5TARS: A SCALABLE AGE VERIFICATION SOLUTION FOR ONLINE GAMING
What happens when a fast-growing Web3 gaming platform outgrows its blockchain? In this conversation between Concordium’s CGO Varun Kabra and 5TARS CEO Borja Burguillos, we witness more than a tech migration - we see a strategic pivot in how blockchain can power the next generation of gaming.
From real-time compliance to seamless user onboarding, this discussion dives into why 5TARS is betting on Concordium to scale beyond football, integrate new sports like cricket and UFC, and build a regulatory-proof foundation for the future of play-to-earn.
Introduction: What is 5TARS and Why is This Event Important?
5TARS Overview
A sports prediction and fantasy gaming platform with 250,000+ registered users and 20,000+ monthly active users.
What Makes It Unique
- AI-powered sports predictions and fantasy gaming combined.
- Bridges Web2 and Web3 allowing users to engage seamlessly without needing blockchain knowledge.
- Designed to make Web3 gaming fun, rewarding, and frictionless.
Why It Matters
- 5TARS is reshaping Web3 gaming by prioritizing user experience over technical complexity.
- Their migration to Concordium highlights a growing focus on compliance, security, and scalability in blockchain gaming.
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Why is Web3 Changing Gaming?
Traditional gaming is centralized, restricted, and lacks true ownership.
- Blockchain transforms gaming by:
- Giving players true ownership of in-game assets (NFTs).
- Enabling monetization of engagement through tokens.
- Bringing transparency and fairness to gameplay.
- Beyond fun—players want incentives.
- Web3 introduces new ways for players to earn and trade assets.
- Community-driven governance allows players to influence game evolution.
- The shift is happening now.
- Web3 is redefining gaming with ownership, rewards, and decentralization at its core.
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Choosing a Blockchain for Gaming: What Matters?
Four critical factors for Web3 gaming success:
- 1. Performance – Fast transactions and low latency are essential for smooth gameplay.
- 2. Scalability – The blockchain must handle high transaction volumes reliably.
- 3. Security & Compliance – Growing regulations require a blockchain that ensures legal readiness.
- 4. Privacy & Trust – Players expect verifiable fairness and secure, on-chain interactions.
- Regulation is tightening across DeFi and GameFi, making compliance crucial for global expansion.
- Web3 gamers want more than just decentralization—they need a secure, scalable, and compliant ecosystem.
- The industry is shifting towards chains that can balance speed, compliance, and user experience.
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Scaling 5TARS: Expanding beyond football?
Growth Beyond Football:
- Started with major football tournaments (Champions League, Premier League, La Liga).
- Cricket launched in the Middle East in partnership with StartPlay, performing well so far.
- Plans to launch a 5TARS-branded cricket game within the same ecosystem.
Why Expansion Matters:
- Cricket is the second most-watched sport globally, offering massive growth potential.
- Governance, community engagement, and added functionalities like age verification & geofencing are crucial for scaling.
Future Sports Expansion:
- UFC/MMA – Prediction-based game with fighter NFTs and trading mechanics.
- Basketball & Baseball – Strong interest in expanding to these sports.
- More niche opportunities – Exploring other sports based on market demand.
Vision:
- Build a multi-sport ecosystem where users can engage across different sports while enjoying blockchain benefits.
- Leverage Concordium’s infrastructure for compliance and privacy, making global expansion smoother.
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The Compliance Challenge: Why Age Verification is CriticalRegulatory Hurdles in Gaming
Regulatory Hurdles in Gaming
- Some jurisdictions require age verification before users can play.
- Managing different compliance rules across countries is complex.
Why Concordium’s Approach Fits:
- Built-in age verification, geofencing, and privacy-preserving identity checks.
- Verification without compromising privacy—users prove eligibility without exposing personal data.
Beyond Gaming – Compliance is Becoming a Must-Have:
- Betting and gambling require stricter identity verification.
- Players don’t want to verify separately across multiple platforms—bad UX.
- Concordium integrates compliance at the protocol level (unlike blockchains that rely on smart contracts).
- Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) ensure privacy while meeting regulatory requirements.
- A Broader Trend – Governments & Institutions are Coming to Blockchain:
- Regulation is inevitable—blockchains must adapt.
- Concordium’s ID layer streamlines compliance and reduces user friction.
- Users should only verify once, with encrypted credentials used across platforms.
Key Takeaway:
- Seamless compliance is becoming a necessity, not an option.
- Concordium offers a future-proof solution for gaming and beyond.
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Why 5TARS Chose Concordium Over Other Blockchains
Why leave SKALE (EVM-based) for Concordium?
- Needed a balance of performance, compliance, and scalability for the next growth phase.
- Expansion plans, including sports betting, required a regulation-ready blockchain.
- Other blockchains lacked built-in compliance solutions—not just SKALE but across the industry.
Regulatory Pressure is Increasing:
- Gaming platforms face tightening regulations worldwide.
- Compliance is not optional—choosing the right chain now avoids costly migrations later.
- Concordium’s built-in identity verification and security features made the transition clear.
Key Benefits of Concordium for 5TARS:
- Easier compliance, avoiding regulatory roadblocks.
- Smoother player experience with fast transactions.
- More monetization options, enabling features like betting and advanced in-game economies.
A Strategic Move:
- Europe’s heavy-handed regulation makes compliance a deal-breaker.
- Migrating now saves time, effort, and future complications.
- With Concordium, 5TARS can focus on growth, not compliance headaches.
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The Future of 5TARS: Growth Plans for 2025-2026
User Growth & Retention:
- The focus is now on retaining users and scaling engagement.
- Targeting 1 million users while increasing token adoption.
The Role of the 5TARS Token:
- Ecosystem currency – powers in-game rewards and monetization.
- Tiered benefits – token holders get different perks based on holdings.
- Staking – users can stake tokens for additional incentives.
Expanding Sports Offerings:
- Cricket is nearly ready – the next big launch.
- Exploring basketball, UFC, and other high-engagement sports.
Future Possibilities – Sports Betting:
- Looking into licensed sports betting, though regulatory hurdles remain.
- The next 12 months will clarify the path forward.
Vision:
- Build a platform where sports fans can compete, have fun, and earn rewards.
- Ensure user-driven development, continuously adapting to demand.
- Leverage Concordium for on-chain transactions at scale.
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Concordium’s Roadmap & Commitment to Web3 Gaming
A New Strategic Focus:
- Concordium’s new executive team is shifting focus to real-world applications, not speculation.
- The goal is to bridge Web2 and Web3, making blockchain adoption seamless.
Key Technology Advancements:
- One-click verify & buy – Age-restricted purchases without storing personal data, reducing compliance costs.
- Geofencing & Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) – Ensuring compliance while protecting user privacy.
- Web3ID Suite – Advanced permission management and digital credential issuance using W3C standards.
Governance & Community Involvement:
- Concordium’s governance framework allows community members to shape the blockchain’s future.
- Elections in June/July – Members, including 5TARS, can nominate themselves to influence decision-making.
The Bigger Picture:
- Concordium is building a compliance-ready blockchain for gaming and other regulated industries.
- Encourages projects like 5TARS to participate in governance, aligning industry needs with blockchain development.
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Governance & Community: 5TARS Joining the
Concordium Governance Committee
- 5TARS CEO Borja Burguillos Plans to Run for the Concordium Governance Committee:
- Sees a huge opportunity to contribute to regulatory compliance, adoption, and gaming expansion.
- Aims to help shape Concordium’s governance framework to better support the gaming industry.
Concordium’s Governance Structure:
- Composed of experts from technology, business, and the community.
- Ensures blockchain development aligns with real-world needs.
- Nominations open soon (April or May), with elections following.
Why This Matters:
- 5TARS’ participation could bring gaming-specific insights to governance.
- Strengthens industry-driven decision-making within Concordium.
- Expands the role of real businesses in shaping blockchain ecosystems.
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Closing Thoughts: The Path to 1 Billion Web3 Users
The Vision for Web3 Gaming:
- 5TARS and Concordium aim to bring millions of real users into Web3.
- Focus is on building serious, utility-driven applications, not speculation or meme coins.
- The goal is to unlock new possibilities for players worldwide.
Final Message:
- Check out 5stars.io and explore the platform.
- 5TARS and Concordium are committed to scaling Web3 gaming in a meaningful way.
- The next phase is all about execution and growth—onboarding 1 million+ users.
- “Let’s build something massive together.”
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