TL;DR
- Animoca Brands’ Moca Network is launching a layer-1 blockchain, called Moca Chain, focused on decentralized digital identity.
- The testnet will launch in Q3 2025, with a mainnet expected by year-end.
- Moca Chain will allow user data to be verified across any blockchain, replacing centralized identity solutions like Google Sign-In.
- The network will use the MOCA token for validator staking, data generation, and verification.
- Animoca says Moca Chain is central to its Web3 investment thesis of advancing digital property rights through NFTs and user-owned data.
Moca Chain: A New Identity Layer for Web3
Animoca Brands, one of the leading Web3 investment companies, is doubling down on the infrastructure side of the decentralized internet. Its flagship identity initiative, the Moca Network, is now developing a layer-1 blockchain, called Moca Chain, designed specifically to manage and verify user-owned digital identities across Web3 ecosystems.
The upcoming blockchain will allow applications to verify user data across any chain, aiming to replicate the ease and ubiquity of Web2 identity solutions like Google Sign-In or Okta, but in a decentralized and user-sovereign fashion.
“Moca Chain is creating a digital ecosystem where users can finally own their data, reputations, and contributions,” said Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands. “This aligns strongly with the mission of Animoca Brands to advance digital property rights and empower individuals to control and benefit from their online activities and personal data.”
What Is the Moca Network?
The Moca Network is an identity-focused ecosystem being developed fully in-house by Animoca Brands, according to a company spokesperson who spoke to CoinDesk. It supports Web3-native identity, interoperability, and ownership by building a cross-chain standard for recognizing and verifying users.
The upcoming blockchain, Moca Chain, will function as the identity layer powering this ecosystem. The testnet is scheduled to go live in Q3 2025, with a full mainnet launch planned by the end of the year.
The launch is backed by the Moca Foundation, which confirmed the rollout schedule in a recent press communication.
Moca Chain Overview
| Feature | Detail | Source |
| Project Name | Moca Chain | CoinDesk |
| Parent Company | Animoca Brands | Animoca |
| Launch Timeline | Testnet in Q3 2025; Mainnet by end of 2025 | Moca Foundation |
| Use Case | Cross-chain digital identity verification | Animoca Press Release |
| Token Name | MOCA | CoinGecko |
| Token Price Reaction | #ERROR! | CoinDesk Markets |
| Use of MOCA Token | Validator staking, storage, data fees | Moca Whitepaper |
MOCA Token to Power Validator Economy
At the heart of Moca Chain’s operation is the MOCA token, which will serve a variety of utility functions across the ecosystem. These include:
- Staking for validators
- Paying data verification and generation fees
- Managing on-chain storage access
Following the public announcement of the new blockchain, MOCA surged over 6%, reaching approximately $0.077 within two hours. This suggests early enthusiasm from token holders and investors in Animoca’s broader Web3 ecosystem.
While exact tokenomics have not been disclosed, the structure will likely follow models used by existing identity-centric blockchains like Polygon ID or Worldcoin, but with a stronger emphasis on cross-chain compatibility.
Competing with Big Tech, Not Just Blockchains
In an era where personal data ownership is increasingly politicized and regulated, Moca Chain aims to provide a Web3-native alternative to identity platforms offered by Big Tech.
Tools like Google Sign-In, Facebook Login, and Apple ID currently dominate digital identity access in Web2. Moca Chain seeks to disrupt this landscape by enabling users to carry verifiable credentials across dApps, wallets, and metaverses — without relying on a central gatekeeper.
Unlike existing blockchains that support identity protocols as side features, Moca Chain is purpose-built for identity-first architecture. According to the project’s roadmap, the chain will support:
- Reputation scoring
- Ownership verification
- Privacy-preserving identity proofs
- Social graph interoperability
Aligned with Animoca’s Vision of Digital Sovereignty
Animoca Brands has long advocated for digital property rights, investing in and building tools that empower users to control their virtual assets, NFTs, and now, identities. Moca Network reinforces this philosophy by giving users full control over how their identity data is created, shared, and monetized.
This strategy complements other Animoca-backed initiatives, including:
With hundreds of investments across the Web3 landscape, Moca Chain positions Animoca not just as a backer of decentralized content, but as an architect of the underlying identity infrastructure needed to power it.
Competitive Landscape: Identity in the Age of AI and Web3
Moca Chain enters a rapidly evolving market for decentralized identity, where blockchain-native platforms like:
- Polygon ID
- Civic
- Worldcoin
- Humanity Protocol
are also developing user-owned verification systems.
Yet what sets Moca apart is cross-chain interoperability, direct integration with Animoca’s portfolio of dApps, and institutional-grade data governance, including privacy standards aligned with GDPR and data minimization practices.As concerns rise globally about AI misuse, deepfakes, and digital fraud, decentralized identity layers like Moca Chain could offer critical tools for maintaining trust and authenticity across the internet.
