MapleStory Universe is NEXT! | Keith Kim, COO NEXPACE: The Future of MapleStory in an Open Ecosystem

*What happens when a 20+ year gaming icon stops being a closed world and becomes an open universe you can build in, own a piece of, and carry your items across?* Live on BBW Day 2 Main Stage, Keith Kim (Nexon/MapleStory Universe) reveals how a franchise loved by 200M+ players is taking its next leap—from inventing free‑to‑play to enabling player participation and ownership. In this talk, Keith walks through the May 2025 launch of MapleStory Universe tokens and games, why interoperable items/NFTs across apps change the player experience, and how opening MapleStory IP to builders is seeding an on‑chain economy. He also unveils the $50M Nextpace ecosystem fund and tools (including AI) designed to lower build risk—plus why 2026–2027 could be the next bloom for blockchain gaming. In this session, you’ll learn:* ✅ MapleStory Universe: interoperable items/NFTs and tokens usable across apps and games ✅ Open IP for builders: create and monetize with MapleStory IP; 50+ teams onboarded since launch ✅ MapleStory Worlds proof point: small teams, big outcomes (e.g., 8–10 devs, ~$20M profit) ✅ $50M Nextpace ecosystem fund: grants, tooling (incl. AI), and affiliate programs to lower build risk ✅ Vision shift: games as protocols—24/7, cross‑platform, community‑led; why 2026–2027 could be gaming’s next bloom *⏱️ Timestamps:* ⏳ 00:00 – Introduction: Nexon & MapleStory (Web2) ⏳ 01:01 – Nexon’s Journey: Inventing the free‑to‑play model ⏳ 02:01 – Nexon's Next Evolution: Launching MapleStory Universe Tokens & Games ⏳ 03:12 – Opening the MapleStory IP: Building on top of MapleStory Universe ⏳ 04:31 – Nextpace $50M fund, AI tools, and builder incentives ⏳ 06:18 – Call for Global Builders on Nexon IPs with Affiliate Programs ⏳ 07:14 – Nexon's road ahead: Evolution into an IP Universe with protocols, cross‑platform play ⏳ 08:03 – Outro #binanceblockchainweek #maplestory #nexon #nftgame #binance #bitcoinetf #cryptoinvesting #crypto2026 #bbw2025 *⚠️ RISK WARNING:* Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance is not liable for any losses you may incur. It is your responsibility to ascertain whether you are permitted to use the services of Binance based on your individual circumstances. Not financial advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use and Risk Warning. *📢 Join the conversation:* ➡️ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/binance ➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/binance ➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/binance ➡️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@binance ➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.din.com/company/binance ➡️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/binance *🔗 Download Binance here (iOS, Android):* https://binance.onelink.me/y874/cb98de36 *🔗 Sign up for Binance here:* https://www.binance.com/en?ref=ERQKP7ND&utm_source=BinanceYoutube&utm_medium=GlobalSocial&utm_campaign=GlobalSocial