Gaming tokens have seemingly been on the sidelines for the reason that 2021 crypto increase. In actual fact, information from SoSoValue reveals that they have been the worst-performing crypto basket over the past 12-month interval, enduring a 62% drop within the interval, in comparison with a 174% rise on PayFi tokens.
Nevertheless, beneath the Trump administration’s crypto-friendly stance, it may be altering.
Gala Video games—a blockchain-based gaming platform—says it turned the primary crypto gaming firm to accomplice with the White Home, bringing a Web3 recreation Easter Egg Hunt to the 2025 Easter Egg Roll. White Home official X’s account additionally talked about on the social media platform concerning the tie-up amid a plethora of different collaborations with tech giants.
The GALA token has risen roughly 18% for the reason that announcement, GameFi tokens went up 13%, and the broader crypto market, as measured by the CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index, rose 8%.
Consumer engagement
The hassle aimed to introduce blockchain to households with out overwhelming them.
The sport, hosted at easter.gala.video games, provided a “free and easy” expertise the place gamers collected digital eggs to win distinctive non-fungible tokens (NFTs) saved on GalaChain, Gala’s proprietary Layer 1 blockchain, the corporate mentioned in an announcement shared with CoinDesk.
Gamers have been in a position to log in, discover, and acquire eggs with no need a crypto pockets expertise, Gala Video games mentioned. Each NFT reward was saved on GalaChain, hinting at future use throughout Gala’s leisure initiatives, together with Gala Music and Gala Movie.
The Web3 gaming agency advised CoinDesk that over 300,000 video games have been performed for the reason that occasion launched, with about 100,000 new accounts created. Roughly 17% of contributors went on to discover Gala’s different initiatives, suggesting actual person engagement past the Easter occasion.
The challenge, based in 2019 by Zynga co-founder Eric Schiermeyer, has been laying the groundwork for broader adoption by means of partnerships with DreamWorks Animation, NBCUniversal, and collaborations with artists like Snoop Dogg. Earlier this month, Gala Movie introduced a partnership with LG Electronics to carry Web3 leisure to TVs, and the corporate hinted it’s working with a authorities company on transparency efforts.
Trade response
The Easter recreation marks a real-world check for the challenge and the broader GameFi sector.
When requested concerning the lead-up to the occasion, Schiermeyer shared that the challenge has been specializing in the high-level tie-up. “Now we have a staff devoted to authorities outreach,” they mentioned. “I additionally frolicked at Mar-a-Lago and spoke with the President. However primarily we needed to assist make the occasion extra enjoyable, and I feel that sentiment was nicely acquired.”
Trade reactions have been blended. Some praised the visibility, whereas others identified that extra work is required for the mass adoption of the GameFi trade.
Jack O’Holleran, CEO of SKALE Labs, advised CoinDesk that GameFi has by no means stopped increasing, however its challenge has been visibility as a substitute. The know-how, on high of that, has matured. “Previously, you wanted to handle your individual crypto wallets and pay excessive gasoline charges simply to play,” he mentioned. “Now, gas-free blockchains and seamless onboarding take away these limitations.”
“Practical values and utility that blockchain brings to gaming can’t be suppressed for for much longer,” he added.
Nonetheless, a broader adoption of the GameFi sector would require additional significant collaboration with mainstream gaming shops. This might doubtlessly open the “floodgates,” O’Holleran added, as participant bases for the normal gaming sector are far past the crypto sector’s person depend. If that’s the case, the “floodgates will likely be open.”
In the meantime, Mitja Goroshevsky, co-founder of Gosh, praised the visibility of Gala Video games and the GameFi sector by way of the White Home tie-up however warned that the trade should nonetheless clear up its id disaster.
“It’s caught between being about gaming and being about buying and selling,” he mentioned.
“Till blockchain video games introduce essentially new experiences, authorities partnerships alone will not drive mass adoption.”
