Ownership
Ownership represents a property of assets. This ownership property defines the level of control and rights individuals have over assets. It does not have any impact on the utility of assets.
Asset ownership can generally be divided into two categories: centralised and decentralised.
Centralised Ownership means that an asset's ownership data is stored and managed within a central database controlled by the developer. Ownership transfers typically occur only within that in-world environment, usually through the trading system or the inventory system and ownership records can be altered or removed through changes to the database.
Decentralised Ownership means that an asset is recorded outside the central database, using an independent (ownership ledger) operated and secured by multiple third party participants. Ownership transfers can occur independently of any single application, and ownership records are designed to be resistant to unilateral modification.
Unlike traditional inventories—where items exist only on a central server and can be modified or removed at the developer’s discretion—decentralised ownership systems give players lasting control over their assets while still allowing developers to define how those items function within an experience. However, decentralised ownership involves extra attention to digital security as assets with this kind of ownership are exposed to digital scams.