When it comes to NFTs and blockchain gaming, very few companies can rival with Animoca Brands’ early conviction, investment thesis and time horizon. They understood early on that community building and network effects are the core pillars for a true paradigm shift in gaming. However, culture and narratives transcend the boundaries of gaming, becoming social phenomena. Animoca’s latest undertaking, the Mocaverse, aims to unite communities in a truly open metaverse.

We were joined by Yat Siu, chairman of Animoca Brands, to discuss the importance of digital culture in our modern-day lives and how NFT ownership unlocks community building in the open metaverse.

Topics discussed in this episode:
0:00 - Introduction
1:42 - Yat’s background and Animoca Brands’ interest in NFTs
5:41 - Digital culture & narratives
10:58 - Animoca Brands’ investment thesis
19:17 - Blockchain & NFT adoption by Web2 brands
23:08 - Financial inclusion & financial literacy
32:36 - Ownership & play-to-earn gaming: East vs. West
43:23 - NFT use cases & IP rights
49:02 - Interoperability
51:27 - Decentralisation & the value of ownership
57:24 - Mocaverse
1:03:43 - Long-term vision & the open metaverse

Links mentioned in this episode:
- Yat Siu on Twitter: https://bit.ly/41mEzxp
- Animoca Brands on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3RhlZC5
- Sandbox on Twitter: https://bit.ly/41mEB8v
- Axie Infinity on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3uNl7O1

This episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: https://epicenter.tv/525