Zack Guzmán, the founder of Coinage Media, just dropped a fascinating update on X that highlights the game-changing potential of Web3 for content creators. If you're into meme tokens or the broader creator economy on blockchain, this is a must-read. Guzmán's thread dives into how his team's viral YouTube video isn't just racking up views—it's fueling a sophisticated attention flywheel that puts traditional platforms like YouTube to shame.

The Viral Hit: Tom Lee on Ethereum's Supercycle

It all starts with a fireside chat Guzmán hosted with Tom Lee from Fundstrat at the Korea Blockchain Week (KBW). The video, titled "Tom Lee Predicts Ethereum Will Hit...," exploded on YouTube, pulling in over 60,000 views in under 24 hours and climbing to 91,839 shortly after. For context, that's massive engagement for crypto content, especially one discussing Ethereum's potential "supercycle"—a term for a prolonged bull run driven by network upgrades and adoption.

But here's where it gets interesting: YouTube's payout? A measly $472.36. In the Web2 world, that's the end of the story—creators scrape by on ad revenue crumbs. Guzmán, however, is building something different at Coinage Media, leveraging blockchain to create real ownership and value for the community.

Building the Attention Flywheel on Web3

Guzmán compares Coinage's model to Michael Saylor's Bitcoin strategy at MicroStrategy—treating attention as an asset class. In traditional media, platforms like YouTube capture most of the value from ads and data. Coinage flips the script by making the outlet community-owned through NFTs and tying performance directly to onchain tokens.

First off, Coinage is structured as a co-op where anyone can mint one of 5,000 NFTs to become an equal owner. This gives holders a stake in the IP, treasury (over 100 ETH), and associated tokens like the $PLYBTN meme coin and $COINAGE creator coin on Zora (built on Base, Ethereum's layer-2 scaling solution).

The flywheel kicks in with views:

• Token Burns Based on Views: Every month, Coinage burns $PLYBTN tokens proportional to YouTube views. More watches mean more burns, increasing scarcity. $PLYBTN, fair-launched in March without fake volumes or market makers, has seen its value rise as supply tightens.

• DAO and NFT Value Boost: The Coinage DAO holds the majority of $PLYBTN. As the token appreciates, so does the DAO's treasury, which in turn lifts the value of Coinage NFTs (up over 100% since launch). You can still mint them or grab one on OpenSea.

• Ad Revenue Reinvented: Higher views attract better ads. Coinage's parent company, Trustless Media, introduced an "ad-space as NFT" auction tool. Bidders buy ad slots directly, with proceeds flowing back to the co-op. For this video alone, the top bid hit $1,000—far more efficient than conference sponsorships that cost 30x as much for fewer eyes.

• Patronage Dividends: As a US co-op, Coinage can distribute profits to NFT holders at year-end, creating a direct incentive loop.

The $1.5 Million Surge: Web3 vs. Web2

In his follow-up post, Guzmán revealed the stark contrast: while YouTube doled out pennies, the market cap of their $COINAGE creator coin on Zora/Base skyrocketed by $1.5 million. This isn't luck—it's the flywheel in action. Attention drives token value, community ownership amplifies it, and everything happens transparently onchain.

Guzmán salutes Jesse Pollak, Base's lead, for enabling this ecosystem. And the community is buzzing—replies range from pledges to launch creator coins to cheers for Web3's disruptive power.

Why This Matters for Meme Tokens and Blockchain Creators

For meme token enthusiasts, $PLYBTN exemplifies how utility (tied to real-world metrics like views) can sustain hype beyond pumps and dumps. It's not just a joke—it's a mechanism for value accrual in the creator economy. Similarly, $COINAGE shows how platforms like Zora are democratizing monetization, letting creators capture attention's true worth without middlemen.

Coinage is pioneering what Guzmán calls the "arbiter of narrative and truth" in crypto media, steered by NFT holders. With more announcements teased for October, this could be the blueprint for the next wave of onchain content. If you're building in blockchain, keep an eye on Coinage Media—it's redefining how we think about media, memes, and money.

Check out the full thread on X for the raw details. What's your take on this model? Could it spark a meme coin renaissance tied to real content?