Nanu

nanu

VUCA stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. It describes the situation of constant, unpredictable change in the world. Data never sleeps! Actually, data shows no signs of slowing down. In the 9th edition of the , you have a glimpse of how much data is created every digital minute in our increasingly data-driven world. Data Never Sleeps infographic In just 1 minute… Amazon customers spend $283,000 12 million people send an iMessage 6 million people shop online Instacart users spend $67,000 Slack users send 148,000 messages Microsoft Teams connects 100,000 users YouTube users stream 694,000 videos Facebook Live receives 44 million views Instagram users share 65,000 photos TikTok users watch 167 million videos But how this so connected world that changes every single minute affects our way of work, our leadership skills, our companies, our planning, etc.? Well, it affects everything! It has become a trendy managerial acronym: VUCA, short word for olatility, ncertainty, omplexity, and mbiguity. V U C A In 1987 the VUCA acronym was used for the first time in the leadership theories of and , reflecting general conditions and their volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Warren Bennis Burt Nanus But the term VUCA took place and started to be used in military education, first introduced by the to describe the complex world created as a result of the Cold War. U.S. Army War College According to the , it was in 1991, during the conference “Developing Strategic Leadership: The U.S. Army War College Experience”, defined strategic leadership within a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous global environment. U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center Herbert F. Barber However, it was just an published in 1992 that attributes the use of the terminology to who characterized the strategic leadership environment in terms of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Army War College Study Project General Thurman at Harvard Business Review, says that executives have taken to using the military acronym VUCA–Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity–to describe the world in which they operate and to ask that question: In a VUCA world, what’s the point of strategy? Scott Berinato The acronym first coined in the army is now widely applied to business and society. the nature and dynamics of change, and the nature and speed of change forces and change agents. V = Volatility: According to the : vuca-world.org “… We live in a world that’s constantly changing, becoming more unstable each day, where changes big and small are becoming more unpredictable — and they’re getting more and more dramatic and happening faster and faster. As events unfold in completely unexpected ways, it’s becoming impossible to determine cause and effect…” the lack of predictability, the expectation for surprise, and the sense of awareness and understanding of issues and events. U = Uncertainty: According to the : vuca-world.org “… It’s becoming more difficult to anticipate events or predict how they’ll unfold; historical forecasts and past experiences are losing their relevance and are rarely applicable as a basis for predicting the shape of things to come. It’s becoming nearly impossible to plan for investment, development, and growth as it becomes increasingly uncertain where the route is heading….” the multiplex of forces so many sources of issues, no cause-and-effect chain, and confusion that surrounds the organization. C = Complexity: According to the : vuca-world.org “… Our modern world is more complex than ever. What are the reasons? What are the effects? — Problems and their repercussions are more multi-layered, harder to understand. The different layers intermingle, making it impossible to get an overview of how things are related. Decisions are reduced to a tangled mesh of reaction and counter-reaction — and choosing the single correct path is almost impossible….” the nebulous around what is reality, the potential for misreads, and the mixed meanings of conditions that bring cause-and-effect confusion. A = Ambiguity: According to the : vuca-world.org “… Not everything is black and white — grey is also an option. The demands on modern organisations and management are more contradictory and paradoxical than ever, challenging our personal value systems to the core. In a world where the “what” takes a back seat to the “why?” and the “how?”, making decisions requires courage, awareness, and a willingness to make mistakes….” website made a description with fascinating graphics for each one of the 4 elements of VUCA that I recommend you check out . The Living Core here Image: CQ Net (www.ckju.net) The VUCA world should sound like a code of awareness and readiness, saying that the world we are living in does not require just best practices anymore, but best thinking and adaptability. Our approach to problems in a digital and dynamic world should always consider that even a tweet or a picture published on Instagram could affect our strategy or our plan, and it is no longer a case of finding the one (unique) way of working or the single management tool that could solve all the problems like a silver bullet. “… The willingness to engage in genuine cooperation and take on clear responsibilities is a basic prerequisite for innovation. This requires freedom, creativity, speed, flexibility and a corporate culture that connects people with the organization. This connection becomes more significant and can be brought into the focus of leadership even more decisively. In a VUCA world, the most important thing is to anticipate the future and to strengthen cooperation in companies with modern solutions. Decisions and connections are success factors for shaping the common cause…” — The Vuca World Org With too many things to take care of or be concerned about and more coming to our plate every single second, it is easy to feel a bad overload of information and not be able to make smart decisions. This is ironic if you think that in the decade with the biggest amount of data available for humans to make better decisions, we are not being good enough at curating this amount of data and organizing our thoughts. Information overload is the name for the challenge in understanding things and effectively using them, and it is generally associated with the excessive quantity of daily information. When the situation persists, burnout is a common result. Organizations, together with all stakeholders within, are best to approach the reality of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity with open thinking and a strategic approach to responding to the constant changes coming. The VUCA world makes us and our companies concerned about the risk of not being connected and also the risk of being excessively connected and not using the information we gather to make strategic decisions with a wide perspective. Thank you for reading another article here! I hope you enjoyed it! Also Published Here You can support my work in many different ways. You can share it, so it will spread the content to more people. You can also buy me a coffee that will also support my work and maybe give me some extra energy for the next article: Buy me a coffee There are even more good things I’ve prepared for you! Follow me on — LinkedIn Twitter — Instagram

The VUCA World and its Implementation in Leadership Strategy 

Recently, I have decided to become a founder again. After 2.5 years of being employed/contractor, I just felt it was about time to venture out again. There were a couple triggers for that decision, which I will tackle in the following few paragraphs. Firstly, I am grateful for all the people who have put their trust in me in the past 2.5 years and I can honestly say that I gave it my very best every single time. But to be completely transparent, I think a part of me knew that this part of my career was always going to be temporary. I always wanted to be a founder, since I was a kid. It is something deeply embedded in how I think about life. And going forward, I can’t really see myself doing anything else than building companies. Secondly, around December my personal life started falling apart. I went through a really bad break up. And I had one of those epiphany moments when you ask yourself — what the hell am I going to do with my life now. So again, it felt only natural to me to go back to who I really am. And finally, I dug up some of my old ‘Evernotes’ and I realised that I have been passionate about this space for the past 4 years. And I feel with every step that I have taken, I have been subconsciously preparing myself to launch . Crunchdex Before I launched my newest venture, I have decided to write down from all the startups that I have been ever involved in. And because a couple of my close friends have asked me to share this publicly, you can find the full list below. I sincerely hope it will help at least one of you to avoid making the same mistakes that I have made. If it does, please do let me know. It will make my day. the biggest lessons I will keep it bitesized. So feel free to ask for more details in the comments. 1. ClickandStudy 📚 — marketplace of language schoolsLessons: Not all attention will result in revenue.& Don’t ever accept media for equity . Don’t ever do that. I know this might sound like a really harsh opinion, but bare with me for a second. First of all, your shiny new media partner will have absolutely . Second of all, the sheer economics of such a deal never work in the long run. Sure you will see a cool spike in the short term, but at some point there is only as many times as you can recycle a promotional piece of content. And finally, if you are really clever, I am sure you can figure out a way to get in the press anyway. Screw media for equity, seriously. zero skin in the game Secondly, .My first hand experience: We did a viral video together with two Youtube influencers, which now has over . I think only in the first week, it had like 1M views and brought us hundreds of thousands of visitors. Do you know how many conversions we have actually made? De nada. Jackshit. Zero. I mean ok, some people did convert, but none of them became loyal customers. And it had absolutely zero impact on the business. some attention is totally worthless 7M views on Youtube 2. Labelgram 🤳 — influencer marketplaceLessons:**Small Social Media influencers have a bigger influence than celebrities.** If you can’t sell it, don’t even bother building it. . In early 2014, when I started telling brands that it’s better to hire 100 people with 1.000 followers than one celebrity, to promote their newest coolest product, everyone thought I was insane. How would we manage 100 people? Is this even legal? Don’t they have to tell their friends it is product placement? Shouldn’t we rather work with a pro? If you want to run a really effective influencer-driven campaign, hire a lot of small influencers rather than really big ones Ok, in hindsight I have to admit, at that point I had no freaking idea about the legal part. And that’s probably like 50% of why this venture failed. But I still firmly stand behind the claim that you should work with small influencers whose followers actually care about what they post. You wouldn’t believe how many big influencers to grow their follower-base. use bots . I still believe the idea was firm. And if you look at the funded startups in this space, I also think the timing was right. I just didn’t have any experience with enterprise sales at that point of my life. I had a pretty good idea of the influencer/social part. But I should have spent 100% of my time trying to find the first customer before I even started building it. Don’t build it, if you can’t sell it 3. Nestpick 🏠 — Airbnb for long-term rentalsLessons:**If you are a crucial team member, ask for equity as soon as you can.Money can screw up almost any friendship.** So here is another unpopular opinion, I think you should never ever ask someone to sign a non-compete. Especially, if they are a crucial team member. Instead give them equity or stock options and if they want to leave — fine, let them. But they are leaving their baby behind as well. Also, as an early employee . Negotiate. Be reasonable. Get it signed. Get it done. Don’t wait. It will always be a difficult discussion. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will become. don’t ever be afraid to ask for equity M . I hope you will never have to go through this yourself. As experiencing this first hand, especially when you are young can really leave some scars for a long time. There is no real way to avoid this. I think all you can do is try to be honest and sincere. And try to understand other peoples’ motivations. oney can screw up any friendship People will say it’s business. It’s not personal. The thing is — startups are personal, because you start from nothing with a handful of people and a somewhat crazy idea. So when you start making it, try to keep the same attitude as when you had nothing. It’s tough. Most people can’t manage. But if you ever get into a situation where you have to choose $ over your closest friends, try to take a step back and think. Because you can always make more money, but nothing will bring these real friendships back. 4. Rentomato 🧰 — SaaS tool for Landlords and Property ManagersLessons:**Don’t stay in the same industry just because you think it makes sense. Sometimes timing is more important than execution.** After nestpick, I felt it’s only natural to do something in Real Estate again. I can now honestly say it was maybe one of the worst decisions that I have ever made. Why? Simple. Even though, at my job was to rent out as many places as possible, I never actually cared about the real estate part of it. I was happy to market a service that is much needed and that creates a real value for the customer. nestpick However, when we launched Rentomato I quickly realised that this is one of those businesses that you just need to plow through. . Secondly, we wanted to charge a % commission (on rent) instead of a regular SaaS fee. Now, this looks fantastic in a pitch deck. But in reality every commission business which has some real life component (except a very few cases) will have a pretty unscalable operational part. And this part will cost you a fortune to scale. It was extremely difficult for me to get passionate about building a SaaS tool which is a nice-to-have but not an actual painkiller In addition, . In some cases, I think it really defines your fate. So if I now look at successful European startups, I feel we were a bit too early to the party. And given our lack of passion, we just didn’t have the stamina nor the resources to make this business a real success. I truly believe timing really matters for startups prop-tech 5. Spaceship 🚀 — Data Mining Company for B2B and B2CLessons: A bit too many :) was probably the one startup that defined my career so far. If there weren’t for Spaceship, I would have never found my passion for data. I would have never been able to join a VC fund. And I would have never made it anywhere. Spaceship Yes, we really did have Donald Trump with never@president.com on our homepage :D The story of how we founded Spaceship is something that I wanted to share for a long time, because I really find it quite funny… so here it comes.. At some point Rentomato was running out of money pretty fast. One day, I woke up, checked our bank account and found out we have have $7 in the bank. I don’t know why, but my natural reaction was to create a spreadsheet with ideas that could make money immediately. We then ranked every idea on 3 variables — how much it can make, how fast we can build it, and how easily can we market it. The list contained anything from 3D printed weed grinders to webinars. Somehow, we landed on the Spaceship idea. Which for us basically meant to repackage and sell our own lead generation tools. This business then evolved to a data mining ‘agency’ which serviced hundreds of businesses. However, on this journey we had to hike up the price 1500x. We totally oversold the product offering. We unfortunately totally pissed off some valued customers. And we realised that some businesses are good cash-cows, but a bit of a nightmare to grow. If I should however share the biggest learning from this whole Spaceship flight — I would say it’s the following: Now you might be asking; what about passion? Sure, passion is important. But people who are in dire need to make money typically subconsciously evaluate their best skills and go for something that they know how to do fairly well. At least well enough for others to pay for it. I know it doesn’t sound romantic. And sure, most of these businesses will probably not scale. However, and this I firmly believe, it will teach you the most about business. Go and ask every real entrepreneur who had to start from zero at some point of his/her life. Sometimes the best business ideas come from a desperate need to make money. 🛒 🍨 6. DataDaily & Nanuk — Data Marketplace & — marketplace for co-living (for digital nomads)Lessons**:Do things with passion or not at all.Not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur.** During my free time when I was still in VC, I have helped one of my friends and also my ex-girlfriend to launch an online business. Neither of them was a total failure and both of them made some $. However, it taught me that . And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Really. Nobody can tell you how to live your life. And if you don’t want to build a company, it doesn’t mean that your career has less meaning or value. It can actually have a lot more meaning and impact than building a startup. not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur Secondly, . If you start obsessing about the startup more than the founder, get the hell out. Just say — sorry, and leave. Immediately. And if you can, on the way out of the door try to politely explain to them that in order to start something real, they need to be really committed. Otherwise, they are wasting the most valuable currency — TIME. Not only theirs. But also the time of everyone involved, which is a crime. don’t ever engage in a halfhearted startup 7. Other Startups 😶 — Lessons: Not that many I have been involved in a few other startups over the past few years. Unfortunately, I cannot say that any of them has taught me anything valuable. And that’s fine as well. Not every experience you go through in your life has to necessarily teach you something. However, once asked me in his podcast — what is the one learning I would tell to my younger self. My answer was: . Simply because you are not learning anything real. Nathan If you ever look back and you don’t feel what you were doing 9, 12, 18 months ago was stupid, then you are seriously wasting your time Podcast If I look back at some of the marketing f*** ups I have made. If I look back at some of the brutally naive sales tactics that I have used. If I look back at some of the terrible business decisions I have made. I FEEL STUPID. Sometimes even a little ashamed. And for me that’s totally fine. This feeling comes from the sheer fact that I am convinced that I have grown and I can do it much better now. That’s awesome. It doesn’t guarantee that next time around it will be a success. But at least I have learned something. So these are some of my lessons so far. I do hope you laughed a little. And I do hope it helps at least one of you at some point of your life. If you enjoyed the read, please ❤ it or even better send me a message.

10 Life Lessons from 8 Startups

I decided to focus full-time in this space towards the end of 2017. Seems like a decade ago now. I think it’s important to note that as an independent creative, I have the luxury to speak freely and I don’t have to tailor my thoughts to appease a venture capital investor or boss. I’m a Bitcoiner. I play with Ethereum too, but mainly because that’s where much of the cryptoArt experimentation has moved to over the past year but I would love to help some more Bitcoin-specific art/music projects get on their feet as well. (I’ve also fiddled with Waves, EOS and Tron but not enough to incorporate their protocols into my work yet.) So, I’ve recapped my contributions and content last year and hope to expand and continue learning more in 2019. Art On The Blockchain Podcast (AOTB) AOTB is the crypto-art and music education- focused podcast brought to you by Cynthia Gayton and myself. They are generally 60–120 minutes long and I produce and edit each episode with all of my own original music and try to keep it in line with the feel from my DJ mixtapes. Hopefully, they come across totally different than what you are used to. Episodes 9–26 were all recorded in 2018. That’s an average of 1.5 podcasts per month of conversations with some of the vanguards of the cryptoArt space. A big bump from our 8 episodes in 2017! Jason Bailey of Artnome.com Cryptograffiti (artist) Jessica Angel (artist) Tatiana Moroz (singer) Dan Anderson of Bitcorns Brian Hoffman of Open Bazaar Jess Houlgrave of Codex Protocol Kev & Jon from Rare Art Labs James Waugh & Trevor of Bidio Ruth Catlow of Furtherfield Sam Hart of Avant.com Poppy Simpson of Meural Grayson Cox, Ronald Gierlach, Brian Gruber & Hollis Witherspoon of Nash Cash Casino Yiying Lu (artist) Joe Chiapetta (artist) Manuel Palou, Moises Sanabria & Eddie Negron of Art404 Travis LeRoy Southworth (artist) Beatriz Ramos and Yehudit Mam of Dada.NYC Matt Hall of Choon Music and Cryptopunks Rob Myers (artist) DJ 3LAU (musician) Mack Flavelle of Cryptokitties Christian Moss of Indie Square Coin Artist of Neon District John Perkins and Jon Craine of Superrare.io Naturel (artist) On top of these long form episodes we also briefly branched out to FM radio with a bi-weekly 30 minute live radio show on WERA in Arlington, Virginia. For this show we focused on news and on local DC-area artists involved in cryptoArt. We had short interviews with artists like Vesa, Coldie and more. Although the show was a lot of fun to to do, we decided to discontinue it as it was hard to gauge how much it was being listened to and we could only repost to the archaic MixCloud website. Sometimes it’s hard being located in the cryptoArt-sparse Washington DC! lol AOTB In The DMV Mixcloud site Crypto-related Music I spent many years making rap music and somehow fell into audio visual memes this year. Here’s a sampling of some of the releases. DJ J-$crilla “ ” ft. Chris DeRose, Peter Schiff Cant Smoke A Bitcoin DJ J-$crilla “ ” I Wear Gucci (My Name’s Craig Wright) MikeInSpace “ ” ft. Theo Goodman (Produced by DJ J-$crilla) Pull The Latch “ ” Worst Podcast Ever Theme Song Junseth’s World uploads Choon Music uploads Ujo Music 2018 A3C Festival in ATL Educator, Speaker and Panelist I found myself looking to educate people more as the conferences and panels in cryptoArt took off after the historic RAREAF Conference at the top of 2018. I participated in a number panels, discussions and even a teaching gig. In 2019, my goal is to continue on this path by educating, learning more and discussing in this niche and exciting space. Here’s a list. Rare Art Festival RAREAF- January 13, 2018 NYC (panelist) Digital Assets- March 31, 2018 WDC (DJ/Speaker) Introduction to Crypto-art and Crypto-music- April 21, 2018 ATL (Speaker/Educator) Rare Digital Art Charity Crypto Auction @ POW DC- May 9, 2018 WDC (Speaker/Host) Creative Tech Week- May 10, NYC (Panelist/DJ) Ethereal Summit- May 11, Brooklyn, NY (Media) Washington Area Lawyers Association Presents DJ J-$crilla & Cynthia Gayton’s “Intro To Cryptocurrencies, CryptoArt and Music, and Blockchain for Creatives”- Sept 17- Oct 2 (Every Monday 7-9pm) WDC (Educator/Presenter) A3C Festival- “How Musicians and Artists Are Using Blockchain” Oct 5, 2018 ATL (Panelist/Speaker) The Rarest Show- Oct 25, 2018 Brooklyn, NY (DJ/Media) Art Decentralized- The World of Distributed Masterpieces- Dec 6, 2018 MIA (Media) a clip from Introduction To CryptoArt & CryptoMusic Writings I’ve always enjoyed writing and have a lofty goal of one day cooking up a novel. I started writing on cryptoArt in 2016 and I added a few more pieces in 2018 to the catalogue. Writing more will be near the top of the list of 2019. Introduction To CryptoArt & CryptoMusic Some NOTES on How To Start Earning Crypto With Music DON’T GO DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE, SCRILLA “Bitcoin Honey Badger” Acrylic on canvas Crypto- Themed Artwork and Tokenized pieces In 2016/2017 I made a bunch of Counterparty (XCP/BTC) related artwork in the form of Rare Pepes. I made mostly hip-hop and Crypto-themed Pepes. As some in this space know now, I have an opinion- that the Rare Pepe Trading Group ignited this space faster than anything else. In 2018, as cryptoArt exploded, the Ethereum communities got behind the movement and hundreds of platforms seemed to pop up as you can witness in real time at dappradar.com. The Ethereum community is big on NFTs, (I personally dislike the name “NFT” to describe these collectibles but this article is not about that) crypto-collectibles and hackathons. I began experimenting with a few of these platforms but ultimately ended up mostly issuing my Ethereum-based art tokens through SuperRare. I really hope to try out Rare Art Labs more this year as well. I also continued using my go-to Counterparty platform to issue tokens using the Bitcoin blockchain. sprung up around the beginning of February and I’ve really enjoyed that community. Even met my fiancee through the community (Tinder is for boomers.) is one of the most innovative dark corners of the blockchain space and I really enjoy what goes on there. They basically use cryptoArt to break stuff or make you think. I also issued my own, and what I believe to be the first of it’s kind- Proof Of Work tokens to help facilitate my music- meme marketing for “Can’t Smoke A Bitcoin” and “I Wear Gucci.” This tokenizing experiment is certainly an interesting rabbit hole and I look to dive deeper this year! Bitcorns KaleidoscopeXCP Bitcoin Honey Badger (prints soon) Bitcorns.com- (sold out in a day) & (some still available) CNTSMOKECORN CORNTANGCLAN - I WEAR GUCCI (sold 1/1), CANT SMOKE A BITCOIN (sold 4/5), FACES (sold 1/1), CLOCKWORK GREEN (sold 1/1), MUH BAGS (unsold 1/1) SuperRare.io Proof Of Share (XCP Tokens)- and One-of-a-kind tokens that were both airdropped to wallet holders that provably helped promote the release through twitter. They are basically game-ified swag badges using Bitcoin. CANTSMOKEBTC IWEARGUCCI - I really like digitally finger-painting on this unique social media artist site, although I have yet to tokenize any of the pieces on there. dada.nyc - Cool website to monitor stats and artists using XCP Digirare.com Instructional Videos from rarescrilla.com Instructional/Education Videos I am definitely looking to expand more in the video side of things in 2019. Subscribe to my and pages. Youtube BitTube Art On The Blockchain Presents IPFS BATTLE ROYALE Art On The Blockchain Presents BATTLE ROYALE 2: Ethereum vs. Counterparty Blockchain: The Technology That’s Changing The Music Industry Pt. 1 Live at A3C How To Buy A Rare Pepe Using Bitcoin Clip from the “DJPEPE in 60 Seconds” video DJPEPE Maybe the hardest thing to explain to my friends and family is that I am a manager of a Bitcoin frog meme. It all started in 2016- Watch the 60 second video I produced in 2017 . It escalated quickly on January 13, 2018 as I somehow conjured up a 6 foot cardboard cutout to speak on a panel with industry professionals. Love him or hate him, here are some DJPEPE highlights from last year. #memetoo #UCIT here Tokenized cardboard cutout DJPEPE auctioned at RAREAF event calls DJPEPE the first blockchain performance artist Paris Review Rare Art Labs Interview Releases CANT SMOKE A BITCOIN and I WEAR GUCCI weeks ahead of release to DJPEPE token holders. DJPEPE becomes a blockchain farmer Pressed 500 stickers released to the wild. So rare that if you wash it you will destroy it. In fact, you have to pass interview questions in order to even be considered to purchase one. 30 tokenized DAMN shirts Featured in The RAREST BOOK Announced Presidential Candidacy for 2020 became a thing. (Keep it coming!) Fan Art Appearance 1/5 on the HODLCAST this past year. Press Sasha Hodler - Episode , , , & 13 21 30 53 60 Bitsesh- Episode 3 Paris Review The Tatiana Show- & Interview w/ Interview With AOTB J $crilla Rare Art Labs Interview Creative Crypto Magazine Bitsonline- & Artist DJ J $crilla Is Using Tokens to Promote a Music Video Rare Art Festival Canceled Following Crypto Market Crash “Funding Creative Projects with Non-Fungible Tokens” Steemit NewsBTC rarescrilla.com Launched RareScrilla.com _New Breaker Mag shoutout New Art On The Blockchain Epsiode 27 ft. Nanu Berks Another one! New intro too "I WEAR GUCCI…_rarescrilla.com Home page | DJ J Scrilla I am not a website developer but I do my best to keep it active! Hundreds of I’ve produced, 100s of I’ve been a part of, obviously the crypto stuff, my art and my all live on the site. I appreciate all the that link back to it- helps tremendously! songs rap videos mixtapes articles Conclusion I will continue down the rabbit hole I entered in 2014. Bear markets are where the innovation happens and I’m all aboard this . UCIT DLT P.S. There are no experts in this space.

My 2018 CryptoArt/Music ReCap

People often want to assign a hierarchy to art. This need to classify is clearly evident in new and transitional styles like crypto and blockchain art. With so much innovative and unusual work out there, people are ready to nail down some sort of ranking. The thing is, not all art is intended for the same purpose. That makes it hard to compare work side-by-side and then If two artists are trying to evoke different emotions or serve particular purposes, then it’s impossible to compare the pieces to each other. Instead, we should be asking if a piece fulfills the intentions of the artist. hold up a “winner.” If that is done successfully, then the artist has accomplished something. While digital and crypto art may seem different from what the art world is used to, it’s actually following in a long tradition of new and initially disconcerting art. As someone with a background in both the traditional and crypto art spaces, here’s how I think about it: 1. Crypto art falls into three main categories. The first type of art in the crypto space is technology-based. A good example here is Kevin Abosch, who has tokenized his blood in the project incorporating actual into his art. People can literally now buy shares of “him” that are part of his physical being. Another is CoinArtist, who is using blockchain technology to create puzzles and games that have to be decrypted. IAMA COIN, blockchain technology Even though these two artists’ styles are radically different from each other, both CoinArtist and Abosch fall under the umbrella of art that is actually crypto-based and relies on the technology itself to work. The second category of crypto art utilizes blockchain solutions that exist separately from the nature of the artwork itself. For example, an artist in this group may register a physical painting of a vase of flowers on the Blockchain Art Collective — and then via a counterparty bitcoin token. tokenize it The third type of crypto art is where artists use traditional forms, but make the subject matter referential to crypto and blockchain. There is some debate about this category and whether it truly falls under the umbrella of crypto art. I like to think of Warhol, whose work was very focused around fame, pop culture, and money, and who literally painted dollar signs at one point. Of course, it was about money — that’s what it brings to mind for the viewers. And when you see bitcoin in art, it makes you think of cryptocurrency, decentralization, blockchain, and other concepts surrounding the space. In my mind, the content of an artwork, and what it’s speaking to, is also a critical part of what it is when experienced as art. 2. Artists are shaping the space and experimenting. A wide variety of artists out there are doing unique and groundbreaking work. It doesn’t take much to learn about them, either. Here are a few artists to look to in the crypto space: recently made a film about the famous Diego Velásquez painting Las Meninas and is now tokenizing pixelated stills from the film with Snark.Art. Eve Sussman artwork speaks to the imagery of association with blockchain and crypto. Nanu Berks Sites like allow people to co-create digital artwork together and come up with wild, intricate drawings you can collect. DADA , the brainchild of Primavera de Filippi, are physical sculptures that “grow” when people donate bitcoin to pay for the supplies and labor of building them. Plantoids 3. Digital and crypto art is constantly being represented in new ways. So much of the innovation happening is collectively tied up in education. Looking back through different time periods, artists have always thought of new ways to visually represent things and concepts. Picasso, van Gogh, Hilma af Klint — they all pushed boundaries at their times and affected the art environment as we know it today. Sometimes the medium changes. Sometimes the concept is transformed. In other cases, artists adapt the subject matter to their work. The only constant is change, and no matter what comes out of that, the art world is benefitting from something new. New ideas, new styles, new formats — they’re all part of each successive wave when you look back through the history books. The crypto space is experiencing this today. There are so many different phrases people use to speak about an era when new concepts and ideologies were introduced. We’re moving along a line of contemporary art, post-internet art, and now crypto art. This is a new wave of art and artists. It’s exciting we have the resources and ability to get informed and educated about it now, while it’s happening, and to shape what it looks like when we read about crypto art in the timeline of art history in the years to come. Thanks for reading! Our team at the Blockchain Art Collective wants to make sure art world changemakers and innovators — whether individuals or institutions — are having an impact on this growing ecosystem. Sound like you? Fill out the form to apply to the Blockchain Art Collective Working Group.

3 Things To Keep In Mind When Navigating The Crypto Art Landscape

Nature + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: Mutually Beneficial Partnership

Naturaleza + Biomimetismo + Bitcoin: una alianza mutuamente beneficiosa

Luonto + Biomimikri + Bitcoin: molemminpuolisesti hyödyllinen kumppanuus

प्रकृति + बायोमिमिक्री + बिटकॉइन: पारस्परिक रूप से लाभकारी साझेदारी

Nature + Biomimicry + Bitcoin. փոխշահավետ գործընկերություն

自然 + バイオミミクリー + ビットコイン: 相互に利益のあるパートナーシップ

Nature + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: ორმხრივად მომგებიანი პარტნიორობა

ធម្មជាតិ + Biomimicry + Bitcoin៖ ភាពជាដៃគូដែលមានអត្ថប្រយោជន៍ទៅវិញទៅមក

Natiora + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: Fiaraha-miombon'antoka

Masikirwo + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: Kudyidzana Kunobatsira Kudyidzana

Природа + биомимикрија + биткоин: обострано корисно партнерство

இயற்கை + பயோமிமிக்ரி + பிட்காயின்: பரஸ்பர நன்மை பயக்கும் கூட்டாண்மை

Tabiat + Biomimicry + Bitcoin: O'zaro manfaatli hamkorlik

Cybersecurity Ventures (2023) revealed that nearly 20% of IP addresses associated with cyber attacks originated from common VPN providers. The statistic raises a critical question: Should VPN service providers be held accountable for attacks launched through their networks? VPNs were originally designed to provide users with greater privacy, enabling them to hide their IP addresses and encrypt their data. This is particularly important in countries where internet freedom is restricted or surveillance is common. However, the very same features that protect legitimate users are also being exploited by cybercriminals who use VPN networks to mask their identities and launch malicious activities, including ransomware attacks, phishing schemes, and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. A Double-Edged Sword: Protection and Exploitation “The dual nature of VPNs highlights a troubling reality. On one hand, they offer crucial protection, especially for those in high-risk or censored environments. But on the other hand, VPNs can be manipulated to facilitate harm, making it difficult to trace the true origins of a cyber attack.” In some recent high-profile cyber attacks, VPNs have played a significant role in masking attackers’ identities. One such incident involved a ransomware attack on a major healthcare provider, where hackers accessed sensitive data by first connecting through VPNs to conceal their IP addresses. Another case saw a European bank hit with a massive DDoS attack, with over 5,000 IP addresses associated with free or low-cost VPN services. The Call for Accountability These incidents have led to calls for more accountability from VPN providers, with some experts suggesting that providers should monitor their networks more actively to detect unusual activity or potentially suspicious traffic patterns. This, however, is easier said than done. VPNs are typically marketed with a promise of complete user privacy, and any form of monitoring could be seen as undermining this core principle. Yet, as cyber-attacks involving VPNs continue to rise, regulators and cybersecurity advocates are considering a middle ground. “Holding VPN providers responsible doesn’t mean we want to end-user privacy. What I propose is that VPN providers take reasonable measures to ensure their networks aren’t being abused. For instance, some minimal logging or network monitoring could help flag malicious activity without completely compromising user privacy.” Global Inconsistencies in VPN Regulations One of the challenges in holding VPN providers accountable is the lack of consistent regulations across countries. While some governments have restricted or even banned certain VPN services, many Western countries have allowed VPNs to operate with minimal oversight. This regulatory disparity complicates efforts to implement global standards or hold providers accountable when attacks involve cross-border networks. Cyber attacks are rarely confined to one jurisdiction. If a VPN provider in one country isn’t held to the same standards as a provider in another, that creates a loophole for cybercriminals to exploit. Coordinated international efforts are essential to address this issue effectively Balancing Privacy and Security The discussion about holding VPN providers accountable brings up ethical concerns as well. Privacy advocates worry that increased regulation could erode the very benefits that VPNs provide to ordinary users, including secure and private access to the internet. With many VPN users relying on these services for protection in high-risk environments, privacy advocates are cautious about measures that might compromise this security. However, the issue of VPN accountability is gaining traction. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 65% of Americans believe that tech companies should take more responsibility in preventing abuse of their platforms, including VPNs indicating a growing sentiment that while user privacy is critical, some level of oversight may be necessary to prevent cybercriminals from misusing these services. Potential Solutions: Finding the Middle Ground Several proposed solutions aim to strike a balance between accountability and privacy: Basic Logging: Requiring VPN providers to retain minimal logs, such as connection timestamps and server usage statistics, could help trace cyber attackers without revealing individual browsing history.


User Verification: Certain VPN providers could implement basic verification processes, particularly for high-bandwidth or business accounts, to deter potential misuse.


Network Monitoring for Suspicious Activity: By monitoring for unusual traffic patterns, VPN providers could flag suspicious activity and even restrict access in extreme cases, helping to curb potential abuse. While these measures could deter cybercriminals, they also risk diminishing the privacy benefits that VPNs offer. Privacy advocates argue that providers should not compromise user trust by over-monitoring or logging data, and some warn that such steps could lead to greater government surveillance or censorship. A Future of Shared Responsibility? As the debate continues, the cybersecurity community is divided. Some experts argue that VPN providers must step up their role in cybersecurity, while others believe the focus should remain on individual accountability. The rise in cyber attacks involving VPNs, however, suggests that a compromise may be necessary to ensure that the technology remains a force for good rather than a shield for malicious activities. If cyber attacks involving VPNs continue to increase, VPN providers may face mounting pressure to adopt at least some level of accountability. By implementing moderate, privacy-conscious measures, VPN providers could help prevent cybercriminals from exploiting their networks, allowing VPNs to fulfill their original purpose: protecting users and enhancing online privacy. Personal Opinion Isn’t it ironic? VPNs—the very tools designed to protect our privacy, secure our data, and shield us from prying eyes—are now some of the biggest enablers of cybercrime. The same encryption that safeguards our information is also being exploited by hackers and malicious actors to launch attacks, hide their tracks, and wreak havoc. We trust VPNs to keep us safe from surveillance and data breaches, yet they’ve become the go-to disguise for cybercriminal. VPNs were built on a promise of safety, yet there’s an ever-growing catalog of cyber-attacks traced back to VPN IP addresses. Think about that: the same platforms people use to protect themselves from online threats are hosting the very networks from which those threats are coming. It’s absurd! Major cyber attacks on banks, healthcare systems, and corporations have VPNs to thank for enabling criminals to bypass location-based security measures. Hackers can now hide in plain sight, bouncing through encrypted servers and masked IPs, all while the VPN providers stand by, washing their hands of any responsibility. It’s time we start asking why these VPN providers aren’t being held accountable. We need to question why they can promote “no-logging” policies and prioritize privacy to the point where it’s hurting the very internet safety they claim to defend. Sure, privacy is essential, but it doesn’t have to mean giving cybercriminals a free pass to exploit these networks unchecked. It’s now time for VPNs to rethink how they operate and consider how they can help protect us not only from surveillance but from the malicious misuse of their own platforms. Whether through regulation or self-imposed standards, VPNs may one day balance their mission of privacy with the imperative of security, allowing users to enjoy online freedom without enabling malicious actors. Cybersecurity Ventures (2023) revealed that nearly 20% of IP addresses associated with cyber attacks originated from common VPN providers. The statistic raises a critical question: Should VPN service providers be held accountable for attacks launched through their networks? Cybersecurity Ventures (2023) revealed that nearly 20% of IP addresses associated with cyber attacks originated from common VPN providers. The statistic raises a critical question: Should VPN service providers be held accountable for attacks launched through their networks? VPNs were originally designed to provide users with greater privacy, enabling them to hide their IP addresses and encrypt their data. This is particularly important in countries where internet freedom is restricted or surveillance is common. However, the very same features that protect legitimate users are also being exploited by cybercriminals who use VPN networks to mask their identities and launch malicious activities, including ransomware attacks, phishing schemes, and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. A Double-Edged Sword: Protection and Exploitation “The dual nature of VPNs highlights a troubling reality. On one hand, they offer crucial protection, especially for those in high-risk or censored environments. But on the other hand, VPNs can be manipulated to facilitate harm , making it difficult to trace the true origins of a cyber attack.” VPNs can be manipulated to facilitate harm In some recent high-profile cyber attacks, VPNs have played a significant role in masking attackers’ identities. One such incident involved a ransomware attack on a major healthcare provider, where hackers accessed sensitive data by first connecting through VPNs to conceal their IP addresses. Another case saw a European bank hit with a massive DDoS attack, with over 5,000 IP addresses associated with free or low-cost VPN services. The Call for Accountability These incidents have led to calls for more accountability from VPN providers, with some experts suggesting that providers should monitor their networks more actively to detect unusual activity or potentially suspicious traffic patterns. This, however, is easier said than done. VPNs are typically marketed with a promise of complete user privacy, and any form of monitoring could be seen as undermining this core principle. Yet, as cyber-attacks involving VPNs continue to rise, regulators and cybersecurity advocates are considering a middle ground. “Holding VPN providers responsible doesn’t mean we want to end-user privacy. What I propose is that VPN providers take reasonable measures to ensure their networks aren’t being abused. For instance, some minimal logging or network monitoring could help flag malicious activity without completely compromising user privacy.” Global Inconsistencies in VPN Regulations One of the challenges in holding VPN providers accountable is the lack of consistent regulations across countries. While some governments have restricted or even banned certain VPN services, many Western countries have allowed VPNs to operate with minimal oversight. This regulatory disparity complicates efforts to implement global standards or hold providers accountable when attacks involve cross-border networks. Cyber attacks are rarely confined to one jurisdiction. If a VPN provider in one country isn’t held to the same standards as a provider in another, that creates a loophole for cybercriminals to exploit. Coordinated international efforts are essential to address this issue effectively Balancing Privacy and Security The discussion about holding VPN providers accountable brings up ethical concerns as well. Privacy advocates worry that increased regulation could erode the very benefits that VPNs provide to ordinary users, including secure and private access to the internet. With many VPN users relying on these services for protection in high-risk environments, privacy advocates are cautious about measures that might compromise this security. However, the issue of VPN accountability is gaining traction. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 65% of Americans believe that tech companies should take more responsibility in preventing abuse of their platforms, including VPNs indicating a growing sentiment that while user privacy is critical, some level of oversight may be necessary to prevent cybercriminals from misusing these services. 65% of Americans Potential Solutions: Finding the Middle Ground Several proposed solutions aim to strike a balance between accountability and privacy: Basic Logging: Requiring VPN providers to retain minimal logs, such as connection timestamps and server usage statistics, could help trace cyber attackers without revealing individual browsing history. User Verification: Certain VPN providers could implement basic verification processes, particularly for high-bandwidth or business accounts, to deter potential misuse. Network Monitoring for Suspicious Activity: By monitoring for unusual traffic patterns, VPN providers could flag suspicious activity and even restrict access in extreme cases, helping to curb potential abuse. Basic Logging: Requiring VPN providers to retain minimal logs, such as connection timestamps and server usage statistics, could help trace cyber attackers without revealing individual browsing history. Basic Logging : Requiring VPN providers to retain minimal logs, such as connection timestamps and server usage statistics, could help trace cyber attackers without revealing individual browsing history. Basic Logging User Verification: Certain VPN providers could implement basic verification processes, particularly for high-bandwidth or business accounts, to deter potential misuse. User Verification : Certain VPN providers could implement basic verification processes, particularly for high-bandwidth or business accounts, to deter potential misuse. User Verification Network Monitoring for Suspicious Activity: By monitoring for unusual traffic patterns, VPN providers could flag suspicious activity and even restrict access in extreme cases, helping to curb potential abuse. Network Monitoring for Suspicious Activity : By monitoring for unusual traffic patterns, VPN providers could flag suspicious activity and even restrict access in extreme cases, helping to curb potential abuse. Network Monitoring for Suspicious Activity While these measures could deter cybercriminals, they also risk diminishing the privacy benefits that VPNs offer. Privacy advocates argue that providers should not compromise user trust by over-monitoring or logging data, and some warn that such steps could lead to greater government surveillance or censorship. A Future of Shared Responsibility? As the debate continues, the cybersecurity community is divided. Some experts argue that VPN providers must step up their role in cybersecurity, while others believe the focus should remain on individual accountability. The rise in cyber attacks involving VPNs, however, suggests that a compromise may be necessary to ensure that the technology remains a force for good rather than a shield for malicious activities. If cyber attacks involving VPNs continue to increase, VPN providers may face mounting pressure to adopt at least some level of accountability. By implementing moderate, privacy-conscious measures, VPN providers could help prevent cybercriminals from exploiting their networks, allowing VPNs to fulfill their original purpose: protecting users and enhancing online privacy. Personal Opinion Isn’t it ironic? VPNs —the very tools designed to protect our privacy, secure our data, and shield us from prying eyes—are now some of the biggest enablers of cybercrime. VPNs The same encryption that safeguards our information is also being exploited by hackers and malicious actors to launch attacks, hide their tracks, and wreak havoc. We trust VPNs to keep us safe from surveillance and data breaches, yet they’ve become the go-to disguise for cybercriminal. VPNs were built on a promise of safety, yet there’s an ever-growing catalog of cyber-attacks traced back to VPN IP addresses. Think about that: the same platforms people use to protect themselves from online threats are hosting the very networks from which those threats are coming. It’s absurd! Major cyber attacks on banks, healthcare systems, and corporations have VPNs to thank for enabling criminals to bypass location-based security measures. Hackers can now hide in plain sight, bouncing through encrypted servers and masked IPs, all while the VPN providers stand by, washing their hands of any responsibility. It’s time we start asking why these VPN providers aren’t being held accountable. We need to question why they can promote “no-logging” policies and prioritize privacy to the point where it’s hurting the very internet safety they claim to defend. Sure, privacy is essential, but it doesn’t have to mean giving cybercriminals a free pass to exploit these networks unchecked. It’s now time for VPNs to rethink how they operate and consider how they can help protect us not only from surveillance but from the malicious misuse of their own platforms. Whether through regulation or self-imposed standards, VPNs may one day balance their mission of privacy with the imperative of security, allowing users to enjoy online freedom without enabling malicious actors.

The Dual Nature Of VPNs Highlights A Troubling Reality

Systems, by their nature, exist to bring order, consistency, and logic to the chaos of complexity. They promise to solve problems at scale and allow for outcomes that are reliable and repeatable. On-chain governance was supposed to represent the supposedly sacrosanct cornerstone of decentralized technologies - to solve humanity's governance challenges. And yet, after over a decade of experimentation, it has consistently failed to live up to the promise. It remains the unsolved puzzle in a decentralized world, a paradox of sorts. But why is that the case? In abstract terms, governance is defined as the system through which decisions are made and enforced. It serves as a method of power distribution, ways of allocating resources, and resolving conflicts. Governance represents the final leap in the decentralized space. It's when a system can run itself - a collective intelligence wherein no central authority pulls the strings. The sad thing is that the failure of on-chain governance is not theoretical in its promise but rather in its implementation. The very thing it tries to solve, which is coordinating decentralized decision-making, appears to fall apart when put into practice. The Tyranny of Incentives The first fracture in the system derives from a player that usually remains hidden: incentives. In decentralized governance, players act out of their self-interest, driven by profit, social status, or ideological affinity. The notion of distributed power crumbles when the incentives become misaligned - or are hijacked by short-term thinking. Why would participants vote for long-term stability when short-term gains give them far more lucrative rewards? Worse yet, how do you prevent those in the most powerful positions (I mean whales and early adopters) from concentrating control and making a plutocratic nightmare out of the decentralized dream? This is a human failure, not a technological one, as decentralized governance relies on human actors behaving in ways that value collective outcomes. However, it doesn't provide systems resilient enough to allow for greed, ignorance, or apathy. The absence of a central authority does not eradicate power. It merely changes where power resides in unpredictable ways. As the saying goes, "If everyone is in charge, then no one is." UX: The Interface of Governance The complexity of blockchain governance is alluring to technologists, while the average user recoils at the opacity of the mechanics involved. That's a deeper problem than whether or not the interfaces are user-friendly. The problem is really that most users lack either cognitive bandwidth or interest to participate deeply in governance. Governance of blockchain is not something that comes to the top of every average person's life. Voting on protocols, changing parameters, and debating minor details of network upgrades are activities quite removed from everyday concerns. Governance as an experience becomes an operation, not an empowerment means. Just as under traditional systems of political government, where voter turnout is minimal, the same is true with decentralized governance - the few loud voices drowned out in the ambient noise of general apathy and disinterest. A system developed for mass participation turns out, almost paradoxically, to be a domain of specialists that undermines decentralization. The Eternal Dance of Complexity and Simplicity It thus makes a robust but adaptive system under decentralized governance. The tension between the other degree of complexity-simplicity may be irreconcilable: governance needs to reflect the intricacies of the system it governs, yet when it becomes complex, fewer people can understand and engage with it. It creates a governance model that either ends up: Too shallow (dumbed down to the point of complete insignificance)
Too obtuse (most people get completely excluded from meaningful involvement) Nobody has walked that tightrope. Too simple and you lose nuance and control. Too complex, and you lose accessibility and trust. The Ghost in the System: Humanity Perhaps most profoundly, though, the problem is that decentralized governance systems are (at their core) systems. They can codify rules and enforce decisions. They can distribute tokens and apportion rights. But they can't reckon with the raw, messy unpredictability of human nature. Governance isn't just a question of voting and consensus. It's a question of ethics, of conflict resolution, of trust. Of the way people negotiate individual needs with the collective good. There is, perhaps, a reason why traditional forms of governance—flawed as they are—have endured. They are not systems of pure logic but rather systems that accommodate the irrational, emotional, and often contradictory nature of human beings. Decentralized governance faces an upward struggle of adaptation in a world resistant to codifying human behavior. On-chain governance promises the ability to operate without trust, without the fallibility of human leaders whereas It is precisely trust that keeps traditional governance systems working. It's the unseen glue binding participants to the system even when the latter fails. In all these processes, on-chain governance has forgotten this most basic of human ingredients in its drive towards decentralization. While automating trust, it seems to have forgotten the simple fact that trust is not a technological problem; rather, it is a relational issue. Conclusion The failure of decentralized governance does not come from technological limitations. The system itself is the only problem: a paradox in decentralization conflicted with the very basic human need for structure, leadership, and ironically, governance. On-chain governance's future might not be in more complex algorithms or wiser contracts but in embracing the idea that decentralization is not a perfect solution. Governance, because of its very nature, requires compromise, trust, and human intervention. Systems, by their nature, exist to bring order, consistency, and logic to the chaos of complexity. They promise to solve problems at scale and allow for outcomes that are reliable and repeatable. On-chain governance was supposed to represent the supposedly sacrosanct cornerstone of decentralized technologies - to solve humanity's governance challenges. And yet, after over a decade of experimentation, it has consistently failed to live up to the promise. It remains the unsolved puzzle in a decentralized world, a paradox of sorts. But why is that the case? But why is that the case? In abstract terms, governance is defined as the system through which decisions are made and enforced. It serves as a method of power distribution, ways of allocating resources, and resolving conflicts. Governance represents the final leap in the decentralized space. It's when a system can run itself - a collective intelligence wherein no central authority pulls the strings. The sad thing is that the failure of on-chain governance is not theoretical in its promise but rather in its implementation. The very thing it tries to solve, which is coordinating decentralized decision-making, appears to fall apart when put into practice. The Tyranny of Incentives The first fracture in the system derives from a player that usually remains hidden: incentives. In decentralized governance, players act out of their self-interest, driven by profit, social status, or ideological affinity. The notion of distributed power crumbles when the incentives become misaligned - or are hijacked by short-term thinking. Why would participants vote for long-term stability when short-term gains give them far more lucrative rewards? Worse yet, how do you prevent those in the most powerful positions (I mean whales and early adopters) from concentrating control and making a plutocratic nightmare out of the decentralized dream? This is a human failure, not a technological one, as decentralized governance relies on human actors behaving in ways that value collective outcomes. However, it doesn't provide systems resilient enough to allow for greed, ignorance, or apathy. The absence of a central authority does not eradicate power. It merely changes where power resides in unpredictable ways. As the saying goes, "If everyone is in charge, then no one is." UX: The Interface of Governance The complexity of blockchain governance is alluring to technologists, while the average user recoils at the opacity of the mechanics involved. That's a deeper problem than whether or not the interfaces are user-friendly. The problem is really that most users lack either cognitive bandwidth or interest to participate deeply in governance. Governance of blockchain is not something that comes to the top of every average person's life. Voting on protocols, changing parameters, and debating minor details of network upgrades are activities quite removed from everyday concerns. Governance as an experience becomes an operation, not an empowerment means. Just as under traditional systems of political government, where voter turnout is minimal, the same is true with decentralized governance - the few loud voices drowned out in the ambient noise of general apathy and disinterest. A system developed for mass participation turns out, almost paradoxically, to be a domain of specialists that undermines decentralization. The Eternal Dance of Complexity and Simplicity It thus makes a robust but adaptive system under decentralized governance. The tension between the other degree of complexity-simplicity may be irreconcilable: governance needs to reflect the intricacies of the system it governs, yet when it becomes complex, fewer people can understand and engage with it. It creates a governance model that either ends up: Too shallow (dumbed down to the point of complete insignificance) Too obtuse (most people get completely excluded from meaningful involvement) Too shallow (dumbed down to the point of complete insignificance) Too obtuse (most people get completely excluded from meaningful involvement) Nobody has walked that tightrope. Too simple and you lose nuance and control. Too complex, and you lose accessibility and trust. Nobody has walked that tightrope. Too simple and you lose nuance and control. Too complex, and you lose accessibility and trust. The Ghost in the System: Humanity Perhaps most profoundly, though, the problem is that decentralized governance systems are (at their core) systems. They can codify rules and enforce decisions. They can distribute tokens and apportion rights. But they can't reckon with the raw, messy unpredictability of human nature. Governance isn't just a question of voting and consensus. It's a question of ethics, of conflict resolution, of trust. Of the way people negotiate individual needs with the collective good. There is, perhaps, a reason why traditional forms of governance—flawed as they are—have endured. They are not systems of pure logic but rather systems that accommodate the irrational, emotional, and often contradictory nature of human beings. Decentralized governance faces an upward struggle of adaptation in a world resistant to codifying human behavior. On-chain governance promises the ability to operate without trust, without the fallibility of human leaders whereas It is precisely trust that keeps traditional governance systems working. It's the unseen glue binding participants to the system even when the latter fails. In all these processes, on-chain governance has forgotten this most basic of human ingredients in its drive towards decentralization. While automating trust, it seems to have forgotten the simple fact that trust is not a technological problem; rather, it is a relational issue. Conclusion The failure of decentralized governance does not come from technological limitations. The system itself is the only problem: a paradox in decentralization conflicted with the very basic human need for structure, leadership, and ironically, governance. On-chain governance's future might not be in more complex algorithms or wiser contracts but in embracing the idea that decentralization is not a perfect solution. Governance, because of its very nature, requires compromise, trust, and human intervention.

On-Chain Governance: A Paradox of Decentralization and Human Nature

Science: The Way of Nature

ሳይንስ፡ የተፈጥሮ መንገድ

Ciencia: Naturaleza ukan thakhipa

Наука: Пътят на природата

বিজ্ঞান: প্রকৃতির পথ

Ciencia: El camino de la naturaleza

Zientzia: Naturaren Bidea

מדע: דרך הטבע

科学：自然の道

ວິທະຍາສາດ: ວິທີການຂອງທໍາມະຊາດ

Nauka: Droga Natury

ساینس: د طبیعت لاره

Наука: Пут природе

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, September 18th, 2024/Chainwire/--Token 2049 Attendees Can Collect DOTphin Proof of Presence Digital Avatars and Contribute to Real-World Environmental Impact Sovereign Nature Initiative (SNI) has joined forces with Unique Network and WalletConnect to launch DOTphin, an innovative Polkadot NFT project for attendees of Token 2049 in Singapore. Attendees are invited to visit the Polkadot booth (Booth #P34 and 42, located on level 5 of the Marina Bay Sands Convention Center) and collect their Proof of Presence (PoP) and begin their journey with DOTphin avatars which evolve through user interaction and contribute to real-world marine conservation efforts. By participating in the DOTphin experience, Token 2049 attendees can collect a PoP, unlocking stages in the avatar’s evolution, which is influenced by ecological data from SNI’s marine conservation partner, Aquasearch. This innovative fusion of blockchain and ecological impact empowers users to play a role in preserving marine life while engaging with cutting-edge technology. Catherine Bischoff, CEO of SNI shared, "Our goal at Sovereign Nature Initiative is to rethink the economics of biodiversity conservation and restoration. Through DOTphin, we have pioneered a groundbreaking approach to merge community engagement and the protection of our natural world by connecting digital collectibles with living entities. We add meaning to virtual realms by distributing dynamic assets that are verifiably making real world impact.” To claim PoPs or other Proofs, users can visit the SNI Website or scan QR codes encountered at events. This will direct attendees to the claim process, which involves logging into an account. For those without an account, it can be created easily using an email address, social profiles, or digital wallets. The process is designed for simplicity and efficiency, making it easy to manage and claim Proofs. Once PoPs are collected, the next step is evolving the DOTphin. This can be done by visiting the REAL Evolution page on the REAL portal. The same sign-in credentials used to claim Proofs are required to connect the account. The evolution process begins with the acquisition of the primordial “orbo”, which acts as the starting point; once hatched, it marks the commencement of the DOTphin’s evolution. To evolve the DOTphin, other collected PoPs and Proofs are utilized. On the REAL Evolution page, select the evolve option, choose the Proofs to be applied, and the DOTphin will develop accordingly. Each Proof influences the characteristics of the DOTphin, making it a personalized representation of individual engagement and achievements. The selected Proofs will shape the DOTphin’s evolution, creating a unique avatar. The DOTphin avatar aesthetic is heavily influenced by the artistic style seen in Japanese anime. This design decision creates a significant and relatable connection between the general audience and the digital companion and promotes the idea of caring for an object as it evolves over time. The acclaimed designer behind the art is Daria Smakhtina, from Ephemera One. About Sovereign Nature Initiative Sovereign Nature Initiative (SNI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to rethinking the economics of biodiversity conservation and restoration. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, SNI creates innovative solutions that connect digital assets with real-world ecological impact. Through its proprietary tech stack—DEEP Protocol and the REAL Portal—SNI integrates live ecological data into digital collectibles, ensuring a sustainable funding channel for biodiversity efforts. The DEEP protocol gathers data from biodiversity stewards, while the REAL Portal continuously verifies commitments, linking users to tangible proof of their environmental contributions. SNI’s work, including pioneering projects like DOTphin, fosters community engagement and creates a new form of digital accountability for conservation. About Polkadot Polkadot is the powerful, secure core of Web3, providing a shared foundation that unites some of the world’s most transformative apps and blockchains. Polkadot offers advanced modular architecture that allows devs to easily design and build their own specialized blockchain projects, pooled security that ensures the same high standard for secure block production across all connected chains and apps connected to it, and robust governance that ensures a transparent system where everyone has say in shaping the blockchain ecosystem for growth and sustainability. With Polkadot, users are not just participants, they're co-creators with the power to shape its future. Contact PR Jonathan Duran Distractive Jonathan@distractive.xyz This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, September 18th, 2024/Chainwire/--Token 2049 Attendees Can Collect DOTphin Proof of Presence Digital Avatars and Contribute to Real-World Environmental Impact Sovereign Nature Initiative (SNI) has joined forces with Unique Network and WalletConnect to launch DOTphin, an innovative Polkadot NFT project for attendees of Token 2049 in Singapore. Polkadot Polkadot Attendees are invited to visit the Polkadot booth (Booth #P34 and 42, located on level 5 of the Marina Bay Sands Convention Center) and collect their Proof of Presence (PoP) and begin their journey with DOTphin avatars which evolve through user interaction and contribute to real-world marine conservation efforts. By participating in the DOTphin experience, Token 2049 attendees can collect a PoP, unlocking stages in the avatar’s evolution, which is influenced by ecological data from SNI’s marine conservation partner, Aquasearch. This innovative fusion of blockchain and ecological impact empowers users to play a role in preserving marine life while engaging with cutting-edge technology. Catherine Bischoff, CEO of SNI shared, "Our goal at Sovereign Nature Initiative is to rethink the economics of biodiversity conservation and restoration. Through DOTphin, we have pioneered a groundbreaking approach to merge community engagement and the protection of our natural world by connecting digital collectibles with living entities. We add meaning to virtual realms by distributing dynamic assets that are verifiably making real world impact.” To claim PoPs or other Proofs, users can visit the SNI Website or scan QR codes encountered at events. This will direct attendees to the claim process, which involves logging into an account. visit the SNI Website visit the SNI Website For those without an account, it can be created easily using an email address, social profiles, or digital wallets. The process is designed for simplicity and efficiency, making it easy to manage and claim Proofs. Once PoPs are collected, the next step is evolving the DOTphin. This can be done by visiting the REAL Evolution page on the REAL portal . The same sign-in credentials used to claim Proofs are required to connect the account. REAL Evolution page on the REAL portal REAL Evolution page on the REAL portal The evolution process begins with the acquisition of the primordial “orbo”, which acts as the starting point; once hatched, it marks the commencement of the DOTphin’s evolution. To evolve the DOTphin, other collected PoPs and Proofs are utilized. On the REAL Evolution page, select the evolve option, choose the Proofs to be applied, and the DOTphin will develop accordingly. Each Proof influences the characteristics of the DOTphin, making it a personalized representation of individual engagement and achievements. The selected Proofs will shape the DOTphin’s evolution, creating a unique avatar. The DOTphin avatar aesthetic is heavily influenced by the artistic style seen in Japanese anime. This design decision creates a significant and relatable connection between the general audience and the digital companion and promotes the idea of caring for an object as it evolves over time. The acclaimed designer behind the art is Daria Smakhtina, from Ephemera One . Ephemera One Ephemera One About Sovereign Nature Initiative Sovereign Nature Initiative (SNI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to rethinking the economics of biodiversity conservation and restoration. Sovereign Nature Initiative Sovereign Nature Initiative Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, SNI creates innovative solutions that connect digital assets with real-world ecological impact. Through its proprietary tech stack—DEEP Protocol and the REAL Portal—SNI integrates live ecological data into digital collectibles, ensuring a sustainable funding channel for biodiversity efforts. The DEEP protocol gathers data from biodiversity stewards, while the REAL Portal continuously verifies commitments, linking users to tangible proof of their environmental contributions. SNI’s work, including pioneering projects like DOTphin, fosters community engagement and creates a new form of digital accountability for conservation. About Polkadot Polkadot is the powerful, secure core of Web3, providing a shared foundation that unites some of the world’s most transformative apps and blockchains. Polkadot Polkadot Polkadot offers advanced modular architecture that allows devs to easily design and build their own specialized blockchain projects, pooled security that ensures the same high standard for secure block production across all connected chains and apps connected to it, and robust governance that ensures a transparent system where everyone has say in shaping the blockchain ecosystem for growth and sustainability. With Polkadot, users are not just participants, they're co-creators with the power to shape its future. Contact PR Jonathan Duran Distractive Jonathan@distractive.xyz This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here here

The Sovereign Nature Initiative Releases DOTphin: Eco-Evolving Avatars On Polkadot At Token 2049 

የሉዓላዊው ተፈጥሮ ተነሳሽነት DOTphin ን ለቋል፡ ኢኮ-እቮልቭ አቫታር በፖልካዶት በቶከን 2049 

The Sovereign Nature Initiative κυκλοφορεί το DOTphin: Eco-Evolving Avatars On Polkadot At Token 2049 

La Iniciativa Naturaleza Soberana lanza DOTphin: avatares ecoevolutivos en Polkadot en Token 2049

Suvereign Nature Initiative julkaisee DOTphin: Eco-Evolving Avatars On Polkadot At Token 2049 

सॉवरेन नेचर इनिशिएटिव ने डॉटफिन जारी किया: पोलकाडॉट पर इको-इवोल्विंग अवतार टोकन 2049 पर

The Sovereign Nature Initiative-ը թողարկում է DOTphin. էկո-զարգացող ավատարներ Polkadot At Token 2049-ում 

יוזמת הטבע הריבוני מפרסמת את DOTphin: אווטרים מתפתחים בסביבה על פולקדוט ב-Token 2049 

ソブリン・ネイチャー・イニシアチブがトークン2049でポルカドット上のエコ進化型アバター「DOTphin」をリリース

Umugambi wa Kamere Yigenga Yasohoye DOTphin: Avatar-Ibidukikije bigenda byiyongera kuri Polkadot Kuri Token 2049 

டோக்கன் 2049 இல் போல்கடோட்டில் டாட்ஃபின்: சுற்றுச்சூழல்-வளர்ச்சியடைந்த அவதாரங்களை இறையாண்மை நேச்சர் முன்முயற்சி வெளியிடுகிறது 

Ташаббуси Суверен Табиат DOTphin-ро мебарорад: Аватарҳои экологӣ дар Полкадот дар Токен 2049 

Ang Sovereign Nature Initiative ay Naglabas ng DOTphin: Eco-Evolving Avatar Sa Polkadot Sa Token 2049 

Authors:
(1) Zhan Ling, UC San Diego and equal contribution;
(2) Yunhao Fang, UC San Diego and equal contribution;
(3) Xuanlin Li, UC San Diego;
(4) Zhiao Huang, UC San Diego;
(5) Mingu Lee, Qualcomm AI Research and Qualcomm AI Research
(6) Roland Memisevic, Qualcomm AI Research;
(7) Hao Su, UC San Diego. Table of Links Abstract and Introduction Related work Motivation and Problem Formulation Deductively Verifiable Chain-of-Thought Reasoning Experiments Limitations Conclusion, Acknowledgements and References A Deductive Verification with Vicuna Models B More Discussion on Improvements of Deductive Verification Accuracy Versus Improvements on Final Answer Correctness C More Details on Answer Extraction D Prompts E More Deductive Verification Examples E More Deductive Verification Examples In this section, we present more deductive verification examples using our Natural Program-based approach on single reasoning steps. In Tab. 18, we demonstrate that the language model (ChatGPT) not only successfully identifies ungrounded information, but also identifies logical errors within the given solutions. In Tab. 19, we illustrate a case where the language model fails to detect ungrounded premise numbers, mistakenly assuming that these numbers can be derived from grounded ones. Lastly, in Tab. 20, we illustrate a case where the language model is sometimes unable to correctly identify grounded numbers. This paper is available on arxiv under CC BY 4.0 DEED license. Authors: (1) Zhan Ling, UC San Diego and equal contribution; (2) Yunhao Fang, UC San Diego and equal contribution; (3) Xuanlin Li, UC San Diego; (4) Zhiao Huang, UC San Diego; (5) Mingu Lee, Qualcomm AI Research and Qualcomm AI Research (6) Roland Memisevic, Qualcomm AI Research; (7) Hao Su, UC San Diego. Authors: Authors: (1) Zhan Ling, UC San Diego and equal contribution; (2) Yunhao Fang, UC San Diego and equal contribution; (3) Xuanlin Li, UC San Diego; (4) Zhiao Huang, UC San Diego; (5) Mingu Lee, Qualcomm AI Research and Qualcomm AI Research (6) Roland Memisevic, Qualcomm AI Research; (7) Hao Su, UC San Diego. Table of Links Abstract and Introduction Abstract and Introduction Related work Related work Motivation and Problem Formulation Motivation and Problem Formulation Deductively Verifiable Chain-of-Thought Reasoning Deductively Verifiable Chain-of-Thought Reasoning Experiments Experiments Limitations Limitations Conclusion, Acknowledgements and References Conclusion, Acknowledgements and References A Deductive Verification with Vicuna Models A Deductive Verification with Vicuna Models B More Discussion on Improvements of Deductive Verification Accuracy Versus Improvements on Final Answer Correctness B More Discussion on Improvements of Deductive Verification Accuracy Versus Improvements on Final Answer Correctness C More Details on Answer Extraction C More Details on Answer Extraction D Prompts D Prompts E More Deductive Verification Examples E More Deductive Verification Examples E More Deductive Verification Examples In this section, we present more deductive verification examples using our Natural Program-based approach on single reasoning steps. In Tab. 18, we demonstrate that the language model (ChatGPT) not only successfully identifies ungrounded information, but also identifies logical errors within the given solutions. In Tab. 19, we illustrate a case where the language model fails to detect ungrounded premise numbers, mistakenly assuming that these numbers can be derived from grounded ones. Lastly, in Tab. 20, we illustrate a case where the language model is sometimes unable to correctly identify grounded numbers. This paper is available on arxiv under CC BY 4.0 DEED license. This paper is available on arxiv under CC BY 4.0 DEED license. available on arxiv

Deductive Verification with Natural Programs: Case Studies

Stories, News & Mentions about NANU

Nanu’s Stories on HackerNoon