Minecraft’s Stance on Cryptocurrencies and NFTs vs. Worldcoin

adminDecember 27, 2023

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In the dynamic world of online gaming, Minecraft stands out as a global phenomenon and is recognized as one of the most influential games opposing the integration of cryptocurrencies and NFTs. The game’s developer, Mojang, along with publisher Microsoft, have banned the use of these digital assets, even on fan-run servers. This policy background makes Worldcoin’s recent announcement of Minecraft integration very interesting.

WorldCoin gained attention for its “Orb,” a unique device designed to scan the human retina. This scan generates a unique IrisCode that is registered on Worldcoin’s blockchain. This process is essential for creating a World ID, which serves as a “proof of identity.” Additionally, participants will be rewarded with WLD crypto tokens, an essential component of the Worldcoin framework.

Worldcoin’s integration with Minecraft, a game known for its creative and blocky environments, primarily relies on World ID for player verification. This setting allows Minecraft server administrators to require player authentication before granting certain in-game permissions.

A representative from Worldcoin elaborated on the importance of this integration. They explained that World ID serves as a privacy solution that verifies the human identity of players, which is becoming increasingly important as the number of bots increases in online games. This integration specifically aims to reduce the occurrence of ‘sadness’ in Minecraft and improve the overall safety and enjoyment of the gaming experience.

Worldcoin unveils integrations with Minecraft, Reddit, Telegram, and Shopify https://t.co/UcNd3lskCm
— The Block (@TheBlock__) December 13, 2023

NFTs banned

Minecraft has publicly announced its intention to ban NFTs in 2022, a decision that went into effect this year. The game also banned the use of cryptocurrency as player rewards, which led to the Bitcoin rewards feature being discontinued on its servers in the fall. Microsoft and Mojang released a statement in 2022 outlining a comprehensive ban on blockchain technology and emphasizing the importance of a safe and inclusive experience for Minecraft players. The statement prohibited the integration of blockchain technology within Minecraft client and server applications and the use of such technology to create NFTs linked to in-game content.

Minecraft’s updated End User License Agreement (EULA) provides more detailed instructions. Specifically, it bans play-to-earn features that reward players with cryptocurrency and bans NFTs that create exclusivity for items. The EULA states that modifications that affect player experience and result in lack of in-game content due to external factors are unacceptable. For example, mods that require NFT ownership to unlock certain in-game features are not permitted.

It is interesting to note that other companies have recently withdrawn their support for cryptocurrencies and Play-to-Earn features. We reported two weeks ago that Immortal Game had announced the suspension of all cryptocurrency-related features due to rampant cheating and other issues. We also reported on the many challenges facing web3 games earlier this fall.

Worldcoin integration into Minecraft

Worldcoin integration into Minecraft focuses only on World ID credentials and does not include any in-game cryptocurrency or tokens. A Minecraft representative noted that the integration will likely be allowed as long as it complies with EULA guidelines.

A Worldcoin representative further stated that the WLD token and World ID credentials are different and the token may not be accessible in some regions. For example, individuals in the United States can obtain a World ID without accessing a token. This distinction between technology and tokens appears to meet the requirements of Minecraft’s policy on blockchain integration, allowing the World ID feature to continue to exist in the game.