It’s an art-meets-advocacy-meets-blockchain tech situation.
Likha, a homegrown non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace run by blockchain tech venture BayaniChain, is using emerging technologies to raise awareness about the alarming decline of shark population.
Called “Using the Blockchain to Save Our Sharks (SOS),” the initiative was formed in collaboration with creative solutions firm Octopus & Whale (O&W). It features a unique collection of digital assets depicting 200 endangered and rare Philippine sharks, rays, and chimaeras.
Each piece of digital art was inspired by the species mentioned in “Pating Ka Ba? An ID Guide to Sharks, Batoids, and Chimaeras of the Philippines.” Every sale of the SOS digital assets using digital currency converts into actual money to help fund the research and conservation work of the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines.
“Combining advocacy, art, creativity, and next-generation technology is a game-changer for Likha as this collaboration helps us achieve our objective of becoming the Philippines’ premier digital asset platform, all while bringing people fresh ways to pursue and support their chosen causes. We will continue to work with businesses and organizations to increase awareness of digital asset adoption in the country and use it to forge a better future,” said Gelo Wong, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Likha.
According to some experts, the depiction of sharks in films as “aggressive sea creatures” is also a major reason why people believe they are dangerous. In reality, there are over 500 species of sharks in the world, the vast majority of which are small, harmless, and critically endangered.
Likha built an online exhibition to display the full collection of digital art pieces in order for people to become more familiar with the country’s shark species. These brilliant and vivid digital artworks were made by prominent O&W artists in honor of the marine species, then minted by Likha.
Minting is the process of publishing a one-of-a-kind digital asset on a blockchain so that it can be purchased, sold, and traded as NFTs. NFTs are used to represent ownership of a digital item such as an artwork or collectible, allowing consumers to own and trade unique digital objects.
Since the launch of the project, about 1.5M worth of digital collectibles were created, which keeps gaining more funds as the assets get traded on the secondary NFT market. It also garnered 3,056,301 media impressions, translating to increased shark awareness.
The SOS initiative was recently honored with a Silver Boomerang Award from the Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines at DigiCon 2023, the country’s premier event for the marketing, advertising, and digital industry.
Digital assets-for-a-purpose
BayaniChain is a Filipino blockchain development business that aims to hasten decentralization and digital asset adoption in the Philippines. Through Likha, it helps organizations and businesses create digital collections, providing the platform for local artists and even marketers to mint, manage, and distribute their NFTs.
Like O&W did, businesses and organizations can collaborate with BayaniChain and Likha to further their advocacies or strengthen their brand and marketing campaigns with the use of digital assets and other next-generation technologies.
The blockchain tech pioneers are on a mission to increase Filipinos’ understanding and acceptance of blockchain technology to create a future that opens opportunities for all.