The History of AXS (Axie Infinity Shards)

AXS, short for Axie Infinity Shards, is the native governance token of Axie Infinity, one of the most well-known blockchain-based games developed by Sky Mavis. Axie Infinity, and by extension AXS, represent a pioneer attempt to merge gaming with blockchain technology. This history traces back to 2017, when the development team first conceived the idea.

Origins: The Early Days of Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity was founded in 2017 by Trung Nguyen and his team at Sky Mavis. The game was highly influenced by personal pets and games like Pokémon, and it operates on the Ethereum blockchain. The idea was to create a unique “play-to-earn” ecosystem where players could collect, breed, and battle creatures called Axies.

From its beginnings, the development team embraced a decentralized approach. The goal was always to make the community an intrinsic part of the platform’s evolution. That's where AXS comes into play as its governance token, intended to provide users with governance rights within the ecosystem.

The Launch of AXS

AXS was officially introduced in October 2020. With this launch, Axie Infinity began to shift towards decentralizing its operations. AXS plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by providing a governance framework where token holders can vote on critical decisions affecting the development of Axie Infinity. Moreover, AXS acts as an important token within the ecosystem for staking, and its holders are entitled to rewards based on their participation in the governance process.

AXS and Sky Mavis Partnerships

In its ambition to grow beyond gaming and into the broader blockchain space, Sky Mavis has forged partnerships that have contributed to the broader awareness and development of AXS. The team onboarded investors such as Ubisoft and Animoca Brands, both of which have been significant in pushing Axie Infinity and AXS as a key asset in the blockchain gaming sector.

Expansion of the Axie Ecosystem

Since its release, AXS has been integrated further into the larger Axie Infinity ecosystem. It remains one of the most thoroughly developed governance tokens within the blockchain gaming space, aiming to align token holders with the long-term growth of the platform. Throughout Axie Infinity's diversification, including Play-to-Earn and the potential development of new games or platforms, AXS holds a critical role in governance and user participation.