$AXS surged 300%! Has the spring of GameFi really returned?
As the year 2026 begins, while the market's attention is focused on the fluctuations of BTC, the GameFi sector, once deemed to be 'extinguished,' has staged an astonishing comeback.
1. Behind the surge: From 'inflation quagmire' to 'locking logic'
GameFi pioneer AXS soared from $0.79 to $2.26 in just half a month, a rise of up to 3 times, driving tokens like $SAND $ILV MANA to strengthen collectively.
This is not merely simple speculation, but a reconstruction of the underlying economic model:
Curbing inflation: The official announcement to halt the unlimited issuance of SLP.
Locking liquidity: The introduction of 1:1 backed bAXS significantly alleviated the selling pressure on AXS through a strong capital retention mechanism.
The warming of AXS signifies that the market is beginning to trust the 'de-Ponzi-fication' of GameFi once again.
2. Deep reflection: The 'loss of focus' and falsification of AAA masterpieces
Despite VCs heavily betting on AAA GameFi, they did not achieve the expected 'breakthrough' in this round of the bull market. Funds have poured into prediction markets like Polymarket, leaving GameFi in an awkward state: Web3 players only want to farm, while Web2 players have no interest in playing. The once star-studded sector has been seen as a high-profile Ponzi scheme.
3. The Delta Revelation: The real value of in-game economics
But has the vision of GameFi really been falsified? The facts suggest otherwise.
Take the currently popular 'Delta Operation' as an example:
Its in-game currency 'Half Coin' is worth approximately 65 RMB per ten million in unofficial channels. The enormous buyer demand proves that: whether it's the 'whales' willing to spend heavily or the 'brick movers' living off 'running knives,' the economic cycle within games is a basic human need.
4. 2026: A new spring in the blue ocean under compliance trends
With the Trump administration promoting the 'U.S. Crypto Center Plan,' Crypto is accelerating towards compliance. We have reason to foresee:
Mainstream platforms like Steam are likely to relax restrictions on Web3 games.
GameFi will no longer just be a tool for farming; it will become the ultimate carrier connecting Web2 and Web3 traffic.
The surge may just be a rehearsal. With the dual support of compliance and entry from mainstream platforms, the true spring of GameFi is just beginning. Now is still the best time to explore the blue ocean!
