The Ronin blockchain, once home to the crypto gaming hit Axie Infinity, is undergoing a remarkable resurgence driven by the viral success of Pixels, a retro farming game. Data shows Ronin’s user base has surged over 700% in recent months, far outpacing growth on other rising blockchains. At the center of this revival is Pixels, which has attracted a staggering 1.25 million unique users in the last month alone.
The frenzy around Pixels mirrors the mania that once surrounded Axie Infinity, particularly in regions where play-to-earn gaming provides income opportunities. Jeffery Zirlin of Sky Mavis expressed surprise at Pixels’ widespread popularity despite its simplistic, pixelated visuals. Unlike Axie, Pixels originated on Polygon before migrating to Ronin last October with just 3,000 daily users. Now, it can see up to 750,000 daily actives, showcasing Ronin’s ability to onboard gamers rapidly.
While still below Axie’s peak, Ronin’s 12.7 million wallet downloads highlight its vast userbase primed for NFT gaming. Crucially, new Pixels users can ease into crypto without prior experience. As bullish sentiment grows, infrastructures like Ronin are positioned to evolve into self-sustaining gaming ecosystems, according to Zirlin, who remains optimistic about the sector’s long-term trajectory despite inevitable market cycles.
