Even as its Ronin blockchain explodes in popularity and a new Axie Infinity game is on the horizon — Sky Mavis is cutting 21% of its workforce to focus on future growth.
Sky Mavis reported impressive milestones for Ronin in 2024. The Ronin Wallet surpassed 10 million downloads, and the network itself secured its position as the third most-used blockchain globally, with over 1.1 million daily active addresses. These figures underscore Ronin’s growing prominence in the blockchain gaming sphere.
Despite this success, CEO and co-founder Trung Nguyen explained on X (formerly Twitter) that the company is “doubling down on what makes Sky Mavis truly exceptional.” This sharpened focus necessitates a streamlining of operations, leading to the difficult decision to reduce staff.
Nguyen emphasized that this move is not financially driven but a strategic realignment to “have the agility needed to open Ronin in Q1.” He reassured the community that Sky Mavis remains financially healthy. The decision, according to him, “is a strategic move that allows for a sharper focus and positioning Sky Mavis for hypergrowth in 2025 and beyond.”
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Sky Mavis will now concentrate its resources on key areas: the Ronin Wallet and Waypoint technology, the Mavis Marketplace, the development of a new Axie Infinity title, Web3 game publishing, and expanding the Ronin Network for third-party developers.
Nguyen expressed gratitude for the departing employees’ contributions, stating the decision “was not made lightly.” Sky Mavis is committed to providing robust severance packages and resources to assist their transition.
Co-founder Jeff “Jihoz” Zirlin echoed this sentiment on X, stating, “With the opening of Ronin on the horizon and the evolving market landscape, there’s never been more opportunity for those with experience in and passion for Web3 gaming. To the Sky Mavis team members impacted, thank you all for your honorable contributions. I’m bullish on the road ahead and can’t wait to see what you build next.”
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Nguyen reaffirmed Sky Mavis’s mission “to bring economic freedom to everyone, starting with gamers,” expressing confidence that this restructuring positions the company for “hypergrowth in 2025 and beyond.” He acknowledged the impact on those affected but emphasized the increased expectations and rewards for the remaining team as they pursue this mission.
This isn’t the first time Sky Mavis has restructured its workforce; the company also laid off employees in 2022 following the devastating hack of its Ronin blockchain, which resulted in a $600 million loss as part of its recovery and strategic shift.
