direct authorisation login to one’s social media account of choice.</p>
<p><strong>Yeo Shih Yun, Singaporean visual artist, said:</strong> “NFTs have radically reshaped the art world, prompting artists of all types — including myself — to challenge existing conventions of ownership, monetisation, and exhibition. The Tezos ecosystem has provided me with a community and a platform on which I can freely innovate and express my craft. I’m proud to be celebrating this moment with fellow regional artists to showcase what NFTs can bring to Asia’s thriving arts ecosystem.”</p>
<p>Participating artists include Singapore-based abstract artist warrragwag; South Korean AI and machine learning painter CSLIM; Malaysian pixel art pioneer Moon; Indonesian experimental artist, multimedia designer, and musician Fahmi Mursyid; and many more.</p>
<p><strong>George Galanakis, Founder of CAWA, said:</strong> “With this exhibition, we aimed to shine a spotlight on just a fraction of the incredible artistic talent we are seeing emerge across Asia and in the blockchain space. These artists have gained prominence in a notoriously competitive space, which is testament to not just their individual abilities, but the growing recognition of the talent that exists in this region. This is only the beginning and CAWA is proud to support these artists as they continue to create.”</p>
<p>Tezos is a public blockchain recognised for its open-source and self-upgradeable platform that allows for collaborative innovation in a secure and truly decentralised way. With its comparatively energy-efficient features, Tezos utilises Proof-of-Stake, enabling it to operate with minimal energy consumption and a negligible carbon footprint. This has enabled Tezos to become a widely adopted blockchain of choice for a growing, diverse global community of NFT artists, collectors, and builders. To date, the Tezos ecosystem is home to leading NFT projects including leading digital art platform Hic et Nunc, NFT art marketplace objkt, and many more.</p>
Art Basel Miami: A fireside chat with Tezos co-founder Kathleen Breitman
<h2 id="during-an-exclusive-panel-discussion-at-this-years-art-basel-miami-beach-tezos-co-founder-kathleen-breitman-provided-insights-into-the-nft-space-why-proof-of-stake-is-a-more-energy-efficient-consensus-mechanism-for-blockchain-and-how-the-internet-is-a-place-for-people-to-find-their-tribe">During an exclusive panel discussion at this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach, Tezos co-founder Kathleen Breitman provided insights into the NFT space, why Proof of Stake is a more energy-efficient consensus mechanism for blockchain, and how the internet is a place for people to find their tribe.</h2>
<p>If you look at an NFT’s face value, it’s not anything meaningful, said Tezos co-founder Kathleen Breitman in a fireside chat at Art Basel Miami Beach. What gives an NFT value, Breitman argues, is social consensus.</p>
<p>“And that is what blockchain is,” she said. “Blockchain is a tool for building social consensus. And in some ways, I think it reflects the art industry at large because obviously value is subjective.”</p>
<p>Breitman said Tezos had differentiated itself from rival protocols through its energy-efficient technology and low transaction fees for posting art on the blockchain. But what’s being undersold is the fact there’s a genuinely decentralized community around Tezos. She points to the NFT site Hic et Nunc as an example of how these decentralized communities come together. The site, which was recently shut down (and replaced by several other community sites) was created in a hackathon, and it attracted a large number of people who were interested in AI and generative art.</p>
<p>“My favorite part of the internet is when people are digital homesteading: they’re finding their tribe, and they’re putting in the effort to get a sense of ownership,” she said. “And in many ways, that’s very much what the Tezos project is predicated on, having people who have a stake in the network ratify amendments to it and basically move the protocol forward that way.”</p>
<h4 id="emergence-and-the-tezos-blockchain">Emergence and the Tezos blockchain</h4>
<p>Together with a few Magic: The Gathering world champions and a person who had sold comic book companies to Marvel, Breitman founded a company that created a tradable card game and comic book series called <a href="https://emergentstcg.com/">EMERGENTS TRADING CARD GAME</a>.</p>
<p>With Emergents TCG, people get to own comic books as NFTs, and owning a comic in the series means dictating some of the character arcs. These, in turn, influence the characters in the trading card game.</p>
<p>But as Breitman said, there’s also a bigger picture which is forging community through being representative of what the community wants to see and showcasing the power of the crowd.</p>
<p>“Many comic book companies have tried to do this, but they have done it in a cheeky way with bad technology,” she said. “Hopefully, cryptocurrencies allow better coordination, and in a more elegant way, because you can audit everything.”</p>
<p>The commercialization of NFTs</p>
<p>Breitman said she wants more tinkerers added to the overall Tezos project. She said the commercialization of NFTs and the venture culture built up around them is very ham-fisted. “There aren’t a lot of failures, and there isn’t a lot of tinkering.”</p>
<p>This is why she loved Hic et Nunc so much because it was bare-bones, and the platform was very much about the people who built it who also used it.</p>
<p>“I think the internet is at its best when weirdos find the one place on earth where somebody else thinks the same thing and they’re like ‘oh you do too?’” Breitman said. “And I think that’s something unique, something that can’t be manufactured.”</p>
<p>Breitman wants to see more tinkering and a greater number of humble projects because there’s a lot of VC money flowing into the space, making things look very polished, but they don’t have the same soul.</p>
<p>She also attributes the growth in developer tools as an indication that using the Tezos blockchain has become easier. “That’s been a big focus, giving people the tools,” she said. “And I think that’s the beauty of having a non-profit loosely associated with it because you can shepherd the ecosystem.”</p>
<p>Energy efficiency</p>
<p>In the early days, Proof of Work was the only option but with the development of computer science it became possible to move to Proof of Stake to secure a cryptocurrency, said Breitman.</p>
<p>Proof of Stake asks that you run a specialized piece of software instead of a specialized piece of hardware, and the cost of running the software in terms of energy consumption is orders of magnitude lower, she said.</p>
<p>“When the Tezos position paper was published many years ago… and I thought it was a nice feature that it was eco-friendly, but people didn’t really care.”</p>
<p>“It only became a focus of consciousness recently because effectively Ethereum took off with a lot of artists in the NFT community there. And after promising to transition to proof of stake for many years, people finally realized that, in fact, they were proof of work and that the excess energy consumption of the network was a little bit offensive to the taste of the more conscious artists who came to the platform. Ergo Tezos became a preferred platform of many artists who were environmentally conscious,” she concluded.</p>
From a digital museum to the metaverse
<h2 id="the-metaverse-isnt-just-about-video-games-or-at-least-so-said-an-expert-panel-at-the-recent-art-basel-miami-beach-where-the-metaverse-and-blockchain-took-center-stage-the-big-question-how-can-museums-transform-themselves-from-physical-entities-into-the-metaverse-institutions-of-tomorrow">The metaverse isn’t just about video games, or at least so said an expert panel at the recent Art Basel Miami Beach, where the metaverse and blockchain took center stage. The big question: how can museums transform themselves from physical entities into the metaverse institutions of tomorrow?</h2>
<p>There’s a lot of talk about the metaverse, with Facebook’s newly named parent company, Meta, going hard on its ambitions in a Web3 world. But according to panelist Fanny Lakoubay, the metaverse is about more than Roblox and other online games.</p>
<p>“The definition of a metaverse for me would be an online, mostly 3D world where you can interact with other people via avatars. Sure, there are games, but there are also openings for institutions like a 3D museum,” she said.</p>
<p>Brad MacDonald, director of Creative Media at Smith Atlas, agreed and said the metaverse is a multimodal experience that extends to XR experiences. It could exist in virtual reality in parallel to augmented reality, and those things also in parallel to a browser-based experience with all the systems communicating together.</p>
<p>“By creating an adaptive system, we get to the museum component,” he said. “How do you dissolve the walls of a bricks-and-mortar institution?”</p>
<p>There are myriad advantages to dissolving the walls because it allows museums to broaden their audience and create deeper engagement. “This is something museums are desperate to do,” he said.</p>
<h4 id="closed-versus-open-metaverses">Closed versus open metaverses</h4>
<p>It’s critical that the metaverse be an open environment, as open environments are the only way museums can thrive in this new space, said Lakoubay, very different from the current state of Web2, controlled as it is by big corporations.</p>
<p>“What the crypto world is trying to do is create multiple metaverses, like maybe one for culture and one for your social life and one for dating, but with bridges between them.”</p>
<p>MacDonald commented that multiple open metaverses would also allow communities to have deeper ownership over their cultural heritage and a more present voice in the conversations around objects and belief systems. “I think there’s a place within the metaverse for communities to have more power and agency over their narratives.”</p>
<p>The place of cultural institutions within the overall landscape also needs to change in a decentralized world. Museums need to adjust their self-concepts and their identity. “What is their role in the metaverse?” asked Lakoubay. “Instead of being the absolute author of the story, they need to embrace communities and engage with them to help refine those stories and surface the most relevant elements.”</p>
<p>Museums also need to embrace the metaverse because their donor bases are aging out, and they need to meet new audiences where those people are. The questions around this are how museums engage with younger people, and how do they speak to them?</p>
<p>“When you’re thinking about engagement and broadening your reach, you could do the shotgun approach where you’re like, we want to appeal to everybody or you could target some smaller segment of the population who is just particularly passionate in a very specific way and NFTs and the metaverse that community is pretty passionate,” MacDonald said.</p>
<h4 id="friction-to-engaging-with-the-metaverse-and-the-future-for-museums">Friction to engaging with the metaverse and the future for museums</h4>
<p>Many institutions are ossified in the way they approach new technology and new engagement methods, said MacDonald. An institution like the Smithsonian has so many friction points, but what it comes down to is anticipating these frictions, planning for them, and having early conversations.</p>
<p>“There’s a range of institutions and some of them are going to be resistant to new ideas, while others will want to sign up immediately,” he said.</p>
<p>“And it’s really a matter of learning from those early experiences,” Lakoubay said. “Most of the artists who’ve done several NFT or Metaverse experiments, they always say, “Oh, if I had known more, I would not have done it the same way.” And that doesn’t mean that they did something wrong; it’s just like learning by doing.”</p>
<p>As for the future, MacDonald said it’s important to realize there will be multiple voices contributing. “There’s a really interesting opportunity through the metaverse as a mechanism for dialogue outside of the walls of the institution itself.”</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>Image by Julien Tromeur via Unsplash</em></p>
Art Basel Miami: Artistic experimentation and the blockchain
<h2 id="digital-artists-refik-anadol-amelia-winger-bearskin-and-nancy-baker-cahill-discuss-how-artists-can-experiment-with-blockchain--and-improve-society-using-this-technology">Digital artists Refik Anadol, Amelia Winger-Bearskin, and Nancy Baker Cahill discuss how artists can experiment with blockchain – and improve society using this technology.</h2>
<p>In his late 1960s book Understanding Media, Canadian media philosopher Marshall McLuhan wrote that art could anticipate future society and that art is an early alarm system pointing to new developments ahead. Art, he said, is a radar environment.</p>
<p>In a recent panel discussion at Art Basel Miami Beach, digital artists Refik Anadol, Amelia Winger-Bearskin, and Nancy Baker Cahill discussed how they use emerging technologies like blockchain for their artistic works and how the technology could potentially improve society.</p>
<p>According to Winger-Bearskin, chair and associate professor of AI and the arts at the Digital World Institute at the University of Florida, the blockchain’s main benefit is its decentralized nature.</p>
<p>“This technology can be the basis for reparations for different types of systems, and artists can prototype this future by creating simulations, creating environments, and creating these questions.”</p>
<p>Baker Cahill agreed and noted that her interest in blockchain, while focused on decentralization, is also informed by issues of accountability and transparency. “As someone who does work that’s very much engaged with social issues and living in a moment when we’re seeing such a lack of accountability, blockchain had a visceral appeal.”</p>
<h4 id="blockchain-enabling-new-forms-of-artistic-expression">Blockchain enabling new forms of artistic expression</h4>
<p>“If we think about the way in which we have seen ownership of land or ownership of resources have always been based in corporate law, it’s not about one person, one vote,” said Winger-Bearskin. “The cool thing about blockchain is you can have one person, one vote, one penny from millions of people using that type of energy… as ways of protecting our environment, protecting and creating social justice and climate justice.”</p>
<p>The artists also discussed how blockchain could eliminate short-termism in human planning and better benefit the environment and people worldwide. Winger-Bearskin noted she views her work as a conversation with both her ancestors and future generations. When communicating with future generations, she needs to use abstractions, and artists are good at abstractions.</p>
<p>“We’re good at taking something and saying, okay, if this is a scatter plot of information, how do I connect it to as many decentralized stories as possible so that the future generations can learn?”</p>
<p>Artist Baker Cahill also commented that blockchain technology allows new ways of collaboration and that making art using blockchain technologies is collaboration. “I think the future is collaboration. I think we’re not going to get anywhere without collaboration,” she said. “I think what we’re seeing in the United States right now, the emphasis on the individual, the emphasis on the self, the emphasis on ego, has been the most destructive and toxic force and it’s why we have all these different variants and the toxic political system and discourse that we have now.”</p>
<p>“If we think hard about how blockchain could impact transparency of voting economics of finance, of campaign finance, if we could see if every transaction were transparent and we’re all there and all on the ledger, a lot would change, and it would change immediately,” Baker Cahill said.</p>
<p>Anadol concluded the discussion when he said blockchain is a technology that can find collective patterns and provide opportunities to unite rather than divide people.</p>
<p>“We are right now going through a pandemic at the same time without any background or culture by us. We are all equally damaged, and we need healing. My feeling is maybe it’s very urgently to use these technologies to find the problems and try to cure them collectively.”</p>
Tezos at Art Basel Miami: Where code meets art with Sterling Crispin
<h2 id="sterling-crispin-is-a-digital-artist-and-software-developer-in-this-art-basel-miami-nft-speaker-series-talk-crispin-discusses-the-rise-of-nfts-his-work-as-a-digital-artist-and-how-every-idea-is-a-meme">Sterling Crispin is a digital artist and software developer. In this Art Basel Miami NFT Speaker Series talk, Crispin discusses the rise of NFTs, his work as a digital artist, and how every idea is a meme.</h2>
<p>“I’ve been making digital art most of my life,” said Crispin. “I’ve also been minting NFTs since the beginning of 2021 and exploring blockchain and its relationship with digital art since around 2015.”</p>
<p>Crispin first heard of blockchain on a tech blog discussing Bitcoin in 2011 and briefly considered mining but thought it was a waste of time. Then, when Bitcoin passed the $300 range, Crispin realized it wasn’t a fad and wasn’t going to go away.</p>
<p>He was living in Los Angeles and said there was a crazy feeling in the air. On the one hand, there were raging wildfires and drought, and on the other hand, the tech world was obsessed with the emerging digital currencies and things like self-driving cars.</p>
<p>“There were two narratives; the first was the world was collapsing, and the other was that we were going to achieve transcendence through tech, and they were impossibly at odds with one another.”</p>
<p>Drawing on the dissonance for inspiration, he created a piece in 2015 - a Bitcoin mining rig built into a survival sculpture of objects like a water filter and dried food. Crispin said as an art object, it was hedging bets – it could appreciate as an artwork but also create value by mining Bitcoin and, if the world collapsed, it could be disassembled, and the survival objects used practically.</p>
<h4 id="creative-coding-and-the-parallels-with-cinema">Creative coding and the parallels with cinema</h4>
<p>When it comes to using code to generate art, Crispin said there are parallels with cinema. It took decades before moviemakers realized film was its own medium and the camera could be moved, and effects applied.</p>
<p>The same lesson applies to creative coding and programming, which Crispin said has reached a nexus. “It’s been going for decades, but now it’s been democratized with tools which let artists write code,” he said. “And now we have a marketplace for it with NFTs.”</p>
<p>Five years ago, NFTs simply didn’t exist, and digital artists had to send their files on USB sticks with a certificate of authenticity.</p>
<p>“Back then, people were simply not interested, but now NFTs are a great stand-in for the buying and selling of ideas.”</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="launching-into-the-work-of-nfts-on-the-tezos-blockchain">Launching into the work of NFTs on the Tezos blockchain</h4>
<p>Crispin’s first Tezos project was a series of 98 artifacts from a work called Data Masks. With Data Masks, he wrote a piece of software that reverse-engineered face recognition algorithms by taking noise and repeatedly running it through the program to generate faces. He also uploaded the faces generated by the artwork to Facebook to see if they passed Facebook’s face recognition algorithms.</p>
<p>He also took the faces and 3D-printed them, making them into a gallery-style artwork. “But when I uploaded them to Facebook and saw how its algorithm interacted with the faces, then that became a core part of the artwork.”</p>
<p>Crispin sold the art on Hic et Nunc, pricing each piece differently. Some went for $3, while others priced at $3,000 and $300,000. He figured it would be a price discovery strategy simply to see what collectors were willing to pay.</p>
<p>“The project was an experiment because I was thinking about how much surveillance there is and that it’s crazy that we as humans are creating AIs as partners to humanity.”</p>
<p>He also sees NFTs as a movement here to stay, saying that Web2 companies used the value created by customers and could delete that value anytime they chose – such as banning a player from a game. “Web3, NFTs, and crypto can enable the open, interoperable dream of the early web,” he said.</p>
<h4 id="memes-and-an-eye-to-the-future">Memes and an eye to the future</h4>
<p>Crispin said the tools to create NFTs and write smart contracts are becoming democratized, and in the future, writing a smart contract will be as easy as using Instagram. “There will be lots of user-friendly interfaces because at the moment, writing a smart contract, even if you know what you are doing, is hard,” he said.</p>
<p>Memes are also the future, and he said a meme is an idea passed between people. Tortillas are a meme, as is the Mona Lisa, he said. Some of the most popular memes of today will be seen as the lauded artworks of the future.</p>
<p>But there are cultural differences between the traditional art world and the world of NFTs and memes, Crispin said, with many NFTs and memes meant for immediate consumption and a quick dopamine hit before the viewer moves on to the next thing.</p>
<p>“NFTs will grow and consume everything. They will eat the world as the internet has, and in effect, they are the new internet,” he said. “But it’s hard to treat NFTs like a monolith because there are lots of niche communities coming to light.”</p>
<p>Crispin’s current project is writing a new smart contract that embraces the chaos of the always-on, 24x7 NFT world. With this project, the NFT knows what it has been sold for, if the owner makes a loss, and can respond to the fact they have changed hands.</p>
<p>“When I think about iconic paintings, the ones that hold the greatest interest to me are the ones saying something fundamental about what painting is. With smart contracts, you can do the same thing – express what the fundamental character is.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>Image: Data-Mask by Sterling Crispin</p>
Designing a Generative Art Algorithm with AI Artist Mario Klingemann
<h2 id="world-renowned-german-ai-artist-mario-klingemann-discussed-his-installation-at-the-tezos-exhibition-human--machine-at-art-basel-miami-and-shared-his-insights-into-the-rise-fall-and-rise-again-of-the-hic-et-nunc-website-and-its-spin-offs">World-renowned German AI artist Mario Klingemann discussed his installation at the Tezos exhibition: Human + Machine at Art Basel Miami and shared his insights into the rise, fall, and rise again of the Hic et Nunc website and its spin-offs.</h2>
<p>Klingemann was invited to design an installation for the Tezos exhibition at Art Basel Miami, Human + Machine, enabling visitors to interact with the art and then mint their own NFTs based on the generative work Klingemann created.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The exhibit was open for 36 hours over five days, with 4,600 NFTs minted, translating to 2.14 NFTs minted per minute for all of Art Basel Miami. According to Klingemann, the work in the booth was based on a previous artwork called Memories of a Passer By and used a feedback loop engine.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The feedback loop engine, he said, allows complexity to develop from simple rules. “It introduces an unstable system that can drift off in interesting ways.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>The feedback loop was made up of two neural networks working with faces. One network would take an image and look for face-like features. It would then demark the facial features it saw, such as eyes, nose, lips, and mouth-shape, and then create a map of the data.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The second neural network turned the process around and then tried to create a face from the original data. Each work was unique, based on the visitor’s own face, and those visitors were then able to mint the work on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Whenever a visitor steps in front of the camera connected to the neural networks, they become a small element of the overall system,” he said.</p>
<h4 id="klingemanns-journey-to-nfts-and-the-role-of-hic-et-nunc">Klingemann’s journey to NFTs and the role of Hic et Nunc</h4>
<p>Klingemann began creating digital art in the 1980s, fascinated with technology and the power of code. Over the years, he found a way to make these techniques part of his art practice.</p>
<p>“It’s been a long journey. I started out making Photoshop filters, and those filters look like generative art now.”</p>
<p>One key aspect of his work is achieving autonomy for the machines used, so the machine creates the work by itself. “This is tricky because it’s the person pulling the strings, and [my vision] wasn’t really possible until about ten years ago.”</p>
<p>Part of the problem is that not all digital works are suited to printmaking. In the past, it wasn’t easy for a digital artist to make a living, involving either selling USB sticks or creating prints. The rise of NFTs changed all that, he said. “With NFTs it all became easier and more logical.”</p>
<p>As he puts it, he started minting under the radar and then moved to Ethereum. But Ethereum, with its Proof of Work consensus mechanism, has well-known problems, including high gas fees and its carbon footprint. “Then I stumbled across Tezos and Hic et Nunc and became a happy camper there.”</p>
<p>One thing he liked about H=N, as it’s known, was its emphasis on the art rather than selling the art. Klingemann isn’t shy about saying many artists followed him to H=N, and the community grew quickly.</p>
<p>But in November 2021, it all came to a grinding halt. H=N’s founder metaphorically pulled the rug out from under the site, shutting it down.</p>
<p>“The founder [of H=N] had different ideas about the site to how I saw it. He thought we were colonizing the space and barging in,” says Klingemann.</p>
<p>But the beauty of Web3 is that H=N had only one interface, and because it was built on open source, there were mirrors. Alternative sites quickly sprang up.</p>
<p>“The community is trying to build a new H=N, one that’s supposed to have all the good things and make everyone happy. And that is difficult,” said Klingemann. “Democracy is difficult if you want to do it right.”</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>AI portrait by Mario Klingemann</em></p>
Women at the top of tech: female founders on entrepreneurialism and life at Singapore Blockchain Day
<h2 id="hosted-by-tz-apacs-katherine-ng-at-singapore-blockchain-day-2021-top-female-startup-leaders-shared-insights-into-what-it-means-to-be-a-woman-in-tech-what-its-like-to-work-with-friends-as-co-founders-and-how-to-create-a-company-culture-in-the-zoom-era">Hosted by TZ APAC’s Katherine Ng at Singapore Blockchain Day 2021, top female startup leaders shared insights into what it means to be a woman in tech, what it’s like to work with friends as co-founders, and how to create a company culture in the Zoom era.</h2>
<p>According to Megan Li, founder and CEO of Regtank Technology, one of the most important aspects of finding the right co-founder is getting someone you know in real life.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“This is very important,” says Li, “because if it’s someone you know in real life, you will have a better understanding of their character.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Also, to find the right co-founder, you truly need to understand your objectives and goals. It’s not only about business, but also about personal life goals.”</p>
<p>Anna Sainsbury, the chairman and founder of location-based tech unicorn GeoComply, agrees. Sainsbury is in business with her husband, who she met through a previous role. She says they had an ongoing conversation during this period about regulating markets versus brands that regulated themselves.</p>
<p>“I think what’s great about our relationship is that our skill sets are very different,” she said. “He has a lot of skill sets I admire, and I think that’s important in anyone you work with on your team, and probably the most important, as co-founder.”</p>
<h4 id="creating-cultural-values">Creating cultural values</h4>
<p>Sainsbury said when she started the company, she was unaware it was possible to hire an HR manager who would guide the company in terms of its culture.</p>
<p>“When we got past the group of ten people, people who could sit around my dining table, we realized we had to work on replicating what was working for us,” she says. “I received some great advice and read some great books which really pointed us in the right direction of needing to set out our mission, purpose, values, and voice.”</p>
<p>Li said given her company is still very much in the startup phase, it hasn’t yet defined its culture. “But it’s still very typically a startup,” she says. “We are working very flexibly and closely as a team.”</p>
<p>Learning, she said, is critical to the company’s nascent culture because the space it operates in is moving so fast.</p>
<p>“Being in this phase is good because we are flexible and can make fast decisions; we can have the execution done quickly. So everything is about speed.”</p>
<p>Given the breakneck speed startups move at, Li said her company is focused on more and better collaborations between the different teams and building staff skills.</p>
<p>Hiring team members is also a skill learned over time, said Sainsbury, and the team members help make the culture. “We are constantly learning to communicate, how to ask better questions, and understanding what the cultural sensitivities are. What we are looking for is passion, hunger, drive, and humility.”</p>
<p>“We are constantly analyzing ourselves as well as the questions we ask,” she continues. “So that we can make sure that we get value out of interviews and find the right people.”</p>
<h4 id="the-remote-work-challenge">The remote work challenge</h4>
<p>With the Singapore Blockchain Day event taking place in the shadow of disruption caused by the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, somewhat inevitably, the conversation turned towards the challenges facing founders around having teams working together remotely.</p>
<p>Sainsbury said her company encourages people to come into the office, visit customers, and travel to conferences. The company supports remote work, but maintaining a corporate culture in a predominantly virtual work environment is challenging.</p>
<p>“Even as we continue to work from home, we need to improve the skill sets and the tools we use so it can replicate the creativity we get from face-to-face,” said Sainsbury. “It’s hard to replicate that from home.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>Sainsbury’s motivation as a founder comes from her love of helping. “It gets me up every day, watching the positive impact our product has on people’s lives.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>Closing off the session, Li adds her motivation comes from really wanting to achieve something. “That and having an impact on our industry.”</p>
Going down the NFT rabbit hole with Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda and digital artist, Mumu the Stan
<h2 id="famed-musician-and-visual-artist-mike-shinoda-and-rising-malaysian-digital-artist-moon-discuss-their-journey-into-nfts-why-community-is-important-and-how-blockchain-is-all-about-taking-your-power-back">Famed musician and visual artist Mike Shinoda and rising Malaysian digital artist Moon discuss their journey into NFTs, why community is important, and how blockchain is all about taking your power back.</h2>
<p>Blockchain is all about artists and creators taking their power back from centralized sales systems and web2 companies, says Malaysian digital artist Moon, creator of the <a href="https://www.tzpulse.com/articles/clean-nfts-provide-financial-security-for-taco-bunny-artist-mumu">TEZOS TACO BUNNY</a>. “When I realized blockchain was decentralized, it was an epiphany for me,” she says.</p>
<p>Moon’s journey to becoming a self-supporting digital artist is entwined with the path taken by Mike Shinoda of the noted rock band Linkin Park into the blockchain ecosystem. Shinoda says Linkin Park started a (very un-rock-band-like) venture capital arm around 2016, and through the fund, met people in the crypto space.</p>
<p>“It was really very early,” he says. “We just had no idea what any of it was.”</p>
<p>Fast forward to 2019, and Shinoda opened a Crypto.com account, and then in the last twelve months began minting NFTs on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>For Moon, Shinoda’s Discord channel was a place where fans gathered and interacted with the artist. Shinoda noticed Moon’s art, and when he made a tossed-off song called Booty Down, Moon made a GIF of Shinoda and his partner twerking to it.</p>
<p>“That was the first NFT I minted, and Mike bought it,” says Moon. She also says her initial impression of the NFT and blockchain space was that it existed for rich people. “I have pennies, I told Mike when he told me to get involved,” she says.</p>
<h4 id="why-low-gas-fee-blockchains-offer-opportunities-for-artists">Why low-gas-fee blockchains offer opportunities for artists</h4>
<p>Shinoda says there’s a misconception about NFTs only being for well-known artists selling their work at high prices. “One of the things people think about when they think of NFTs is all the big auctions and drops,” he says.</p>
<p>“But the truth is that especially on Tezos because it’s so easy to do because the gas prices are low, you can offer something for free, or for $1,” he continues.</p>
<p>He notes there are many artists making the transition to working for themselves and supporting themselves with NFTs on low gas fee blockchains like Tezos. “There is going to be room for all sorts of art, not just people making flat art in JPEG or GIF format,” he says.</p>
<p>Moon said when she started minting NFTs, she had no idea she would be in her present position. ‘I have quit my job, and it’s not because I am making millions, and I’m now rich,” she says. “It’s because I get to do what I love; I get to make my own art, and I can support myself with it. It’s kind of a dream.”</p>
<h4 id="building-art-based-blockchain-communities">Building art-based blockchain communities</h4>
<p>“The one thing I think is so special about a lot of the blockchain-related communities is that it’s so early, and they are so small,” says Shinoda. “It’s possible to know a large chunk of the community.”</p>
<p>And it’s communities built around artists and creators, which will help those creators support themselves. Shinoda says for a musician to make a living from streaming, they need to have millions of streams, but with blockchain and NFT-related communities, those artists can survive with smaller, more niche audiences.</p>
<p>“If you had fewer people and things in between, then you could make the same amount of money from many, many fewer connections,” he says. “You could have quality fans over quantity fans."</p>
<p>“I think that’s the thing that is really going to open up is a group with a thousand fans can actually make a living doing what they love, as opposed to having millions of fans,” he says.</p>
<h4 id="the-challenges-for-artists-on-blockchain">The challenges for artists on blockchain</h4>
<p>“We’re artists; we’re not technologists,” says Moon. “In my first month or so into NFTs my head was spinning all the time. It was a lot to take in and the learning curve is really steep.”</p>
<p>That’s why both Shinoda and Moon agree education and advocacy to the arts communities is vital. “Once you get there you can deepen your understanding," she says.</p>
<p>Moon also believes inclusion is critical. “A lot of successful, top billing artists in the NFT space are still straight, white males,” she says. “So being decentralized, we have a voice as consumers, and we should support whoever we believe in and give equal opportunity to everyone.”</p>
<p>Shinoda says Web3 and blockchain are something everyone will be interacting with in the months and years to come, so it’s important to get familiar with the technologies and the new concepts of exchanging value. “The earlier you get familiar with it, the more of an advantage you will personally have,” he says.</p>
<p>Moon agrees, saying that even if you’re unsure or scared and don’t want to participate immediately, it’s important to get familiar with the technology so you’re not caught by surprise.</p>
Building an art collector following in the fast-moving NFT space, with creators OMGiDRAWEDit and Michelle Von Kalben
<h2 id="speaking-at-geckocon-2021--nfts-gone-wild-november-17-19-digital-artists-omgidrawedit---creator-of-the-tezzards-nft-series-on-the-tezos-blockchain--and-mvk-discuss-how-they-got-into-nfts-why-its-hard-to-get-a-good-nights-sleep-as-an-nft-artist-and-the-importance-of-community-to-creators">Speaking at GeckoCon 2021 – NFTs Gone Wild (November 17-19), digital artists OMGiDRAWEDit - creator of the Tezzards NFT series on the Tezos blockchain – and MVK, discuss how they got into NFTs, why it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep as an NFT artist, and the importance of community to creators.</h2>
<p>Instagram isn’t a great place for displaying digital art, says artist OMGiDRAWEDit. The quality is too low, and the app doesn’t let pieces shine. But it was Instagram that offered inspiration for OMGiDRAWEDit to get into creating NFTs when they saw the work of some fellow digital artists that had been posted to Instagram, minted as NFTs.</p>
<p>“I saw some stuff on SuperRare and it was very cool,” they said. But initially, they were hesitant to get on the NFT bandwagon due to the environmental concerns surrounding some blockchains. “A few other artists I followed on Twitter set up a clean NFT Discord and so I joined that.”</p>
<p>OMGiDRAWEDit then discovered Tezos, a Proof of Stake blockchain with significantly lower energy use than comparable Proof of Work blockchains. “I investigated a bit further and then just went for it and minted my genesis piece,” they said.</p>
<p>Artist MVK followed a similar path. They saw some big NFT sales on Christie’s at the beginning of 2021 and wanted to know more about NFTs as an artistic medium. “I realized this is huge and so real and I jumped into it."</p>
<p>“I had a fight with time because I had to quickly release NFTs and so I tried to promote [my work] with marketing,” they continued.</p>
<h4 id="the-importance-of-community">The importance of community</h4>
<p>Twitter is the most powerful medium for promoting digital art and creating a community around creators and artwork, says OMGiDRAWEDit and MVK. “So, for me personally I just kind of started tweeting out the pieces with the link to the NFT,” says OMGiDRAWEDit.</p>
<p>“I think that I was quite fortunate that both in the moment of that happening Hic et Nunc as a platform was like, really blowing up as well. I think it kind of went crazy from March just onwards and I think I got in pretty early which was really helpful, but I’ve always just tried to be totally honest and be myself when I tweet about my work. A lot of my pieces are quite tied to me personally.”</p>
<p>MVK agrees, saying they try to approach every job as a mini exhibition. They post on Twitter and send the post to key people and friends, asking for retweets. “I also send a lot of messages to potential collectors; nothing too pushy, but just ‘hey man, I’m releasing new work, come check it out. I don’t have a huge following, and that is the way it works for me.”</p>
<p>The blockchain platform also has massive potential to expose new artists, says OMGiDRAWEDit. “The kind of culture of art that’s coming through is just unbelievable and there’s just so much stuff that I’d never seen or never considered that I think I probably never would have if I hadn’t been sort of getting into the NFT scene,” they said.</p>
<p>However, OMGiDRAWEDit says there are issues with collectors using bots and scripts to get in early on drops, crowding out other collectors and relegating them to the more expensive secondary market. “Maybe as things become more mainstream there’s going to be a lot of people that are just trying to enter the space or dip their toes, want to maybe collect something they really like and they can’t because it’s scooped up from under them by somebody that has tools that favor them,” they said.</p>
<h4 id="into-the-future">Into the future</h4>
<p>Both artists say the blockchain operates on blockchain time, where a year is compressed into a month, and a month into a day. “We’re joking with my friends that NFTs never sleep so we don’t as well… So, NFTs helped me do less design work. I now focus more on my art and the idea is to keep focusing more and more on my art,” says MVK.</p>
<p>OMGiDRAWEDit agrees. “I feel like I’ve worked myself almost to the bone for the last seven months [and so] I’m at a point where I’m sort of trying to not take a step back from NFTs, but kind of give myself a little bit more of a chance to catch my breath,” they said. “I think you can get so involved so heavily and it’s such an amazing community and a world that is just all totally crazy, but it’s also super consuming.”</p>
Supercharge your music and collaborations with NFTs and Blockchain
<h2 id="not-since-spotify-scaled-music-streaming-has-the-music-industry-and-musicians-seen-an-opportunity-as-disruptive-and-enticing-as-the-rise-of-blockchain-and-nfts-hosted-by-benzingas-logan-ross-a-panel-of-industry-luminaries-got-together-at-geckocon-2021--nfts-gone-wild-to-explore-how-blockchain-is-impacting-the-sector-for-the-better-and-what-it-means-for-career-musicians-their-work-and-their-fans">Not since Spotify scaled music streaming has the music industry and musicians seen an opportunity as disruptive and enticing as the rise of blockchain and NFTs. Hosted by Benzinga’s Logan Ross, a panel of industry luminaries got together at GeckoCon 2021 – NFTs Gone Wild to explore how blockchain is impacting the sector for the better and what it means for career musicians, their work, and their fans.</h2>
<p>In 2015 Wu Tang Clan pressed their seventh studio album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, and limited it to a single copy to protest against streaming services. Once Upon a Time… recently sold for $4 million as an NFT, making it the most expensive album sale of all time, doubling the previous record also set by the same album. Today, NFTs and other blockchain technologies present a burgeoning opportunity for artists to disrupt the same streaming services that disrupted them 20 years ago.</p>
<p>Compared to the music industry, blockchain technology has been around for a bare blip, and yet its impacts have already reverberated through the sector, with numerous artists this year and last minting NFTs for a growing group of blockchain savvy fans. During an exclusive panel at GeckoCon 2021 – NFTs Gone Wild, Artemis Music’s Kristopher Houck, Emanate’s Jimi Frew, and Metarupa’s Ruanth Chrisley Thyssen sat down with Benzinga’s Logan Ross to discuss how NFTs are changing the way musicians think about their art in the web 3.0 age.</p>
<p>According to Houck, NFTs have changed the way he views his art and its place in the digital realm.</p>
<p>“As an artist, I would say that blockchain definitely enables us to integrate our music with almost any digital creative imaginable. It allows our music to be expressed as immersive multimedia experiences.”</p>
<p>Underpinned by the blockchain to protect artists’ ownership and rights, Artemis’ work extends, in a bold and future-forward way, to space. The Artemis Space Network is a space-based, globally accessible commercial platform for music and entertainment media.</p>
<p>“The Artemis Space Network offers the average person access to the space industry in the form of NFTs”, said Houck.</p>
<p>“We sent the very first music to the International Space Station in July this year; we chose Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy, which also was sent up with a music video.”</p>
<p>For Frew, the blockchain is fuelling a very different venture. Emanate is a platform for connecting artists with each other and their listeners and reclaiming ownership of their intellectual property. The platform allows fans to earn alongside their creators, a symbiosis not seen in the music sector before.</p>
<p>Emanate’s smart contract and payment engine is built on the EOSIO blockchain, meaning artists can share and monetize their music and get paid in real-time, but the platform also fuels a decentralized form of collaboration as well. No matter where artists meet online (many collaborations are birthed on Twitch and Discord, for example), they can sign collaboration agreements that allow them to split shares and publish their work on the platform.</p>
<p>Platforms like Emanate allow emerging artists to leapfrog the walled gardens of Apple Music and Spotify and connect directly with fans and each other, something that feels immeasurably more democratic and fairer to artists and consumers alike.</p>
<p>“I’m seeing people that are earning decent cash, or feeling validated (as artists) more importantly, and having the purpose of getting music. So that’s so fulfilling to see.”</p>
<p>As an Oscar-nominated sound artist, Thyssen sees NFTs as a new frontier for music and art more broadly, providing the type of ownership fans and collectors crave while also giving artists the opportunity to bundle their music with other things fans will find valuable, like music videos, album artwork, and tickets to live shows.</p>
<p>“As we’ve seen, there are so many new utilities. If you buy this, you get the music and you get a ticket. And that cuts out so many people in the middle who issue tickets to all these people and keep track of who’s got tickets”, he said.</p>
<p>“You can have a lifelong ticket membership for your band or as long as your band doesn’t split up, you can always attend the shows. And whoever has the token can see the show.”</p>
<p>Hearing the music industry’s innovators talk about the power of the blockchain to bring musicians and music lovers closer together, we get the sense that a web3 world will have a cracking soundtrack.</p>
The brave new world of creating (and collecting) generative art
<h2 id="generative-art-is-gathering-both-attention-and-speed-speaking-at-geckocon-2021--nfts-gone-wild-generative-artists-george-galanakis-otherwise-known-as-radarboy3000-and-yazid-azahari-reveal-how-they-got-their-start-discuss-the-difference-between-nfts-and-crypto-art-and-answer-the-question-of-why-community-is-important">Generative art is gathering both attention and speed. Speaking at GeckoCon 2021 – NFTs Gone Wild, generative artists George Galanakis (otherwise known as Radarboy3000) and Yazid Azahari reveal how they got their start, discuss the difference between NFTs and crypto art, and answer the question of why community is important.</h2>
<p>The rise of blockchain and generative art is creating new communities among collectors and creators, with micro-cultures springing up around NFT marketplaces like Objkt.com and around the chains underpinning the minting of NFTs and providing seeds for the creation of generative art.</p>
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<p>“For collectors and artists, find a subculture that you’re interested in,” said Galanakis. “Find a community. There’s never been, since the beginning of the internet, this breakaway of lots of micro-cultures. And [it’s] there you’ll find your people, and you’ll find the stuff you really like.”</p>
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<h4 id="new-beginnings">New beginnings</h4>
<p>Both artists started using the (now maligned) Flash software, which was popular for creating web animations in the 90s and early 2000s. Galanakis said he started coding and designing in Flash, being inspired by street and dance music cultures.</p>
<p>“From there, data became my tool of choice [and I] started coding more and more,” he said. “And I guess the data just transformed into generative at some stage.”</p>
<p>Azahari also got his start using Flash as a teenager, creating basic animations before discovering Flash ActionScript. “It got me more interested in coding and tech, but I didn’t go straight into art,” he said. “I was a bit more pragmatic with my career [and] went into enterprise software development. So, I was still playing around with code, but not so much as art.”</p>
<p>The desire to create eventually pushed him into the art world, saying that instead of doing code for people to file their taxes, he’s doing something that’s a little more superfluous and fun.</p>
<p>The two artists say they have similar styles, with Galanakis describing his work as minimalist, inspired by science fiction and dance music culture, as well as early computer art.</p>
<p>“When we saw each other’s art, it was pretty similar,” said Azahari. “I also see mine as minimalistic and geometric. “He said he draws his inspiration from op art, Bauhaus, and early graphic design. “I’m also inspired by glitch and pixel art,” he said.</p>
<h4 id="getting-to-grips-with-generative-art">Getting to grips with generative art</h4>
<p>There’s some debate about exactly what generative art is, but Azahari clarifies it, saying it’s anything executed by following a set of (programmed) instructions, as well as there is a sense of randomness, which creates an artwork that is more interesting.</p>
<p>Galanakis observes the term generative art is broad and said he doesn’t like putting things in boxes. “I guess for me, I see it like some collaboration with the computer and the data, and then you’re nudging it in certain directions,” he said.</p>
<p>“Sometimes it’s about just defining boundaries about where the art can go,” Azahari said. “It’s about finding the balance between how narrow or broad those boundaries are.”</p>
<p>Both artists believe blockchain has enabled generative art – particularly in building community and letting artists support themselves through their work – but they also state computer art has been around forever.</p>
<p>“In a way [blockchain and generative art have] met each other and become lovers in a perfect storm at the right time,” said Galanakis.</p>
<p>He points to the work done by Erick Snowfro and ART BLOCKS as an example of how generative art and blockchain have come together, noting the future of generative is code on the blockchain, which can be turned into art again and again without having to have any other tools.</p>
<p>“I think the blockchain just adds to the element of randomness,” said Azahari. “What Art Blocks does is generate a hash, and every time you mint it, the hash is taken into the algorithm and is interpreted into variables which influence the artwork.”</p>
<p>Azahari also draws a strong delineation between NFTs, and crypto art, which uses blockchain mechanics as part of the art. In contrast, an NFT doesn’t usually take the underlying algorithm into account.</p>
<p>“People are understanding NFTs more, but they’re also understanding what is going on in generative art and what it actually means,” said Galanakis. “And they’re starting to love this output, which is just [a] perfect combination of computer and human working together.”</p>
<h4 id="mad-hatters-club">Mad Hatters Club</h4>
<p>Galanakis and Azahari have worked together on a project called The MAD HATTERS CLUB. According to Galanakis, it’s a collection of 888 generative bunnies with different levels of drops, from one to 50 editions.</p>
<p>“Each design is unique and generative,” he said. “It looks at your wallet [to] generate the art.”</p>
<p>Azahari describes the reaction to the project as “surprising,” observing that the artists were so busy with development they were not sure how it would go. “We dropped it and they instantly sold out, which was a shock and exciting for both of us.”</p>
<h4 id="helping-to-cultivate-nft-creator-communities-in-asia">Helping to cultivate NFT creator communities in Asia</h4>
<p>Galanakis said he started <a href="https://www.cryptoartweekasia.com/">CRYPTO ART WEEK ASIA</a>, the world’s largest Crypto art showcase and a vehicle that celebrates Asia as a rising creative force in global culture, partly because there was a perception of not much digital art being done in Asia.</p>
<p>Until now, the main market for digital art is on the West Coast of the USA, however increasingly it’s emerging markets like Southeast Asia that are seeing an explosion in digital art creators and a growing audience of passionate collectors.</p>
<p>“I did it specifically around these questions of how things are way more difficult for artists in Asia for a number of reasons.”</p>
<p>Now, said Galanakis, there are a wealth of great projects coming out of Asia and a lot of artists stepping up and being recognized in the digital art sector.</p>
<p>“We’re this giant region, and there’s still a lot to go,” he said. “But projects are being recognized, and platforms are making an effort to be more inclusive.”</p>
<p>“I think that when we look back in 50 years, there will be this expression of this excitement around the science fiction world we are entering into with blockchain and generative art,” he concludes.</p>
TZ APAC’s David Tng on growing local art communities in Asia
<h2 id="david-tng-head-of-growth-at-tz-apac-discusses-how-to-grow-local-art-communities-in-asia-using-the-tezos-blockchain-and-why-carbon-emissions-are-an-important-consideration-in-creating-nfts">David Tng, head of growth at TZ APAC, discusses how to grow local art communities in Asia using the Tezos blockchain and why carbon emissions are an important consideration in creating NFTs.</h2>
<p>In his GeckoCon keynote, David Tng, head of growth at TZ APAC, revealed fakes and misattributed artworks are estimated to account for nearly half of the global art market. This is because authenticating art is all about human judgment, and human judgment is prone to error.</p>
<p>“Art authentication services are a multi-billion-dollar industry, and it has not been able to solve this problem,” he said. “That is until the blockchain came along.”</p>
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<p>The blockchain allows for traceability, with all artists and developers on the chain having visibility into the history of transactions and the people collecting the artwork, said Tng. “The community is very collaborative.”</p>
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<h4 id="the-rise-of-nfts-and-generative-art">The rise of NFTs and generative art</h4>
<p>It’s possible to tokenize any asset, even in the physical world, but at present, a lot of NFTs are digital goods. Being on a decentralized platform like Tezos allows people to co-create applications and assets, said Tng, pointing to race car manufacturer McLaren, which recently started a campaign on the Tezos blockchain allowing people to collect NFT parts with the goal of constructing their own virtual vehicle. This leads to an immersive experience for fans and collectors alike.</p>
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<p>Influencers like Snoop Dogg and Mike Shinoda have also branched out into creating virtual collectibles on the Tezos blockchain. “They’ve evolved from a simple collectible to a sort of membership pass where there’s a thriving community behind it,” notes Tng. “And it’s being used as a flex good to establish status on crypto Twitter. Twitter is even reported to be working on verifying these collectibles for use as a profile picture.”</p>
<p>NFT art also resolves the issue of royalties, when artists are locked out from the revenue created by secondary markets. With the creation of art as an NFT, artists can receive royalties on the secondary market. “It allows them to sleep at night, not being pressured to keep pushing their artwork or to make ends meet while their art is already trading at thousands of dollars.</p>
<p>“And this system rewards participation, allowing artists to make a passive income on their work,” he continues.</p>
<p>The blockchain has also given rise to generative art, said Tng, art created using a script. It’s a new form with many possibilities, but when artists use a script, they need to ensure it does not produce any unappealing generation.</p>
<p>“This is a whole new medium, and it requires artists to pick up coding, to learn how to mint NFTs and to promote themselves in a digital setting.”</p>
<p>Over the last twelve months, TZ APAC has collaborated with artists’ communities in Indonesia, China, Korea, and many other places to create NFT workshops led by artists for artists.</p>
<p>“It’s better to hear from artists who believe in NFTs than from us. These workshops educate and train artists to explore new mediums and increases their accessibility.“</p>
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<h4 id="environmental-concerns-with-nfts">Environmental concerns with NFTs</h4>
<p>According to Tng, art and community building counts for nothing if it is unsustainable. NFTs have gotten a lot of bad press regarding carbon emissions because minting an NFT on Ethereum generates around 100 kg of carbon dioxide.</p>
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<p>But ‘real world’ fine art is also carbon-intensive, observing that a piece of fine art shipped by air freight from Paris to Hong Kong will produce around 190 kg of emissions. “This signifies shipping fine art is a very carbon-intensive process, but if you were to mint an NFT on Tezos and transfer it, it would only be 0.1 grams of carbon,” he said.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Art,” concluded Tng, “might be in the eye of the beholder, but in the world today, art might also be in the eye of NFT holders.”</p>
Tezos India Hackathon with Plenty DeFi | Developers | TZ Pulse
<h2 id="plenty-global-hackathon-invites-builders-to-the-tezos-defi-ecosystem">Plenty Global Hackathon invites builders to the Tezos DeFi ecosystem</h2>
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<p>Plenty Global Hackathon is one of the largest Tezos hackathons with over USD 24,000 in prizes and USD 50,000 in potential grants.
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<p>Co-organized by <a href="https://plentydefi.com/">PLENTY DEFI</a> & <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a>, the hackathon challenges participants to ideate & build solutions/hacks layered on the existing Plenty DeFi ecosystem.
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<p>Applications for the global hackathon will open on Nov 20th. The hackathon will last two months and covers various Plenty use cases: <strong>Plenty IDO Launchpad, Widgets, Developer SDK, Bots, NFTs, Farm Auctions, Flat Yield Curve implementation, and an open DeFi track.</strong>
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<p><a href="https://www.plentydefi.com/">PLENTY</a>, the leading DeFi protocol on the Tezos blockchain, partners with <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a> to bring one of the largest global Tezos hackathons to life. Applications for the two month-long hackathon, Plenty Global Hackathon 1.0, will open from Nov 20th, 2021.</p>
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<p>The hackathon challenges participants to devise solutions around various Plenty use cases: <strong>Plenty IDO Launchpad, Widgets, Developer SDK, Bots, NFTs, Farm Auctions, UI/UX enhancements for Plenty, and Flat Yield Curve implementation</strong> – towards a full scale decentralized financial ecosystem on Tezos.</p>
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<p>The hackathon aims to establish a wider range of use cases for decentralized finance by empowering traders, liquidity providers, and developers to actively participate in an open decentralized financial marketplace. In addition, this hackathon is an excellent opportunity for participants to learn, grow, and excel in the blockchain domain.</p>
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<p>The hackathon will be held on the <a href="https://devfolio.co/">DEVFOLIO</a> platform and offers over USD $24,000 in prizes. The top five projects will have the opportunity to receive follow-on grants of up to USD $10,000 each, allowing participants to take their projects to the next level. Outstanding projects will be eligible for additional funding or an invitation to join the Plenty core team.</p>
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<p><em><strong>“Our mission is to build a full-blown DeFi ecosystem on Tezos. We want a large community of people to join this DeFi revolution, build innovative products, and take this ecosystem to the next level. By partnering with Tezos India, we are looking forward to seeing this revolution burst into action.” - Bernd Oostrum, co-founder, Plenty DeFi.</strong></em></p>
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<p>The Plenty Hackathon will enable training and mentorship programs to foster future blockchain talent, and provide them with the resources and the tools to take full advantage of Plenty and the Tezos ecosystem. The hackathon will connect participants with leading industry experts to tackle new challenges and pioneer new features on Tezos.</p>
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<p>Novices, advanced coders, students, working professionals, and blockchain enthusiasts from a wide spectrum of industries are encouraged to apply and kickstart their blockchain journey into the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
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<h4 id="heading"><em>“DeFi on Tezos is growing exponentially and projects like Plenty DeFi are leading the charge. With the Plenty Global Hackathon, we want to enable greater participation in the Tezos DeFi space, and encourage all developers to create new and innovative ideas and further advance the Tezos DeFi ecosystem. We are excited to join hands with Plenty to enable that,”</em></h4>
<h4 id="--om-malviya-president-tezos-india">- <em>Om Malviya, President, Tezos India.</em></h4>
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<p>Registration for the Plenty Global Hackathon will open on 20th November 2021 on devfolio portal and will close on 3rd December 2021. Participants can register individually or in teams.</p>
Co-Create an NFT with AI Art Pioneer Mario Klingemann at Art Basel Miami Beach 2021 at the Tezos NFT Exhibition
<h2 id="co-create-an-nft-with-ai-art-pioneer-mario-klingemann-at-art-basel-miami-beach-2021-at-the-tezos-nft-exhibition">Co-Create an NFT with AI Art Pioneer Mario Klingemann at Art Basel Miami Beach 2021 at the Tezos NFT Exhibition</h2>
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<p><em><strong>Tezos, an energy-efficient blockchain</strong></em> <em>has gained global acclaim as a platform of choice for artists looking to mint NFTs sustainably and responsibly.</em>
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<p><em><strong>Humans + Machines: NFTs and the Ever-Evolving World of Art</strong></em>, <em>will be on view from December 2–4, 2021, at Art Basel in Miami Beach 2021. It will explore questions about the role of humans and machines in generative art and the new frontier of NFT art.</em>
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<p><em>The interactive experience lets visitors collaborate with an algorithm “embedded” in the space, designed by <strong>German artist Mario Klingemann, one of the pioneers of AI art</strong>, to create a type of generative self-portrait, which is then minted as a takeaway NFT artwork for attendees.</em>
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<p><em>The exhibition aims to raise awareness and <strong>invite audiences to understand the role of NFTs in the art world and beyond</strong>, and will also host a series of conversations with other NFT artists and figures from the community.</em></p>
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<p>The growing world of generative and NFT art is in the spotlight at this year’s <a href="https://artbasel.com/miami-beach">ART BASEL IN MIAMI BEACH</a> and will include a unique interactive NFT exhibition from <a href="https://tezos.com/">TEZOS</a>, an energy-efficient blockchain. Titled Humans + Machines: NFTs and the Ever-Evolving World of Art (December 2–4, 2021), the experience will explore the new frontier of art, technology, and culture and invites audiences to create and mint their own NFTs on-site.</p>
<p>The space features a collection of artworks from some of the world’s leading generative and NFT artists, including <a href="https://www.neuralbricolage.com/">HELENA SARIN</a>, <a href="https://www.mattdesl.com/">MATT DESLAURIERS</a>, <a href="https://www.sutueatsflies.com/">SUTU (STUART CAMPBELL)</a>, and <a href="http://iskraovelitchkova.com/">ISKRA VELITCHKOVA</a>, among others. It will culminate in a unique experience by German artist <a href="https://quasimondo.com/">MARIO KLINGEMANN</a>, inviting attendees to engage and collaboratively generate a one-of-a-kind NFT takeaway that will be minted on the Tezos blockchain. The creation of the NFT will happen by physically interacting with the space, resulting in an abstract self-portrait work of art generated from a code designed by Klingemann.</p>
<p>The exhibition aims to raise awareness of the new dynamic that both NFTs and the ever-evolving world of generative art bring to the art world. The idea of collaboration between human and machine further emphasizes the role of creativity and what it means to be an active participant in the creation of art.</p>
<p>Klingemann, also known as Quasimondo, is considered one of the pioneers of AI art, neural networks, and machine learning. An artist who uses algorithms and artificial intelligence to create and investigate systems, he is particularly interested in human perception of art and creativity, researching methods in which machines can augment or emulate these processes. His artworks have been shown at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Photographers’ Gallery, KM Karlsruhe, Centre Pompidou and more. Most notably, his installation Memories of Passersby I made history in March 2019 as the first autonomous AI machine to be successfully auctioned at Sotheby’s.</p>
<p>“It’s an honor to be part of the Tezos NFT experience at Art Basel in Miami Beach,” said Klingemann. “This interactive exhibition examines the interplay of technology and human creativity, and where the lines bleed between human and machine as part of the generative art process. While the body of work may be created by the machine, a self-portrait is a deeply human thing, so I hope this probes questions around human nature and perception, and all that expresses itself with automated systems.”</p>
<p>Over the course of Art Basel Miami Beach 2021, the Tezos experience space will also include a dedicated speaker series featuring a diverse lineup of prominent artists and figures from the NFT community. Discussions will cover the technical, philosophical and artistic implications and possibilities created by this new paradigm at the intersection of art and technology. A full schedule will be available on Art Basel Miami Beach’s event calendar (<a href="https://artbasel.com/miami-beach/events">HTTPS://ARTBASEL.COM/MIAMI-BEACH/EVENTS</a>) and on Tezos’s event page (<a href="https://tezos.com/events">HTTPS://TEZOS.COM/EVENTS</a>).</p>
<p>Tezos’ energy-efficient design and low costs to mint and transact NFTs have attracted a diverse NFT community of artists, collectors, and builders around the world. With Tezos home to major NFT platforms such as <a href="https://www.hicetnunc.xyz/">HIC ET NUNC</a>, one of the biggest NFT art marketplaces, more brands are choosing to build on Tezos than ever before. Notable organizations include: Formula 1 racing teams Red Bull Racing Honda and McLaren Racing, banking behemoth Societe Generale, music NFT platform OneOf and more.</p>
<p>*The Tezos NFT experience will be on view from December 2–4, 2021, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Please visit<a href="https://artbasel.com/miami-beach"> HTTPS://ARTBASEL.COM/MIAMI-BEACH</a> for more information. *</p>
<p><em>For more information on Mario Klingemann, visit <a href="https://quasimondo.com/">HTTPS://QUASIMONDO.COM/</a> and follow @quasimondo on <a href="https://twitter.com/quasimondo">TWITTER</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/quasimondo">INSTAGRAM</a>.</em></p>
<h4 id="about-art-basel">About Art Basel</h4>
<p>Founded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Art Basel today stages the world’s premier art shows for Modern and contemporary art, sited in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. Defined by its host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its participating galleries, artworks presented, and the content of parallel programming produced in collaboration with local institutions for each edition. Art Basel’s engagement has expanded beyond art fairs through new digital platforms and a number of new initiatives such as the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report, Intersections: The Art Basel Podcast and the BMW Art Journey. Art Basel’s Global Media Partner is The Financial Times. For further information, please visit <a href="http://www.artbasel.com/">WWW.ARTBASEL.COM</a>.</p>
Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda on NFTs and Web 3.0
<h2 id="singapore-fintech-festival-in-conversation-with-linkin-park-co-founder-mike-shinoda">Singapore FinTech Festival: In conversation with Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda</h2>
<p><img src="/images/linkin-park.png" alt="This is an image"></p>
<p>The metaverse. Web 3.0. Blockchain and NFTs. These are all new technologies Mike Shinoda, co-founder of rock band Linkin Park is interested in. But amongst all these developments, it’s the fact they will let people own their data, rather than giving it away to giants like Google, Facebook, and Instagram, that interests him most.</p>
<p>On Monday, Shinoda was sharing his views as part of the 2021 Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF). “The trend towards people wanting to own their data is one of the things driving people from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0,” he said.</p>
<p>His journey to making music and art on Tezos started, as it did for many people, with the pandemic. He said when everything shut down, he was in his studio making music and art and wanted to find a way to bring his core fanbase together.</p>
<p>“Everyone was stuck at home, and I saw people doing livestream concerts, and I felt like it wasn’t for me,” he said. “That wasn’t something that was going to last for the long term. You could do a few of those, but people would get kind of bored, or you’d run out of things to play or ways to play it.”</p>
<p>So, he began streaming on Twitch and would make something new every day. “Usually, it was music, but sometimes it was art,” he said.</p>
<p>The format of live streaming meant he got into conversations with fans and was able to collaborate with them. <a href="https://www.tzpulse.com/articles/clean-nfts-provide-financial-security-for-taco-bunny-artist-mumu">ONE FAN, WHO GOES BY THE NAME OF MOON</a> (or ‘Mumu the Stan’), was posting 8-bit style art, and Shinoda, as well as others, loved her work.</p>
<p>Shinoda suggested she mint her art as an NFT and promised to buy the first one. “She made it on Tezos, and I did buy it,” he says.</p>
<p>“She’s now a leader in the whole Tezos community,” he added, “and she is teaching me and many others how to do different things in the community, and spreading the tools and education needed to get started on these things.”</p>
<p>According to Shinoda, NFTs will open ownership of digital goods. He used the example of kids creating skins for their video game characters, to exemplify the seeds of what transferable assets between platforms may look like. In the past, if a player left a game, they left their in-game possessions (in this case, their skins) behind. Those in-game assets couldn’t travel. By contrast, with blockchain-based goods, the player fully owns their in-game assets and can take it with them wherever they play. “When you buy it, you own it, it goes into your wallet, and you can take it with you,” he said.</p>
<p>This concept applies to any digital item, he said, meaning it could be a song, a piece of art, or even software. “Maybe the artist said, ‘yeah, I’m going to make one million copies of my new song, and they’re priced at a dollar’ and [for] anyone who owns one, it’s verified by the blockchain.”</p>
<p>Shinoda said digital goods verified by the blockchain open a door for creative people to be more creative and build communities around their art. He also said blockchain creates the opportunity for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) to emerge. This means a community can arise, all of whom can participate in the equity of something they are selling. “That’s something a DAO does really well,” he said. “It creates a community source for all this manpower that’s needed.”</p>
<p>“I’ve watched communities go from an idea to a full-blown blockchain video game in the course of a few weeks,” he continued. “I’ve never seen anything move so quickly or efficiently. We are seeing it work.”</p>
<p>He said his initial NFTs were minted on Ethereum, but he quickly realized its Proof of Work consensus mechanism was energy inefficient. “People say Ethereum 2.0 is on the way, and it will be Proof of Stake,” he said. “But then I realized there are other chains that are already Proof of Stake and are already energy efficient, Tezos being probably the most popular one.”</p>
<p>He then realized that he could experiment with these ‘greener’ and more affordable NFTs, offering something to fans that were relatively inexpensive or perhaps for free. Doing so would give fans the experience of buying and owning something that could increase in popularity and value. So, he put up a free NFT on the Tezos blockchain, and 100 people collected it.</p>
<p>“And the next thing they knew, it was worth USD $3000, and so they had this experience of value.”</p>
<p>Web 2.0 companies had taught people their creative work had no value, but Web 3.0 changes this, he said.</p>
<p>“Because, surprise, your creative material you’ve made is actually worth something to somebody. And if that is the view that’s shared by enough people, then the price will be reflected in that idea.”</p>
The blockchain metaverse – how it will change the way we live, work and play
<h2 id="the-metaverse-is-coming-fast-industry-giants-are-planning-for-this-next-big-tech-play-with-trillions-of-dollars-at-stake-new-industries-will-be-born-and-old-ones-obliterated-and-underpinning-this-new-world-is-the-most-important-technology-of-all--blockchain">The metaverse is coming fast. Industry giants are planning for this next big tech play, with trillions of dollars at stake. New industries will be born, and old ones obliterated. And underpinning this new world is the most important technology of all – blockchain.</h2>
<p>The future is here. It’s just not evenly distributed, said visionary science fiction author William Gibson in 1999. Although Gibson’s quote can be interpreted in many ways, it applies to any new technology, including existing ones. Look at the internet. Some places on earth have high-speed fiber; others languish.</p>
<p>But where his statement is prescient is when it comes to describing the metaverse, a collection of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and ‘in real life’ (IRL) technologies that are coming together to create new ways of working, playing, and doing business.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Underpinning the metaverse is blockchain, which can be thought of as a trust technology. A blockchain is made up of blocks containing data and a chain that connects them. The network uses consensus across its nodes to ensure that the block is unique and can’t be copied.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="blockchain-and-the-metaverse">Blockchain and the metaverse</h4>
<p>There’s a lot more technology (and math) underpinning blockchains, which is outside the scope of this article; the question is, how will blockchains, like Tezos, enable the development (or ‘evolution’?) of the metaverse?</p>
<p></p>
<p>A visitor to the metaverse will probably represent themselves using an avatar or a virtual character with features that distinguish it from other avatars and make it uniquely ‘you’.</p>
<p></p>
<p>It’s not that avatars are anything new. Most online games and worlds – think Second Life, as an early example, or if you had kids during the early 2000s, Club Penguin – used avatars to digitally represent players and their interactions online. The problem with these in-world characters is that they’re not transferable across properties, worlds, or games.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The character you make in one digital world is restricted to that world and can’t – for want of a better term – ‘travel’ to, or exist in a different one. So those early worlds aren’t really metaverses. They’re just online environments and an extension of the existing internet.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The metaverse comes into play because it will be an all-encompassing, interconnected online environment mixing what we think of as VR with augmented reality. The virtual will bleed into the real, and using our avatars, we will be able to work, shop, and play in the metaverse.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Blockchain has a decisive role to play in making sure that our avatars are uniquely us and that they’re able to travel across virtual environments. The way that blockchain will enable this is that our characters, and their characteristics, will be stored on the blockchain.</p>
<p></p>
<p>By storing our avatar data on the blockchain, we will have metaverse avatars that represent us, and can travel through VR, AR, and IRL worlds,and potentially every other aspect of our lives. Arguably, it represents a seismic shift in the very idea of identity in the context of interactions online.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="the-role-of-nfts-and-the-metaverse">The role of NFTs and the metaverse</h4>
<p>Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are digital goods whose authenticity and uniqueness are verified by the blockchain. There have been a bunch of headlines recently about NFTs selling for hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, but the real action will come from not headline-gathering million-dollar sales but when millions of low-priced NFTs are sold to inhabitants of the metaverse.</p>
<p></p>
<p>That means a million pieces of armor in a role-playing game will still equal a million dollars, and the economy underpinning NFTs, and by extension, the metaverse, will grow.</p>
<p></p>
<p>It’s possible to make an NFT from just about any virtual good. With art and other collectibles, not only is the owner getting something unique (and possibly valuable), but they’re also being admitted to a community of like-minded people who also own valuable or unique NFTs. This creates a sense of belonging, and the NFT owner becomes a member of a group of people who own similar goods.</p>
<p></p>
<p>For gamers, owning an NFT can also help them stand out. Whether it’s treasure, a piece of armour or a skin, owning an NFT gives them something no-one else has, and helps them differentiate themselves from the crowd.</p>
<p></p>
<p>This is entirely different from the situation facing gamers in existing web 2.0 worlds, where their goods and online income are confined to that gaming environment. They aren’t transferable outside that world. If the game or world ceases to exist, so do those goods and media of exchange. The metaverse will see these goods able to travel with the user and be a source of expression and value, regardless of where the user happens to find themselves in their travels.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The opportunities for business and individuals are mind-blowing. Metaverse goods will be transferable across worlds, all thanks to the blockchain. Virtual goods – and they could be anything – will become the new status symbols.</p>
<p></p>
<p>In April this year Yuga Labs’ Bored Apes Yacht Club launched 10,000 iterations of cartoon apes sporting sailor hats, 3D glasses, eye-patches and other cultural kitsch. Why? At first gasp, for fun (and revenue). While the initial sale of the Bored Apes NFTs sold for around USD 200 in Ethereum equivalent, in September 2021 a single ‘ape’ sold for 740 Ethereum, or about USD 2.9 million.</p>
<p></p>
<p>One early example of using VR and blockchain to create a virtual world is Decentraland, which created the concept of real estate in the metaverse. It has its own cryptocurrency, MANA, and users can buy land and then create structures on the land they own.</p>
<p></p>
<p>What’s unique about Decentraland is that metaverse inhabitants can then earn income from their landholdings. This could be through erecting advertising hoardings on their buildings, offering virtual goods (again, verified through blockchain as NFTs), or even hosting gatherings and ticketed concerts. The MANA they earn can then be used to buy goods and services, both in VR and IRL.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Another example of a blockchain-focused world is Sandbox. Sandbox is a user-generated world where players can build, own and monetise their virtual experiences using blockchain and NFTs. All the assets of the game are generated as NFTs, meaning they can appreciate in value and be resold.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Sandbox represents the first time that players can monetize their assets in-world. It utilises $SAND as its primary token, which allows users to buy and sell land and assets within its metaverse. It is currently in open beta.</p>
<p></p>
<p>However, we are still some ways from the blockchain becoming a reality in the metaverse on a broader scale. Minting NFTs on the blockchain requires time and processing power, and in a world where we expect to see things appear instantly on our screens, waiting for an extended period isn’t going to cut it.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Today’s internet barely resembles that long-lost internet of 1996, and the same will happen with the metaverse as processing technology, latency, and bandwidth catch up with our vision for tomorrow.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Simply put, it is only a matter of time.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="the-metaverse-and-business-opportunity">The metaverse and business opportunity</h4>
<p>According to writer Neal Stephenson, who coined the term ‘metaverse’ in his prescient 1992 novel Snowcrash, the existing purposes of VR and AR are almost completely unrelated. In an interview with the magazine Vanity Fair, Stephenson said that “the purpose of VR is to take you to a completely made-up place, and the purpose of AR is to change your experience of the place you’re in.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>“That pervades everything in terms of how you think about content, how you think about stories, and what you can actually do with these devices.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>But as he accurately predicted three decades ago, the metaverse both supersedes and subsumes VR and AR, creating a new, collective consciousness that we can all participate in. And businesses, including Apple, Google, and Facebook, have sniffed an opportunity. The metaverse could be the next trillion-dollar business.</p>
<p></p>
<p>On a recent earnings call, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that it’s his goal to transform his company into a metaverse company. He described this ambition as “one of the most exciting projects that we’re going to get to work on in our lifetime.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>That’s because the metaverse pulls together all of Facebook’s various properties across social, gaming, and commerce into one all-pervasive environment. His idea is that a metaverse Facebook will facilitate everything we do today but in a virtual environment.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“The defining quality of the metaverse is presence, which is this feeling that you’re really there with another person or in another place,” he said on the earnings call.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Virtual real estate is one place where you will definitely feel you are present with other people in the metaverse. Land in the metaverse is being zoned, sold and developed as people settle into their virtual lives.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Snoop Dogg himself is building his real-life mansion on the virtual land he owns on Sandbox, where players will be able to create games using virtual “Doggfather” items, get exclusive VIP access to concerts, events, Q&As, and dedicated NFT drops. In engaging with players on the metaverse, Snoop Dogg has created a new kind of fan experience that extends beyond the digital environment. It further demonstrates the almost infinite ways the metaverse will allow people to engage in this digital realm, from a community level right through to brand engagement and marketing.</p>
<p></p>
<p>As we saw with the rise of the web and then mobile, new businesses, including property, will emerge, and some old players will wither away. The metaverse represents the single biggest business opportunity for tech companies – and others – over the next two decades, and it’s all built on a system of trust: blockchain.</p>
Everything you need to know about becoming a corporate baker on the Tezos blockchain
<h2 id="no-this-isnt-a-course-on-becoming-a-pastry-chef---but-by-the-end-youll-understand-what-it-takes-to-become-a-baker-on-the-tezos-blockchain-and-why-it-just-may-make-sense-for-your-business-to-join-the-growing-number-of-companies-doing-just-that">No, this isn’t a course on becoming a pastry chef - but by the end, you’ll understand what it takes to become a ‘baker’ on the Tezos blockchain and why it just may make sense for your business to join the growing number of companies doing just that.</h2>
<p>‘Baking’ is the term the Tezos blockchain network uses for signing and publishing blocks on the blockchain. Bakers help secure the network through their baking and stand to reap the rewards in the form of tokens through their baking work.</p>
<p>To become a baker and create a network node, you need to have holdings of at least one roll (currently valued at 8000 tez – Tezos’ native cryptocurrency).</p>
<p>Because Tezos uses a Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS) consensus method (Tezos’ way of validating transactions, securing the network, and voting on protocol upgrades), individuals or organizations with less than one roll can delegate their tez to a baker and receive rewards.</p>
<p>And because Tezos uses a liquid methodology, those delegators are free to move their stake to any baker they choose, at any time.</p>
<p>With that in mind, is there a difference between being a regular baker and running a node and being a corporate baker? In short, no. But there are good reasons for corporates to create their own nodes and become a baker, including having a stake in the network, securing the network, and having a say in its future direction.</p>
<h4 id="why-become-a-corporate-baker">Why become a corporate baker?</h4>
<p>Becoming a corporate baker aligns with the time-honored [DD2] mantras of ‘innovate or die’. It’s also about being commercially savvy.</p>
<p>Suppose your company is interested in adopting a blockchain to build products and services off. In that case, it makes sense to want to have a say in the future direction of your chosen blockchain – and that’s exactly what becoming a corporate baker allows you to do.</p>
<p>Put another way; your business receives more control being a corporate baker with Tezos than it does over the latest Microsoft Office update on the company’s PCs.</p>
<p>For everyone else, having corporate bakers aboard the network makes sense because then enterprises vouch for and contribute to the network’s security – a huge plus for anyone wanting to minimize their risk around blockchain adoption.</p>
<p>By running a node as an enterprise and becoming a baker, an organization also sends a strong signal that demonstrates its trust in the network, creating a virtuous cycle where the company’s work feeds further confidence and stability, meaning the value the company receives by being a baker increases.</p>
<p>The number of nodes also helps in securing the network as well. That’s because the more people validating transactions, the more secure those transactions become. A greater number of nodes means that more nodes need to be attacked to hijack the network. In the case of Tezos, any company undertaking high-risk, high-value transactions should consider becoming a baker.</p>
<p>It’s also a win for any organization wanting to be seen as innovative and keeping up with the pace of new technology. Not only because it affords the business a say in the future direction of the blockchain, but also the hands-on experience it gives technical and product teams to create new services and products.</p>
<p>And the use cases keep growing: corporates can create their own smart contracts, mint NFTs, and bake other transactions with a greater certainty that the network will accept those transactions. Additionally, a company baking its own transactions won’t get charged gas fees, as all the computational work and verification can happen on the node the company operates.</p>
<p>Being a corporate baker also means those transactions don’t have any third-party dependencies. Running a full-time node means baking other transactions on the network, which means you can charge gas fees, earn tokens for securing the network, and have non-bakers delegate their tez to the corporate network.</p>
<p>Being a decentralized network, there’s no central authority, but bakers need to comply with the laws of the nation they are running their node in. A key part of these laws are regulations dictating that an organisation knows its customer (KYC) and adheres to anti-money laundering (AML) best practices.</p>
<p>This is where the mempool comes into the picture. A mempool is a set of all pending transactions on the network, with transactions being broadcast through the network via the nodes.</p>
<p>Every node can have a different mempool to its peers, and bakers can choose any transaction they like from the mempool – this means they can choose transactions compliant with their local regulations.</p>
<p>Mempools, however, don’t have to be public. Private mempools let a transaction issuer conduct operations on a private server, such as transfers and smart contract deployment. That server is only accessible to a group of select bakers authorized to validate the operations on that particular private node.</p>
<p>These private mempools can be set up to comply with local regulations, meaning that anyone issuing a transaction can use the private mempool to make sure their transactions are not being validated by an unknown or blacklisted party, such as North Korea or Iran.</p>
<h4 id="the-benefits-of-baking">The benefits of baking</h4>
<p>Corporate baking also works well in terms of the fact that baking is predictable. Tezos’ Liquid Proof of Stake mechanism makes it easy for bakers to predict, with reasonable certainty, which bakers will be selected to bake a new block. This means transaction issuers have good foresight into who will validate their transactions in the following two weeks.</p>
<p>And because Tezos is built around a baking reward model, a baker’s stake in the ecosystem is not diluted. It works this way: 80 newly minted tez are rewarded to bakers at each block. The baker producing the block and adding it to the Tezos blockchain gets 40 tez, while the 32 bakers validating a block get 1.25 tez each.</p>
<p>Finally, companies can take part in the network governance by voting on changes and upgrades. Voting power is determined by the number of tez a baker owns, along with the number delegated to it.</p>
<p>Liquid Proof of Stake also means bad actors on the network are punished, so if they double bake or double endorse, they are blacklisted, and not able to participate in the voting process. Therefore, corporates can be assured of the proper governance of the network. This is because delegated tez are ‘liquid’ (i.e. aren’t subject to a lock up period), delegators are free to call out any malicious activities, even if it means accusing the bakery they have staked their tez to, as it will not come at their own expense.</p>
<h4 id="who-are-some-of-tezos-current-corporate-bakers">Who are some of Tezos’ current corporate bakers?</h4>
<p>There are dozens of corporate bakers on the Tezos network. These companies are all gaining experience in running nodes, validating transactions, earning gas fees, and acting as delegates for other individuals or organizations without the necessary tez to create a node. As bakers, they are also able to vote on protocol upgrades, as well as taking part in securing the network.</p>
<p>One of the most notable is Ubisoft, a gaming company best known for its Assassin’s Creed series. It has become a corporate baker to gain experience with the network, mint NFTs, and undertake activity to secure the network.</p>
<p>Others include:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>The Blockchain Group / Blockchain Xdev</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>SmartNode, which has undertaken to stake tez at low commission fees. It also has a simple solution for accessing tez through prepaid cards</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Taurus, a management firm allowing customers to digitize and tokenize any type of private assets</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Wakam, a provider of digital insurance products in Europe. It became a corporate baker to better understand the potential for insurance on the blockchain</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Smartlink, a decentralized escrow smart contract platform built on Tezos
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>South Korea’s DSRV Labs, the nation’s leading validator and infrastructure provider for blockchain networks</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Stakefish, a leading staking service provider supporting multiple blockchain products</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Sygnum, the world’s first digital assets bank offering staking services for Tezos
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Exaion, a cloud provider of blockchain solutions and high performance computing</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>What does the future hold for corporate bakers on Tezos? We’re going to see increased interest from enterprises wanting to take their claim on this cutting edge technology, placing them at the forefront of developments in blockchain, smart contracts and NFTs. The companies mentioned above are just the forerunners – so watch this space.</p>
An award-winning sound designer’s NFT journey with Tezos
<h2 id="an-award-winning-sound-designers-nft-journey-with-tezos">An award-winning sound designer’s NFT journey with Tezos</h2>
<p>In April of 2021, an Indonesian Navy submarine went down in the Bali Sea with all hands lost. Fifty-three sailors died, and the tragedy hit Bali-based sound designer and artist Ruanth Chrisley Thyssen hard.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Together with his wife, a visual artist, Ruanth created an NFT work combining sound and images called 53 Never Forgotten, which he minted on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“The sounds I used came from the Bali Sea,” he says. “Not the exact place where the submarine went down, but nearby.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>The work memorializes the lives of the lost sailors using a visual loop and 53 layers of sound running for 53 seconds, where everything moves but the submarine in question. “The idea was that the sailors are lost but never forgotten,” he says.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Ruanth minted an edition of 5300 “digital prints’’ as NFTs, which he sold via the Tezos marketplace, Hic et Nunc (or H=N). The editions were created as part of a fundraiser for victims’ families in conjunction with Art Moments Jakarta, in partnership with TZ APAC.</p>
<p></p>
<p>He was inspired to create the work by an acquaintance who had a medical emergency and had a lot of debt from hospital bills. The acquaintance <a href="https://www.hicetnunc.xyz/objkt/46531">MADE AN NFT</a> of images comprised of his bills and uploaded it to a Tezos NFT marketplace. The images were sold to pay his debt and went for 0.7 tez, which was running at about USD $3 parity at the time.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“He sold 10,000 editions, and because tez went up, he made about $46,000 and was able to pay his medical bills with a fair bit left over,” says Ruanth.</p>
<p></p>
<p>#### Getting started with NFTs
Ruanth says he <a href="https://oncyber.io/ruanth">BOUGHT HIS FIRST NFT</a> in 2017, and it’s still in his possession. “I saw the craze for NFTs coming, and so I have held onto this one as a reminder that NFTs are the future,” he says. “With an NFT, you have uncorrupted digital ownership.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>But it’s only been since March of this year Ruanth has <a href="https://www.hicetnunc.xyz/ruanth">MINTED HIS OWN NFTS</a> on Tezos. With Oscar and BAFTA nominations to his credit as a sound designer, he realized that collectors are looking for NFT soundscapes with visuals. “They want eye candy,” he says.</p>
<p></p>
<p>To get the eye candy, Ruanth either works with a visual artist or feeds the soundscapes into an application called Sound Designer, which generates imagery algorithmically inspired by the sounds he created.</p>
<p></p>
<p>So far, he’s uploaded around 30 unique works to Tezos as NFTs, but some are one-offs, and others are editions. The best way to think of these is in terms of visual art. The one-offs are the original artist’s work, while the editions are the equivalent of buying a print.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="metarupa-art-moments-jakarta-and-the-future-of-nfts">Metarupa, Art Moments Jakarta and the future of NFTs</h4>
<p>Ruanth believes that the future for blockchain and NFTs is when the general public don’t realize they are using these technologies, and they just appear to be natural.</p>
<p></p>
<p>He points to NFT gaming, where creators can own the skin they made for the game, resell it, and be compensated every step of the way. Meanwhile, the players buying and using these skins do not necessarily have to be aware of NFT technology nor have any blockchain knowledge to still understand the principle that they are the direct owners of this digital item, as it appears in-game (or within the broader metaverse).</p>
<p></p>
<p>“There’s an app called Audius, and they are partnering with TikTok for the music in the app,” he says. “People can be compensated for their music being used, every time someone plays it or listens to it.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Digital ownership becomes a real thing and increases the worth of what creators are doing. You can see the ownership and every use in the blockchain,” he adds.</p>
<p></p>
<p>As the organiser of Metarupa and a participant in Art Moments Jakarta, Ruanth believes it is fitting art is the first form NFTs have taken. “Anything can be made into an NFT, but art is the first,” he says.</p>
<p></p>
<p>In a country like Indonesia, he says, art is cheap and what happens is overseas collectors come into the country, buy inexpensively and then sell at large profits in other countries.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“There is so much value in traditional art and culture,” he says. “Tokenizing it, proving the artist’s authenticity is going to raise the value of art, and that is what a country like Indonesia, which is rich in art and culture, needs.”</p>
<h4 id="why-tezos">Why Tezos?</h4>
<p>Because Ruanth sells some of his edition work relatively inexpensively, the gas (transaction) fees charged by networks like Ethereum wouldn’t work. He says if you’re selling a work for thousands of dollars, then a $30 fee might be alright. But if you are selling your work for a couple of dollars, then that transaction fee is too high.</p>
<p>“At the time, Tezos was the most viable option in terms of fees,” he says. “There was also a big debate about Ethereum not being clean enough, and that influenced my choice of Tezos as well because it’s a much cleaner blockchain.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>Since he began <a href="https://youtu.be/GpMVw2mMJmg">MINTING NFTS</a>, digital art has become a larger and larger part of Ruanth’s income. But he’s not averse to engaging in speculation either. “A few months ago, I bought an NFT for $130, and it went to $10,000,” he says.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“There’s no science or math to it,” <a href="https://youtu.be/GpMVw2mMJmg">HE ADDS</a> of his speculation. “If I see something that is pretty, that has utility, and then I get it. I spend a lot of time looking for that sort of work.”</p>
The celebrity take up of NFTs is just getting started
<h2 id="hollywoods-denizens-are-rarely-afraid-to-embrace-a-craze-but-this-time-they-may-just-have-stumbled-onto-entertainments-new-normal">Hollywood’s denizens are rarely afraid to embrace a craze, but this time they may just have stumbled onto entertainment’s new normal.</h2>
<p>NFT’s (Non-Fungible Tokens) have arguably been the biggest buzzword to come out of blockchain since… well, blockchain. In an arena so often filled with false starts and awash with different use cases for blockchain technology, NFTs are perhaps the most robust and consumer-friendly offering to date.</p>
<p>The rise of NFTs has taken the entertainment, arts, and sports industries by storm, especially in the last year. As the pandemic ravaged the globe and venues and events closed down around the world, suddenly artists and personalities have a new way to reach and engage with fans, giving the people what they want and funding their endeavors at the same time.</p>
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<p>Way out west amid the marbled mansions of Beverly Hills, Hollywood’s stars (and, to be fair, their agents) have been relatively quick to realize the potential of NFTs to keep their brands and work front and center in the collective zeitgeist.</p>
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<p>Somewhat surprisingly, Hollywood’s emerging Gen Z A-listers weren’t the first group to opt-in for NFTs. As early as July last year, Captain Kirk himself - William Shatner - released a veritable treasure trove of memorabilia on the WAX blockchain. The drop included around 10,000 NFT packs with a combined 125,000 photos spanning Shatner’s career, including a photo of Shatner and Star Trek’s Leonard Nimoy (who played the iconic Mr. Spock) sharing a hug.</p>
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<p>Though moderately priced at USD 25 upon release, some assets in the series now command prices well above USD 6,000 on the open market.</p>
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<p>Some of LA’s biggest names - including rapper Snoop Dogg, Steve Aoki, Grimes, and more recently Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda and rapper Doja Cat have all minted NFTs.</p>
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<p>And it makes a certain kind of sense for celebrities to do so. NFTs mimic the same style of ‘unique ownership’ that fans have always craved for celebrity collectibles and represent a new money-making frontier not seen since the humble CD hit the stands of record stores.</p>
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<h4 id="nft-marketplaces-where-artists-and-buyers-meet">NFT marketplaces where artists and buyers meet</h4>
<p>When it comes to creating NFTs off various kinds of blockchains, Hollywood’s A-Listers aren’t diligently learning the ropes of how to mint NFTs from scratch. In most cases, they’re turning to user-friendly NFT marketplaces that have captured early adopters and increasingly mainstream creators and buyers alike.</p>
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<p>NFT marketplaces offer artists the opportunity to mint NFTs without requiring the underlying technical knowledge of how to create the associated smart contract off a blockchain. These platforms allow people to not only mint NFTs, but also securely store, display, and trade NFTs. According to global NFT data resource nonfungible.com, the USD value transferred across August 2021 on the seven leading NFT marketplaces was valued at an estimated USD 356 million. From the entertainment industry’s point of view, it’s starting to look like big business.</p>
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<p><strong>The original NFT marketplace, OpenSea, is also the largest, with around USD 6.5 billion total trading volume.</strong></p>
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<p>Shawn Mendes and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Rob Gronkowski have used OpenSea as their launchpad into the NFT space, with “Gronk’s” NFT sale netting the sporting star a cool USD 1.6 million.</p>
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<p>More recently, artists have started to move away from OpenSea for fear of being lost in the noise. NFT marketplace Nifty Gateway, owned by billionaire founders, the Winklevoss twins, has become somewhat a darling of celebrity NFT sales. Canadian musician Grimes sold a series of nine NFTs on Nifty Gateway for USD 6 million, making her one of the most successful NFT artists to date.</p>
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<p>Both OpenSea and Nifty Gateway mint NFTs off the Ethereum blockchain. Like many celebrities who have embraced the NFT craze, Ethereum comes with a certain amount of star power; after Bitcoin, Ethereum is the closest thing the blockchain and crypto worlds have to a household name.</p>
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<p><strong>Increasingly though, Ethereum’s high transaction (gas) fees and concerns around the intensive energy consumption associated with Proof of Work (PoW) blockchains have many artists searching for less expensive and more environmentally friendly options.</strong></p>
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<h4 id="tezos-the-chartbuster">Tezos the chartbuster</h4>
<p>The next generation of NFT marketplaces looking to capture the custom of artists and collectors have cast their eyes further afield for blockchains to best suit their needs. As environmental concerns about the minting of NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain have gained awareness amongst artists, organizations like hic et nunc (HEN), OneOf, Kalamint, Truesy and AmplifyX have built thriving NFT marketplaces off the Tezos blockchain, attracting big names.</p>
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<p>Some of the entertainment industry’s top names, including Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, rapper and artist Doja Cat, and rapper The Game, have all recently minted NFTs on marketplaces built on Tezos.</p>
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<p>Shinoda recently created an original artwork live on Twitch with fans and minted the NFT on HEN, at the time giving the new piece away for free. At the time of writing, the NFT is now on the open market for around USD 2,200.</p>
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<p>Rapper du jour, Doja Cat, went several steps further, announcing two distinct NFT drops on Tezos-powered marketplace OneOf. The series included “The Rise of Planet Doja” and “The Fire of Planet Doja”, with two tiers of tokens and around 26,000 collectibles. The series, now sold out, granted buyers access to the Planet Doja Discord channel and were bundled with tour tickets and other VIP elements.</p>
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<p>In comparative terms, minting NFTs on the Tezos blockchain is around 2 million times more energy-efficient than the same task on Ethereum. As energy use and cost are so closely associated with blockchain transaction (gas) fees, minting NFTs on Tezos is also significantly more cost-efficient than Ethereum in fiat currency terms.</p>
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<p>The reason Tezos is so efficient – thus more sustainable – is all because of how Tezos’ creators designed the blockchain’s structure. Unlike Proof of Work blockchains, Tezos uses a Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS) structure. In Proof of Stake (PoS) networks, validators replace miners. Mining is an energy-intensive process where validators solve cryptographic equations to process transactions and acquire cryptocurrencies – so there’s a financial incentive for doing so. However, the process of mining uses reams of computational power, and computers need energy to run. That’s got to come from somewhere and in an age where issues of climate change, fossil fuel use, and decarbonization are front of mind, mining starts to seem outdated and downright bad for the planet and everyone on it.</p>
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<p>PoS networks, on the other hand, validate block transactions based on the number of native tokens or coins a validator holds. With Tezos, validators are called ‘bakers.’ Anyone can become a baker with 8,000 ꜩ, commonly called a ‘roll.’ Instead of having to chew up juice to mine cryptocurrencies, bakers come with ‘tez’ in hand and instead are rewarded for their work on validating transactions. This means far less computational power is used in creating the smart contract that underpins the uniqueness of each NFT minted.</p>
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<h4 id="where-to-now-for-nfts">Where to now for NFTs?</h4>
<p>Hollywood didn’t event the NFT craze, but they’ve certainly embraced it and given the phenomenon the spotlight it deserves. The rise of unique ownership of digital assets underpinned by blockchains like Tezos will likely spawn a new generation of artists with the potential to do to the entertainment industry what blockchain has done to currency - a more decentralized, egalitarian playing field for creators worldwide.</p>
Building the business case for NFTs
<h2 id="youve-probably-heard-of-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-taking-the-art-world-by-storm">You’ve probably heard of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) taking the art world by storm.</h2>
<h4 id="building-the-business-case-for-nfts">Building the business case for NFTs</h4>
<p><em>Recently musician and performance artist Grimes made USD$6 million in under an hour from ten artworks they created. Visual artist Beeple sold his contemporary art piece Everydays – the first 5000 Days for USD$69 million. And even Twitter founder Jack Dorsey made USD$2.5 million turning his first tweet into an NFT.</em></p>
<p>But as Dorsey’s sale suggests, NFTs aren’t just for art. Being what amounts to a certificate of digital authenticity embedded in the blockchain, NFTs can be used for virtually any good or service where provenance and a clear ownership trail is important.</p>
<p>For a number of reasons, the Tezos blockchain has the greatest potential for enterprises wanting to mint NFTs. Tezos is a liquid Proof of Stake blockchain, which means stakeholders have a level of voting rights over any potential upgrades to the protocol, determined by how much value they stake to the network. As the network evolves, the interests of enterprises are represented by their network stake.</p>
<p>And because Tezos is Liquid Proof of Stake, it uses less energy than Proof of Work, as well as less computational power. This has benefits for enterprises wanting to mint NFTs on Tezos in the form of lower gas fees (transaction fees), which has advantages for business costs.</p>
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Using blockchain authentication, costs are lower for enterprises than using existing, real-world services like notarization. Plus, the blockchain, being immutable, creates a permanent record of the transactions. Organizations wanting to create smart contracts also have an advantage over their IRL competitors because they use a formal verification system that is mathematically corroborated, meaning they are trustless and don’t require the arbitration of a third party.</p>
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The fact Tezos also uses orders of magnitude less energy than competitors also assures enterprise users they’re not compromising their green credentials when they mint NFTs.</p>
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Tezos has a vibrant ecosystem, with advocacy and adoption groups including TZ APAC, Tezos India and the Tezos Foundation. These groups simplify the efforts enterprise needs to make when it wants to get involved in the Tezos blockchain.</p>
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For enterprises, minting NFTs (aside from art) is still in its early days. Here we wrap up some of the ways enterprises can use NFTs as part of their operations, creating digital goods which can’t be forged or replicated.</p>
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<h4 id="nfts-as-digital-ids">NFTs as digital IDs</h4>
<p>Because NFTs contain a unique set of information, it’s possible to use them for any form of documentation requiring authenticity. Think about how digital identities could be tokenized, such as in the Republic of San Marino, which has adopted NFTs as a method of COVID vaccination proof.</p>
<p>Any type of digital identity could be tokenized, including medical histories, driver’s licenses, birth, and death certificate – the list is endless.</p>
<p>An NFT could also be used for academic degrees, qualifications and even passports. Few jurisdictions have adopted NFT and blockchain for these uses, but they’re coming, and they’re going to change the whole way we approach digital identity.</p>
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<h4 id="real-estate-nfts">Real estate NFTs</h4>
<p>With the rise of the metaverse, digital real estate is also growing and NFTs are perfect to prove ownership. NFTs also allow people to capitalize on their virtual real estate holdings by selling billboard space to companies on their virtual buildings, as well as host gatherings and events.</p>
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But what about the real world? How can you apply an NFT to a piece of real-life land or building? An NFT could be used to check titles and verify ownership history. An NFT could also be used for development applications and consent, as well as zoning regulations, where owners are limited in what they can do with their holdings.</p>
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Blockchain also opens up opportunities in the area of fractionalized real-estate ownership. This means properties can be broken down into packages and sold, making what was previously an illiquid market more accessible to a broader investor base.</p>
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With fractional ownership, gas fees are very low (depending on the blockchain used, but still lower than traditional real estate transaction costs) making the transactions attractive for investor groups.</p>
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The first example of fractional ownership via blockchain-based tokenization was Black Manta Capital Partners, in the EU. In 2020 it undertook a Real Estate Token Offering (RETO) for Berlin real estate worth USD$12 million. As part of the RETO, private and institutional investors were able to invest in prime Berlin real estate for as little as €500.</p>
<h4 id="invoices-patents-and-documents">Invoices, patents, and documents</h4>
<p>Any corporate correspondence could be turned into an NFT, particularly where an audit trail and verifiability of the document is needed. Patent applications, filings and grants could also be embedded as NFTs in the blockchain, while companies could issue NFT invoices. Being paid would be a transfer of cryptocurrency, creating a payment trail which is immutable and can’t be contested.</p>
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<h4 id="supply-chain-and-logistics">Supply chain and logistics</h4>
<p>NFTs in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SET_PC_U6IA">SUPPLY CHAIN</a> will be used to ensure products are what they claim to be. Fish, for example, could be traced from where they were caught all the way through processing and supply and on to the end consumer. That consumer would have proof the fish was sustainably produced and wasn’t caught illegally.</p>
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Just about any good requiring provenance could be represented as an NFT, including medicines and other products where counterfeiting is a problem. Luxury goods makers, car manufacturers and others could all see where their supplies came from, where they were being used and when they reach the end user.</p>
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<h4 id="nfts-as-a-marketing-strategy">NFTs as a marketing strategy</h4>
<p>Brands can also capitalize on NFTs by selling limited edition goods to consumers, building their brands, and creating loyalty from the buying public. NFTs are verifiable and traceable, meaning the consumer knows the NFT they bought is authentic, and can’t be reproduced.</p>
<p>NFTs can also be used to build brand loyalty and community around their products. Recently <a href="https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/coca-cola-nft-auction-fetches-more-than-575000">COCA COLA</a> sold a range of collectibles, called a Friendship Box, with the winning bid bringing in USD$575,883. The Friendship Box contained four multi-sensory, friendship-inspired NFTs which put a virtual spin on Coca Cola imagery.</p>
<p>Formula 1 team McLaren Racing launched its <a href="https://mclarenracingcollective.com/">MCLAREN RACING COLLECTIVE</a> experience on Tezos, where fans can collect NFTs representing different parts of a McLaren racing car. The parts are limited editions, and those who manage to complete the set win a 3D interactive collectible of the completed MCL35M vehicle, as well as the chance to win an all expenses paid trip to a Grand Prix race in 2022.</p>
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Building a community using NFTs creates additional touchpoints for the brand, providing unique ways to bring people together under the branding umbrella.</p>
<p>For example, famed rock band Kings of Leon launched their album, When You See Yourself as an NFT earlier this year, as well as a token that granted fans perks for their live shows, such as front-row seats. In that, the band was able to foster a more direct relationship with their fans.</p>
<p>It demonstrated how NFTs and IRL goods could be packaged together, traversing both the online and offline space. It also shows how NFTs can also be used to build pre-launch buzz around new products, or to create new revenue streams by creating digital goods to augment the sale of physical goods.</p>
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It’s still early days for enterprise NFTs, but the uses are almost without limit. Any document, any digital goods and any ID can be turned into an NFT. Being unique, NFTs are perfect for government and enterprise wanting to create goods and services that are verifiable and can’t be replicated, either digitally or in the real world.</p>
The Tezos Protocol: an overview
<h2 id="the-tezos-protocol-is-a-liquid-proof-of-stake-blockchain-designed-to-self-upgrade-eliminate-the-need-for-contentious-hard-forks-allow-for-on-chain-governance-and-allow-users-to-bake-blocks-create-nfts-and-write-smart-contracts">The Tezos protocol is a liquid proof-of-stake blockchain designed to self-upgrade, eliminate the need for contentious hard forks, allow for on-chain governance, and allow users to bake blocks, create NFTs and write smart contracts.</h2>
<p>You’ve probably heard a bit about blockchain and the various coins and tokens that are minted using different protocols. Tezos, the idea for which came into existence in 2014, is a little different from other blockchains. It allows on-chain governance and avoids the need for contentious hard forks in the underlying algorithms.</p>
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<p>2014 was when Arthur Breitman and Kathleen Breitman, writing under the pseudonym of LM Goodman, published a position paper that outlined the motivations and philosophical underpinnings of Tezos. Not long after the position paper, they wrote a technical whitepaper that went into more detail about what Tezos was, how it worked, and where it was going.</p>
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<p>So, what is the Tezos protocol, and why is it unique among blockchains? Read on.</p>
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<h4 id="how-is-tezos-different">How is Tezos different?</h4>
<p>One of the significant ways that the Tezos protocol is different from other blockchains is that it’s designed to be resilient and have the capability to incorporate the best characteristics of other blockchains. In other words, other blockchains’ mainnets are Tezos’ testnet.</p>
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<p>A hard fork is when the underlying protocol is changed and moved away from the original protocol. There could be technical reasons for doing this, or there could, perhaps, be a change in its governing philosophy. Tezos uses on-chain governance and consensus (which we will cover later in this article) to avoid forking when it’s time for a protocol upgrade.</p>
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<p>Why do you want to avoid forks? They are bad because they wipe the value from the original protocol and recreate it in the new protocol. Forks also split the community, which is not something a blockchain developer wants, if it’s going to gain critical mass.</p>
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<p>A good way to think of this is to use the example of smartphones.</p>
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<p>Every couple of months, a new smartphone comes out and has great features that don’t appear on earlier handsets. While older handset users might get jealous, they’re confident that their phones will interoperate with the newer ones. If the many models and styles of phones couldn’t be used together, the value of each phone would be reduced to the number of people with the same model.</p>
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<p>What does this have to do with blockchains? Before Tezos, they suffered from the same fate as the hypothetical smartphones that only work with one of the same model and not newer models. Blockchains derive their value from network effects or the number of users who have given it value. When a blockchain forks, it will only work with itself and not with the new fork.</p>
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<p>Put another way, the value of the fork comes from the critical mass of users that go with it. If not enough users get on board, it will fail and become a dead end. Worse, the value of its tokens will fall to zero, eliminating wealth and all the gains that had been made.</p>
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<p><strong>How does Tezos deal with forks? It doesn’t. Instead, the Tezos blockchain does away with the need to fork altogether.</strong></p>
<p>How does Tezos deal with forks? It doesn’t. Instead, the Tezos blockchain does away with the need to fork altogether. Any protocol upgrade is made using consensus and a crypto ledger to let stakeholders coordinate on protocol upgrades. If not enough stakeholders buy-in, the upgrade won’t be accepted.</p>
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<p>It’s also worth bearing in mind that any upgrade is automatically incorporated into the main protocol once it’s been accepted by the broad mass of users. Currently, Tezos is in the midst of reviewing its eighth upgrade, Hangzhou, which was announced in late September 2021.</p>
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<p>The way this is done is through four key phases in the amendment period. The first phase is the Proposal Period, where bakers can submit up to 20 amendment proposals. Phase two is an Exploration Vote Period, where bakers vote on which proposals to proceed to the testing period.</p>
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<p>Phase three is a Testing Period, and the final phase is a Promotion Vote Period, where there is a final vote on whether or not the amendment should be adopted.</p>
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<p>The result is that value is protected, and the entire Tezos protocol is upgraded to include the newly accepted features. Tezos has undergone seven major upgrades so far, with Granada going live in August 2021, and its eighth upgrade, Hangzhou, already under review.</p>
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<h4 id="the-problem-with-proof-of-work-vs-proof-of-stake">The problem with Proof of Work vs. Proof of Stake</h4>
<p>Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin rely on a process known as mining, which involves solving complex algorithmic puzzles to validate transactions and release new value into the ecosystem. This is otherwise known as Proof of Work. The biggest issue is that power over the blockchain is concentrated in mining pools. This means a few individuals have control over the direction of the blockchain.</p>
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<p>While Proof of Work is decentralized, and so users don’t need to explicitly trust anyone else to secure the currency, the reality is that all users must trust the benevolence of a handful of mining pool operators.</p>
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<p>Another major criticism made about blockchains is the amount of energy they require to process transactions - particularly those that use Proof of Work as their methodology.</p>
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<p>Tezos avoids these pitfalls by using a liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS) consensus mechanism. In Tezos parlance, people who create blocks are called bakers (think of them as ‘miners’ in Bitcoin). With Proof of Stake, participants provide the computational resources that keep the network up and running, but those with a stake in the network are divided into two groups – the bakers and the delegates.</p>
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<p>Tezos is also far more energy efficient. LPoS uses two million times less energy than competing blockchains (namely Bitcoin and Ethereum) that rely on Proof of Work.</p>
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<p>Everyone with tez holdings can participate in the consensus mechanism – for example, deciding on the future of the blockchain by voting on a proposed upgrade. Bakers automatically get a say, but those with holdings (delegates) can assign their assets to bakers while retaining full ownership of their tokens, a process known as ‘staking’. The bakers then take part in the consensus mechanism on behalf of the delegates.</p>
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<p>Any rewards assigned through the consensus process are shared between bakers and delegates, and delegates can change the bakers they have assigned consensus to at any time.</p>
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<p>When token holders bake or delegate their tokens, they can earn rewards proportional to their share of all tokens staked on the network. However, if a token holder doesn’t bake new tokens or delegate their consensus rights, their share of total token supply is diluted over time as new tokens are baked. This means inflation in Tezos is known as ’non-dilutive inflation’ because holders can avoid dilution by baking new tokens or delegating their token consensus rights.</p>
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<h4 id="governance-and-smart-contracts">Governance and smart contracts</h4>
<p>As we’ve discussed, token holders can participate in the governance of the Tezos blockchain through the Proof of Stake mechanism. Token holders that don’t bake can delegate their rights and wishes to existing bakers, and everyone shares the generated rewards. Tezos stakeholders all participate in the governance of the chain through this procedure.</p>
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<p>New technologies and new protocols are voted on through an on-chain election cycle, and agreement is reached. The result? Better governance mechanisms and protocol changes are agreed upon as they are discovered.</p>
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<p>Tezos also offers a platform for creating smart contracts and the ability to build decentralized applications that third parties can’t shut down. Tezos also provides for formal verification, which is a technique used to improve security by mathematically proving properties about programs like smart contracts. The base level language is known as Michelson, while Smartpy and Ligo are the high level languages that compile to Michelson. The upshot is that these languages make it easier for developers to start writing their own smart contracts.</p>
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<p>In short, the Tezos protocol is a major upgrade to the existing blockchain protocols. Its liquid Proof of Stake mechanism, ability to write smart contracts and mint NFTs, and on-chain governance make it a superior choice for individuals wishing to create value in the crypto world.</p>
Clean NFTs provide financial security for ‘Taco Bunny’ artist Mumu
<h2 id="malaysia-based-digital-artist-mumu-is-the-creative-mind-behind-tezos-taco-bunny-here-mumu-discusses-artistic-life-the-empowerment-that-comes-from-minting-nfts-and-the-importance-of-choosing-an-environmentally-friendly-blockchain">Malaysia-based digital artist Mumu is the creative mind behind Tezos’ Taco Bunny. Here, Mumu discusses artistic life, the empowerment that comes from minting NFTs, and the importance of choosing an environmentally friendly blockchain.</h2>
<p>For digital creator Mumu, art has been her life since she was a small child. Having spent time in the US and Canada, Mumu has called Malaysia home for all her adult life. She recently quit her full-time job to focus on creating digital art and minting that art as NFTs.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The artist, 32, is also behind Tezos’ Taco Bunny gif/meme. “I take my inspiration from anywhere,” she says. “Certain things come to me, sometimes it’s completely random, sometimes it’s emotions I am experiencing, but the reality is that inspiration is all around me.”</p>
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<p>When it comes to the creation of the <a href="https://objkt.com/profile/tz1i2XWMBvgx254U8tyqyMe5HZ7JVAkHoPRg/creations">TEZOS TACO BUNNY</a>, Mumu says that the taco is the “canon meme” in the Tezos world. Meanwhile in Asia, the ticker symbol for Tezos’ coin, tez, is XTZ, which corresponds to “little bunny” in Chinese script.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“TZ APAC approached me, and they wanted a digital art piece to complement TZ APAC’s brand launch that was uniquely Asian,” she says. “And so, I combined the taco with the bunny and made the taco bunny, which is an NFT.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>“There are only five Taco Bunnies as NFTs,” she continues. “Four of them are savory, and one is a dessert, and so they are cute taco bunnies made of food.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>As part of the launch, TZ APAC ran an NFT drop and a giveaway of four of the Taco Bunnies. The remaining NFT was auctioned off and all money raised went to <a href="https://wao.org.my/">WOMEN’S AID</a>, a Malaysian organization helping to end violence against women.</p>
<p><img src="/images/clean-nfts-provide-1.gif" alt="TZ APAC and Mumu">
<em>Credit: TZ APAC and Mumu, 2021</em></p>
<h4 id="the-nft-connection">The NFT connection</h4>
<p>Mumu is a fan of the rock band Linkin Park and is active in the band’s online community. She started interacting with the group and began making fan art.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Mike noticed my art and liked it,” she says. “He had started minting NFTs and talking about how good NFTs are for creators.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>After noticing her art and realizing that she was giving it away for free, Shinoda suggested to Mumu that she began minting NFTs – and offered to buy her first one. “He said he would buy it, regardless of what it was or where I minted it,” she says.</p>
<p></p>
<p>After minting her NFT and selling it to Shinoda, Mumu began to investigate the world of NFTs and was particularly disturbed by the environmental costs associated with some blockchains. She did a deep dive into proof of work versus proof of stake and became active in a ‘clean NFT’ group on Discord.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“That’s when I discovered Tezos, and it was much cleaner than rival systems, and so I have been minting my NFTs there ever since,” she notes.</p>
<p><img src="/images/clean-nfts-provide-2.gif" alt="TZ APAC and Mumu">
<em>Credit: TZ APAC and Mumu, 2021</em></p>
<h4 id="nfts-and-the-benefits-for-artists">NFTs and the benefits for artists</h4>
<p>Mumu says NFTs are a positive development for artists because you are compensated monetarily, but you are not answering to a client. “Before NFTs, creators’ work was a service to others, whether it’s brands, advertisements, or commissions,” she says. “NFTs are a powerful tool for artists to create what they like and pursue their passions and not starve. NFTs support experimentation.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>She compares it to avenues like Instagram and Patreon. With Instagram, she says, the art is held hostage by the platform, and the artist needs to pay Instagram to boost their posts to get exposure. “This is a real scam.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>“With NFTs, people can view them and buy them. There’s no paywall, but it also enables us to create and support ourselves,” she says. “NFTs allow people to support us as artists, and yet the art is still out there in the world, where fans can view it.”</p>
Innovative TezAsia Hackathon winners build Asia’s green tomorrow with blockchain today
<h2 id="the-hackathon-was-a-grand-success-and-received-over-1400-registrations-1600-individual-participants-and-teams-who-submitted-36-projects-across-the-3-tracks">The hackathon was a grand success and received over 1400 registrations, 1600 individual participants and teams, who submitted 36 projects across the 3 tracks.</h2>
<p><strong>Singapore, 23 September 2021:</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac">TZ APAC</a>, one of the leading Asia adoption entities supporting the Tezos ecosystem, today announced the winners of the largest Tezos blockchain hackathon - TezAsia. In partnership with <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a> and <a href="https://chainstack.com/">CHAINSTACK</a>, this month-long hackathon saw participants develop novel solutions across three tracks: DeFi, NFTs and Collectibles, and Tools and Wallets on the Tezos blockchain.</p>
<p>The hackathon was a grand success and received over 1400 registrations, 1600 individual participants and teams, who submitted 36 projects across the 3 tracks. The jury selected <a href="https://hsrambo07.github.io/tezco-landing/">TEZCO</a> as the winner - a global carbon currency that can enable the purchase of carbon-emitting products via gamification, NFT, and P2P DeFi staking, to reduce the impact of climate change by integrating the Tezos network to provide universal and transparent transactions. In second place was <a href="https://radiate.finance/">RADIATE FINANCE</a>, a streaming protocol in which users can create a stream to transfer tokens in real-time. Omni Swap – a credit default swaps solution on blockchain to remove overcollaterization requirements in loans facilities – came in third. The winners received grants of up to USD 10,000 each, allowing them to take their projects to the next level.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>“Some of the projects born from the TezAsia hackathon were really outstanding in the quality of their presentation, MVP product readiness and execution from the participants. I’m impressed and confident in what will come in the future of the Tezos ecosystem." said</em> <em><strong>Sebastien Borget, President, Blockchain Game Alliance.</strong></em>
</p>
<p>With an objective of fostering budding blockchain talent in the region and challenging participants to devise solutions for a greener future - the TezAsia Hackathon brought together novices, advanced coders, students, working professionals, and blockchain enthusiasts from a wide spectrum of industries across the region. The hackathon was held on the <a href="https://devfolio.co/">DEVFOLIO</a> platform and offered USD 14,000 in prizes across all tracks.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>“TezAsia brought forward eager participants who put transformative solutions and sustainability at the forefront of their projects. We are looking forward to conducting more programs in the future to foster the growing blockchain talent and make the region stronger than ever,” said</em> <em><strong>Om Malviya, President, Tezos India.</strong></em></p>
<p></p>
<p><em>“The sheer number of ideas and high-quality proof-of-concepts shared by TezAsia’s participants demonstrates that we have barely scratched the surface of Asia’s creative potential, when it comes to harnessing blockchain technology to develop real-world solutions. TZ APAC is committed to cultivating and bringing these ideas to market on the Tezos blockchain,” said</em> <em><strong>David Tng, Head of Growth, TZ APAC.</strong></em></p>
<p></p>
<p>While some of the ideas presented will continue to be developed into robust, market-ready solutions, the TezAsia Hackathon also shone a spotlight on much of the developer talent in the region, which has attracted the interest of blockchain companies seeking to recruit these bright minds.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“We are proud to have supported this event that has brought various ideas and projects into fruition. Dedicated to magnifying accessibility within Web3, Chainstack strives to continuously innovate and support the ever growing Tezos ecosystem. The event was a huge success in nurturing the next batch of developers and builders that not only accelerate the growth of DeFi and Web3 as a whole, but also bring more sustainable solutions to all.” said <strong>Eugene Aseev, CTO & Founder of Chainstack.</strong></p>
<p></p>
<p>Beyond the TezAsia Hackathon, TZ APAC and Tezos India have also partnered with Microsoft, Skoda and Tech Mahindra to deliver the <a href="https://www.lumoslabs.co/microsoftcentury">MICROSOFT CENTURY PROGRAM</a> – a corporate-SME bridge program that seeks to uncover blockchain-based solutions on Tezos, for industry-specific use cases. The first iteration of the program will focus on Discrete Manufacturing, with a particular focus on automotive manufacturing, supplier management, product authentication, supply chain and more.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="about-tz-apac">About TZ APAC:</h4>
<p><a href="https://tezos.com/">TZ APAC</a> Pte. Ltd. (“TZ APAC”) is the leading Asia-based blockchain adoption entity supporting the Tezos ecosystem. It designs value-added blockchain transformation strategies for enterprises and creators with a bottom-up approach, working closely with blockchain experts and other stakeholders in the Tezos ecosystem. TZ APAC is supported by the Tezos Foundation and headquartered in Singapore.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="about-tezos-india">About Tezos India:</h4>
<p>At <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a> we are building and empowering a well-rounded Tezos ecosystem in India. We aim to boost the developer community in India to build and scale out-of-the-box projects on Tezos. We believe that a great ecosystem is a sum of all its participants. We want to enable people to seamlessly participate in the Tezos ecosystem in India.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="about-chainstack">About Chainstack:</h4>
<p>At <a href="https://chainstack.com/">CHAINSTACK</a>, we want to help accelerate the adoption of Web3 and blockchain technology. Every day we are solving hard problems and creating a superior user experience in the world of blockchains. We enjoy optimizing, analyzing, and innovating our product by listening to our customers, and by embracing best practices across industries.</p>
<p>For media inquiries, contact:</p>
<p>Susan Joseph | Head of PR and Marketing</p>
<p><a href="https://www.tzpulse.com/articles/innovative-tezasia-hackathon-winners-build-asias-green-tomorrow-with-blockchain-today#">SUSAN@LUMOSLABS.CO</a> | 9900029191</p>
<p>Alina Ahmed | Marketing and PR Associate</p>
<p><a href="alina@lumoslabs.co">ALINA@LUMOSLABS.CO</a> | 8826380775</p>
TZ APAC announces strategic commitment to Asia Pacific
<h2 id="singapore-11th-august-2021---tz-apac-one-of-the-leading-adoption-entities-supporting-the-tezos-ecosystem-in-asia-today-announced-a-strategic-commitment-to-the-asia-pacific-region">Singapore, 11th August 2021 - TZ APAC, one of the leading adoption entities supporting the Tezos ecosystem in Asia, today announced a strategic commitment to the Asia Pacific region.</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p><em><a href="https://www.tzapac.com/">TZ APAC</a> is one of the leading adoption entities supporting the <a href="https://tezos.com/">TEZOS</a> ecosystem in Asia</em>
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><em>The Singapore-based <a href="https://tezos.com/">TEZOS</a> hub will launch new strategic initiatives to drive enterprise and corporate adoption</em>
</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><em><a href="https://www.tzapac.com/">TZ APAC</a>, in collaboration with <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a> will launch a new developer relations program to support developers exploring <a href="https://tezos.com/">TEZOS</a></em>
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The strategic regional commitment from the leading Tezos adoption entity in Asia will build on prior successes including <a href="https://tezos.com/">TEZOS</a> integration with <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/china-s-bsn-international-integrates-support-for-tezos-network">BSN</a>, the China state blockchain network, <a href="https://tezos.com/">TEZOS</a> integration into ride hailing app <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/blockchain-ride-hailing-app-tada-moves-to-greener-tezos-technology-838927572.html">TADA</a>, and on-going collaborations with big tech companies such as <a href="https://www.ibm.com/">IBM</a> and <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/">MICROSOFT</a>. <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/">TZ APAC</a> will deploy new investments in the region across business development and marketing, and launch a new strategic partnership with <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a> to drive developer education and recruitment.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Now more than ever, enterprises, corporate brands, and governments want to know how to leverage the transformational power of blockchain. <a href="https://www.tzapac.com/">TZ APAC</a> aims to empower enterprises and individuals to harness the power of the <a href="https://tezos.com/">TEZOS</a> blockchain by providing capital deployment, resource development, strategic advisory, project management, as well as marketing and strategic communications services in the region.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>“Asian enterprises today are increasingly recognizing the revolutionary power of blockchain and are looking for new ways to disrupt industries. TZ APAC’s mission is to enable their high-performance and growth in the region and beyond. Our community of innovators and conscious creators is growing rapidly, and we want to play a key role in promoting sustainable development in Asia.” -</em> <em><strong>Joe Hwang, Director of Business Development, North Asia at TZ APAC.</strong></em></p>
<p></p>
<p>TZ APAC’s commitment to the Asia Pacific region can be viewed through their recent monumental enterprise collaborations with leading players in the region. Most recently, TZ APAC led the integration of Tezos into BSN, China’s state owned blockchain-based service network, where users will have access to Chinese enterprise chains, and into multi-chain lending platform ShuttleOne, a company developing a tokenization platform for real world assets. Additionally, TZ APAC has led projects with ride hailing app Tada, NFT platform AmplifyX, and helped incubate the fastest growing <a href="https://www.cryptoartweekasia.com/hen-artists">NFT ARTIST COMMUNITY</a> in Asia.</p>
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<p>TZ APAC is proud to announce the <a href="https://www.notion.so/TZ-APAC-Tezos-India-Ecosystem-Growth-Grant-EGG-4d1d5b82a27e496a84f78d7c45e09660">ECOSYSTEM GROWTH GRANTS (EGG)</a> program. The developer relations program aims to cultivate new ideas through small-level funding and will provide direct funding to creators and developers exploring the Tezos network. The program expands the reach of the Tezos community to new builders and creators to act as a springboard for early-stage concepts, from NFT platforms to developer tooling to DeFi building blocks. The program is managed in partnership with Tezos India.</p>
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<p><em>“We are grateful for the strong support we have received in the APAC region, and are proud to be headquartered in Singapore, a global hub for fintech and innovation. We look forward to developing a burgeoning community and empowering everyone with equal opportunities to radically transform the blockchain landscape in the region.” -</em> <em><strong>Katherine Ng, Head of APAC Marketing at TZ APAC.</strong></em></p>
<p></p>
<p>Tezos celebrated its three year anniversary this year, making it one of the first and longest running Proof-of-Stake blockchains. Tezos consumes over two million times less energy than Proof-of-Work networks. Network activity on Tezos has grown 1,200 percent this year, with over 5 million contract calls in the last 8 weeks, due in part to its energy-efficient design and ease of use. With the region’s robust push into sustainability, TZ APAC aims to unlock opportunities and embolden clean innovation while ensuring energy efficient consumption and a negligible carbon footprint.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://www.ledgerinsights.com/ubisoft-joins-tezos-blockchain-as-corporate-baker/">GAME DEVELOPERS</a>, <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/oneof-raises-63m-for-music-nft-platform-with-green-credentials">MUSIC LABELS</a>, <a href="https://www.redbull.com/int-en/redbullracing/tezos-joins-as-official-blockchain-partner#:~:text=Red%20Bull%20Racing%20Honda%20today,first%20ever%20NFT%20fan%20experience.">SPORTING FRANCHISES</a>, <a href="https://decrypt.co/41859/tezos-becomes-a-favorite-to-power-the-digital-euro">CENTRAL BANKS</a>, and more are all building on Tezos. Globally, Formula One teams, <a href="https://www.redbull.com/int-en/redbullracing/tezos-joins-as-official-blockchain-partner#:~:text=Red%20Bull%20Racing%20Honda%20today,first%20ever%20NFT%20fan%20experience.">RED BULL HONDA RACING</a> and <a href="https://www.mclaren.com/racing/partners/tezos/">MCLAREN RACING</a>, have chosen Tezos for technical integrations to create unrivalled NFT fan experiences on the Tezos protocol. Tezos has over 400 validators around the world including internationally recognised enterprises as corporate bakers, such as <a href="https://blog.coinbase.com/migrating-our-tezos-bakery-across-the-atlantic-with-only-1-minute-of-downtime-2eb1aa6f1f2c">COINBASE</a>, <a href="https://www.ledger.com/staking-tezos">LEDGER</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ubisoft/status/1384451272992976898?lang=en">UBISOFT</a>, <a href="https://exaion.edf.fr/en/exaion/our-news/exaion-edf-group-subsidiary-becomes-a-tezos-baker">EXAION</a>, and more. Tezos also has a growing DeFi ecosystem with ERC-20 bridges for low-gas cross-chain utility, yield farming protocols, and surging AMM platforms.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>“Building on the Tezos blockchain is the ideal long-term solution to reducing the environmental impact of digital technologies, through energy-efficient solutions. Through TZ APAC and its 360-degree support system, we want to create meaningful partnerships in the Asia Pacific region.” - Julian Low, Director of Business Development, South East Asia at TZ APAC.</em></p>
TezAsia Hackathon invites builders to create a greener future
<ul>
<li>TezAsia is Asia’s largest Tezos hackathon with over $14,000 USD in prizes and $50,000 USD in potential grants</li>
<li>Co-organized by <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac">TZ APAC</a>, <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a>, and <a href="https://chainstack.com/">CHAINSTACK</a>, TezAsia challenges participants to devise solutions for a Greener Future</li>
<li>Applications for TezAsia will open on July 26th, the month-long hackathon will cover three tracks: DeFi, NFTs and Collectibles, or Tools and Wallets.
</li>
</ul>
<p>Singapore, 30 July 2021: <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac">TZ APAC</a>, one of the leading Asia adoption entities supporting the Tezos ecosystem, has partnered with <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a> and <a href="https://chainstack.com/">CHAINSTACK</a> to bring the largest Tezos blockchain hackathon to Asia. Applications for the month-long hackathon, TezAsia, will open on July 26th. The hackathon challenges participants to leverage the energy-efficient Tezos network to build solutions across three tracks: DeFi, NFTs and Collectibles, and Tools and Wallets.</p>
<p></p>
<p>TezAsia aims to help participants learn, grow, and excel in the blockchain domain. The hackathon will be held on the <a href="https://devfolio.co/">DEVFOLIO</a> platform and offer $14,000 USD in prizes across all tracks. The top five projects will have the opportunity to receive follow-on grants of up to $10,000 USD each, allowing participants to take their projects to the next level.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Asia is brimming with promising talent that’s yet to be discovered. Through TezAsia, we’re looking to identify and support budding talents on their growth journey by equipping them with the platform and resources they need to create game-changing solutions,” - Katherine Ng, Head of Marketing and Operations at TZ APAC.</p>
<p></p>
<p>TezAsia aims to foster future blockchain talent with training and mentorship programs that will not only support their journey with upskilling but also connect them with leading industry experts to tackle new challenges and pioneer innovative solutions. Novices, advanced coders, students, working professionals, and blockchain enthusiasts from a wide spectrum of industries are encouraged to apply to kick start their blockchain journey through the Tezos ecosystem.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Efficiency has always been a key priority at Tezos. Through TezAsia, we’re calling all participants to put their best foot forward to build transformative solutions that would address various sustainability challenges. Together, we can work towards building a greener future.” - Om Malviya, President, Tezos India.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The TezAsia hackathon is made possible by the collaboration between <a href="https://twitter.com/TzApac">TZ APAC</a>, <a href="https://tezosindia.org.in/">TEZOS INDIA</a> and <a href="https://chainstack.com/">CHAINSTACK</a>. Chainstack’s managed blockchain solutions for the Tezos network enables developers to deploy, manage, and scale their solutions across multiple staging environments.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Chainstack’s mission is to make Web3 accessible to as many builders as possible. Our state-of-the-art blockchain infrastructure will enable TezAsia Hackathon’s participants to build, run, and scale their innovative blockchain applications, from experimentation to production, in an easy and cost-effective way. This is just the beginning of a long-term collaboration, as we will soon be launching developer infrastructure and managed blockchain services for the entire Tezos Ecosystem.” - Alex Albano, Chief Growth Officer, Chainstack</p>
<p></p>
<p>Registration for the TezAsia Hackathon is now open to all at <a href="https://tezasia.devfolio.co/">https://tezasia.devfolio.co/</a> and will close on 7th August 2021.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Image Credit: Photo by Jantine Doornbos</p>
Ride hailing app TADA move to eco-friendly Tezos blockchain
<h2 id="south-korea-july-12th-2021--mvl-foundation-pte-ltd-has-partnered-with-tz-apac--a-leading-asia-based-public-blockchain-adoption-entity-for-the-tezos-ecosystem--to-develop-its-data-business-with-hybrid-blockchain-technology-utilizing-both-hyperledger-fabric-and-the-tezos-public-blockchain">South Korea, July 12th, 2021 – MVL Foundation Pte. Ltd has partnered with TZ APAC – a leading Asia-based public blockchain adoption entity for the Tezos ecosystem – to develop its data business with hybrid blockchain technology, utilizing both Hyperledger Fabric and the Tezos public blockchain.</h2>
<p>MVL Foundation operates TADA, the world’s first blockchain-based ride-hailing service, which has amassed 1 million users in Southeast Asia since its launch in 2018. MVL aims to revolutionise the mobility sector, as it begins to manufacture and supply electric vehicles (EV) such as their E-TukTuk.</p>
<p>Recently, MVL also signed an MOU with Bolton, a subsidiary of Indian Auto manufacturing giant, Krishna Group, for its EV production and sales division in India, boosting the availability of the TADA ride-hailing and delivery platform within the country.</p>
<p></p>
<p>All of MVL’s mobility products utilise MVL’s own native protocol, which generates and stores data within MVL’s blockchain-based database. Customers receive rewards by consenting to the collection of their data, as part of MVL’s bid to make consumers feel more in control over how their information is used by tech companies. The incentive scheme was designed in response to the growing resistance against technology companies that commonly harvest user data without yielding any benefit for the consumer.</p>
<p></p>
<p>At the MVL 2.0 Online Conference in March, MVL also announced its decision to introduce a new blockchain system that functions independently from the Ethereum network. High transaction fees, scalability and environmental sustainability were cited as key reasons MVL explored other blockchain options for its further development.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Having a partnership with TZ APAC is a huge step for MVL to expand its data business. We are grateful that MVL, together with TZ APAC, can successfully store all data generated and collected from TADA on the blockchain. On the Tezos protocol, both companies will team up to create a high-valued data business.” said Kay Woo, CEO and founder, MVL Foundation.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“We are delighted to work with MVL, one of the top mobility companies in Southeast Asia, to build both mobility applications and data brokers on the Tezos ecosystem. In addition to a more trustless environment and increased data accuracy, the project will enable individuals to monetise and have greater control over their data,” stated David Shin, Head of Asia, TZ APAC.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Both MVL Foundation and TZ APAC look forward to this partnership as an opportunity to build a fairer and more sustainable mobility ecosystem.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="about-mvl-labs">About MVL LABS</h4>
<p>MVL Labs is a blockchain protocol operated within the mobility ecosystem based on an incentive method. Within the MVL ecosystem, people generate data and receive incentives by driving or using vehicle-related services. By recording and sharing these data, the entire mobility ecosystem can become a transparent, trustworthy and virtuous cycle structure that develops into a healthy ecosystem.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="about-tada">About TADA</h4>
<p>Tada is a ride-hailing service platform developed by MVL with over a million users throughout Singapore, Cambodia, and Vietnam since its first launch in 2018. It is the only platform that operates under the zero-commision policy, and it aims to create a transparent ecosystem by providing incentives and benefits to all participants who provide their data using the platform.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="about-tz-apac">About TZ APAC</h4>
<p>TZ APAC is a leading Asia-based blockchain adoption entity supporting the Tezos ecosystem. It designs value-added blockchain transformation strategies for enterprises and creators with a bottom-up approach, working closely with blockchain experts and other stakeholders in the Tezos ecosystem. TZ APAC is supported by the Tezos Foundation and headquartered in Singapore.</p>
<p></p>
<h4 id="about-tezos">About Tezos</h4>
<p>Tezos is smart money, redefining what it means to hold and exchange value in a digitally connected world. A self-upgradable and energy efficient blockchain with a proven track record, Tezos seamlessly adopts tomorrow’s innovations without network disruptions today. To learn more, visit <a href="http://tezos.com/">TEZOS.COM</a></p>
