FANZONE’s blockchain vision for digital trading cards

At FANZONE, we believe in the power of fans. Through emerging technologies, we create value and stronger connections between fans and their favorite teams and stars.

If you don’t know about FANZONE, read more at https://www.fanzone.media.

Our blockchain vision

• Changing the status quo
• Inclusive for all — regardless of crypto experience
• Step-by-step development based on user needs
• Commitment to decentralization and open source

This is the bedrock of our blockchain vision. Of course, we all know plans can change — depending on user requests, new developments, and other circumstances. Please note that this blog post reflects the current state and is subject to change.

Our platform is for all fans, particularly those who are new to NFTs and cryptocurrencies and don’t possess special technical skills. Our goal is to introduce these users to the benefits of this technology. For blockchain fans, we offer a very special decentralized experience.

In order to achieve our vision, we are developing the platform at full speed step-by-step. Our development plan is transparent in the last section and for all to see — we’re sure many will be thrilled to take this journey with us.

FANZONE is fully committed to decentralization and open source — we are working to ensure that our digital trading cards have live-time availability and associated utility. We rely on open source blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) and also contribute code and standard enhancement suggestions to the open source community.

User-centric, customer-first design

• Easy on boarding for all users
• Unique, decentralized digital trading cards with unique properties
• Decentralized social network of fans
• Ease of use and security

We prioritize a user-centric experience and ensure a simple and pleasant onboarding process for all fans. Therefore, the registration will be as easy as with known apps and social networks and does not require any special technical expertise.

The initial registration is done simply by e-mail and a so-called magic link. All users, especially those with crypto experience can in the future increase security by owning their private keys.

Payment for card packs and in our marketplace can be done via all standard methods (credit card, in-app payment, etc.) as well as with select cryptocurrencies.

Each digital trading card is unique and contains a so-called token ID. The token ID is also unique. Even cards with the same motif can have different scoring values, which can be used to determine their effectiveness in apps and games. We also plan to enable the individualization and upgrading of cards.

The trading cards themselves appear in thematically-related editions and have different degrees of rarity. We also have different zones. We’re starting with the ‘Football Zone’ but there will be many more.

Like on Twitter and Instagram, each user has their own public profile. This is a smart contract on the blockchain and contains all cards belonging to the user.

Profiles also enable social interaction among users, the display of one’s fan activity and loyalty, and a link between the cards and the associated athletes, teams and coaches.

A special technical feature is that the password — more precisely the authorized private key — can be exchanged at any time without having to transfer the NFTs.

This makes it possible that one can initially log in by e-mail but later can switch to MetaMask or hardware wallets.

Users can even choose their preferred password recovery method.On-chain open source password recovery methods can create a whole new developer community.

The high utility and enduring value of NFTs

• Fan engagement is rewarded (daily)
• Fantasy sports challenges and manager game for sports fans
• Trading card games
• Interaction between users and their collections

We are working on entertaining engagement mechanisms to reward fan activity within a zone or league.

As with fantasy sports or manager games, we will offer users playful competition and a connection to athletes and their current real-life performance.

In addition to Fantasy Sports, we are also working on a trading card game and we will also offer social interaction between users though our profiles. That allows for strong fan communities that engage in sharing their favorite topics.

Royalties and open ecosystem

Each trading card belongs to a fan community. We call these Zones. We’re starting with football but already look forward to zones for other sports such as Basketball, Handball, eSports or even spaceships. Anything is possible so long as it is an area of interest where fans come together.

Since each card is related to athletes or other stars, their team, or leagues, royalties of card sales and re-sales can also be given to those. In this way, the athletes, clubs and league’s the fans care most about, profit as well. Revenue sharing details will depend on the Zone and partners.

In addition, external app and game developers who use the trading cards will be incentivized through on-chain revenue shares, thus creating an open ecosystem for further exciting uses.

Sustainability and good causes

• Combining transaction costs with a good cause
• Enabling social engagement between athletes, stars, and their fans
• Use of an energy-saving blockchain

Depending on the Zone, we aim to link the trading cards directly to a donation for a good cause. Eventually, these transactions will be viewable on the blockchain.

This strengthens social engagement between athletes and stars and their fans. We already have exciting plans that we will share with you when they become concrete.

For now, we can say that our application runs on a sustainable blockchain, i.e. without energy-hungry proof-of-work.

Technology and transparent roadmap

• Web app for smartphones and desktop; apps and dapp
• Collection cards based on NFT standard ERC721
• Limitless possibilities through profiles on the ERC725 standard
• Use and cooperation with the LUKSO blockchain
• Evaluation of a utility token
• Development stages from ‘track and trace’ to trading on-chain

We are developing our web app for smartphones as well as for desktop screen sizes. We will also release our web app as a native app. Finally, user profiles and cards with a little less functionality can be used on a decentralized website, a so-called dapp.

Our collection cards are based on the ERC721 standard. We will also consider becoming compatible with ERC1155. Our goal is to enable as much compatibility as possible between different applications, games and ‘metaverses’.

Our NFTs also come with special features, namely compatibility with the profiles on the ERC725 standard. Further functionalities are planned.

The use of profiles correspond to the ERC725 standard from the author Fabian Vogelsteller, who also co-wrote ERC20 and developed Web3.js. We believe our NFTs have an outstanding future interoperability and long-term usefulness. First of all, the trading cards can be stored directly on a smart contract so that different applications, even simple backend-less Web3.js HTML pages on GitHub Pages, can display and manage all trading cards and tokens of a user.

A special feature is the combination of usability and security. By authenticating the user directly on the blockchain, the user can use any access system available today and in the future.

To provide easy and free access, we use so-called gas stations and relay servers and pay user transaction fees from the beginning.

Our aim is to start FANZONE on the LUKSO Blockchain, which is designed specifically for digital collectibles and lifestyle applications. It’s also Ethereum-based, open source, and pursues the greatest possible decentralization strategy.

We’re often asked if we will issue a token in addition to NFTs. That remains to be seen. We are evaluating a utility token, as we are developing a market-ready blockchain application that speaks to all audiences.

Our development steps over the next months:

Developing user-centric and secure applications on the blockchain is a very complex matter for which we have dedicated a great effort. This takes time but we are happy to keep you in the loop of our current state, progress, and challenges.

The beta version of our application will launch on the L14, currently test net, LUKSO network. Then we will migrate to its mainnet.

We will test the NFTs together with users and develop them further according to their needs. At this stage, the blockchain fulfills the goal that the ownership and rarity of the cards are clearly visible, we can talk about the tracking and tracing of the cards.

Furthermore, users can already create a network with profiles. At this point, however, collecting, using, and trading cards is intended to happen in our web app and apps.

When all user needs and security requirements are met, therefore eliminating smart contract re-deployments, the cards will be functional via third-party applications such as MetaMask, etc. .

Right from the start, collection cards, including their metadata, images, and videos, will be stored decentralized on the blockchain and IPFS servers.

We would love to hear your opinion and about your own blockchain strategy you’re working on or would like to be developed!

Get in touch!

________________________________________
ABOUT FANZONE

FANZONE Media GmbH develops and operates a novel fan experience platform that combines digital trading cards and fantasy sports gameplay on the blockchain. On fanzone.io, users can buy, collect, trade and use the digital trading cards of their favorite sports stars in different game variants. Porsche’s company builder, Forward31, is the strategic partner of FANZONE.

Founders Dirk Weyel, Claudio Weck and Björn Hesse bring decades of experience in games, sports marketing and blockchain technology to the table. More on www.fanzone.media

For media inquiries to FANZONE, please use Björn Hesse’s contact bjoern@fanzone.media / +49–162–4046257

Fans can follow FANZONE via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @fanzone_io as well as on LinkedIn, Discord and Telegram.