In a recent tweet that's sparking conversations across the crypto community, Bradley Freeman, Creator Ecosystem Lead at Base and Coinbase, laid out the tough realities facing creators today. He compares running a creator business to a nightmare scenario: scraping by with minimal profits from your main output, having no real insight into your fans, and being shut out from traditional financing. But here's the twist—onchain technology, powered by blockchains like Ethereum's Layer 2 solution Base, is stepping in to flip the script.

Freeman's tweet, posted on X (formerly Twitter), highlights three core pain points for creators, who he views as full-fledged businesses in the digital age. First, creators struggle to monetize their primary products—think posts, profiles, and content that build massive audiences but generate revenue indirectly through ads or sponsorships. Platforms like Instagram or YouTube rake in the big bucks, leaving creators with crumbs.

Second, audience data is locked away. Creators don't own or even fully access info about their followers, making it hard to build direct relationships or tailor experiences. It's like running a store without knowing your customers' shopping habits.

Third, getting loans or capital is a joke. Banks don't understand the value of a viral TikTok account or a loyal Discord community, so creators are left bootstrapping or relying on unpredictable income streams.

But as Freeman argues in his Substack piece titled "Creativity Is the Next Great Asset Class" on coinbrad.substack.com, blockchain is the game-changer. Onchain tools—meaning transactions and data stored transparently on the blockchain—offer elegant solutions, especially for meme token enthusiasts and creators in the crypto space.

Tokenization: Turning Creativity into Tradable Assets

One of the most exciting developments is tokenization, where creators "coin" their social capital. This means launching your own meme token or creator coin, like Freeman's own $COINBRAD. On platforms such as Zora built on Base, creators can mint tokens tied to their brand, content, or community. Every trade of these tokens generates fees that go straight to the creator's wallet— no middleman taking a cut.

For meme token creators, this is huge. Memes thrive on virality and community hype, and tokenizing them allows builders to capture value directly. Imagine launching a token for a popular meme character; as it gains traction, trading volume puts real money back into your pocket. According to onchain data, platforms like Zora have seen over $353 million in trading volume, funneling more than $27 million to creators. That's not pennies—it's serious revenue from your core product.

Owning Your Audience with Onchain Data

Forget platform silos. Onchain uses advanced tech like zkTLS proofs (zero-knowledge proofs that verify web actions without revealing private data) to let fans prove their engagement across the internet. Creators can see who's a true supporter—maybe someone who's bought merch, attended events, or held your token for months.

This ties perfectly into meme tokens, where community is everything. Holders become stakeholders, and with tools like loyalty programs built onchain, you can reward them with airdrops, exclusive content, or even governance rights. It's a shift from faceless followers to an owned, analyzable community, empowering meme creators to build sustainable ecosystems rather than fleeting trends.

Unlocking Capital for Crypto Creators

Traditional banks? Forget them. Onchain finance opens doors to DeFi (decentralized finance) tools tailored for creators. With your tokenized assets providing a clear market cap and verifiable audience data, you can collateralize your creator coin for loans. Projects like Insomnia Labs on Base offer instant stablecoin loans, while funds like Slow Ventures' $60 million Creator Fund are investing directly in this space.

For meme token launches, this means easier scaling. A creator with a hot meme can borrow against their token's value to fund marketing, collaborations, or even real-world events, turning a fun idea into a thriving business.

Freeman's message resonates deeply in the meme token world, where creativity fuels billion-dollar markets overnight. As Gen Z flocks to creator roles, onchain isn't just a buzzword—it's the infrastructure making creativity a viable asset class. If you're diving into meme tokens, keep an eye on Base; it's where the next wave of empowered creators is building.

Check out the original tweet here and Freeman's full Substack article for more depth. What's your take—will meme tokens redefine the creator economy?