Discover how to buy Axie Infinity (AXS) on an exchange you can trust

What is Axie Infinity?

Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based gaming ecosystem where players collect, breed, battle, and trade digital pets called Axies. Created by Vietnamese studio Sky Mavis and launched in 2018, Axie Infinity blends elements of collectible games and strategy RPGs with true digital ownership via non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Axies and certain in-game assets are NFTs that players can buy, sell, or trade on marketplaces. The game popularized the “play-to-earn” (P2E) model during 2021, allowing players—especially in emerging markets—to generate income by playing, though the sustainability of such models has since evolved.

Axie Infinity’s economy revolves around two tokens:

• AXS (Axie Infinity Shards): The governance and staking token that accrues value from the Axie ecosystem and can be used in certain game activities.
• SLP (Smooth Love Potion): The in-game reward token primarily used for breeding Axies, with supply and demand influenced by gameplay and balancing updates.

The Axie ecosystem extends beyond a single game. It includes:

• Axie Infinity: Origins (the main battle game with card-based combat).
• Axie Homeland (a land-based gameplay experience in development).
• An NFT marketplace and creator tools.
• The Ronin network, a custom Ethereum sidechain purpose-built for low-cost, high-throughput game transactions.

How does Axie Infinity work? The tech that powers it

Axie Infinity is powered by a layered stack of blockchain and game infrastructure designed for speed, low fees, and user-friendly onboarding.

• Ronin Network (Sidechain): To avoid Ethereum’s high fees and congestion, Sky Mavis built Ronin, an EVM-compatible sidechain optimized for games. It supports fast, low-cost transactions, NFT minting, and bridges to Ethereum for asset transfers. Ronin’s validator set started with curated partners and has gradually decentralized.

• Tokens and Assets:

  • AXS (ERC-20 on Ethereum and on Ronin): Used for governance, staking, and certain in-game sinks. Holders can stake AXS on Ronin to earn rewards and participate in governance proposals.
  • SLP (ERC-20): Earned from gameplay (subject to balancing and seasonal changes) and primarily burned when breeding Axies.
  • Axies and Land (ERC-721 NFTs): Each Axie has genetic traits that determine its class, body parts, abilities, and rarity. Land NFTs represent plots in the Axie world that will have gameplay utility, crafting, and social features.

• Breeding and Genetics: Axies can be bred using AXS and SLP. Breeding consumes SLP (a burn mechanism) and follows genetic rules that determine offspring traits. This creates a dynamic supply of new Axies while tying in-game activity to token economics.

• Game Logic and Servers: Combat, matchmaking, and seasonal reward logic run off-chain for performance, while core asset ownership and key economic actions settle on Ronin. Leaderboards, crafting, and events are coordinated via game servers, with on-chain settlement for asset transfers and certain rewards.

• Marketplaces and Wallets: The Ronin Wallet (browser/mobile) streamlines onboarding, enabling users to hold AXS, SLP, and NFTs, and interact with the Axie Marketplace. Fiat on-ramps and centralized exchange integrations further reduce friction.

• Security and Bridges: After the March 2022 Ronin bridge exploit (over $600M in crypto drained), Sky Mavis rebuilt security processes, expanded validators, and upgraded the bridge and monitoring. The incident catalyzed broader industry focus on bridge security and validator decentralization.

What makes Axie Infinity unique?

• Pioneering Web3 Gaming: Axie Infinity was the first breakout hit in blockchain gaming, demonstrating product-market fit for NFT ownership and P2E mechanics at scale. Its growth in 2021 shaped narratives around digital labor, community guilds, and crypto onboarding.

• Custom L2 for Games: Building Ronin gave Axie control over costs, UX, and throughput—critical for mainstream gaming. Ronin has since onboarded other titles, positioning it as a gaming network, not just a single-game chain.

• Community and Guild Infrastructure: Axie’s rise was powered by a global community, scholarship programs, and player-run guilds that helped newcomers participate without upfront costs. This social and economic layer is a distinguishing feature of the Axie ecosystem.

• Iterative Economy Design: Sky Mavis has continually rebalanced rewards, introduced sinks for tokens and Axies, and shifted from raw P2E to “play-and-own” with seasonal rewards, crafting, cosmetics, and competitive esports—aiming for sustainability over pure yield.

Axie Infinity price history and value: A comprehensive overview

• Early Growth and 2021 Peak: AXS traded under $1 in early 2021, then rallied dramatically amid NFT mania, Ronin adoption, and user growth, reaching an all-time high above $150 in November 2021. SLP also spiked during this period due to breeding demand and player rewards.

• 2022-2023 Reset: The crypto bear market, the Ronin bridge hack, and unsustainable P2E incentives led to sharp drawdowns. AXS declined significantly from peak levels. Sky Mavis responded with security upgrades, economic reworks, and a focus on game depth over raw emissions.

• 2024-2025 Developments: Ronin gained traction as a network for multiple games, daily active users recovered from lows, and Axie Origins seasons introduced structured rewards and esports elements. AXS price has since been influenced by broader market cycles, Ronin ecosystem growth, token unlocks, and ongoing game updates.

Key value drivers for AXS:

• Network expansion on Ronin (more games and users).
• In-game utility and sinks for AXS, plus staking dynamics.
• Governance role and treasury deployment.
• Market-wide risk sentiment for gaming and NFT assets.

Note: Always verify current prices, circulating supply, and tokenomics via reputable sources such as CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph, The Block, Messari, CoinGecko, or the official Axie/Ronin dashboards, as these metrics change over time.

Is now a good time to invest in Axie Infinity?

This depends on your risk tolerance, time horizon, and thesis about Web3 gaming. Consider the following:

• Bullish considerations:

  • Ronin’s positioning as a specialized gaming chain with growing third-party titles could strengthen AXS’s ecosystem relevance.
  • Continued improvements in game design, seasonal content, and esports may stabilize in-game economies and drive user retention.
  • Strong brand recognition and a large legacy user base provide a foundation for revival cycles.

• Bearish considerations:

  • Token-economy sustainability remains challenging; balancing rewards and sinks is an ongoing process.
  • Competition from other gaming chains and studios is rising, with improved UX and deep game catalogs.
  • Regulatory scrutiny of tokens and NFTs, plus macro crypto volatility, can impact liquidity and valuations.
  • Historical drawdowns highlight the risk of momentum reversals and reliance on broader market cycles.

• Due diligence checklist:

  • Review the latest whitepapers, token unlock schedules, and governance proposals.
  • Track Ronin network metrics: DAUs, transactions, active validators, and third-party game launches.
  • Examine AXS staking yields, treasury transparency, and developer updates on Origins and Homeland.
  • Assess marketplace health: NFT volumes, floor prices, and player acquisition costs.
  • Diversify and size positions prudently; consider dollar-cost averaging if you have high conviction.

Nothing here is financial advice. For investment decisions, consult multiple reputable sources and consider speaking with a financial professional.

Sources and references:

• Axie Infinity whitepaper and docs: docs.axieinfinity.com
• Ronin Network: roninchain.com
• Axie Marketplace and blog: marketplace.axieinfinity.com, blog.axieinfinity.com
• Independent research: Messari, CoinGecko, CoinDesk, The Block, Nansen (for on-chain metrics)