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.
It has recently launched “Using the Blockchain to Save Our Sharks (SOS),” an initiative with creative solutions firm Octopus & Whale (O&W), featuring a unique collection of digital assets depicting 200 endangered and rare Philippine sharks, manta 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 Likha co-founder and CEO Gelo Wong.
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.