Tag: artists

Stablecoins: How Congress Can Empower Artists, Not Just Wall Street

Stablecoins: How Congress Can Empower Artists, Not Just Wall Street

• Commentary

Picture a world where artists are truly free. No longer do they depend on art galleries who charge exorbitant commissions or music labels who stifle their creative flow. Picture an artist in rural Cambodia selling a painting directly to an urban New York City collector. And they can do this...

Solana's Game Pass: A Gateway Drug to Web3 for Southeast Asia's Artists?

Solana's Game Pass: A Gateway Drug to Web3 for Southeast Asia's Artists?

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I happen to think it’s the latter, and here’s why. It’s not only about games – it’s about opportunity.Free Minting: Democratizing Access to Web3The beauty of the Solana Game Pass is that it’s open to everyone. In an area rife with economic inequality, the “free to mint” feature is revolutionary....

Forget Bitcoin? These 4 Cryptos Are Empowering Southeast Asian Artists Now

Forget Bitcoin? These 4 Cryptos Are Empowering Southeast Asian Artists Now

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Bitcoin had its moment. We all know about the hype, the Lambo dreams, and the fly by night promises of a new decentralized future. Bitcoin’s price has returned to its rollercoaster ride. In reality, something of far greater importance is taking place in Southeast Asia. Put aside dreams of get-rich-quick...

Binance Writes Rules? Southeast Asia's Artists Risk Being Left Behind Again

Binance Writes Rules? Southeast Asia's Artists Risk Being Left Behind Again

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Indeed, Binance recently reached a historic $4.3 billion settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Is the firm today writing the playbook for how to succeed in the world of crypto? And if so, who really benefits? Otherwise, Richard Teng, CEO of Binance Asia, extending praise to the United...

BNB Chain's NFT Surge What It Means for Southeast Asian Artists

BNB Chain's NFT Surge What It Means for Southeast Asian Artists

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Is the West really the only gateway? For too long, the art world, and especially the digital art world, has been controlled by Western narratives and platforms. What if there was another way? What if Southeast Asian artists didn’t have to rely on these gatekeepers, and received support to reach...

Crypto's New Integrity Standard: A Boon for Southeast Asian Artists?

Crypto's New Integrity Standard: A Boon for Southeast Asian Artists?

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The Crypto Market Integrity Coalition (CMIC) has released an innovative new industry standard for market making. This move injects a welcome maturity into a field sometimes characterized as the wild west. Past the media hoopla and blockchain buzzwords, is a genuine chance for Southeast Asian artists to really make it...

Binance Helping Nations? Why This Could Unleash Artists' Untapped Power

Binance Helping Nations? Why This Could Unleash Artists' Untapped Power

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Binance advising nations on crypto regulations? It's as ominous as it sounds. It almost sounds like a concept pulled directly from a dystopian sci-fi novel. Underneath this unlikely partnership’s surface is a potential radical change, particularly for creatives from the global south. Forget the traditional art world with its stuffy...

Qubetics: Southeast Asia's Artists' Web3 Gateway or Just Hype?

Qubetics: Southeast Asia's Artists' Web3 Gateway or Just Hype?

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Could this be the breakthrough that Southeast Asian artists have long deserved? Or like another shiny object taking our attention away from the actual systemic issues.The crypto ecosystem can be a tornado of promises. With its cutting-edge interoperability technology and audacious ROI estimates, Qubetics is the new kid on the...

77-Bit's Free NFTs: A Gateway Drug to Web3 for Southeast Asian Artists?

77-Bit's Free NFTs: A Gateway Drug to Web3 for Southeast Asian Artists?

• Commentary

77-Bit's beta numbers are impressive, no doubt. High retention, heavy in-game spending – it means they are getting something right with this “fun-first” ideology. The completely free NFT mint for beta testers? Genius. Let's zoom out. Nevermind the Bitman/Plumbro rarity tiers for a moment. What if this seemingly minor occurrence...

Is Trump's Crypto Play Exploiting Southeast Asian Artists?

Is Trump's Crypto Play Exploiting Southeast Asian Artists?

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Donald Trump, who was once crypto’s most vocal opponent, is busy creating what some are dubbing a crypto empire. NFTs and DeFi projects such as WLFI, stablecoins, and even Bitcoin mining – it’s the new normal. And while headlines focus on millions made, potential conflicts of interest, and regulatory concerns,...

Crypto's 'Light-Touch' Regulation Gamble Will It Protect You?

The Senate Committee’s proposed “light-touch” regulatory framework for crypto is a long high-stakes poker game. Are we all truly holding a winning hand, or are we collectively bluffing our way into a future financial crisis? It’s a question every investor, every innovator, and frankly, every citizen should want to know....

Trump Jr. at KBW2025: Web3's Punk Rock Moment or Sellout?

Or I think about Nandar, a wonderful Burmese artist that I met in Yangon, sharing with me her latest NFT collection. Each work exploded with vivid imagery, bravely fighting back against the junta’s repressive hold. She began selling them directly to supporters around the world, allowing her to cleverly sidestep...

KBW2025: Is Trump Jr. Web3's Trojan Horse or its Savior?

Donald Trump Jr. at Korea Blockchain Week? It's a head-scratcher, isn't it? About as easy as locating a MAGA hat at a Burning Man soirée. Before we put this down as just another short-lived publicity stunt, let’s take a closer look at what this could IoTally Web3 means. Cynical ploy...

Schiff's Crypto Ban: Is He Protecting Us or Silencing Innovation?

Senator Adam Schiff's proposed crypto ban, the COIN Act, aimed at preventing the President (read: Donald Trump) from dabbling in digital assets, raises a critical question: Is this genuine protection against corruption, or a veiled attempt to stifle innovation, especially for emerging markets? Let's be real, the optics are terrible....

Immutable's Gamble: Will Gas-Free Trading Save Web3 Gaming?

Yet the hype around Web3 gaming is real, offering gamers true digital ownership and player-driven economies. Let’s get real: that promise usually meets a very different fate. High gas fees and a clunky user experience can quickly derail those intentions. Immutable is taking a big bet with its zkEVM and...

Civitas' Immutable Leap: A Win for Emerging Artists in Web3?

I think back to visiting a small art collective in Yangon just a few years ago. It was a time when the energy was electric, the talent readily evident, but the artists themselves were suffering. They were making amazing digital art and wanted to access the global NFT market. Those...

Kazakhstan's Solana Zone: A Web3 Oasis or Just Another Crypto Mirage?

Is Kazakhstan really developing a true Web3 utopia, or just another playground for the crypto elite? The establishment of a Solana Economic Zone Kazakhstan (SEZ KZ) in Astana has generated much enthusiasm but criticism. The prospect of a blockchain-powered haven in Central Asia, however, is tantalizing. We need to take...