The worlds of online gaming and blockchain technology are increasingly intersecting, creating a new category of entertainment – Web3 games. One prominent example of this intersection is the game Axie Infinity, where players own, breed, and battle digital creatures. However, the very success of this game highlighted certain difficulties, which led to the creation of a specialized solution – the Ronin Network.

Part 1: When Games and Blockchain Met (and Faced Challenges)

Modern online games have accustomed users to instant responses: click – and the action is performed. Integrating blockchain technology into games opens up new possibilities, especially regarding true ownership of digital assets.

What is blockchain, in simple terms? Imagine a shared digital ledger, copies of which are stored on many computers around the world. Each new entry (transaction) is securely added to this ledger, and altering or faking it is practically impossible. This allows players to truly own their in-game characters, items, or land – they become their digital property, not just data on a game company's server.

However, popular blockchains like Ethereum, which Axie Infinity was initially based on, have their limitations. When many users try to perform operations simultaneously (buy a character, conduct a battle, withdraw rewards), the network can become congested. This leads to two main problems:

1. High fees: Every operation on the blockchain requires paying a "gas fee." During periods of high activity on Ethereum, these fees can become very expensive, reaching tens or even hundreds of dollars for a single action. For a game requiring many small transactions, this becomes a significant barrier.

2. Slow transactions: Due to queues, transaction confirmations can take minutes, disrupting the flow of gameplay.

The Birth of Ronin: An Answer to the Challenges

Facing these difficulties amidst the growing popularity of Axie Infinity, its developers at Sky Mavis concluded that the game needed its own, more efficient infrastructure. A blockchain optimized specifically for gaming applications was required.

This led to the creation of the Ronin Network.

So, what is it?

• Ronin is a blockchain, designed for the needs of the gaming industry.

• It was developed by Sky Mavis, the creators of Axie Infinity, who understood firsthand the requirements for a gaming blockchain platform.

• It is EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) compatible. This technical detail is important as it means Ronin uses standards similar to Ethereum. This significantly simplifies the process for developers to create new games on Ronin or migrate existing ones. It's analogous to building a new high-speed highway that standard cars can use without needing modification.

Therefore, Ronin can be viewed as a specialized, high-performance network built to serve blockchain games, avoiding the "traffic jams" and high "tolls" of more general networks like Ethereum.

Key Advantages of Ronin for Players and Games

Axie Infinity's migration to Ronin was driven by the specific benefits this network provides:

1. High transaction speed: Operations on the Ronin network are processed significantly faster than on a congested Ethereum, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.

2. Low or zero fees: Ronin offers users a certain number of free transactions per day, and subsequent operations have minimal costs. This removes the financial barrier to active participation in the game.

3. Optimization for games: The entire network architecture was initially designed considering the needs of gaming applications, which require frequent and fast transactions.

The emergence of Ronin solved the pressing problems of scalability and cost for Axie Infinity, paving the way for millions of players to comfortably interact with the Web3 game. This laid the foundation for Ronin's further development as a platform not just for one game, but for an entire ecosystem of gaming projects.

Part 2: How Ronin Works and What Else is in its Ecosystem?

Part 1 explained that the Ronin Network was created as a high-speed, low-cost "highway" for blockchain games, solving the problems Axie Infinity faced on Ethereum. Now, let's take a look "under the hood" of Ronin to see how it manages to be so fast and how it's evolving further.

The Secret to Speed: How is Ronin Built?

To process transactions quickly and cheaply, Ronin initially used a transaction validation mechanism slightly different from Bitcoin or (originally) Ethereum. Instead of thousands of computers worldwide competing to add a new block of records (which requires a lot of energy and time), Ronin initially employed a model called Proof of Authority (PoA).

What is Proof of Authority?

Imagine an exclusive club where the right to make decisions (in this case, validate transactions and create new blocks in the blockchain) is entrusted to a limited number of trusted participants – validators. In Ronin's case, these validators were initially entities selected and approved by Sky Mavis itself.

• Pros of PoA:

  • Speed: Since there are few validators and they are known, it's much easier for them to reach consensus and quickly confirm transactions.

  • Low Costs: It doesn't require the massive computational power of Proof of Work (Bitcoin's mechanism), which also reduces transaction costs.

• Cons of PoA:

  • Centralization: The network relies more heavily on trust in these selected validators and the organization that chose them (Sky Mavis). This is less decentralized than networks with thousands of independent participants.

It's important to note that Sky Mavis and the Ronin team are working towards increasing the network's decentralization. There are plans to transition to a model combining elements of PoA and Proof of Stake (PoS), or towards Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS). In such models, holders of the network's native token (RON) can "delegate" their tokens to chosen validators, thereby participating in securing the network and earning rewards for doing so. This makes the network more resilient and less dependent on a small group.

And let's not forget the EVM compatibility mentioned in the first part. This technical feature means that developers familiar with building applications for Ethereum (the most popular platform for smart contracts) can easily transfer their skills and even code to work on Ronin. This significantly lowers the barrier to entry for creating new games and applications within the ecosystem.

More Than Just Axie: Growth of the Ronin Ecosystem

Although Ronin was created with Axie Infinity in mind, its ambitions extend much further. Sky Mavis positions Ronin as a leading platform for Web3 games and actively attracts third-party developers.

• Developer Support: Sky Mavis provides resources, documentation, and sometimes even funding for game studios wishing to build their projects on Ronin.

• New Games and dApps: New gaming projects across various genres, as well as decentralized applications (dApps), are gradually appearing on Ronin. This expands the choices for users and makes the ecosystem more vibrant and diverse.

• Infrastructure Elements: Key tools have been created for the convenience of users and developers:

  • Ronin Wallet: A dedicated digital wallet for storing tokens (like RON, AXS, SLP, USDC) and interacting with applications on Ronin.

  • Katana DEX: Ronin's own decentralized exchange within the network. Here, users can swap various ecosystem tokens without moving them to external platforms. It's like having your own currency exchange booth right on the Ronin "highway."

The Ecosystem Engine: The RON Token

Every major blockchain network has its own native token, and for Ronin, it's RON. It plays several key roles:

1. Fee Payment (Gas): Like gasoline for a car, RON is used to pay for transactions on the Ronin network. Although fees are very low (and there's often a free daily limit), they are still necessary for the network's operation and spam prevention.

2. Staking and Security: With the shift towards more decentralized consensus models (like DPoS), RON holders will be able to "stake" (lock up) their tokens to support validators' work and secure the network. They typically receive rewards in the form of additional RON tokens for this.

3. Governance Participation (Potentially): In many blockchain projects, native tokens eventually grant their holders voting rights in decisions about the network's future development. It's possible such a function will emerge for RON as well.

Having its own token incentivizes users to participate in the network's life – using applications, securing the network – and ties the entire ecosystem's economy together.

So, Ronin is not just a quick fix for a single game. It's an evolving platform with its own technical foundation, a growing suite of games and applications, and its own RON token powering the entire system.

Part 3: Security, Getting Started, and the Future of Ronin

We've covered why Ronin was created, how it works technically, and how its ecosystem is developing. But before diving into a new project, especially in the Web3 world, it's crucial to address security concerns and understand how to take the first steps.

Ronin Security: Lessons from the Past and Protecting the Future

It's impossible to discuss Ronin without mentioning the serious incident that occurred in March 2022. Attackers managed to gain control over a portion of the validator nodes and withdraw significant funds from the Ronin Bridge – the "bridge" connecting Ronin to the Ethereum network. This became one of the largest hacks in DeFi and Web3 history.

What happened? Simply put, the attack was possible due to the compromise of private keys that granted access to manage funds on the bridge. This exposed vulnerabilities in the initial security architecture, particularly regarding the insufficient decentralization of the bridge's validators.

What measures were taken? Sky Mavis and the Ronin team responded comprehensively:

1. Fund Reimbursement: The company took responsibility and reimbursed all stolen user funds.

2. Bridge Security Enhancement: The Ronin Bridge architecture was redesigned, implementing additional control mechanisms and withdrawal limits.

3. Increased Number of Validators: The number of independent validators confirming transactions on the Ronin network was significantly increased, enhancing decentralization and resilience against attacks.

4. Internal and External Audits: Thorough code and security procedure reviews were conducted both internally and by engaging third-party experts.

5. Bug Bounty Programs: Programs were launched to reward "white hat" hackers for discovering vulnerabilities.

This incident served as a harsh lesson but also demonstrated the team's commitment to fixing mistakes and enhancing the platform's reliability. While absolute security doesn't exist in the tech world, the steps taken have significantly strengthened the protection of the Ronin ecosystem.

How to Get Started with Ronin?

If you want to try games or applications on Ronin, here are the basic steps:

1. Create a Ronin Wallet: This is your key to the ecosystem. The Ronin Wallet is available as a browser extension (Chrome, Firefox) and as a mobile app (iOS, Android). It allows you to store your assets (tokens like RON, AXS, SLP, USDC, and others, as well as NFTs) and connect to games and decentralized applications (dApps) on Ronin. Important: When creating a wallet, securely save your secret recovery phrase (seed phrase) – this is the only way to restore access to your funds if you lose your device or password.

2. Fund Your Wallet: To make transactions (even if they are very cheap) and interact with games, you'll need assets.

   • Buying: You can buy RON, AXS, SLP tokens on some centralized cryptocurrency exchanges and then withdraw them directly to your Ronin Wallet (ensure the exchange supports withdrawals to the Ronin network).

   • Using the Bridge (Ronin Bridge): You can transfer assets (like ETH, USDC, AXS) from the Ethereum network to the Ronin network using the official Ronin Bridge. It's like moving from one highway to another via a special ramp. Note that using the bridge (especially when transferring from Ethereum) incurs Ethereum network fees.

3. Explore the Ecosystem:

   • Swap Tokens: If you need to exchange one token for another within the Ronin network (e.g., swap USDC for RON to pay fees), use the Katana DEX (https://katana.roninchain.com/).

   • Games and dApps: Visit the official Ronin website or Mavis Hub to find a list of games and applications running on Ronin. Connect your wallet to the chosen application and follow its instructions.

Conclusion: Ronin as a Gaming Platform

The Ronin Network emerged as a response to the specific needs of the immensely popular game Axie Infinity – the need for speed and low fees. It successfully met this challenge, providing the infrastructure for millions of players.

Despite facing serious security challenges, the team demonstrated commitment to the project by strengthening security and continuing development. Today, Ronin is evolving from a blockchain for a single game into a fully-fledged gaming platform, attracting new developers and expanding its ecosystem.

With its focus on gaming, EVM compatibility, and commitment to improving decentralization and security, the Ronin Network is well-positioned to remain a significant player in the rapidly growing world of Web3 gaming.

Official Ronin Network Resources

For the most up-to-date information and to get started with Ronin, use the official sources:

• Official Website: https://roninchain.com/

• Official Ronin Wallet: https://wallet.roninchain.com/ (links to download extensions and mobile apps)

• Ronin Explorer (Block Explorer): https://app.roninchain.com/ (for tracking transactions)

• Ronin Bridge: https://bridge.roninchain.com/ (for transferring assets between Ronin and Ethereum)

• Katana DEX: https://katana.roninchain.com/

• Documentation (Mavis Docs): https://docs.skymavis.com/ (for developers and in-depth learning)

• Official Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/Ronin_Network