The Emergence of Polkadot: A New Era for NFT and Gaming Advancements

What if blockchain technology could serve not merely as a tool for DeFi or gaming, but as an integrated foundation for our entire digital ecosystem? Charu Sethi, the APAC Ambassador at Polkadot , observes this shift taking shape. From her initial explorations into blockchain at IBM to her pivotal role in steering NFT infrastructure at Unique Network, she’s been a key player in the evolution of Web3.

In this conversation, Charu delves into the increasing popularity of blockchain in the Asia-Pacific region, the latest advancements from Polkadot, and how intertwined NFTs alongside Polkadot's Cloud 3.0 vision are redefining industries. She paints a picture of a future where blockchain becomes integral to digital innovation instead of merely being an accessory.

Could you tell us about your path into blockchain and Web3?

I'm Charu, currently part of the Polkadot ecosystem. I also head teams at Unique Network, the parachain that specializes in NFT infrastructure on Polkadot. My journey into blockchain dates back to the years between 2013 to 2016 when I was engaged with IBM. During that period, we focused on laying the groundwork by educating clients on the fundamentals of blockchain and the capabilities of distributed ledger technology.

In 2016, I took charge of marketing blockchain initiatives for IBM in the Asia Pacific. It was a time when the sector was still nascent, and we were careful not to mention 'cryptocurrency,' yet we persistently educated our clients. Gradually, we were able to provide Proof of Concepts (PoCs) for our clients in the financial sector. I held that position for two years, and throughout that time, my interest in the Web3 domain outside IBM steadily grew.

Towards the end of 2020, I made a bold move to shift to the Polkadot ecosystem. This was a significant turning point for me. I initially got involved with a small venture at Enjin before joining Unique Network, where I deepened my understanding of Polkadot, engaging in the development of infrastructure and technologies for cutting-edge NFTs. This marked my true entry into Web3 and blockchain.

Are there any standout gaming projects currently being developed on Polkadot? What distinguishes them?

Let me begin with the most significant one—Mythical Games. They transitioned to Polkadot in 2024, migrating their NFTs from Ethereum to take advantage of improved scalability and interoperability. Although they had a strong presence in the Ethereum scene, they faced the challenge of high transaction fees. Following their switch to Polkadot, they recorded three million transactions within the initial 48 hours. Mythical Games is attracting renowned brands such as NFL Rivals, FIFA Rivals, and soon, the Pudgy Party.

Another fascinating case is TapNation. This Web2 company boasts a vast array of mobile tap games akin to Candy Crush, engaging millions of active users. One of their titles, Water Color Sort, alone attracts two million active players, and they are transitioning by welcoming users from that game onto Polkadot. What’s particularly remarkable is their ability to seamlessly integrate Polkadot and Unique Network with Unique Network’s SDKs, showcasing the efficacy of Polkadot’s developer resources. We anticipate onboarding around 700,000 new users to Polkadot from this effort.

Preliminary tests involving 20,000 users yielded impressive findings. Those who utilized the crypto features generated five times the revenue compared to those who did not engage with them. This underscores the strength of the developer tools and their capacity to enable significant growth.

How does Polkadot manage scalability and transaction speed, especially for gaming dApps?

Polkadot is meticulously designed to cater to applications necessitating both speed and security. It began its journey with a multi-layered chain architecture, where a primary relay chain supervises several parallel chains, each capable of submitting their own blocks. This design permits simultaneous operations across multiple chains.

The evolution of Polkadot’s architecture has been ongoing to satisfy the ecosystem's increasing demands. The advent of asynchronous backing has detached parachain block production from the relay chain's block timing, trimming down block intervals from 12 seconds to just six, and boosting throughput significantly. The agile core time upgrade has replaced the traditional auction format with a more adaptable on-demand block space approach, enhancing flexibility while minimizing costs. Moreover, the elastic scaling introduced in 2024 allows parachains to quickly lease additional cores when necessary.

One captivating endeavor was the Spammening initiative, conducted on Kusama to rigorously stress-test scalability and performance. Polkadot achieved an astounding 143,000 transactions per second at only 23% capacity while successfully upholding six-second block times.

In 2024, Unique Network assessed NFT minting speeds with the game Forever Has Fallen, which demanded the minting of millions of NFTs. We conducted two performance assessments and triumphantly minted over 5,000 NFTs per minute—close to 100,000 NFTs in under 20 minutes—outpacing previous records established by Solana and Polygon by a factor of three. These milestones mark Polkadot's remarkable scalability for gaming and extensive applications.

Which blockchain sectors are currently gaining prominence in the Asia-Pacific region? How is Polkadot situated in this landscape?

After just returning from a conference in Hong Kong, I witnessed remarkable progress across numerous sectors. Financial services are particularly buoyed by regulatory enhancements, which are paving the way for initiatives related to tokenization and real-world asset integration.

Gaming continues to be a central focus in the region. During my time in Hong Kong, I connected with South Korean companies and blockchain advocates who highlighted the burgeoning interest in blockchain’s application within entertainment and media fields, especially concerning music and K-pop. A notable rise in funding for such projects indicates a bright future ahead.

Are there any particular initiatives aimed at supporting startups in the Asia-Pacific region?

Indeed, Polkadot champions developers through various initiatives. The Polkadot Blockchain Academy has seen significant online growth, facilitating easier developer onboarding. Previously, lengthy academies were hosted in cities like Singapore, the U.S., and Hong Kong.

Additionally, Polkadot collaborates with EasyA, one of the largest developer communities, in organizing hackathons and grant opportunities. EasyA, with support from the Polkadot Treasury, recently introduced a rapid grants scheme to identify promising developers during hackathons and assist them in further developing their ideas on Polkadot.

Unique Network successfully ran a code grant program that brought onboard 12 projects, each developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) with real user engagement. Furthermore, the Web3 Foundation, alongside the ecosystem, provides grants, and the Polkadot Treasury financially supports projects that add value to the network.

What key challenges does the Asia-Pacific region face? How are you planning to tackle them?

The primary challenges revolve around user interface tools for developers and the ambiguity in regulations. Polkadot has been diligently working to enhance developer tools and user interfaces, supplemented with hackathons and grant programs aimed at solving these issues. Regulatory ambiguity has been a barrier to enterprises embracing NFTs and DeFi, but positive changes are on the horizon with global regulatory improvements.

How engaged is the community in the Asia-Pacific region? What engagement strategies have proven effective?

The Asia-Pacific community is notably active. According to Chainalysis’ Global Crypto Adoption Index, five or six of the leading countries are in Central and Southeast Asia. Individuals in this region engage deeply with NFTs, airdrops, and gaming.

From a developer's standpoint, hackathons and grant programs generate significant involvement. The high volume of developers in the region ensures robust engagement. Initiatives focused on gaming and NFTs have particularly succeeded in attracting participation from end users.

What do you see as the most thrilling development in the Polkadot ecosystem for 2025 and beyond?

One notable advancement is Polkadot’s focus on interoperability. Unique Network has successfully enabled cross-chain NFT transfers, a monumental achievement. The testing environment for this feature is currently operational, providing developers the chance to experiment.

Polkadot is also transitioning into Cloud 3.0, positioning itself as the AWS equivalent for Web3. The Polkadot Hub is set to become a launchpad for innovative governance models, new projects, and token registrations. These changes establish Polkadot as an ideal foundation for Web3 applications.

Which industries beyond gaming and DeFi are poised for substantial blockchain disruption?

The entertainment field is rapidly evolving. A number of major entertainment entities are incorporating blockchain into their operations, with several Korean firms receiving hefty investments for blockchain projects related to K-pop. Another emerging trend includes the application of NFTs in AI governance frameworks, operating quietly without users realizing their interaction with blockchain technology. These areas hold tremendous promise for upcoming blockchain disruptions in the near future.