Jihoz_Axie

Jihoz (Jeffrey Zirlin) is the co-founder and growth lead of Sky Mavis, the studio behind Axie Infinity and the Ronin Network. A self-described "warrior philosopher," Jihoz has been instrumental in building one of Web3 gaming's most successful and community-focused ecosystems. His philosophy centers on player ownership, digital economy innovation, and the belief that authentic gaming communities—not pure speculation—drive sustainable blockchain adoption.

Early Crypto Pioneer & CryptoKitties Era

Jihoz first encountered cryptocurrency in 2011 but became actively engaged with the ecosystem in 2017 through CryptoKitties, one of the earliest NFT projects. This early exposure shaped his understanding of digital ownership and community-driven economies. Recognizing the potential of NFTs and blockchain gaming, he began contributing to the nascent Web3 gaming community with only six active members, eventually helping write foundational documentation that would evolve into Axie Infinity.

Axie Infinity & Sky Mavis

In early March 2018, Jihoz joined what would become Sky Mavis as the fifth team member and the first non-Vietnamese person on staff. Demonstrating commitment to his vision, he relocated to Vietnam in May 2018, leaving behind his previous life to dedicate himself fully to the project. Originally compensated in Axies due to limited team resources, Jihoz's early sacrifice exemplified his genuine belief in the project's potential.

As growth lead, Jihoz handles communication, user empowerment, partnerships, fundraising, design, and all strategic writing for Sky Mavis. His unique perspective as both a power user of NFTs and a bridge between community and product teams has been critical to Axie's success. Under his leadership, Axie Infinity achieved over $2 billion in total transactions, attracted millions of daily active players, and became recognized in Fortune's NFTy 50 list.

Ronin Network & Infrastructure Innovation

Recognizing that existing blockchain infrastructure couldn't support gaming at scale, Jihoz co-founded the Ronin Network, an Ethereum-linked sidechain built specifically for games. Ronin now processes nearly 2 million transactions daily with over 1 million active wallet addresses, making it the 4th most-used blockchain globally in 2024. The network enables fast, low-cost transactions essential for gaming economics while maintaining security through Ethereum settlement.

Vision: Player-Owned Economies & Digital Nations

Jihoz's broader vision extends beyond individual games. He describes his work as building a "new digital nation"—a complex ecosystem where players own their digital assets, generate real income, and participate in genuine economies rather than extractive speculation. He emphasizes that Axie Infinity serves as the "Bitcoin of Web3 gaming" due to its pioneer status and long-term staying power.

His philosophy directly challenges play-to-earn maximization. Instead, Jihoz believes sustainable gaming communities are built on fun, genuine ownership mechanics, and player empowerment. He has publicly stated his belief in creating new markets rather than optimizing existing ones, positioning himself as a "creator, not an optimizer."

Community-First Leadership

Jihoz's commitment to community shows in tangible ways. When FabledMelon of the Ratos guild publicly requested support for onboarding OSRS players into Cambria (a game running on Ronin), Jihoz responded within hours with genuine backing—not transactional sponsorship. This support reflected his thesis that authentic community leaders deserve investment, and that supporting passionate builders who prioritize player experience yields better ecosystem growth than traditional marketing.

Venture Philosophy at 1kx Network

As venture partner at 1kx Network, Jihoz brings his community-first perspective and Web3 gaming expertise to investment decisions. His role demonstrates a shift from pure growth metrics to evaluating projects based on authentic community building, sustainable economies, and genuine player empowerment. He seeks to fund builders who share his "warrior philosopher" ethos—individuals combining competitive drive with principled values.

Media & Mainstream Recognition

Recently featured on Pawn After Dark with Rick Harrison and Chumlee, Jihoz has brought Web3 gaming and NFT concepts to mainstream audiences, explaining digital ownership and blockchain gaming in accessible terms. His upcoming Atia's Legacy MMO has already exceeded 17 million pre-registrations, signaling massive growth ahead for Ronin's gaming ecosystem.

The Warrior Philosopher

Jihoz's self-description as a "warrior philosopher" captures his dual nature: a competitive builder willing to go all-in on opportunities he believes in, combined with principled thinking about digital economies, community ownership, and the future of gaming. He has stated:

"I've always felt like a rebel revolutionary, but I wasn't sure what I was fighting for. It's the reason why I was interested in history. I love the formative moments of a nation and its heroes."

Axie Infinity and Ronin represent his answer to that search—building formative moments in Web3 gaming history.

This profile was generated using verified career documentation, interviews, and ecosystem reporting.