Crucial First Steps Required to Decentralize the Metaverse with Bayan Towfiq - Step into the Metaverse podcast: EP29
Crucial First Steps Required to Decentralize the Metaverse with Bayan Towfiq - Step into the Metaverse podcast: EP29
In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I interviewed Bayan Towfiq, the Founder and CEO at Subspace, which is building a global private network for real-time applications and the new working-from-home reality as well as the metaverse. Subspace routes traffic over the world’s most highly available, ultra-low latency, global private network with a simple configuration change.
During the interview, we discussed the technical challenges of building an open metaverse and what we need to bring hyper-realistic volumetric data to VR and AR devices all around the world. We also covered in-network applications and why they are crucial for the metaverse, as well as the role of blockchain.
Highlights
- [01:17] - A new iteration of the internet that will support persistent online virtual environments.
- [07:24] - What Subspace is doing to help build the metaverse.
- [09:00] - Blockchain’s role in the decentralization of the metaverse.
- [15:34] - VR, AR, and XR in the coming decade.
- [23:08] - Understanding in-network applications and why they’re crucial for the metaverse.
Quotes
“The metaverse is going to be an evolution of what we currently use in terms of the current internet because of the pain that exists for applications today” - Bayan Towfiq
“Everybody who is contributing to this metaverse is going to be forced to make it interoperable, and interoperability makes it open, and that openness and multitude of players that contribute makes it decentralized” - Bayan Towfiq
“Blockchain and metaverse are tangential to one another” - Bayan Towfiq
“The metaverse allows for these rich interactions and creators are going to create all kinds of interesting experiences with it” - Bayan Towfiq
Learn More About Bayan Towfiq in the Links Below:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayantowfiq/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/strongforce
- Website: https://subspace.com
If you are interested in learning more about the metaverse, you can order my book Step into the Metaverse here.
Frequently asked questions
What is Subspace and how does it relate to the metaverse?
Subspace, founded by Bayan Towfiq, is building a global private network for real-time applications, supporting both the work-from-home reality and the metaverse. It routes traffic over a highly available, ultra-low latency global private network that can be enabled with a simple configuration change, helping bring hyper-realistic volumetric data to VR and AR devices worldwide.
Link to this questionWhat role does blockchain play in decentralizing the metaverse?
According to Bayan Towfiq, blockchain and the metaverse are tangential to one another rather than dependent. Decentralization of the metaverse comes less from blockchain itself and more from interoperability, since everyone contributing to the metaverse is forced to make their systems interoperable, and that openness and multitude of contributing players is what makes it decentralized.
Link to this questionWhy does interoperability matter for building an open metaverse?
Interoperability matters because it forces every contributor to the metaverse to work with others, which creates openness. This openness, combined with a multitude of players contributing, is what ultimately makes the metaverse decentralized rather than controlled by a single entity.
Link to this questionWhy are in-network applications important for the metaverse?
In-network applications are discussed as crucial for the metaverse because they help address the technical challenges of delivering rich, real-time experiences, such as handling hyper-realistic volumetric data for VR, AR, and XR devices. The metaverse is expected to enable rich interactions that let creators build interesting new experiences, and in-network applications support that infrastructure.
Link to this question
Dr Mark van Rijmenam
Dr. Mark van Rijmenam, widely known as The Digital Speaker, isn’t just a #1-ranked global futurist; he’s an Architect of Tomorrow who fuses visionary ideas with real-world ROI. As a global keynote speaker, Global Speaking Fellow, recognized Global Guru Futurist, and 5-time author, he ignites Fortune 500 leaders and governments worldwide to harness emerging tech for tangible growth.
Recognized by Salesforce as one of 16 must-know AI influencers , Dr. Mark brings a balanced, optimistic-dystopian edge to his insights—pushing boundaries without losing sight of ethical innovation. From pioneering the use of a digital twin to spearheading his next-gen media platform Futurwise, he doesn’t just talk about AI and the future—he lives it, inspiring audiences to take bold action. You can reach his digital twin via WhatsApp at: +1 (830) 463-6967.
