INTRODUCTION
The removal of centralized power and the removal of any control over or manipulation of the project's transactions records is the current preference in blockchain technology as we now know it. Summing it up in a word - decentralization.
However, in the nascent stages of a blockchain project, some elements of centralization are necessary to successfully move a project forward. Reasons for this necessity vary, but could include: the need to create and develop the protocol; the need for management of marketing/investment campaigns; the necessity of sufficient time to pass to permit the project's community the ability to market itself; and the need to have sufficient infrastructure in place to maximize activity and engagement.
With this understanding, in this subsection of the Leo Finance The Sandbox (SAND) Coin Guide, let's investigate just where The Sandbox project falls on the spectrum of decentralization.
IS THE SANDBOX (SAND) DECENTRALIZED?
A look into the whitepaper of The Sandbox amply sets forth the project's vision with regard to decentralization:
Our vision is to offer a deeply immersive metaverse in which players will create virtual worlds and games collaboratively and without central authority. We are aiming to disrupt the existing game makers like Minecraft and Roblox by providing creators true ownership of their creations as non-fungible tokens
(NFTs) and rewarding their participation with our utility token – SAND.
In the current game market, the centralized ownership and control of user-generated content limits creator rights and ownership. Central control over the trading of virtual goods created by players restricts them from generating fair value for their creations. Compounding this, it can be difficult to prove creative ownership of works, especially as content is copied, altered, and built upon.
With The Sandbox, we aim to overcome these limitations while accelerating blockchain adoption to grow the blockchain gaming market. We will do this by building a voxel gaming platform where creators are able to craft, play, share, collect, and trade without central control, enjoying secure copyright ownership with the ability to earn cryptocurrency (SAND)....
[The Sandbox. The Sandbox - Whitepaper. (Accessed December 13, 2021)].
Despite the repeated calls for action 'without central control' in the whitepaper, several questions exist concerning the degree of decentralization present within The Sandbox ecosystem at this time. "True decentralization of the ecosystem present in The Sandbox is an open question as the developers utilized pre-mining for the project. It is unknown what type of authentication algorithm will be used in the protocol nor is it known how the processing nodes will be incentivized. At present it does appear that protocol transfer recording is centrally accomplished." [Nagoda, K. The Sandbox (SAND) Metaverse Pros and Cons. (Accessed December 13, 2021)].
Nonetheless, these questions will be removed by The Sandbox in 2023. A review of the roadmap for the project demonstrates that sometime in 2023 The Sandbox will become 100% player owned and decentralized through the introduction of The Sandbox DAO. Introduction of this DAO will place the management and ownership of The Sandbox fully in the hands of those who have staked the SAND token.
CONCLUSION
Full decentralization of The Sandbox metaverse project is not quite 100% there just yet. Clearly the developers believe that certain control over the project is still required to ensure its success. But if the plans set forth in the project's roadmap come to fruition, The Sandbox will be 100% decentralized in 2023.