In recent years, the decentralized finance (DeFi) movement has led to play-to-earn (P2E) games using blockchain technology. By allowing developers and players to monetize their playtime in novel ways, these games promise to change the gaming business. The combination of DeFi and the game industry has generated one of the best ways to make money with cryptocurrency. In addition to rewarding players with cryptocurrency, play-to-earn games offer users additional methods to become owners of in-game objects through non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are used in a networked digital economy and have real-world value.

These games offer multiple ways to trade in-game collectibles and awards for real money. Players earn income by completing tasks, winning battles, and other in-game achievements. Players can exchange their earned values for real money in many marketplaces by trading them. The growth of the P2E paradigm has also spawned new ideas, such as GameFi or Game Finance, which combines gaming with decentralized finance (DeFi).

Players participate in peer-to-peer (P2E) games that often use cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies. They can obtain in-game assets such as NFTs and in-game currencies or tokens. Alternatively, they can earn existing cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum (ETH), by completing in-game activities and challenges or reaching certain milestones. These virtual prizes have a real-world value and can be exchanged, sold, or converted into banknotes.

Players can sell in-game items instantly or exchange them for cryptocurrency on internal or external exchanges. Earned cryptocurrencies can be exchanged for other cryptocurrencies on cryptocurrency exchanges or converted into fiat money. Players in certain P2E games can additionally stake their assets in the game or participate in decentralized finance (DeFi) systems to gain additional benefits.