NFTs

The NFT marketplace peaked on May 3, when $102 million worth were sold in a single day. Crypto-collectibles accounted for $100 million of those sales, but according to data analyzed by Protos, just $19.4 million in NFT sales (including $9.2 million in crypto-collectibles) were processed in the past week: a near-90% collapse from the market's peak just one month ago. Continue Reading →

Dfinity launched Internet Computer last week, and ICP, its cryptocurrency, already has a market cap of over $30 billion. This article is not about the value of owning ICP or how or why you may or may not want to trade crypto. I'm not going to offer any financial advice here. What interests me is how strongly Dfinity's vision aligns with my essay Tales from under the Merkle Tree. In the essay, I ask you to imagine a world powered by decentralized apps (Dapps), where currencies are traded on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), and people transact business on distributed ledgers (aka blockchains). I also suggested that the future I asked you to envision "is literally just months away." I was wrong. It's happening right now. Or is it? Continue Reading →

As she approached the entrance to the club, she gave the frame of her new prescription AR glasses a gentle squeeze. When she got to the door, it appeared to turn green, indicating recognition that she was over 21 years of age. Then, a message appeared along with a friendly voice asking for the 5 ADA cover charge. She shook her head yes. A moment later, the door opened, which indicated that the transaction had cleared. And so begins a story about life in a trustless, decentralized world − a tale from under the Merkle tree. Continue Reading →

I am pleased to announce a new Mark Cuban company that, once again, is both on trend and perfectly timed. NBA Low Shot, which you will find at nbalowshot.com, offers GIFs of the worst moments from NBA history as fake NFTs that you can pretend to own. Importantly, a GIF you download from NBA Low Shot is indistinguishable from a GIF you'd download that is tied to an NFT. Continue Reading →

Every profession is a conspiracy against the laity, and the world of crypto is no exception. It is in that spirit, I offer this glossary of terms that will make you sound as if you are completely informed and up-to-date when discussing your next crypto project. Continue Reading →

Crypto prices and NFTs are hogging the headlines, but they are just the most visible components of a rapidly growing decentralized financial system (DeFi) that has the potential to significantly challenge how we buy, sell, and trade just about everything. Blockchain and cryptocurrency may seem like a new thing, but they have been around for over 10 years. The problem is that the world of crypto can be very confusing with all the jargon, acronyms, and other unfamiliar words. This brief overview will introduce you to some of the basic areas through a series of links to the most prominent organizations, platforms, and toolsets. Continue Reading →

Are we about to see an explosion of competitive blockchains vying for your NFT projects? I can almost guarantee it. Continue Reading →

From a financial perspective, the pandemic has hit the creator class hard. With the usual venues for live performances and exhibitions closed, artists, musicians, singers, actors, and creators of every description have been forced to fend for themselves. But something very new, and kind of amazing, has happened over the past year. The result may be the emergence of a first-time-ever, self-sufficient, profitable creator class. Continue Reading →

Someone very rich (or dangerously insane) just spent more than $500,000 to purchase an NFT of a virtual home. "Mars House" is a piece of digital artwork by Techism artist Krista Kim. Continue Reading →

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey sold an NFT of his first tweet for more than $2.9 million. Wait, what? He sold a tweet? Yes, but the 15-year-old post was sold as an NFT (non-fungible token): a digital certificate of authenticity that confirms this particular digital file is the one the buyer paid for. Continue Reading →