Here are some creative directions you could pick up and start building today:

Creative & Content

Onchain creativity is flourishing. Think of generative art platforms that let users mint AI-generated images directly into NFTs, with communities voting on their favorites. Or consider creator monetization apps where fans can unlock exclusive content through token-gated subscriptions.

Music is ripe too: tokenized songs and royalties let artists stay independent while sharing ownership with fans. And don’t forget video; short-form video platforms like tiktok, point to a future where creators can be rewarded directly.

Financial Services

Decentralized Finance continues to evolve, but the real opportunities are at the edges. Consider cross-border payments and payroll , where stable coins like $USDC can drastically reduce friction in remittances (a massive global market).

Other ideas include onchain subscription managers to track recurring payments, or tipping and donation tools for creators like BuyMeCoffee.

Gaming & Entertainment

Games thrive where value flows.Test Peer versus Peer games with staked outcomes (chess, card battles). Or take inspiration from onchain casinos — tapping into the $60B online gambling market but with transparent, instant-settling smart contracts.

Even community art battles like BasePaint prove how playful mechanics can generate serious engagement.

Social & Community

Social networks are rapidly shifting. Imagine platforms where identity, content, and reputation are tokenized.

Identity and reputation are key here: apps that provide skill attestations (e.g., verifying GitHub commits or code skills) or cryptocurrency gift cards for easy social payments can unlock new ways of connecting online. Health and fitness apps are also emerging, rewarding activity with tokens and leadership board recognition.

Wallets & Accounts

Finally, UX (User Experience) remains the biggest unlock. Smart wallets with account abstraction will enable gasless transactions, programmable accounts, and seamless onboarding , an essential foundation for all the above categories.

Add in portfolio management dashboards that help users track assets across chains, and you’ve got tools every onchain builder needs.

APIs & SDKs to Start Building

• Need a template to start building, check out base.org/build/onchainkit

• Content management, live-streaming API

• Finance remittances in USDC link

So the question is: which idea will you bring to life this Onchain Summer?