Cryptopunks NFT project: tech report review and art critique
The time has come to talk about the first major NFT project, and the biggest by now. It synthesises extremely well the whole history of NFT genesis and its development in terms of technology, art, culture, society, entertainment, and gaming. Of course, it is about a powerful movement that started in the crypto world and blockchain space. The new freedom and the new form of democratisation, also called Web 3, and when it comes to technology it is fully decentralised. It leads then to having a public ledger that can be accessed, tracked and traced (audited) by anyone, it is just that the personal information is hidden from the end-user and it is perfect because there is no need for that, unless relevant and serious reasons are provided for a check.
It also seems that at the moment of writing this, the whole space is swapping sides, or more specifically, from PoW (proof of work) to PoS (proof of stake), which is way more efficient, effective, and sustainable. It also solves issues with some circular economical facts such as the incorrect (invalid/false) correlations, analogies, and interpretations of some immutable facts. That is why it needs to focus on a layer and bridge to tackle this specific issue and make sure transactions are managed easily and safely. We all might know that a lot of things may sound great in theory but may lack results in practice because of either a wrong implementation or not matching with the audience. That’s what a new layer shall truly focus on. ASKNIGHTS is also willing to support this cause if more hands unite with us.
In regards to the art and aesthetics aspect of CryptoPunks, it is categorised as pixel art. The creator behind it is LarvaLabs. In terms of aesthetics, the artworks are extremely simple and easy to create, and thus, they can be seen as a new subcategory within conceptual art. It may remind us of the 90s when PC games were very pixelated. Think of games like Doom, Street Fighter or Super Mario. Great and nostalgic inspiration.
From the ASKNIGHTS’ systematic research, having as the main source and starting point EtherScan.io, there are only a few top collectors and NFT flippers (the whales) that actually make constant profits, the rest are quite inactive or dormant within the community space in terms of trading assets. The same seems to apply to the Bored Apes Yacht Club. Nonetheless, CryptoPunks not only gives artistic expression and value to its holders and the general public but also tries to make a change in the world by being a punk, aka non-conformist, for the good and not the negative side. It is like screaming to stop something bad and not to harm (as it may be noticed at first sight). Or similar to fighting a fire in his own house or somewhere else to stop it and not because one is crazy. Acting punkish, or falsely seen/interpreted against the norm, is sometimes vital for positive and effective communication and change in a society, i.e. for the sake of its own growth and development. An example of something that is the opposite: seems good or positive but it turns out to be fake news and has negative consequences on a large group of people. This may easily do more harm at a larger scale than the first scenario where only a few people believe someone is bad when in fact that person is a saviour. The first, the punk scenario, is definitely better than the second where few people lie to the masses for their very selective prosperity that excludes the majority.
In the end, it is all about scalability and how significant and positive something really is at both levels: individual and collective. Thus, fake news should not be let to fool people when it comes to serious issues at least. News is meant to help us grow and shine further in life and that can be done through immersive communication, immersive art, and effective experience.
Now that we got decentralised finance and art have become more democratised and easier to be accessed and experienced by new individuals, it is the occurrence of a new economy that is no longer defined as ‘First supply and then demand’ but rather as ‘First, let’s see the real and actual demand and then supply’, so it is an inversed economy that works in the favour of the customer and the majority of users and for the greater good and its utility. Consequently, it is not in the favour of the ones at the top. Let’s all welcome the ‘Supply and Demand’ economical law which is here to make a reform and stay for the people who can see the truth and facts and are not blind by or to them. With this new approach, we, as human species and civilization, can finally reach sustainability and have a flourishing and colourful future, both around the earth and in outer space.
Web 3.0 meeting XR and MR. And let us not forget: it is all about bringing positive change through efficient transparency, true artistic expression, and REAL communication. Be real and voila, see you on Alpha Scorpius; here is the portal.