AXS Tokenomics: A Closer Look

Axie Infinity Shards (AXS) is an ERC-20 governance token for the blockchain-based game Axie Infinity. Developed by Sky Mavis, AXS is a central asset used within the Axie Infinity ecosystem for governance and staking.

Total Supply and Distribution

The maximum total supply of AXS is capped at 270 million tokens. This fixed supply marks an important aspect of AXS tokenomics, as no additional tokens will be minted beyond this cap. The token's initial distribution was broken down into several categories:

• Community Treasury: 20% of the total supply is allocated to the Axie Infinity community, with tokens gradually entering circulation over time.
• Play-to-Earn Rewards: 29% of the total supply is reserved for rewarding players through gaming activities and ecosystem engagement.
• Staking Rewards: 8% of the supply is earmarked for staking rewards, which incentivizes participants to lock their tokens in the network to support game development and the governance model.
• Private Sales & Public Sales: Approximately 11% and 5% of the total AXS tokens were sold in private and public sales, respectively, to early investors to fund development efforts.
• Team & Advisors: 21% is allocated to the Sky Mavis team and advisors.
• Ecosystem Fund: 7% is reserved for future ecosystem incentives, like adding new features or scalability initiatives.

This controlled token supply is released through a vesting schedule, particularly when it comes to the developer and advisor allocations, which ensures gradual introduction of new tokens into circulation.

Governance and Staking

AXS holders participate in governance, thereby influencing the future direction of the platform. This is primarily done through voting on proposed future decisions, game updates, and changes to economic structures. Moreover, AXS tokens can be staked, which adds an additional incentive for long-term holders. Staking involves the locking of AXS tokens in the Axie Infinity network in exchange for periodic rewards. This mechanism helps in reducing liquidity in the short term and encourages participants to support the health of the ecosystem.

Token Utility in the Axie Ecosystem

AXS is designed to function as a key utility token in the Axie Infinity ecosystem. Players use AXS tokens to participate in governance, staking, and to purchase items within the game. Importantly, AXS is also used as a fee requirement for breeding Axies, the collectible creatures that are central to gameplay. This keeps the token actively in circulation. Overall, AXS tokenomics are designed to balance utility, governance, and scarcity within the growing play-to-earn ecosystem.