In 2024, gaming coins saw a surge in trader interest.
Tokens power blockchain-based games, metaverse environments, and NFT economies.
These have developed and outperformed many mainstream altcoins.
Now in 2025, the market is shifting. Betting tokens are coming from a decentralised sports book ecosystem, which can help crypto investors diversify their portfolio of activities.
Are they the next major narrative for traders, or are they just part of a hype? We explain.
What Made Gaming Coins Work
Real utility is the factor that drives gaming coins desirability.
Indeed, gaming coins like AXS, GALA, and SAND can have a function within the gaming environment, such as for in-game transactions or to reward users. As a result, they are linked to the whole gaming ecosystem. This essentially means that post-GameFi adoption in-game coins give players some financial power in gameplay.
This is precisely this mix of utility and community that makes gaming coins a resilient value in a volatile market. So, many gaming tokens have carried on performing well into 2025, particularly those tied to active user bases and live projects.
For traders watching this trend, the key is to differentiate result-focused gaming coins from those that are overhyped.
The Market of Betting Tokens
Are betting tokens the same as gaming coins? The model behind tokens isn’t completely different from coins. Users wager with crypto on decentralised platforms, typically using the native token for fees and rewards. As more crypto sports betting platforms gain traction, related tokens are trading with higher volume and visibility.
Betting platforms operate without centralised intermediaries. This means faster settlements and less privacy concerns. More interestingly, unlike traditional betting platforms, crypto platforms are accessible to a broader audience. Consequently, the user base is growing rapidly, which gives traders an additional reason to watch the space closely.
In betting environments, tokens directly reflect the platform growth. Prices vary based on new feature rollouts, major sporting events, and other factors.
Similar Structures, Different Risks
Structurally, both gaming coins and betting tokens rely on high user activity. They are part of a well-designed incentive system that benefits from staking models, rewards from liquidity providers, and even burn mechanism at times. For both, the price action closely mirrors the platform usage.
But there are differences.
Betting tokens are event-driven. So, a sudden high betting volume can drive short-term volatility.
Additionally, gaming coins mostly operate within digital environments, while betting tokens can fall under gambling laws.
Why Traders Are Paying Attention in 2025
From a trading perspective, betting tokens offer clear entry points and short-term setups. Their performance often matches real-world schedules, like championship games, for example. This makes them appealing to traders who work with real-world-based momentum.
Meanwhile, the underlying market continues to grow. More and more users are moving funds into Web3-native betting ecosystems
The space is still early, but it’s moving fast. Some betting platforms already feature utility-rich tokens, including governance rights, staking pools, or revenue sharing from house earnings.
Final Take
Betting tokens may not replace gaming coins, but they are part of a new development in the crypto entertainment economy. For traders who can recognise similarities, they can build strategies around both crypto elements.