Blockchain infrastructure startup Lamina1, co-founded by science fiction author Neal Stephenson and crypto veteran Peter Vessenes, has partnered with five tech companies to develop its blockchain tech for the open metaverse. Qualcomm, HTC, Mira, Interverse, and Croquet have all joined Lamina1’s Early Access Program (EAP), providing new tools to improve performance, interoperability, and user experience ahead of the launch of Lamina1’s blockchain network in summer 2023. The partners will develop novel approaches using blockchain tech, including non-fungible tokens and smart contracts, to bridge virtual and real-world environments.
Neal Stephenson, best known for his science fiction novels, including Snow Crash, is one of the co-founders of Lamina1. Thirty years ago, Stephenson coined the term metaverse, describing a virtual world where people could exist and interact online. Along with Peter Vessenes, Stephenson co-founded Lamina1 as a blockchain infrastructure startup to provide economic rails for developers to create an open metaverse and keep it from being controlled by walled gardens.