The rise of blockchain technology has sparked innovation across industries, and gaming is no exception. In early 2018, a team of Tsinghua University alumni launched Krypton Planet, a decentralized virtual world built on blockchain, aiming to bridge the gap between mainstream gamers and the complex world of decentralized applications (DApps). Within just six weeks of launch, the platform attracted nearly 800,000 users—a remarkable feat in the nascent blockchain gaming space.
At its core, Krypton Planet is more than just a game. It's a player-driven virtual community where developers can create and deploy blockchain-based games using customizable rules, while players engage with DApps, trade digital assets, and contribute to the ecosystem’s growth. This dual focus on accessibility and decentralization has helped it stand out in a landscape often criticized for being too technical or lacking engaging content.
Founders with Proven Track Record
The project is led by Li Shilei, an early member of Happy Elements—the company behind the wildly popular Happy消除乐 (Happy Puzzle League, known internationally as Candy Crush-style games)—and former senior product expert at Baidu. He holds a bachelor's degree in Basic Sciences from Tsinghua University and brings extensive experience in product development and user acquisition.
Co-founder Sun Jianfeng adds strong technical and game design credentials. A computer science graduate from Tsinghua and holder of a Master’s from Northeastern University in the U.S., Sun previously worked as a game producer at Kabam and Zynga—two giants in mobile gaming—and served as a senior product manager at Ganji.com.
Their combined expertise in gaming, blockchain, and product innovation laid the foundation for Krypton Planet’s rapid development and user adoption.
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From Observation to Action: Filling the Market Gap
In late 2017 and early 2018, Li Shilei began exploring blockchain through private ICO investments in projects like HOT, CNN, Maker, and Theta. While observing the ecosystem, he noticed a significant trend: most blockchain games were developed overseas, requiring Chinese users to bypass restrictions via VPNs and install tools like MetaMask—a steep barrier for average gamers.
Moreover, these platforms lacked integrated services such as news feeds, forums, and easy-to-use wallets. Recognizing this gap, Li teamed up with Sun in January 2018 to build Mitao, a decentralized community combining a blockchain asset exchange with a discussion forum. Users could trade in-game items, share strategies, and discover new blockchain games—all in one place.
To support asset management, they launched Mitao Wallet in February—a mobile wallet compatible with ERC-721 tokens (the standard for non-fungible tokens, or NFTs). However, despite solid infrastructure, user engagement remained low. Why? Because there weren’t enough compelling blockchain games.
“We entered what looked like a blue ocean,” Li recalled. “But soon realized it was a desert.”
With no breakout hits like CryptoKitties emerging from third-party developers, the team made a pivotal decision: build their own games.
Launching Krypton Planet: A Community-Driven Virtual World
By March 2018, the team pivoted fully toward creating their own blockchain gaming ecosystem. Development began at the end of the month, and Krypton Planet officially launched on April 30.
The platform operates on a sidechain parallel to Ethereum, reducing transaction costs and improving speed. It provides developers with easy-to-use APIs so they can focus on game logic without deep blockchain knowledge. For players, the experience is seamless—no need to understand private keys or gas fees upfront.
Currently, four DApps are live—all developed internally:
- Celebrity Trading Game: Inspired by CryptoCelebrities, users buy and trade virtual personas.
- Krypton Knight: A dungeon-crawling adventure game with rewards tied to performance.
- World Cup Collectible Ticket Game: During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, users predicted top-four teams; correct picks increased the value of their commemorative digital tickets.
- World Cup Prediction DApp: Launched June 11, allowing users to bet tokens on match outcomes.
These timely, culturally relevant games helped drive viral adoption.
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Viral Growth and Token Incentives
One of Krypton Planet’s key growth drivers is its built-in referral economy. The platform uses its native token, Krypton Coin (or "Kejin"), as both a gameplay currency and incentive mechanism.
Players earn or spend Kejin based on game results. Once their balance runs out, they must either invite new users or purchase more tokens to continue playing. This creates a self-sustaining loop of organic growth.
Even internally, the team uses Kejin as part of workplace culture—employees are “fined” in tokens for being late, reinforcing engagement.
Although not officially listed, Kejin has begun trading on small exchanges. Its value has risen from around $0.02 to $0.10, a fivefold increase—a sign of growing market confidence.
Strategic Funding and Global Expansion
In June 2018, Krypton Planet secured 7 million RMB (~$1 million) in seed funding from prominent investors including Waterwood Blockchain Fund (part of INNO Angel Fund), Danhua Capital, and AC Accelerator. The funds are being used to expand the team and enter international markets.
South Korea has been identified as the first overseas target due to its advanced gaming culture and high cryptocurrency adoption rates.
Looking ahead, the roadmap includes enhancing core infrastructure:
- Improving wallet functionality
- Building a dedicated blockchain browser
- Implementing identity verification systems
- Expanding SDKs and API support
Ultimately, the vision is to transition from founder-led development to a truly user-governed ecosystem, where players learn to build their own DApps and shape the community's evolution.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes Krypton Planet different from other blockchain games?
A: Unlike standalone games like CryptoKitties, Krypton Planet is a full-featured platform where multiple games coexist. It emphasizes ease of use, community interaction, and player incentives—making blockchain accessible to non-technical users.
Q: How do users earn or spend Krypton Coin (Kejin)?
A: Players earn Kejin through winning games or completing challenges. They spend it during gameplay or to access premium features. Running out of tokens motivates users to invite friends or trade on secondary markets.
Q: Is Krypton Coin available on major exchanges?
A: As of now, Kejin is traded only on small peer-to-peer or niche exchanges. There are no official listings on large platforms like OKX yet, but growing demand may lead to future listings.
Q: Can anyone develop a game on Krypton Planet?
A: Yes—the platform provides APIs and tools for developers to create DApps based on their own game mechanics. While current games are team-developed, open access for third parties is part of the long-term plan.
Q: Why focus on South Korea for expansion?
A: South Korea has one of the most mature gaming ecosystems globally and high public familiarity with digital currencies. Regulatory clarity compared to China also makes it a strategic entry point for global growth.
Q: What is the long-term vision for Krypton Planet?
A: To become a self-sustaining, user-owned virtual world where players don’t just consume content but actively create and govern it—ushering in a new era of decentralized gaming communities.
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