Last Updated: March 2026
Axie Infinity pioneered the play-to-earn (P2E) model — a Pokemon-inspired game where players earn crypto by battling, breeding, and trading NFT creatures called Axies. At its peak, it had 2.7 million daily players, many in the Philippines earning more than minimum wage.
History
Created by Sky Mavis, founded by Trung Nguyen in Vietnam. Launched in 2018, exploded in 2021 during the P2E boom. The Ronin sidechain (built for Axie) suffered a $625M hack in March 2022 — one of crypto’s largest exploits. Sky Mavis reimbursed users and rebuilt. See security guide.
How It Works
Players buy or breed Axie NFTs, battle them in PvP, and earn SLP (Smooth Love Potion) and AXS tokens. Axie: Origins is the current free-to-play version, lowering the entry barrier from the original’s expensive NFT requirements. See NFT guide.
Tokenomics
AXS: 270M total supply. Governance + staking. SLP: In-game reward token (inflationary). Ronin (RON): Gas token for the Ronin chain. See tokenomics.
Pros and Cons
- Pro: Pioneered play-to-earn — proved the model can work
- Pro: Ronin chain is one of the most active gaming chains
- Pro: Free-to-play Origins lowered entry barrier
- Con: Player count crashed 95%+ from 2021 peak
- Con: $625M Ronin hack damaged trust
- Con: P2E economics are unsustainable long-term without new player growth
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Axie Infinity still active?
Development continues though user activity fluctuates with broader gaming and NFT market cycles.
Can I make money with Axie Infinity?
Some players earn through gaming or trading NFTs, but blockchain gaming economics are volatile and not guaranteed income.
Is Axie Infinity a good investment?
Blockchain gaming is a long-term bet. Most gaming tokens have dropped significantly from 2021 peaks.
