I would reminisce about the time I attended a small scale game dev game jam in Jakarta a few years ago. Talented artists, coders brimming with ideas… but the conversation kept circling back to the same problem: access. Access to funding, access to mentorship, access to a global audience. And the work they had produced was amazing, creating world-class things with shoestring budgets while dreaming of one day being able to compete on a level playing field.

Web3 offered huge leaps of innovation, a decentralized utopia where anyone, anywhere, could invent the next big thing. We all know that in practice, things are a little… unbalanced. Though the concept may be international, the cash frequently isn’t. Just take a quick look at all the funding announcements flooding in each week. So many awesome projects, but how many are really pushing @Ethereum devs globally, especially in expanding markets like SEA. Silicon Valley is abuzz with excitement over the next big metaverse initiative. At the same time, other up-and-coming studios in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are Asia’s next chance to breakout. It’s unfortunate given that the funding for web3 is still disproportionately West-focused.

MagicBlock’s recent $7.5 million seed round led by Lightspeed Faction feels different. It's not just another funding announcement. It's a potential crack in that Western-centric funding model. Maybe this is the beginning of something more substantive. Their inclusion alongside Solana-aligned angels makes this all the much better. Solana’s low latency, important in developed countries, is especially important in developing countries, or indeed anywhere where internet infrastructure can be hit-or-miss. This isn’t only the matter of creating games—it’s the matter of creating inclusive games.

Here's where it gets really interesting. MagicBlock is powering fully onchain games. Think about the implications. With full composability, developers can iterate on each other’s work and coalesce a flourishing ecosystem of interconnected experiences. And in Southeast Asia, community is everything. Now, developers are creating games that make local folklore jump off the screen. They interlace popular music and infuse narratives that inextricably connect to their culture.

This is more than play. It’s a pathway to economic empowerment. Onchain games have the potential to provide innovative revenue streams for developers and players that can financially benefit both. Picture this play-to-earn models that truly enrich the community, rather than filling the pockets of a few whales. We’ll discuss how the ownership of on-chain, cross-game interoperable assets allows new pockets of opportunity to develop for emerging artists and creators.

Let's talk about ownership. In places where communities have a deep-seated mistrust of centralized authorities, blockchain can help re-establish trust. Its transparency and immutability provide a potent remedy. Players really do own their assets, and developers are less beholden to whatever walled gardens and rent-seeking monopolists are running the show.

MagicBlock’s new funding will be used to build out their engineering team and scale the developer ecosystem surrounding MagicBlock. That’s cool, but how do they actually plan on scaling that ecosystem across the rest of Southeast Asia. And this, folks, is where the rubber meets the road. Will they include mentorship programs local developers have asked for? Will they provide grants to promising projects? Will they go the extra mile to find and fund developers from today’s underrepresented communities? This was preceded by $3 million in September 2024 from a16z’s crypto startup accelerator. And this time I hope they are a little more proactive about that.

I’d personally like to see MagicBlock develop partnerships with local universities and tech incubators to host workshops and training sessions. Now, imagine a continuation of those hackathons, which are all aimed at informing the world about Southeast Asia culture through onchain games. Now that would be an excellent way to reach and engage the next generation of game developers.

My message to investors is simple: Look East! Of course, Southeast Asia is hugely diverse, and a real hotbed of talent and creativity. Clearly, there is a strong appetite for something new and clearly an appetite to embrace exciting new technologies. The potential is enormous.

So MagicBlock’s funding is indeed a promising sign — if only it were the whole picture. We just need more investors to see that potential like we do, and to believe in the capability of Southeast Asian game developers. What we need are inclusive platforms that place more power in the hands of local communities. If that’s the case, then we all have to be intentional about creating a Web3 ecosystem that is global and inclusive — by default.

That’s because the future of Web3 gaming isn’t just about technology, it’s about community, empowerment and opportunity. Let’s ensure that Southeast Asia plays a critical role in creating such a future. I'm ready to be amazed.

Time to look East, investors!

My message to investors is simple: Look East! Southeast Asia is a hotbed of talent and creativity. There's a hunger for innovation and a willingness to embrace new technologies. The potential is enormous.

MagicBlock's funding is a promising sign, but it's just the beginning. We need more investors to recognize the potential of Southeast Asian game developers. We need more platforms that empower local communities. We need to build a Web3 ecosystem that is truly global and inclusive.

Here's my call to action:

  • Developers: Explore MagicBlock's platform. Build games that showcase your unique cultural heritage. Let's create a new wave of games that are both entertaining and meaningful.
  • Investors: Don't overlook Southeast Asia. Invest in the talent and creativity that is thriving in this region. You might just find the next billion-dollar game.
  • MagicBlock: Step up and show us how you will support the local developers!

The future of Web3 gaming is not just about technology; it's about community, empowerment, and opportunity. Let's make sure that Southeast Asia is a part of that future. I'm ready to be amazed.