Traditional marketplace vs Blockchain marketplace

Paulina Lewandowska

06 Mar 2023
Traditional marketplace vs Blockchain marketplace

Introduction

An online network called a gaming marketplace allows players to buy, sell, or trade virtual goods like in-game currency and equipment. They can communicate with other players to buy or sell items and to display their abilities and accomplishments. As a result of enabling safe and transparent transactions for virtual assets, the development of blockchain and NFT technologies has increased the potential for gaming markets. The expansion of the gaming ecosystem is made possible by gaming marketplaces, which are a crucial component of the gaming business. The traditional gaming market versus one based on blockchain will be compared in this essay, along with benefits and drawbacks.

Traditional Gaming marketplace

The term "traditional gaming market" describes how video games and related products have historically been purchased and sold. Normally, video game makers would build a game and then sell it through physical storefronts or online retailers like the Apple App Store or Steam. The game publisher, retailer, and marketplace would all receive a portion of the proceeds from these transactions.

As it has been in existence for so long, the conventional gaming business has provided game producers with a dependable means of making money off of their works. Also, it has made it possible for gamers to obtain new games and gaming content via well-known channels. The conventional gaming marketplace model does have some drawbacks, though.

Limitations in Traditional Gaming marketplace

The considerable amount of money lost to intermediaries is one of the drawbacks of the conventional gaming sector. The majority of the money made from the sale of video games usually goes to the publisher and the retailer or marketplace, leaving the developers with only a small share of the money. This might make it challenging for developers, especially smaller independent studios, to properly monetize their works.

It can be difficult for gamers to find fresh games and gaming content, which is another drawback of the conventional gaming market. It may be challenging for new games to stand out in the sea of games accessible on digital marketplaces, and many games may not get the attention they deserve.

The variety of games and gaming experiences that are offered in the traditional gaming market might also be constrained. The needs of publishers and retailers must frequently be met by game creators, which might restrict their creativity and the kinds of games they can produce.

Benefits of Blockchain technology in Gaming marketplace

Because it is a decentralized system, blockchain technology enables safe and transparent transactions without the use of middlemen. The gaming industry has just begun to investigate the possible advantages of blockchain technology in the gaming sector.

The capacity of blockchain to provide a safe and open ecosystem in the gaming industry is one of its main advantages. Blockchain technology enables secure digital asset ownership and transactions, which is crucial for the gaming industry because in-game cash and virtual goods have real-world worth. Blockchain technology can also establish an open market where players can view the real worth of virtual goods and in-game money.

In recent years, a number of examples of blockchain-based game marketplaces have appeared. One such instance is the Ethereum-based game Axie Infinity, which enables users to gather, nurture, and engage in combat with monsters known as Axies. Another illustration is the blockchain-based gaming marketplace Enjin, which enables players to design, exchange, and market unique gaming merchandise.

Limitations of Blockchain technology in Gaming marketplace

Yet, there are drawbacks and obstacles specific to blockchain in the gaming industry. The scalability of blockchain technology is one of the major issues because existing blockchain networks can only support a certain number of transactions per second. This can lead to problems in markets for video games where many transactions are occurring simultaneously.

The complexity of blockchain technology presents another difficulty because it might be challenging for non-technical consumers to comprehend and use. Furthermore, the implementation of blockchain technology in the gaming sector is still in its infancy, and it is unclear whether it will ever gain widespread acceptance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is apparent that blockchain technology has the ability to transform the gaming business and generate new opportunities for both players and developers, even though there are advantages and disadvantages associated with it in the market for gaming. The introduction of blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has the potential to alter the gaming industry by opening up new avenues for both game producers and players to monetise their creations.

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Blockchain for Creators: Secure and Sustainable Infrastructure

Miłosz Mach

07 Nov 2025
Blockchain for Creators: Secure and Sustainable Infrastructure

In today’s digital creative space, where the lines between art and technology are constantly blurring, projects like MARMALADE mark the beginning of a new era - one where creators can protect their work and maintain ownership through blockchain technology.

For Nextrope, being part of MARMALADE goes far beyond implementing features like screenshot blocking or digital watermarking. It’s about building trust infrastructure - systems that empower creators to thrive in the digital world safely and sustainably.

A new kind of blockchain challenge

Cultural and educational projects come with a completely different set of challenges than typical DeFi systems. Here, the focus isn’t on returns or complex smart contracts - it’s on people: artists, illustrators, educators.

That’s why our biggest task was to design secure yet intuitive infrastructure - lightweight, energy-efficient, and accessible for non-technical users exploring Web3 for the first time.

“Our mission wasn’t to build another financial protocol. It was to create a layer of trust for digital creators.”
— Nextrope Team

Security that stays invisible

The best security is the kind you don’t notice.
Within MARMALADE, we focused on making creators' protection seamless:

  • Screenshot blocking safeguards artworks viewed in browsers.
  • Dynamic watermarking helps identify unauthorized copies.
  • Blockchain registry ensures every proof of ownership remains transparent and immutable

“Creators shouldn’t have to think about encryption or private keys - our job is to make security invisible.”

Sustainability by design

MARMALADE also answers a bigger question - how to innovate responsibly.
Nextrope’s infrastructure relies on low-emission blockchain networks and modular architecture that can easily be adapted for other creative or cultural initiatives.

This means the technology built here can support not only artists but also institutions, universities, and educators seeking to integrate blockchain in meaningful ways.

Beyond technology

For Nextrope, MARMALADE is more than a project — it’s proof that blockchain can empower culture and creators, not just finance. By building tools for digital artists, we’re helping them protect their creativity and discover how technology can amplify human expression.

Plasma blockchain. Architecture, Key Features & Why It Matters

Miłosz Mach

21 Oct 2025
Plasma blockchain. Architecture, Key Features & Why It Matters

What is Plasma?

Plasma is a Layer-1 blockchain built specifically for stablecoin infrastructure combining Bitcoin-level security with EVM compatibility and ultra-low fees for stablecoin transfers.

Why Plasma Blockchain Was Created?

Existing blockchains (Ethereum, L2s, etc.) weren’t originally designed around stablecoin payments at scale. As stablecoins grow, issues like congestion, gas cost, latency, and interoperability become constraints. Plasma addresses these by being purpose-built for stablecoin transfers, offering features not found elsewhere.

  • Zero-fee transfers (especially for USDT)
  • Custom gas tokens (separate from XPL, to reduce friction)
  • Trust-minimized Bitcoin bridge (to allow BTC collateral use)
  • Full EVM compatibility smart contracts can work with minimal modifications

Plasma’s Architecture & Core Mechanisms

EVM Compatibility + Smart Contracts

Developers familiar with Ethereum tooling (Solidity, Hardhat, etc.) can deploy contracts on Plasma with limited changes making it easy to port existing dApps or DeFi, similar to other EVM-compatible infrastructures discussed in the article „The Ultimate Web3 Backend Guide: Supercharge dApps with APIs".

Gas Model & Token Mechanism

Instead of forcing users always to hold XPL for gas, Plasma supports custom gas tokens. For stablecoin-native flows (e.g. USDT transfers), there is often zero fee usage, lowering UX friction.

Bitcoin Bridge & Collateral

Plasma supports a Bitcoin bridge that lets BTC become collateral inside smart contracts (like pBTC). This bridges the security of Bitcoin with DeFi use cases within Plasma.
This makes Plasma a “Bitcoin-secured blockchain for stablecoins".

Security & Finality

Plasma emphasizes finality and security, tuned to payment workloads. Its consensus and architecture aim for strong protection against reorgs and double spends while maintaining high throughput.
The network launched mainnet beta holding over $2B in stablecoin liquidity shortly after opening.

Plasma Blockchain vs Alternatives: What Makes It Stand Out?

FeaturePlasma (XPL)Other L1 / L2
Stablecoin native designusually second-class
Zero fees for stablecoin transfersrare, or subsidized
BTC bridge (collateral)only some chains
EVM compatibilityyes in many, but with trade-offs
High liquidity early✅ (>$2B TVL)many chains struggle to bootstrap

These distinctions make Plasma especially compelling for institutions, stablecoin issuers, and DeFi innovators looking for scalable, low-cost, secure payments infrastructure.

Use Cases: What You Can Build with Plasma Blockchain

  • Stablecoin native vaults / money markets
  • Payment rails & cross-border settlement
  • Treasury and cash management flows
  • Bridged BTC-backed stablecoin services
  • DeFi primitives (DEX, staking, yield aggregation) optimized for stablecoins

If you’re building any product reliant on stablecoin transfers or needing strong collateral backing from BTC, Plasma offers a compelling infrastructure foundation.

Get Started with Plasma Blockchain: Key Steps & Considerations

  1. Smart contract migration: assess if existing contracts can port with minimal changes.
  2. Gas token planning: decide whether to use USDT, separate gas tokens, or hybrid models.
  3. Security & audit: focus on bridge logic, reentrancy, oracle risks.
  4. Liquidity onboarding & market making: bootstrap stablecoin liquidity, incentives.
  5. Regulation & compliance: stablecoin issuance may attract legal scrutiny.
  6. Deploy MVP & scale: iterate fast, measure gas, slippage, UX, security.