Technology advances at an unstoppable speed. And sometimes, even in a way that is incomprehensible to the vast majority of mortals.
Especially when it comes to the financial world. While some of us consider it a personal milestone to have started paying with our phones… there are people who make transactions with «cryptocurrencies»… and, what’s more, breed «cryptokitties».
You may be wondering: «What does this have to do with the world of pets?» Well, the connection is rather indirect. Because what’s happening is that the passion for cats has also reached the world of the Internet of Value, also known by the acronym IoV. Keep reading and you’ll understand why.
Cryptocurrencies make what is known as the Internet of Value or Internet of Money possible. In reality, these are applications that facilitate the exchange of value (contracts, intellectual property, shares, or any ownership of something that has value) and take the form of cryptocurrencies. The difference compared with other payment systems (such as PayPal) is that cryptocurrency payments do not require intermediaries. They take place directly between the buyer and the seller. In that sense, it is a universal value-transfer system, free from intermediaries or private networks such as those used by banks or credit cards. And that is why it is so revolutionary.
This is where the video game «CryptoKitties» comes into play. It has generated a large community that speculates on the value of very amusing virtual kittens through the reinvestment of a type of cryptocurrency. The craze is such that around $118,000 has been paid for a cryptokitty called Genesis. On average, however, the price of cryptokitties ranges from $30 to $110, which are more affordable amounts.
This video game was developed by the AxiomZem studio. The objective? Breed, buy, and sell virtual kittens. Their value depends on the degree to which the community speculates on each one. It also depends on the generation to which they belong.
It is said that the game’s success is due to its very sui generis combination. On the one hand, it bears an obvious resemblance to the legendary Tamagotchi (the first virtual pet, created in 1996 by Aki Maita). It has a degree of collectibility (no two cryptokitties are alike), something that tends to interest people who have a great deal of money. And finally (and this is its actual functionality), it enables secure transactions.
As we said, it is a complex business that some specialists are benefiting from by storing their wealth virtually… and who also have no qualms about spending it in ways that are beyond most people’s understanding. Still, if they are going to spend it virtually, we can understand their choosing to do so on adorable virtual kittens with personalities, unique traits… and their own stories.
It is clear that the craze for cats knows no boundaries, either in real life or in the virtual world. And undoubtedly, as we all know, cats are the kings of the Internet… and it seems they will continue to be.
If you want to learn more about this surprising world, we invite you to see how the video game works in practice:
If you want to discover other pet video games (although without the financial aspect) to enrich the experience, click here.