Meet Anya, a fictional expert batik maker hailing from the Malaysian countryside. In the pre-Web3 world, her detailed creations were limited to her immediate community, where they were sold for hardly anything at all. Today, she mints them as NFTs and sells them directly to collectors all over the world, making 10x her former salary. This is the promise of Web3 for Southeast Asia's artists: empowerment, financial independence, a global stage.
Anya’s story, like so many others, is one that can have a tragic ending. Related Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou intercepted and arrested by Moroccan police on October 24, 2023. He is charged with orchestrating a series of violent crypto-enabled kidnappings across France, an innovation that should send shivers down the spine of artists such as Anya. France? Morocco? What on earth does all this have to do with a batik artist halfway around the world in Malaysia? Everything. This is not just a challenge for Europe—this is a global challenge. As such, the burgeoning Web3 art scene in Southeast Asia is left especially exposed.
Are Our Artists Sitting Ducks?
Southeast Asia is such an incredibly rich region with artistic talent, but many of these creative individuals are not equipped with high digital literacy levels and financial safety nets. Our artists are in a scramble to adopt Web3, lured by the allure of freedom and fortune. In doing so, are we, as a community, doing enough to set them up for the hazards that might be waiting in the dark? Are we equipping them to steer through perilous waters of crypto security? So why aren’t we doing anything to prepare them for that experience, or better yet, equipping them to take on the challenge?
Criminals are making ever more brazen attempts to get their hands on crypto fortune. The French crypto kidnappings kidnapped business executives and their families, illuminating this worrisome trend. Bajjou's arrest, thanks to Franco-Moroccan cooperation and an Interpol red notice, is a stark reminder that these aren't just online threats. They're real-world dangers with potentially devastating consequences.
- Scams and Phishing
- Hacks and Exploits
- Physical Threats
The idea of locking down their digital work is, for most Southeast Asian artists, a brand new idea! They may not understand the importance of cold storage wallets, two-factor authentication, or the red flags of a phishing scam. They are naive, trusting too much, doped by excitement about the beauty of tremendous loot and Web3 itself.
I met a creative and gifted Philippine-born digital artist online known as “PixelWanderer.” Sadly, he fell victim to an elaborate phishing scam that cost him almost all his NFT revenue. He’d been boasting about his success in a Discord group, and less than a week later, he was on the receiving end. He felt shame and stigma prevent him from going to the police to report it, worried he’d be mocked and having no trust in the process. His story, unfortunately, isn't unique.
Who Will Protect Southeast Asia's Creators?
The Bajjou arrest must be the last straw to start making changes. It’s no longer enough for us to sit back and celebrate the success stories of Web3 artists find, but it’s our responsibility to protect them. We require a community-driven, multi-pronged approach to protect our artists from predation.
Here’s hoping that we can learn from our French law enforcement’s response. They’re increasing security for people in the crypto industry with priority access to emergency hotlines, specialized in-home security assessments, and safety training seminars.
- Education is Key: Established Web3 projects, DAOs, and influencers in Southeast Asia need to step up and provide accessible, culturally relevant workshops on crypto security.
- Emergency Support Networks: We must establish confidential support networks where artists can report scams and hacks without fear of judgment and receive practical assistance.
- Advocate for Clearer Regulations: While we don't want to stifle innovation, Southeast Asian governments should explore implementing appropriate safeguards to protect their citizens in the crypto space. Morocco is already exploring crypto asset regulation and a potential CBDC; we should be having similar conversations.
- Amplify Forgotten Voices: Give a platform to artists who have been victims of scams or hacks. Their stories, even anonymized, are powerful warnings to others.
Despite its pitfalls, Web3 provides Southeast Asian artists with an unprecedented opportunity. Through their work, they can attain financial freedom and earn worldwide acclaim as never before. To realize this potential, we need to assess the cybersecurity threats. If we don’t, our artists will be at the mercy of the very models that seek to exploit them.
Web3's Promise or a Dangerous Mirage?
The arrest in Morocco should serve as a sobering reminder. More than that, it’s a wake-up call for Southeast Asia’s Web3 community to focus on safety and education. Let’s take a step back from all of the excitement. It’s time to foster an ethical, secure, and sustainable ecosystem where artists like Anya don’t need to fear exploitation at every turn. Let’s not wait for one of these tragic incidents to happen in our own backyards before we take action. The time to safeguard our artists is at hand.
The arrest in Morocco is a stark warning. It's a wake-up call for Southeast Asia's Web3 community to prioritize safety and education. It's time to move beyond the hype and build a more ethical, secure, and sustainable ecosystem where artists like Anya can thrive without fear. Let's not wait for a tragedy to strike closer to home before taking action. The time to protect our artists is now.
