why notcoin is metamodern

(this is a text version of a video essay https://t.me/notkeychain/24)

The internet, which once promised freedom and democracy, has instead reinforced old power structures. Instead of an open society, we now have a system where technology and algorithms are used to manipulate, isolate, and create the illusion of choice.

Web3 emerged as a response to the crisis of trust in centralized systems. It is an attempt to find new ways to live together in digital space, driven by the desire for greater freedom and sincere connection on the internet.

Telegram has become a bridge between Web3 and the mass audience, providing a seamless space where social connections, the economy, and technology merge into a unified whole, shaping a new stage of digital evolution. By launching on Telegram, many were able to create their projects without the friction of building a separate app or platform, gaining access to an environment that connected people and created a sense of participation in something bigger.

Notcoin was one of them. It started as a simple game—tap the button, earn coins. It first gained attention thanks to its referral programs and viral minimalist game mechanics, which spread through Telegram channels and groups. Very quickly, millions of people worldwide started "tapping," engaging in a system that was both entertainment and a new kind of economy.

While earlier projects also used "tap-to-earn" mechanics, Notcoin became successful because it leveraged Telegram as a platform with a strong social component. But that wasn’t the only reason for its massive attention and growth.

Because have you tried to make people believe not in avatars, words, or promises, but in actually nothing?

The "Believe in nothing" narrative played a crucial role in the project's widespread adoption. People are tired of alienated communication through media; the picture they are presented with on the Web is dramatically different from reality. The general feeling of young people who aren't privileged trust fund kids is that there is no future. Why save for a house or start a family you can never afford? And even if you could afford it, it’s only a matter of time before it gets wiped out by wars and climate change.

That is the dark zeitgeist that serves as the foundation of metamodernism. It is what decades of modernism and postmodernism have led to.

Modernism tried to convince us to believe in grand narratives of collective meaning and universal, precise, and correct ways to exist as a society. We know how that ended.

Postmodernism was a reaction to the catastrophes of the 20th century caused by modernism. The ultimate attitude of postmodernism is summed up best in Camus' absurdism: Life has no inherent meaning, so accept it, don't worry about it, and don't even try. Just live your life.

The attitude of metamodernism, on the other hand, is a rejection of this postmodern cynicism and apathy. Instead, it oscillates between irony and sincerity, skepticism and hope, recognizing that even if the world lacks meaning, we can still create it. There are no real answers here, just an acknowledgment of systemic problems that need to somehow be fixed.

In a space often dominated by grand visions and overpromises, Notcoin didn’t offer a whitepaper, a roadmap, or a charismatic founder. The most important thing it had was direct and sincere communication that felt intimate and important to people.

Notcoin, like metamodernism, differs from its predecessors in that it is process-oriented rather than product-oriented and is therefore expected and encouraged to adapt and evolve over time. Modernism and postmodernism, by contrast, are closed-loop systems—one a utopian vision, the other a dystopian dead-end.

It wasn't just about rejecting and critiquing modernity. It invited participation in a collective experiment, attempting to shape new forms of human cooperation. The idea of "believing in nothing" paradoxically gave people something to rally around.

Notcoin offered an idea that was not a naive belief in progress but a conscious choice to act despite recognizing the world’s complexity and contradictions. It created a space for exploration, experimentation, and attempts to address systemic issues. The key is not to be paralyzed by fear or disillusionment but to try, cooperate, and keep moving forward.

Credits:

Vermeulen, T., & van den Akker, R. (2010). Notes on Metamodernism. Journal of Aesthetics & Culture, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.3402/jac.v2i0.5677

Freinacht, H. (2017). The Listening Society: A Metamodern Guide to Politics, Book One. Metamoderna.

Fisher, M. (2009). Capitalist realism: Is there no alternative? Zero Books.

Reddit Metamodernism subpage. https://www.reddit.com/r/metamodernism/

Songs:

7038634357 – Afterall

Full resolution:
https://vimeo.com/1062773295/e3a522d719?ts=0&share=copy