⛅ NFTs: What do they mean for the DWeb?
Diving into the pros & cons of cryptoart
Suddenly, there’s a new buzzword popping up in headlines, cryptocurrency forums, and venerable art auctions: NFTs or Non-Fungible Tokens. NFTs certify the provenance of digital media by tying them to a blockchain. That verification enables owners of the work to auction them off to the highest bidders. From Beeple's digital art to Jack Dorsey’s first tweet, these verifiable objects are going for tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. As technologists and creators, the DWeb community finds itself at the heart of the NFT boom. We are the digital artists who are making the work. We build the blockchains certifying them, and IPFS/Filecoin is becoming a preferred place to store the media. But at what cost? Enthusiasts say this is groundbreaking for digital artists who will finally have a way to make a living from their work. Critics say that NFTs are worthless at best and destructive at worst. Will NFTs change our access to culture online? Are NFTs sustainable or secure in our decentralized infrastructure? Are NFTs and blockchains as a whole a threat to our environment? In this debate, we will hear from three artists and a technologist who offer differing perspectives about the potential and pitfalls of this new technological boom. May DWeb Meetup "NFTs: Hope of Hype for Art?" Tuesday, May 4 at 10:00 AM Pacific (17:00 UTC)
SCHEDULE: (all times Pacific Time)
DWEB NODE TIMES: SF/Seattle: 10:00 AM / Phoenix: 11 AM/ Austin: Noon / Boston: 1 PM / Sao Paulo: 2 PM / London: 6 PM / Prague-Berlin: 7 PM / Perm: 10 PM / Shanghai: 1 AM next day / Sydney: 3 AM next day / Auckland 5 AM next day The following times are in Pacific Time: 10:00 AM - Welcome & Announcements 10:05 AM - Discussion Begins 10:45 AM - Audience Q&A 11:00 AM - Closing Remarks 11:10 AM - Post-Event Socializing on Gather.town Questions? Write to dweb@archive.org with questions, to volunteer, or more.
What people are saying about NFTs...
We understand, better than most, that technology is not neutral. Its impacts can be profound, no matter what the original intentions. NFTs are no different. To help you get grounded in the arguments surrounding this new technological boom, we've put together a reading list about NFTs. And we ask you: how do you think NFTs stack up against the DWeb Principles?
Our mailing address is: 300 Funston Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.