The blockchain-based gaming sector is becoming increasingly top-heavy as it moves further into the mainstream, according to data from the Blockchain Gaming Association’s fourth annual survey.

Marking the association’s largest effort to date, the 2024 survey aggregated and analyzed data provided by 623 survey respondents from the Web3 gaming industry. Those surveyed included industry professionals ranging from C-suite executives to professional e-sports players.

While much has remained the same since the annual survey began in 2021, including the notion that both trust and user experience issues are the primary factors holding adoption back, the 2024 survey indicates pivotal growth in the C-suite and an influx of talent with gaming industry experience prior. 

Per a report detailing the survey’s results, 73.2% of respondents were in upper management positions. 

“Of these, senior leadership remained prominent, with 46.7% of respondents at the founder, director, or C-level position — the highest representation seen in four years.”

A packed C-suite

The report stated that the concentration of senior roles in the industry reflects “consolidation” and pointed to tighter budgets and hiring slowdowns in the wake of the “crypto winter” after the so-called non-fungible token (NFT) boom of 2021. According to the Blockchain Gaming Association, the top-heavy nature of the sector is a result of tighter budgets and hiring slowdowns. 

However, the influx of outside talent could account for some of the movement at the top. More than half (52.5%) of those surveyed indicated that gaming was their primary area of expertise. This is up significantly from 2023 (34.2%) and 2022 (39.2%). Those identifying as blockchain or cryptocurrency specialists were down to just 10.8% from about 21% in 2022 and 2023 and 27.4% in 2021.

The Web3 gaming sector appears to be positioned for a strong entry into the AAA gaming market in 2025, with contenders for mainstream appeal slated for launch from Ubisoft , Square-Enix, CCP, and others. 

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Static demographics

Ahead of the AAA push in 2025, the blockchain gaming sector appears to face several challenges. According to the survey, those 18 to 24 represented only 6.1% of respondents. This aligns with the notion that Web3 has become top-heavy and could make it difficult to develop talent for the future or engage youth audiences. 

“Gender diversity remains a challenge,” as well, wrote the association. About 82% of respondents identified as male, with those numbers jumping at the highest levels of employment.  

“Of the CEOs, Founders,Directors, and C-level executives that responded to the survey, 87.2% were male and only 12.5% were female. This skews more male than the overall survey respondent demographics.”

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