2026 trends: Nexpace’s Sunyoung Hwang says only projects that implement ‘Invisible Blockchain’ will survive

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, the time to look back and consider what we learned during 2025 and how to make the most of that knowledge in 2026. 

In this article we catch up with Nexpace CEO Sunyoung Hwang.

What was the most significant trend for blockchain games in 2025?

Sunyoung Hwang: 2025 was the year the industry witnessed both the immense power of Big IP and its clear limitations. Many expected that the arrival of major IPs like MapleStory would instantly solve the issue of the tilted playing field – a market dominated by ROI-focused users.

Indeed, we saw the incredible traffic power that IP holds. However, the critical insight we gained is that no matter how fun a game is, mass migration will always face friction as long as complex UX and psychological barriers to crypto exist. 

The realization that fun is a necessary condition, but not a sufficient one was the most significant trend and takeaway of the year.

How did Nexpace adapt to these changes?

While we confirmed the market’s potential through the power of our IP early on, our data also forced us to face the reality that entry barriers remain too high to completely level the playing field.

Consequently, we have shifted our strategic focus to “innovation in accessibility” and are extensively refining our product. The core is to implement functional flexibility, where users can enjoy the game without being conscious of the blockchain, utilizing its features only when needed. We are intensely applying this process now, confident that this shift will be the key to unlocking true mass adoption in 2026.

How do you think this will change in 2026?

In 2026, only projects that implement an ‘Invisible Blockchain’ will survive.

Successful games will blur the lines between web2 and web3; users should be able to start playing without needing prior knowledge about wallets or tokens. Furthermore, technological solutions that invisibly filter out non-human actors, such as bots and farmers, will become the standard, ensuring a pleasant environment while maintaining an open ecosystem.

What was your favourite blockchain game during 2025?

Instead of picking a specific title, I was most interested in the evolution of User Experience (UX) that occurred throughout the market in 2025.

In the past, there was a notion that inconvenience was the price to pay for playing blockchain games. However, 2025 saw the emergence of projects offering seamless entry without wallet connections or complex signing processes. 

As both a gamer and a developer, I was most intrigued by the attempts to achieve this kind of frictionless onboarding.

What’s your New Year’s resolution, and what resolution would you enforce on the industry?

Rather than enforcing a resolution, I’d like to share a topic for us all to consider. 

Realistically, our market is at a critical threshold, poised to move beyond the early adopter phase toward mass adoption. To cross this threshold, I believe our focus must shift from the superiority of blockchain technology to the total user experience felt by the end user.

Only when we view services from the user’s perspective, rather than the supplier’s, will we see the birth of new forms of gaming that the public can enjoy without hesitation. I hope 2026 becomes the year we solve this puzzle together and open the doors to true mass adoption.

Read all our End of Year features via the EOY 2025 tag.