In the fast-evolving landscape of digital entertainment, blockchain gaming has emerged as a revolutionary force—blending decentralized technology with interactive gameplay. Among the rising stars in this space is Krypton Planet, a blockchain-powered virtual world co-founded by Tsinghua University alumni, which attracted nearly 800,000 users within just six weeks of launch. This rapid growth highlights the growing appetite for user-driven, asset-owning gaming experiences.
The Genesis of Krypton Planet
Krypton Planet is a decentralized virtual community built on blockchain technology, where players and developers co-create and share digital ecosystems. Unlike traditional games, where in-game assets are controlled by centralized companies, Krypton Planet empowers users to truly own, trade, and develop around digital items using non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
The platform enables developers to build decentralized applications (DApps) with custom game rules using accessible APIs. Meanwhile, players engage with these DApps, participate in games, and trade blockchain-based assets seamlessly—all within an integrated environment designed for ease of use.
👉 Discover how blockchain is reshaping the future of gaming and digital ownership.
Founders with a Vision: From Big Tech to Blockchain Innovation
The driving force behind Krypton Planet is a founding team combining deep technical expertise and proven success in mainstream gaming.
- Li Shilei, a graduate of Tsinghua University with a degree in Basic Sciences, was an early member at Happy Elements, the company behind the wildly popular Happy Cat Connect (known globally as Puzzle & Dragons). He later served as a senior product expert at Baidu and has experience as both a serial entrepreneur and investor.
- Sun Jianfeng, also a Tsinghua computer science alumnus, holds a Master’s in Computer Science from Northeastern University in the U.S. He previously worked as a game producer at major studios like Kabam and Zynga, known for hit titles such as Dragon of Atlantis. His background in large-scale game development brings critical industry insight to the project.
Their combined experience in product design, blockchain investment, and game development positioned them uniquely to identify gaps in the early blockchain gaming market—and to fill them.
Filling the Gap: Why Krypton Planet Was Needed
When Li Shilei first explored blockchain in late 2017, he participated in several ICOs—including international projects like Maker and Theta—not just as an investor but as a learner. However, he quickly realized that to truly understand blockchain’s potential, he needed to build something real.
His attention turned to gaming, inspired by his time at Happy Elements. But the existing blockchain gaming ecosystem presented major barriers:
- Most games were hosted overseas.
- Players needed technical knowledge: installing MetaMask, managing Ethereum wallets, understanding gas fees.
- No unified platform offered discovery, discussion, and trading in one place.
To address this, the team initially launched Mitao, a decentralized community combining a blockchain asset marketplace with a discussion forum. They later developed Mitao Wallet, a mobile wallet supporting ERC-721 NFTs, allowing users to view and manage their digital collectibles.
However, despite these tools, user adoption remained low—mainly due to the lack of compelling blockchain games. There had been no breakout hit since CryptoKitties.
“We thought we were entering a blue ocean,” Li recalled. “But once we dove in, it felt more like a desert.”
So they made a pivotal decision: if the games weren’t coming, they’d create them.
Launch and Rapid Growth: 800K Users in 42 Days
In March 2018, the team began developing what would become Krypton Planet, launching officially on April 30. By mid-June, the platform had amassed approximately 800,000 users—all through organic growth.
No paid ads. No influencer campaigns. Just word-of-mouth.
The team only shared the launch news in personal WeChat circles. But the combination of engaging gameplay and smart incentive design sparked viral sharing across social groups.
How Viral Growth Worked
Krypton Planet introduced its own native token: K-Jin (Krypton Gold). Players earn or spend K-Jin based on game outcomes. Once a player runs out of tokens, they can either:
- Invite new users to earn more K-Jin.
- Purchase additional tokens.
This referral-based economy naturally encouraged sharing. Moreover, internal team culture reinforced the token’s value—even employees face “fines” in K-Jin for being late!
Interestingly, K-Jin began trading informally on small exchanges. Its value rose from around $0.02 to $0.10—a 5x increase—driven purely by community demand.
👉 See how token economies are transforming user engagement in digital platforms.
Live Games Driving Engagement
As of launch, Krypton Planet hosted four original DApps—all developed in-house:
- Celebrity Trade Game – Inspired by CryptoCelebrities, users buy, sell, and speculate on virtual celebrity avatars.
- Krypton Knight – A skill-based adventure game with progressive levels and rewards.
- World Cup Collector – A limited-time collectible game tied to the FIFA World Cup. Users select predicted semifinalists; if correct, their commemorative tickets increase in value.
- World Cup Predictor DApp – Launched June 11, this allows users to bet K-Jin on match outcomes and climb leaderboards.
These timely, culturally relevant games helped capture attention during one of the year’s biggest global events.
Securing Investment and Planning Global Expansion
In June 2018, Krypton Planet secured 7 million RMB (~$1 million USD) in seed funding from top-tier investors:
- Waterwood Blockchain Fund (part of INNO Angel)
- Danhua Capital
- AC Accelerator
Funds are being used to expand the team and pursue international growth—with South Korea as the first overseas market due to its strong gaming culture and high cryptocurrency adoption.
Roadmap: Building a Self-Sustaining Ecosystem
The long-term vision for Krypton Planet goes beyond hosting games. The team aims to develop full-stack infrastructure including:
- Integrated blockchain wallet
- Decentralized exchange
- Identity verification system
- Developer SDKs and APIs
- Community-driven tutorials for DApp creation
Ultimately, they want to transition from founder-led development to a truly user-governed platform, where players become creators and stakeholders.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes Krypton Planet different from other blockchain games?
A: Unlike standalone blockchain games, Krypton Planet is a full ecosystem—offering tools for development, trading, communication, and ownership—all tailored for non-technical users.
Q: Is K-Jin an official cryptocurrency? Can I trade it?
A: K-Jin is currently an internal utility token used for gameplay and incentives. While unofficial trading has occurred on small platforms, there are no formal listings yet.
Q: Do I need crypto knowledge to use Krypton Planet?
A: No. The platform is designed for mainstream gamers. Wallet setup and transactions happen seamlessly in the background.
Q: How do I earn K-Jin?
A: You can earn K-Jin by winning games or inviting new users to join the platform.
Q: Are there plans for an official token launch or NFT marketplace?
A: Yes—the team plans to enhance the built-in NFT marketplace and explore formal token integration as the ecosystem grows.
Q: Why target Korea first for global expansion?
A: Korea has one of the most advanced gaming markets globally and high public familiarity with digital assets and cryptocurrencies—making it an ideal testing ground.
With strong technical foundations, experienced leadership, organic traction, and clear vision, Krypton Planet stands as a compelling case study in how blockchain can democratize digital worlds—one player at a time.
Core Keywords: blockchain gaming platform, NFT games, decentralized virtual world, Tsinghua alumni startup, user-generated DApps, crypto game economy, blockchain community, digital asset ownership