Decentralization is one of the core elements of blockchain technology that attracts users worldwide. With blockchain technology, power no longer lies in any one person or institution's hands, it is instead divided and shared among those who want to take a part in the project. But since projects could not survive without management, DAOs (or decentralized autonomous organizations) are introduced to control and manage various processes. This article will explain what a DAO is and how it will work to improve the Mars Metaverse.
Bitcoin - the start of the decentralization movement
When Bitcoin became popular, many people did not question its point: the prices were rising as it was becoming more common and widely used, thus everyone jumped into the craze. But behind Bitcoin lies a significant idea: it established a way to avoid middlemen in transactions.
When you have a credit card issued by a bank and use it to make a transaction, your bank is the middleman, a central authority that decides to validate your transaction. When it comes to Bitcoin, your transaction will go through validators, decentralized entities.
These validators can also be called miners but the name is deceiving: miners do not mine Bitcoin out of the ground. They connect their machines to the blockchain network which are then used to solve various mathematical equations to validate transactions. As a reward, miners get cryptocurrency. This way the middle man is cut and transaction fees are divided between many people, not just one institution.
Bitcoin was only the start of the movement as people realised that there were many other use cases for blockchain technology. The technology is well-suited to create decentralized projects and it is being used to create the Mars Metaverse as well.
What is Web3, and is it the future of the internet?
The first era of the internet is called Web1. Back in the days of Web1, internet users were consumers with limited tools to create their content. Soon it evolved into the interactive Web2, the internet as we know it now. It allows us to create content without any technical skills and share it with the world.
The main reason the distinction between Web1 and Web2 is needed is to showcase the difference between the early read-only internet and the current community-driven internet of the current age. While Web2 is a great tool, it raises one problem: who owns your data on the internet?
In theory, Web2 is decentralized. In reality, it is owned by a few big players such as Facebook or Google. Content creators rarely earn from using these platforms while these big tech companies count billions of revenue from users' data.
Web3 is a solution to this problem. It is an idea of a decentralized internet based on the blockchain. It will replace corporate platforms with open community-run networks that apply democratic principles and allow its users to make decisions. Not only that, it will allow the creators to monetize their content without the middle man, giving a chance for smaller creators to earn from their content. For example, the Mars Metaverse will allow players to earn from the game, and thus will apply Web3 ideas in reality.
DAO: A tool for democracy
Decentralized autonomous organizations, or DAOs, can be used as tools in Web3 to govern platforms. Every time a decision is needed, the DAO votes for the proposals. Essentially DAO is a transparent member-owned organisation which is used to manage various entities. To understand how it works, it is best to look through a few examples of active DAOs across various blockchain platforms.
Uniswap
Uniswap is one of the most popular decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges created in 2018. In 2020 Uniswap launched UNI, a governance token together with the Uniswap Governance page. Before that, all development decisions were made by the creators of the platform.
UNI token can be used to vote for proposals. This way users can control which features are incorporated into the platform. The community can also submit proposals themselves to change the course of the project. It has become a platform run by its members by incorporating DAO.
Axie Infinity
Play-to-earn giant Axie Infinity is owned by Sky Mavis, the company that created the project. While Sky Mavis is still active in the Axie Infinity government, this might not be the case soon as the company has introduced DAO to give power to the community.
First, the AXS token was introduced. Just like UNI in the Uniswap case, AXS is a governance token used to vote and make proposals. In their roadmap to becoming a fully decentralized organization, Sky Mavis gives examples of things that could be voted on in the future. The company does not shy away from weighty questions such as whether Axie Infinity Limited should continue to pay Sky Mavis to develop Axie Infinity. That way they give all of the control to the people using the platform.
It is important to note that not only is Axie Infinity launching a DAO, but they are also giving tools for their community to earn from the game. As was mentioned before, Web3 will allow people to earn from their content and data - and NFT games are an example of how spending time on the platform can generate income. You can learn more about Axie Infinity and how it compares to the Mars Metaverse in this article.
The Mars Metaverse: a future DAO
Mars4 is being created as a fully community-driven platform. The idea behind it is to create a unique Mars Metaverse where players have rights and tools to govern their lands. From building on their Mars NFTs to making your land public or private, landowners will be able to control their assets. But the management of Mars4 does not end in the game as DAO will be introduced to the Mars Metaverse to grant the community full control of the project.
The details of the DAO are still being fleshed out by the team as the entire Mars Metaverse is a work in progress. For example, the team is still in consideration whether Mars4 should launch another token besides the MARS4 dollar. This new token would be used to govern the Mars Metaverse following the cases of Uniswap and Axie Infinity.
What is clear is that Mars NFT holders will be able to be a part of Mars DAO, an organization controlling and improving the Mars Metaverse. You too can become a part of the movement by purchasing a Mars NFT!
With all that being said, what do you think about the future of the Mars Metaverse DAO? Leave a comment here or on our social channels - we want to know your thoughts on the Mars4 project!