Analysts at Meticulous Research have released a forecast: the gaming NFT market is poised to grow from the current $6.14 B in 2025 to $83.26 B by 2035. The sector is finally moving past the speculation phase; models prioritizing real ownership and cross-platform compatibility are now taking center stage.
End of an Era: The Shift Toward Real Ownership
The market is expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 29.8%. While the niche volume was estimated at $4.91 B in 2024, we are now witnessing the start of a massive transformation. Blockchain in gaming is ceasing to be mere hype for quick cash grabs as the focus shifts to functionality: players demand actual ownership of items looted in raids or purchased on marketplaces.
The primary driver of this progress is the Play-to-Earn (P2E) model. Previously, in-game spending was a “one-way ticket”: you bought a skin, and it remained locked on the developer’s server. NFTs disrupted this scheme by enabling asset withdrawal and trading. By 2024, 38% of blockchain gaming projects had already integrated this technology. First-quarter statistics for 2025 confirm the interest: active gaming wallets surged by 17%.
Utility Over Speculation
Venture capital funds have stopped pouring money into questionable projects, switching their focus to fundamentals. Investment is now flowing into developer tools, fraud prevention systems, and minting technologies. This lowers the entry barrier for major studios that previously avoided Web3 like the plague.
Mobile gaming has captured half the market (50%). Smartphones have become the main gateways into the crypto world thanks to seamless wallet integrations. Meanwhile, in-game assets generate the largest revenue share — 42%. Users value customization and the rarity of items they can upgrade.
The Regulatory Landscape
North America holds the lead with a 35% market share in 2025, concentrating both capital and technology. However, the Asia-Pacific region is outpacing all others in growth rates. This is driven by a strong mobile gaming culture and high crypto adoption speeds among the population.
The industry is hampered by a legacy issue: regulators cannot keep pace with technology. The unclear legal status of assets prevents the establishment of transparent tokenomics and secondary market rules. Another challenge is reputation. Early scam projects and games with non-existent gameplay have undermined trust. Only high-quality products, where blockchain operates seamlessly and invisibly to the gamer, will be able to win back the audience.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advertising or investment advice. Please do your own research before making any decisions.