Tag: creative economy

NFT Bunker: A Southeast Asian Artist's Take on Crypto's New Playground

NFT Bunker: A Southeast Asian Artist's Take on Crypto's New Playground

• Commentary

Let’s face it, the NFT space can sometimes be a bit of a digital echo chamber. All hype, no substance. Today we see the Bored Apes, the CryptoPunks and thousands of derivative projects. To be frank, a lot of it just seems all over the place. That’s when you’re totally...

Crypto Regulation 2025: Southeast Asia's Artists Are Being Left Behind

Crypto Regulation 2025: Southeast Asia's Artists Are Being Left Behind

• Commentary

Think of Nandar, a young artist in Myanmar, harnessing her colorful digital art to share narratives of resilience and hope. By utilizing NFTs, she was able to make direct connections with collectors around the world and circumvent the censorship and economic turmoil surrounding her country. Crypto was her lifeline. Now...

Zora's Update: How Southeast Asian Artists Can Ride the NFT Wave

Zora's Update: How Southeast Asian Artists Can Ride the NFT Wave

• Commentary

Jesse Pollak's retweet. A 20% price jump. Millions in trading volume. Sounds like another Tuesday in crypto, right? Wrong. As artists of Southeast Asia, this is a clarion call. We must act swiftly. ZORA is only the beginning. This is a monumental change in how creators are able to reach...

Crypto's 'Light Touch' Dream: Why Southeast Asia's Artists Should Worry

Crypto's 'Light Touch' Dream: Why Southeast Asia's Artists Should Worry

• Commentary

Southeast Asia’s dynamic art scene is at the forefront of this digital transformation powered by crypto and NFTs. A “light touch” regulatory approach is favored by advocates of a crypto-friendly regulatory framework. It could just as quickly turn that dream into a nightmare for the artists and creators who stand...

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

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

• Commentary

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

• Commentary

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...

Web3's Next Boom: Why Southeast Asian Artists Hold the Key

Web3's Next Boom: Why Southeast Asian Artists Hold the Key

• Commentary

(Image: A vibrant collage showcasing diverse Southeast Asian art styles - batik, wayang kulit puppets, contemporary digital art, and traditional weaving patterns)I've been thinking a lot about the future of Web3, and frankly, I'm tired of the Silicon Valley-centric narrative. We continue to hear from the same developers, the same...

Optimum's Memory Layer: Southeast Asia's Artists Get a Web3 Boost?

Optimum's Memory Layer: Southeast Asia's Artists Get a Web3 Boost?

• Commentary

Is this the moment blockchain tech really gives power back to artists in Southeast Asia? We've heard the promises before, haven't we? Decentralization, democratization, freedom! The reality? Too often, it’s been a clunky, expensive, and inaccessible system, particularly for the people who need it the most. Now, picture that world,...

Japan's Bitcoin Revolution: A Boon for Artists and Web3 Creators?

Is Japan on the verge of accidentally unleashing a tsunami of creative destruction and financial liberation onto the rest of the emerging markets? I know this seems like a tall order, but hear me out. Japan’s regulatory change to officially recognize Bitcoin as a financial product. This step is a...

5 Ways This Crypto Bill Empowers Southeast Asian Artists, Not Wall Street

Let’s be honest, when you hear about crypto regulation, your first thought probably isn't Southeast Asian artists finding new avenues for creative expression. Surely visions of Wall Street honchos and inscrutable derivatives dance in your head. Well, what if I told you that the Senate’s Banking Committee just released their...

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...