What is the company's strategic layout in cutting-edge technology fields such as Web3 and the Metaverse?
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Core Idea: Making the New World Accessible to Everyone
First, you need to understand LY Corporation's biggest strength? It’s their user base – hundreds of millions of combined users (from LINE and Yahoo! JAPAN, a massive number). So, their approach to Web3 and the metaverse isn't aimed at tech enthusiasts or crypto traders. Instead, their goal is to lower the barrier so that everyday people using LINE for messaging or Yahoo! for news can easily encounter and use these new technologies without even realizing it.
Their strategy is like building a convenient bridge with handrails – making it super easy to cross from our familiar world (Web2) to the future world (Web3).
Let me break down how they're building this "bridge" in a few key areas:
1. Building Their Own "Highway": The Finschia Blockchain
Think of a blockchain as a public, open, and unchangeable ledger. Many projects build on existing ledgers, like Ethereum.
But LINE didn't take that route. They had bigger ambitions and built their own dedicated "highway" – the Finschia blockchain (formerly LINE Blockchain).
- What are the benefits?
- Fast & Cheap: Operating on their own dedicated network means less congestion. Transactions are naturally faster, and user fees (so-called Gas Fees) are much lower, often negligible.
- Controlled & User-Friendly: They set all the rules, allowing optimization for their ecosystem. For example, users can log in directly with their LINE account, eliminating the hassle of managing complex private keys.
This "highway" is the foundational bedrock for all their Web3 initiatives.
2. "Digital Collectibles" for Everyone: LINE NFT
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) might sound abstract. Simplifying it, they are digital items with built-in "certificates of authenticity". Examples include a limited-edition digital autograph from a celebrity or a unique in-game item.
LINE NFT is their official NFT marketplace, integrated directly into the Japanese version of the LINE app.
- What makes it special?
- Easy Buying: You don't need crypto knowledge. You can purchase NFTs directly with Yen (via LINE Pay). This drastically lowers the barrier, making it almost like shopping on an e-commerce site.
- Relatable Content: It features popular content: NFTs tied to anime IP, idol groups, sports stars, merchandise, and even familiar LINE mascots like BROWN and CONY.
This strategy is clever. Instead of trying to "teach" users about NFTs, they integrate them seamlessly into fan culture and collecting habits.
3. The Essential "Wallet" and "Exchange"
Having a "highway" and "goods" isn't enough; you need places to store your money and assets.
- Digital Wallet (DOSI Wallet / BITMAX Wallet): Think of this as your "Web3 Alipay." It stores the NFTs you buy and cryptocurrencies you acquire (like FNSA, discussed next). Critically, it's deeply integrated with your LINE account for easy management.
- Cryptocurrency Exchange (LINE BITMAX): This is where you trade LY's own cryptocurrency, FNSA (formerly called LINK, LN). Think of it as the official "currency exchange office."
See the pattern? From the "highway" (blockchain) to the "goods" (NFTs), and then the "wallet" and "exchange," they've created a complete, closed-loop ecosystem.
4. Metaverse Exploration: Still "Drawing the Blueprint"
Compared to their more established Web3 initiatives, LY's metaverse ventures are still in an exploratory "blueprint" phase. They've floated concepts like:
- AlphaCrewz: A platform for creating customizable 3D avatars.
- LINE Play / Zepeto: Investing in or operating virtual social games where users interact.
Their metaverse vision likely centers around social interaction and digital identity. Imagine a future where your unique AlphaCrewz avatar, equipped with your LINE NFT collectibles, explores a virtual Yahoo! shopping mall or attends a LINE MUSIC virtual concert. Your digital assets and identity flow seamlessly between these experiences – that's the blueprint they are sketching.
To Sum It Up
LY Corporation's strategic approach can be summarized in one sentence: "Leverage their massive user base to create a seamless, low-barrier Web3 ecosystem, starting with easily understandable and consumable NFT scenarios, to gradually guide users into the broader Web3 and metaverse worlds."
They don't chase the "most cutting-edge" tech or the "most decentralized" systems; their focus is mass user adoption. It's a very steady and pragmatic move. For us ordinary users, it might become one of the most accessible entry points into Web3 technology.