KNOWLEDGE PLATFORM ABOUT THE WORLD OF CRYPTO, NFTS, AND BLOCKCHAIN

Crypto, NFTs, blockchain… Are they just buzzwords or the future? Charbel Khalil is convinced of the latter. That's why he founded NFT.nl: a knowledge platform about the world of crypto, NFTs, and blockchain, also known as Web3. With this platform, he wants to make this elusive world tangible, so people are ready for the future.

When people think of Web3, they often associate it with gambling, money laundering, and an unstable market. And NFTs are said to be nothing more than 'pictures'. A shame, Charbel thinks. "Because the market is very much in development, it's difficult to obtain reliable information," he explains. "And the information that is available is hard to understand, which quickly turns people off." Charbel knows this from experience. When Bitcoin became increasingly popular, he didn't want to know anything about it. "I was very skeptical. Every time I wanted to delve into it, the information remained superficial and I got stuck again. It was an incredibly steep learning curve."

Crypto in Dubai

It wasn't until Charbel was asked to take on the marketing for a crypto project in Dubai that he fully immersed himself. "In the two weeks I was there, I tried to learn as much as possible. There I was, having dinner in Dubai with big names from the crypto world. It was very surreal. But it's like learning a language: you have to be in the country itself, and you have to speak it. With that in mind, I embarked on that project. Then I realized that Web3 is a huge change that's coming, and we can no longer ignore it. Whether you understand it or not, we're moving towards the world of blockchain and crypto."

Indispensable

Making that world understandable is Charbel's mission. "Take an NFT, for example," Charbel explains. "That stands for non-fungible token. The opposite of fungible tokens, such as Bitcoin. Every Bitcoin is completely interchangeable with every other Bitcoin, just as every euro is interchangeable with another euro. NFTs are more like unique objects, such as art. There are many works by Rembrandt, but not every work is equally interchangeable with another. These unique programmable properties are recorded in digital, unforgeable contracts. If you combine this with blockchain technology, you can replace paper contracts."

Unique Tickets

Another example that captures the imagination is concert tickets. "Every ticket is unique, so you can also view them as an NFT. With blockchain, every ticket is linked to such a digital contract, making them identifiable, traceable, and uncopyable. Moreover, rules can even be encoded into them, for example, regarding royalties, ID requirements, or loyalty programs. This gives artists many creative possibilities and fans more certainty and security."

Testing Assumptions

Charbel also sees potential in other areas. To explore the opportunities, he joined the Innovate GO program. "That was exciting at first, because I didn't know what to expect," says Charbel. "Luckily, I was paired with Peter Langela, who also has an interest in and knowledge of blockchain. The program's approach was very valuable because you really test your assumptions. I also built a very valuable network, which also generated new ideas. So, I really enjoyed the program."

Ready for the future

Charbel is seizing the momentum and continuing to build his platform. "Ten years is a long way off, but by then I hope NFT.nl will be the Wikipedia of the Netherlands when it comes to Web3. I also want to have two services developed by then that can be used. I'm thinking, for example, of creating and verifying Web3 contracts, which we can then also give a quality mark. The internet is entering a new era, and we can't go back. We'd better prepare ourselves well with the right knowledge, so the transition to a more secure internet with more privacy runs smoothly. That's where I want to play a key role with NFT.nl."