TLDR WAX balances ecosystem growth with exchange turbulence. Here are the latest updates:
NFTOPIA 5 Metaverse Expo (16–17 August 2025) – WAX anchors a major Web3 event with NFT giveaways and AR integrations.
Upbit Suspends WAXP Transfers (5 August 2025) – Temporary halt for wallet upgrades, no trading impact.
Mobile Gaming SDK Launch (19 August 2025) – Unity toolkit aims to onboard mobile devs to WAX’s blockchain.
Deep Dive
1. NFTOPIA 5 Metaverse Expo (16–17 August 2025)
Overview: WAX is a headline partner at NFTOPIA 5, a free 48-hour virtual expo featuring 60+ Web3 exhibitors. Attendees can earn NFTs, participate in live-streamed panels, and access exclusive drops like the NFTOPIA x SneakAR shoe with AR functionality. The event targets blockchain gaming and digital art communities, reinforcing WAX’s niche in NFT-driven ecosystems.
What this means: This is bullish for WAXP because high-profile events drive user engagement and showcase WAX’s utility in NFT distribution. However, post-event sell pressure could emerge if participants liquidate rewards. (AMBCrypto)
2. Upbit Suspends WAXP Transfers (5 August 2025)
Overview: Upbit paused WAXP deposits/withdrawals on August 7 for wallet maintenance, part of routine security upgrades. Trading remained unaffected, but the suspension temporarily reduced liquidity access for Korean traders.
What this means: Neutral short-term impact: Proactive security measures align with institutional standards, but repeated halts could erode trader confidence. Monitor resumed flows post-maintenance for liquidity rebound signals. (CoinMarketCap)
3. Mobile Gaming SDK Launch (19 August 2025)
Overview: WAX released a Unity SDK to simplify blockchain integration for mobile games, targeting studios building titles akin to Clash of Clans. The toolkit supports wallet logins and on-chain asset management, aiming to attract traditional gaming developers.
What this means: Bullish long-term: Expanding into mobile gaming—a $100B+ market—could boost WAXP adoption if major studios adopt the SDK. Success hinges on developer uptake and user retention metrics. (WAX on X)
Conclusion
WAX is doubling down on gaming and metaverse use cases while navigating exchange-driven liquidity hiccups. With the mobile SDK rollout and NFTOPIA’s visibility push, the chain is positioning for sustainable growth—but can it offset broader Web3 gaming sector headwinds? Watch for Q3 developer activity stats to gauge SDK traction.
What are people saying about WAXP?
TLDR
WAXP holders juggle exchange hiccups and deflationary bets while eyeing metaverse hype. Here’s what’s trending:
"Upbit will suspend WAXP deposits/withdrawals starting 7 August for wallet upgrades – trading remains unaffected." – @Upbit_Global (3.2M followers · 850K impressions · 2025-08-05 03:00 UTC) View original post What this means: Neutral short-term impact as this is routine maintenance, but traders should monitor resumption timelines for liquidity signals.
"More PowerUp = fewer tokens minted = more $WAXP burned. This shift isn’t just sustainable—it’s deflationary." – @WAX_io (289K followers · 42K impressions · 2025-06-24 15:00 UTC) View original post What this means: Bullish for long-term valuation if adoption grows, as the circulating supply decreased by ~19% year-to-date alongside rising utility.
"Bounty to list WAX on DEXTools – help bring real-time analytics to the ecosystem." – @WAX_io (289K followers · 18K impressions · 2025-06-11 17:00 UTC) View original post What this means: Bullish for trader engagement; DEXTools integration could improve liquidity tracking and attract DeFi-focused capital.
"WAX Blockchain highlighted as core partner for NFTOPIA 5’s 48-hour virtual expo, featuring NFT drops and gaming demos." – AMBCrypto (220K followers · 12K impressions · 2025-08-08 00:00 UTC) View original post What this means: Bullish for network growth, as the event could drive developer and user adoption in gaming/NFT verticals.
Conclusion
The consensus on WAXP is mixed, balancing deflationary tokenomics and ecosystem expansions against exchange maintenance headwinds. While the Upbit pause introduces short-term uncertainty, WAX’s focus on burning mechanisms and metaverse integrations aligns with Web3’s infrastructure trend. Watch the NFTOPIA 5 convention (16-17 August) for partnership reveals and user engagement metrics.
What is next on WAXP’s roadmap?
TLDR WAX’s development continues with these milestones: 1. PowerUp Model Shift (30 June 2025) – Transitioning from inflation to token burns via usage-driven mechanics. 2. Mobile Gaming SDKs (10 July 2025) – Launching React Native/Unity tools for mobile game integration. 3. NFTOPIA 5 Metaverse Expo (16–17 August 2025) – Showcasing WAX’s gaming/NFT ecosystem. 4. WAX Labs For-Profit Grants (Ongoing) – Funding projects to expand DeFi and gaming utility.
Deep Dive
1. PowerUp Model Shift (30 June 2025)
Overview: WAX is replacing its staking system with a "PowerUp" model, where users pay small fees (denominated in WAXP) for transaction bandwidth instead of staking tokens. This shift aims to reduce inflation by burning a portion of fees and aligning tokenomics with real network usage (WAX tweet).
What this means: This is bullish for WAXP because it introduces deflationary pressure (burning tokens) and ties utility directly to transaction volume. However, adoption risks exist if developers or users resist the fee-based model.
2. Mobile Gaming SDKs (10 July 2025)
Overview: New SDKs for React Native and Unity enable developers to integrate WAX wallets, NFTs, and tokens into mobile games. The goal is to attract Web2 studios and simplify cross-platform blockchain adoption (WAX tweet).
What this means: This is neutral-to-bullish, as mobile gaming dominates the $200B+ industry, but success depends on developer uptake. Metrics to watch: SDK downloads and live mobile games using WAX by Q4 2025.
3. NFTOPIA 5 Metaverse Expo (16–17 August 2025)
Overview: WAX will showcase its NFT/gaming ecosystem at this virtual expo, featuring partnerships with Funko, Splinterlands, and others. Attendees can earn NFTs and interact with WAX-based projects (AMBCrypto).
What this means: This is neutral; while visibility boosts adoption, the broader Web3 gaming sector faces declining activity (daily users down 17% YoY per TokenPost).
4. WAX Labs For-Profit Grants (Ongoing)
Overview: WAX Labs now funds for-profit projects (up to $10K in WAXP) to expand DeFi, gaming, and tooling. Recent bounties include integrating WAX into DEXTools and cross-chain gaming (WAX tweet).
What this means: This is bullish if it attracts quality projects, but bearish if funds are misallocated. Track grant recipients’ user metrics and TVL changes.
Conclusion
WAX’s roadmap balances deflationary tokenomics, mobile expansion, and ecosystem growth, though success hinges on reversing Web3 gaming’s bearish trends. Will PowerUp’s burn mechanism offset declining NFT volumes?
What is the latest update in WAXP’s codebase?
TLDR WAX's codebase shows strategic upgrades aligning with ecosystem growth.
Overview: Merged Antelope Leap 5.0.3 into WAX’s core protocol, introducing performance optimizations and expanded smart contract capabilities.
This upgrade aligns WAX with industry-standard blockchain infrastructure, improving transaction finality and node synchronization efficiency. The release included SHA-256 checksums for binaries, ensuring deployment integrity.
What this means: This is bullish for WAXP because it strengthens network reliability for high-throughput use cases like NFT marketplaces and gaming. Users benefit from faster settlements and reduced latency. (Source)
2. Upbit Wallet System Upgrade (Aug 2025)
Overview: Upbit’s scheduled suspension of WAXP deposits/withdrawals starting 7 August 2025 signals mandatory node upgrades for exchanges and validators.
The maintenance aims to implement security patches and stability improvements, likely tied to WAX’s recent protocol changes. Node operators must update to avoid service disruptions.
What this means: This is neutral for WAXP short-term (temporary liquidity constraints) but bullish long-term, as exchanges adopting upgrades signal confidence in WAX’s technical roadmap. (Source)
3. For-Profit Project Funding (Jul 2025)
Overview: WAX Labs expanded grants to include for-profit ventures, directly incentivizing developers to build on WAX.
While not a codebase change, this policy shift correlates with increased commit activity (4+ merges/month in Q3 2025) and SDK releases like Unity/React Native tools for mobile gaming.
What this means: This is bullish for WAXP because more high-quality dApps could drive token utility through staking, transactions, and NFT minting. (Source)
Conclusion
WAX balances core protocol upgrades (Antelope integration) with ecosystem incentives (developer grants), positioning itself for Web3 gaming dominance. With node operators preparing for Upbit’s upgrade window, how might WAXP’s utility evolve as these technical and community initiatives converge?