A paper magazine devoted to "web3" and distributed free of charge to 400,000 copies next mid-June in the main cities of France?

This is the bet of the 20 Minutes newspaper, a sign of the growing interest in this complex subject which has been in the public debate for more than a year.

If its supporters describe it as the new version of a freer and more decentralized internet thanks to the "blockchain", the technology behind non-fungible tokens ("NFT") and cryptocurrencies, the "web3" still remains for its detractors a concept that agitates especially the tech and communicators sphere.

Called "20 Mint", one of the ambitions of this magazine is to give readers "a maximum of information so that they can form their own idea of ​​these technologies which will have an impact on their everyday life". explains to AFP Laurent Bainier, editor-in-chief at 20 Minutes, at the origin of the project.

Hence the bet on the paper format to allow "indiscriminate" access to information on these subjects still too reserved for a technophile audience, he adds.

"You really have to address people who don't care."

Interview with Macron

BFM Business, a channel specializing in economic subjects belonging to the same group as BFM TV, has also launched since April programs devoted to the "crypto" universe, a podcast and even a dedicated website.

Some 8% of French people have already invested in cryptocurrencies, according to a study by the consulting firm KPMG published in mid-February, while 30% of them plan to acquire them, according to an Ipsos poll dated January.

Based on this potential audience, former journalists from L'Express and Capital, Raphaël Bloch and Grégory Raymond, founded in early April, with their partner Dimitri Granger, "The Big Whale", a media which aims to become the "reference" in France and Europe on the "web3".

Inspired by the success of American specialized media such as the newsletter with more than 200,000 subscribers "Bankless" or the information site "The Block", which they describe as the "Financial Times of crypto", "The Big Whale" offers two weekly newsletters: one free, more for the general public, and another paid, enriched with premium content.

Their first big hit?

An exclusive interview with Emmanuel Macron between the two rounds of the presidential election, in which the then presidential candidate revealed his digital ambitions and his vision of "web3".

Journalism 3.0

Enough to sign a start beyond expectations.

"We made, in one month, the figures that we had planned for six months", indicates to AFP Raphaël Bloch, namely nearly a thousand paying subscribers and 10,000 free subscribers, while the three co -founders invested "a few thousand euros" on their own funds to get started.

"Above all, we have a lot of marks of interest from + business angels +, who are seduced by our vision of things", in particular "on the need to renew the approach in the media, as in any industry", adds. -he.

By agreeing to be paid in cryptocurrency, "The Big Whale" also hopes to "revolutionize" the link with subscribers.

Because taking an interest in "web3" also means having the ambition to transform the practice of journalism, as well as its economic model, in the era of NFTs and "decentralized governance".

To finance "20 Mint", 20 Minutes, for example, put 999 "NFT" typewriters on sale.

Result: the equivalent of 280,000 euros collected in cryptocurrencies in less than 20 hours.

As a reward, the holders of these "NFTs" will be able to join the "editorial community", suggest topics and even vote for those who will be written by the editorial staff of 20 Minutes for this special issue.

Like an air of journalism 3.0.

© 2022 AFP