Thread by @ljin18

It's my birthday! 🥳

My wish is that we can create more ways for people to earn and build wealth.

To that end, I'm auctioning an NFT, with all proceeds going towards establishing a scholarship for people to start playing & earning in the metaverse.

foundation.app/@li/universal-…

This NFT is based on my recent blog post, Universal Creative Income, co-authored w/ @LilaShroff.

When I thought about taking steps towards basic income, the idea of supporting pathways out of poverty for anyone with an internet connection felt so apt.
li.mirror.xyz/j3WsyvI5LKFKcF…

.@AxieInfinity is a video game in the burgeoning play-to-earn category, where players breed, trade, and battle with cute digital pets called Axies, and earn yield in the form of NFT items & governance tokens.

People are earning $300-500/mo playing Axie Infinity, which is life-changing in many countries where the minimum wage is much lower.

Rural communities in the Philippines turned to the game as a lifeline in the face of COVID unemployment and lockdowns.

This, to me, is what NFTs & crypto should be about: providing opportunity regardless of geography, background, or network.

There's a hurdle to get started, however: players need to buy a team of Axies that can cost upwards of $500.

This NFT auction will lower the barriers to entry by providing Axie teams to new players. @YieldGuild, a decentralized gaming guild, will be managing the program.

.@YieldGuild will recruit scholars in the Philippines, Venezuela, Brazil, Indonesia, and India, and provide training and coaching.

There are no upfront fees for players and revenues generated from the game will be shared between players, their community manager, and YGG.

The most exciting part is that programs like these can help players to take control of their economic lives:

Players often learn about and invest in crypto, buy and breed their own Axies, and launch their own scholarship programs—starting a powerful cycle of entrepreneurship.

One of the biggest knocks against the creator economy is that only a tiny sliver of top creators are attaining financial stability.

But I think by paving the way to earning, then investing and owning, we have a real shot at changing that dynamic.

If more of our lives are to be spent in the metaverse, let's ensure it's more inclusive and equitable.

"Societies and platforms flourish when there is a path for everyone to have upward mobility, achieve financial security, and learn and grow."
li.substack.com/p/building-the…

"Our hypothesis is that funding the long-tail of creators can create more ... impact than funding top creators who can already monetize in myriad ways."

I think this is an amazing cause to support and I hope you do too!
li.mirror.xyz/j3WsyvI5LKFKcF…

So what will the winner of this NFT get?
- Naming rights on this scholarship!
- Regular updates on the lives of the players they're sponsoring

All bidders get my eternal gratitude, listed in my next newsletter, plus group chat w/ me (DM me).

This NFT was a joint collaboration between me and Annie Zhao, a very talented illustrator and lifelong friend. Check out her work! bananie.zone

Our backstory -

https://twitter.com/ljin18/status/1370398464153161731

And lastly, I wouldn't be here without my first NFT auction. The winner @jamesyoung & bidders @gabusch @notscottmoore @heyohelen @Wagomon @ramannoodlez @coolioxlr were so supportive that I just fell in love with the NFT space. You are awesome 💓

foundation.app/@li/the-creato…