Contrary to popular belief, Web3’s mass adoption will be driven by gamers instead of crypto traders. With a user base of billions of players, the gaming sector is betting big on blockchain. Web3 games are proving that merging fun with digital ownership is the key to onboarding the next 100 million users. What is Web3 gaming, and why does it matter for adoption? Web3 games are video games that integrate blockchain-based elements, such as digital assets or decentralized identity. Some Web3 games may offer Web2-like gameplay, and players may not even realize they’re interacting with blockchain technology. Others integrate the technology to a larger extent, requiring users to be familiar with digital wallets and crypto. Gaming is one of many industries adopting blockchain technology due to its unique advantages, including decentralization, cost-efficient transactions, security, and transparency. Interestingly, gaming is one of the few sectors that integrates the full palette of blockchain solutions and digital assets, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs), utility tokens, decentralized ID, and native in-game currencies. The gaming industry’s scale – there are over 3 billion players as of today – makes it a practical testing ground for many blockchain innovations, from Layer 2 networks to new tokenomics models. That’s why it plays a key role in Web3 adoption. 3 billion players 3 billion players In 2025, gaming remains the largest blockchain sector by the number of active users, according to DappRadar, overcoming decentralized finance (DeFi) and artificial intelligence (AI). according to DappRadar according to DappRadar Why crypto adoption struggles with mainstream users The broader crypto sector still struggles with mainstream adoption challenges, as many regular people are hesitant to embrace decentralization. Some of the key obstacles for crypto’s everyday use include: Volatility – Crypto assets show extreme price volatility. That means they’re less practical for payments and regular use.


High costs – Some blockchain networks, including the widely-adopted Ethereum, may charge high transaction fees, especially amid increased network demand.


Scalability issues – Older networks are struggling to handle a high volume of transactions.


Fragmentation – The Web3 space is very fragmented, with many independent blockchains requiring vulnerable bridges to communicate with each other.


Regulatory uncertainty – Fragmentation extends to the regulatory aspect as well, as there are no clear and unified Web3 rules across jurisdictions.


User experience – Mass adoption is limited by poor user experience, as users often have to navigate complex steps to manage crypto wallets and private keys. Volatility – Crypto assets show extreme price volatility. That means they’re less practical for payments and regular use. Volatility – Crypto assets show extreme price volatility. That means they’re less practical for payments and regular use. High costs – Some blockchain networks, including the widely-adopted Ethereum, may charge high transaction fees, especially amid increased network demand. High costs – Some blockchain networks, including the widely-adopted Ethereum, may charge high transaction fees, especially amid increased network demand. Scalability issues – Older networks are struggling to handle a high volume of transactions. Scalability issues – Older networks are struggling to handle a high volume of transactions. Fragmentation – The Web3 space is very fragmented, with many independent blockchains requiring vulnerable bridges to communicate with each other. Fragmentation – The Web3 space is very fragmented, with many independent blockchains requiring vulnerable bridges to communicate with each other. Regulatory uncertainty – Fragmentation extends to the regulatory aspect as well, as there are no clear and unified Web3 rules across jurisdictions. Regulatory uncertainty – Fragmentation extends to the regulatory aspect as well, as there are no clear and unified Web3 rules across jurisdictions. User experience – Mass adoption is limited by poor user experience, as users often have to navigate complex steps to manage crypto wallets and private keys. User experience – Mass adoption is limited by poor user experience, as users often have to navigate complex steps to manage crypto wallets and private keys. Why Web3 gaming is the best entry point for the next 100M users Web3 gaming represents a great environment for accelerating crypto adoption, as it offers an intuitive path to embracing blockchain features. Unlike crypto trading or DeFi, which require financial knowledge and discipline, games offer familiar entertainment that fosters engagement in an organic way. The mix of fun and incentives speeds up onboarding. This is why, as mentioned, gaming has a high number of active users. Despite a notable decline in unique active wallets (UAWs) compared to 2024 peaks, gaming still dominates the blockchain industry, with weekly UAW figures exceeding 30 million as of September 2025. Multiple researchers, including Precedence Research, SNS Insider, and Market.us, agree that Web3 gaming will break above $100 billion within the next five to ten years. Precedence Research Precedence Research SNS Insider SNS Insider Market.us Market.us Therefore, Web3 gaming is poised to onboard the next 100 million users by turning crypto into play. Examples of successful Web3 games Some blockchain games and metaverse projects have already demonstrated their potential to attract millions of players. Here are some examples of successful titles: Axie Infinity Axie Infinity is an NFT game built on the Ronin blockchain. It allows players to collect, breed, and battle NFT creatures called Axies. Axie is one of the first games to popularize the play-to-earn (P2E) model. At its peak in 2021, it attracted over 2 million daily active users and generated billions in NFT trading volume. The Axie Infinity NFT collections have experienced over $8 billion in trading volumes, as per DappRadar. DappRadar DappRadar Axie Infinity NFT Collection Performance, Source:DappRadar DappRadar DappRadar Chainers Chainers is a multi-genre game that integrates metaverse features. Players can collect characters, build virtual homes, participate in various game modes, and earn tokens. Its unique take and community-driven mechanics have made it popular among Gen Z users. The Sandbox The Sandbox is a recognized name in Web3. It represents a voxel-style metaverse platform where players can own virtual land and create gaming or digital experiences on it. This Ethereum-based game is notable for its partnerships with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Gucci, Warner Music Group, and Adidas. Snoop Dogg Snoop Dogg Adidas Adidas Today, established traditional players like Sega, Ubisoft, and FIFA are increasing their bet on Web3 gaming, launching new projects and partnerships. For example, Mythical Games launched FIFA Rivals in June 2025. This mobile football game uses Mythical’s proprietary Mythos blockchain and integrates NFTs. Players collect fragments to build superstar cards, with the first Lionel Messi NFT selling for $11,200. FIFA Rivals reached 1 million downloads in less than two months after its launch. 1 million downloads 1 million downloads How Web3 gaming builds culture and communities While crypto traders can act on their own, in Web3 gaming, communities are essential. This collaborative approach is one of the reasons why the sector may attract the next 100 million users. Esports tournaments, P2E guilds like Yield Guild Games (YGG), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and meme-driven communities transform players into stakeholders. When I interact with a Web3 game, I enjoy that feeling of belonging that goes beyond simply playing. Digital ownership in Web3 gaming Secure digital ownership in a trustless environment is one of the main promises of Web3. Blockchain-based games help players become familiar with the benefits of digital ownership in a practical way. These games can tokenize anything from characters, land, skins, weapons, and in-game assets into NFTs. Eventually, the tokens can be traded, rented, or sold on secondary markets for a profit. This transition from licensed to owned content and assets makes blockchain benefits intuitive for players, who are actively trading NFTs. For example, the Sandbox and Gods Unchained have recorded about $500 million in NFT transactions each. $500 million $500 million Challenges Web3 gaming must overcome Despite its ongoing dominance in blockchain, Web3 gaming faces some serious challenges itself. Some of the biggest concerns are user experience and the sustainability of adopted tokenomics and game theory practices. The play 2 earn model made waves in 2021-2022, but its influence has faded due to neglecting user experience. Even Axie Infinity’s native AXS token couldn’t stand against the inflation and bearish pressure. As you can see in the chart below, it has experienced a significant price decline. game theory game theory Regulatory uncertainty is another concern, as governments debate whether in-game tokens or NFTscount as securities. count as securities count as securities Last but not least, scaling issues of older chains like Ethereum hinder smooth gameplay. Thankfully, next-gen networks like Solana, Sui, Aptos, and many Ethereum Layer 2 chains can handle high transaction volumes at low costs. To accelerate mass adoption, gaming projects must build balanced in-game economies, comply with the rules across jurisdictions, and develop on efficient blockchains. The metaverse and the future of Web3 gaming adoption The future of Web3 gaming lies in the convergence of NFTs, digital identity, and the metaverse. As virtual worlds evolve, players will be able to carry their avatars, assets, and identity more conveniently across digital worlds. NFTs act as proof of ownership, and decentralized identity (DID) systems ensure smooth authentication across platforms. Thanks to these benefits, top brands may be interested in building metaverse games that merge commerce and entertainment. A recent DappRadar report revealed that the metaverse had experienced renewed growth in H2 2025, as investors prefer quality over hype. DappRadar report DappRadar report Conclusion While DeFi and speculative trading usually make the crypto headlines, it is Web3 gaming that attracts the largest number of active users. Thanks to its organic integration of a wide range of digital assets and a balanced mix of fun and tech, blockchain gaming is poised to drive Web3’s mass adoption. Blockchain games bridge the gap between innovation and usability, onboarding the next 100 million users in Web3.

The is an opinion piece based on the author’s POV and does not necessarily reflect the views of HackerNoon.

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The Next 100M Web3 Users Will Come from Games, Not Crypto

The Next 100M Web3 Users Will Come from Games, Not Crypto

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