Basic Info
John: Hey everyone, welcome to our beginner-friendly chat about Axie Infinity, one of the pioneering projects in the GameFi space. As a veteran journalist in Web3 and GameFi, I’ve seen this project evolve over the years. In the past, Axie Infinity burst onto the scene around 2018 as a blockchain-based game where players could collect, breed, and battle cute creatures called Axies. It’s built on the Ethereum blockchain initially but later migrated to its own Ronin network for better scalability. Currently, in 2025, it’s still going strong with updates and new features, blending adventure, card-based strategies, and player-versus-player (PVP) battles. Lila, what caught your eye first about this project as a newcomer?
Lila: Thanks, John! As a fresh writer dipping my toes into GameFi, Axie Infinity seems like a fun entry point because it’s not just about gaming—it’s about owning digital assets. For beginners, GameFi means games that integrate finance, like earning real money through play. In the past, Axie Infinity popularized the play-to-earn (P2E) model, where players could make income by playing, especially during the 2021 boom when it attracted millions in places like the Philippines. Currently, it’s described on their official site as a virtual world with Axies that you can battle, collect, and even use to mine tokens. I love how it’s adventure-style exploration mixed with card battles and PVP competitions. But John, can you break down what makes it a blockchain game?
John: Absolutely, Lila. Blockchain games like Axie Infinity use decentralized technology—think of it as a secure, shared ledger that no single company controls—to let players truly own their in-game items as NFTs (non-fungible tokens, unique digital collectibles). In the past, games were centralized, meaning the company could shut them down and take away your progress. Axie changed that by putting ownership in players’ hands. Looking ahead, with updates in 2025, it’s expanding into more immersive experiences. The core game involves Axies, which are like Pokémon but on the blockchain, each with unique traits for battles. It’s developed by Sky Mavis, a Vietnam-based studio, and has grown into a massive ecosystem with its own tokens and marketplace.
Lila: That ownership aspect is super exciting! I read on Cointelegraph that Axie Infinity has over 2.5 million daily active users at its peak in the past, and even now in 2025, it’s seeing resurgence with new playtests. For beginners, starting is simple: you need a Ronin wallet (a digital storage for your crypto), buy some Axies from the marketplace, and dive into modes like Adventure (solo quests) or Arena (PVP fights). John, is it still accessible for total newbies without spending a lot?
John: Good question, Lila. In the past, during the hype, Axies could be expensive, but currently, there are scholarship programs where experienced players lend Axies to newcomers, sharing earnings. This made it inclusive, especially in developing regions. Looking ahead, with free-to-play elements being tested, it’s becoming more beginner-friendly. Overall, Axie Infinity combines adventure exploration, card strategy for building teams, and intense PVP, all while letting you earn crypto rewards.
Tokenomics / Supply model
Lila: Shifting gears to tokenomics—John, I know you’re the expert here. Tokenomics is basically the economy of a project’s cryptocurrencies, right? For Axie Infinity, there are two main tokens: AXS (Axie Infinity Shards) and SLP (Smooth Love Potion). In the past, SLP was earned through gameplay and used for breeding Axies, while AXS is for governance (voting on project decisions). Can you explain the supply model simply?
John: Spot on, Lila. Let’s keep it beginner-level. AXS has a total supply capped at 270 million tokens, with mechanisms to control circulation. In the past, it was released through gameplay rewards, staking (locking tokens to earn more), and community treasuries. Currently, in 2025, they’ve halved AXS staking emissions as per recent news from Castle Crypto, meaning fewer new tokens are rewarded to stakers to manage inflation. This helps maintain value by reducing supply influx. SLP, on the other hand, has no cap—it’s minted through gameplay, but they’ve introduced burning mechanisms (permanently removing tokens) to balance supply.
Lila: Oh, burning sounds intense! So, it’s like destroying some tokens to make the rest scarcer? That makes sense for value. From what I’ve seen on Messari, AXS is used for in-game purchases and governance, giving holders a say. Looking ahead, with updates like the Classic S10 upgrade in July 2025, they might adjust tokenomics to boost engagement. John, how does this compare to traditional game economies?
John: Exactly, Lila—traditional games have virtual currencies controlled by developers, but here, it’s decentralized. In the past, during the 2021 bull run, AXS surged because of high demand for breeding and battling. Currently, the model includes vesting schedules (gradual release of tokens to team and investors) to prevent dumps. The community treasury, funded by marketplace fees, holds billions in value and is governed by AXS holders. This creates a sustainable loop where playing feeds back into the economy.
Lila: Fascinating! For beginners, think of it as a game’s in-app purchases but with real-world value. I’ve noted from official whitepapers that 4.25% of AXS goes to staking rewards annually, but with the recent halving, it’s more conservative now. This evolution shows how projects adapt over time.
Gameplay mechanics and NFT integration
John: Now, let’s dive into the fun part: gameplay. Axie Infinity’s mechanics blend adventure, card, and PVP elements seamlessly with NFTs. Each Axie is an NFT, meaning it’s a unique digital asset you own. In adventure mode, you explore Lunacia (the game’s world) on quests, earning experience and tokens. Card mechanics come in during battles—each Axie has cards representing abilities, like attacks or defenses, based on their body parts (eyes, ears, etc.). PVP is where you battle other players in arenas for rankings and rewards.
Lila: That sounds like a mix of Pokémon and Hearthstone! As a newbie, I appreciate how NFTs integrate: you can buy, sell, or breed Axies on the marketplace. Breeding combines two Axies to create a new one, using SLP and AXS—it’s like digital genetics. In the past, this created a booming economy, but currently, with updates, they’re adding real-time battles in new modes like Atia’s Legacy, an MMORPG expansion mentioned in X posts.
John: Precisely, Lila. The NFT integration means your Axies have real value; rare traits can make them worth thousands. Gameplay is turn-based in classic mode, but looking ahead, the 2025 upgrades include more dynamic features. For example, the Classic S10 upgrade in July 2025, as per TradingView News, brings new features to attract old players back. It’s all about strategy: building teams with synergistic cards for PVP dominance.
Lila: I love the adventure side—exploring lands, collecting resources. And NFTs aren’t just collectibles; they’re functional in-game. From CoinDesk articles, this integration helped Axie weather market downturns by keeping the core gameplay engaging.
John: Yes, and cross-platform play is coming, allowing mobile and PC seamless experiences. This evolution from past simple battles to current immersive worlds shows GameFi’s growth.
Developer team & community engagement
Lila: Speaking of growth, who’s behind this? The developer team at Sky Mavis, founded by Trung Nguyen, has been key. In the past, they raised funds from big names like Binance Labs. Currently, they’re active with updates, and community engagement is huge through Discord, X, and events.
John: Right, Lila. The team includes experts in gaming and blockchain. Community engagement involves governance votes via AXS, tournaments like Guild Wars, where OSK won in June 2025 per Castle Crypto. They’ve built a loyal base, with scholarships fostering inclusivity.
Lila: Scholarships are genius—lending Axies to earn together. Looking ahead, playtests for Atia’s Legacy show ongoing involvement. From official blogs, they host AMAs (ask me anything sessions) for feedback.
John: Indeed, this two-way street keeps the project alive. Community funds projects via treasury grants.
Rewards system & user incentives
Lila: Rewards are what draw people in. In P2E, you earn SLP from battles and adventures, then use or sell it. AXS from staking or tournaments. Currently, with halved emissions, it’s more sustainable.
John: Yes, incentives include daily quests, leaderboard rewards. In the past, it created livelihoods; now, it’s balanced to avoid inflation. Looking ahead, new modes might introduce rarer rewards.
Lila: User incentives like referral programs encourage growth. It’s motivating for beginners.
Competitor comparison
John: Compared to competitors like The Sandbox or Decentraland, Axie focuses more on battling than open-world building. In the past, it led P2E; currently, it’s resilient like Bitcoin in Web3 gaming, as per X posts.
Lila: Versus STEPN, it’s less physical but more strategic. It stands out with its IP and community.
Risk factors and challenges
John: Risks include market volatility, hacks (like the 2022 Ronin breach), and player fatigue. Currently, they’re addressing with security upgrades.
Lila: Challenges like economic balance—too much inflation hurt in the past. Looking ahead, adaptation is key.
Industry expert insights
John: Experts like those on Cointelegraph praise its longevity. Jihoz from Sky Mavis calls it anti-fragile.
Lila: Insights highlight sustainable models over hype.
X community buzz & roadmap updates
John: On X, buzz is positive—posts about Atia’s Legacy MMORPG, potential rallies. Roadmap includes S10 upgrades, playtests.
Lila: Community feedback is excited for evolutions, with social engagement up 180% per AInvest.
John: Updates like halved staking show maturity.
FAQ
Lila: FAQ time! What is Axie Infinity? A blockchain game with Axies for battling and earning.
John: How to start? Get a Ronin wallet, buy Axies.
Lila: Is it free? Partially, but full play needs investment.
John: Safe? Use secure practices.
Related links
Final Reflections
John: Reviewing Axie Infinity from gameplay to token design and community feedback gave me a clear view of how GameFi projects can evolve—or vanish. It’s a real-world lesson in Web3.
Lila: Even if Axie Infinity isn’t buzzing now, I learned so much about how Web3 economies are built. I feel more ready to explore other projects now!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Please do your own research (DYOR) before making any financial decisions.