The potential of blockchain gaming in Africa is as tempting as it gets—a digital Klondike, vowing to quicken a generation. Are we really hitting the jackpot, or simply drilling more expensive tunnels for our young people to live in? The global Blockchain in Gaming market is set to soar with a projected USD 22 Billion boom by 2032. This isn't just about entertainment; it's about economics, identity, and the future of work itself. Before we uncritically embrace this revolution, we need to ask ourselves: are we building a sustainable future, or just a digital sweatshop?

Gaming's Financial Inclusion Impact on Youth?

Could “play-to-earn” (P2E) games realistically offer a sustainable livelihood for millions of young Africans in low-and-middle income countries? It’s a question that keeps me up at night. We see the glamour shots, the success stories, the teenagers who are making more money playing Axie Infinity than their parents are in their regular jobs. Let's be brutally honest: these are the exceptions, not the rule. The P2E model, though admittedly revolutionary in concept, is regularly implemented on very flimsy ground. Over time, new players are needed by design to constantly prop up the ever-expanding ecosystem. Once the influx ends, the value of their in-game assets plummet, leaving many with NFTs that were once valuable but are now worthless.

Think of it like this: it's the digital equivalent of a pyramid scheme, dressed up in the shiny clothes of blockchain technology. Who pays the price when the pyramid comes crashing down? The first to suffer are the last ones in – usually, the young, vulnerable and digitally naive.

The upfront cost needed to begin playing most P2E games can prove to be a barrier. Further, the cost of purchasing the requisite NFTs or other in-game assets can represent a serious barrier for youths from disadvantaged, low-income—or even middle-income—backgrounds. Tethering to reality Are we really making finance more accessible and inclusive, or just building a new kind of digital divide?

It’s time to get a little past the hype and begin to ask the tough questions around P2E models long-term sustainability. We must imagine different models that center just wages, worker safety and protections, and community stewardship.

Can Gaming Teach Valuable, Real Skills?

Learning to play Blockchain gaming isn't solely a get-rich-quick scheme. Can it actually be the answer to teaching coding, finance, and other applicable skills and trades that everyone keeps talking about? I want to say yes, that it can, but only if we’re deliberate about how we’re designing it.

Picture an educational game where players discover how to code smart contracts by creating their very own blockchain-based game assets. Or an AR-oriented simulation that encourages learning in financial literacy as players run their own virtual businesses and trade their results through NFTs. The possibilities are endless. That calls for a radical departure from the way we usually go about making games.

Rather than putting entertainment and profit above all other values we should put educational value first. The bottom line We can’t do it without collaborative partnerships with educators and industry experts to ensure that we’re making games that are fun, as well as educational.

Africa's youth unemployment rate is staggering. Allowing young people to learn these skills, and many others, in an interactive, engaging way through gaming is a powerful combination (yes, pun intended!). Yet we must make sure these skills are being developed in a way that’s transferable to the real world. We need to create pathways for young gamers to transition into careers in blockchain development, cybersecurity, and other high-demand fields.

Blockchain Gaming - Community Builder?

Is it possible for blockchain gaming to develop real online communities and encourage collective cooperation of young Africans? This is where I think the biggest opportunity lies. Imagine young people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds coming together to build virtual worlds, compete in tournaments, and share their knowledge.

I met with a young developer in Nairobi who’s creating a blockchain based game that puts African mythology front and center. He has since opened up to me about his original goal. He envisions an interactive museum where young Africans can engage with their ancestry and culture and develop a greater awareness of African communities.

Community building involves much more than simply designing a fun game. It starts with creating an environment rooted in inclusivity, respect and collaboration. It requires creating spaces where young people feel safe to express themselves, share their ideas, and learn from each other.

It requires addressing the digital divide. Millions of young Africans do not yet have access to guaranteed quality internet and inexpensive devices. To realize the full potential of the blockchain gaming revolution, we need to make massive infrastructural investments. We need to roll out digital literacy initiatives, so that everyone is able to participate.

Digital Identity: Empowerment or Illusion?

NFTs have the potential to give our youth power to own and control their digital assets, explorations, and identities. Digital feudalism So while they might have a different branded option, is this really ownership, or more digital feudalism? The promise of owning your game avatar, your metaverse estate, your NFT art – very sexy. That’s how it empowers young people It provides young people with agency, a sense of control, and power in a world where they often feel powerless.

Let’s acknowledge that all these digital assets are entirely subject to the will of the game developers. They can make it illegal to operate under new rules, call halt to the game altogether, or worse—seize your assets—whenever they want. True digital ownership and community governance You can’t have true digital ownership without decentralization and transparency.

This is where DAOs come in. DAOs empower players to have a say in the development and governance of future blockchain games. They can vote on every major decision, submit plans for new features, and even manage the game’s treasury. Through their participation in DAOs, young people will gain knowledge and experience in democracy, governance, and community organizing.

DAOs are not a silver bullet. These systems can be confusing, opaque, and open to gaming. Let’s produce educational resources and governance toolkits to demystify DAOs and equip young people. We want to make it as accessible to you as possible, regardless of your technical expertise.

The Dark Side: Exploitation Risks

Let's not sugarcoat it. Additionally, there’s a major threat of scams, fraud and exploitative labor practices in the P2E ecosystem. And are young Africans falling prey to crooked real estate or infrastructure developers—or worse, foreign investors? The answer, unfortunately, is yes.

Reports like this one show that young people are still being lured into P2E games with the siren song of fast cash. Like many, they soon realize they are stuck in toxic partnerships. They’re exploited by being made to work crazy hours, underpaid, and deprived of ownership and control of the very data they create.

This is unacceptable. But we need to protect young Africans from exploitation. Let’s crack down with hefty regulations, encourage smarter and more responsible development practices, and teach them all about the dangers of P2E gaming.

If we want to see a healthier gaming landscape, one where player well-being matters more than developer profits, we simply can’t let developers pull this kind of behavior. We owe it to young people to be equitable. They deserve to be well-trained, well-compensated, and have opportunities to learn and advance.

The blockchain gaming revolution has the potential to empower African youth, but only if we approach it responsibly and ethically. Developers, investors, and policymakers should keep young people’s best interests at heart. Collectively, they can form an incredibly robust and sustainable ecosystem that benefits everyone.

The legacy of blockchain gaming on the African continent rests entirely on the decisions we make right now. Let us resolve to lift up our young people, rather than take advantage of them. Let’s create a future where all of our communities have the chance to flourish in the digital economy. If we don’t, we will see the emergence of a digital underclass, deepening divides and driving already vulnerable communities into deeper, long-lasting poverty. The time to act is now.

Here’s what we need to do:

  • Invest in education and digital literacy programs: Teach young people about blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, and the risks and opportunities of P2E gaming.
  • Promote ethical development practices: Encourage developers to create games that are fair, transparent, and sustainable.
  • Enforce strict regulations: Protect young people from scams, fraud, and unfair labor practices.
  • Support community-driven initiatives: Empower young people to build their own blockchain games and communities.
  • Advocate for equitable access to technology: Ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the blockchain gaming revolution.

The future of blockchain gaming in Africa depends on the choices we make today. Let's choose to empower our youth, not exploit them. Let's build a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the digital economy. If we don't, we risk creating a digital underclass, further exacerbating existing inequalities and perpetuating cycles of poverty. The time to act is now.