The digi asset boom… You just splurged $100 on Nikes and concert tickets — and you’ll never see any of those IRL. In 2022, digital asset shopping could become as mainstream as Etsy orders. Digital asset sales have boomed this year, from NFT art to virtual apparel and real estate. NFT sales hit $23B in 2021, surging 7X from 2020. Art auction sales alone hit a record $6.5B, largely thanks to NFTs. E-pparel is booming, so Nike filed trademarks for virtual shoes and merch. As people prepare for an immersive internet future, more treasures could live on the blockchain.
The “free work” revolution… First you’re in the office two days a week, then you’re Zooming in from an Airbnb boathouse in Guam. The pandemic changed priorities, while showing us that remote work works. US job openings soared to records as workers eyed better options. A key factor = flexibility. Nearly 75% of employees want to continue hybrid or remote work, and 1 in 4 say they’d quit if they had to return full-time. There’s still plenty of uncertainty with Omicron cases surging. Since less than 40% of employers plan to require full-time presence post-pandemic, “free work” could be here to stay.