Ethereum Foundation Launches First Protocol Attackathon

**The Promise of Onchain Ownership** When code lives onchain, the power dynamic shifts fundamentally: - Publishers cannot revoke your software licenses - Game studios cannot delete your progress or achievements - Corporations cannot extract or steal the value you create This represents a return of control that should have always belonged to users. The core insight driving this shift: the current system of centralized control over digital assets and progress is not inevitable. **Why This Matters** Blockchain technology enables permanent, immutable records of ownership and progress. Unlike traditional platforms where companies hold ultimate control, onchain systems give users true sovereignty over their digital property. Every significant change begins with recognizing that alternatives exist to the status quo. [Source](https://x.com/EliBenSasson/status/1990799147616587954?s=20)

**Onchain games represent a fundamental shift in how digital worlds persist and evolve.** Rather than locking game worlds behind centralized servers, building onchain gives virtual worlds the power to exist everywhere simultaneously - like a printing press for digital experiences. **Key characteristics:** - Worlds can be copied, extended, and rebuilt by anyone - Permanent preservation without single points of failure - Player-driven evolution beyond original creators' control This approach moves beyond simple NFT integration, fundamentally rewriting how games exist as pure, permanent, and community-owned experiences.

The comparison between the Library of Alexandria and modern game servers highlights a critical vulnerability in digital preservation. When centralized game servers shut down, entire virtual worlds and their cultural significance disappear permanently. **The Core Problem:** - Centralized storage creates single points of failure - Game worlds and digital culture are lost when servers close - The technology exists to prevent this, but centralization remains the default choice This mirrors recent real-world incidents, like South Korea's government data center fire that destroyed 858 TB of records because backups were stored in the same vulnerable location. **The Alternative:** Decentralized storage solutions distribute data across multiple nodes, ensuring preservation even when individual servers fail. The loss isn't inevitable—the architecture is the choice.

A new approach to competitive gaming leverages smart contracts to secure prize pools, ensuring automatic payouts to winners without developer interference. **Key Features:** - Prize pools locked in smart contracts guarantee payment to winners - Developers cannot modify rules mid-season or withhold winnings - "Code is Law" principle enforces transparent, immutable game mechanics - Chainlink VRF provides verifiable randomness for fair winner selection This model addresses trust issues in traditional competitive gaming, where centralized control can lead to disputes over payouts or rule changes.

**DOTA's Legacy and Blockchain Gaming's Promise** The DOTA mod, created by the community within Warcraft III, spawned the entire MOBA genre—now worth billions. Yet Blizzard, the original game creators, captured almost none of that value. **Key Points:** - Community-created mods can generate massive economic value - Traditional gaming structures fail to reward community creators - Blockchain technology enables creators to own their contributions - Onchain games allow communities to build, extend, and monetize their work This example highlights a fundamental shift in gaming economics, where blockchain infrastructure could ensure creators capture value from their innovations.