Crypto: The Game

Last updated

Crypto: The Game
Company type Private
Industry Gaming, Cryptocurrency
FoundedJanuary 2024;1 year ago (2024-01)
Founders
  • Dylan Abruscato
  • Tyler Cagle
  • Bryan Lee
Parent Uniswap
Website cryptothegame.com

Crypto: The Game (CTG) is a browser-based interactive survival game that combines blockchain mechanics with multiplayer elimination challenges. [1] It has been compared to reality shows such as Survivor , Squid Game , and The Hunger Games . [1] [2]

Description

Crypto: The Game was created by Dylan Abruscato, Tyler Cagle, and Bryan Lee, and launched in January 2024 with 410 players paying a cryptocurrency entry fee. [2] The second season, "Anon Island", premiered in April 2024, adding NFT-based anonymous entries and a prize pool of 80 ETH (approximately $140,000 at the time). [3] The season featured brand integrations with Adidas, which created co-branded tracksuits for contestants, [4] while crypto-native companies including Uniswap, Lens, Wormhole, POAP, and Safe sponsored in-game challenges. [3] In June 2024, Uniswap acquired the project in a deal involving cash, tokens, and equity. The second season was sold out in 13 minutes. [2] The third season, "Resurrection Island", debuted in March 2025 with 716 players and introduced a twist that allowed eliminated contestants to return through special challenges. [5] Across all three seasons, the format remained largely consistent, with daily challenges, nightly eliminations, and a final jury vote to determine the winner. [5]

Players pay an entry fee of 0.1 ETH (approximately $200) and are placed into one of ten tribes. Each day, tribes compete in browser-based minigames including Flappy Bird -style arcade games, digital scavenger hunts, and logic puzzles. The losing tribes must vote to eliminate players. [1] Midway through the season, the tribes merge and players compete individually. A jury of eliminated contestants selects the winner at the end. [6]

A Wired reporter embedded anonymously in Season 3 and described the experience as socially complex and time-intensive. [1] The game has also been covered by media outlets such as Fortune, Axios, GoldDerby, and Variety. [2] [4] [7] [8] Crypto: The Game was submitted for consideration at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Emerging Media Program category. [8] [6] Variety included it in its preview coverage as one of the standout entries in the emerging media category. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Khalili, Joel (March 26, 2025). "I Went Undercover in Crypto's Answer to 'Squid Game.' It Nearly Broke Me". Wired . Archived from the original on June 23, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Rowe, Niamh (June 10, 2024). "Uniswap Labs acquires 'Crypto: The Game'—'It's ballooned into this 24/7 crypto reality show'". Fortune . Archived from the original on June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Jafery, Reza (April 2, 2024). "Crypto: The Game Gets Bigger With Season 2, Remains a Viral Hit". Decrypt.
  4. 1 2 Kim, Crystal (April 11, 2024). "Exclusive: Adidas quietly steps into crypto gaming partnership". Axios .
  5. 1 2 Jafery, Reza (March 5, 2025). "Crypto: The Game Goes Bigger for Season 3 With Uniswap Labs". Decrypt. Archived from the original on April 9, 2025. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "How Crypto: The Game Brings Survivor-like Competition to Online". Television Academy . Archived from the original on 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  7. Dixon, Marcus James (May 1, 2025). "How one 'obsessive' reality TV fan created 'Crypto: The Game,' an emerging media contender that's poised to shake up the Emmys". GoldDerby. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Davis, Clayton (June 12, 2025). "Emmy Voting Opens With 600 Program Series Submissions". Variety . Archived from the original on June 30, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  9. Davis, Clayton (June 13, 2025). "Emmy Predictions: All 118 Categories Updated as Voting Opens With Tight Races and Major Shakeups". Variety . Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 6, 2025.