In this month's X Space session, we were joined by Nir Blumberger, Co-Founder and Lead Business Developer, and Ruby Edelstein, Co-Founder and Lead Engineer of XP Network. Our host, Joe Benso, led the discussion on integrating the Casper blockchain with XP Network's NFT Bridge. They explored the new horizons of the NFT markets. The session was conducted in a Q&A format.
You can access the recordings of this space on our X (Twitter) account.
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XP Network is a leading NFT bridge connecting over 30 EVM and non-EVM blockchains. Their recent integration with the Casper blockchain opens up incredible possibilities for seamless NFT interactions across multiple chains.
For deeper insights and extended discussions, we will be publishing a podcast episode featuring Nir and Ruby early next week.
Question: “Can you give us a quick overview of XP Network?”
Ruby Edelstein: “XP Network is a multi-chain NFT bridge. Right now, we're connected to over 30 chains. We have six main live products: the NFT bridge itself, our Bridge Explorer—which is basically like EtherScan for the bridge—XPInit.js, an API to connect the bridge to your dApps with just a few lines of code, and the Bridge Widget, which allows for easy integration into your dApp, supporting technologies like iFrame for web, Android, and iOS. We also have a fungible bridge, which is currently not live.”
Question: “Despite the hype in 2021, many have dismissed the utility of NFTs. I believe there's more to it. What you guys are building is demonstrating real utility. Ruby, why is multi-chain NFT bridging important for the future of blockchain?”
Nir Blumberger: “For the future of the NFT market, bridging NFTs is crucial. As we discussed on our podcast, NFTs have the potential to be the biggest driver of crypto adoption. They attract people from various backgrounds, even those who are not necessarily interested in the financial aspects of crypto. People might interact with NFTs through games, music, or other applications without even realizing they're using blockchain technology.
XP Network aims to make these interactions as seamless as possible. For example, a user playing a game on Algorand who collects items might want to set up a wallet to retrieve those items. If that user has a Casper wallet, XP Network makes it possible for them to receive those Algorand NFTs, increasing both Casper's utility and community without needing to set up a new wallet on Algorand.”
Question “Ruby, can you walk us through what differentiates XP Network from other NFT bridges?”
Ruby Edelstein: “Absolutely. One of the primary differences is that XP Network focuses exclusively on multi-chain NFT bridging. We connect over 30 chains and support the most standards and security audits. Each integration involves tailored, hand-made connections verified through rigorous testing and security audits.
Most notably, unlike other projects, our partnerships aren’t just for show. We establish genuine relationships that result in real trust and development collaboration. For every new chain added, we tailor and handcraft the connection, ensuring it is secure and fully functional.
Question: “Nir and Ruby, why would an average user want to bridge an NFT to another network?”
Ruby Edelstein: “That’s a great question. The main benefit of bridging an NFT to another network is access to liquidity and new user bases. For instance, if a user has an NFT on Casper and wants to trade it on an Ethereum-based marketplace that supports higher liquidity or desired trading terms, they can use XP Network to bridge the NFT over.”
Nir Blumberger: “Exactly. XP Network enables an NFT to act as a native asset on the target chain and facilitates seamless trading and integration into other ecosystems. By doing so, XP Network expands the reach and usability of the NFT without compromising on its native benefits.”
Question: “What are some challenges you’ve encountered in bridging NFTs compared to tokens?”
Ruby Edelstein: “Security and standards are the big challenges. Bridging anything involves multiple layers of risk, and each chain's unique standards require extensive research and bespoke integrations. We’ve spent years refining our processes to ensure the highest security and compatibility.”
“Other challenges include managing differing NFT standards, royalties, metadata, and aligning them with our bridge structure. Our team conducts internal and external audits to ensure everything is secure and functional.”
Question: “For the average NFT enthusiast, can you simplify why multi-chain bridging is crucial?”
Nir Blumberger: “From a non-technical standpoint, bridging an NFT means you can access functionalities and user bases on other chains. It opens up broader markets for trading and usage, allowing users to unlock greater value from their assets.”
Question: “Where do you see the NFT market heading in the next few years? What future plans do you have for the XP Network?”
Nir Blumberger: “We believe the future lies in utility. Current market conditions may have slowed down the speculative hype, but real-world applications for NFTs are just beginning to unfold. As more use cases like gaming, music, and digital art mature, NFTs will integrate more naturally into everyday experiences.”
Ruby Edelstein: “We’re also working on major projects like our decentralized bridge and XP Rush, a multiplayer PvP game. These developments will provide significant utility for XPNet tokens and open up new avenues for interaction and growth.”
Our decentralized bridge will be open-source, allowing anyone to participate as validators and even fork our code for new use cases. This will significantly increase security and innovation in the NFT space.”
Question: Before we wrap up, can you tell us about your ongoing campaign?
Nir Blumberger: “We’ve launched a campaign in partnership with Casper, offering 50,000 XPNet tokens. We aim to engage both the XP Network and Casper communities while showcasing the innovative features of both platforms. We invite everyone to participate and explore what we have to offer.”
For more information and to participate in the token giveaway, visit XP Network’s X account.
Stay tuned for more news and developments from the Casper Association. Be sure to join the next X Space in October, and don’t forget to join us for the developer community call on Google Meet if you fancy some technical discussions about Casper.