Tanner Matthews is a Canadian business professional with a finance, accounting, and blockchain technology background. He is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Altura, a company focused on integrating Web3 assets into digital platforms. ^{[1] [2]}

Education

Matthews graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis School of Business & Economics with a BBA and a graduate diploma in Accounting. ^[1]

Career

Matthews began his professional career in 2016 as a co-op commercial banking analyst at Scotiabank in Kitchener, Ontario. In 2017, he held an accounting and finance co-op role at eSentire in Cambridge. The following year, he worked in financial reporting at Fidelity Investments in Toronto.

In 2020, he joined Deloitte in Toronto as a staff accountant. He later relocated to the Vancouver office, where he advanced through several roles, including staff accountant II, senior accountant, and consultant. In late 2022, he transferred to Deloitte’s London office, working as a consultant in strategic advisory until early 2023. During this period, he gained experience in auditing, financial planning, and consulting.

In February 2023, he received his CPA designation. The following month, he co-founded Altura alongside Majd Hailat, and assumed the role of chief operating officer. At Altura, he focuses on operations and strategic growth within the Web3 and blockchain sectors. Since joining, he has contributed to company expansion efforts, including the launch of a white-label marketplace and other product developments. ^[4]

Interviews

Future of Web3 Gaming

In discussing the future of Web3 gaming on the Digital Social Hour Podcast, Hailat and 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. ^[5]

Panels

Web3 Gaming

At the CONF3RENCE 2024 panel titled “Web3 Gaming Explained: The New Frontier”, Matthews, Marciej Harcej (Kanga), Josh Roizen (Angelo.app), Assad Dar (Medieval Empires), and Eva Shalenko (Beast League) discussed the state of Web3 gaming, describing it as a developing sector that integrates blockchain technology to offer players ownership of in-game assets, contrasting with traditional gaming models. Panelists introduced themselves and their companies and highlighted the core concepts of Web3 gaming, including decentralized ownership, the ability to profit from secondary sales, and adding value to in-game items through player achievements. They acknowledged the ongoing transition from Web2 to Web3 gaming, emphasizing that while traditional games have historically been successful, introducing ownership and customization via blockchain could lead to significant changes in player expectations and engagement in the coming years. Panelists concluded that the current user base mostly consists of crypto enthusiasts rather than traditional gamers. Still, they expressed optimism about the potential for new, enjoyable games to attract a wider audience as the sector matures. ^[6]

Innovations in Gaming

At the CONF3RENCE 2024 panel titled "Innovations in Gaming: Looking Ahead," industry experts discussed the current state and future prospects of gaming, particularly the integration of Web 2 and Web3 technologies. Moderated by Megan Nelson, the panel featured Douglas Kennedy (Studio Wildcard), Zlatko Stjepanovic (Visionary Labs), Frank Holz (Gawooni MetaLabs), and Matthews. Each speaker provided insights into their backgrounds and user acquisition challenges in Web3 gaming. They noted that while there had been skepticism toward blockchain due to previous experiences with play-to-earn models, the future lay in creating compelling, engaging games that don't overtly emphasize financial incentives. There was a consensus that major studios would eventually adopt blockchain technology, driven by consumer demand for immersive gaming experiences that provide true asset ownership, rather than simply focusing on monetization schemes. They acknowledged the current market's inclination towards caution but expressed optimism for innovation during downturns in the industry. ^[3]