Market Data 
When the hype around Web3 and the metaverse cooled, many wrote off the entire category as another overfunded Silicon Valley fantasy. But in Algeria—far from the conference stages of San Francisco or Dubai—a very different story is playing out. There, a government-backed initiative is making a calculated bet on blockchain, immersive media, and creator-driven platforms. And at the center of it is Lamina1, the Layer 1 blockchain co-founded by author Neal Stephenson, whose 1992 novel Snow Crash coined the term “metaverse.”
The project, launched through a new initiative called Numidia Valley, offers a rare, concrete example of what some call “Media 3.0.” Its focus is infrastructure — a foundation for education, gaming, entertainment, and IP ownership in an economy that skipped many of the analog systems of the 20th century.
“Algeria doesn’t have the legacy infrastructure to overcome. It can leap directly into digital-native creative economies,” says Yasmina Kazitani, co-founder of Numidia Valley. “And Lamina1 is the only platform we’ve found that truly centers creators.”
Algeria has ambitious plans. With the youngest population in Africa and a strong pipeline of STEM talent—80% of whom are women, according to Kazitani—the country is investing in skills development, startup incubation, and digital IP exports. The Lamina1 partnership includes three pillars: deploying blockchain-based creative tools in universities, supporting local game development through Lamina1’s platform, and launching fan engagement hubs like a digital clubhouse for Algeria’s national soccer team.
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These projects all live inside Spaces, Lamina1’s flagship product is a of Web3-native YouTube-meets-Patreon for immersive content. Unlike centralized platforms, Spaces are creator-owned environments where distribution, community, and monetization are tightly integrated. Creators receive grants in Lamina1’s native token (L1), which can be staked for yield, used to reward fans, or converted into stablecoin for production financing. Smart contracts handle royalty splits and real-time micropayments automatically.
“This is what YouTube might look like if it was owned by its creators—not Google,” says Rebecca Barkin, CEO of Lamina1. “We’re not here to chase trading volume. We’re building infrastructure for immersive IP and community-driven storytelling.”
That distinction is crucial. Lamina1 has avoided many of the traps that plagued early Web3 ventures: speculative tokenomics, play-to-earn gimmicks, and a narrow focus on DeFi. Instead, it positions itself as a creator-first stack for immersive entertainment, built by and for the people making 3D games, animated series, virtual concerts, and AI-generated films.
When I spoke to Neal Stephenson earlier this week he was blunt about the stakes. “If millions of people are going to spend time in the metaverse, they need a reason to be there. And that reason will be content—games, music, stories. We created Lamina1 to make sure those people can actually get paid.”
For Algeria, the partnership is more than symbolic. It’s a strategic move to build sovereign creative capacity using global infrastructure. Ministers Noureddine Ouadah (Startups) and Yacine Oualid (Vocational Education) are backing the project as part of a broader push to make Algeria a tech and culture hub for the African continent—linking startups, government, and international partners like Lamina1 in a long-term strategy.
Lamina 1’s CBO, Geraldine Pamphile, took the lead for the company after traveling to Algeria last December. “Partnering with the Algerian government and Numidia Valley allows us to support a thriving ecosystem of creators, developers, and entrepreneurs who will shape the future of immersive digital experiences. We are excited to help bring these innovations to life and contribute to Algeria’s vision for the future.”
If it works, Algeria could become a template for digital development in regions often excluded from the first wave of Web2. And Lamina1, rather than chasing the next meme coin or metaverse land sale, may emerge as the backbone of a new kind of internet—one where creators, not platforms, hold the keys.
