In this rapidly digitized era, blockchain technology is quietly changing the way we live, especially how it will shape the digital lives of the next generation. Blockchain is not just a technological breakthrough; it is a new way of value transfer that will empower our children to truly own and control their digital lives and assets.
I. Blockchain: Unleashing the Decentralized Revolution of the Digital Age
The core of blockchain technology lies in its decentralized characteristic. Traditionally, our digital assets and identity information are stored on centralized servers, which places control over our data in the hands of others. Blockchain, through distributed ledgers and cryptographic technology, provides a decentralized, transparent, and immutable way of value exchange and record-keeping.
Blockchain is an ideal decentralized tool that can achieve value transfer and transactions without the support of centralized platforms, breaking the monopoly of traditional centralized platforms and providing users with more choices. The decentralized nature of Dapps (decentralized applications) makes their transaction process completely transparent, with all transaction records recorded on the blockchain, unable to be tampered with or forged, enhancing the fairness and equity of transactions.
This decentralized characteristic means our children will be able to:
Directly participate in decentralized transactions without trusting third-party institutions
Complete control over one's digital asset ownership
Automatically execute complex business logic through smart contracts
Safe and low-cost value transfer on a global scale
Blockchain technology provides unique advantages for creating immutable ownership records. Its distributed characteristics ensure the system's ability to cope with node failures, and consensus mechanisms allow different nodes to reach an agreement, thereby ensuring the stability and security of the entire system.
As blockchain technology continues to develop, frontier areas such as cross-chain interoperability, privacy protection, and quantum computing are emerging. As the technology matures, the application of blockchain in managing digital asset ownership will become more widespread and in-depth, likely disrupting traditional property registration and transaction models, shaping the future landscape of digital asset ownership.
II. Ownership of Digital Assets for the Next Generation
Ownership of digital assets is one of the core transformations that blockchain brings to the next generation. Through NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and DeFi (Decentralized Finance), children will be able to:
NFTs: A New Paradigm of Digital Ownership
NFTs represent a digital asset that is based on blockchain technology, possessing unique attributes and irreplaceability. NFTs, or "Non-Fungible Tokens," are a type of digital asset based on blockchain technology. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, NFTs are unique and cannot be replicated or exchanged for items of equal value. The "non-fungible" nature of NFTs means that each NFT has unique attributes, codes, and history, ensuring its uniqueness in the digital world.
Through blockchain technology, NFTs ensure the immutability of ownership and transaction records, providing authenticity and transparency. This also makes it an ideal form for digital content and assets.
We have already seen some encouraging cases:
12-Year-Old Boy's NFT Miracle: This August, according to the New York Times, a 12-year-old boy from London, Benjamin Ahmed, launched his NFT series (weird whales) in July, which sold out in 9 hours, bringing Benjamin an income of 80 Ethereum, equivalent to over $350,000.
Digital Art by Autistic Children: Kade Rainbow Commercial Center, in collaboration with Rainbow Pen Charity, has transformed 50 artworks by autistic children into NFT digital collectibles, nurturing the dreams of the children in an innovative way and allowing more people to experience the kindness conveyed through the power of technology and art. This is also the first attempt by a commercial project under Kade Group to participate in charitable activities through a new form of online virtual digital collectibles.
14-Year-Old Girl's Charitable NFT: Abigail, also known as PeachSunday, is a 14-year-old girl who is a freshman in high school this year. After selling her 8,000 NFT artworks on Solana, she garnered over $435,000 in sales. She donates about 10% of her earnings to several whale rescue organizations and another approximately 10% to the Sunshine Children's Foundation for building children's hospitals.
10-Year-Old Boy's NFT Emoji: Recently, a 10-year-old boy earned an astonishing $2.5 million during the summer by selling NFT emojis. To create his own NFT emojis, the boy first learned front-end development skills, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. He used these skills to design a series of fun and unique emojis, each with its own distinctive features and styles.
These cases demonstrate how blockchain can provide young people with new economic opportunities and platforms for creative expression, while also contributing to charitable causes and helping special groups.
DeFi: The Rise of Decentralized Finance
DeFi (Decentralized Finance) is a financial service based on blockchain technology that aims to eliminate centralized institutions and intermediaries in traditional finance, achieving a more open and transparent financial system. DeFi applications include lending, trading, stablecoins, liquidity mining, etc. Users can engage in financial activities through smart contracts and decentralized exchanges without trusting third-party institutions.
The combination of NFTs and DeFi is becoming increasingly important as NFTs are being used more frequently for the trading and exchange of digital assets. NFTs can easily integrate with smart contracts and DeFi protocols to build new financial applications. For example, NFTs can be used as collateral for lending or trading. The uniqueness of NFTs means they can provide higher value as collateral, making loans more secure. Through DeFi protocols, users can deposit NFTs into collateral pools to obtain loans or interest.
III. Education and Guidance: Helping the Next Generation Navigate the Blockchain World
As blockchain technology becomes more widespread, it is increasingly important to educate the next generation to correctly understand and use these technologies. We need to:
Establishing a Blockchain Education System Suitable for Teenagers
From basic cryptographic knowledge to the fundamental principles of smart contracts, help children understand the essence of blockchain technology. For example, at an international school in Shenzhen, ten-year-old students are trading stocks using virtual currencies in a financial literacy practice class. They analyze financial statements, calculate price-to-earnings ratios, and discuss industry prospects, with their youthful faces reflecting an extraordinary focus beyond their age.
Cultivating Digital Literacy and Risk Management Skills
Educate children to understand the unique nature, potential risks, and security measures of digital assets. For instance, through Blockcerts—the credential blockchain, students and teachers can reach a digital agreement regarding assignment content, submission dates, and grading deadlines, and can also deploy smart contracts for student loan payments.
Developing Blockchain Platforms Suitable for Teenagers
Creating simple-to-use, secure blockchain platforms and tools to protect teenagers from harm while enjoying the benefits of technology. For example, MIC, as the world's first blockchain online education implementation project, will issue MIC tokens to become the first digital cryptocurrency designed for online education consumption, providing educational services based on blockchain and smart contracts on a peer-to-peer network, thus achieving comprehensive decentralization and seamless connection between educational resources and users.
The Role of Parents and Educators
Parents and teachers need to understand blockchain technology in order to effectively guide children. For example, organizations like DeFi education funds have begun efforts in this area, providing blockchain education to legislators and the general public, helping society better understand and accept this technology.
IV. Future Outlook: How Blockchain Will Reshape the Lives of the Next Generation
Looking ahead, blockchain technology will profoundly impact the lives of the next generation in multiple ways:
Digital Identity and Privacy
The application of blockchain in digital identity verification primarily reflects its unique technical characteristics and security. In the digital identity verification process, users' identity information is encrypted and stored on the blockchain, creating an immutable digital identity credential. This credential can be verified by multiple parties, thereby increasing the transparency and credibility of the verification process.
Education and Certification
The management of educational digital assets based on blockchain has broad prospects. Blockchain technology can be used to manage educational digital assets, including e-books, videos, and course materials. Blockchain technology can securely store and transmit these assets and prevent them from being stolen or tampered with. Additionally, blockchain technology can also be used to track the usage of educational digital assets and support copyright protection.
For instance, Blockcerts, created by Learning Machine in collaboration with MIT's Media Lab, is an open platform that can create, issue, and verify blockchain-based academic credentials. By creating records similar to academic transcripts and certificates on the blockchain, Blockcerts allows for the verification of document authenticity and detection of fraudulent information. Academic records—grades, report cards, and even diplomas—can be stored on the Blockcerts blockchain, providing an immutable academic history.
Economic Activities
The emergence of digital assets will fundamentally change the way information circulates. Digital assets, based on blockchain technology, have characteristics such as decentralization, distribution, immutability, and traceability, ensuring that ownership of digital assets is uniquely confirmed. Unlike traditional assets, the ownership of digital assets can be automatically executed through smart contracts without the need for third-party intervention. This verifiable characteristic makes digital assets safer, more transparent, and more efficient in transactions.
Social Governance
Blockchain technology can be used to create a decentralized digital identity repository for students, recording information such as students' learning histories, skills certifications, academic achievements, etc. This identity repository can not only provide identity verification but also enable applications such as degree certification, credit transfer, and professional qualification certification. Through blockchain technology, educational institutions can establish a more transparent and credible verification system, improve verification efficiency, reduce the risk of human error, while protecting students' personal privacy.
Conclusion: Embracing the Future of Blockchain
Blockchain technology is ushering in a new era in which our children will have their own true digital lives. They will be able to manage their lives and assets in a more autonomous, secure, and efficient manner.
As parents, educators, and policymakers, we need to actively embrace this technology while ensuring that the next generation receives adequate education and protection to help them thrive in this new digital world. With the right guidance and appropriate tools, we can maximize the positive impact of blockchain technology and enable our next generation to be true masters of the digital age.
