At first glance, Stacks Invaders might seem like just another generative art collection. However, it represents a significant leap forward in how NFTs can be created and stored on the Stacks blockchain.
Inspired by an iconic 80s arcade game, Stacks Invaders was created by @jackbinswitch and @imbanksia, and utilizes the innovative Digital Matter Theory (DMT) on the Stacks blockchain. This approach, which has been explored on Bitcoin for a while, provides a more secure, immutable, and decentralized way of managing digital art.
Through DMT, all elements are generated and saved on-chain rather than being hosted externally using IPFS. This makes the project not only the first block generative art on Stacks but also introduces a new NFT standard, highlighting the potential of the Stacks blockchain in supporting innovative and technologically advanced NFT projects.
What is Digital Matter Theory (DMT)?
Digital Matter Theory (DMT) represents a fascinating aspect of blockchain technology. Historically significant for Bitcoin, DMT involves recognizing and utilizing patterns in blockchain data to create digital substances. Unlike traditional inscriptions on the Bitcoin blockchain, DMT saves metadata and algorithms rather than entire files, allowing for the real-time generation of digital assets.
The concept of DMT can be likened to finding patterns in nature and creating new substances from these patterns. In the context of Bitcoin, users discovered patterns in Bitcoin block data that could be harnessed to create digital substances. DMT provides a way to conceptualize and understand the substance and significance of digital tokens beyond their mere representation of value. Once recognized and utilized, these patterns can lead to the generation of a new form of digital material that behaves like physical matter, despite lacking a tangible presence.
Many see Ordinals, Rare Sats, and Bitmap theory as early applications of DMT. Ordinals, introduced by Casey Rodarmor, assign numismatic value to satoshis, enabling their collection and trade as digital artifacts. Rare Sats build on Ordinals, positioning uniquely placed satoshis on the blockchain as rare collectibles. Bitmap theory, proposed by Bitoshi Blockamoto, treats each block as digital real estate, creating a non-arbitrary metaverse.
However, according to the creators of Stacks Invaders, there are differences between DMT and Ordinals.
DMT vs. Ordinals: What's the Difference?
In a recent Twitter space hosted by Leather, Ian, one of the creators of Stacks Invaders, explained the differences between DMT and Ordinals. While both involve on-chain inscriptions, Ordinals save the entire file directly onto the blockchain. In contrast, DMT saves a JSON file containing details related to the mint, which are then used to generate the image in real-time. This approach allows for more efficient use of blockchain space and offers a new way to create and interact with digital assets.
"For Stacks Invaders, we use a smart contract to identify the block and generate the image in real time. If you visit the Stacks Invaders website and click the 'Preview Next Invader' button, you can see the image generated for the current Stacks block that people will be competing for. This process calls a Stacks smart contract, retrieves the image as an SVG file, and saves it to your machine. It's that simple and pretty cool!" said Ian.
Another way to understand the difference is that Ordinals can save any file on-chain by converting it to binary and embedding it into the blockchain. This method allows for a wide range of files to be inscribed, from images to text files, but it consumes significant block space. On the other hand, DMT focuses on storing metadata and algorithms, which are much smaller and can be used to generate digital assets dynamically. This makes DMT a more scalable and efficient method for creating on-chain digital assets.
How Does Stacks Invaders Work?
With each new Stacks block, an art piece is generated, meaning only one Stacks Invader can be minted per block. This results in a slow, strategic minting process where patience is rewarded. The collection consists of 4,995 pieces, and if a new NFT is minted every 10 minutes (the average time for a new Stacks block), it would take approximately 34 days for the entire collection to mint out.
The art generation process involves using data from the block itself. For instance, the last two digits of the block number determine the color of the art, while other digits define the pattern and elements of the artwork. This method ensures each piece is unique and tied directly to the blockchain data, making it impossible to manipulate or predict the outcome.
To mint a Stacks Invader, users simply connect their Leather wallet to the Stacks Invaders website and press the "Mint" button. Due to the competitive nature of the minting process, users must be strategic and patient. It's important to note that only one NFT can be minted per block, so trying to mint multiple times within one block is not advisable and could result in wasted transaction fees.
Even though Jack and Ian came up with the Stacks Invaders idea, it is a community-built and maintained project. The aim is to engage the community and foster a collaborative environment where users can explore and build upon the project's foundations.
Conclusion
The Stacks Invaders project is not just another generative collection; it’s a pioneering effort that could reshape the future of digital art. It not only showcases the capabilities of the Stacks blockchain but also exemplifies the innovative use of Digital Matter Theory.
By combining on-chain generative art with DMT principles, the creators have set a new standard for NFTs on Stacks. Moreover, the project highlights the potential for creating digital substances using blockchain data patterns, offering a new and exciting way to conceptualize and interact with digital assets.
Stacks Invaders is a reflection of the immense creativity and innovation within the blockchain space, paving the way for future developments in the world of NFTs and digital art. It will be exciting to see how the community embraces and builds upon these groundbreaking concepts.
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