UFC Collectibles Coming to Flow Blockchain

Blockchain gaming company Dapper Labs has signed a deal with the UFC to bring digital collectibles to the market, powered by their upcoming consumer-oriented Flow blockchain. The collectibles are based on the popular fighting sport, but details are not known yet. Collectors will be able to buy, win or trade them on an open marketplace.

Dapper Labs is planning to release an alpha version of Flow later this year. It’s unknown when the UFC blockchain collectibles will become available. At the same time Dapper Labs is also the company behind NBA Top Shot, another product with a mainstream-oriented license aimed at digital collectibles.

Flow will also allow any developer to build apps that use these digital assets. For example, someone can make a gallery to showcase the items, while someone else develops a pawn shop, reseller or anything else users might need.

Flow tries to do something different

The Flow network introduces five different nodes, which means the workload will be split between them. Some nodes will only validate, while others will execute transactions. As a result everybody can help to build the network, ranging from home computers to data centers.

Firstly there are Consensus and Verification Nodes, which are the foundation of security in the Flow network. Everybody can participate in this part of the network, even using consumer hardware from a home connection. Secondly there are Collection and Execution Nodes, which are much more demanding. These require dedicated server hardware in a professional data center. And finally there are Observation Nodes that can keep an eye on the network. They don’t need to keep up with the load of traffic flowing through the network. Node operators earn rewards coming from a portion of the transaction fees.

Flow blockchain has major supporters

Dapper Labs has received a 11.2 million dollar investment to work on their blockchain. Among the investors are companies like Warner Music, Ubisoft and Animoca Brands. Where Warner Music sees Flow as a way to increase fan participation, Animoca Brands will be launching games.

It seems without question that Ubisoft will also launch a game on the Flow blockchain. However, its impact remains to be seen. The French gaming company owns major brands, but it’s not likely that Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six will embrace Flow. The upcoming next generation blockchain should launch in 2020.