Sky Mavis, the developer behind the popular blockchain gaming ecosystem Ronin, has announced that it will no longer provide free gas fees for Ronin wallet users. Starting on October 9, 2024, the company will introduce a new system known as Ronin Waypoint, which allows third-party game studios building on the Ronin network to sponsor user transactions. This marks a significant shift in how gas fees will be handled within the Ronin ecosystem.

Sky Mavis Introduces Sponsored Transactions on Ronin

Seamless Gaming

Ronin Waypoint is designed to make accessing games and managing on-chain assets easier for users. Through features like email logins and social account integrations (Google, Facebook, and Apple ID), it removes the need for complex seed phrases or browser extensions, which are typical in traditional crypto wallets. This simplification is part of its core goal: allowing users to quickly log in, recover accounts, and engage with their digital assets.

Ronin Waypoint

Sponsored Gas Fees via Ronin Waypoint

The introduction of Ronin Waypoint aims to address one of the common challenges for new users in the blockchain space—onboarding. New users often find themselves unable to pay for gas fees or unsure of how much the native token, RON, is required to complete transactions. Previously, Sky Mavis subsidized a number of transactions for new wallet users and also for holders of Axie NFTs, such as Axie Land.

The new system works by allowing game studios or other external parties to sponsor the gas fees for their users. Every sponsored transaction will require two signatures—one from the user and another from the sponsor. According to Sky Mavis, this solution will provide a more scalable model that requires less maintenance while offering more flexibility for other developers who want to fund user transactions.

Transition to a Growing Ecosystem

Sky Mavis’ decision to remove free gas fees comes as the Ronin network has expanded significantly over the last 18 months. While initially home to Sky Mavis' flagship Axie Infinity game, the network now supports around 20 external game developers, including one of the most popular web3 titles, Pixels.

In total, the blockchain has facilitated 28 million lifetime user wallets and nearly 1 billion transactions. Given the growth of the network, allowing third-party game developers to cover their players’ gas fees is a logical progression. This shift will enable developers to create smoother onboarding experiences for new users while spreading the financial responsibility beyond Sky Mavis.

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Cost Implications for Users

While Ronin Waypoint introduces a more extensible system for managing gas fees, it will not entirely eliminate costs for users. With the removal of free gas, users will now have to pay approximately 0.01 RON (roughly $0.02) per non-sponsored transaction. To ease the transition, Sky Mavis will still offer five free sponsored transactions for all new users of Ronin Waypoint.

This change highlights the company’s broader effort to enhance the user experience while fostering a more self-sustaining ecosystem. As more game developers launch on Ronin, the reliance on a centrally subsidized system becomes less feasible, making this shift toward sponsored transactions a step in the network’s evolution.

USDC to WRON Conversion 

Final Thoughts

Sky Mavis' move to phase out free gas fees and introduce Ronin Waypoint technology signals a shift towards a more mature and scalable approach to handling transactions on the Ronin network. By enabling third-party developers to sponsor user gas fees, the company is paving the way for smoother onboarding and greater flexibility for external game studios.

Although users will now face minimal transaction costs, the introduction of sponsored transactions could enhance the overall user experience while supporting the continued growth of the Ronin ecosystem. Existing users can learn more and create a Ronin Waypoint account on the official website.