Animoca Brands and LayerZero Labs Join Forces to Advance Interoperability Across Web3

The Hong Kong-based gaming firm has partnered LayerZero Labs, the team that launched omnichain interoperability protocol LayerZero, to position LayerZero as default interoperability solution for Animoca Brands ecosystem.

Animoca Brands, a Web3 gaming firm based in Hong Kong, has partnered with LayerZero Labs, the team behind the omnichain interoperability protocol LayerZero, to position LayerZero as the default interoperability solution for the Animoca Brands ecosystem.

In a statement on Tuesday, Animoca Brands announced the multi-year strategic partnership, which will see the firm and LayerZero Labs collaborate to leverage Animoca Brands’ extensive network and project portfolio.

The partnership aims to broaden the reach of LayerZero’s interoperability solution across various use cases in the digital asset space, enhancing user and developer experiences in digital content, gaming, entertainment, and other blockchain-based ecosystems.

As part of the strategic partnership, LayerZero will become the default choice of interoperability solution for projects of Animoca Brands and its subsidiaries.

Mocaverse, the marquee growth network with an interoperable infrastructure layer of Account, Identity, Reputation, and PointFi systems seeded by Animoca Brands, and Open Campus, the decentralized education protocol backed by Animoca Brands, are already adopting LayerZero Labs’s Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard.

Moreover, Animoca Brands and LayerZero Foundation have committed to deploying resources to jointly organize community events, including hackathons, and collaborate on education initiatives and content creation to promote a deeper understanding and general awareness on interoperability and LayerZero’s technologies.

Animoca Brands will also recommend LayerZero as the go-to interoperability solution across its over 540 investment portfolio companies.

It is noted that gaming is already one of the largest digital economies with more than 3.4 billion gamers worldwide (Newzoo).

Thus, this strategic partnership between Animoca Brands and LayerZero aims to provide gamers with seamless and engaging Web3 gaming experiences that overcome the inherent limitations of traditional blockchain technologies.

LayerZero’s solutions will simplify digital ownership and cross-chain interactions, allowing gamers to focus on gameplay rather than navigating the underlying technology.

Together, Animoca Brands and LayerZero will work to simplify the integration of Web3 functionalities, thus making digital content with true property rights more accessible and engaging for users worldwide.

“We are thrilled to partner with Animoca Brands as the preferred interoperability provider of their portfolio projects,

“This collaboration will create seamless omnichain interactions and enhance the digital experiences for our respective communities,” said Bryan Pellegrino, Chief Executive Officer of LayerZero Labs.

“Together, we are making it easier for developers and users to harness the full potential of blockchain technology in gaming, digital entertainment, and beyond,” he added.

Yat Siu, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, said they are extremely excited about this unique partnership and the opportunity to work even more closely with LayerZero to advance interoperability across Web3.

“We envision an omnichain future for digital content and gaming,

“At a time when the games industry faces new and old challenges, it’s more important than ever to signal our dedication to and support for mission-aligned builders like Bryan and the LayerZero team, who are developing battle-tested infrastructure for the future of the internet,” he added.

It is noted that LayerZero Labs’s messaging infrastructure connects over 80 blockchains and facilitates transparent and secure cross-chain messaging from one easy-to-use interface.

Since going live in March 2022, the LayerZero protocol has processed more than 135 million messages with thousands of mainnet contracts being deployed by thousands of developer teams.

Backed by leading venture capital firms including a16z, Sequoia, Binance Labs, Christie’s, Lightspeed, Opensea, Bond, Samsung Next, and GBV, LayerZero was recently valued at $3 billion.

LayerZero is a permissionless, censorship-resistant, and immutable interoperability protocol that connects blockchains.

Animoca Brands is a Web3 leader that leverages blockchain to deliver digital property rights to consumers around the world to help to establish the open metaverse.

The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including original games such as The Sandbox, PHANTOM GALAXIES™, Life Beyond, and Crazy Defense Heroes, and products utilizing popular intellectual properties from the worlds of sports and entertainment, such as The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Formula E.

The firm has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Animoca Brands Japan, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise Entertainment, Notre Game, TinyTap, SPORTPASS, PIXELYNX, WePlay Media, Gryfyn, and Azarus.

Animoca Brands is also one of the most active investors in Web3, with a portfolio of