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Ethereum is the future of Layer 1 according to Polygon’s CEO

Polygon's CEO, Sandeep Nailwal, assured that the future of Layer 1 technology lies with Ethereum alone: "There'll be one single environment layer one, which is Ethereum in my mind". So what does he mean by it exactly? First let's break down concepts like Layer 1 & Layer 2.Blockchain adoption continues to grow, as does the importance of scaling in the ecosystem. New applications and increased transaction volume can be accommodated with the help of system throughput rate improvements. That's where Layer 1 & 2 come in: in order to improve network security and scalability these systems can better interoperability between blockchains.Layer 1 blockchain network refers to the fundamental protocol of a network. Scalability solutions include direct modifications to protocol rules in favor of capacity and speed, which can also translate to additional users and data.Sharding, for example, has become one of the most popular methods. It consists on dividing the state of the entire blockchain network into separate sets of data known as shards. We can also take a look at the promising impact of Rollups technology on scalability. What are they all about exactly? They take the transactions out of the mainnet and process them off-chain, convert them into one single piece of data, and submit them back to the Ethereum mainnet. Projects like Optimism.io and arbitrum.io, that are Layer 2 protocol based, have made huge steps forward.Layer 2, as the name suggests, is a system that operates on top of a blockchain protocol (Layer 1). To improve scalability, L2 aims to shift the transaction load of a blockchain protocol to an off-chain architecture. Delegating data processing to the supporting architecture helps deal with possible congestion on the blockchain's core protocol. Just like Polygon, there are plenty of promising Layer 2 Ethereum projects. Specifically on web3 gaming there is Immutable X, an L2 scaling solution for NFTs on Ethereum, allowing users to build and manage NFT projects in a secure platform at zero transaction cost with scalable features.Based on the belief that Layer 1 protocols will remain the foundation of the blockchain ecosystem, Nailwal predicts that Ethereum's longevity and scalability will make it possible. Even though L2 solutions will have their place, Polygon's founder claims that the long-term success of blockchain platforms will come through Layer 1's dominance. However, his statements have been challenged by the competition. Do you agree with Nailwal

King’s Cup Tournaments: All you need to know

Dates: February 16 to March 10, 2023 February 16 - QualifierFebruary 24 - QualifierMarch 3 - QualifierMarch 10 - FinalPrize Pool: 300 USDTMode: Bracket BO3 Single Elimination — Esports Server - All UnlockedInstructionsIn this guide we’ll detail the steps to participate in the Axie Infinity Origin Invitational Tournament.Before the tournament starts:Read the How-To instructions to create your Blast account here and details of the process of joining an Axie tournament.Read the tournament rules carefully. Read them hereJoin the tournament >> https://app.blast.gg/#/pool/174Join the Blast Discord and choose the Axie ES or Axie EN Roles. In the Axie ES category channels you will be able to communicate with the tournament administrators.During the tournament:If you connected your Ronin Addresses correctly, Blast will collect match results automatically. In case of a malfunction or at the request of the moderators, players may be asked to report the results with full screenshots on our Discord channelInform tournament moderators about disconnections, remakes, or any cases in which the normal flow of the match is disrupted.GL&HF !

YouTube and esports: 3 year exclusivity deal with Call of Duty League could be in talks

When it comes to broadcasting esports the first name that pops into everyone's mind is Twitch. But YouTube may try and want to change that according to different sources. As the news spread, a 3 year exclusivity deal between the huge online video platform and the Call of Duty League is in talks.Esports has become the battlefield for big livestreaming services. This time, the focus is put on the North-American esports circuit as it might be looking to go down the same road again. It had gone this path before in 2019 at the same time Blizzard's Overwatch did. However, this was far from successful given that the Overwatch League (OWL) viewership plummeted and it lost great popularity in the following years. Apparently, this alone may not make Activision Blizzard step down as the deal could be renewed sooner than expected.YouTube has made continuous but insufficient efforts to compete with Twitch as an interactive livestreaming platform. Esports has been a gateway for Justin.tv and later on Twitch to users who follow popular leagues and tournaments. An ever increasing entertainment industry that could help boost YouTube.Since switching to Twitch in 2022, the CDL was given new life in comparison to previous seasons. With the participation of big creators streaming the debut, numbers went even higher. The league managed to attract 124K Average Viewers, and 192K Peak Viewers during Florida Mutineers and OpTic Texas' game.Source: Esports ChartsMany services have tried to top Twitch before: Microsoft's Mixer had exclusivity deals with top streamers like Shroud and Ninja and still failed the task. It ended up shutting down and passing the torch to Facebook Gaming, which hasn't got close either.However, this exclusivity deal isn't something fans have been asking for and it could even be greeted with discomfort. As we mentioned earlier, Twitch is the undisputed king of livestreaming experiences and so have shown the numbers. Activision Blizzard's intent of closing in on a deal with YouTube once again is only met with confusion. In case it does go down, the next Major events will most likely reflect this switch. Majors 3, 4, 5, and the CDL Championship would all be viewable exclusively on YouTube.

Blast’s platform redesign and new architecture is LIVE!

Home to automated gaming tournaments of different titles, Blast is ever-growing and looking to offer the best experience! And what a better time to bring changes than the start of a new year. After the continuous hard work of the dev team, we have finally introduced the new Blast platform redesign and architecture. Not only offering a more polished look, but presenting new features for all Blasters convenience!From look and style to new animations and features, you can enjoy browsing all available and upcoming tournaments with ease and even more detailed information. There are many additions, but we want to focus on three of them specifically. If this is your first time here you can read more about Blast and how to compete in web3 tournaments.The Sidebar is here!Want to see the tournaments for a specific game? We got you covered with the new sidebar! You will be able to filter and browse on whichever title you prefer. Next to each title you will find another column to access different spaces: "Tournaments", "Games" and Blast's FAQ section. As we keep expanding so will the sidebar and our catalogue.Upgraded cards with detailed informationYou may have already realized that the new tournament cards offer every bit of information you need to know about. From the competition's specific title and prize pool, to amount of players registered, and most importantly, status. The redesign and architecture allowed adding different colors highlight different states: when it's starting, if it's already active or upcoming or finished.Status BarAt Blast there is no room for confusion: Know exactly the tournament's step by step status and its current phase. Starting with "Registration" to "playing", "Finished" state and last but definitely not least important, "Paid".Reminders: Never miss a date with Blast againWe have successfully integrated Google, Apple and Microsoft Outlook calendars. You can simply link your account and generate reminders automatically every time you register to a new Blast competition. One thing less to worry about! As we probably mentioned already, Blast is all about bettering the user experience.However, 2023 has only just begun and we are adding new features and integrating new games continuously! We set sail for a new journey with many set goals and its own challenges. You'll find them here in our blog and will definitely come across them while competing at app.blast.gg.An important remark is that we are always looking to improve and every Blaster helps us make Blast the best it can be. We'd love to hear your thoughts about our latest version, so make sure to join us at our Discord and share your experience with us at the #feedback channel. If you haven't already, come join us and become part of our community! Start competing and earning in the process, but no rush... we are not going anywhere!

Meet Ephere Football: The gaming blockchain experience dedicated to football fans

In Ephere Football you can build your own football club, climbing to the top of a league system while winning crypto prizes.Players (Ephereals) are NFT, They have mental and physical attributes, trainable football skills that are capped by genetic and distinctive visual properties. They gain experience by playing matches, can train to improve their abilities, and they can also get tired, grow old, and retire… they’re alive.It is a free-to-play game. To start competing, you are given 11 players and EPH 3500 (internal token).First steps on Ephere FootballCreate your team and claim your free 11 players (Ephereals).Play a pick-up game (friendly) to learn how to plan the strategy (lineup and tactics) and how to make changes in real-time during the matches.Use your first EPH 3500 (internal token) to improve your team in the Market, temporarily hiring players from other teams.Once registered in the Ephereal Blast Cup tournament, review the fixture and save the lineup of your matches.Finally, take a look at the FAQ and video tutorial to know all the details and answer any questions: player life and rarity, NFT players, our internal token, training sessions, youth recruitment, La Liga NFT, and much more.Ephereal Blast Cup tipsWatch the match live and interact with your team (instructions, lineup and tactics changes, and substitutions), or let it play automatically. In any of the two scenarios we recommend you plan and save the strategy of each match in advance. In this way, you will increase the mental performance of your team by 10%. If you don't, the lineup will be defined randomly and the players will become demotivated due to a lack of strategy, reducing all their attributes by 50% during that match.Take care of the energy of your players and don’t schedule training sessions close to tournament matches, you must have at least 7 players available and with energy to play your league match. If not, your team does not show up and you lose with a 0–3 score.If you registered in Ephere Football with social login (social network or Google account), you must follow these steps to sign up in Blast and in the tournament.

How to compete in Ephere Football tournaments

In this guide we’ll learn the steps of how to compete in Ephere Football tournaments in Blast. If you don’t have a Blast account yet, read this one first. The Spanish version of this user guide is also available for your language of choice. You may also read our introductory blog post to the game here.Let’s see how the tournament detail looks like for an Ephere football tourney:In the detail header you can find the prize pool of each tournament leaderboard, and the timer for the different phases of the tournament (Registration, Duration, Finish Time).Before the next step make sure you have connected your metamask to the platform.When you click the Join button on the page, a modal will come up:After you click Join, Metamask will pop-up to confirm the transaction. This is the final step of the registration, and when you send the transaction to the blockchain you’ll see a ‘pending’ status. We keep that for a couple of minutes to check if the transaction went well, and we’ll confirm the registration if everything went fine.Here you can opt to add the event to a calendar, or simply close the window. And that's it.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).1. I have an account created in Blast with a different wallet than the one I created in Ephere Football and I get an error when I register for the tournament. What should I do?In order to register correctly in the tournament you must make sure you use the same wallet for both your Blast account and the one you use in Ephere Football. This way, you will be able to register for the tournament without any problems.2. I get the error: "There was an error connecting to the tournament. Invalid division. Please check your division in the Ephere account and try again". What should I do?You should check which leaderboard your team is in Ephere Football and sign up for the Blast tournament that corresponds to that leaderboard. You can only sign up in the corresponding leaderboard, otherwise the error will persist.

What is play and earn?

Let's start with a simple definition. Play and earn refers to a category of games and platforms powered by blockchain. What you should always consider when you come across the play and earn concept is that it is based on a player-owned economy through in-game assets, typically represented by tokens and NFTs.If you want to know what play and earn games are and their economy, we recommend you visit this article, where we go through the concepts of in-game value and ownership.Play-and-earn games offer users the ability to generate a source of income simply by playing. This is the philosophy behind Blast, which is a play and earn platform, offering gamers the ability to earn rewards for spending time playing their favorite video games.Tokens & NFTS role in play and earn gamesGenerally, a player is rewarded with tokens, and occasionally NFTs or new utilities, earning a larger amount the longer they play. The logic behind it is that simple.Another characteristic of these games, although it depends a lot on the mechanics and stories of each game, is that the tokens earned are usually necessary as part of the "crafting" process in the game.Many players prefer this token-based method of choosing a game, for the ability to acquire (win) it while constantly playing. The other way to play is through NFTs that are distributed randomly and can be bought in special markets.The play-and-earn model is especially popular among users in low-income countries or in societies with large economic gaps, since they represent an alternative, or a complement, to fixed income and a way to generate extra earnings.If you want to start experiencing this gaming modality, we invite you to participate in a Blast tournament in which you can play, compete with friends and peers and earn rewards while doing it.We leave you here some of the guides for you to register and start your experience today:How to compete in PUBG tournamentsHow to compete in Koins NFT tournamentsHow to compete in Axie Infinity TournamentsHow to compete in COD tournamentsIf you have doubts, questions or are looking for someone to play with, jump into our Discord to chat.

State of VALORANT: The esport everyone is talking about

Without a doubt the game that has come to shake the tactical shooter esports scene, VALORANT has a very promising 2023 ahead. The competitive circuit, the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), has been revamped with three major regional leagues. Only the best teams of each region will have a chance at promotion and join the franchised contests.The FPS is still ways away from achieving the popularity that its most direct competitor, CSGO, amassed. However, one cannot simply ignore the ever-growing audience reach of Riot's product. Since the launch of the official esports circuit in 2021, it has made continuous leaps forward creating its own identity, bringing up new big names and has proven to be a very enjoyable experience from a spectator standpoint for many.Source: Esports Charts (escharts.com)Read more: Esports: What is happening on JanuaryBorn and built to be an esport, Riot Games' recipe was well kept and crafted. Taking big inspirations from Valve's successful FPS, they made their own thing. From July's 2020 launch, it has gone from 10 initial agents and 4 maps to 21 unique characters and 9 battle-zones progressively. Riot has implemented many changes to better the experience for all users and fans. Now, it is looking like they are about to double their efforts.As for the new VCT, it will feature: Americas, EMEA and Pacific with 10 starting teams each. With names like Cloud9, LOUD, Team Liquid, KRÜ Esports, Zeta Division and DRX competing in their own regions. What is more, to kick things off, Riot Games is hosting a 30 team LAN event in Brazil, the LOCK//IN São Paulo. The pre-season tournament is coming mid-February and will have all franchised teams compete. It will give the fans a packed experience like never before and give us a chance to identify the best names of early 2023.Latest agent: HarborIf that wasn't enough, Japan will be home to the first VALORANT Masters of the VCT 2023. Japanese audience have showed much love for the game. A strange phenomenon considering this hasn't been the case in other similar titles. Even more, already runs a rumor of the U.S hosting the VALORANT Champions for the first time later this year. Riot has, without a doubt, achieved a very unique feat with VALORANT and are looking to prove much more.

Solana : from a prominent chain to recovery duty

Looking to compete with Ethereum, Solana is a smart-contract blockchain platform designed to host decentralized, scalable applications. During the bull market in 2020 and 2021 the chain saw extensive and accelerated grow. It has been the focus of many venture capitalists and it has interested many as a gateway to gaming.Take for instance, Fractals: a new gaming NFT (Non-fungible token) marketplace focused on the Solana blockchain. Rarity determines the value of fractals, which is based on six categories: Faction, Power, Purity, Velocity, Spin and Altitude. Another great example is the SolChicks project. Looking to lead the gaming fantasy NFT ecosystem on the Solana blockchain, it has built a gaming metaverse of its own around adorable digital collectibles.Solana is much faster in terms of the number of transactions it can process and has significantly lower transaction fees. With its integrated Proof-of-History mechanism it enables the use of hashed timestamps to verify when transactions occur. However, in 2022 it took a big step backwards after witnessing the biggest drop the last few months.What's more, once the hype for Solana began to falter, other sidechains and Layer 2 stepped up and made it lose traction. It all escalated when their main investment coming from FTX's founder & CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, was no more. FTX went bankrupt and Solana's most prominent backer stepped down. This led to the exit of numerous promising projects and investors who then looked for other chains elsewhere.After experiencing what could be the very bottom, Solana is looking to slowly recover and get back on track to become a healthy ecosystem again. The big question is, is it worth it? Time will tell whether there are enough builders, willing to endure and make the distance.