As social media platforms increasingly seek innovative ways to leverage blockchain technology, LINE is gearing up to introduce a range of decentralized applications (dapps) designed to boost user engagement through games and practical tools.
This development comes on the heels of mixed outcomes from earlier NFT initiatives that left companies rethinking their approach toward blockchain gaming.
LINE’s Upcoming Dapps
Sam Seo, the chairman of the Kaia DLT Foundation, has revealed that LINE plans to roll out its first batch of 30 dapps by the end of January 2025, with a goal of expanding to 150 by the close of the first quarter.
Currently, LINE enjoys a user base of around 196 million, predominantly concentrated in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia.
The Kaia blockchain is set to underpin these forthcoming applications.
Inspiration from Competitors
This initiative is indicative of a broader trend where messaging services and social networks are tapping into blockchain technology to broaden their service offerings.
LINE seems to be inspired by the achievements of platforms like Telegram, which boasts a massive user base of over 900 million and successfully integrates games such as Catizen and Hamster Kombat on The Open Network (TON) blockchain.
Seo highlighted that gaming will feature prominently among the new dapps, alongside social apps, decentralized finance (DeFi), and AI-driven chatting tools.
Challenges and User Experience
The pivot to dapps stems from a lukewarm response to previous blockchain endeavors that focused heavily on NFTs.
For example, Instagram recently scrapped its NFT features, which allowed users to showcase their digital art and acquisitions.
Reddit, while still offering digital collectibles, has eliminated features that animated those collectibles earlier this year.
LINE had previously dipped its toes into the NFT market by launching a marketplace in Japan back in April 2022, along with a line of proprietary NFT stickers.
However, Seo pointed out that many users found navigating NFTs to be confusing.
Initially, NFTs were viewed primarily as investment tools, rather than fostering an authentic sense of ownership among users.
This disconnection highlights a pressing need for improvements in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) to engage a broader audience effectively.
In summary, as LINE prepares to enter the mini dapp landscape, it aims not just to replicate the success of other platforms but also to enhance the overall experience for its users, making blockchain more accessible and enjoyable.
Source: Coindesk
