Introducing "Islands" – Expanding Decentraland through Staking Mechanisms

by 0x0c678c84cc5744f2a5b368ce2aeab3905624ff99 (BitcoinETF)

This proposal introduces "Islands" as a new, unlimited land type connected to Genesis City in Decentraland. These Islands offer a scalable land expansion solution while maintaining collectibility and rarity. They are only obtainable through staking Decentraland assets, including MANA, LAND, Wearables, and Names. Islands closer to Genesis City are rarer and more desirable, increasing their value and appeal. This initiative aims to reward community participation and strengthen the Decentraland ecosystem by providing new opportunities for engagement and growth.

**Why Open-World Mechanics Attract Users **Freedom & Exploration: Open-world games let players explore, create, and personalize experiences at their own pace, appealing to diverse playstyles. Examples include Minecraft (140M monthly players) and Roblox (67M daily players). Scalability & Creativity: Unlimited environments like Decentraland's "Islands" empower user-generated content and ownership, fostering creativity similar to No Man’s Sky or Fortnite Creative Mode. **Community Engagement: **Open worlds promote collaboration, social interaction, and events, driving player retention through shared experiences, as seen in Animal Crossing and Fortnite's virtual events. Unique Gamification: The "Islands" staking mechanism introduces a new layer of gamification, where users earn valuable NFT land parcels based on their participation. This creates a rewarding, competitive system that attracts players from other platforms and encourages ongoing engagement. **Lower Barrier for Entry: **Affordable land acquisition through staking removes the financial barrier for creators, builders, and newcomers previously excluded due to fluctuating LAND prices, broadening accessibility. Monetary Incentives: Players are more likely to engage and spend time if they receive assets with monetary value. Tradable NFTs or staked rewards in Decentraland’s "Islands" can be sold or exchanged for fiat, incentivizing participation. **Proven Popularity: **Open-world games dominate, with hits like GTA V (185M copies sold) and Zelda: BOTW (30M copies sold) showcasing their universal appeal. Economic Integration: Gamified staking models and NFT ownership align with Web3 trends, providing creators and players with real-world financial opportunities.

**Staking System Overview: **1 x LAND: Claim in 1 week 1 x Decentraland Name: ** Claim in 4 weeks 100 x Mana: Claim in 4 weeks 1 x L1 Mythic Wearables" Claim in 4 weeks 10 x L1 Legendary Wearables: Claim in 4 weeks 20 x L1 Epic Wearables: Claim in 4 weeks 40 x L1 Rare Wearables: Claim in 4 weeks 60 x L1 Uncommon Wearables: Claim in 4 weeks

Island Allocation by Radius Tiers:

1. 1st Radius (closest to Genesis City): 900,000 parcels
2. 2nd Radius: 1.8 million parcels
3. 3rd Radius: 2.7 million parcels
4. Subsequent Radii: Scale dynamically as staking participation grows.

In Tier 1, the islands will range from 0.1-0.9km in radius, making them relatively close to Genesis City. These islands will be directly connected to Genesis City, ensuring easy accessibility via walking, bridges, flying, or boats, enhancing the immersive experience for users. This proximity will contribute to their higher value and desirability, with larger islands (100,000 parcels) being closer to Genesis City and smaller islands (2,000 parcels) located further out within the 0.1-0.9 km radius range.

Tier 2, 3, 4 and others will follow a similar method during expansion

Tier 2 - 1.8M parcels in total & comprising of multiple islands similar to tier 1. Tier 2 will be 1 - 2.9 KM radius

Tier 3 - 2.7M parcels in total & comparising of multiple ilsands similar to Tier 1/2. These will be 3-4.9KM radius

It will keep expanding as it is an open world. It will only need to expand if there are people staking and the previous tiers are already filled

Key Features of Islands

1. Connection to Genesis City
   • Islands form an extension of Genesis City
   • Proximity-based rarity: Closer Islands are more desirable
   • All Islands are accessible by walking, bridges, flying, or boats
2. Tradable NFTs
   • Claimed Island parcels are minted as tradable NFTs
   • Selling an Island NFT allows restaking for new Islands, albeit farther from Genesis City
3. Gamification
   • Introducing a participation-driven model incentivizes user engagement
   • Players can assign Decentraland Names to Island parcels, fostering unique identities
4. Voting Power (VP)
   • Owning an Island parcel grants 100 VP, encouraging broader DAO participation

Benefits to Decentraland

1. Enhanced Value for Landowners
   • Encourages asset staking, driving demand for LAND, Names, Wearables, and MANA
   • Current LAND owners receive free Island parcels in the first radius, adding value to their holdings
2. Market Activity Boost
   • By tying land acquisition to staking, the proposal incentivizes users to acquire and hold Decentraland assets, boosting market activity and asset value
3. Economic Stability
   • Prevents land price spikes during bull runs and stabilizes LAND prices during bear markets.
4. Broader Appeal
   • Open-world games are among the most popular titles across console and PC platforms. Unlimited Islands provide affordable land ownership opportunities, preventing price spikes and making Decentraland more accessible

Implementation Plan:

1. Governance and Design
   • Decentraland DAO votes on the proposal and staking criteria.
   • Design Island aesthetics and functionality based on staking contributions.
2. Staking Mechanics:
   • Develop smart contracts to automate Island distribution based on staking performance.
3. Transportation:
   • Introduce immersive transportation options (e.g., boats, bridges, flying) to connect Islands to Genesis City.
4. Community Engagement:
   • Launch educational campaigns about staking benefits and Island rewards.
   • Host events and competitions showcasing new Island developments.

Projected Impact:

1. Attracting New Users:
   • Open-world mechanics appeal to a wide audience. According to industry stats, open-world games like Minecraft and Roblox boast millions of daily active users, indicating strong potential for Decentraland’s growth.
2. Strengthening Ecosystem:
   • Unlimited Islands create opportunities for new entrants while rewarding existing users.
   • Encourages creativity and themed communities, fostering a vibrant metaverse.
3. Increased Visibility:
   • Connecting Islands to Genesis City ensures seamless integration, maintaining Decentraland’s status as a leading open metaverse

Conclusion: The "Islands" initiative represents a strategic opportunity to expand Decentraland’s ecosystem while reinforcing its core values of decentralization, community engagement, and creativity. By introducing an unlimited staking-to-earn mechanism, this proposal fosters deeper engagement, enhances the platform’s appeal, and ensures economic sustainability for both existing and new users.

• Yes
• No
• Request Revision
• Invalid question/options

This proposal is summarized due to technical limitations. To view it complete and vote on it, visit the DCL DAO Governance dApp