Latest News
‘Beam’, a new game developer toolkit from the Merit Circle DAO, is set to revolutionize the gaming industry
In a live-streamed October 24 2023 keynote speech marking the launch of Beam, Merit Circle CTO Brandon Aaskov will explain why the gaming industry and web3 are on the cusp of a synergistic relationship:
We’re on the doorstep of a big change in gaming. That’s because gamers are frustrated with the status quo. We don’t get enough say in the games we love because we don’t own any of it. A new era of dialogue between gamers that care and developers that care is about to begin. The transparency and ownership that web3 provides is the reason that this is inevitable.
Game developers know only too well that web3 integration into gaming has, to date, been patchy and unsuccessful. It has focused on the allure of DeFi – decentralized finance – and the promise of quick bucks. As demonstrated by the rise and fall of Axie Infinity, the one web3 game that has made a splash in the mainstream media to date, focusing on finance over fun is a road to ruin.
All that is about to change. Web3 technology is not about crypto: it’s about the magic of truly owning the items you earn in game. It’s about game publishers not being able to dip their hands into your game inventories and invalidate purchases. The blockchain offers this to gamers – and it’s something that gamers are crying out for.
“When it comes to gaming, the biggest promise of web3 is true ownership,” Aaskov is to explain in the keynote. “Historically, the items you’ve earned in a game are locked to that world, useful for you maybe, but with no value beyond that game.”
Not anymore. The ownership facilitated by the blockchain is a uniquely web3 quality that enormously enriches the lore-building potential of items nurtured in-game. That item you now truly own can go on a journey of achievements. It can have a story all its own. You can then
treasure this item, or sell it for its accumulated value – for the legend that you’ve accumulated for it.
What’s more, Beam empowers developers to create games in which players can sell their legend-laced, battle-hardened item for fiat currency, not crypto. If engaging with crypto is off-putting, Beam takes that fear away.
The advent of Beam means that game developers – increasingly conscious of dissatisfaction within the gaming community – can now integrate this enormous potential into their games. It gives the industry the tools for a large-scale adoption of web3 capabilities. In this, it is unique and, as Aaskov will relate, “quite literally game-changing”.
Beam empowers game developers to be in the vanguard of this coming revolution.
With the coming of Beam, the moment for web3’s proper integration into the gaming industry is upon us.
The Beam ecosystem
Beam is an ecosystem, made up of the following elements:
Beam Companion App: Designed for gamers on the Beam network. It provides a straightforward solution to manage multiple in-game accounts from various games within the Beam ecosystem.
Sphere: Beam’s NFT marketplace for gaming assets.
Beam Hub: A place to discover new games and take part in tournaments.
BeamOS: All of our products tied together into one unified experience, packaged into a user experience that’s familiar, customizable and truly yours.
Beam SDK: the invisible layer empowering game developers to build things their way. Beam does not dictate how or when the SDK should be used. Developers can simply pick what they like, and leave out the remaining options.
asia-pacific
Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026
Groove has been named a finalist for Best Aggregator 2026 at the SiGMA Asia Awards, with the ceremony scheduled for 2 June 2026 at the SMX Convention Centre Manila during the SiGMA Asia Summit.
The shortlist was announced by Global Gaming Insider, according to the company. Groove said its platform aggregates more than 15,000 games from over 150 providers via a single API.
Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove, said: “This shortlist is external recognition of a truth we already feel internally: Groove is moving at a different pace. Asia is not a single market, it is a collection of distinct regulatory environments, player behaviours, and partnership opportunities”
Campo added: “Our platform is built to respect that complexity, not smooth it over. Being named a finalist for Best Aggregator tells us that our approach; deep integration, localised content strategies, and commercial precision; is resonating with the operators who matter most in this region. We are not just bringing games to Asia. We are bringing a roadmap for sustainable growth.”
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “The aggregation space is crowded. Differentiation is everything. This nomination confirms that our vision, transforming aggregation from a commodity into a strategic growth discipline, is taking hold.” He added: “Operators across Asia are no longer asking for just volume or speed. They are asking for structural resilience, data intelligence, and a partner who can execute across fragmented regulatory landscapes with precision. Groove delivers that. To be recognised alongside the best in Asia is a privilege, but the real work continues in Manila and beyond. We are here to win, not just awards, but the trust of the operators who build their businesses on our platform.”
The post Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
data providers
DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026
DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.
The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.
Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.
DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.
“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.
The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
content studios
155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership
155.io has signed a partnership with US-based fintech platform Coverd, marking the content studio’s first move into fintech. The deal was announced Thursday 21st May 2026.
Under the agreement, 155.io’s real-world games will be integrated into Coverd’s platform. Coverd said the integration is designed to turn everyday transactions into interactive experiences where users can win the chance to have purchases covered through 155.io gameplay.
Sam Jones, Founder & CEO of 155.io, said: “This partnership gives us the opportunity to bring our content to a completely new audience. We share a philosophy with Coverd around disrupting and modernising industries through more interactive experiences. They understand that younger audiences expect entertainment and engagement across every digital touchpoint, including finance, which is exactly how we think about design.”
Albert Wang, Coverd co-founder, added: “Today’s consumer is actively embracing gamified products across every category, so there’s no reason personal finance should stay in the stone age. We’re excited to work with 155.io to make financial experiences more interactive and give everyone a chance to live big by winning back their purchases. 155.io’s next-gen content fits perfectly with what we’re building at Coverd.”
155.io said the integration will bring its interactive content—built around live-action footage and real-time mechanics—to Coverd users. The studio’s portfolio includes Rush Hour from its CCTV Game
library, alongside Ducks.io and Snow Run.
The post 155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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