Majd Hailat is a technology entrepreneur and blockchain specialist who co-founded Altura, a Web3 infrastructure platform focused on gaming applications and NFT technology. ^[1]

Career

Hailat began programming several years before entering the blockchain space, with early interest in online gaming and virtual economies. After observing inefficiencies and trust issues in secondary markets for in-game items—particularly during his time playing games like Counter-Strike—he identified blockchain and NFTs as potential tools to address these problems. In 2021, he founded Altura, a platform designed to help game developers integrate blockchain-based assets and enable secure, flexible secondary market activity for in-game items. Shortly after launching the initial version of the platform, Hailat left the University of Toronto to focus on Altura full-time, where he continues to serve as founder and CEO. ^{[6] [7]}

Interviews

Web3 Gaming

In discussing the future of Web3 gaming on the Digital Social Hour Podcast, Hailat and Tanner Matthews emphasized the importance of establishing sustainable ecosystems in video games. They argued that players are more likely to invest in in-game assets to enhance their gaming experience rather than to profit from reselling them, which could lead to healthier economic models. They reflected on the struggles of AAA game studios, suggesting that the prevalent microtransaction models often do not provide real value to players. The hosts noted that the gaming industry, valued at approximately $210 billion, has the potential for growth through blockchain integration, offering true ownership of digital assets. They also discussed their company's sustainability within a fluctuating crypto market, highlighting their focus on community support and solid product offerings, which have helped them navigate downturns in the industry and maintain a collaborative approach with game developers. ^[2]

Presentations

Building with JavaScript

At the Blockchain Futurist Conference, Hailat, representing Altura, presented on building Web3 games using solely JavaScript. Altura aimed to simplify the integration of NFTs into games by providing APIs and SDKs that required no prior Web3 knowledge. One of the distinguishing features of Altura was its smart NFTs, which allowed in-game items to change dynamically, unlike traditional static NFTs. The company, founded just 14 months prior, had already processed over three million dollars in NFT trading volume and supported over 20 games. Hailat demonstrated a simple Discord-based Pokémon game where participants used NFTs, showcasing how easy it was to alter NFT properties through pure JavaScript. He encouraged developers to create games using Altura, highlighting its potential to facilitate a smoother transition from Web2 to Web3 gaming. ^[3]

Evolution in Gaming

At TOKEN2049 Dubai in 2024, Hailat discussed the potential of Web3 gaming to transform the gaming industry, which was valued at over $246 billion, significantly surpassing the combined worth of the movie and music industries. He reflected on his extensive gaming experience, noting that many gamers are already comfortable with digital assets, indicating a readiness for Web3. He emphasized that Web3 should enhance the gaming experience rather than serve as the primary focus. Altura aimed to support developers by offering interoperability across various blockchains, enabling them to create dynamic, evolving assets, or "smart NFTs." Hailat pointed out that a game's appeal and community growth ultimately hinged on its enjoyment and value to players. In discussing a hypothetical Web3 version of Counter Strike, he highlighted that players could own and trade assets on a decentralized platform, simplifying transactions compared to traditional methods. ^[4]

Altura Talk Tuesday

During an Altura AMA session, Hailat gave several updates about the platform's developments. The frequency of Altura Talk was changed to every Tuesday at 2 p.m. EST. Altura received funding from the Polygon DAO Grant, which would support its integration into the Polygon ecosystem. Changes to the marketplace were discussed, including a shift to a game-focused model, which was set to initially list Altura-powered games and offer full external collection support by mid-December. Questions addressed included the sustainability of marketplace revenue, upcoming partnerships, and the progress of the Launchpad, which was delayed due to current market conditions. The discussion also touched on the project's financial stability and team size amidst the bear market, with reassurance that Altura was positioned for growth. The session emphasized Altura’s commitment to enhancing its platform and maintaining community engagement. ^[5]