We are always accustomed to evaluating the current value of a project, but we rarely think about what kind of industry changes it will bring after it succeeds. If Somnia truly realizes its technological promises, it may drive a paradigm shift in blockchain applications. Today, I want to conduct a thought experiment: suppose Somnia becomes the mainstream infrastructure for the metaverse and chain games in the next 3-5 years, what will happen?
The first possible change is the expansion of application types. Current blockchain applications are mainly focused on DeFi, NFT, and DAO, which are essentially relatively simple financial or digital rights applications. However, with high-performance infrastructures like Somnia, developers can try completely different types of applications: large multiplayer online games, virtual collaboration spaces, real-time social networks, on-chain AI agent systems, etc. These applications demand performance far beyond what existing blockchains can provide.
Imagine a truly on-chain MMORPG: tens of thousands of players adventuring, battling, and trading in the same persistent virtual world. Every piece of equipment is an NFT, every battle result is confirmed on the chain, and the in-game economic system is entirely managed by smart contracts. Players can freely trade items, and they can even open shops, form guilds, and initiate events in the game world. This fully on-chain gaming experience was nearly impossible to achieve before Somnia.
The second change may be the shift in the developer ecosystem. Currently, most blockchain developers come from fintech backgrounds, familiar with smart contract development but not very knowledgeable about game or 3D application development. If Somnia succeeds, it may attract a large number of game developers, 3D designers, and virtual world creators into the blockchain field. These individuals will bring completely different ideas and perspectives, pushing blockchain applications to evolve from 'financial tools' to 'virtual worlds'.
The user base will also change. Currently, the main users of blockchain applications are niche groups such as investors, tech enthusiasts, and DeFi players. However, the metaverse and blockchain games have the potential to attract mainstream users—those who do not care about blockchain technology but just want to play good games or socialize in the virtual world. The expansion of this user base will fundamentally change the ecosystem of the blockchain industry.
New forms of business models may also emerge. Most current blockchain games adopt the Play-to-Earn model, but this model has been proven to be unsustainable as it is essentially a Ponzi structure. On high-performance blockchains, developers can explore more complex business models: subscription services, virtual goods sales, advertising revenue, service fee commissions, etc. More importantly, developers can focus on creating fun games rather than racking their brains to design token economics.
From an infrastructure perspective, Somnia's success may drive the entire industry to rethink the concept of 'dedicated chains'. The mainstream thinking in the industry over the past few years has been to build a universal high-performance public chain, attempting to meet all needs on a single chain. However, the demands of different application scenarios are vastly different; what DeFi needs is completely different from what games need. Somnia represents another line of thought: deeply optimizing for specific scenarios and excelling in one area. If this model succeeds, more dedicated chains targeting specific vertical fields may emerge.
Regulation and compliance are also interesting topics. The metaverse and blockchain games involve virtual asset transactions, which remain a gray area in the regulatory frameworks of many countries. If this industry really develops, it will inevitably attract the attention of regulatory agencies. How Somnia finds a balance between compliance and innovation may provide reference cases for the entire industry.
I even feel that Somnia's success may change people's perception of the value of blockchain. Many people now equate blockchain with 'speculating on coins', believing it has no practical use aside from speculation. But if people can play truly enjoyable games on the chain and be able to work, socialize, and create value in the virtual world, the value proposition of blockchain will become more intuitive and persuasive. This change in perception may be more meaningful than the technological breakthroughs themselves.
Of course, all of this is built on 'if'. Somnia faces enormous challenges: the difficulty of technical implementation, fierce market competition, the cultivation of user habits, and the complexity of ecological construction, among others. But sometimes, what the industry needs is this kind of bold attempt and clear vision. Even if Somnia ultimately does not fully achieve its goals, the technologies and experiences accumulated in the process will pave the way for future entrants.
The blockchain industry has gone through more than a decade, from Bitcoin's peer-to-peer cash to Ethereum's world computer, and now to the flourishing of various L1 and L2s. What will the next stage be? Perhaps it will be dedicated infrastructures like Somnia, deeply optimized for specific application scenarios. Let us wait and see.