The Network State Podcast #29 - Yat Siu
Jan 14, 2026
Yat Siu, co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands, revolutionizes gaming and digital property rights with his insights. He discusses how gaming enforces jurisdiction through code and the social dynamics that make it unique. The conversation dives into the geopolitical rift between China and India, exploring how each nation's strategies shape their digital futures. Yat emphasizes the role of blockchains in preserving property rights and the evolution of digital communities, highlighting their potential to redefine sovereignty.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Investor-Operator Model Scales Web3
- Animoca Brands invests broadly on its own balance sheet and operates as both investor and operator in Web3 companies.
- Yat Siu says they monetize assets by trading and helping launches while generating yield from their portfolio.
Social Play Drives Game Retention
- Most gamers play for social reasons rather than just gameplay or narratives.
- Yat Siu highlights Bartle's taxonomy and says socializers form roughly 80% of players, driving retention.
Franchises Lose Community To Platforms
- Balaji and Yat recall Angry Birds and Final Fantasy as examples of franchises that monetized and built lasting fanbases.
- They note platform capture limited franchise social network ownership and relegated creators to distribution channels.
