Carolina Mosquera
Can blockchain gaming actually change the current number of blockchain users and accomplish its worldwide adoption?
We all know that the great obstacle blockchain technology is facing is to accomplish its mass adoption. To put it in the simplest of words, blockchain mass adoption is the widespread use of this type of technology by everyday people for everyday things. But 10 years after its creation, people are still reluctant to rely on this revolutionary technology. As I see it, there are two main underlying issues: First, why people fail to believe in the power of this technology? And second, will we be able to witness Blockchain mass adoption in a foreseeable future?
As we all know, Blockchain technology was first created to support Bitcoin and to ensure a secure and decentralized way to keep digital record of every transaction involving the previously mentioned cryptocurrency. Its main function is quite easy to understand: every transaction is recorded in this digital and public ledger which guarantees the transparency and reliability of every single transaction. Therefore, a financial intermediary becomes utterly dispensable. To put it in other words, blockchain technology is this new and amazing way of transferring funds or, even more, transferring and sharing information in a public, decentralized and immutable manner.
The interesting part is that the potential use of this public and decentralized ledger exceeds all boundaries ever imagined by its creator. Not only can it be used to record any transaction regarding any cryptocurrency (such as Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple and so on), but also it could be used for many other purposes. For instance, it could be used as a global copyright registry and therefore provide royalty protection to anyone entitled to it. In addition to that, it could be used to keep a worldwide medical record or as a global weapon tracking registry. Cool, huh? But the important question here is why people are still hesitant towards this technology. Let’s face it: it’s all due to lack of knowledge. People still aren’t well acquainted with this type of technology, don’t quite understand how it works and are therefore very skeptical towards it. But try to remember what people used to say about the internet prior to its worldwide adoption:
“The growth of the Internet will slow drastically, as the flaw in ‘Metcalfe’s law’-which states that the number of potential connections in a network is proportional to the square of the number of participants-becomes apparent: most people have nothing to say to each other! By 2005 or so, it will become clear that the Internet’s impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machine’s.”
- Paul Krugman, 1998.
Food for thought, right? This takes us to the following and -as I see it- most important question: will we be able to witness Blockchain mass adoption in a foreseeable future?
Well, although I’d very much like to, I’m not a witch and I don’t own a magic ball through which I can foresee the future, but I’m an optimistic wannabe. I strongly believe that we will be able to witness blockchain’s mass adoption and I think it will occur sooner rather than later. Somewhat intrigued? The answer is simple: Blockchain gaming.
Blockchain games can be roughly defined as video games that include Blockchain technology in their backend. Therefore, these video games work on the Blockchain and store all the information related to them in this immutable and public record. Gamers can truly own virtual assets and keep track of them thanks to this technology. They do not longer have to fear the imminent possibility of the shutdown of a server of a centralized game and losing everything they have earned. There’s no cheating with blockchain. Gamers don’t have to worry about server costs. These are some of the features that make blockchain-based games so alluring to gamers: the possibility to keep track of every asset own by each of them, the possibility of earning money while playing, as well as the ability to earn assets in one game and use them in a totally different blockchain game.
Those that want to see and witness blockchain mass adoption firmly believe that blockchain gaming is the right path to achieve such a task. Why? Because, let’s face it, what’s more addicting than a game? What is more appealing than playing and sharing? What is more attractive to human nature than winning?
Is blockchain gaming the right path towards blockchain mass adoption? The blockchain gaming community screams YES!
Guest post by Carolina Mosquera, public translator and technical content writer.
