Into the Nouniverse: Decoding the Unique World of Nouns and their Bold Approach to Governance.

This post is taking part in the Nouns x Kiwi writing contest.

So, you’re scrolling through your daily dose of crypto updates, minding your business, when you stumble upon something called Nouns. You probably squint a little, think “Hmm, what’s this about?” and keep moving.

But wait! Before you swipe away, let me tell you why Nouns might be the most fascinating thing to happen in the decentralized world since… well, ever.

This isn’t just about NFTs, it’s a movement, a philosophy. And if you’re here for some good old-fashioned crypto chaos mixed with a dash of humor, stay with me as we go into the Nouniverse together.

➠ Being Nounish: A State of Mind or Just a Vibe?

Okay, confession time. I thought being “Nounish” had something to do with being a noun person. You know, someone who’s way too into grammar. Turns out I was wrong, and thank goodness for that because it turns out being Nounish is way cooler than that and much more interesting.

So, let’s kick things off with the million-dollar (or should I say million-ETH?) question ↓

What does it mean to be Nounish? Is it a way of life? A philosophy? Or is it just a bunch of pixelated characters running wild in the multiverse?

Here’s the thing…

Being Nounish is a bit of all of the above. It’s a cultural signal that you believe in the power of decentralization and community-driven creation.

It’s about flipping the traditional ways of doing things and saying “Hey, what if we all got to decide how this works?”

In the Nouniverse, being Nounish means you are part of a collective with a say in how things are done, provided you own a Noun. Each Noun is a pixelated character, representing not just ownership, but participation in the Nouns DAO where One noun is being auctioned every 24 hours.

Instead of one person calling the shots, it’s a bunch of people from around the globe, each contributing their ideas and creativity. It’s a mindset that says “We can create together” without a single entity dictating every move.

Since popping up in 2021, nouns have done more than just create a funky little niche in the NFT market. They have built something bigger, something weirder, something that’s starting to feel like a sneak peek into the future of decentralized governance and how communities can come together to create real-world impact.

What are the unwritten rules that shape the Nounish identity?

➜Rule one: Have Fun.

Seriously, the Nouniverse isn’t some boring corporate boardroom. It’s a place where you get to be playful while also pushing boundaries.

➜Rule two: Collaboration over competition.

Nounish Folks are the kind who share their toys in the sandbox. Share your ideas, even the crazy ones cause it’s all about collaboration in the Nouniverse.

➜Rule three: Be weird, but in a good way

Being Nounish means being different. In fact the weirder your idea, the more Nounish you probably are (lol). So if you’ve ever wanted to suggest something crazy like “Hey, let's build a pixelated Noun zoo”, this is your crowd.

Flipping Brand Building on its Head: What Nouns Can Teach Us

Traditional brand building is pretty straightforward. You get a big company with a marketing team that tells you what to think, feel and do.

But Nouns, being Nounish as they are, flipped the whole thing upside down.

Instead of keeping things locked up behind boardroom doors, Nouns put their entire brand out there in the wild, open-source, and ready for anyone to take, remix, and run with.

Noun kind of gave everyone keys to the brand and said “Go Nuts.” It kind of sounds like a complete disaster, right? Well, that’s pretty much what Nouns did and it worked.

With this approach, the Nouniverse has become a collaborative project where anyone can contribute to the brand, propose new ideas, or take the brand in a completely new direction. The result has been a beautiful brand identity that no single person could have created on their own. It’s the opposite of control-freak corporate branding and it feels like a breath of fresh air.

What does this teach us? Well, maybe the best brands aren’t built behind closed doors. Brand-building might just be more fun(and more effective) when it’s a team sport, and when you let the community call the plays, you might just end up with something far more creative than you ever imagined.

How Has Nouns Approach to Governance Reshaped the Way We Think about Decentralized Communities?

Now, we all know the promises of decentralized governance: more freedom, inclusivity, and transparency. But in reality, it’s often messy and inefficient, right?

Well, Nouns didn't get the memo.

Somehow, Nouns has managed to pull off decentralized governance in a way that actually works.

Nouns operate through a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) where every Noun holder gets a vote on the future of the project.

The Nouns DAO makes decisions collectively. And while there’s always some chaos involved when you give a whole community the power to decide things, Nouns has managed to make it work without it descending into chaos.

What’s particularly fascinating is how wide-ranging the proposal can be. This isn't just about voting on technical upgrades or trivial decisions; the Nouns DAO funds real-world initiatives. Thanks to the Nouns Community, everything from open-source software to public goods has been proposed, funded, and brought to life.

The Special Prompt: Can Nouns Be the Face of Crypto?

Okay, so, can Nouns be the face of crypto?

Let me ask you this: Can a pixelated sunglasses wearing NFT character compete with the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum or whatever meme coin is popular this week? Yeah, why not?

Nouns aren’t just some random NFT project. They’ve got something bigger going on, something that combines creativity, community, and real word impact.

If Nouns became the face of crypto, it would completely change the way people view the space. Instead of focusing on the money-driven side of things, people might start to see it as a place for innovation, fun and community building.

And let's be real, it’d be a lot more fun than seeing another corporate blockchain project plastered across billboards.

Whether Nouns become the face of crypto or just continue doing their Nounish thing in the corner of web3, one thing’s for sure, they’ve changed the game. And if you’re not paying attention yet, now’s a pretty good time to start.

After all, who wouldn't want to be a little more Nounish?