Victoria d’Este
Printed: August 28, 2025 at 8:18 am Up to date: August 28, 2025 at 8:19 am
Edited and fact-checked:
August 28, 2025 at 8:18 am
In Temporary
Sebastien Borget believes NFTs might revolutionize gaming. He shares his Web3 journey, blockchain sport evolution, and the potential for digital world creators.
Lengthy earlier than The Sandbox grew to become a number one metaverse, Sebastien Borget was a gamer obsessive about each new console and know-how. An opportunity discovery of CryptoKitties in 2017 satisfied him that NFTs might change gaming ceaselessly. On this interview, he shares his Web3 journey, the evolution of blockchain video games, and why creators will at some point thrive in digital worlds.
Are you able to please share your journey into Web3?
I believe my journey into Web3 actually started round 2017. I’ve at all times been curious and interested in new applied sciences. As a geek, I used to purchase new {hardware}, consoles, or units on the primary day they got here out. I explored applied sciences like peer-to-peer, cloud streaming, on-line media storage, and cell gaming as early as doable.
I began with Bitcoin in 2017, exploring protocols, proof-of-work, mining, and so forth. That very same 12 months, I found a sport known as CryptoKitties. I used to be fascinated by it as a result of I had already spent six years working in cell gaming with my earlier startups. In free-to-play video games, we normally analyze new or profitable titles to grasp how they work.
After I appeared into CryptoKitties, I spotted it was the primary sport with NFTs, and I noticed blockchain and NFTs as an answer to an issue I used to be going through at The Sandbox, which at the moment was solely a cell sport. Our prime creators saved leaving as a result of there was no technique to retain them with monetization. We might give them recognition and social fame, however we couldn’t really pay them or share income.
That realization accelerated my journey into Web3. In 2018, we started constructing a brand new model of The Sandbox: 3D, multiplayer, and with blockchain at its core, together with NFTs for land, avatars, and all forms of user-generated content material, plus our native token. In 2019, Animoca Manufacturers acquired us, and I additionally grew to become President of the Blockchain Sport Alliance, rising it from 30 to over 600 members. Since then, I’ve been absolutely devoted to Web3, constructing, educating, enjoying, and residing within the ecosystem day-after-day.
What does “enjoyable” imply in blockchain video games in comparison with conventional video games? And is the trade getting it unsuitable?
Video games are leisure merchandise, which implies they require creativity, however additionally they want sturdy knowledge, a transparent understanding of the viewers, and methods that preserve gamers engaged so the video games stay economically viable. In gaming, solely about 20% of titles in growth even launch, and fewer than 10% of these survive past 4 years.
Enjoyable isn’t nearly laughing or having fun with one thing briefly. True enjoyable in profitable video games comes from having a way of function and a cause to maintain coming again. That’s why video games like Fortnite, Roblox, and The Sandbox are profitable; they preserve customers for months and even years, holding them engaged and prepared to spend.
When gamers discover one thing enjoyable, they’re extra inclined to spend cash, which in flip sustains the sport. So, whereas video games are artistic merchandise, their monetary success can be a robust indicator of how a lot enjoyable they are surely.
Do you assume gamers will ever be capable to earn a full residing totally by way of play in digital worlds with out counting on hype cycles?
I do. We’re transferring towards a world the place the digital financial system holds extra worth than the bodily one. Persons are already spending on digital items and investing time in video games. The metaverse imaginative and prescient is about carrying your identification, belongings, and repute throughout completely different platforms seamlessly by way of NFTs and blockchain.
The creator financial system has confirmed that lots of of hundreds of individuals could make a residing when the appropriate instruments and distribution are in place. We’re decreasing the barrier additional with no-code instruments like our Sport Maker, and AI is making creation much more accessible. This can result in what I name the “creator nation,” the place folks contribute their creativity and construct sustainable companies. With sufficient viewers demand, companies and types will naturally take part, making a full financial circle.
How does The Sandbox stability its mission of decentralization with onboarding main Web2 manufacturers and IPs?
Since 2018, our mission has been progressive decentralization. First, we democratized content material creation with instruments like VoxEdit and our no-code Sport Maker. Then we decentralized the financial system with the $SAND token, which is now a top-100 cryptocurrency, extensively listed and used as fee.
Over a 12 months in the past, we launched our DAO, the place anybody can submit initiatives, and the group votes based mostly on land and token possession. The DAO has already supported almost 30 initiatives, from schooling to ladies in Web3 to open-source instruments. Wanting forward, we’re engaged on increasing The Sandbox past a gaming world right into a broader platform with apps, instruments, and scalable alternatives for creators.
How far are we from blockchain gaming changing into the default normal moderately than the choice mannequin?
We’re getting nearer. Because the begin of this 12 months, crypto adoption by monetary establishments and regulators has accelerated. The US, Dubai, UAE, Hong Kong, and others are recognizing crypto for funds, tokenized property, and extra. Firms now maintain digital property in treasuries, a few of that are listed on Nasdaq.
Crypto is transferring past being only a retailer of worth or tradition; it’s changing into a complete monetary and identification system that powers funds, repute, tradition, and leisure.
How is The Sandbox evolving its no-code instruments to satisfy the calls for of more and more refined creators?
We always enhance our creation instruments. Simply this week, we launched model 0.12, our largest replace but, with main enhancements for multiplayer gameplay, social profiles, progress saving, graphics, and general UX. These modifications make creating a lot simpler and enjoying way more enjoyable.
The metaverse expertise has superior considerably in comparison with 5 years in the past. Immediately, avatars can fly, dance, and work together in additional partaking methods. Individuals nonetheless bear in mind Fb’s “Meta” avatars with no legs, however the know-how has advanced far past that.
What has been the most important surprising problem in constructing a creator-first financial system within the metaverse?
Like each main know-how, adoption takes time. There’s at all times an preliminary hype cycle of 1 to 2 years, however mainstream adoption normally takes 10 to fifteen years. We’re solely 5 years in.
Challenges like wallets, onboarding, and schooling nonetheless want fixing. However we’ve seen this story earlier than, whether or not with MP3 gamers earlier than the iPod, or on-line funds earlier than PayPal normalized them. Finally, these applied sciences grew to become seamless and mainstream. I imagine blockchain and Web3 gaming are on the identical path.
How will AI-native video games disrupt or merge with Web3 ecosystems?
There are lots of methods. AI brokers can act autonomously on-chain, creating avatars and even buying and selling. AI accelerates content material creation, serving to extra digital property movement into ecosystems like ours.
The much less flashy however essential function is in provenance. AI wants huge datasets, however questions round possession, high quality, and royalties are sometimes ignored. With blockchain, provenance and possession are clear. This implies creators whose knowledge trains AI fashions might earn income, moderately than feeling like AI is stealing their work.
May digital land ever turn into a legally acknowledged type of property possession in the actual world?
I imagine so. We’re already seeing circumstances the place Dubai has acknowledged real-world property with deeds on-chain, eradicating complicated possession buildings. Past that, on-line repute and digital exercise ought to rely towards issues like credit score or financing.
Should you’re a metaverse builder producing actual income on digital land, that needs to be acknowledged similar to some other enterprise exercise. Digital creators, whether or not on Substack, Patreon, Roblox, or The Sandbox, deserve equal recognition and entry to financing.
How do you see decentralized gaming shaping international labor and artistic economies over the subsequent decade?
I believe it is a golden age for creators. Each new platform brings new alternatives. YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok all created new forms of creators. In gaming, Minecraft led to Roblox, and now The Sandbox.
A few of our prime creators earned six figures in 2024. We distributed over $5 million price of tokens to the highest ten creators alone. That exhibits the rising acceptance of digital creation as actual work, with actual income and repute.
It’s changing into normalized, similar to on-line courting or on-line funds as soon as have been. Over time, creating digital worlds will probably be as pure as any conventional job.
Do you assume there’s a path towards a metaverse the place cultural worth outweighs monetary incentives?
I imagine the 2 go hand in hand. Once we introduced 400 main manufacturers into The Sandbox, it wasn’t nearly cash; it was about creating cultural resonance, inspiring creators, and attracting followers. However with out monetary incentives, cultural experiences gained’t maintain.
Incomes cash is a part of what makes experiences significant and enjoyable. Ideally, we’ll proceed constructing a metaverse the place cultural and monetary worth reinforce one another, giving folks each enjoyment and sustainability. That stability is what makes us human, and it’s one thing AI gained’t exchange.
Disclaimer
In step with the Belief Challenge pointers, please word that the data offered on this web page will not be meant to be and shouldn’t be interpreted as authorized, tax, funding, monetary, or some other type of recommendation. You will need to solely make investments what you possibly can afford to lose and to hunt unbiased monetary recommendation if in case you have any doubts. For additional data, we recommend referring to the phrases and situations in addition to the assistance and assist pages offered by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is dedicated to correct, unbiased reporting, however market situations are topic to alter with out discover.
About The Creator
Victoria is a author on a wide range of know-how subjects together with Web3.0, AI and cryptocurrencies. Her intensive expertise permits her to write down insightful articles for the broader viewers.
Extra articles
Victoria d’Este
Victoria is a author on a wide range of know-how subjects together with Web3.0, AI and cryptocurrencies. Her intensive expertise permits her to write down insightful articles for the broader viewers.
