What Is Axie Infinity (AXS) and How Does It Work?
Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based
play-to-earn (P2E) game where players collect, breed, and battle fantasy creatures called
Axies. Each Axie is a unique
NFT (non-fungible token) that can be owned, traded, or upgraded. The game runs on the
Ronin sidechain, developed by Sky Mavis, which helps reduce
gas fees and improve scalability compared to
Ethereum.
The AXS token (Axie Infinity Shards) is the game’s governance and utility token. Players earn AXS through ranked battles, tournaments, and staking. AXS is also used for breeding Axies, participating in governance decisions, and paying marketplace fees. To start playing, users need at least three Axies, which can be purchased on the official Axie Marketplace. Gameplay involves strategic turn-based battles, leveling up Axies, and earning in-game rewards like Smooth Love Potion (SLP), which can be traded or used for breeding.
Axie Infinity pioneered the play-to-earn model, allowing users, especially in developing countries, to earn real income by playing. However, its economy has evolved, and earning potential now depends on market dynamics, player skill, and community events.
Who Created Axie Infinity and When Was It Launched?
Axie Infinity was developed by Sky Mavis, a Vietnam-based game studio founded in early 2018. The core founding team includes Trung Thanh Nguyen (CEO), a former CTO of Lozi.vn and engineer at Anduin Transactions; Aleksander Leonard Larsen (COO), an ex-competitive gamer and board member of the Blockchain Game Alliance; along with Jeffrey Zirlin (Growth Lead), Tu Doan (Art Director and Game Designer), and Andy Ho (CTO). Together, they built one of the first successful play-to-earn blockchain games, shaping the future of
Web3 gaming.
Axie Infinity Timeline & Key Milestones
• Dec 2017: Initial planning and development began
• Feb 2018: “Origin Axie” presale launched, raising ~900 ETH
• Mar 2018: First Axie NFT marketplace went live
• May 2018: Breeding feature introduced
• Oct 2018: Idle battle gameplay mode launched
• Jan 2019: First land sale generated ~3,200 ETH
• Mar–Dec 2019: Real-time card battle alpha released
• Dec 2019: Unified marketplace for land, items, and Axies launched
• Feb 2021: Official launch of the Ronin Wallet and Ronin sidechain
Axie Infinity Roadmap & Evolution Highlights
• Delivered early roadmap milestones by end of 2019: NFT marketplace, breeding, battles, land mechanics, and sidechain planning
• Feb 2021: Launched the Ronin sidechain for low-fee, high-speed gameplay
• Introduced Ronin Wallet and the Katana DEX to support in-game transactions
• Rolled out AXS staking and the Axie Community Treasury for decentralized governance
• Continued development with Axie Origin, Stage 2 Axie evolution, and growth through Ronin Forge ecosystem partnerships
What Is the AXS Token Utility?
Here’s a breakdown of AXS token's use cases:
1. Governance & Voting: AXS is an
ERC‑20 governance token that empowers holders to vote on ecosystem upgrades and community treasury usage.
2. Staking Rewards: Users can stake AXS to earn newly issued tokens as
staking rewards, incentivizing long-term holding and network support.
3. Gameplay Functions: AXS is required for breeding Axies and paying marketplace fees, serving as a transaction currency within the Axie ecosystem.
4. Community Treasury Funding: Marketplace fees and breeding fees contribute revenue to a treasury governed by AXS holders to support future development.
You can easily trade AXS on BingX by going to the
Spot section, selecting the
AXS/USDT pair, entering your amount, and placing a
market or limit order using their intuitive tools. BingX supports fiat-to-crypto purchases via Google Pay, Apple Pay, or bank transfers, so you can buy AXS directly and immediately trade it on the spot market.
What Is Smooth Love Potion (SLP) in Axie Infinity Game?
Smooth Love Potion (SLP) is an in-game utility token used within the Axie Infinity ecosystem. Originally earned by playing battles and completing daily quests, SLP serves as a key resource for breeding new Axies. Each breeding attempt requires a specific amount of SLP (alongside AXS), and the cost increases with each subsequent breed to prevent oversupply.
SLP is an ERC-20 token that can be traded on both centralized and decentralized exchanges. While it was once a core component of Axie Infinity’s play-to-earn economy, the game's developers have since adjusted its issuance and utility to improve sustainability. SLP is now more tightly integrated into new game modes like Axie Origin and Axie Classic, with additional burn mechanisms and seasonal reward systems to control inflation.
What Is Axie Infinity Tokenomics?
Axie Infinity has a dual-token model featuring AXS (Axie Infinity Shards) and SLP (Smooth Love Potion), each serving distinct purposes in the ecosystem. Axie Infinity has a
total supply of 270 million AXS tokens.
AXS Token Distribution
• Staking Rewards – 29%
• Sky Mavis Team – 21%
• Play-to-Earn Rewards – 20%
• Binance Launchpad – 11%
• Ecosystem Fund – 8%
• Advisors – 7%
• Private Sale – 4%
How to Stake AXS Tokens on Axie Infinity Game
Staking AXS allows you to earn passive rewards and participate in governance decisions within the Axie Infinity ecosystem. Here’s how to do it:
1. Go to the Official Staking Dashboard: Visit the Axie Infinity staking portal.
2. Connect Your Wallet: Click “Connect” and link your Ronin Wallet (the official wallet for the Axie ecosystem). You can also bridge AXS from Ethereum to Ronin using the Ronin Bridge.
3. Deposit AXS Tokens: If your AXS is on an exchange like BingX, first transfer it to your Ronin wallet. You can use the bridge if it’s on Ethereum. Then click “Stake” to deposit your AXS.
4. Start Staking: Enter the amount of AXS you want to stake and confirm the transaction. Once confirmed, your AXS will be locked in the staking contract and begin earning rewards.
5. Claim Rewards or Unstake Anytime: You can view and claim your staking rewards at any time from the dashboard. Unstaking is also available, subject to network fees and cooldowns.
What Is Ronin Chain and Why Is It Important for Axie Infinity?
Ronin is a custom-built Ethereum sidechain developed by Sky Mavis specifically for Axie Infinity to support fast, low-cost transactions and improve user scalability. Launched in 2021, Ronin addresses the limitations of Ethereum’s high gas fees and network congestion, which previously hindered gameplay and user onboarding. It enables seamless in-game asset transfers, NFT trading, and token transactions using the Ronin Wallet, and hosts its own DEX (Katana) and staking mechanisms. Ronin's infrastructure is essential for powering Axie Infinity’s play-to-earn economy, allowing millions of users to interact with the game efficiently and cost-effectively.
How to Add AXS to MetaMask
To add AXS (Axie Infinity Shards) to MetaMask, first ensure your wallet is set to the Ethereum Mainnet. Open
MetaMask, click “Import Tokens,” and enter the AXS contract address, with the token symbol “AXS” and 18 decimals. After confirming, AXS will appear in your wallet. If you hold AXS on the Ronin Network, you'll need to bridge it to Ethereum using the official Ronin Bridge before it can be viewed or used in MetaMask.
How to Breed Axies and How Much Does It Cost?
Breeding in Axie Infinity allows players to create new Axies by pairing two existing ones. Each Axie can be bred up to seven times, and the offspring inherit traits from both parents, introducing strategic value in competitive gameplay and marketplace trading. To breed Axies, users need both AXS and SLP (Smooth Love Potion) tokens, and must own or borrow two eligible Axies through the official Marketplace or their Ronin Wallet.
As of June 2025, the breeding cost per Axie depends on how many times each parent has previously bred. The base cost starts at 0.5 AXS and 600–3,150 SLP per breed, increasing with each breeding count to discourage overpopulation. After selecting two Axies, players pay the required tokens, and a new egg is generated, which hatches into a baby Axie after a set incubation period. This mechanic is key to Axie Infinity’s ecosystem, blending token utility with collectible gameplay.
How to Store Axie Infinity Shards (AXS) Tokens Securely
One of the easiest and most convenient ways to store your AXS tokens is through your BingX exchange wallet. When you buy or deposit AXS on BingX, the tokens are held in a secure custodial wallet, allowing you to trade instantly on the spot market. This method is ideal for active traders and new users who want quick access to their tokens. To enhance security, make sure to enable
two-factor authentication (2FA), use a strong password, and avoid sharing login credentials.
For long-term holders or users seeking maximum security,
non-custodial wallets and cold storage are highly recommended.
Hardware wallets like
Ledger or Trezor store your
private keys offline, making them immune to most online threats. Alternatively, software wallets such as MetaMask, Ronin Wallet, or Trust Wallet provide more flexibility for interacting with
dApps and staking platforms while giving you full control of your assets. Always back up your
seed phrase securely and avoid storing it on cloud services or unsecured devices.
Is Axie Infinity (AXS) a Good Investment?
Axie Infinity (AXS) stands out as a pioneering project in the play-to-earn (P2E) gaming space, offering real-world utility, a strong brand, and deep community engagement. Its dual-token economy (AXS and SLP), NFT-based assets, and custom-built Ronin chain form a scalable ecosystem where players can earn, trade, and stake tokens while participating in governance. With millions of historical users, marketplace revenue, and ongoing updates like Axie Origin, Land gameplay, and AXS staking, the project continues to build long-term value through product development and token utility.
Additionally, AXS is supported by strong
tokenomics with a capped supply of 270 million, strategic vesting schedules, and a growing community treasury that accumulates value from marketplace fees and breeding costs. Backed by Sky Mavis and major investors like a16z and Binance, the project has shown resilience through bear markets and continues to evolve through governance, new game modes, and third-party developer integration via Ronin Forge. For long-term investors, AXS offers exposure to the intersection of gaming, NFTs, and blockchain infrastructure.