Is this actually helping people? That's the question that keeps nagging at me when I hear about the latest Web3 initiative promising to democratize access and empower the masses. Noves and Mint Blockchain partner to create easier-to-trade NFTs that are “human-readable” and more secure Noves. On the surface, it sounds great. Let's dig a little deeper.

Simplification, But for Whom Exactly?

The promise is simple: Noves' Translate API will turn the gobbledygook of blockchain data into plain English, and Foresight will let you simulate transactions before you commit. At last, we’ll have some idea of what we’re doing before we mistakenly lose all our irreplaceable digital art to a wrong address.

Who really benefits from this? Are we really just discussing enabling grandma to mint her family photos as NFTs? Or are we really just catering the whole experience to the crypto-savvy user base that’s already out there, giving them an easier way to trade JPEGs. I suspect it's more of the latter.

Think about it. If you’re ready to go beyond the basics and are already comfortable with navigating crypto wallets and understanding the basic concepts of NFTs, this one is a good-to-have. But if you're someone who's completely new to Web3, will translating hexadecimal strings into English magically bridge the digital literacy gap?

It’s what it’s like when tech bros try to “solve” poverty with apps. Oh, you're struggling to afford food? Just download this app that aggregates coupons! Because the issue isn’t a lack of information, it’s a lack of resources.

Centralization Risk Or Real Decentralization?

There's also the question of centralization. Noble intentions aside, are we just drilling the solution deeper by making Noves and Mint Blockchain the new gatekeepers? As a result, Google Translate has become the single point of failure for any sort of multilingual web browsing. Are we now repeating the same mistakes and creating those exact vulnerabilities in Web3?

  • Reliance on Noves & Mint: Increased dependency on their services.
  • Potential for Bias: Translate API could unintentionally introduce biases.
  • Regulatory Scrutiny: Centralized solutions might face increased regulatory pressure.

We should be cautious of any proposed solution that sacrifices the spirit of decentralization for the sake of convenience. The entire purpose of Web3 is allegedly to decentralize power to the people, not just replace one set of intermediaries with another.

Accountability Or Just Another PR Stunt?

Noves and Mint Blockchain definitely hype up a game of inclusivity. What other cities are doing to make sure that marginalized communities really start to see the fruits of this public-private partnership. Or are they collaborating with other communities or organizations that offer digital literacy training. Are they providing direct grants to artists of color or other marginalized communities? If so, are they leading the charge to fight the scams and predatory practices that take place throughout the NFT landscape?

Oh sure, I’d like to see some real action, not just press releases. I would love to see them out there proactively plugging the systemic gaps that keep so many of us locked out of Web3.

We, as a society, need to do all of this much more loudly, and demand a more equitable and inclusive Web3. This starts with calling for meaningful transparency and accountability from the companies now experimenting in this space. That doesn’t mean swallowing all the hype and story-washing and looking at these technologies through rose-colored glasses—it actually means doing the opposite.

If Web3 is just another playground for the wealthy and tech-savvy, then what's the point? We have enough of those already.

  • Specific metrics: How many new users from underrepresented backgrounds are they onboarding?
  • Community partnerships: Who are they working with to provide education and support?
  • Transparency reports: How are they addressing potential biases in their technology?

We, as a society, need to be louder, and push for a more equitable and inclusive Web3. This means demanding transparency and accountability from the companies that are shaping this space. It means challenging the hype and focusing on the real-world impact of these technologies.

Because let's be real, if Web3 is just another playground for the wealthy and tech-savvy, then what's the point? We have enough of those already.