StarkNet is an L2 developed by StarkWare, which uses STARK proof of validity to improve performance and scalability. In the year and a half since its launch on the mainnet (November 2021), over 221 projects are being built on StarkNet, including OnlyDust, Briq, Pxls, Realms, Influence, and Cartridge. The developer community is dedicated to improving the architecture, which will have a groundbreaking impact on decentralization, scalability, and user experience, and will unleash a plethora of exciting new projects in the ecosystem.
Introduction
While Ethereum's scalability and clunky user experience often receive criticism, the StarkNet community has been working hard to address these issues. Over the past two years, StarkNet has pushed the boundaries of L2 performance, privacy, and scalability using the power of STARK validity rollop.
However, there is still much work to be done. StarkNet is still in the alpha stage and has not been optimized for TPS. Nevertheless, over 221 projects are built on StarkNet, indicating widespread adoption and growth of StarkNet and STARK.
In this article, we will introduce some innovative projects built on StarkNet, focusing on three roles:
Developers & Artists & Players
Developers
Given that StarkNet is in its early stages, the community is constantly seeking new contributors to shape the future of the network. Since the introduction of Cairo as a high-level programming language for L2 smart contracts in 2020, it has evolved into a Python and Rust-style optimization language. With the open-source release of Cairo 1.0 and the launch of Warp (Solidity to Cairo code converter), we have seen exponential growth in developer activity, and this trend will continue.
OnlyDust
OnlyDust is a platform that connects developers with open-source projects in the StarkNet ecosystem. OnlyDust allows developers to contribute to meaningful projects such as Kakarot, DevNet, and starkNet.js and receive rewards based on their contribution value. Thanks to Warp, Solidity developers can also participate.
While the platform has already attracted hundreds of contributors, it plans to launch a "Leader" role, where developers can quickly launch their own projects and receive direct support from the community.
In addition to the online community, OnlyDust also hosts offline events where developers can collaborate and immerse themselves in the rapidly growing StarkNet community.
Overview of StarkNet Innovative Projects: What other opportunities are there for developers, artists, and players?
Artists
Despite the cyclical hype around NFTs, the digital art market continues to thrive. The StarkNet ecosystem is full of projects aimed at helping artists grow and profit by sharing their artwork with the world.
Briq
Like a digital version of LEGO blocks, Briq has built a composability system for artists using ERC-1155 tokens called briqs to construct their works. From here, artists can directly sell, lend, transfer their works, or allow buyers to dismantle their works to create something entirely new.
Briqs are built for interoperability, aiming to connect the real world with the virtual world and become a cornerstone of the metaverse.
Overview of StarkNet Innovative Projects: What other opportunities are there for developers, artists, and players?
Pxls
Pxls is an experiment in creating on-chain collaborative artwork, built around a collection of 400 "pxl" NFTs. Each pxl is a key participant in creating pixel art ("rtwrks"), with a maximum of 20 colors out of a total of 2,000 pixels in a blank grid.
Every two days, a new rtwrk is auctioned. When a user wins the auction, they can suggest a theme for the next rtwrk. After the auction ends, each pxl NFT holder receives the theme and contributes to the creation.
Overview of StarkNet Innovative Projects: What other opportunities are there for developers, artists, and players?
Players
The blockchain gaming industry has been hindered by Ethereum's scalability limitations, but the introduction of StarkNet has proven to be transformative. As more on-chain game development teams realize the limitations of EVM/Solidity, they are encouraged to explore other ecosystems. Fortunately, with the emergence of Cairo 1.0 and Rust, developers can easily build seamless on-chain games.
The gas fees on StarkNet are low enough to be negligible, allowing for the creation of immersive games or metaverses while establishing sustainable in-game economies.
Realms
As a product of BibliothecaDAO, Realms is a large-scale multiplayer online game (MMO) where players can build empires, plunder resources, and seize relics. The game is open-source and runs entirely on StarkNet, unlike many other crypto games.
Overview of StarkNet Innovative Projects: What other opportunities are there for developers, artists, and players?
The game features 22 different rarity resources that can be generated by purchasing labor. Each resource generation cycle takes 2 hours and produces 25 times the resources. Resources can be used to build structures, summon soldiers, or trade on AMMs. Each empire's treasury can be plundered.
An empire can have a defensive army and multiple attacking armies, but it is important to balance their resource consumption and consider the risks and rewards of each raid.
Realms has multiple game modes and features, such as staking and crafting, governed by a set of predefined rules that can be updated based on on-chain player voting.
The game released its Alpha and Beta versions in the first quarter of 2023, with the deployment of the official version following if approved by DAO voting. Q2 will bring an NFT marketplace, new modules, and the first expansion - Adventurers (a mini-game where players can forge an adventurer at a low cost, and if the adventurer dies in the game, the character will be confiscated. Officially called "Play to Die").
Influence
Influence is a highly anticipated 3D space strategy sandbox MMO set in the asteroid belt of the Adalia galaxy. The game allows players to control ships and facilities, colonize asteroids, engage in battles, develop buildings, create communities, and expand their influence in the universe. All in-game assets are owned by players, including Adalia's 250,000 asteroids, each with a unique combination of resources that can be mined and refined into various products traded on the open market.
Overview of StarkNet Innovative Projects: What other opportunities are there for developers, artists, and players?
The game incorporates realistic orbital mechanics and player-owned assets, allowing players to truly own their assets, including asteroids, crew members, and ships. Influence is set to launch in 2023.
Influence is a free-to-play game with no recurring fees. However, certain actions will incur network transaction fees. While the game is not "pay-to-win," early items like crew members require the use of in-game token $SWAY for purchase.
The game is filled with combat, strategy, and cooperation, making it ideal for gamers and sci-fi enthusiasts.
Cartridge
To create a successful Web3 game, there must be identity tools that provide a seamless user experience similar to Web2. WebAuthn is a widely adopted industry standard specification that allows players to securely generate and manage key pairs for authentication across various devices.
The adoption of WebAuthn by major software and hardware providers is driving a significant shift in the underlying logic of authentication. By supporting WebAuthn, blockchains like StarkNet can greatly improve usability and pave the way for mainstream adoption.
This is where Cartridge comes in - it's like the Crypto version of Steam, helping players discover and explore games while managing their on-chain assets, tokens, and reputation. With Cartridge, developers can easily create crypto games that offer a seamless user experience.