Farmville Co-Creator Raises Funding to Build Decentralized Games

Hi NoRamp Community,

Friend.tech is being copied, and the tech is picking up momentum. Farmville co-creator reveals funding and decentralized free to play game studio plans. Bitcoin mining machines seized in Venezuelan prison bust.

Friend.Tech Copycat?

As is typical in the tech realm, when a particular app or initiative garners significant traction, imitators quickly emerge. Recently, an influx of interest was directed towards an imitation named Post.Tech, attracting over $1.8 million in deposits just last Thursday.

While Friend.Tech has managed to earn some credibility due to its venture capitalist supporters, the crypto community on Twitter expressed doubts regarding Post.Tech. They say the best form of flattery is being copied. Friend.Tech has hit a nerve.

a16z-Backed On Chain Game Studio to Build Decentralized Games:

Proof of Play, the creative force behind the blockchain-integrated game Pirate Nation, revealed that it has garnered $33 million in initial funding. This round was spearheaded by both Andreessen Horowitz and Greenoaks Capital.

The enterprise, helmed by CEO Amitt Mahajan—who was earlier associated with the creation of the hit game FarmVille at Zynga—intends to allocate this fund towards business expansion and technological advancement. This will facilitate the development of enduring on-chain games.

Emmett Shear, a founding figure of the game streaming service Twitch, has been incorporated into Proof of Play's board post this funding. Key contributors in this funding round included AngelList's ex-CEO Naval Ravikant and former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasian.

Reflecting on Zynga's decision to discontinue FarmVille in 2020, Mahajan expressed his motivation to innovate games with a lasting impact using blockchain. He emphasized their vision to design community-owned, generational games.

With the recent funding, Proof of Play has initiated a free gaming mode, catering to a wider user base while providing additional perks for NFT holders. In the future, the company aspires to share its technology, allowing others to craft games using similar tools. Chris Dixon of Andreessen Horowitz expressed their excitement in supporting Proof of Play's endeavors, envisioning a future of on-chain gaming.

Venezuelan Prison Bust, and Bitcoin Mining Machines?

During a recent prison raid in Venezuela, authorities not only confiscated conventional weapons such as rocket launchers, grenades, and ammunition but also discovered Bitcoin mining equipment.

The large-scale operation, involving 11,000 troops, took place at the Tocorón prison in Aragua state, targeting the dominant Tren de Aragua crime syndicate, according to a government press release. While the main discoveries were weaponry, Bitcoin mining machines were a notable find, as evidenced by videos on social media. Interior and

Bitcoin mining machines are essential for producing new digital coins and ensuring the stability of the Bitcoin blockchain. Although energy-consuming, the mining process can be profitable, with Bitcoin miners earning substantial amounts from transaction fees, as evidenced by a Coin Metrics report.

This raid adds to instances where criminals in the Latin American region have shown interest in cryptocurrency mining, reminiscent of a recent incident in Chile where a drug ring in Santiago was operating a Bitcoin mining setup.

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