Crypto P2E games date back to 2017. It was the first major crypto bull run and Cryptokitties became a popular platform for gamers to earn real money. Axie Infinity, another popular crypto-based P2E game, took off in 2021, crossing 1 million global users. 

In Nigeria, crypto-based P2E games took off for two major reasons: increasing online gaming activity and the second major crypto bull run of 2021. Online gaming was becoming a popular pastime, where many players have discovered ways to earn money for their time and skill.