CryptoKitties: Understanding the Blockchain Collectible Cats

For the crazy cat parents out there, even the world of blockchain has a game for you. CryptoKitties. The blockchain-based game involves the breeding, raising, and adoption of digital cats to generate progeny that become valued collectibles, which can be traded. The kitties are purchased using Ethereum’s native token, Ether (ETH).

A Non-Fungible Blockchain Asset

CryptoKitties is instrumental in blockchain because it was the first known application of DApp for leisure and recreation. Built by Vancouver-based blockchain company Axiom Zen, the game uses the Ethereum network rather than creating its own blockchain. It’s important to recognize that CryptoKitties are not a currency, but are instead non-fungible blockchain assets.

Thus, each “kitty” is considered an ERC-721 token, allowing the holder/owner of it to hold it, allow it to mate, or trade it at any time.

The White Pa-Purr

The game’s whitepaper, or “white pa-purr” as it’s commonly referred to describes CryptoKitties as “digital, collectible cats built on the Ethereum blockchain, which can be bought and sold using ether, and bred to create new cats with exciting traits and varying levels of cuteness”.

At launch, 50,000 “Gen 0” cats or “Clock Cats” as they’re called, are stored in a smart contract on Ethereum’s blockchain. Unique in appearance, the Clock Cats are distributed every 15 minutes. The genesis cat was born in adopted on December 2, 2017 and the last cats were generated November 2018. After this, no new “Gen 0” cats were created, ensuring that only 50,000 Gen 0 kitties would ever exist.

Back in December 2017, Vitalik Buterin tweeted that he supported the game, which demonstrates the value blockchain brings beyond just mere apps.

After its first week launch in 2017, the platform has over 60,000 users, 100,000 cats, and $5 million in sales--accounting for 25% of Ethereum’s network traffic at the time.