Reddit, content aggregation and discussion website, has announced a new blockchain-backed avatar system called Collectible Avatars. This comes two years after Reddit introduced its new and improved Avatar Builder. The avatars will be available to the general public in the next few weeks.
Made by independent artists, Collectible Avatars are limited-edition avatars. It provides owners with unique benefits on the Reddit platform. If a user sets the Collectible Avatar as their avatar, they can mix and match the avatar gear with other Reddit avatar gear and accessories. As such, their profile image in the comments section will have a glow-like effect.
Collectible Avatars are different as they are available for purchase and artists will be paid for each digital collectible sold. Blockchain technology supports Collectible Avatar, giving buyers the right to use the art on and off Reddit. Moreover, cryptocurrency is not needed to make purchases. The avatars are not put on auction and each avatar is priced at a fixed amount. Users can make purchases with fiat currencies.
Blockchain technology empowers buyers with ownership and portability of their Collective Avatar. It provides artists with a way to have their work-life beyond the virtual walls of Reddit. Currently, the Collectible Avatars are stored on Polygon, a general-purpose Ethereum-compatible blockchain. Reddit chose Polygon because of its low-cost transactions and commitment to sustainability. The platform sees blockchain as a way of bringing more empowerment and independence to communities on Reddit.
Collectible Avatars are part of Reddit’s early steps to test out the potential benefits.
