EM, crew.

In the second installment of our collab series with Ontology we explore the intersection of gaming and decentralized identity, with a panel of Web3 builders, technologists, and IP experts to unpack how social systems shape the design and evolution of onchain games.

From cultural norms within blockchain ecosystems to the legacy of pseudonymous identity, the panel offered rich insights on what it means to build games—and player communities—on decentralized rails.

Missed the first recap? You can read it here:

Code, Clout & Crypto: How Digital Identity Is Shaping the Future of Onchain Games

We are kicking off a 4-part series with our friends at Ontology to explore the convergence of identity systems, gaming IP, and crosschain infrastructure in building the next generation of onchain games. If you enjoyed this new series, let us know so we can explore other collaborations.

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• Juliun, CEO of Stability and longtime crypto builder

• Ryan, founder of Based Creators

• Smoke, CEO of Own the Doge

• Humpty, Geoff & Polaris – Contributors at Ontology

Panelists agreed that ownership and persistence are among blockchain’s most compelling features for gaming—not necessarily real-time mechanics.

“We don’t need every function onchain. What matters are outcomes—things that define your identity and legacy as a player.” — Geoff (Ontology)

Examples like lost accounts, skins, or progress in traditional games served as reminders of the need for decentralized digital provenance. With blockchain, these moments become permanent, transferable, and verifiable.

Digital identity—especially pseudonymous identity—was another core topic.

“In Web2, reputation is social. We associate usernames with skill and legacy. Blockchain enables this technically while preserving privacy.” — Juliun (Stability)

Decentralized identity lets players maintain consistent personas across games and ecosystems, which opens doors for trustless matchmaking, custom rewards, and social signaling—without ever revealing a real-world identities.

There was consensus that full onchain games aren't necessary (or optimal).

“Gamers don’t want every action to cost gas. You need seamless UX. Store what matters—read from chain, don’t write everything to it.” — Polaris (Ontology)

Key takeaways:

• Real-time logic and high-frequency actions should remain offchain.

• Milestones, achievements, and asset ownership belong onchain.

The conversation touched on how ecosystems—whether Solana, Base, or Farcaster—each cultivate unique player expectations and game designs.

For example:

• Base has emphasized creator culture and builder tooling.

• Solana has prioritized speed and NFT trading culture.

• Private chains may attract studios seeking more control over game mechanics.

These differences influence everything from incentive structures to moderation standards.

Joining live from Las Vegas, Ryan (Based Creators) and Smoke (Own the Doge) shared perspectives from the largest IP licensing convention in the U.S.

“Two years ago, these brands wouldn’t even say the word crypto. Now they’re actively looking for ways to get involved.” — Smoke

Both emphasized that the conversation with Web2 brands isn’t about tokens or marketplaces—it’s about:

• New revenue streams

• Legacy-building for IP

• Community activation

• Seamless integration (with or without mentioning ‘Web3’)

• Focus on outcomes, not functions. Store legacy moments, not every action.

• Respect the value of pseudonymity. Verified, consistent identity doesn’t need to be doxxed.

• Don’t lead with tech. Lead with benefits—revenue, reach, community, permanence.

• Meet Web2 where they are. Help them unlock new audiences and creator ecosystems.

• Affordability and accessibility matter. Onchain gaming still has a UX and cost barrier to solve.

The next episode will dive deeper into transferable game assets and digital property rights. We’ll explore how onchain provenance can empower creators, developers, and players alike in a cross-game, multichain world.

🕹 Follow @OntologyNetwork to stay updated on upcoming episodes.