What is Axie Infinity? A Beginner's Complete Guide

Imagine earning real money by playing a game, actually owning your characters and items, and keeping them even if the game shuts down. That’s the promise behind Axie Infinity.

If Bitcoin is “digital gold,” Axie Infinity is a digital game economy. Players battle cute creatures called Axies, breed them, and can earn crypto for their time and skill.

During the COVID-19 era, Axie Infinity became the first breakout blockchain game. It surpassed $4B in lifetime NFT volume and hit around 2.5M daily players at its peak—proof that play-to-earn could scale.

Axie Infinity at a Glance

  • Current Price: $2.53 (September 18, 2025)
  • Market Cap: $435M (205th largest cryptocurrency)
  • Created: Early 2018
  • Founder: Trung Nguyen and Sky Mavis team
  • Purpose: Play-to-earn gaming and NFT ownership

What Problem Does Axie Infinity Solve?

Traditional games come with a few familiar frustrations:

  • No real ownership — items can vanish if the game ends
  • No monetary value — time spent rarely translates to income
  • Centralized control — rules change and bans happen without recourse
  • Uneven economics — studios profit most from player engagement
  • Skills don’t travel — expertise rarely carries real-world value

Axie Infinity flips this model by building a player-owned economy:

  • Players own Axies, land, and items as NFTs
  • Skilled play can earn cryptocurrency rewards
  • Your assets aren’t controlled by a single company
  • Scholarships let newcomers play without upfront capital
  • In-game skill and strategy can translate to economic opportunity

How Does Axie Infinity Work?

Think of Axie Infinity as “Pokémon meets a digital economy,” all secured by blockchain.

The Axie System

Each Axie is a unique digital pet made up of six parts (eyes, mouth, ears, horn, back, tail). These parts determine how it looks and fights. Axies are NFTs, so you truly own them.

Example: A plant-leaning Axie might run healing cards, while a beast-leaning Axie might deal critical hits. Those genetic traits affect both battle strategy and breeding value.

Battle Mechanics

Battles are turn-based. Each Axie has four ability cards. You spend energy to play cards, try to outmaneuver your opponent, and aim to win with a team of three. Winners earn SLP (Smooth Love Potion), which can be traded.

Breeding Economy

Breed two Axies to create offspring with randomly inherited traits. Breeding consumes both AXS and SLP, which helps balance token supply. Rare combinations can fetch high prices when demand is strong.

Ronin Blockchain

Axie runs on Ronin, a custom blockchain designed for gaming. It prioritizes speed and low-cost transactions (sub-cent fees), making routine game actions practical.

Who Created Axie Infinity?

Trung Nguyen, a Vietnamese software engineer and former CTO of Lozi, co-founded Axie Infinity with the Sky Mavis team in late 2017. He wanted players to actually benefit from the time and skill they invest.

The Sky Mavis Team

  • Trung Nguyen — CEO and co-founder, formerly at Anduin Transactions
  • Jeffrey Zirlin — Growth Lead, Yale History grad, MetaCartel Ventures fund manager
  • Aleksander Larsen — Co-founder, gaming industry veteran from Norway
  • Tu Doan — Co-founder and technical architect (ex-Lozi)
  • Andy Ho — Technical co-founder focused on infrastructure

The team blends gaming, crypto, and Southeast Asian market experience—key ingredients that helped Axie resonate with millions of users across developing economies.

Funding and Growth

Sky Mavis raised over $150M from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm, and Accel. Notably, a major raise followed the Ronin bridge hack, signaling belief in the team’s ability to recover and keep building.

What Can You Build on Axie Infinity?

Axie’s success grew into a wider ecosystem of games, finance, and community tools.

Gaming Applications

Classic Battle Arena
The original Axie battling experience for PvP and adventure modes. Players earn SLP based on performance; higher-skilled players can earn more in competitive play.

Axie Infinity Classic

Original monster battling game with play-to-earn mechanics

Visit site

Axie Infinity: Origin
A modern, free-to-start version with streamlined onboarding, updated mechanics, and better visuals. It removes the upfront NFT purchase barrier, while still supporting ownership for committed players.

Axie Infinity: Origin

Free-to-start version with enhanced gameplay and graphics

Visit site

Land Gameplay (Upcoming)
Land owners will build bases, gather resources, and participate in the broader economy. It adds strategy beyond combat and opens passive-income style roles for landowners and active roles for other players.

Ecosystem Gaming Partners

Pixels
A cozy Web3 farming game with a large daily player base. Grow crops, raise animals, and build communities while earning PIXEL. It shows how blockchain gaming can appeal to casual players, not just competitive battlers.

Pixels

Web3 farming game with 100K+ daily users and PIXEL token rewards

Visit site

Apeiron
A roguelike god game where you control planets and guide civilizations. Available on the Epic Games Store, it brings AAA polish to Web3 and rewards players as they progress.

Apeiron

Roguelike god game available on Epic Games Store with token rewards

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The Machines Arena
A fast, team-based hero shooter with NFT character ownership. Players pick heroes with unique abilities and compete in matches and tournaments.

The Machines Arena

Fast-paced hero shooter with NFT characters and esports tournaments

Visit site

Wild Forest
An NFT card-collecting real-time strategy game. Build armies, collect rare cards, and battle strategically—while earning crypto rewards.

Wild Forest

RTS card game combining tactical combat with NFT collecting

Visit site

DeFi and Staking Applications

AXS Governance Staking
Stake AXS to participate in governance and earn rewards. Stakers help decide tokenomics, partnerships, and roadmaps. Participation has historically been strong.

Binance Staking Options
Major exchanges offer flexible and locked staking with varying APRs. Rates are dynamic and can change—always check current terms.

Binance AXS Staking

Institutional staking with flexible and locked options up to 37.9% APR

Visit site

Cross-Chain DeFi Integration
The Ronin Bridge connects to Ethereum, letting AXS holders tap into DeFi (e.g., liquidity provision and yield strategies) while staying tied to the Axie ecosystem.

NFT Marketplace and Trading

Mavis Marketplace
The main marketplace for Axies, land, and items. It remains active, with robust filtering to find Axies by traits for battling or breeding.

Mavis Marketplace

Primary NFT marketplace for Axies and game items with $30M+ 2024 volume

Visit site

OpenSea Integration
Axies are ERC-721 NFTs, so they can also trade on major marketplaces like OpenSea. That cross-platform liquidity helps with price discovery and exit options.

Enterprise and Partnership Solutions

Gaming Studio Partnerships
Sky Mavis has partnered with traditional studios to add blockchain features to existing titles.

Bali Games Partnership
Brings blockchain to mobile games with large download counts and meaningful revenue. It shows how studios can test Web3 features without rebuilding from scratch.

Epic Games Store Integration
Multiple Ronin games are listed on Epic, providing mainstream reach and exposure beyond crypto-native communities.

Corporate Wallet Solutions
Ronin Wallet supports integrations (e.g., Binance Pay), smoothing fiat onboarding for new players who aren’t crypto-native.

Axie Infinity's Financial Performance

Understanding Axie’s history helps frame both the opportunity and its risks.

Price History & Major Events

Early Development (2018–2020)
AXS launched around late 2020 and listed near $0.43, rewarding early backers and setting the stage for growth.

Explosive Growth (2021)
Pandemic-era conditions—especially in the Philippines and other developing regions—accelerated adoption. For many, Axie income helped bridge gaps during tough times.

  • January 2021: around $1.00
  • May 2021: around $10.00
  • August 2021: around $75.00
  • November 6, 2021: $165.93 (ATH)

At peak, Axie generated hundreds of millions in monthly revenue—out-earning some mainstream mobile titles during that period.

The Great Decline (2022–2024)
Several setbacks contributed to a severe drawdown:

  • March 2022: Ronin Bridge hack (~$625M) damaged confidence
  • Economic model strain as new user growth slowed
  • Regulatory scrutiny increased
  • Gameplay had a hard time competing with free Web2 alternatives

The token fell more than 98% from its high to levels near $2.63.

Recent Stabilization (2024)
Despite the decline, some metrics showed signs of stabilization:

  • Short-term price bounces over 24 hours and 7 days
  • Consistent daily trading volume
  • Ongoing community engagement with a meaningful core user base

Market Metrics & What They Mean

Market Capitalization
At a ~$435M market cap and rank ~#205, AXS sits well below its peak. For context:

  • Peak market cap surpassed $9B (then top-50)
  • That’s still below values of some single hit Web2 games
  • If gaming adoption grows again, there’s room to re-rate—execution is the key

Volume and Liquidity
Daily trading volume relative to market cap suggests active participation. Liquidity remains sufficient for most retail traders and many larger entries/exits.

Network Value

  • Daily Active Users: well below peak, but steady versus the trough
  • Ronin processes high volumes of game transactions
  • Marketplace still sees ongoing activity
  • Staking participation remains notable

Supply Dynamics & Economics

Token Distribution and Inflation
Total AXS is capped at 270M, with roughly 166.6M circulating (about 61.7%). Remaining tokens vest on a schedule (through ~2025), which can create unlock-related volatility.

Deflationary Mechanisms

  • Breeding consumes AXS and SLP
  • Staked tokens aren’t liquid while locked
  • Marketplace fees and premium sales have included burn components

Economic Sustainability
Play-to-earn is tricky economics:

  • Rewards need real value behind them—not just new player inflows
  • Over-issuance leads to sell pressure
  • Skill-based, fun-first design matters for long-term health
  • AXS needs utility beyond speculation (e.g., governance, staking, ecosystem functions)

Origin and the Free-to-Start Revolution

In 2022, Sky Mavis launched Axie Infinity: Origin to improve accessibility, gameplay depth, and onboarding.

Key Origin Improvements

Free-to-Start Model
No more upfront NFT purchase to try the game. Starter Axies let anyone jump in and learn, while committed players can still collect and own assets.

Enhanced Battle System

  • Energy management adds strategy across turns
  • Synergies between Axie parts create combo potential
  • A healthier meta with multiple viable strategies
  • Skill matters more than just owning the most expensive NFTs

Improved User Experience

  • Guided tutorials and smoother onboarding
  • Better mobile performance
  • More social features and community hooks
  • Achievements and clearer progression

Meta Morph Evolution
Certain Axies can evolve mid-battle, changing appearance and abilities based on performance—a dynamic NFT twist that rewards time and skill.

Impact on the Ecosystem

Origin didn’t magically restore peak levels, but it did reset the foundation:

  • Lowered barriers to entry
  • Better gameplay and balance
  • Clear progression from free to paid experiences
  • A platform approach for future titles and features

How to Buy Axie Infinity

You’ll want a plan for where to buy, how to store, and how to participate in the ecosystem.

Best Exchanges for Buying AXS

Tier 1 Exchanges (Beginner-Friendly)

Binance

World's largest crypto exchange with AXS staking up to 37.9% APR

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Binance highlights:

  • Typically the deepest liquidity for AXS pairs
  • Flexible and locked staking (rates vary; check current APRs)
  • Competitive fees
  • Multiple fiat onramps
  • Strong security practices

Coinbase

US-regulated exchange with institutional-grade security

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Coinbase highlights:

  • US-compliant and easy to use
  • Insured USD balances (check terms)
  • Clean UX for beginners
  • Higher fees than some alternatives

Kraken

Advanced trading platform with strong security reputation

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Kraken highlights:

  • Pro trading features (futures, margin)
  • Longstanding security reputation
  • Global availability
  • Useful market research tools

Tier 2 Exchanges (For Experienced Traders)

KuCoin

Wide altcoin selection with advanced trading features

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KuCoin highlights:

  • Large altcoin selection
  • Advanced order types and derivatives
  • Lighter KYC on basic tiers (policies vary by region)
  • Less regulated than Tier 1 options

Wallet Options and Security

Ronin Wallet (Recommended for Ecosystem Use)

Ronin Wallet

Native Axie ecosystem wallet with integrated staking and gaming

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Ronin Wallet perks:

  • Native access to staking, games, and the marketplace
  • Avoids bridging costs for on-chain actions within Ronin
  • Works with Trezor and Ledger
  • Available on mobile and desktop
  • Governance participation from the wallet

Hardware Wallet Integration

  • Trezor: direct integration with Ronin interface
  • Ledger: connect via WalletConnect
  • Keep private keys offline
  • Back up your recovery phrase securely

Alternative Wallets

Trust Wallet

Multi-chain mobile wallet with built-in DeFi and NFT support

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Trust Wallet perks:

  • Great mobile UX
  • Multi-chain support (including Ronin via integrations)
  • Built-in DApp and staking
  • Backed by Binance

Best Wallet

All-in-one DeFi wallet with direct AXS staking capabilities

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Best Wallet perks:

  • Stake AXS directly
  • DeFi access and portfolio tracking
  • Education resources baked in

Step-by-Step Buying Guide

For Complete Beginners

  1. Create an account on Binance or Coinbase and complete KYC
  2. Add a payment method (bank, card, or wire)
  3. Buy USDT or USD for an AXS trading pair
  4. Place a market or limit order for AXS
  5. Move AXS to Ronin Wallet if you plan to stake or play

For Experienced Users

  1. Compare fees and liquidity across Binance, Kraken, and KuCoin
  2. Use limit orders and set stop-losses
  3. Consider DCA during volatility
  4. Use a hardware wallet for larger balances
  5. Explore staking options and yields (rates change)

Staking and Earning Opportunities

Official Ronin Network Staking

  • APRs can be competitive; check current rates
  • No strict minimums
  • Flexible staking/unstaking
  • Rewards typically accrue daily
  • Governance voting rights
  • Options to compound manually or via tools

Exchange Staking Comparison

PlatformFlexible APRLocked OptionsMinimumFees
Ronin NetworkUp to 43%NoneNoneNone
Binance20.91%27.9%-37.9%0.1 AXSNone
Atomic WalletUp to 20%NoneVariableVariable

Note: Stated yields are examples and may change frequently. Always verify before staking.

Yield Farming Strategies

  • Provide liquidity (e.g., AXS/ETH) to earn fees
  • Look for cross-exchange arbitrage opportunities
  • Participate in governance for potential rewards
  • Breed and trade NFTs where profitable

Risks and Considerations

Understand the technical and market risks before putting money at play.

Technical Risks

Smart Contract and Bridge Vulnerabilities
The March 2022 Ronin Bridge hack (~$625M) was a wake-up call. Sky Mavis compensated users and hardened systems, but:

  • Complex contracts can introduce attack surfaces
  • Bridges are still evolving tech
  • A smaller validator set increases governance risk
  • Fast-moving development can create bugs

Network Centralization Concerns
Ronin has far fewer validators than major L1s:

  • Fewer parties needed to coordinate censorship or control
  • Downtime can affect performance more visibly
  • Corporate influence remains higher than on fully decentralized networks

Scalability & Technical Debt

  • ~200 TPS is good for many games, but not infinite scale
  • Early rapid growth created maintenance challenges
  • Cross-chain UX still adds friction
  • Upgrades can introduce instability if not managed carefully

Investment Risks

Extreme Price Volatility
AXS fell ~98% from its high. Other pressures included:

  • A steep user decline from peak
  • Reduced marketplace and breeding activity
  • No guarantee of returning to prior levels

Crypto gaming tokens are highly correlated with broader market cycles and narratives.

Play-to-Earn Economics

  • Rewards that outpace real value creation aren’t sustainable
  • New players can’t be the primary driver of old players’ returns
  • Competing with fun, free Web2 games is tough
  • Regulatory risk can impact access and liquidity

Adoption Barriers

  • Wallets and seed phrases can be intimidating
  • Competitive teams can still be costly
  • Gameplay needs to compete on fun first
  • Smaller networks have weaker network effects

Competitive and Market Risks

Traditional Gaming Competition
Web2 leaders have massive reach and budgets:

  • User counts in the hundreds of millions
  • Nine-figure development budgets
  • Polished experiences and social features
  • Distribution through app stores and major platforms

Web3 Gaming Evolution
Newer projects learned from early models:

  • The Sandbox: strong brand partnerships
  • Gala Games: multi-title approach
  • Illuvium: AAA-style production
  • Immutable X: infrastructure tailored for NFTs and games

Regulatory and Legal Uncertainties

  • Token classification is evolving
  • Money transmitter and tax rules vary
  • Some countries restrict or ban crypto gaming features

Team and Governance Transition Risks

Decentralization Timeline
As governance evolves:

  • Community may face steep learning curves
  • Funding expectations post-transition can shift
  • Coordination across contributors can slow execution
  • Reduced founder control may dilute strategic focus

Understanding these risks helps you size positions and set expectations.

Axie Infinity vs. Competitors

Context matters. Here’s how Axie stacks up in broad strokes.

Gaming Platform Comparison

MetricAxie InfinityThe SandboxGala GamesFortniteCandy Crush
Daily Active Users80,000~100,000~50,000400M200M
Market Cap$435M$850M$200M$31.3B$20B
BlockchainRonin (Custom)EthereumMultipleNoneNone
Revenue ModelP2E + NFT feesVirtual real estateGame publishingBattle passesIn-app purchases
Initial Investment$0-$100+$50-$5000+$0-$500+FreeFree
Earning Potential$1-$50/dayVariable$5-$100/day$0$0
Game QualityMobile/CasualSandbox/SocialVariedAAACasual

Numbers are directional snapshots and change over time.

Competitive Advantages

First-Mover Pioneer
Axie defined much of the early Web3 gaming playbook:

  • First P2E game to scale globally
  • Survived multiple market cycles
  • Strong brand recognition
  • Deep community and guild infrastructure

Custom Chain for Gaming
Ronin is optimized for play:

  • Very low fees and fast blocks
  • Built-in features for game loops
  • Tight integration between games, wallets, and DeFi

Economics That Keep Evolving

  • Breeding and burns reduce supply
  • Multiple revenue streams beyond core battling
  • Active governance and staking participation

Competitive Disadvantages

Onboarding and UX

  • Wallets, keys, and bridges add friction
  • Crypto payments vs. simple card purchases
  • Mobile UX can lag native game experiences

Content & Fun Factor

  • Graphics and variety trail top Web2 titles
  • Fewer social systems than established platforms
  • Content cadence has slowed at times

Market Position

  • Sharp drop from peak user counts
  • Lower market cap rank than during the boom
  • Developer mindshare is competitive across Web3

Strategic Positioning Analysis

Infrastructure and Technology Foundation

  • Custom, gaming-optimized chain with fast finality and low fees
  • Proven ability to scale during high demand
  • Developer APIs and docs support third-party growth
  • Bridges expand DeFi options

Market Position and Brand Recognition

  • First successful P2E title with mainstream recognition
  • Vast library of community-created tutorials
  • Backing from top VCs
  • Strong footprint in Southeast Asia

Economic Model Improvements and Treasury Growth

  • Diversifying revenue (e.g., premium sales)
  • Growing treasury from multiple sources
  • High staking participation signals committed holders
  • Ongoing burn mechanisms

Mobile Gaming Opportunity

  • Mobile is the largest slice of global gaming
  • Emerging markets continue to adopt smartphones
  • Turn-based mechanics fit mobile well
  • Crypto rails help where banking is limited

Governance Decentralization Benefits

  • More resilient to single-party regulation
  • Community-owned treasury supports grassroots efforts
  • Faster iteration when community is aligned
  • Global voices included in decision-making

Ecosystem Expansion and Partnerships

  • Game diversity: Pixels, Apeiron, The Machines Arena, more
  • Partnerships with studios and distribution platforms
  • Payments and staking integrations
  • Wallet support across chains and tools

Market Cycle and Timing

  • Bear markets can be build-and-accumulate periods
  • NFT narratives shifting toward utility
  • Policy clarity improving in some regions

Recovery Scenario Modeling
If Axie reclaims even a fraction of peak performance:

  • Returning to a meaningful DAU base could justify higher valuations
  • Moderate token recoveries can imply outsized percentage gains
  • Sustainable economics matter more than hype in the next cycle

Bear Case: The Unsustainable Experiment

Economic Model Flaws

  • Rewards can’t exceed real value creation long term
  • Over-issuance causes sell pressure
  • Very high APRs may not be durable in all conditions

User Exodus and Network Effects

  • Big user declines reduce social and competitive depth
  • Guild and scholarship systems struggle without strong economics

Traditional Gaming Pressure

  • Free, fun-first games win attention
  • AAA budgets deliver higher production quality
  • No wallets or crypto needed for Web2 fun

Gameplay and Content Gaps

  • Repetition can set in without fresh content
  • Visuals trail modern mobile leaders
  • Too few modes compared to large platforms

Regulation and Security

  • Token classification risk remains
  • Tax and compliance can deter participation
  • Bridge security is still a sector-wide challenge

Sentiment and Psychology

  • Deep drawdowns damage confidence
  • Category reputations take time to repair
  • Capital often flows to fresh narratives

Competitive Displacement

  • Newer games put fun first and learn from Axie’s missteps
  • Better multi-chain infra and tooling exist now
  • Stronger funding rounds are targeting Web3 gaming

Recovery Challenges

  • Trust takes time to rebuild
  • Marketing and content require sustained investment
  • Crowded markets raise the execution bar

Downside Scenarios

  • Prices can fall further in risk-off markets
  • Partners and games might churn
  • Technical or regulatory shocks can hit liquidity

The bear case views Axie as a pioneering experiment with uncertain recovery odds—but with infrastructure and learnings the entire sector benefits from.

Getting Started: Your First Steps

Whether you want to play or invest, start small and learn the ropes.

For Complete Beginners

Step 1: Try Axie Infinity: Origin (Free)

  • Download on mobile or play on web
  • Finish the tutorial and a few matches
  • Join the Discord and watch a couple of guides

Step 2: Set Up a Ronin Wallet

  • Install from wallet.roninchain.com
  • Secure your recovery phrase (offline, never share)
  • Test a tiny transaction and get comfortable

Step 3: Learn the Economics

  • Read the whitepaper and tokenomics sections
  • Compare time spent vs. rewards realistically
  • Understand breeding costs and marketplace dynamics

Step 4: Start Small

  • Buy a small amount of AXS (e.g., $50–$100)
  • Move it to Ronin and test staking
  • Try a budget Axie to experience ownership

Step 5: Scale Based on Enjoyment

  • If it’s fun, scale gradually
  • Consider breeding once you grasp genetics
  • Join a guild for community and learning
  • Explore other Ronin games and governance

For Investors

Step 1: Fundamental Research

  • Read docs and tokenomics
  • Study treasury and supply schedules
  • Check team progress and roadmap
  • Compare to competitors

Step 2: Technicals and Timing

  • Identify key levels and trend shifts
  • Use DCA if you’re unsure on timing
  • Set clear exit and risk rules

Step 3: Risk Management

  • Keep gaming exposure modest (e.g., 1–5% of portfolio)
  • Diversify across themes and assets
  • Prepare for 50%+ swings

Step 4: Yield Strategy

  • Compare yields across Ronin and exchanges
  • Consider LP fees and risks
  • Track marketplace opportunities
  • Participate in governance if you’re active

Step 5: Monitor and Rebalance

  • Use alerts for major moves
  • Watch adoption and ecosystem metrics
  • Adjust position size as conditions change
  • Plan exits on both profits and losses

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Investment Mistakes

  • Overinvesting
  • Buying tops on FOMO
  • Ignoring fees and taxes
  • Poor wallet security
  • Underestimating volatility

Gaming Mistakes

  • Expecting quick profits
  • Buying expensive Axies without meta knowledge
  • Skipping breeding research
  • Joining guilds without reading terms
  • Treating play as guaranteed income

Security Mistakes

  • Storing seed phrases digitally
  • Sharing wallet info publicly
  • Clicking suspicious links or using unofficial apps
  • Avoiding hardware wallets for larger balances
  • Not testing small transactions first

Understanding these basics makes it much easier to enjoy the ecosystem safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Axie Infinity still profitable to play in 2024?

Not like 2021. Today, most players earn modest amounts via Origin’s free mode—occasionally meaningful in developing economies, but rarely a full-time income. “Classic” Axie can be higher for skilled, competitive players, but upfront NFT costs and long break-even times increase risk. Treat it as entertainment that can sometimes pay, not guaranteed work.

What happened to Axie Infinity's price and user base?

AXS fell around 98% from its ATH, and daily users dropped steeply from peak levels. Factors included an economic model crunch, the 2022 bridge hack, gameplay competition from free games, and fading P2E hype. The lesson: sustainable value must come from fun-first gameplay and durable economics.

How does Axie Infinity make money and sustain its economy?

Revenue Streams

  • Marketplace fees
  • Breeding fees (AXS and SLP burned)
  • Premium NFT sales
  • Future land-related features

Token Design

  • AXS staking and governance
  • Deflationary burns via breeding and fees
  • Cross-chain DeFi utility

Long-term sustainability still depends on creating value players want (fun, status, community), not just token incentives.

Is it safe to invest in AXS given the previous hack?

Security improved after the Ronin hack (more validators, major infra partners, audits, and user reimbursement). That said, bridges and complex contracts carry risk across crypto. Whether it’s “safe” depends on your risk tolerance and security practices.

What's the difference between AXS and SLP tokens?

AXS (Axie Infinity Shards) — Governance and staking token:

  • Governance, staking rewards, partial breeding cost
  • Capped supply (270M)
  • Potential value from utility and governance

SLP (Smooth Love Potion) — In-game utility:

  • Used for breeding and rewards
  • Inflationary by design
  • Highly sensitive to player activity and emissions

The dual-token model aims to balance rewards (SLP) with value accrual (AXS), though it’s hard to keep perfectly aligned as usage changes.

Can I play Axie Infinity without buying NFTs?

Yes—Axie Infinity: Origin is free to start.

Free Features

  • Starter Axies and full battle system
  • PvP and PvE modes
  • Limited token earning
  • Tutorials and community access

Limitations

  • Lower earning potential
  • No breeding or trading of starter Axies
  • Fewer customization options
  • No asset ownership on starters

Upgrade Path Try the game first, then add NFTs as you learn and enjoy it. It’s a safer way to explore the ecosystem.

The Bottom Line

Axie Infinity shows both the promise and the pitfalls of blockchain gaming. It proved millions would try crypto-powered games when incentives and timing align, and it built real infrastructure (Ronin) that can handle scale. It also revealed how fragile token-driven economies can be when fun and sustainability fall behind growth.

Today, Axie looks more measured: a free-to-start model, better mechanics, a stable core community, and a broader ecosystem. That’s a healthier foundation—but still a high-risk, high-variance bet on Web3 gaming finding product-market fit.

For gamers, Origin is a low-risk intro to digital ownership and crypto-native communities. For investors, AXS is a speculative position that requires patience, strict risk limits, and close attention to real adoption. Watch the gameplay, the content cadence, and the community—those will tell you more than short-term price swings.

Want to Learn More?

Official Resources

Primary Platforms

Community and Support

  • Discord: Official community with active members
  • Twitter: @AxieInfinity — Updates and announcements
  • YouTube: Educational content and guides
  • Reddit: r/AxieInfinity — Discussions and support

Learning and Research

Blockchain Gaming Education

  • CoinGecko Learn — Web3 gaming guides
  • DappRadar — DApp analytics and rankings
  • Nansen — On-chain data for tokens and NFTs
  • DeFiPulse — DeFi integrations and yield tools

Technical Analysis

  • CoinMarketCap — Price charts and data
  • TradingView — Advanced charting and TA
  • Messari — Research and metrics
  • Token Terminal — Protocol revenue and fundamentals

Ecosystem Projects

Start small, keep security tight, and focus on the fun factor. If the game keeps improving and the ecosystem grows, the rest can follow.