June 2, 2026 – Tortola, British Virgin Islands – nGRND.io (“nGRND Gold Protocol”), a Web3 and blockchain initiative sustained by its treasury of verified in-ground preserved gold and distributions from the monetisation of preserved gold sites, announces that its sponsored mobile gamers, Gold Fest and Dig It, have collectively attracted over 855,000 players across more than 200 countries. With its proof-of-stake utility rewards framework driving continued digital participation thus nGRND milestone marks significant steps toward the protocol’s upcoming Token Generation Event (TGE), demonstrating substantial traction prior to token issuance.
The participant base was driven by distinct titles designed to introduce mainstream audiences to asset-backed digital economies. Gold Fest, developed by GAMEE, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands and recently acquired by Alpha Compute Corporation, attracted 549,000 participants. Dig It, operated by gaming studio Funny Till U Die Ltd., drew 306,000 players via its Telegram-based interface. Across both platforms, Daily Active Users (DAUs) averaged over 220,000, indicating strong retention beyond initial sign-up spikes.
Participants in the inaugural season accrued approximately $6 million in ecosystem rewards that are designed to convert into nGRND Gold Protocol tokens, with redemption schedules governed by the protocol’s proof-of-stake utility framework. Unlike speculative play-to-earn (P2E) models, nGRND.io structures its rewards around its treasury of preserved gold, distributions from monetisation of alternative land use and other sustainability revenues.
Reward recipients will be eligible to receive one of three unique NFTs, which will unlock soul-bound NFTs featuring unique attributes, rewards and bonuses tied to their participation in the nGRND Gold Protocol proof-of-stake framework. Participants in nGRND.io sponsored games, Discord quests, and future ecosystem initiatives may also receive unique collectible NFTs, badges and boosts granting additional rewards within the protocol.
The nGRND framework sets itself apart by anchoring its ecosystem with verified, in-ground preserved gold resources in its treasury that is used to sustain the staking rewards for Token holders. To ensure transparency and address common industry concerns regarding asset validation, the protocol’s preserved gold treasury is subject to nGRND Inc.’s rigorous third-party auditing in accordance with National Instruments’s such as NI 43-101 and other industry and government approved reporting and verification processes.
Following the success of the first season, Dig It has already launched Season 2 with upgraded gameplay mechanics designed to deepen engagement. Gold Fest is scheduled to begin its second season in early Q3 2026. Both programs are expected to conclude their initial phases by Sept. 30, 2026, at which point reward claims will begin to be processed. The project is currently supported by the TON Foundation, with further expansion planned across additional blockchain networks, including Base.
Looking beyond gaming, nGRND.io is preparing to expand its proof-of-stake network into eight operational participation streams, including Governance, Impact, Play, Learn, Advocate, Refer, Wellbeing, and a dedicated channel for AI Agents. These mechanisms will enable participants in the staking programme to increase reward multipliers and receive distributions from the rewards pool that is sustained by revenues generated from initiatives that have measured impact against ESG and the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, plus other initiatives on the preserved gold sites.
By connecting Protocol gold treasury holdings, preserved gold sites, and network partners with a scalable utility-driven framework, nGRN.io delivers modernised digital participation in the gold sector. The protocol leverages blockchain infrastructure to provide provenance and to create accessible, transparent opportunities for participation and distribute real value without requiring traditional mining extraction.
For more information, please visit https://ngrnd.io
