Mark Wilson: Blockchain is creating digital scarcity and reshaping value

Key takeaways

• Blockchain technology is poised to create scarcity in the digital realm, leading to new forms of value.
• The crypto industry is expected to grow exponentially, impacting wealth creation and the art market.
• Attention has become a vital currency in the digital age, influencing human behavior and interactions.
• The Internet has transformed attention into a playful pursuit, affecting societal dynamics.
• Central America has a unique culture, often underestimated by foreigners.
• Digital art in the crypto space represents a new cultural movement on the internet.
• Great art often serves as a form of rebellion against societal norms and systems.
• The particularities of art and writing are crucial in providing an escape from the mundanities of life.
• Digital art can serve as an engaging gateway to deeper narratives in literature.
• Mark Wilson’s creative work is larger and more complex than is generally understood.
• The intersection of art and technology is reshaping cultural narratives in the digital landscape.
• The attention economy has profound implications for how art and identity are perceived online.
• The rise of digital art in crypto is redefining how cultural value is created and appreciated.

Guest presentation

Mark Wilson is a digital artist and writer known as diewiththemostlikes. He first gained attention thanks to a viral campaign poster for comedian Eric Andre which launched him onto the digital art scene. His work has been exhibited internationally in Milan, Venice, New York and Times Square, and he has published five books with Orbis Tertius Press and Fly On the Wall Press.

The impact of blockchain on digital value

• Blockchain creates scarcity in a digital world, which will result in different forms of value over time.

  —Marc Wilson

• Blockchain technology establishes a new framework for value creation in digital economies.
• The unique properties of blockchain are crucial to understanding its economic impact.
• As blockchain evolves, it will redefine how digital assets are valued.
• The scarcity created by blockchain technology is a game changer for digital markets.

• Blockchain creates scarcity in a digital world; it has a unique property that will create different forms of value over time.

  —Marc Wilson

• This scarcity should generate new opportunities for digital artists and creators.
• Understanding the role of blockchain in digital value is essential to navigating future economic landscapes.

The Future Growth of the Crypto Industry

• As this crypto industry grows from a $3,000,000,000,000 industry to a $100,000,000,000,000 industry, a lot of wealth is going to be generated.

  —Marc Wilson

• The crypto market is poised for significant expansion, with major implications for wealth distribution.
• This growth will likely influence various sectors, including the art market.
• The expected increase in crypto wealth highlights the importance of digital assets.
• The art market is expected to reflect the wealth generated by the expanding crypto industry.
• Understanding current crypto market trends is crucial to anticipating future developments.
• The correlation between crypto growth and wealth generation highlights art as a store of value.
• As the industry grows, new opportunities for investment and innovation will emerge.

Attention as the currency of humanity

• Truly, attention is the currency of humanity, just upstream of it all, it is love that is at the top of the attention bracket, but almost next to it is hate.

  —Marc Wilson

• Attention has become an essential factor in shaping human interactions online.
• The digital age has transformed attention into a valuable commodity.
• Social media platforms have amplified the importance of attention in daily life.

• The Internet has attracted attention in ways we never imagined

  —Marc Wilson

• Attention seeking influences behaviors and societal norms.
• Understanding the role of attention is essential to navigating the digital landscape.
• The value of attention highlights the importance of engaging content and creativity.

The gamification of attention

• Now you have this whole attention playing field and it’s scored and humans love a little gamification.

  —Marc Wilson

• The Internet has gamified attention, making it a competitive aspect of human behavior.
• Social media platforms leverage gamification to improve user engagement.
• The search for attention has become omnipresent in digital interactions.

• Before you know it, we’re all mad dogs demanding attention

  —Marc Wilson

• Gamification affects how individuals perceive and interact with online content.
• This trend has important implications for content creators and marketers.
• Understanding the impact of gamification is crucial for effective digital engagement.

The cultural identity of Central America

• People assume that other people have a culture and like Central America it doesn’t have a culture, that’s the same thing it has.

  —Marc Wilson

• Central American culture is often overlooked, but it is of considerable value.
• The cultural identity of the region is distinct and influential.

• When you go to the Texas State Fair, this is the definition of it

  —Marc Wilson

• Challenging stereotypes about Central America reveals its cultural richness.
• Understanding regional cultures is essential to appreciating the diversity of perspectives.
• Central American culture contributes to the broader American cultural landscape.
• Recognition of cultural diversity improves societal understanding and cohesion.

The rise of digital art in crypto

• We clearly have a digital art in cryptography, which is a culture on top of the Internet, which is a culture.

  —Marc Wilson

• Digital art in the crypto space represents a new cultural movement.
• This movement reflects the intersection of art and technology.
• The rise of digital art is reshaping the way cultural value is created and appreciated.
• Understanding this cultural phenomenon is crucial to engaging with digital art.
• The crypto space offers artists new opportunities to express their creativity.
• The growth of digital art highlights the evolving nature of artistic expression.
• This cultural shift highlights the importance of innovation in the art world.

Art as rebellion

• For me, great art is usually a rebellion yeah, that’s right, you have to reject the system to say something worthwhile.

  —Marc Wilson

• Art is often a form of rebellion against societal norms.
• Rebellion in art is essential to meaningful societal critique.
• Understanding the role of art in challenging systems is crucial to appreciating its impact.
• Great art pushes boundaries and provokes thought.
• This perspective highlights the importance of creativity in societal discourse.
• The rebellious nature of art contributes to cultural evolution and progress.
• Embracing rebellion in art promotes innovation and diversity.

The value of uniqueness in art and writing

• I think that part is being completely erased and really needs to be celebrated and cherished.

  —Marc Wilson

• The unique aspects of art and writing provide an escape from mundane realities.
• Creativity and individuality are crucial in a world saturated with content.
• Celebrating uniqueness enhances the richness of artistic expression.
• Understanding the value of uniqueness is essential to fostering creativity.
• The particularities of art and writing contribute to cultural diversity.
• Embracing individuality in art challenges conformity and inspires innovation.
• This perspective highlights the importance of diversity of voices in the creative landscape.

Digital art as a gateway to literature

• Digital art almost worked as an appetizer to get people to read my books.

  —Marc Wilson

• Digital art provides an engaging entry point to explore deeper narratives.
• This strategy highlights the relationship between visual arts and literature.

• It was almost like casting a fishing line with rotten meat on it and saying hey, come have a snack.

  —Marc Wilson

• Mark Wilson uses digital art to attract readers to his literary work.
• Understanding this approach reveals innovative ways to engage audiences.
• The appeal of digital art can increase interest in literary content.
• This strategy highlights the potential of multimedia storytelling.

The complexity of Mark Wilson’s creative work

• It’s much bigger than I imagined and no one understands the magnitude of it all.

  —Marc Wilson

• Mark Wilson’s work is larger than most people think.
• His creative endeavors encompass a wide range of artistic and literary projects.
• Understanding the breadth of his work reveals his broader cultural impact.
• This statement highlights the importance of Mark’s contributions to art and literature.
• Appreciating the complexity of his work reinforces its cultural value.
• Mark’s perspective highlights the importance of recognizing the diversity of creative endeavors.
• His work reflects the evolving nature of art and identity in the digital age.