The play-to-earn or P2E model has matured. It is no longer a novelty in Web3; it is an economic model capable of building real digital economies, attracting millions of users, and generating meaningful revenue for enterprises.

Yet the reality is uncomfortable. A number of P2E games tend to fail within a few months after launch. The reason behind the failure is not that the idea was weak or that the market lacks demand. It is due to the fact that the foundation wasn’t built to scale.

It is to be kept in mind that P2E games are not just entertainment. It is:

• A financial ecosystem
  
• A token economy
  
• A live service platform
  
• A community-driven marketplace
  
• A security-sensitive environment
  

Choosing the wrong P2E game development company does not just delay your project, it can result in collapsing the entire ecosystem. For enterprises, the real decision isn’t “Should we build a P2E game?” It’s “Who can build one that survives real-world scale?”

Why Scaling Breaks Most P2E Games

Early growth can hide structural weaknesses. Many P2E games look successful in the first few months because token rewards attract players very quickly. However, cracks tend to appear at the time when real activity begins, cracks appear.

1. Token Inflation Spiral

If rewards are not balanced, token supply floods the market, resulting in value dropping, players losing incentive, and speculators exit. A P2E game developer without tokenomics expertise often overlooks long-term supply dynamics.

2. Bot Exploitation

Reward systems attract bots. Without detection systems, automated farming drains value from real players and destabilizes the economy. Scaling securely requires anti-bot logic, behavioral analytics, and exploit monitoring.

3. Infrastructure Stress

P2E games involve constant transactions, such as claims, trades, staking, and marketplace activity. Poor backend planning leads to lag, failures, or downtime. A crash during growth damages credibility instantly.

4. Smart Contract Vulnerabilities

A single exploit can drain funds or freeze assets. Enterprises cannot afford trial-and-error blockchain coding. Security must be engineered from day one.

At the time when these issues come up, user trust disappears, and in GameFi, trust is everything. Thus, when trust breaks, game economies tend to crumble. 

What “Scalable” Actually Means in P2E Game Development

A number of P2E game developers claim scalability. However, only a few define it properly. True scalability includes:

1. Sustainable Tokenomics

Sustainable tokenomics is not just token creation, but economic design that survives growth cycles, user behavior changes, and market fluctuations. It includes emission schedules, sinks, staking models, and value loops that keep demand alive.

2. Secure Smart Contract Frameworks

Contracts must be modular, auditable, and optimized. Security architecture must assume adversarial behavior. Enterprises need experienced developers who build for resilience, not just functionality.

3. Scalable Backend Systems

P2E combines gaming servers and financial systems. Infrastructure must support thousands and sometimes millions of concurrent actions. Cloud scalability, database design, and API efficiency are matters of immense importance in this regard.

4. Anti-Fraud & Anti-Exploit Mechanisms

Fraud detection systems must monitor unusual behaviors, repeated farming patterns, and suspicious wallet interactions. Without this, economies can be manipulated quite easily.

5. LiveOps & Economy Tuning

P2E is not static. Rewards, sinks, and incentives need constant balancing. Developers must support real-time adjustments. Scaling requires ongoing economic management.

Key Traits of a Reliable P2E Game Development Company

At the time of choosing a P2E game development company for your project, here are some of the key traits to watch out for to make the right selection. 

1) Deep Tokenomics Expertise

Tokenomics is closer to financial engineering than game design. A strong P2E game development company:

• Models supply-demand dynamics
  
• Simulates user growth scenarios
  
• Designs burn and sink systems
  
• Balances rewards against inflation
  

They think like economists, not just developers.

2) Blockchain Security Maturity

A credible P2E game developer prioritizes:

• Contract audits
  
• Multi-layer security
  
• Wallet safety flows
  
• Compliance awareness
  

Security protects reputation and user confidence.

3) Architecture for Growth

Scaling is planned, not patched later. A mature developer designs:

• Load-ready backend systems
  
• Efficient indexing for transactions
  
• Modular architecture for upgrades
  

This, in turn, helps reduce long-term technical debt.

4) LiveOps Capability

P2E success depends on iteration. Events, reward cycles, and engagement mechanics must evolve. A capable P2E game developer supports:

• Economy monitoring
  
• Event design
  
• Seasonal content
  
• Reward recalibration
  

Without LiveOps, engagement tends to decline.

5) Proven Web3 Gaming Experience

Experience reduces risk. A P2E game development company that has shipped Web3 games understands pitfalls like inflation cycles and bot waves. Past execution matters more than promises.

Questions Enterprises Must Ask Before Hiring

Here are a few important questions to ask your chosen P2E game development company before finalizing the hiring process in order to avoid costly mistakes later. 

• How do you simulate token economies?
  
• How do you prevent bot farming?
  
• What scalability architecture do you use?
  
• What is your smart contract audit process?
  
• How do you support LiveOps post-launch?
  

Once you get all the answers with clarity and evidence, finalize the hiring. 

Why Enterprises Prefer Specialized P2E Game Development Companies

The P2E model sits at the intersection of:  Gaming + Blockchain + Finance.

Only a few development partners master all three internally.

A specialized P2E game development company provides:

• Cross-domain expertise
  
• Pre-tested frameworks
  
• Faster development cycles
  
• Lower risk exposure
  
• Long-term ecosystem support
  

For enterprises, this translates into predictable outcomes.

Closing Thoughts

It is always to be kept in mind that in the P2E model, launching is easy, but sustaining is hard. Scaling is where winners are decided.

A real P2E game developer doesn’t just build gameplay; they engineer economies.

The real question for enterprises is simple: Are you building a short-term hype cycle, or a long-term digital economy? The right partner determines the answer.

Antier, an experienced P2E game development company, works with enterprises to build P2E ecosystems designed for sustainability. Support includes:

• Advanced tokenomics modeling
  
• Smart contract architecture
  
• Blockchain and wallet integration
  
• Scalable backend systems
  
• Security-first development
  
• LiveOps and ecosystem tuning
  

The objective isn’t just launch, it’s longevity. Let’s work on your next P2E project to make it successful.

TLDR:

• Binance conducted internal review and found no evidence of sanctions violations tied to Iranian transactions 
• Exchange operates under Abu Dhabi Global Market regulation plus 21 local jurisdictions worldwide 
• Company denies firing investigators for raising compliance concerns about alleged sanctions breaches 
• Binance invested heavily in compliance infrastructure since 2023 regulatory settlement with authorities
  

Binance has formally disputed a Fortune investigation claiming the exchange processed over $1 billion in Iran-related transactions.

The cryptocurrency platform sent a detailed rebuttal letter on February 15, addressing allegations published two days earlier.

The company stated that a comprehensive internal review found no evidence of sanctions violations. Binance emphasized its commitment to regulatory compliance and cooperation with authorities.

Company Denies Evidence of Sanctions Violations

Fortune’s February 13 article alleged that internal investigators uncovered substantial transaction volumes tied to Iran.

The report suggested these transfers potentially violated international sanctions laws. Binance conducted a full internal review following the claims raised in the investigation.

The exchange stated it found no evidence supporting allegations of sanctions law breaches. This conclusion was reached after consultation with qualified legal counsel.

The company rejected assertions that violations were discovered and then suppressed. Binance characterized the Fortune report as containing material inaccuracies requiring correction.

The exchange operates under regulatory oversight from multiple jurisdictions worldwide. Binance holds authorization from the Abu Dhabi Global Market as its primary regulator.

The platform also maintains licenses and registrations across 21 different local jurisdictions. These regulatory relationships require ongoing compliance monitoring and reporting.

Chief Executive Officer Richard Teng addressed the allegations through the social media platform X. He stated that the record must be clear regarding the absence of sanctions violations.

Teng also denied that investigators were terminated for raising compliance concerns. The CEO requested corrections to what he described as inaccurate reporting.

Enhanced Compliance Framework Since 2023 Resolution

Binance referenced its 2023 regulatory settlement when addressing compliance capabilities. The company has invested substantially in its sanctions screening infrastructure since that resolution.

These investments included expanded staffing dedicated to compliance functions. The exchange allocated resources to anti-money laundering controls and transaction monitoring systems.

The platform described its compliance program as among the most robust in digital assets. Binance maintains internal standards that often exceed global regulatory requirements.

The company implements zero-tolerance policies on staff conduct violations and unauthorized data access. These policies extend to failures in observing internal compliance procedures.

The exchange questioned the sourcing and motivations behind the Fortune investigation. Binance noted the article relied heavily on anonymous sources while presenting speculation as fact.

The company emphasized that multiple legitimate channels exist for reporting compliance concerns. These include internal whistleblowing provisions and statutory protections for employees raising issues.

Binance requested that Fortune review its statements and correct misleading implications. The exchange offered to provide additional context for more accurate reporting.

The company stressed that accuracy is critical when publishing allegations related to sanctions compliance. Binance affirmed its continued cooperation in meeting monitorship obligations and regulatory commitments across all jurisdictions.

Wintermute has rolled out institutional over-the-counter trading for tokenized gold, marking its entry into digital commodities amid rising interest in asset-backed tokens.

The firm said on Feb. 16 that its OTC desk now supports trading in Pax Gold and Tether Gold, the two largest gold-backed tokens by market value. 

The service gives professional investors a way to gain exposure to physical gold through blockchain-based products, while keeping access to crypto-style settlement and liquidity. It comes in response to the increasing demand from institutions for transparent, stable assets that are easy to trade and settle fast. 

Building on-chain access to gold markets

Wintermute will offer institutional clients algorithmically optimized spot execution as part of the new launch. Clients can settle trades in the way that suits them best. Transactions can be completed on-chain using major cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, or traditional fiat currencies.

This setup allows positions to be opened, adjusted, or closed instantly. It also helps move capital smoothly between markets while lowering settlement risk. For trading firms and investment funds, this structure makes it easier to manage liquidity and hedge exposure.

Instead of sticking to traditional choices like exchange-traded funds or buying physical gold bars and coins, more investors are starting to look at tokenized gold. These digital tokens are backed by real gold and allow investors to buy small fractions of it, making gold ownership more accessible. 

They can also be traded easily, giving holders flexibility without the hassle of storing or transporting physical gold. That level of flexibility is hard to achieve in conventional markets.

Industry data shows that the total value of tokenized gold surged to around $5.4 billion by mid-February 2026, an increase of about 80% in just three months. 

Growth outlook and institutional interest

Wintermute chief executive Evgeny Gaevoy said the tokenized gold market could reach $15 billion by the end of 2026, nearly three times its current size. He pointed to rising institutional participation and demand for asset-backed digital products as key factors behind the forecast.

Trading volumes have also increased. During the fourth quarter of 2025, tokenized gold products recorded over $126 billion in turnover, outpacing several major gold ETFs.

According to analysts, 24-hour trading and more transparent pricing are the main factors driving the growth. Prices are shown in real time, and investors are free to buy and sell whenever they want.

Despite the recent crypto market downturn, tokenized gold has remained popular among investors seeking stability and portfolio diversification. Wintermute’s most recent launch indicates a larger trend in the industry toward more reputable, institution-focused services.

XRPL users face coordinated scam surge, wallet founder says, as attackers deploy phishing, fake apps, and sign requests globally.

Xaman Wallet founder Wietse Wind has said that a “massive XRPL targeted scam effort” is underway, warning users about fake sign requests, phishing emails, and impersonation accounts.

His alert points to a rise in social engineering attacks aimed at crypto holders rather than flaws in the blockchain code.

A Multi-Pronged Attack on XRPL Users

Wind wrote on X on February 16 that he had spent the weekend adding new filters and alerts to Xaman Wallet after detecting coordinated attempts to trick users into signing malicious transactions.

He listed several methods seen in recent days, including scam NFTs that promise token swaps, fake desktop wallet apps, and direct messages posing as support staff. The official wallet account repeated the warning, telling users not to click links, respond to DMs, or connect wallets to unknown websites.

According to Wind, the attacks usually focus on manipulating users rather than breaching software, with the scammers expanding beyond social media and sending phishing emails even though Xaman does not store user email addresses, suggesting attackers are relying on leaked data from unrelated breaches.

The tricksters are also reportedly promoting fake “desktop wallets,” despite Xaman being a strictly mobile application. Some fraudulent projects are even promising free tokens in exchange for users’ secret keys.

Wind stressed that funds will stay safe if people avoid approving unknown transactions or sharing their keys.

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“No matter the amount of warnings, detection, filtering, alerts in the app and here on social: no scammer can get you if you don’t willingly / unknowingly interact with them,” he advised. “Your funds are perfectly safe in Xaman Wallet: just don’t sign any transaction you don’t trust, and don’t interact with anyone promising you free tokens.”

Scams Moving Beyond DeFi Exploits

The XRPL scam wave reflects a troubling industry-wide trend, with a PeckShield report from earlier in the year revealing that crypto scams and hacks drained more than $4.04 billion in 2025.

Of that total, $1.37 billion came from scams alone, a 64% increase from 2024. The firm said attackers are shifting toward tailored phishing campaigns that target individuals with large holdings instead of relying only on technical exploits.

Furthermore, the PeckShield report also found that centralized platforms and companies accounted for about 75% of stolen funds last year, up from 46% in 2024.

These high-value thefts tied to deception extend beyond software wallets. On January 17, 2026, blockchain investigator ZachXBT reported that a victim lost about $282 million in Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC) through a hardware wallet scam. According to his findings, the attacker later moved the funds through THORChain and converted them to Monero (XMR).

Wind’s posts framed the latest campaign as a reminder that wallet security often depends on user decisions.

“This is a cat and mouse ‘game,’ and the scammers will not win,” he stated.

Crypto.com says it has become the first digital asset platform to receive an international certification for artificial intelligence systems management amid its continued expansion into the sector.

The company said on Monday that it received ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification, an international standard governing the creation and implementation of an AI management system.

“Security and privacy continue to be a core focus for us, particularly as we scale our AI-driven infrastructure and services,” said Crypto.com information security chief Jason Lau, adding that the certification ensures “every AI system we develop and deploy is secure, transparent, and aligned with emerging regulatory expectations.”

Crypto.com co-founder and CEO, Kris Marszalek, said the certification was “an important step as we continue to leverage AI tools and technologies.”

Crypto.com recently leaned into offering AI services that tie in with its crypto offering, launching software development kits and tailored data services. It also recently launched the AI agent platform ai.com on Feb. 9, which it considers a core business. 

The new website allows users to create AI agents that can perform everyday tasks such as trading and managing workflows.

Marszalek said the goal of the company was to accelerate the capabilities of AI “by building a decentralized network of autonomous, self-improving AI agents that perform real-world tasks for the good of humanity.”

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