Virtual Natives

11Meet the Degens

As we have seen, Virtual Natives often begin earning and controlling their own money online as teenagers, as soon as they're old enough to start streaming on Twitch or marketing their digital sneakers on Roblox. This makes them one of the most financially savvy generations ever. Couple this with the upheavals in traditional markets that have shaped their worldview, and the rise of alternative Blockchain‐based methods for capturing value, and we see VNs unafraid to take risks that their elders may be more likely to shy away from. Looking ahead to the technologies that will drive new forms of exchange, we explore what ignites the imagination of Virtual Natives as they search for financial autonomy, and importantly, control.

The Fever Is Rising

The scene was ArtBasel, December 2022. The romantic lull of the tropical evening – palm trees adorned with tiny lights, like shining pearls piercing the neon‐blue night sky, swaying gently overhead – contrasted sharply with the focused agenda. The talk was about parties, but these parties meant business.

“Where did you go today?”

“I went to Bit Basel and Gateway; you?”

“Yeah, I went to see Gary Vee talk. There was a private reception after so I did that, and then I swung by Nolcha. I'm hitting up Moonpay later – you?”

“Yeah, that's cool. I wanna go, but I hear there's a thing with Snoop on a boat. I'm trying to get the link for the QR code now. We should be back in time for Moonpay or the Degen DJ fest later. I mean, ...