Yield Guild Games (YGG) is the largest blockchain gaming guild and DAO, founded in the Philippines in 2020 by Gabby Diaz de Rivera, Beryl Li, and Owl of Moistness — operating as a network of regional guilds and sub-DAOs that invest in game NFTs, loan them to player-scholars who earn in-game tokens, and share revenues through the YGG governance and treasury structure.
How It Works
- NFT acquisition — YGG DAO treasury acquires high-value game NFTs (Axies, land, equipment) from multiple blockchain games.
- Scholar program — Individual players (scholars) borrow NFTs from YGG to play games that require NFT ownership. Scholars earn in-game tokens and share a portion with YGG.
- SubDAO structure — YGG operates regional sub-DAOs (e.g., YGG SEA for Southeast Asia, YGG India, YGG Pilipinas) and game-specific sub-DAOs to decentralize guild management.
- YGG SuperQuest — YGG shifted from pure scholarship toward a quest and achievement platform (SuperQuest) that rewards players for completing gaming milestones across partner games.
- Governance — YGG token holders vote on DAO proposals affecting treasury management, strategic investments, game partnerships, and sub-DAO governance.
- Venture investments — YGG invests in early-stage blockchain game companies and tokens in addition to game NFTs.
Tokenomics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | YGG |
| Max Supply | 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) |
| Launch | July 27, 2021 |
| Chains | Ethereum (primary), Polygon |
| Utility | Governance, staking, access to new guild programs |
| SubDAOs | Regional and game-specific sub-DAOs |
Use Cases
- DAO governance — Vote on YGG strategic investments, treasury management, and sub-DAO policies.
- Gaming access — YGG’s scholarship and SuperQuest programs give players access to NFT-gated games and earning opportunities.
- Staking — Stake YGG to earn yields from DAO revenue and access priority scholarship programs.
- Game investments — YGG uses treasury funds to back early-stage game developers and earn token allocations.
History
- 2020 — Gabby Diaz de Rivera, Beryl Li, and Owl of Moistness found Yield Guild Games in the Philippines, initially focused on Axie Infinity scholarship operations.
- 2021-07-27 — YGG token launches and public sale raises $12.5 million. Backed by a16z, Delphi Digital, Animoca Brands, and others.
- 2021 Q3–Q4 — YGG grows to tens of thousands of scholars across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and beyond. Becomes the world’s largest play-to-earn gaming guild. YGG token peaks above $8.00.
- 2022 — Axie Infinity’s play-to-earn economy collapses. YGG scholarship earnings decline dramatically. The DAO pivots strategy away from pure Axie dependence.
- 2022 — Merit Circle controversy: Merit Circle DAO votes to remove YGG from its investor list due to perceived lack of contribution. Widely discussed as a significant DAO governance precedent.
- 2023 — YGG launches SuperQuest platform to engage gamers beyond scholarship with quest-and-reward mechanics across multiple games.
- 2024 — YGG continues operating SuperQuest and maintains gaming investments. Focuses on newer Web3 games beyond Axie Infinity.
Common Misconceptions
“YGG only works with Axie Infinity.”
YGG began with Axie Infinity scholarships but has since invested in dozens of blockchain games and diversified into a multi-game gaming guild and quest platform.
“YGG scholarship means free money.”
Scholars earn in-game tokens through gameplay, not passive income. Playing competitive blockchain games for required hours is labor; it is a form of digital gig work, not passive income.
Social Media Sentiment
YGG was celebrated in 2021 as a pioneer of play-to-earn and blockchain gaming access in developing economies. Sentiment shifted after the play-to-earn downturn. The pivot to SuperQuest and multi-game operations has been viewed positively by believers in blockchain gaming’s long-term potential. YGG’s a16z backing gives it institutional credibility. Critics note the guild model faces structural challenges as play-to-earn economics have proved difficult to sustain.
Last updated: 2026-04