Blockchain gaming is experiencing significant growth fulled by substantial invesment. In 2024 alone, blockchain gaming saw massive growth, Q2 alone was $1.1 billion, 314% up from last quarter and 17% up from the same period last year.
Big players, from venture capital firms to tech giants are pouring in, seeing blockchain gaming as the future of gaming. Web3 and blockchain has turned gaming assets into actual investments, where entertainment meets finance.
Market Outlook
By 2030, the global blockchain gaming market is expected to reach $90 billion driven by mobile gaming and dApp adoption. Seamless interoperability between games, platforms and blockchains will make these games more appealing as users can truly own their in-game assets. Blockchain technology to verify NFT rarity and authenticity will add another layer of value to digital assets in gaming.
With interest from both gaming community and institutional investors growing, future innovations will focus on creating richer, more immersive experiences that also come with financial incentives. Web3 will reshape gameplay by incentivizing players not just through in-game achievements but also with real financial rewards, aligning developers and players interests. Blockchain gaming will be most appealing to the younger generation who are already familiar with digital ownership and decentralized economies.
Ways to Earn with Crypto Games
Blockchain Gaming Startups
Blockchain gaming startups is an investment opportunity for those who believe in the long term growth of the sector. Investors who get in early will see big returns if these platforms go mainstream. Many startups in this space are testing play-to-earn models where users can earn in cryptocurrency and NFT driven economies.
However, since blockchain gaming is still volatile and experimental, these investments come with risks. Researching the project’s tech, team and roadmap can help mitigate some of the risks and make better decisions. Venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Galaxy Interactive are already investing in this space, validating the trend of blockchain gaming.
Gaming Coins
Many blockchain games have their own native cryptocurrency or tokens that powers their ecosystem. By investing in these gaming coins like Axie Infinity’s AXS, The Sandbox’s SAND or Decentraland’s MANA, you can get exposure to the specific game’s growth. These tokens are used to buy in-game items, land and NFTs, so they are essential to each game’s economy.
Token prices can create investment opportunities as the value can appreciate over time as the game grows. Before buying, potential buyers should review tokenomics, roadmap milestones and the utility of the token in the game as these will impact the token’s value in the market.
Earn In-Game Assets
One of the most direct way to earn in crypto games is by getting in-game assets. Play-to-earn (P2E) games allow players to earn valuable assets like rare weapons, character skins or in-game currency by completing challenges or achieving high scores. Once collected, these assets can be sold on marketplaces for cryptocurrency or fiat money.
Games like Axie Infinity pioneered the P2E model where players breed, train and battle characters (Axies) to earn in-game currency that has real world value. For many players, the ability to monetize gaming skills is a big incentive, but success in P2E games requires dedication and strategy.
Trade NFTs
NFTs represents digital ownership of unique items like characters, weapons or virtual real estate that can be bought, sold or traded on blockchain platforms. In blockchain gaming, NFT trading is a big earning potential especially for those who can get rare or hard to find items early.
NFTs are traded on platforms like OpenSea or Rarible where players list their assets at market price or auction them to the highest bidder. Knowing the rarity, utility and demand of specific NFTs can help maximize trading profit but the NFT market is volatile and trend dependent.
Participate in Tournaments and Quests
Many blockchain games have regular tournaments and quests that offer cryptocurrency or NFT rewards to top performers. Competitive players can earn big by participating in these events especially if they can utilize in-game skills and strategy. Games like Splinterlands and Gods Unchained are popular for hosting competitive tournaments with prize pools.
Besides rewards, tournaments help build community engagement where players can form alliances, improve their gaming skills and get recognition in the gaming community. Earning potential varies depending on the game and event but competitive gaming is a fun way to earn money.
Rent NFTs
Renting NFTs is a new way for asset holders to earn passive income instead of active trading. Some platforms like play-to-earn guild Yield Guild Games (YGG) allows NFT holders to lend their assets to other players who don’t have the upfront capital to buy them outright.
NFT renting benefits both parties: renters get temporary access to in-game benefits or items and lenders get a share of the rewards generated by these assets. This model is popular for items like land or characters that players use to complete quests or unlock game levels. As the blockchain gaming industry grows, the rental market for NFTs will grow and more passive income opportunities for NFT holders.
Conclusion
Blockchain gaming is a game changer in how players and investors approach digital entertainment, combining gaming with financial opportunities. Whether it’s investing in gaming startups and coins, participating in tournaments or earning passive income from NFT rentals, there are many ways to earn money in this space.
Editor’s note: This article was written with the assistance of AI. Edited and fact-checked by Owen Skelton.
