What a web3 gaming guild is
A web3 gaming guild is an organized community that coordinates players, training, and capital around blockchain games. In early play-to-earn cycles, guilds pooled funds to buy scarce in-game NFTs and lent them to members so they could play without paying the up-front cost. Media and industry analyses describe this as a response to expensive entry prices in hit titles like Axie Infinity.
How the classic “scholarship” model worked
A guild or asset owner purchased game NFTs, then “rented” them to players (often called scholars). Rewards were split between the player, the manager, and sometimes the guild treasury. Sentiment and adoption surged during Axie’s 2021 boom as scholarship announcements onboarded thousands who couldn’t afford starter assets.
Why guilds evolved after 2022
When token emissions outpaced demand, many play-to-earn economies contracted, and the pure scholarship model proved hard to sustain at scale. Reporting and research from 2023–2024 noted shrinking P2E markets and highlighted that guilds needed to pivot beyond borrowing assets to broader services and tooling.
Today’s guild playbook: from scholarships to infrastructure
Modern guilds operate more like multi-purpose gaming networks: community onboarding, quest systems, tournament ops, education, real-world events, on-chain reputation, and even running their own gaming infrastructure or chains.
- Yield Guild Games (YGG) introduced Onchain Guilds on Base to give communities a verifiable on-chain identity and tools such as treasury wallets and reputation badges; YGG also ran seasonal, multi-game quest programs under its Guild Advancement Program (GAP).
- Merit Circle reoriented from a traditional guild into Beam, a gaming network with a dedicated chain, SDKs and marketplace; its token migrated from MC to BEAM in 2023, and the network has continued to expand through 2024–2025.
- Other large guilds have likewise diversified, with rebrands and broader “gaming layers” that span Web3 and sometimes Web2 titles. GuildFi’s 2024 rebrand to Zentry is an emblematic example.
Case studies to know in 2025
Yield Guild Games (YGG)
YGG keeps a large community presence via GAP quest seasons, roadshows in the Philippines, and its annual Play Summit in Manila. In late 2024 it unveiled Onchain Guilds on Base to formalize reputation and coordination; in mid-2025 YGG announced the final GAP season as it pivots resources toward Onchain Guilds and new ecosystem programs.
What it means for players and studios
Quests, tournaments, and regional chapters onboard players at scale and give studios a performance-based way to distribute rewards and measure retention across multiple games. An Immutable–YGG program, for instance, earmarked up to $1M in quest rewards to drive engagement.
Latest capital moves
In August 2025, coverage noted YGG allocating 50M YGG to an on-chain ecosystem pool managed via its own guild infra—another sign of active, transparent treasury deployment.
Merit Circle → Beam
Merit Circle’s DAO voted to migrate the MC token to BEAM in late 2023 and has since focused on Beam, a gaming network with its own docs, SDKs and tooling. Industry trackers describe Beam as a purpose-built gaming chain, with 2024–2025 updates around network upgrades and ecosystem growth.
Avocado DAO and others
Some guilds continue to run large scholarship communities while adding education, management portals, or investment arms; Avocado DAO’s materials and listings highlight a scholarship portal and thousands of scholars during peak cycles.
Rebrands and superlayers
GuildFi’s 2024 rebrand to Zentry, pitched as a gaming “superlayer” spanning multiple ecosystems and player types, captures the broader strategic shift from single-game scholarships to cross-ecosystem rewards and infrastructure.
How guilds help players, studios, and ecosystems
For players
Guilds lower onboarding friction with wallet help, starter assets, tutorials, and social support; many now use quest platforms and on-chain achievement systems instead of simple revenue splits.
For studios
Guilds act as distribution partners, bringing ready communities, structured events, and measurable quest funnels. Season-based quests and reward maps align incentives around retention, not just raw signups.
For ecosystems
Chains and marketplaces benefit from organized demand, regional events, and better player analytics when guilds track contributions on-chain.
Risks, controversies, and compliance notes
Scholarship programs drew criticism for uneven earnings and sustainability during the Axie boom; mainstream reporting and research documented how token inflation and waning demand hurt players who joined late. Treat yield promises with caution.
Market risk
Game tokens and NFT prices are volatile; guild treasuries and player rewards depend on markets and game economy design, which can change quickly.
Operational risk
Programs come and go. YGG’s plan to sunset GAP after Season 10 underscores how guild initiatives evolve; don’t rely on any one rewards track.
Regulatory and tax notes
Guild activities can intersect with financial-promotions or tax reporting rules depending on the jurisdiction. Always read platform terms and local guidance before offering or accepting rewards linked to tokens.
How to join or partner with a guild
For players
Pick a reputable guild with transparent quests, clear rules, and verified game partnerships. YGG, for example, publishes season pages with steps, dates, and region chapters.
For studios
Pilot with a limited quest season across a few games, set measurable KPIs (activation, D7 retention, ARPDAU uplift), and consider on-chain badges or SBTs to track quality engagement. YGG’s Onchain Guilds and similar reputation tools make results auditable.
For ecosystem teams
If you operate a chain or marketplace, seek guild partners that can run live events and creator programs, not just airdrops; Merit Circle/Beam illustrates how guilds can become infrastructure partners.
Checklist: due diligence for newcomers
- Verify the guild’s official site and social links; avoid look-alike brands.
- Look for audited, on-chain processes for quests, treasuries, and reputations where possible.
- Prefer programs with fixed timelines, published rules, and transparent reward pools.
- If you’re a player, confirm whether rewards are in tokens, NFTs, or off-chain perks, and how they’re distributed.
- If you’re a studio, require a post-mortem with cohort metrics and keep player data privacy-safe.
FAQs
Are scholarships still a thing in 2025?
Yes, but they’re no longer the centerpiece for top guilds. Many leaders now emphasize questing, reputation, tournaments, education, and infra rather than simple revenue splits.
What’s an “on-chain guild”?
It’s a guild whose identity, reputation, and coordination tools live on a blockchain. YGG’s Onchain Guilds on Base add non-transferable reputation badges and shared treasury tools so contributions are verifiable.
Why do some guilds run their own networks?
Control over costs, UX, and distribution. Merit Circle’s Beam evolved into a dedicated gaming network with SDKs and a marketplace to serve developers and players directly.
How do I avoid hype traps?
Favor transparent rules, finite seasons, and multi-game exposure; check past reports and community updates to see if a guild delivers beyond announcements.
