#275: Immutable Passion - How Web3 Communities Go Skin Deep by Patrick Workman
✒️ Digital and physical ink aren’t as different as you think
TPan here! I’m at ETHDenver so I won’t be writing my usual piece today. However, I do have some great content for you from someone else in the space.
Today we have Patrick Workman sharing his thoughts about self-expression in the digital and analog worlds. I met Patrick a year and a half ago, sharing anecdotes about our respective journeys in the space.
Patrick is the Head of BD and Partnerships at Co:Create Ink, a platform that puts tattoos on the blockchain and your body. If you’d like to learn more about what he’s up to, you can reach out to him here.
Tattoos are like the wildest ride at the self-expression theme park. They're not just doodles on skin but full-blown masterpieces that scream, "This is ME." Whether you're flaunting a fierce dragon or a delicate flower, tattoos are your float in the grand parade of life. They're the ultimate conversation starters, the private keys to your soul, and the coolest way to say, "Hey world, take a peek at my awesomeness!".
Jason Matthews is a walking, talking human billboard. He has a whopping 542 tattoos covering him head to toe, each a nod to a brand that's left its mark on his life. From his first car to his favorite brew, even down to his inaugural email account, Jason's ink tells the story of his adventures in consumerism. It's like his skin's a scrapbook, plastered with memories and milestones in the form of colorful logos. Who needs a resume when your body's a walking advertisement? Jason is living proof that anything goes when it comes to self-expression and identity.
In the beginning
Ötzi the Iceman was an ink aficionado. This ancient dude, dating back over 5,000 years, wasn't just chilling in the ice—he was rocking some serious body art! With a whopping 61 tattoos, Ötzi wasn't afraid to express himself. From simple dots and lines to more intricate designs, his tattoos weren't just for looks; they likely had some mystical or medicinal significance. Talk about being ahead of the trend—Ötzi was the ultimate OG tattoo trendsetter.
For centuries, tattoos were taboo. They were associated with sailors, soldiers, and criminals. If you had tattoos, you hid them if you wanted a corporate job. Tattoos were illegal in many US states and cities for decades, with tattoo bans not repealed in New York City until 1997.
Over the past two decades, perceptions of tattoos have changed drastically. Society has not just become more accepting of tattoos; they have become part of our culture. One in three Americans has a tattoo. 41% of people under 30 and 56% of women ages 18-29 have at least one.
Isn’t this a newsletter about web3 growth, marketing, and culture?
Indeed. Buckle up, web3 warriors, because we're about to dive into a trend so wild that even the blockchain can't contain it.
NFT communities identify themselves through PFPs. Whether rocking a Bored Ape or strutting with a Milady Maker, these aren't just JPEGs; they're your ticket to an inner circle. They are secret handshakes where everyone speaks the same visual language. These communities are more than just tribes of users—they're vibrant, virtual neighborhoods buzzing with creativity and camaraderie.
PFPs are the cyber equivalent of rocking inked sleeves
Digital assets are engraved on online profiles as virtual tats, except they are wielded with a mouse instead of needles. They are online badges of honor, making a statement that you are part of the intersection of symbolism between culture and technology. While flexing a PFP online is fun, the ultimate flex is permanently etching it into your flesh, making your membership in a community permanent.
Imagine this: you're strolling down the street, and BAM! You spot someone with a Cryptopunk tattoo peeking from under their sleeve. Instantly, you know you've found a kindred spirit in the vast digital wilderness. When you meet someone else rocking the same community tattoo, it's like finding a long-lost sibling in the bustling crowd. Suddenly, you're part of an exclusive club of inked-up digital daredevils bonded by a shared love for the same community.
NFT PFPs as physical tattoos? Oh, it's happening. It’s not just about flipping JPEGs anymore; we're talking about wearing your favorite pixelated character on your skin.
NFTs IRL
The Bored Ape Yacht Club isn't just a club; it's a lifestyle. Their community apes into Bored Ape tattoos to declare their love for the project and everything it stands for, embracing the creativity and what being a part of the BAYC family is all about. Seeing someone with a Bored Ape tattoo is like spotting a secret society member sporting their badge of honor loud and proud for all the world to see.
@PeoplesMarket.Crypto, a Mutant Ape enthusiast, decided to take their love of the project to a new level—by creating a tattoo ointment. Who wouldn't want to moisturize their skin with the magical essence of their favorite ape? It's like rubbing shoulders with NFT greatness every time you moisturize.
DeGods enthusiasts proudly brand themselves with their digital deities. From designs depicting the divine characters to symbols and community-centric lingo only they understand, the members embrace the chaos, the unpredictability, and the downright madness that comes with being a part of this wild and rowdy community. DeGods fueled their community’s passion by providing a live-tattooing session at their 2022 NFT NYC event, enabling more members to stand out and be celebrated through pixelated gods.
At Azuki’s 2022 NFT NYC Garden Party, holders lined up at their tattoo parlor to get inked with cherished Azuki-inspired art. The needles were humming, but the whole thing was a staged performance in the alley. But cries of disbelief and bamboozlement didn’t stop the Azuki community from commemorating their dedication to the project, rolling up their sleeves, and getting some kickass Azuki-inspired ink.
From RTFKT to Cool Cats to Nouns, community members are ditching the digital canvas for something permanent. You're part of something bigger than yourself when you have a mfer or Pixel Worlds logo on your forearm. You're not just a community member but a billboard for the wonderful world of web3.
Unruggable
Community members weren’t the only ones getting tats of their favorite JPEGs, founders joined in on the fun too.
When rektguy’s floor price inched towards 1 ETH, the founder OSF didn't just roll with the punches—he rolled up his sleeves. With the determination of a knight in shining armor (or maybe just an enthusiastic digital artist), he vowed to permanently ink the project's art on his skin once it hit the milestone. His dedication struck a chord with the community, sparking a frenzy of excitement as over 30 members eagerly joined in, ready to show off their commitment to RektGuy's wild ride.
Moonbirds founders Kevin Rose and Justin Mezzell were surrounded by their flock during the Moonbirds NFT NYC event, getting permanent love letters to the project they'd nurtured from egg to owlet. After the recent Yuga acquisition, will the sting of the tattoo needle be a reminder of how it feels to be pecked by a parliament of birbs?
Onchain Ink
While physical and digital realms of tattoos are blurring rapidly within web3 communities, the broader tattoo market is mooning. By some estimates, the US tattoo industry alone exceeds $1.6B USD in 2023, and is estimated to be worth $3.93B by 2030.
5B+ people around the globe aren’t onchain and don’t think about wallets, crypto, or NFTs. They want to sign in with their email addresses, pay with a credit card, and access websites through a normal web browser/app. When the product is a utility (get something), consumer crypto apps have a purpose beyond speculation (wen moon). Blockchains can be used behind the curtain to reduce the technical lift associated with aligning incentives, ownership, and provenance without adding scoops of blockchain goop to the experience.
Co:Create Ink launched at Art Basel in December 2023 to bridge the gap between normie and degen tattoo collectors. Partnering with ten world-renowned artists, they are bringing the artistry of tattoos into the digital age with a crypto mullet, sporting a web2 consumer experience upfront with web3 technologies in the back.
Co:Create Ink’s community doesn’t need a master’s degree in crypto to participate. They sign up for an account (aka create a wallet and receive an NFT representing their status) to discover and select the right artist, style, and tattoo design (aka NFT) they want to buy (aka use their credit card to mint an NFT) at a fixed price or by throwing down in an auction. After purchasing a design, they’re not just getting a cool image to stare at—they own a golden ticket to get a priority booking to be inked in person by the artist themselves (UTILITY) that is also a certificate of authenticity, providing proof of when and where the artist rendered their tattoo (aka ownership and provenance).
And since these tattoos are minted as NFTs, the possibilities are endless. Trade 'em, gift 'em, flaunt 'em— owners can do as they please with their new ink. Imagine passing down a digital tattoo from generation to generation, decking out your digital gallery with some seriously swanky tattoo designs, or even licensing art for all the commercial connoisseurs out there. The future is now, my friends...blockchains FTW.
The project isn’t just a concept. It’s working! David Allen, a Chicago tattooer, painter, and creative director, has been tattooing since 2005. As a Founding Artist on the Co:Create Ink team, he sold 15 botanical tattoos at an average price of $3k+ in 60 days, most selling out in under three minutes.
Victor Montaghini, Curt Montgomery, Dillon Forte, Snuffy, Kat Tat, Cleo Kinnaman, Moni Marino, Black Symmetry, and Horimitsu have also joined the party, expanding their reach worldwide to sell their artwork beyond just time and skin. These highly-curated artist’s designs span a range of tattoo styles, so there are options for everyone.
The future will be inked
As we've journeyed through the world of tattoos, one thing is abundantly clear: the future is a blend of pixels and skin, code and canvas, bytes and ink strokes. From NFT communities rocking digital badges as proudly as tattooed sleeves to crypto mullets merging web2 familiarity with web3 innovation, we're witnessing the birth of a new era where identity knows no boundaries. So, whether you're flexing your PFP online or proudly sporting a pixelated character inked into your skin, embrace the chaos, celebrate the fusion, and revel in the boundless possibilities of this brave new world. After all, in the playground of the future, there are no rules—only endless opportunities for fun, freedom, and fearless self-expression.
I appreciate the parallels drawn between tattoos and JPEGs, as someone that has several of both. If you have a tattoo on your body, why not have it on the blockchain as well?
If you want to learn more about onchain tattoos, check out Co:Create Ink or reach out to Patrick directly.
See you next week!
cool, TPan do you have a tattoo?