This guide will help you learn about the best crypto games and how to earn money with play-to-earn digital games. 

Every gamer wishes to make some money while doing what they do best - playing video games. Because of crypto gaming, it is now possible to play to earn in games now.

Crypto games where you can play to earn have opened a new dimension to the gaming industry. Now, you can not only enjoy free-to-play games but can also make earnings while playing them.
These play-to-earn games deal in decentralised crypto tokens. The tokens work as in-game currencies, which you can liquidate into real cash, too.

If you're new to blockchain technology, you might find it a bit confusing. This is a guide on how to earn crypto playing games and some of the best crypto games to explore!

## Can You Really Earn Money Playing Crypto Games?

To most people, these games sound like a Ponzi scheme, and they often question, "are play-to-earn crypto games legit?". The short answer to that is yes.

These are blockchain games that allow you to earn in-game crypto coins. Through those coins, you can either buy other in-game accessories or can save the amount in your crypto wallet.
Most often, these play-to-earn crypto games require initial investments, and that’s where most people become hesitant. However, this investment works the same way as the investments for any other cryptocurrency.

## What's the Process?

Simply put, you buy an in-game character or item that can be an [NFT](/news/category/nft-news) and play the game through it. As you progress, you get in-game crypto coins. This way, you can earn crypto playing games and make large profits on your crypto investments.

## Understanding Play-to-Earn Crypto Games

Play-to-earn crypto games have an economic system that works on blockchain technology. A blockchain is a database where you can store digitised data as blocks of information. Cryptocurrencies leverage this technology in the best way. The reason for that is to make it a safe and secure alternative to standard currencies.

Information on blockchains is unchangeable. So, it provides transparency for each transaction in the blockchain. Also, as blockchains are decentralised, there is no single authority to control them, and all the users share their control.

You will find many play-to-earn crypto games now having their cryptocurrencies. They can either be free-to-play games or might need an upfront investment. Nonetheless, you can make profits from it by playing the games. These play-to-earn games run on a rewarding system. So, when you complete a mission or challenge, you get rewards in the game’s native cryptocurrency or NFTs.

## What’s the Purpose of NFTs in Blockchain Games?

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are not only digital pieces of art, but they have several other real-world uses as well. One of which is their role in the gaming world. In gaming, an NFT can be your playable character or an in-game item that helps you in the gameplay. NFTs are the in-game currency instead of crypto tokens in some play-to-earn games.

When you play crypto games, you have to buy these in-game NFTs at the beginning of the game. These NFTs become your digital assets and let you earn profits. As you advance through different levels or complete quests, you can get in-game currency, aka NFTs, as rewards.

The best thing about NFTs in play-to-earn games is that they have real-world value. When you own an in-game NFT, you can also trade it for real money. Besides, as your digital assets live on an immutable ledger, your transactions will be secure. So, you can sell, buy, or rent the in-game NFTs as per your wish.

## Best Crypto Games to Make Money: The Top Five!

Now that you know the potential of crypto gaming, you might be interested in earning crypto by playing games. So, here’s the list of the best crypto games that you might want to explore to make large profits!

### 1. Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is a leading play-to-earn crypto game. It is an NFT-based game that deals with two Ethereum currencies. The first is SLP - Smooth Love Potion - and the second is AXS - Axie Infinity token. AXS token has a higher value which is $21.65. On the other hand, the SLP value is relatively low, only $0.005587.
Axie Infinity is of the battle genre. There are different NFT characters, which you can buy and start playing the game. These NFT characters are Axies, who accompany you like your pets as you compete in battles.
The entire in-game economy of Axie Infinity revolves around Axies. You can breed them, raise them, and can trade the accessories. However, your main goal for earning more is to collect as many Axies as possible.

### 2. [Illuvium](https://www.illuvium.io/)
For a crypto game that can earn you high profits, Illuvium is worth trying. It is another NFT-based game where you can collect NFTs to earn crypto. The game’s cryptocurrency is referred to as ILV. ILV’s one token is worth $303.74, which shows the game’s immense potential.
Illuvium is a sci-fi auto battler game having seven adventurous alien landscapes. It works on the Ethereum blockchain and has a variety of collectibles. These collectibles include alien creatures called Illuvial.
Illuvium’s gameplay involves capturing and training Illuvials to form a strong team. You will have a better opportunity to earn ILV tokens when you complete its PVE quests, gain special achievements, or win tournament games.

### 3. Decentraland
Decentraland is one of the most popular titles among metaverse games. It is also a play-to-earn game that offers a stable crypto token, MANA. You can consider investing in MANA to generate a steady income stream. Currently, one MANA is around USD 1.19 and shows potential to make further gains.
This game offers a 3D virtual reality platform where you can build anything you like. From an e-store to a separate Decentraland game - you can build it all. To earn through this game, you have to buy a piece of land and wait till its price appreciates.
However, Decentraland also offers several other crypto earning streams. It includes developing your games, organising events, minting NFTs, or working for other landowners in the metaverse.  

### 4. The Sandbox
Another popular play-to-earn game cryptocurrency is SAND from The Sandbox game. Like Decentraland, the Sandbox is a metaverse platform. Its crypto token, SAND, is a stablecoin, having a current price value of USD 1.34.
 
On Sandbox, anyone can create games, as you do not need coding knowledge for its development. Moreover, if you are an artist, you can create NFTs with its VoxEdit tool. But for minting them, you would need approval from the creator’s fund.

The crypto earning streams, the Sandbox offers to mint NFTs and buy land to create castles or gaming experiences. It also allows players to buy a piece of land in the metaverse.

### 5. [Pegaxy](https://pegaxy.io/)
Pegaxy is a futuristic racing game based in the Pegasus Galaxy. In Pegaxy, players buy Pega (horses) to compete and win the races and collect Vigorus (VIS) – the in-game crypto token. As of now, VIS does not have a high real-world price, but the game looks quite promising.

Pegaxy has immersive visuals and involves competitive gameplay. The game has PvP mode, where you can compete with your own pega. When purchasing pegas, you have choices; the game offers a wide range of pegas with different characteristics. Besides racing, you can also breed pegas or rent them to earn more coins.

## Conclusion

Crypto has unlocked a new dimension to the gaming world. Now you can play games and earn crypto simultaneously. The gaming industry now has a genre of play-to-earn crypto games that have their own crypto tokens. These games reward you with digital assets that can be in-game currency or NFTs. You can trade or liquidate these digital assets for cash, as they are worth real money.
Exploring some of the best crypto games might be an excellent idea for any gamer looking to play and earn money!


Play-to-Earn Games: Can You Make Money?

Kits like the GMK Metaverse 2 are the perfect way for fans of metaverse gaming to show off their love.

Inspired by the Japanese game Persona 5, it was designed by Dead Encryption, which has also created other amazing GMK sets in the past.
The monochromatic set, with hiragana sublegends, work with the red Royal kit to channel the colour scheme of the game.

Included in the base kit are 138 keys, while the novelties kit boast 30 keys inspired by game imagery. You can also opt for the spacebar kit, wich offers an extra 20 kets to further expand the layout selection.
 
## GMK Metaverse 2 Desk Mats

The GMK desk mats feature themed artwork from OneCreativeMind and come in two sizes. They are made from high-quality fabric and rubber and are ideal for protecting your desktop and keyboard.

The GMK Metaverse 2 desk mats portray game images and are ideal for showcasing your love of metaverse gaming.

## GMK Metaverse 2 Keyboard
GMK Metaverse comes with amazing features. Let's go through a few of them

1.   Universal interchangeability:
The keyboard keycap comprises a 104-key +5-key modifier, which delivers complete compatibility with 100%, TKL, 65%, and 60% keyboards.
2.   Outstanding PBT keycap:
The keycap is made of high-quality thermoplastic resin with a solid texture finish. It has ultra-thick walls, which are best for intensive gaming
3.  XDA profile keycaps:
The XDA keycap is perfect for ortho-linear ergonomic applications
4.  It has a large contact surface and
a large finger touch area.
 
## GMK Metaverse Price

The price of the GMK Metaverse 2 by Dead Encryption is around $500. Prices differ according to where you choose to shop. Let's look at some options for purchasing the GMK Metaverse slash kit.

•	eBay
•	Amazon
•	Daily Clack
•	Carousell
•	DESK[H]ERO
•	MYKEYBOARD

## In Summary

If you are seeking a terrific gaming slash kit, the GMK Metaverse kit is a cool option. It features artwork themed on the game's characters, quality materials, outstanding design, and can make your desk space look more stylish.

 
 
 



GMK Metaverse: The Multi-Coloured Slash Kit

Is free [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) mining a scam? Is it possible to mine Bitcoins by playing free Bitcoin mining games? Here are 11 free Bitcoin mining games you can play to win Bitcoins.

1.	Roller Coin
2.	CryptoPop
3.	CropBytes
4.	Bitcoin Bounce
5.	Bitcoin Food Fight
6.	Crypto Planet
7.	Bitcoin Blast
8.	Bitcoin Solitaire
9.	Alien Run
10.	Bitcoin Blocks
11.	CryptoWin 
 
Mining Bitcoin has been made accessible and achievable for you. Read on to find out more about these games and how they work.

## What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin, also known as BTC, is the largest and most popular cryptocurrency in the crypto space. It was created in 2008 by Satoshi, an anonymous person who remains anonymous. Bitcoin is simply digital money whose transactions cannot be traced, but are considered safe, just like other cryptocurrencies. 

## What is Bitcoin Mining?

Bitcoin mining is simply a way of creating new Bitcoins, and it serves as a form of maintenance for the coin’s network. Bitcoin mining is usually a challenging process that involves solving complex cryptographic calculations. And this often requires the use of high-level computer systems. 

If mining Bitcoin is tough, how possible is it then to get Bitcoin by playing free Bitcoin mining games? After reading about Bitcoin mining, this is probably the question on your mind. 
It is entirely possible to mine Bitcoin for free just by playing games. You should be aware that these games are not random; they were specifically created for mining coins.

Please note that Bitcoin isn’t the only cryptocurrency mined by playing free games. It is also important to know that not all coins are created by mining. 

## 11 Free Bitcoin Mining Games

Here’s a list of carefully selected free Bitcoin mining games you can play and win actual Bitcoins. 
Bitcoin mining is made easy with these play-free play-to-earn games. Why just play games on your mobile when you can actually play and earn at the same time? In no particular order:

1.	Roller Coin: This is an online virtual Bitcoin mining game. Players compete against their friends to mine Bitcoins. This mining process is fun and easy compared to the primary mining process. You get to complete missions, and tasks and, most of all, play a fun game to build your mining empire. You just need to sign up, log in, and customise your character. Nothing complicated, just an easy play-to-earn game, and you get to win actual Bitcoin. 

2.	CryptoPop: Who says Bitcoin mining has to be difficult? There is no use mining the hard way when you can enjoy yourself while earning notable cryptocurrencies. The game is almost like candy crush, but instead of candies you have to tap on some group of cryptocurrencies to pop them. Points are added depending on how many pins you pop in one tap. To start playing the game, you need to input your Coinbase email address in the wallet section to record your points. Once you have gotten enough points, it’s time to get paid. 

3.	CropBytes: If you played the popular Farmville game in the past, then this is your chance to earn big from this game. Like Farmville, you need to grow, harvest your crops, feed your farm animals, that is, your livestock, and then collect products from them. The products collected from your livestock, such as milk and eggs. It can be traded for crypto, and you also need to reinvest in the farm to keep it running and earn more money. To play the game, you first need to sign up, then to withdraw your earnings, you need to send your wallet address to the game's support link.

4.	Bitcoin Bounce: As the name indicates, this is a game that involves bouncing, in the sense that you have to bounce from one platform to another without falling. You also need to pick up all the power-ups you find along the way to help you survive longer.

5.	Crypto Planet: The game is about mining crystals; all you need to do is activate the digger and leave it for eight hours, then come after to claim your crystals. These resources can now be used to buy Space Chests from the game shop, which you'll need to earn real cryptocurrencies. You will earn more cryptos at the end of the day as you mine more crystals from planets. The trick to earning more crystals faster is to incubate some, and you’ll get more after a few hours. Also, there are daily quests to harvest more crystals and get more Space Chests. Cryptocurrencies earned are stored in the in-game wallet. You can be able to withdraw once you reach the withdrawal limit. Your earnings can also be transferred to any supported external wallet.

6.	Bitcoin Food Fight: In Bitcoin Food Fight, the fight is not against other people, but rather against the food. Nice twist! You throw knives at pizzas and other food items to make them fall apart. In this game, you need to aim for the space between the knives already stuck to the food. And ensure that your knife does not clash with another, as it will reset the level. Everyone is a winner in this game, and you get rewarded with Bling points whether you win or lose. You can convert your Bling points to Bitcoin, and you can cash out every seven days. To claim the Bitcoins you earned, you need to enter your Coinbase account in the Redeem tab.

7.	Bitcoin Blast: This is a simple game. You need to make a chain of at least three Bitcoins to clear the board. The length of the chain determines your earnings, meaning the longer the chain, the more you earn. To start, you need to sign up for Bling, and you also need a Coinbase account.

8.	Bitcoin Solitaire: Do you know about the Solitaire game? Well, this game is the same as the original Solitaire game. For those who do not know about Solitaire, the game is played by arranging each deck of cards into ascending order. The deal is for you to make faster moves. You need a Coinbase to be able to withdraw your earnings.

9.	Alien Run: Did I mention earlier that this is a list of fun games? Alien Run is indeed a fun game with a different twist from others. In this game, you gain points when you pass five levels. In the game, you play as Daniel D’Alien, and you run and jump across platforms that change occasionally. The game has many levels with unpredictable twists that make it even more fun. Like other mining games, you need Coinbase to be able to collect your rewards.
 
10.	Bitcoin Blocks: The game simply matches at least two blocks. The deal is to match more than two blocks so that you can win combos that enable you to get rid of the blocks easily and earn points. You'll need a Bling account and a Coinbase account to start playing the game to claim your profit. Please be aware that the game automatically locks you out for 12 hours when you play 15 consecutive turns.
 
11.	CryptoWin: This is a great game that is good for memory testing. How sharp is your memory? Well, it is time to find out how active your memory is. To play the game, all you need to do is tap any card on your screen, then find the other pair by flipping other cards. There is a time limit, though, so do well to finish before the time ends. There are many levels in the game. The more you win, the harder the game becomes, and the more games you win, the more you earn.
There are various ways to earn digitally, and free Bitcoin mining games are one. You can earn big from the comfort of your home at your leisure. You can earn actual Bitcoins just by playing these free Bitcoin mining games. They are fun, easy, and, of course, free.

Ensure that you do not put details that can compromise your wallet for safety purposes. Enjoy your games while earning.


Free Bitcoin Mining: Experience the Best Games

M
## Could VRA crypto transform the future of online sports and gaming?

There's no question that the gaming industry is booming. But what many people may not know is that a large portion of this industry is driven by Esports. In fact, Esports viewership has now surpassed traditional sports in some cases! This is why it's so important for companies operating in the Esports space to adopt new technologies and platforms that can improve their business.

One such technology is blockchain-based virtual reality asset (VRA) crypto. Here, we explore how VRAs could transform the Esports and in-game ownership industries.

## What Is VRA Crypto?

[VRA Crypto](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/verasity/) is a revolutionary new cryptocurrency designed specifically for use in the fast-growing Esports and gaming industry. With the growing popularity of competitive online gaming, VRA Crypto allows users to trade virtual weapons, skins, or other items used in their favorite games.

Additionally, VRA Crypto can be used to make payments or donations to streamers or professional gamers, allowing fans to support further their favorite players with ease. Overall, VRA Crypto is paving the way for a new era of connectivity and engagement within the booming Esports and gaming industry.

Whether you are an eager gamer looking to invest in an exciting new cryptocurrency or a parent who wants to encourage your child's interest in online gaming, VRA Crypto has something for everyone.

## The Benefits of Using VRA Crypto

VRA Crypto is a cryptocurrency that offers several benefits for gamers and esports enthusiasts. Perhaps most importantly, it is designed to be used as a means of payment for gaming-related activities.

This means that it can be used to purchase in-game items, pay tournament entry fees, or even tip streamers. Because VRA Crypto is built on the blockchain, it is also highly secure and cannot be counterfeited. In addition, the use of VRA Crypto can help to reduce transaction fees, as well as improve transparency and accountability in the gaming industry. Ultimately, VRA Crypto has the potential to revolutionise the way that gamers and esports fans interact with one another.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technology are becoming increasingly popular in the gaming and Esports industries. VRA Crypto is a new virtual currency that can purchase in-game items and rewards.

### The benefits of using VRA Crypto include:

•	Instant transactions: VRA Crypto can be used to purchase, instantly, in-game items and rewards. There is no need to wait for bank approvals or other delays typical of fiat currencies.
•	Lower fees: Transaction fees with VRA Crypto are significantly lower than those associated with traditional payment methods such as credit cards or PayPal.
•	Security: VRA Crypto uses blockchain technology to secure transactions. This means that your personal information is safe and cannot be hacked or stolen.
•	Anonymity: You can remain anonymous with VRA Crypto. This is perfect for gamers who want to keep their personal information private.

If you are looking for a new way to pay for gaming and Esports purchases, then VRA Crypto is worth considering. The benefits of using this virtual currency are numerous, and it will only become more popular in the future.

## Can VRA Crypto Create Fairer, More Transparent Ownership?

As modern games become increasingly complex and interconnected, with frequent updates and new content released regularly, ownership models become more opaque and confusing. This has led to frustration among both players and fans who feel they have lost their investment or stake in a game they love.

To create a more fair and transparent ownership model for players and fans alike, VRA Crypto uses innovative new technologies like blockchain and crypto tokens. By leveraging these cutting-edge tools, it provides secure and immutable records of every player's activity in the game. With this transparency, users can see how their favorite players are rewarded for their actions in real-time, giving them deeper insight into the gameplay mechanics.

Bringing blockchain into the mix creates a decentralised platform where everyone's contributions are valued equally and fairly, no matter their socioeconomic status or geographical location.

Adopting VRA Crypto as a platform of choice can help level the playing field for gamers everywhere and create a more inclusive gaming landscape.

The platform uses distributed ledger technology, or blockchain, to give players absolute control over their virtual assets using vRAC tokens. With this approach, all transactions within the gaming ecosystem can be tracked in real-time.

Beyond providing a more fair and transparent ownership model, VRA crypto also allows players to support the development of games they love by owning equity through our built-in fan society program.

## VRA Crypto to Improve Your In-game Experience?

VRA Crypto can improve your in-game experience by providing a more secure and private way to play. With VRA Crypto, all transactions are conducted through a blockchain, which is highly secure and cannot be tampered with. In addition, because it is a decentralised network, it is much faster and more efficient than traditional methods.

As a result, gamers enjoy a smoother and more enjoyable experience without worrying about personal information security.

Several different game developers and platforms currently accept VRA, and the list is growing.

## How VRA Crypto is Being Used

Alongside purchasing in-game items and paying tournament entry fees, VRA can be used to buy merchandise from gaming companies and to donate to charities that support the gaming industry.

VRA is used to reward players for their accomplishments in-game. This provides an incentive for players to keep playing and improving their skills.

It is also used to pay sponsorships, prize pools, and other gaming-related expenses. This allows esports organisations to reduce their costs and pass on the savings to their players. As a result, VRA is helping to make esports more affordable and accessible for everyone.

## The Future of VRA Crypto

VRA crypto is developed with the gaming and esports industry in mind. The VRA crypto team comprises industry veterans who have been working on this project for over two years.

The team believes that this new digital currency will have a major impact on the gaming and esports industries. With the VRA crypto, gamers and esports professionals will have a new way to monetise their skills and talents.

In addition, VRA could help to improve the overall quality of gaming and esports by providing a more competitive environment.

## Conclusion

VRA crypto is different from other digital currencies because it uses a unique algorithm that allows for faster transaction times and lower fees.

The VRA crypto is also optimised for gaming and esports applications. It can be used to make in-game purchases, pay for gaming services, and bet on esports matches.

VRA is also integrated with popular streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. This allows gamers to use the VRA to tip their favorite streamers. 
It could revolutionise the gaming industry by making it easier and cheaper for gamers to transact.

More [Altcoin news](/news/category/altcoin-news).


Can VRA Crypto Transform Esports?

The Sandbox blockchain is a community-driven NFT game where users can create their own worlds and earn cryptocurrency. It is one of the top games that implement the play-to-earn model (P2E), allowing players to develop assets and profit from them.

## What is The Sandbox All About?

The Sandbox is a multiplayer game that allows players to create their own worlds with unique objects. You can draw relief maps, make all kinds of puzzles, build a labyrinth, or visit the created worlds of other users. The Sandbox games don’t require programming skills; you just need to realize your ideas and create your own game. You can create games alone and with friends.

## How does The Sandbox work?

The Sandbox world consists of voxels (pixels with 3-D volume), similar to Minecraft’s cubic graphics. But it gives everyone a chance to create a game, design characters, and earn SAND tokens by finishing quests.

## Where can I play The Sandbox games?

The Sandbox is easily available on the App Store and Google Play Store. It also has a desktop version, only supported on a PC with at least a 64-bit processor, minimum Windows 7 and 4GB RAM.

You can start this creative unique by owning plots of LAND, which is a space to build assets, such as games and building, turning them into profits.

As of April 2022, the value of 1 SAND is $2.96 (£2.27).

## How to earn money in The Sandbox games?

The game’s main idea is to create unique items you can sell. So, you have to be creative to make money in the Sandbox.
One way to earn some SAND is to create artworks and sell them on the market. Another way is to create game designs and charge other players to play them.

If you want to generate passive income, owning LAND can also help you earn as the price of the cryptocurrency increases when more players invest in the game.

The game also allows users to rent out their LAND to other players and earn by participating in competitions and playing platform games.

## How to get started

To play the Sandbox game, you will need to install a wallet as a smartphone app or a browser extension to store your SAND and virtual assets like LAND.

The start can be quite expensive as you will need to invest some money into SAND and LAND. Once you log in with your wallet and buy real estate, you can start trading NFTs and assets. You can start creating your own by using one of the free tools The Sandbox offers:

•	VoxEdit: a free 3D modeling software for PC and Mac.
•	Market: a decentralized NFT marketplace, allowing users to trade assets for profit
•	Game Maker: a basic visual scripting toolbox editor, allowing to design games without coding

If you learn more about these tools, it will help you demonstrate your creativity and make a profit in no time.
What Does the Future Hold for The Sandbox in Metaverse?

One of the most promising NFT projects, The Sandbox, has partnered with over 165 brands, including The Walking Dead, Atari, and Smurfs. It has also raised $93 million so far and is dedicated to establishing its grounds in Metaverse.


Metaverse Sandbox Games: How to Play and Earn?

If 2020 was a breakthrough year for decentralised finance (DeFi), 2021 established DeFi as the hottest sphere in the crypto space. Yes, non-fungible tokens [(NFTs)](/news/category/nft-news/) and metaverse & gaming tokens have a charm of their own but DeFi is the only hero of this story. 

To put it into perspective, at the start of last year, DeFi protocols had a total-value locked (TVL) of $18.71 billion – this grew to an astonishing $250 billion by the end of the year and currently stands at $235.81 billion. The essence of technology is evolution and this year, we will see DeFi take the next step in its unprecedented rise.

Instrumental Finance is DeFi’s solution to a cross-layer, cross-chain future.

## The future of DeFi is in the hands of Instrumental Finance

Incubated by Composable Labs, [Instrumental Finance will correct a fundamental flaw](https://www.instrumental.finance/) in the DeFi industry – siloing due to a lack of interoperability between layer 2 ecosystems and the applications that use them. Yield farmers look for the best opportunities to maximize returns on provided liquidity. 

At the moment, a lack of interoperability between layer 2 protocols translates to several inefficiencies, including high costs and complexities. A cross-layer, cross-chain solution could help liquidity providers (LPs) tap into the potential for yield across different layers and chains. 

## How it works

Instrumental Finance provides a chain- and layer-agnostic solution for LPs that are looking to maximize returns on the liquidity they provide on various layer one and layer two protocols. The protocol streamlines the process of liquidity provision and yield generation. All you have to do is deposit funds into the Instrumental Vault.

Your funds will be deposited into the highest yield-generating pool available, irrespective of the layer or protocol it is on. It is as simple as that. If we dive into more detail, the protocol leverages Composable Finance’s cross-layer asset swapping tool, the Mosaic Bridge. 

The Mosaic Bridge integrates several chains and layer two solutions to provide users the flexibility to freely transfer assets and maximize returns on their liquidity. STRM, Instrumental Finance’s native token, powers the platform. 

## Staking

Currently, you can participate in the staking program. If you stake ETH-STRM LP tokens for a locking period of 3 months, you will receive an annual percentage yield (APY) of 217.53%. Over $1.13 million has been locked already – you are definitely not late!

If you partook in the Instrumental Liquidity Rush Program (ended on Dec. 31), you can lock your STRM rewards to receive veSTRM tokens and revenue share.

Instrumental Finance: the next DeFi generation

Polarity.  Volatility.  Even Mass Hysteria.  A wide array of terms can be used to explain the phenomenon of cryptocurrencies in 2021.  Whatever the term, it’s most certainly the type of phenomenon capable of creating new millionaires, which the market most certainly did in 2021.  Of course, celebrity tweets played a role in promoting the popularity of the market, but what a year it’s been for those with an iron stomach. 

Wall Street has always been fond of saying that “volatility works both ways” and you can ask the investors who bought into altcoins like AXS, SAND, or FTM back in January if truer words were ever spoken.

Though rocky at times with a couple of monumental dips, it was a fine year for the cryptocurrency market as it made huge strides towards mainstream adoption and gained $30 billion in new investments.  Those are remarkable achievements for a market that hasn’t yet adopted a regulatory framework and was all but outlawed by a global superpower (China). Still the popularity of digital assets continues to grow _no matter what_ the world seems to throw at investors. 

## A Look Back at 2021

A look back at the top-performing digital coins of 2021 reveals one thing about the future – get to know **[metaverses](/news/category/metaverse-news/)**.  Facebook's recent re-branding as “Meta” ignited a _powder keg_ that thrust every coin that was metaverse related into the stratosphere.  Essentially, a metaverse is a virtual world where people socialise, go to virtual shopping malls, buy virtual real estate, and do pretty much anything they would do in the _real_ world.  Most of the top-performing coins of 2021 are playing an increasingly crucial role in these metaverses:

### Gala (Symbol: GALA) – Revenue from the global gaming market is expected to reach $200 billion in 2024. At the center of it is a blockchain-gaming platform, GALA – a digital currency that shot up an absurd _51,000%_ in value in 2021.

### Axie Infinity (Symbol: AXS)– Another metaverse-related cryptocurrency that took early investors on a Nantucket sleighride in 2021.  Axie Infinity posted a gain of nearly 19,000% this year. 

### The Sandbox (Symbol: SAND) – Rage on, metaverse coins!  Sandbox has locked arms with mega-boosters, like Snoop Dogg who incidentally built his very own virtual mansion in the Sandbox platform.  Tallying a 14,530% pump in value since the start of the year, SAND enjoys its rightful place as one of our top performers of 2021.

### Fantom (Symbol: FTM)– Best described as a provider of ledger services to global businesses, Fantom has posted a surge of almost 9000% in 2021 and, with its very strong fundamentals, there could be more room to grow in 2022. 

### Decentraland (Symbol: MANA) – [Decentraland](https://decentraland.org/) is a wildly popular virtual world with 300,000 monthly participants (and growing).  Many of them wanting to purchase land or trade their digital wares in the platform.  To do it, they’re using Decentraland's official digital currency, MANA.  The surge in popularity was able to boost the value of MANA by almost 4000% in 2021.

As we march into the new year, we all aspire to discover the next coin best-positioned for a 50,000% gain.  Be prudent about your research, and understand this market is still young, extremely volatile, and oh-so exciting.

Momentum Behind 2021’s Crypto Gaming Coins

Step aside NFTs, the metaverse and GameFi token craze is real. In what has been a dismal week for major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Cardano, largely due to the signing of the US Infrastructure Bill, the rejection of a US spot Bitcoin ETF, crazy Bitcoin profit bookings, further Chinese crypto sanctions and news of the possibility of crypto being banned in India, many metaverse and gaming tokens have experienced considerable growth.

MANA, SAND and GALA in particular have witnessed substantial growth. Public sentiment is so bullish at the moment that a Decentraland patch of real estate [sold for nearly $2.43 million](https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/virtual-real-estate-plot-sells-record-24-million-2021-11-23/) on 23rd November! Following Facebook's rebranding to Meta last month, the world is looking at such projects with keen interest. GALA is a gaming asset worth looking at closely.

## What is GALA and should you buy it?

I am not giving you investment advice but wow, GALA sure is a fascinating investment prospect. In the past year, GALA has surged 200,000+% and reached an all-time high of nearly $0.06 on 25th November. GALA powers the Gala Games ecosystem, an Ethereum-based gaming network.

Gala Games currently offers 2 blockchain-based games and is developing 3 more. The decentralized ecosystem is controlled by its users – all decisions are taken by node holders and players, be it related to the development of a new game or what should be funded by the ecosystem.

Node holders can run nodes (Gala Nodes) via their computer systems and earn rewards such as GALA, limited edition NFTs and much more. You can purchase a Gala Node license for the same. All items that you win in-game are yours and are verifiable assets on the blockchain. GALA represents a long-term investment option, so explore its underlying project at your convenience.



Metaverse tokens and GameFi – a new trend

The adoption of blockchain technology continues apace with new and exciting avenues, presenting themselves on a weekly basis.

There is no more exciting environment than virtual reality and the metaverse right now. It seems as if these two worlds are the perfect fit for blockchain technology.

## GameFI Eco-System Fund

With this in mind, cryptocurrency trading giant FTX released details today of a brand new investment fund targeting [Gamefi](https://hub.gamefi.org/#/), the Metaverse and Web 3.0 companies. As a joint venture between FTX, Solana Ventures and LightSpeed Venture Partners, the ‘GameFi Eco-System Fund’ is allocating $100 million to invest in gaming studios, technology companies and ‘other projects’.

## Web 3.0

Web 3.0 can be thought of as the next evolutionary step of the internet. Through the use of artificial intelligence, decentralised networks and blockchain technology, the internet is set to undergo a revolutionary transformation. With many people viewing the evolution of Web 3.0 as less than 2 years away, the launch of the ‘GameFi Eco-System Fund’ is evidence that large investors are taking this space seriously.

This new version of the internet will be faster, fairer and have less need for central points of control and authority. Now, artificial intelligence and machine learning take the leg work out of administering and authenticating internet content.

## Play to Earn

Amy Wu of LightSpeed Venture Partners said gaming was a massive opportunity to ‘bring the next billion users to Web 3.0’. The global gaming market is currently estimated to be worth around $100 billion. Many analysts are expecting those figures to double in the next two years due to new concepts, which appeal to a much wider audience.

Mobile games like Axie Afinity and HeroFi have shown how blockchain technology and NFTs can be successfully incorporated into the gaming universe. Play to Earn gaming concepts have become huge hits in the Far East. Users can generate, trade and earn cryptocurrency by simply playing games on their mobile phones.

More [GameFi news](/news/category/gamefi).


‘GameFi Eco-System’ Fund $100m launch

Launched in 2015, Decentraland is the fastest-growing role-playing metaverse. You can create your scenes and applications, explore other users’ environments, and even trade some of your properties to earn huge profits.

Decentraland’s economy runs on the Ethereum blockchain with Fungible Tokens, called MANA, acting as the game’s currency. All you need is to invest these tokens wisely and grow your properties to make money in this metaverse.

If you think buying virtual land is crazy, then here’s a surprise for you: investors are shelling out millions of dollars for virtual parcels of land, and Decentraland is THE platform to be on.

## Community

It must be called a community just based on the fact that there are concerts on Decentraland! It’s an awesome way to discover and also support new and talented artists you may have never heard of had it not been for the power of Decentraland.

Concerts are one of an infinite amount of ways to even meet other players like yourself!

Some folks are even living their dreams. The ability to buy virtual land also allows for certain entrepreneurs who are following through on what might not have been possible in the physical.

People are opening art galleries, studios, karaoke bars, live comedy clubs, dog parks, and my personal favourite: casinos!

Owning land within a casino is a very interesting aspect of earning income via Decentraland. Imagine owning a few blocks of space, enough for a few table games. Maybe blackjack, maybe baccarat- but regardless of the game on your blocks, you earn income from the table rake (similar to a real casino) every time you have players on tables. The longer they stay the more you keep earning.

## MANA pricing

The live Decentraland price at the time of writing (Oct. 14, 2021) is $0.77 USD with a 24-hour trading volume of $63,348,346 USD.

The current CoinMarketCap ranking is #76, with a market cap of $1,403,337,839 USD. It has a circulating supply of 1,816,956,991 MANA coins and the max. supply is not available.

If you're intrigued and want to buy Decentraland, the top exchanges for trading in Decentraland are currently Binance, Huobi Global, Crypto.com, OKEx, and FTX.

## Is it worth your time?

If virtual worlds intrigue you and you have plenty of time, go for it and knock yourself out you’re gonna love it.

For most like me, you might not have the time to live out your digital dreams of a comic book store but you will have time to make money. Simply buying and holding MANA is a good start. It ensures that you at the very least are holding a currency for an ever-expanding virtual world. And if you ever want to play blackjack with that MANA, come on by there’s an open seat

What is Decentraland Crypto?

It's time to talk crypto gaming.

Elon Musk once famously said, “Paper money is going away.”

Alluding to cryptocurrency, Musk suggested that “Crypto is a far better way to transfer value than pieces of paper, that’s for sure.” Musk’s prediction seems to be coming true, as crypto is becoming a very popular currency form to not only invest in but also to use in a variety of things.

It’s known that includes a wide range from the famous bitcoin pizza all the way to purchased real estate... and fund a player’s online gaming wallet?

No, not video games. Gaming, as in casino games that offer various options to WAGER in.

Yes, Crypto has made its way into Gambling.

## Gambling and Crypto

In 2020, many businesses including land-based casinos saw a temporary halt to their operations due to COVID-19. During that time, online gaming and cryptocurrencies rose in popularity. The global online gaming revenue hit approximately $66 billion in 2020—an increase of $8 billion when compared to 2019. 

But this isn't a new thing- gambling and crypto have a history together.

Cloudbet Casino is a well-known crypto casino site, which has been running since 2013. They offer a nice crypto welcome promotion for new players that consists of a 100% match deposit of up to 5 BTC/BHC/ETH/PAXG, depending on the cryptocurrency in use.

MBit Casino is an online gambling venue that went live in 2014. It's a strictly crypto-only casino that supports [BTC](/coins/btc), BCH, ETH, DOGE, USDT, and LTC. So far, crypto gamers can enjoy over 900 bitcoin games, spread in multiple game categories.

## Keeping Up With Demand

Keeping up with new technology and consumer demands, cryptocurrencies offer a variety of benefits to players and operators.

It’s a lot cheaper for gaming operators to process cryptocurrency payments compared to processing payments made with fiat currencies, resulting in operators offering better bonuses and promotions on crypto gaming platforms which leads to player acquisition and retention.

Another important aspect of cryptocurrency is transparency. Eliminating fraud and ensuring fairness is a top priority for gaming operators. A safe and secure gaming platform is a very attractive component for players looking to join online casinos- and trust them.

Also, players using certain cryptocurrencies can benefit from a high level of anonymity. Cryptos such as Monero are highly preferred due to their private and anonymous nature. According to TKEY, “Crypto players using XMR \[Monero\] can be sure that no third party will get access to their personal data and know about their gains and losses.”

## Personal Data Issues

Recently the protection of personal data has become an extremely important part of many industries. So when gaming operators include cryptos such as Monero, it helps build trust between the player and operator—resulting in more business.

The crypto-gaming space still faces many hurdles such as transaction speeds, regulations, and value fluctuation. These obstacles will take time to tackle as crypto and blockchain are a new and evolving technology.

Many payment processing companies have started adding pay-in and payout support for cryptocurrencies—indicating a growing interest in digital currency in the retail, travel, and software space. Will cryptocurrencies stay pertinent for the online gaming industry?

Only time will tell. Please place your bets.

Place Your Crypto Bets!

So you’re into all things Crypto and you no doubt know about DeFi, but have you heard about GameFi?

Don’t feel left out if you don’t know what I’m talking about, this is all fairly new even to longtime HODL’ers.

Crypto games are video games that run on a cryptocurrency network and include a completely or partially distributed ledger architecture, providing players verifiable ownership over the virtual products contained in the games.

But where do the roots of this movement come from?

2003 is considered the year that in-app purchases entered online games in a really big way, from obscure role-playing games about medieval knights to virtual world Second Life, and even corporate-backed entries like Disney’s ToonTown Online.

Eventually, there had to be a huge moving force that would change the world forever- three letters that kickstart this story and lay the foundation for what we will likely be experiencing now and in the future in regards to virtual currency: WoW.

Released in 2004, World of Warcraft is arguably the most successful, massively multiplayer online role-playing game of all time, at its peak, it had upwards of ten million users in the game. The in-game currency of WoW, simply titled “Gold,” can be used for anything imaginable, from items to services with increasingly esoteric means, like food that makes your character spit fireballs.

A Side-effect of this? The line between digital and real currency begin to blur.

By the late 2000s, that line between virtual currency and fiat was one that individuals and enterprises alike were bouncing back and forth over for profit. Value could be digital. Value could be anything. And this was no longer just limited to nerdy kids. Farmville, popular with kids and parents alike, posted revenues of $235 million in the first quarter in 2010, most of which was from in-game purchases for digital goods.

Fast forward to 2021 and almost all mobile and console games including Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite have in-app purchases. Welcome to the age of GameFi.

This is no doubt moulding the youth into a generation that feels incredibly comfortable with digital currency transactions.

Axie Infinity is among the biggest—and most polarizing—of these new games, which allow players to accumulate tradeable crypto coins. To investors like billionaire Mark Cuban and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who were part of a $7.5 million funding round for Vietnamese game-maker Sky Mavis in May, it’s a gateway to crypto for people playing around the world.

Those players are banking on the success of Bitcoin and others in hopes of turning them into high-value tokens.

Other projects that include some of the most popular coins in the GameFi space: Uniswap, Chainlink, Dai, ZRX, Maker, Aave, and PancakeSwap.

This, along with the recent NFT craze will absolutely contribute to massive growth in cryptocurrency adoption.

Game on.

Crypto & Gaming: What is GameFi?