There are roughly 7.6 billion people on the planet. Of this global population, 2.2 billion of them are gamers , representing a $116 billion international industry. As more and more people get access to the Internet and modern technology, there is good reason to believe that those numbers will continue to grow.

With so many gamers and such a huge market, new opportunities are emerging for gamers to earn crypto by participating in the robust culture that has sprung up around playing games. Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are bringing a whole new level of disruptive energy to the various facets of the gaming economy.

eSports

While the rise of competitive eSports is perhaps the most well-known way to monetize your gaming talent, the reality is that not everybody can be a net-positive player. Even if you are good enough to join an eSports league, the chances of earning a stable income in this relatively new industry are pretty slim. Entering into the world of competitive eSports is a major lifestyle commitment that can be mentally and physically taxing even for the most hardcore gamers.

Fortunately, integrating cryptocurrency into the eSports industry is now making it possible for players at different skill levels to monetize their gameplay. Game-specific tokens, decentralized platforms for exchanging game skins, and rewards that can be put towards in-game purchases are rapidly merging these two high-growth industries.

Loyalty Rewards Platforms

Today, companies in the gaming industry are leveraging crypto as an incentive to reward gamer loyalty. One such company is BUFF.

Similar to a frequent-flyer program, BUFF is a loyalty rewards platform that lets players earn cryptocurrency simply by playing games. Without interfering with the gaming experience in any way, BUFF runs in the background during gameplay and quietly mines cryptocurrency. More specifically, it mines tokens, which can be used to buy in-game items, to reward other players, and to participate in other aspects of the virtual gaming economy.

BUFF’s network of partnerships will allow players to use tokens throughout a wide range of different gaming brands and platforms. Having already partnered with Overwolf, a world-leading provider with over 15 million subscribers, BUFF is unlocking new levels of income potential for gamers.

Using couldn’t be more simple: just download the app for free, continue with uninterrupted gaming, and automatically earn rewards for as long as you’re playing. The company's partnership model lets you earn tokens in one game that can be applied to another, creating flexibility within the larger gaming economy.

Live Streaming

The success of Twitch is a testament to the fact that gaming culture is an interactive and community-oriented space. Introducing the possibility to earn rewards into an already very active online community gained rapid adoption by gamers, and clearly made headway towards filling a huge demand in the gaming scene.

Twitch has already embraced cryptocurrency as an additional means of transaction. In June 2018, Twitch announced a partnership with Streamlabs to provide users with a protocol that makes it easy to tip one another using select cryptocurrencies.

While live streaming is certainly a popular way for gamers to earn crypto playing games, it can also be hard work. Building an audience, marketing, and developing a personal brand can be challenging, even for great gamers, depending on how seriously you want to take it.

Game Testing

Becoming a video game tester is another way to earn crypto directly through playing, and it’s not too difficult to get a gig as an on-demand game tester. All games go through different stages of development, and before companies release a final product they typically bring in outsiders to beta test the game.

Like eSports and live streaming, the game testing industry has also started to explore the possibilities for blockchain integration. Platforms that enable game developers and game testers to connect, such as GTCoin and others, have begun to emerge, allowing testers to earn cryptocurrency by beta testing games, finding bugs, and providing feedback.

Compensation for on-demand game testing is typically no more than minimum wage, however, and the work isn’t always as much fun as playing a game recreationally. The majority of these jobs are for mobile games, as well, which usually provide a much different experience than most online multiplayer games that typically draw people to gaming in the first place.

Closing Thoughts

The integration of cryptocurrency into the gaming economy may still be in its early stages, but it is already creating an array of new opportunities for gamers to earn rewards. If you enjoy gaming and want to earn some crypto without necessarily having to cut into your actual game time, tokens like are a promising development towards a play-for-pay future.