Pixels with a Purpose — How Layla Chen Turned NFTs into Activism
Ch Hamza
When Layla Chen minted her first NFT, it wasn’t to chase crypto hype—it was to make a statement. Her digital artwork, titled “Breathless,” depicted a city choked by smog, with a single tree glowing in defiance. emerging entrepreneurs profiles. She donated every cent to an environmental justice group in Beijing. That moment sparked a movement.
Layla is a digital artist, coder, and activist who’s redefining what blockchain art can be. Her platform, “ChainReaction,” curates NFT collections that fund social causes—from climate action to refugee support. “Art should do more than hang on a wall,” she says. “It should move people to act.”
Her journey began in Shanghai, where she studied visual design and volunteered with climate organizations. Frustrated by the lack of funding and visibility for grassroots efforts, she saw NFTs as a bridge. “It was a way to connect global collectors with local impact,” she explains.
ChainReaction launched in 2021 with a simple model: artists submit work tied to a cause, collectors purchase the NFT, and proceeds go directly to vetted nonprofits. Each NFT includes a smart contract that ensures transparency and traceability of donations. Layla also built a dashboard where buyers can see the real-world outcomes of their purchases—trees planted, meals served, shelters built.
The platform quickly gained traction. Celebrities endorsed it. Crypto influencers amplified it. Layla’s own collections—like “Digital Dissent” and “Hope Protocol”—sold out within hours. But she’s careful not to let hype dilute purpose. “We’re not here to flip art,” she says. “We’re here to flip systems.”
Beyond ChainReaction, Layla hosts workshops on ethical blockchain use, mentors young artists, and collaborates with universities to explore the intersection of tech and activism. Her work has been featured in Wired, Forbes, and at the Venice Biennale.
Famozzo Magazine celebrates Layla Chen as a creator who proves that pixels can be powerful, that code can carry conscience, and that art—when paired with intention—can be a catalyst for change.