BEAM is the native token of the Beam Network — a gaming-focused EVM-compatible Avalanche subnet developed by Merit Circle DAO (a gaming-focused DAO that invests in play-to-earn games and gaming protocols) — enabling blockchain game developers to build on dedicated gaming infrastructure with low, stable transaction fees and game-specific customization, with BEAM replacing the earlier MC (Merit Circle) token in a 1:100 token migration (1 MC → 100 BEAM) in late 2023, the Sphere NFT marketplace providing game asset trading, and the Beam SDK offering game development integration tooling.
How It Works
- Avalanche Subnet — Beam Network is an Avalanche Subnet — a customized Ethereum-compatible chain running on Avalanche’s consensus. The subnet is dedicated to gaming traffic, avoiding gas fee competition with Ethereum mainnet DeFi.
- EVM compatibility — Beam is fully EVM-compatible, allowing Solidity smart contracts, MetaMask wallet support, and ERC-20/ERC-721 token standards for game assets.
- BEAM as gas — BEAM tokens pay for transactions on the Beam Network (gas fees). Low BEAM fees make microtransactions (in-game item trades, achievement NFT mints) economically viable.
- Sphere NFT Marketplace — Sphere is the dedicated NFT marketplace on Beam for gaming assets. Game NFTs from multiple titles are traded on Sphere.
- Merit Circle ecosystem — Merit Circle DAO holds governance power over Beam Network development and investment decisions. MC tokens (now BEAM) represented governance rights in Merit Circle’s gaming-focused DAO.
Tokenomics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | BEAM |
| Max supply | 62,500,000,000 (62.5 billion) |
| Migration | 1 MC (Merit Circle) → 100 BEAM (completed late 2023) |
| Previous token | MC (Merit Circle) |
| Distribution | Merit Circle DAO treasury, ecosystem incentives, team |
| Governance | BEAM used in Merit Circle DAO governance |
History
- 2021 — Merit Circle DAO is formed as a gaming-focused yield-farming “scholarship” DAO investing in Axie Infinity and other play-to-earn games. The MC token launches.
- 2022 — Merit Circle expands beyond Axie Infinity scholarship to broader gaming infrastructure investment. The DAO invests in multiple blockchain game studios.
- 2023-01 — Merit Circle announces the Beam Network (Avalanche subnet) as dedicated gaming blockchain infrastructure.
- 2023-11 — BEAM token launches on Beam Network mainnet. MC to BEAM token migration completes at 1:100 ratio. The Sphere NFT marketplace launches on Beam.
- 2024 — Beam Network onboards multiple blockchain games. The dedicated gaming chain positioning differentiates Beam from general-purpose chains competing for gaming projects.
Last updated: 2026-04