Kavya Maddali

Being onchain means digital freedom just as much as financial freedom. We’ve entered another bull market, and while all eyes are on DeFi and memecoins, I haven’t stopped thinking about the other untapped potentials. The very same potential that would make being onchain fun for everyone. And I’m talking fun for the sake of fun — not fun in the form of make-number-go-up. rewind Years ago, many of us creatives were drawn to this new evolution of the internet. We were promised a space where we’d own what we create onchain and build identities around what we curate. Finally, we could break free from tech conglomerates; what I create and curate onchain is mine, I can prove it, and you can’t take it away. This alone was enough of a use case for us. But then, many of us were pushed out of the new internet because our art wouldn’t grant holders access to a yacht party or whatever. Suddenly, my “success” onchain was tied to how much my portfolio was worth. Onchain art was ruined because NFTs were reduced to just another investment. Most exclusive “communities” just wanted members so their token would go up. Identity became a word everyone seemed to forget. The focus became utility. And with that, many of us left or went quiet. But we need to speak up now. These voices have hardly been represented over the last few years. How can we build the future if it’s only built for one archetype? today Today, “crypto” is everywhere. Today, most people also have no idea that crypto is simply the technology that powers web3 (or now, more commonly known as being onchain). Crypto ≠ Onchain Being onchain should be cultural and inclusive of all types of people. Wanna focus on making as much money as possible? Cool! Here are some apps for your investing, staking, and trading needs. Wanna build your onchain identity so you don’t have to rely on Big Tech? Great! Check out these social apps, games, and platforms for all your creative needs. Ready to show off that identity? Nice! Here are some ways to put that identity to good use so your friends can check out what you’ve been doing onchain. …and there are so many more. My point is, today, most people are only really aware of the first point: making money. onboarding the masses One could argue that this is “fantasy coded” — that ownership alone has been proven as an ineffective incentive to onboard people, that our industry exists to make money, and that its main draw is so users can make money, too. But think about it: What does “onboarding the masses” actually mean? You can make executing a transaction as fast and seamless as possible, but what does that matter if we’re not giving someone an actual reason to collect something? To be a part of something more significant than just the NFT they minted? I’ve worked as a designer full-time in this industry for years. One observation I’ve seen time and again is that people like to blame the lack of adoption on poor UX patterns. But really, it goes much deeper. When asked what I’m most excited to solve, I always come back to this problem: Why should users even mint in the first place if we’re not giving them a chance to realize their full potential of being onchain? We need to start here. More apps won’t save us, especially if they’re all clones serving the same persona. everyone has a place onchain It’s been years since my last article about onchain culture, but my core values as a builder, artist, and user have not changed. No matter what you’re here to do, you have a voice in shaping the future of this space. I’ve spent too much time ruminating over what I want from this evolution of the internet. Ultimately, it comes down to this: I want it all. I’ll enjoy DeFi for all it has to offer; I’ll buy memecoins with my friends; I’ll build an onchain identity that is reflective of me as a person; I’ll sell my art as a form of passive income; I’ll collect art for no other reason than “I like it”; I’ll find or build ways to showcase my activity onchain in a way that’s actually fun. Make onchain culture weird. And more importantly, make it your own.