More than just the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) disciplines were involved, for a non-religious spiritual expressiveness along with a re-imagining of civics and economics also characterized the pioneers who paved the way toward a cultural renewal. Religion, politics, and finance were not first tier change-agents, but rather resulting shifts caused by the well-rounded innovation that affected all aspects of everyday life.

Those who teach on the 1st Renaissance often list these tale-tale signs: the rebirth of Naturalism, perspective and depth in art, the integration of non-religious themes, privately owned and usually commissioned art, advancements in new technologies such as printing and gunpowder, and the shift in balance of power among Europe's ruling elite (byjus.com).

The Industrial Revolution followed and “transformed economies that had been based on agriculture and handicrafts into economies based on large-scale industry, mechanized manufacturing, and the factory system” (Britannica).

Isn’t this same type of thing happening right now?

I would suggest a 2nd Renaissance has already begun.

The blending of science, tech, engineering, art, math, civics, and finance are all occurring across the landscape of web3 innovations like Crypto, NFTs, DAOs, the Metaverse, Play-to-Earn Gaming, and DeFi. More and more over the next few years, we will see physical living blurred with digital living, and all of it will be characterized by artistic expression combined with technological innovation demonstrated in everyday uses that alter the very way we live, work, rest, and play.

It’s already happening. Most evident is the demonstration of it in the rise of blockchain technology.

NFTs are much more than digital art, but their artistry nonetheless will be remembered and displayed as cultural icons when historians recount this 2nd Renaissance. The identity and purpose being rebirthed in this moment is most appropriately expressed in the art of NFT and Metaverse communities.

Right now, digital ownership of art as permanent visuals is happening because of the blockchain. In the 1st Renaissance, art was commissioned for the purpose of permanent visuals highlighting the identities of various families who could afford to have them made. And the technological tools being developed right now are much akin to the more rudimentary yet no-less revolutionary tech tools developed in the Industrial Revolution.

The political landscape will be slow to adjust, but adjust it will. What has been known as geographical borders with native communities will within the next decade transform into metaverse borders with diverse, integrated communities from all over the physical world. The governance structures will be challenged and forced to adapt, as will the infrastructure and security mechanisms those governments have controlled.

The “church” will also be slow, as usual, to recognize. Similar to what happened before, spiritual themes weaved all throughout creativity and innovation right now will at some point inspire religious engagement that will radically challenge what institutional religion has become. It is most likely that another “95 Theses” will be virtually nailed to the door of church buildings everywhere. Hopefully the result will be better for those who nail them than it was for Luther and his contemporaries.

The Decentralized Revolution that is happening actually makes a lot of sense. Economies are no longer based on physical work in one centralized physical location. So, why wouldn’t the currencies, the tools needed, and the methods of manufacturing be revolutionized to include a more digital, virtual, and decentralized way of life?

“So what,” you might say. Well, what matters now is a very simple question:

How will you participate?

Our answers will vary, from “I won’t” all the way to “I will be remembered as the innovator who invented or created such-and-such.”

Make no mistake, though, the 2nd Renaissance and Decentralized Revolution are here.

My hope is that we will lean in together in life-giving ways and create a more beautiful humanity together.

Keep up with more of the crazy stuff I’m thinking on Twitter and LinkedIn.

In early March of this year, I launched DECENTRAFIVE.

It’s a 5(ish) minute podcast highlighting the “who” of web3.

We interview the people behind the projects and the teams developing the technology in order to advance the “Decentralized Revolution” into our everyday rhythms as well as to establish this “2nd Renaissance” by educating the next generation.

But it’s much more than that!!!

Imagine this:

:: There’s a young woman whose family has battled to exit the cycles of poverty for years. She gets educated into a career in web3 that enables her to help her family to engage in the global economy like never before. She then mentors five other young men and women along the same pathway.

:: There’s a young man who never dreamed of a tech career much less the income that it would provide. Through our awareness and education efforts, he re-imagines his future and accepts an entry level role with a web3 company, only to become a senior leader within 5 years. He then mentors five other young women and men to re-imagine their futures, too.

So, we are launching crowdfund rounds on two different blockchains: ethereum and the internet computer protocol.

If you’re passionate about:

(1) highlighting the brilliant and beautiful people building on the blockchain,

(2) making more people aware of the actual innovations and use case potential blockchain tech makes possible, and

(3) educating the next generation of innovators who may have never even imagined themselves in a tech career much less a blockchain tech career,

…THEN I hope you will consider joining the effort by crowdfunding DECENTRAFIVE!

Here’s the info about the crowdfunding opportunity on ethereum via Mirror:

crowdfund://0xE24fD22249F723d049a2245ed673aF4B7C095b3F?version=podium_1&network=mainnet

The link to the crowdfunding site on the IC via Crowdfund NFTs will be available soon.

Here is an overview of our PLAN and PURPOSE:

March 2022 | launch with 1 to 2 episodes per week.

May 2022 | crowdfund on both the Ethereum and Internet Computer blockchains. upon crowdfund completion, give full focus to release 5 episodes per week and sharpen the quality of what is being published.

July 2022 | in partnership with 5 educational and tech innovators, launch the “Ed EnDAOment” DAO to begin fund-raising for a global education initiative for the next generation on all things blockchain, crypto, fin-tech, dApps, P2E, NFTs, DAOs, etc. with a learning environment housed in a dedicated Metaverse space so that students from across the world can participate.

Scholarship for equipment will be offered when needed.

TRIAL RUN Cohort - January 2023. 


1st Residency - August 2023.

August 2022 | drop an NFT collection of collaborative projects with select guests whom we have had on the show, with a % of the proceeds going to a cause voted on by the “FOUNDER” and “D5er” NFT holders.

November 2022 | begin offering one quarterly event in a metaverse venue that will be a learning environment with select DECENTRAFIVE guests focused on 5 questions related to one area of web3.

December 2022 | launch the DECENTRAFIVE merch line. Holders of the “FOUNDER” and “D5er” NFTs will vote on 5 items to launch with.

January 2023 | launch the first DECENTRAFIVE Ed EnDAOment Next Gen Cohort as a trial run on how to engage and equip in a Metaverse learning environment.

2023 | face to face parties at 5 major web3 events, with one “FOUNDER” and one “D5er” winning a free tickey to the event.

August 2023 | launch the 1st official Residency Cohort of the DECENTRAFIVE Ed EnDAOment.

January 2024 | begin offering an annual face-to-face AND metaverse event that is a learning environment focused on 5 areas of web3 innovation, engaged with multiple DAOs, sponsored by leaders in each of those 5 areas, to be held in a warm climate city with a look-alike space in the metaverse.

August 2024 | launch the 2nd Residency Cohort of the DECENTRAFIVE Ed EnDAOment.

THE PURPOSE: to educate as many as possible as equitably as possible for a successful career in web3.

*If you have any questions, please DM us at DECENTRAFIVE on Twitter.*