a prediction market for artists & trends

I came across this new trading platform yesterday, Zora. From what I can tell, it’s just another prediction market, like Kalshi, but it specifically trades on the growth of creators/artists, posts, and trends (buying and selling shares like stocks). 

I’m very curious as to what the internet’s general consensus is on the whole thing, specifically in various music subcultures. 

On one hand, I feel the allure a bit; being someone who has a specific interest in smaller/undervalued artists, part of me feels like it could be a good opportunity to monetize that, even on a small scale. 

On the other, I asked a colleague about it and they immediately shrugged it off like another coin scam: “jfc… late-stage capitalism”. There is no doubt that this whole thing is a surreal example of oversaturated consumerism, but is there any value in it at all?

I decided to check it out myself and, I can’t lie, as of right now it seems mostly dominated by coin scam adjacent users, bots, and crypto fiends. 

However, some artists and curators seem to have hopped on the wave already – Edward Skeletrix, bassvictim, Isabella Lovestory, madjestikkasual, sadprt, and Nina Protocol all have accounts (although Nina’s isn’t verified yet).

Since it’s pretty early in its inception, I’d assume people have mixed opinions, but I’m curious to see what you think. Will you join? Or is it just another online money pit scam… I will update as time goes by.