NFTs driving change: There’s no stopping Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova

I think Sunday mornings are for lazy breakfasts and great reading in bed. And if it’s too cold in the part where you live, add a blanket or two. While I can’t promise you a great read, I guarantee you some food for thought, something inspiring, or maybe even a little hope.

you welcome in NFTs are driving change—a fortnightly column where I highlight projects and creators who are using NFTs and other Web3 tools to make an impact in the real world. In this issue, I highlight the co-founder of Pussy Riot, Nadya Tolokonnikova’s latest NFT project: Matriarchy Now.

First, let me tell you about Nadia Tolkonnikova

I came across Pussy Riot, the Russian punk band, when I was doing graduate school in journalism in 2018. At the time, a classmate of mine introduced me as one of her favorite feminist icons. But, I admit, mostly in the last year I’ve become familiar with the Pussy Riot business, especially at the intersection of Web3 and activism. Amidst this, the founding member of the punk group, Nadia Tolkonnikova, stood out. Both for her personal business as well as for Pussy Riot’s business.

Nadia, a theater artist, feminist, and politician, co-founded the website Pussy Riot in 2011. The following year, Russian authorities arrested her and two other members on charges of “riotTo protest against Vladimir Putin in a cathedral in Moscow. Over the years, she has continued to fight for various causes, often embracing different digital tools to further her activism. The latest on this is encryption, NFTs, and a host of other Web3 tools.

Driving Change NFTs: Using Web3 for Activity

After dropping several NFTs in 2021Nadya, along with other crypto artists and developers, founded UnicornDAO to empower feminist, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ artists. One way to do this is to use the money they collect to buy NFTs from these artists. In a recent interview with Rolling StoneNadja talked about how some of the LGBT artists supported by UnicornDAO used money to flee Russia.

“We have used this money quite literally to save their lives and now they are living in a safe place,” she told the media.

Another creation followed DAOAnd Ukraine, to raise money for war-stricken Ukraine. Then came a file Proof of NFT invocation Dropping in support of reproductive rights organizations in the wake of the Roe v. Wade ruling. To be honest, it got me into my “feminist bottle.”

For those unfamiliar with the business, here is a summary of what she said during the launch of the limited edition NFT: “We live in a world where almost everything is for sale. And now you can get it at a discount when you buy more than one bottle of Raw Extra Virgin from Feminism. Your vote is yours even though your womb isn’t (in America). No government, no company can take that away.” From you “.

Starting in 2023 with Mother System Now

Bad market conditions or not, Nadia kicked off the year with another strong drop in the NFT. This time in partnership with Rolling Stone and Queen Biz. entitled “Mother system nowThe group was created in collaboration with famous photographer and artist Ellen von Unwerth. On January 11, 11 NFTs were sold, resulting in just over 20 ETH.

All proceeds from sales will go to LegalAbortion.ETH, UnicornDAO’s fundraising portfolio for reproductive rights organizations. To date, the wallet has supported several organizations with nearly $500,000. The list includes the SisterSung Women of Color reproductive collective, Fos Feminista, and Planned Parenthood, among others.

All of this sheds light on the most impactful aspect of NFTs. like Nadia said earlier“NFTs [are] The beginning of one of the most influential movements in the history of modern art.” Using Web3 tools to support a number of causes, Nadya and Pussy Riot set a prime example of how NFTs can be used to make an impact in the real world.