Blockchain: engagement and user experience in mobile apps

One of the most promising sectors for blockchain application is undoubtedly within mobile apps, aimed at offering innovative services and enhancing user experiences. Let’s explore some of the possibilities of integrating blockchain technology into mobile apps.

• Payments and Transfers.
  Blockchain can facilitate and make payments and value transfers between users more cost-effective, both locally and globally.
  Mobile apps can integrate blockchain technology to enable users to send and receive cryptocurrencies, tokens, or other forms of digital money without intermediaries or high fees. An example is Blockchain.com: Crypto Wallet, which allows users to buy, sell, and exchange dozens of cryptocurrencies on a trusted platform used by over 30 million people.
  
  
  
• Digital Identity.
  It’s well-known that blockchain can ensure authenticity and protection of users‘ personal data, allowing them to control their information and share it only with those they choose. Mobile apps can integrate blockchain to offer digital identity services, enabling users to securely and easily verify their identity without providing documents or sensitive data. An example of a mobile app using blockchain for digital identity is Civic, which lets users create a verified digital profile and use it to access various online services.
  
  
  
• Gaming.
  Gaming is one of the most exciting and rapidly growing sectors for blockchain application, offering benefits such as creating and managing unique and tradable digital assets (NFTs), the ability to monetize skills and time, transparency and security in transactions and game rules, and access to a global and inclusive community of players. Note that blockchain integration can apply not only to video games but also to mobile games.
  
  

These are just a few examples of the possibilities of blockchain integration in mobile apps, but there are many more across various sectors (such as healthcare, fashion industry, energy, or education).

Now let’s look at some examples of mobile apps already in the market that incorporate blockchain technology:

• Lympo: This app rewards users who engage in physical activities with digital tokens called LYM, which can be exchanged for wellness and health-related goods and services. The app utilizes blockchain to record and verify users‘ sports performance data, ensuring transparency and incentivizing fitness.
  
  
  
• Steemit: Combining social networking with a blogging platform, Steemit allows users to create and share various types of content such as articles, photos, videos, and more. The app employs blockchain to distribute digital tokens called STEEM to users based on the quality and popularity of their content, creating a decentralized reward and governance system.
  
  
  
• Brave: Offering a fast and secure web browser that blocks intrusive ads and online trackers, Brave uses blockchain to allow users to earn digital tokens called BAT by viewing consent-based, high-quality advertisements. Users can then use these tokens to support their preferred content creators or access premium services.
  
  
  
• Gamee: This app combines casual gaming with play-to-earn functionality, giving users the opportunity to play different fun and competitive games, win matches and tournaments, and earn digital tokens called GMEE. These tokens can be used to purchase or create customized NFT characters. GAMEE employs blockchain to record and verify players’ performances, ensure NFT ownership and rarity, and distribute rewards fairly and transparently.
  
  

The challenges of implementing blockchain in mobile apps are diverse, encompassing both technical and legal aspects. Some of these challenges include:

• Scalability.
  Blockchain requires significant computational and network resources to ensure transaction security and decentralization. This can limit the speed and processing capacity of blockchain-based mobile apps, especially those handling a high number of users and operations. To address this, solutions like sidechains, payment channel networks, and state channel networks are being developed, enabling transactions to occur off the main chain and reducing the load and costs.
  
  
  
• Privacy.
  Blockchain permanently and transparently records all transactions on the network. This poses privacy risks to users, exposing them to data breaches or activity tracking. To protect privacy, solutions like homomorphic encryption, zero-knowledge proofs, ring signatures, and confidential transactions are being developed to hide or encrypt sensitive information without compromising transaction validity.
  
  
  
• Regulation.
  Blockchain challenges traditional models of governance and control based on intermediaries and centralized authorities. This can create difficulties in complying with existing regulations related to data protection, anti-money laundering, taxation, contracts, and more. To adhere to regulations, mobile apps using blockchain need to consider the various laws of the countries they operate in and potential sanctions for violations.
  
  

These are just a few of the challenges associated with blockchain implementation in mobile apps, with others concerning usability, interoperability, security, and innovation.

Blockchain is a constantly evolving technology that requires ongoing research and experimentation to overcome its limitations and harness its potential. It’s evident that it can enhance user engagement through gamification and loyalty strategies within apps.