Axie Infinity Breaks Records

Last week, Axie Infinity made waves in the NFT world with a truly jaw-dropping event: the sale of a single Axie NFT named Angel for a staggering 300 ether (around $130,000). Not only is Angel a prime specimen in the game, but it’s also one of the coveted ‘triple mystic’ Axies — making it a collector’s dream!

The Market Reacts

Shortly after its record-setting sale, Angel was almost immediately re-listed for an eye-watering 666 ether (over $250,000). I mean, if you have that kind of change lying around, why not? But you could also buy a small car or perhaps a lifetime supply of pizza for that price. Tough choices!

Highlights of the Week

It was not just Angel’s primo sale that kept the Axie community buzzing. The week saw several significant developments:

• A thrilling livestreamed tournament titled “The Last Lunacian” captured the community’s attention.
• Collaboration with DeFi lending protocol Aave to release a limited-edition NFT set was unveiled.
• Monthly active users surged past 9,000, causing party hats to be donned across the Axie universe.

AXS Token Launch: The Future of Governance

Perhaps the most thrilling news for players was the launch of Axie Infinity Shards (AXS) on Tuesday. These governance tokens aren’t just a fancy way to feel important; they will provide staking rewards, serve as currency in Axie’s marketplace, and give holders a voice in future governance decisions. As Axie Infinity Growth Lead Jeff Zirlin said, it’s all about empowering the community.

Market Metrics on the Rise

This week’s momentum wasn’t a fluke; numbers show a significant uptick in users and wallets:

• The number of wallets holding Axies shot up from 3,045 to 14,929 — an almost unbelievable 490% increase!
• Marketplace participants also grew from 2,056 to 10,042, a meteoric rise of 488%.

Clearly, Axie Infinity is not just a passing fad, but a movement that could reshape how we think about gaming and ownership.

The Bigger Picture: NFTs and DeFi

The surge in Axie Infinity may symbolize a larger trend within the NFT ecosystem. As Aavegotchi co-founder Jesse Johnson noted, NFTs might soon become a foundational element of DeFi. Zirlin resonates with this excitement, positing: “This is just the beginning of a trend that will culminate with many of the world’s most popular games being owned and operated by the communities that play them.” Who needs a billionaire CEO when you can have a community of fervent gamers driving the decisions?