GameFi Narrative Is Finally Showing Signs of Life — These 3 Tokens Lead The Way
GameFi tokens have been left for useless after a brutal 2025. The sector ended the 12 months down roughly 75%, wiping out most investor curiosity. But early 2026 is beginning to present one thing completely different.
Usage knowledge and costs are quietly turning up throughout a couple of gaming-focused chains. It remains to be early, however for the primary time in months, the numbers counsel GameFi could also be stabilizing — with a handful of tokens shifting first.
GameFi Is Showing Early Signs of Life Again — What Gives
The first sign comes from on-chain utilization.
While scanning early-2026 Dune analytics dashboard knowledge throughout EVM chains, one metric stood out: common transactions per energetic pockets. This measures the depth of exercise, not simply the pockets depend. Over the previous 4 consecutive days, B3, the gaming layer constructed on Base, has led all main chains on this metric, beating Optimism, Mantle, Flow, and others.
That issues as a result of real gaming behavior reveals up as repeated actions by the identical customers.
Base itself is reinforcing this sign. Beyond B3’s dominance in per-wallet exercise, Base has additionally ranked close to the highest in whole day by day transactions over the identical interval, indicating that gaming exercise is feeding into broader community utilization.
An analogous sample is showing on Sei, one other gaming-heavy chain. Over the previous a number of days, Sei has persistently stood out in day by day distinctive addresses.
When damaged down additional, DappRadar knowledge reveals a number of Sei-based video games posting sharp 24-hour development in energetic wallets.
Context issues right here. GameFi fell almost 75% in 2025.
As the primary month of 2026 begins, these alerts are beginning to line up, as highlighted by consultants like Yat Siu, Chairman of Animoca Brands.
This doesn’t imply GameFi is again in full power. But it does counsel that the worst part of abandonment could also be passing.
When requested what actually issues for a GameFi restoration, and which indicators traders ought to deal with past short-term worth strikes, Robby Yung, CEO of Animoca Brands, stated in an unique commentary to BeInCrypto:
“For the GameFi class normally, I believe that there must be a stable, partaking product underlying the token (as all the time),” he stated.
That brings the main focus to cost. A small group of established GameFi tokens is already responding.
Axie Infinity (AXS): Sentiment Surge and Structure Align
Axie Infinity is emerging as one of the strongest leaders within the GameFi rebound. AXS is up roughly 117% over the previous seven days, clearly outperforming most large-cap gaming tokens as January progresses.
One purpose Axie is shifting forward of the pack is bettering sentiment, pushed by a shift in how the neighborhood views the mission. On January 17, optimistic sentiment for AXS spiked to eight.31, the very best degree seen in over six months. Positive sentiment tracks how usually a token is mentioned favorably throughout social and on-chain channels, and spikes of this dimension normally replicate renewed engagement reasonably than late-stage hypothesis.
That sentiment shift traces up with a basic catalyst highlighted immediately by Robby Yung, who addressed Axie’s latest energy:
“The catalyst, on this case, was a change within the tokenomic mannequin for AXS, which was very well-received by the neighborhood, and led to an uptick in shopping for because the neighborhood was reinvigorated, so that is very a lot a grass roots-led motion,” he talked about.
While that sentiment studying has cooled barely, it stays elevated in comparison with latest weeks, protecting consideration centered on AXS.
From a worth perspective, AXS started its rally in early January and is now consolidating after a pointy vertical transfer. This pause resembles a bull-flag construction, the place worth digests positive aspects with out breaking the pattern. As lengthy as larger lows proceed to carry, the sample stays constructive reasonably than exhausted.
Trend assist is tightening. The 20-day exponential shifting common (EMA) is rising towards the 100-day exponential shifting common, which frequently acts as a medium-term pattern filter. A confirmed bullish crossover would reinforce the continuation case. A clear day by day shut above $2.20 would sign a breakout from consolidation and open upside towards $3.11 and even larger.
Invalidation ranges are effectively outlined. A sustained drop under $1.98 would weaken the bullish construction. A deeper transfer under $1.63 and ultimately the 100-day shifting common line would invalidate the setup.
The Sandbox (SAND): Axie’s Bellwether Effect Spills Into Larger GameFi Tokens
The Sandbox is beginning to observe Axie Infinity’s lead, reinforcing the concept the GameFi rebound is spreading past a single token. SAND is up roughly 27% over the previous seven days and almost 9% within the final 24 hours, a notable transfer for one of the biggest gaming tokens by market worth.
That sequencing issues. Axie moved first, and Sandbox is reacting after, regardless of SAND being the chief in phrases of market cap. This traces up with how Robby Yung framed the sector dynamic, noting that Axie usually units the tone for broader GameFi strikes. As he put it,
“AXS could be very a lot a bellwether on this class, so once we see motion there, it’s more likely to be excellent news for the remainder of the sector,” he stated.
On-chain knowledge helps the optimistic outlook. Since January 16, SAND’s alternate circulation steadiness has flipped sharply. Earlier within the month, alternate balances confirmed internet inflows of about 4.36 million SAND, signaling energetic promoting. That has now reversed into internet outflows of roughly 2.33 million SAND, which means tokens are being pulled off exchanges reasonably than ready on the market.
Buying strain rising alongside worth energy is a constructive sign, particularly for a large-cap token.
From a worth construction standpoint, SAND is forming a cup-and-handle sample, one other breakout formation. The rounded base developed via December, adopted by a powerful restoration leg in early January. Price is now consolidating within the deal with zone. A clear day by day shut above $0.168 would break the neckline and open upside towards $0.190, with extension potential towards the $0.227 zone.
Invalidation stays clear. Losing $0.145 weakens the construction, whereas a drop under $0.106 would invalidate the bullish setup completely.
Decentraland (MANA): Whale Accumulation Signals Early Positioning
Decentraland is the weakest short-term performer amongst leading GameFi tokens, however which may be precisely why it’s attracting large cash. MANA is up about 7% over the previous 24 hours and roughly 15% over the previous seven days, lagging Axie Infinity and The Sandbox in share phrases.
What stands out is how whales are positioned throughout that relative underperformance.
Since January 17, wallets holding massive MANA balances have elevated their mixed holdings from roughly 1.00 billion tokens to 1.02 billion, an addition of about 20 million MANA, nearly $3.2 million, in just some days. At one level, whale balances briefly reached 1.03 billion earlier than some gentle trimming. That pullback was shallow and adopted by renewed accumulation, suggesting positioning reasonably than distribution.
Want extra token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.
From a worth construction perspective, MANA seems to be breaking out of an inverse head-and-shoulders sample on the day by day chart. This sample usually marks a transition from downtrend to restoration when it holds. The breakout zone sits close to $0.159, with energy bettering on larger closes.
For affirmation, MANA wants a day by day shut above $0.161. If that holds, upside targets open close to $0.177, $0.20, and doubtlessly $0.221, with prolonged resistance close to $0.24 if GameFi momentum broadens.
A drop again under $0.152 would weaken the breakout, whereas a transfer underneath $0.137 would invalidate the whole construction.
MANA could also be shifting final, however whale conduct suggests it might not keep that method if the GameFi narrative continues to rebuild.
The submit (*3*) appeared first on BeInCrypto.
