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Example: a centralized game distributor builds an in-game marketplace for certain assets and user-generated content—think skins, plugins, and game mods that mig

Example: a centralized game distributor builds an in-game marketplace for certain assets and user-generated content—think skins, plugins, and game mods that might cost $1 each. The owner of the platform collects a small fee on each sale in crypto, allowing them to have funds that are outside the control of Stripe or even a bank (useful to avoid the regular "Stripe killed my business" posts[1]). The rest of the amount goes automatically to the content creator, unlike Apple's 45 day settlement time for in-app purchases. Through on-chain contracts, these could even be split collaboratively, such as if a team builds a plugin and each member wants an equal % cut without pooling it into a single user's account. The owner and users benefit from the lack of payment processing fees (2-5% or up to 30% in app store models). All of this is interesting, but the system also needs an easy way to get "into" and "out of" the system for those that don't want to hold crypto (or for those that are just coming to the game without any crypto). Instead of forcing them through a shady CEX like FTX, they can just buy tokens through this Stripe embed. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32854528 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32854528

gnarbarian 4y ago
>All of this is interesting, but the system also needs an easy way to get "into" and "out of" the system for those that don't want to hold crypto (or for those that are just coming to the game without any crypto). Instead of forcing them through a shady CEX like FTX, they can just buy tokens through this Stripe embed. and unfortunately, we still have to rely on a company who can choose to deny you business for any reason they want (perhaps stripe doesn't like the addresses you are sending crypto to, for example). This could be an actual use case for central bank digital currencies though I expect the result will be more fine-grained control and micromanagement rather than less.
- mattdesl 4y ago
  This is only for the on-ramp and off-ramp on that site. If a user is censored by Stripe, and very determined to get into the digital game economy, they could probably find a local crypto exchange that would handle on and off ramps. Once they are in the crypto system, which may already be the case for many users if we imagine these embeds are in more parts of the web than just niche game marketplaces, that censorship becomes very difficult.

gnarbarian 4y ago

>All of this is interesting, but the system also needs an easy way to get "into" and "out of" the system for those that don't want to hold crypto (or for those that are just coming to the game without any crypto). Instead of forcing them through a shady CEX like FTX, they can just buy tokens through this Stripe embed. and unfortunately, we still have to rely on a company who can choose to deny you business for any reason they want (perhaps stripe doesn't like the addresses you are sending crypto to, for example). This could be an actual use case for central bank digital currencies though I expect the result will be more fine-grained control and micromanagement rather than less.

mattdesl 4y ago
This is only for the on-ramp and off-ramp on that site. If a user is censored by Stripe, and very determined to get into the digital game economy, they could probably find a local crypto exchange that would handle on and off ramps. Once they are in the crypto system, which may already be the case for many users if we imagine these embeds are in more parts of the web than just niche game marketplaces, that censorship becomes very difficult.