FLOW Complete Guide - Blockchain Leading the Future of NFTs and Games
Hello! Are you curious about FLOW, which is leading the innovation in the NFT and blockchain game fields? FLOW, which has been gaining attention with the success of NBA Top Shot, is positioning itself as a core infrastructure for next-generation digital experiences beyond simple cryptocurrency.
Don't worry if you find blockchain technology difficult. Rather than complex technical terms, let's focus on how Flow is changing our lives and why many developers and companies are choosing Flow!
Introducing FLOW
FLOW is a blockchain platform specifically designed for next-generation digital assets and decentralized applications (DApps). Unlike general blockchains, FLOW is optimized for games and NFTs, and its biggest feature is that it can provide complex digital experiences smoothly.
FLOW's core philosophy is 'User-First'. In order to solve the difficulties that general users experience due to the complex usage of existing blockchains, FLOW provides convenience at the level of Web 2.0 while maintaining the advantages of blockchain.
What is particularly noteworthy is FLOW's processing speed. It can process thousands of transactions per second, so it works without delay even in real-time games or large-scale NFT transactions. This fundamentally solves the problems of slowdowns and high fees experienced in existing blockchains such as Ethereum.
Flow also provides a developer-friendly environment. Its own programming language called Cadence allows you to write safer and more efficient smart contracts, and it provides various development tools and libraries to lower the barrier to entry for developers.
Flow's History and Background
To understand the background of Flow's birth, we must first look back at the CryptoKitties phenomenon. In 2017, Dapper Labs released CryptoKitties, which became the first mainstream NFT game to gain explosive popularity, but also exposed the limitations of the Ethereum network.
As CryptoKitties’ success caused serious congestion on the Ethereum network, the Dapper Labs team recognized a fundamental problem with existing blockchain infrastructure. They decided that a completely new blockchain was needed that was not just scalable, but easy for everyday users to use.
Fun fact: During the development of CryptoKitties, the founders of Dapper Labs often asked themselves the question, “What if we built a blockchain that even my grandmother could use?” This user-centric thinking has become the core principle of Flow’s design.
Since its mainnet launch in 2020, Flow has proven its worth through the success of NBA Top Shot. NBA Top Shot has recorded over $1 billion in trading volume in its first year, demonstrating that NFTs are not just speculative assets, but digital assets with real collectible value.
Currently, Flow is expanding its ecosystem by forming partnerships with brands in various fields such as sports, music, games, and art. Global companies such as CNN, UFC, Samsung, and Google are working on Flow-based projects, recognizing its potential.
Flow’s Innovative Working Principle
Flow’s most innovative feature is its ‘Multi-Role Architecture.’ In existing blockchains, all nodes perform the same tasks, but Flow maximizes overall efficiency by giving each node a specialized role.
Collection Nodes
They are responsible for collecting and organizing transactions. They receive customer requests and organize them, just like a bank teller.
Consensus Nodes
They determine the order of transactions and lead to network consensus. It is the role of making the final decision like a judge in a court.
Execution Nodes
It processes actual transactions and performs calculations. It plays a key role in handling actual work like a factory production line.
Verification Nodes
It verifies and confirms the execution results. It is a role that checks whether all processes are carried out correctly, like a quality control team.
Thanks to this role-sharing system, Flow can achieve high processing speeds while maintaining security. Each node can focus on its own specialty, which greatly improves the overall network performance.
Another innovation of Flow is the 'Resource-Oriented Programming' model. Unlike existing smart contracts, Flow can handle digital assets as if they were actual physical assets. It is designed to make it fundamentally impossible to lose or accidentally delete NFTs.
Various uses and real-world cases of Flow
Flow goes beyond theoretical technology and is permeating our lives in various forms. Let's start with the most famous case, NBA Top Shot. This platform allows you to collect and trade highlights from basketball games in the form of digital cards. It perfectly recreates the experience of collecting real trading cards in digital form.
NFL All Day is a platform for American football fans that provides NFTs for famous scenes from NFL games. Beyond simple collection, it also provides community functions where fans can compete and communicate with each other. In this way, Flow is playing a role in expanding sports fandom culture digitally.
Success Case: UFC Strike is a platform for mixed martial arts fans that is operated based on Flow. It introduced a unique system where you can purchase highlights from famous fighters' games as NFTs and the value of the NFTs fluctuates depending on the actual game results.
Flow's use in the gaming industry is also noticeable. Various blockchain games such as Chainmonsters, Evolution Land, and CryptoKitties are running on Flow. What these games have in common is that they can be played as easily as regular games without complex blockchain knowledge.
In the art field, NFT marketplaces such as VIV3 and Foundation are actively operating. Artists can mint their works as NFTs and sell them directly, and collectors can discover and collect various digital art.
Recently, Flow's use has been increasing in the metaverse and virtual reality fields. Avatars, costumes, and real estate used in the virtual world are all traded as Flow-based NFTs, realizing the concept of true digital ownership.
Complete Guide to Flow Trading Platforms
If you want to trade Flow, you can choose the platform that suits you among various options. All major global exchanges support Flow, making it very accessible.
Binance
The world's largest exchange, offering high liquidity and a variety of trading pairs. Its easy-to-use interface is a plus, making it easy for everyone, from beginners to experts.
Coinbase
A large US-based exchange specializing in regulatory compliance and security. It is also a platform preferred by institutional investors.
Huobi
A strong exchange in the Asia region, offering a variety of derivatives and trading options.
Upbit
Korea's largest exchange, offering direct KRW trading, Korean language support, and a safe trading environment that complies with domestic regulations.
Exchange Selection Tips: Check the factors to consider when selecting an exchange. It is recommended to comprehensively evaluate the fee structure, security level, user interface, customer support, and regulatory compliance to make a decision.
Each exchange has its own pros and cons, so it is important to choose a platform that suits your trading style. If you frequently trade small amounts, choose an exchange with low fees, and if you trade large amounts, choose an exchange with high liquidity.
You should also check the exchange's security history. Please check if there have been any past hacking incidents, how user funds are protected, and whether insurance is provided.
Active Flow Community and Ecosystem
One of the driving forces behind Flow's growth is its active and diverse community. Developers, investors, users, and artists gather to share information and develop the ecosystem together.
The official Flow Discord server has tens of thousands of users from all over the world. Here, active discussions continue on a variety of topics, from technical questions to investment information and new project introductions. In particular, the channel for developers provides real-time technical support and code reviews.
The Flow Forum is a space for more in-depth discussions. Community members share their opinions on Flow's governance proposals, technical improvements, and the direction of ecosystem development. In fact, community suggestions are often reflected in the Flow development roadmap.
The Korean community is also growing. Korean users are sharing information on the Telegram 'Flow Korea' channel, Naver Cafe, and various Discord servers. In particular, information related to NBA Top Shot and strategies for Flow-based games are actively discussed.
Regularly held online events also play a big role in activating the community. Hackathons, AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions, and developer workshops provide users with opportunities to understand Flow more deeply.
The Flow Foundation also operates various support programs for the development of the ecosystem. We are working to ensure the continued growth of the Flow ecosystem through grant programs for developers, startup incubation, and education programs.
Flow Wallet Selection and Usage
In order to use Flow safely and conveniently, choosing the right wallet is essential. Fortunately, Flow offers a variety of wallet options, so you can choose according to your needs.
Blocto Wallet is one of the most popular wallets in the Flow ecosystem. It can be used directly in a web browser, and you can easily create an account with your email or social login without a complex seed phrase. It is especially optimized for users who frequently trade NFTs.
Dapper Wallet
This wallet was developed directly by Dapper Labs, the creator of Flow. It is fully integrated with NBA Top Shot, NFL All Day, and more, making it a great choice if you primarily use these platforms.
Lilico Wallet
This is a mobile-focused wallet, optimized for using Flow on smartphones. Its advantages include an intuitive interface and fast transaction processing.
Finoa Wallet
A custodial wallet for institutional investors, offering high levels of security and compliance. Consider it if you want to safely store large amounts of flows.
Flow CLI Wallet
A command-line interface wallet for developers and advanced users. Useful when complex transactions or smart contract interactions are required.
Wallet Security Tips: No matter which wallet you choose, security is a top priority. Enable 2-step authentication, change your password regularly, and keep your seed phrase in a safe place. Also, please download the wallet only through the official website or app store.
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a wallet: First, clearly define your purpose of use. If your main purpose is NFT trading, we recommend Blocto or Dapper, and if it is general token trading, we recommend Lilico.
You should also consider the balance between security and convenience. If you want high security, choose an option that allows hardware wallet integration, and if you value convenience, choose a web-based wallet.
Key things to know when investing in Flow
If you are considering investing in Flow, do not focus solely on price fluctuations, but comprehensively assess the fundamental value and long-term prospects of the project. Flow is a utility token with real-world use cases, so we need to carefully look at the factors that are directly related to the growth of the ecosystem.
First, monitor the user growth trend of the Flow ecosystem. The number of active users, transaction volume, and new subscribers of major platforms such as NBA Top Shot and NFL All Day