The origins of the culture and aesthetics of SPX6900
Understanding the origins of the SPX6900's culture and aesthetics is crucial because it reveals far more than just a parody of the S&P 500 — it's the DNA of the entire movement.
It all began in August 16, 2023, when the first transaction was created on the Ethereum blockchain. A few days after its launch, the Telegram group and other social media accounts were deleted.
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Subsequently, on August 29, 2023, the domain spx6900.com was officially registered. The earliest archived version of the website dates to September 2023, as preserved by the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.
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In this early website, Marie Rose appeared as the symbol of this new cult.
First screenshot of the website spx6900.com - September 2023
The inspiration of SPX6900
The original SPX6900 website launched with an iconic intro video that inspired the culture and aesthetics of the movement. In this video we can see the S&P 500 and Japanese references from retro games, stock market and anime, with an 80s-90s vibes. We can also see cyberpunk themes, advanced technology, etc.
Video intro of the first website
The introductory video begins by featuring Marie Rose, a character from the Japanese fighting game series Dead or Alive. Marie Rose was specifically designed to appeal to the Japanese audience and was introduced with the arcade release of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate.
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The video additionally incorporates archival imagery of the Japanese stock market during the late 1980s and early 1990s, evoking the exuberant period of the asset-price bubble in which substantial fortunes were rapidly accumulated and subsequently lost through equities and real estate investments, culminating in the dramatic collapse of that economic bubble.
Some observers suggest SPX6900 drew inspiration from a Japanese stock-market simulator game.
Additionally, stock-market charts and Warren Buffett imagery evoke the S&P 500 and its symbolic significance.
Not just the S&P 500, but the Chicago futures exchange trading floors, as seen in this frame that evokes the documentary "Floored" (2009), in an interview with Greg Riba (Bet More - Let it ride):
Further references include Japanese anime and manga, notably Neon Genesis Evangelion, Serial Experiments Lain, and Kakegurui.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (Science Fiction, Anime 1995)
Serial Experiments Lain (Cyberpunk, Anime 1998)
Kakegurui (Gambling- Manga 2014, Anime 2017)
The video also incorporates imagery related to mathematics and the human mind, suggesting advanced technology and the concept of the Cognisphere—the aggregate of all information acquired, stored, and processed by living beings in the context of cognitive processes.
A mathematical genius can be seen in this frame from Darren Aronofsky's film “Pi” (1998).
It would be an oversight to omit an element inspired by the aesthetic of the South Korean girl group NewJeans, particularly the visual and musical style of their single “Super Shy.”
The aforementioned elements represent key frames from the original introductory video, which influenced the culture and aesthetic identity of SPX6900.
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What followed was a sustained period of organic community expansion, but that's another story. There is a detailed timeline of the history of SPX in the website 6900isbiggerthan500.com. You can also take a look to the general history
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​If you want to know more, visit the SPX6900 website or the Reddit community, where you can find more information.​​