Originally aired on November 6, 2023

In this episode of Edge of NFT, host Josh Kriger interviews Yat Siu, the Trainman of Animoca Brands. They discuss the importance of the Middle East region in the gaming industry and blockchain landscape, particularly due to its young population and gaming community. Siu highlights the potential to develop new domestic gaming titles that cater to the local market. They also touch on the significance of the Middle East for non-gaming companies, as it offers clarity and a global competition for talent. The conversation then shifts to the concept of Bitcoin-powered gaming and the role of Bitcoin as a country within the blockchain ecosystem. Siu explains how Life Beyond, a game by Animoca Brands, aims to be part of the Bitcoin culture and leverage the benefits of the Bitcoin community. The interview concludes with a discussion about Moca IDs, a decentralized identity solution that allows users to store their digital reputation and benefit from services across different platforms.

The importance of the Middle East region in the gaming industry and blockchain landscape

• The Middle East has a young population and a thriving gaming community.
• Local markets like Saudi Arabia and Turkey show high interest in gaming.
• There is a hunger to create new domestic gaming titles that cater to the local market.
• The Middle East offers clarity and a competitive environment for non-gaming companies as well.

Bitcoin-powered gaming and the role of Bitcoin as a country in the blockchain ecosystem

• Bitcoin represents a specific culture and dynamic within the blockchain space.
• Life Beyond, a game by Animoca Brands, aims to be part of the Bitcoin culture.
• Bitcoin provides a store of value for digital culture and allows for expansion into different markets.
• Bitcoin has the largest market value and offers opportunities for innovation in gaming.

Moca IDs: decentralized identity solutions for the blockchain ecosystem

• Moca IDs aim to provide decentralized and soulbound tokens as identity layers.
• It eliminates the need for repeated KYC processes by pre-verifying user identities.
• Moca IDs offer perks and benefits based on a user’s digital reputation.
• It allows for decentralized team collaboration and targeted marketing based on user gameplay history.