David Kim has built a long career in entertainment, contributing more than twenty years to major studios and brands such as Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Today he dedicates his focus to WAX, where he tackles the big questions around mass adoption in the blockchain space.
In the winter season of the crypto world, play-to-earn models and NFT ecosystems are gaining traction. More people are reaching into blockchain networks to join games, and more wallets are opened to deposit cryptocurrencies or tokens earned through play. The WAX Worldwide Asset eXchange, established in 2017, emphasizes the creation, sale, and marketing of non-fungible tokens. This network has shown efficiency and cost advantages that make creating and owning immutable NFTs or tokens more accessible than on some other chains.
Data from DappRadar shows a dramatic uptick in activity, with user participation on the blockchain rising by about 2,000 percent since 2021. WAX has played a central role in this surge. The core question remains: what does this blockchain deliver to developers and players that spurs such interest?
WAX attracts gamers by offering accessible, entertaining, and interactive experiences. It builds on familiar Web2 gaming paradigms while delivering Web3 conveniences like the WAX Cloud Wallet and NFT markets, underpinned by smart contract standards that feel almost like a Web2 experience for gamers. The platform has consistently occupied a leading position in the game-winning scene, thanks in part to titles such as Alien Worlds and Splinterlands that topped DappRadar charts in 2021. An estimated 400,000 daily users illustrate its momentum. A key factor is the absence of gas fees for transactions and the affordability of printing NFTs, making NFT-based GameFi significantly more useful and approachable. Developers also find compelling reasons to join WAX: it hosts more daily users and maintains a broad base of over 13 million user accounts, more than any other chain. WAX offers high scalability and the capacity to process more than 20 million transactions per day, often exceeding the total throughput of major competing blockchains. The network is noted for energy efficiency, emitting far less carbon than Ethereum, with certified carbon neutrality and notable annual offsets. Taken together, these advantages establish WAX as one of the most gaming-friendly blockchains available today.
What does the future hold for the Metaverse?
The outlook points toward immersive digital experiences powered by blockchain technology, enabling participants to own their digital objects and data. The Metaverse is likely to evolve with game-like structures for entertainment, social interaction, or a blend of both. The expectation is that entire communities will form around various metaverses, interacting and expanding over time. This infrastructure promises to be more complete and rewarding than any form of digital entertainment seen to date.
Where do play-to-earn games stand in the realm of graphic design compared to contemporary video games?
Right now, the visual quality of many web3 games still trails behind the top-tier modern games. Several reasons account for this gap. Some projects come from teams deeply skilled in blockchain mechanics but less experienced in traditional game design, focusing more on financial mechanics than on gameplay polish. As a result, graphics, mechanics, and overall gameplay can lag behind. It’s worth noting that modern blockchain-oriented games are still very new, with many titles in active development that are expected to reach the market toward the end of this year or early next year.
Is there a difference when printing an NFT on WAX if the artwork is purely digital or if it accompanies a physical piece such as sculpture or painting?
In essence, no. Whether the NFT represents a digital artwork or a physical object using vIRL technology, the underlying token remains the same. What changes is the metadata and the relationship it encodes. WAX’s proprietary vIRLs allow ownership to be separated from possession, enabling creators and collectors to save on shipping costs and reduce emissions by removing the carbon footprint of trading real-world items. Holders of vIRL NFTs can continue to trade or utilize their tokens at any time.
How important is decentralization to this vision, and what does Web3.0 decentralization mean for the gaming landscape?
Decentralization is central and highly valued. It changes the game by letting users truly own their in-game assets and participate in the broader economy. Once the decentralization trend takes hold, it becomes harder for players to return to systems that restrict resale or tradeability. A more decentralized Web3 backbone also brings security advantages, as demonstrated by past experiences in decentralized ecosystems. While it introduces some exposure to risk, the overall arc favors greater autonomy and opportunity for asset owners.
What was the experience like on Ethereum, and why do strong projects often find momentum easier on faster networks like WAX?
Ethereum’s early-mover status helped GameFi gain traction, with many NFTs such as virtual terrains and game objects thriving on that platform. Yet, challenges in performance and price can hinder broader adoption and engagement. For this reason, successful projects frequently prefer quicker, cheaper chains like WAX, where developers can focus more on gameplay and user experience rather than on network constraints.