Jihoz: Play-to-Earn Works in Web2, Web3 Needs 10x Improvement

Axie Infinity co-founder jihoz_axie has weighed in on the play-to-earn debate, asserting that the model is already working — just not in web3.

In a post on May 12, Jihoz explained that play-to-earn is "working so well in web2" that web3 has yet to deliver a "10x improvement" over existing alternatives. He suggested that could shift "over the coming years as AI induced wage displacement creates covid-level necessity for skill-based stimulus."

The comments come as the broader crypto market faces mixed sentiment, with Bitcoin dipping below 80,000 amid inflation concerns and rising yields. Jihoz, a co-founder of Sky Mavis and the Ronin Network, has long championed player-owned economies and community-driven gaming.

His remarks highlight a growing recognition that web3 gaming must offer significantly more value than traditional web2 games to attract mainstream users. As AI disrupts labor markets, Jihoz predicts demand for skill-based digital economies could surge, potentially bridging the gap.