Launching NFT Droplets
Getting in at the Early Stages of the Booming Revolution in Art, Finance, and Tech
NFT Droplets…What is It?
If you haven’t checked it out already, my About Page will give you a quick intro about what we’re all about here. 😁
As vast and overwhelming the crypto space has already become, it just continues to grow exponentially. 📈
My mission is to try to simplify one niche in particular - a sector of blockchain technology that I believe has the highest potential for mass adoption, and is poised to fundamentally change the way countless industries currently function: Non-Fungible Tokens, a.k.a. NFTs.
…And the Name?
“NFT drops” are a new term used for when artists and brands “drop” their new NFT collections to their fan base. ☂️ As you might’ve already noticed, the name of this newsletter references that practice, and though I’m dropping newsletter articles instead of high-priced crypto-art, hopefully you’ll find them similarly unique and valuable.
Why Create a Newsletter?
Recently, an increasing number of creative and curious people in my network have been messaging me with questions about crypto and the NFT space.
Since I have been studying and experimenting with NFTs already, I found myself in a position where I could actually give some value with my answers.
It also made me feel obligated to stay informed, which is easier said than done given how deep some topics can go and how quickly things change.
It would be unsustainable if I didn’t find it all so fun and interesting! 😁
Seemingly overnight in 2021, interest in NFTs exploded, and more people were reaching out with similar questions concerning the space.
However, I also started to notice more speculative questions pop up, and a growing volume of misinformation out there.
People were clearly feeling like they needed to rush in and chase the hype.
Many were less interested in what NFTs were and more focused on the crazy valuations some NFTs were getting, and whether or not it was a good time to buy Bitcoin or Ether…
Note that I don’t fault anyone for getting swept up in recent headlines, but the last thing that the crypto space needs is another speculative bubble that punishes the curious and adds more future FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt).
I quickly realized that that between a full time job and real life commitments, there was no way I could continue to do my part for each individual person via separate communication channels, to the level of quality and turnaround I wanted to provide.
I also fancy myself a “systematizer” of sorts (or maybe I just don’t like doing or saying the same thing over and over again 😅), so I started to brainstorm what I had to offer, what I enjoyed about it, and what I was hoping to achieve.
Eventually, I settled on the newsletter article/blog format.
I subscribe to a bunch, and love how creative writers can get through a mix of written and multimedia content to get their message across effectively.
The regular (but not too frequent) publication schedule, the convenience of having articles delivered directly to subscriber inboxes, and the continuation of the discussion in the comments section is also a perfect combination for staying knowledgeable without feeling overwhelmed, I find.
If I’m able to scale my reach within the community, free up more of my own time to focus on research, and create more valuable content for my readers, all conveniently shared on a single platform, it seemed to at least be worth a shot… 🤷♂️🎲
What Do I Hope to Achieve?
I have conviction that my intent with this endeavor is genuinely altruistic. 👼
That said, I’ll go ahead and share what I personally hope to accomplish: 😅
Accountability ✅
As much as we’d like to believe we are capable of being completely self-accountable whenever we set out to accomplish a goal, the truth is that a lot of us get real results in the presence of some external accountability.
I’ve been too stubborn in admitting this reality for my own life at times, and hope that be putting myself out there like this, those reading this can help fuel my efforts, and kick my ass should I start to step off the gas. 🔥
Guidance 🚦
I am by no means a professional writer, nor am I some NFT expert, technology guru, master artist, savvy investor, …you get the idea…😅
I learn and try new things as I go, and rely on the kindness of experts and constant feedback from those around me for guidance and new ideas.
Without you, I wouldn’t know if any of my efforts were relevant to anyone, or where the blind spots were in my mental models.
I rely on your feedback to guide me, and truly appreciate every subscriber, every share, and every comment. 🙏
Connection 🌐
The term, “networking,” wasn’t always the opportunistic, cringe-inducing term it has become today, but I acknowledge the role that a strong network can play in one’s ongoing happiness and growth.
By no means am I lusting after a massive following…I just hope for the chance to connect with people from many different backgrounds.
This whole crypto space is teeming with experts and knowledgeable people from countless fields involved in mind-blowingly cool projects.
We are each uniquely positioned to see things in ways no one else can, and through mutual support, we gain a better understanding of ourselves, each other, and our world.
Enjoyment! 😁
To sum things up, it’s much more efficient and a helluva lot more fun to go about this together with others 💗, rather than alone and divided… 💔
I’m honestly so excited to continue to experiment with different applications, play with blockchain code, collaborate with new people, and maybe… even rediscover myself from my time as a visual artist and mint some crypto-art NFTs!
The (De)Central Values of NFT Droplets
The Ownership Economy is a recently coined thesis that outlines the projected outcome of the blockchain revolution perfectly, and technologies such as NFTs will be a huge part that make it possible.
The Extractive Economy of Today
Web 2.0 Platforms we use today are owned by big tech companies and reward shareholders by monetizing their users.
We live in a legacy system where power and wealth is centralized and held by a sliver of the population.
It’s been said that we live in a time where it has never been easier for some to become billionaires, and more difficult for the rest to become millionaires.
Ownership of our data and the content we create equates to control and power over ourselves.
Many of us allow big-tech companies to hold this power over us, perhaps because we have been so conditioned to view digital content as free and disposable; the ownership of which holds little value…
If this were the case, why would these platforms have so much revenue and warrant such premium valuations by investors?! 🤔💭
Oh, let’s not forget about the potential of censorship and limited access to the thing of most value…your data.
The Ownership Economy of Tomorrow
Platforms on Web 3.0 will both be owned by users, and reward said users for their participation on the platform.
Trends that favor products and services that align better with the interests of the people that use them are clearly evident today:
“Passion Economy” platforms that offer more equitable systems for their users (I include Reddit and Substack to be among them).
Strong community and institutional support for open-source software projects; the mass adoption and proven value of countless businesses that are built on top of them, and contribute to them.
The Ownership Economy model is the natural progression of the movement started by the Passion Economy.
Blockchain, crypto, NFTs…these all enable real, user-generated value to be held and shared in a way that is digitally native to the platforms themselves.
This democratizes the whole way in which wealth is distributed.
The ethos of the Ownership Economy clearly aligns with people’s values, and the value on the line for the people is clear.
As a longtime advocate of artist rights and creative freedoms, it is my desire, starting with the NFT Droplets newsletter, to help create a world where we as content creators and audiences are more free, connected, and fairly compensated, with greater control of the value of our work, our wealth, and our lives!
Closing Thoughts
NFT Droplets is here to help people educate themselves on what exactly they are investing their valuable time and money in, so they can make informed decisions and stay calm in this volatile, nascent space.
This is crypto - hot money can flow out faster than it flows in, so expect booms and busts, and have a long-term outlook.
Tiny droplets collect to form an ocean of knowledge. 💧
Go with the flow, and ride the waves responsibly! 🏄♀️
On a grander scale, I feel compelled to do my part to help address the wealth gap and disparity prevalent in the world, which I believe to be a primary cause of much of the intolerance and divisiveness that afflicts our society today.
My goal with NFT Droplets is to help empower everyday people to achieve autonomy and freedom, starting with this powerful shift in mindset:
👉 Crypto doesn't need to feel so cryptic. 👈
If you’re new to crypto and/or NFTs and want to learn more, I have a four-part introductory series designed to get you informed and involved.
Click the button below to start with The Beginner’s Guide to NFTs, Part 1 👇
If you’re not yet subscribed to NFT Droplets, enter your email below and be among the first to find out when fresh NFT articles get dropped (I promise that you will never get spammed, nor will your email ever be shared with anyone). ✅👇
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future articles, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. 💬
⚠ Disclaimer ⚠
Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are a speculative asset class. Be aware of the risks involved and know that you could lose money. Everything I share references an opinion and is for information and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Please consult a licensed professional before making any investment decision.