Singapore-based Web3 developer OtherWorld has announced the beta launch of a non-fungible token platform based on the hit South Korean web novel and webtoon, Solo Leveling. The platform, named "Solo Leveling: Unlimited," will be launched on Avalanche blockchain. SL:U mirrors the captivating world, storyline, and prose of Solo Leveling, empowering users to actively participate and engage with the narrative through an innovative reward system.

OtherWorld is utilizing a custom Layer-1 network built on top of Avalanche, which it said would feature gasless NFT transactions. The platform will be maintained for future use in bringing more webtoon and K-pop IPs to the Web3 space, OtherWorld said. Players on the platform can have their characters follow the original story of Solo Leveling by defeating monsters and collecting cards to level up. Users with high-level monster cards will be given various rewards, including PFP (profile-picture) NFTs of Solo Leveling’s main protagonist.

Solo Leveling, first published in 2016, has grown to accumulate over 14 billion views worldwide as a franchise comprising a web novel, webtoon, anime and mobile game. The Singaporean Web3 company said it owns exclusive rights to 26 hit webtoon IPs, and can utilize K-pop IPs in collaboration with major agency Cube Entertainment.

The NFTs, launched by Kakao Entertainment, are based on webtoon Solo Leveling, which has amassed a whopping 14.2 billion views globally since its launch in 2016. Two separate Solo Leveling webtoon NFTs, with 100 and 200 tokens respectively, were sold out shortly after release on Kakao’s NFT trading platform Klip Drops. The headliner of the NFT series, an animated rendition of the webtoon’s final issue, sold for 500 KLAY (US$685).

Webtoons are a form of digital comics originating in South Korea intended for reading on portable devices. The industry generated total revenue of about one trillion won (approximately US$840 million) in 2020, according to the latest data available. Kakao plans another sale of NFTs based on the popular webtoon and web-novel series The Duchess with an Empty Soul, which is scheduled to go live on Jan. 22.

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape of Web3 and NFTs, the collaboration between Solo Leveling and Avalanche marks a significant milestone. By leveraging Avalanche's blockchain technology, the platform "Solo Leveling: Unlimited" offers a unique and engaging experience for users, combining the captivating storyline of Solo Leveling with innovative rewards and gasless NFT transactions. As the Web3 space continues to grow, such collaborations will play a crucial role in shaping the future of digital entertainment and engagement.