# Start with HashUp
## What is HashUp?
The HashUp protocol is a decentralized pool of tokens and licenses that anyone can sell. HashUp introduces ERC20-compliant blockchain license carriers - **on-chain CDs** you can hold in any **crypto wallet** like tokens. ERC20-compliant licenses create **License Finance/LiFi/LicenseFi**, a swappable **DEX** license that will replace the subscription model.
Everyone can make their own marketplaces based on The HashUp Protocol without having to talk to game publishers.
HashUp is **content-providing protocol to your marketplace.** Instead of sourcing games or tokens for your shop, connect to the HashUp games pool.\
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The main principles of HashUp are:
1. Everyone can **publish** their games on The HashUp protocol.
2. Each Developer decides for himself how much money the stores that sell the game make.
3. Everyone can **sell** games from The HashUp Protocol, by integrating with it.
4. Everyone can use a **white-label PC Launcher** with all games published on The HashUp based on [PatchKit](https://patchkit.net/).
In a nutshell, hashUp is decentralized Steam or Netflix.
Content published on the HashUp protocol is based on ERC20 token licenses - Access Tokens.
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Each game is a separate license token. \
The number of token supplies means the number of game copies.\
You must have a license in your wallet to play a game or watch a movie or have access to content.
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## Centralized vs Decentralized Games Distribution
Currently, game distribution is extremely centralized, and we can't sell, for example, Cyberpunk 2077 or GTA V in our own game stores. Steam takes a 30% commission on game sales, while not investing in-game marketing. Developers themselves have to worry about marketing their own games, by talking with gaming influencers.
| Comparison | Steam, Epic and Gog, GamePass | HashUp and decentralized distribution |
| -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Marketplace fee** | **12-30%** | **You decide how much** the stores earn. From **0% to 90%** for marketplaces. |
| **Game library** | The game assigned to an account owned by the platform. | The game stored on any cryptocurrency wallet that anyone can create. |
| **Stores owners** | Big corporations | People, influencers |
| **Infrastructure** | **Closed** Infrastructure | **Open** Infrastructure |
| **Marketing** | **Centralized Marketing** - You worry about marketing your game as a game studio. | **Decentralized Marketing** - You can give stores 30-40% which decentralizes the marketing of your game. |
| **Marketing 2** | You go to influencers | Influencers decide what they play and earn |
| **Numbers of game stores** | Several monopolists - Very expensive go to market. | Anyone can own their own game store with all the infrastructure for free. |
| **Network effect** | Network effect based on **games** and **gamers**. | Network effect based on **games** and **marketplaces**. |
| **Alternative model** | **Subsription** model with games library to play. | **GameSwap**, akin to the decentralized GamePass or Netflix, where players can exchange games among themselves for any other tokens. |
## What can you sell on the HashUp protocol?
The HashUp Protocol from a technical perspective it's a smart contract that allows you to sell an infinite number of ERC20 tokens - each with its own price expressed in any other ERC20 token, in an infinite number of stores. HashUp builds infrastructure around ERC20-compliant licenses, allowing the protocol to be used as an everything store. The HashUp protocol is thus a very powerful protocol. \
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You can publish and sell on HashUp protocol:
1. Indie and AAA Games
2. ERC20 Tokens
3. Web3 Games Starterpacks (work in progress)
4. Books (work in progress)
5. Movies (work in progress)
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Technically, any digital and physical goods can be represented using ERC20 standard. The HashUp Protocol, once it has achieved the right network effect, can be a store of everything that powers thousands of stores.
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## Useful Links
* - A company website with links to all products
* [Github](https://github.com/hashup-it) - HashUp codebase.
* [Open Source store based on The HashUp Protocol](https://github.com/hashup-it/hashup-preview)
* [GameXplorer](https://gamexplorer.io/) - Marketplace for gaming marketplaces. Explore, add to your marketplace and sell.
* [GameContract](https://gamecontract.io/) - Publish your game, manage your license
* [How to buy a game](https://wiki.hashup.it/platforms/gamexplorer/how-to-buy-a-game)
* [How to publish a game](https://wiki.hashup.it/get-started/how-to-publish-a-game)
