Key facts
- nGRND Gold Protocol games Gold Fest and Dig It have attracted over 855,000 players.
- Participants accumulated approximately $6 million in ecosystem rewards.
- The protocol's reward model is based on preserved gold and land-use monetization, not traditional play-to-earn.
- Reward recipients are eligible for NFTs that unlock soul-bound tokens and staking rewards.
- The protocol's treasury is backed by verified, in-ground preserved gold resources.
- Gold Fest's Season 2 is scheduled for early Q3 2026, and Dig It's Season 2 has launched.
The nGRND Gold Protocol, a Web3 initiative backed by preserved gold assets and revenue from monetizing gold sites, has reported significant player engagement. Its sponsored mobile games, Gold Fest and Dig It, have collectively attracted over 855,000 players across more than 200 countries. This growth precedes the project's planned Token Generation Event (TGE). Participants in the first season accumulated approximately $6 million in ecosystem rewards, which are intended to be converted into nGRND Gold Protocol tokens. The protocol's reward model is distinct, relying on a treasury of preserved gold and revenue from alternative land-use monetization rather than traditional play-to-earn mechanisms. Gold Fest, developed by GAMEE, had 549,000 participants, while the Telegram-based Dig It, operated by Funny Till U Die Ltd., recorded 306,000 players. Average daily active users across both titles exceeded 220,000. Reward recipients will be eligible for NFTs that unlock soul-bound tokens and provide access to staking rewards within the protocol's proof-of-stake framework. The protocol emphasizes transparency through third-party audits of its gold treasury, adhering to standards like NI 43-101. CEO and Co-Founder Professor Lisa Wilson highlighted the protocol's aim to provide a new framework for gold-based utility with real monetized value, connecting real-world business and sustainability with Web3. Dig It has launched Season 2, and Gold Fest's Season 2 is slated for early Q3 2026, with initial phases concluding by September 30, 2026. The project is currently supported by the TON Foundation and plans to expand to other blockchain networks, including Base. Beyond gaming, nGRND.io is expanding its proof-of-stake network into eight participation streams, including Governance, Impact, Play, Learn, Advocate, Refer, Wellbeing, and AI Agents, designed to increase reward multipliers.