Ronin Network: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters for Crypto Gamers

When you play a game like Ronin Network, a custom blockchain designed to make crypto games fast and cheap by connecting to Ethereum. Also known as Ronin sidechain, it was built by Sky Mavis to fix the slow, expensive transactions that broke early blockchain games. Most blockchains like Ethereum are too slow and costly for real-time gaming—every move, trade, or battle costs too much in gas fees and takes too long to confirm. Ronin Network fixes that by running its own chain, synced to Ethereum, so players can buy, sell, and battle without waiting minutes or paying $50 in fees.

Ronin isn’t just a technical trick—it’s the backbone of Axie Infinity, a play-to-earn game where players breed, battle, and trade digital creatures called Axies. Also known as Axie, this game brought millions of players, especially in the Philippines and Vietnam, into crypto by letting them earn real income. Ronin handles all those transactions smoothly, while still letting players cash out to Ethereum when they want to. Other games like The Sandbox, a metaverse platform where users build worlds and sell virtual land. Also known as Sandbox metaverse,> have also started testing Ronin for faster in-game economies. The network uses a proof-of-authority system, meaning only trusted validators (like Sky Mavis and partners) confirm transactions. That’s why it’s faster than Bitcoin or Ethereum, but also why critics say it’s less decentralized. Still, for gamers who just want to play without headaches, it works.

Since its launch, Ronin has faced big challenges—like the 2022 hack that stole $625 million in crypto—but it bounced back with better security, stricter controls, and new partnerships. Today, it’s not just for Axie fans. Developers are building more games on it, from RPGs to card games, all using Ronin’s low-cost, high-speed setup. If you’re into crypto gaming, you’ll likely run into Ronin whether you’re buying a rare Axie, trading NFTs, or just trying to claim your daily rewards. The posts below dig into what’s really happening on Ronin: which games are growing, how to avoid scams on its ecosystem, and whether it’s still the best choice for players in 2025.