Cryptocurrency startup acquires Roblox game to reach younger user base

Crypto educational game startup PiP World has announced the acquisition of a Roblox stock trading game called StockRise.

Last week, Web3 educational gaming startup PiP World unveiled its acquisition of a Roblox stock market game called StockRise, which has garnered some attention. Why would a crypto company purchase a user-generated game on a platform primarily designed for children and young teens?

Last week, Web3 educational gaming startup PiP World unveiled its acquisition of a Roblox stock market game called StockRise, which has garnered some attention. Why would a crypto company purchase a user-generated game on a platform primarily designed for children and young teens?

Roblox allows users to create their own games and worlds that anyone can then explore and play. Within the game’s curated “learn and explore” section, StockRise is the sole financial literacy experience. As a result, the world has attracted over 7 million visits to date throughout its three years live.

Roblox allows users to create their own games and worlds that anyone can then explore and play. Within the game’s curated “learn and explore” section, StockRise is the sole financial literacy experience. As a result, the world has attracted over 7 million visits to date throughout its three years live.

IN StockRise, players are invited to helm a virtual investment portfolio as a way to learn how to earn money by trading in the stock market. Part of the experience includes the ability to simulate trading in cryptocurrency—all without the risk of handling actual tokens.

IN StockRise, players are invited to helm a virtual investment portfolio as a way to learn how to earn money by trading in the stock market. Part of the experience includes the ability to simulate trading in cryptocurrency—all without the risk of handling actual tokens.

Now, thanks to PiP World’s move, StockRise will bolster its educational efforts around crypto with new courses like “How Not to Lose”—a lesson that traders of all ages could benefit from learning.

Now, thanks to PiP World’s move, StockRise will bolster its educational efforts around crypto with new courses like “How Not to Lose”—a lesson that traders of all ages could benefit from learning.

PiP World CEO Saad Bachir Al Naja and VP of partnerships Adam De Cata know the space well, having played other stock market simulation games when they were younger, which in many ways inspired them to start their company.

PiP World CEO Saad Bachir Al Naja and VP of partnerships Adam De Cata know the space well, having played other stock market simulation games when they were younger, which in many ways inspired them to start their company.

“The genesis of PiP was all about: How can you gamify trading and investing and make it fun?” explained Al Naja. “The majority of people out there don’t know how to manage their money, right? You’re not taught in school how to manage your finances.”

“The genesis of PiP was all about: How can you gamify trading and investing and make it fun?” explained Al Naja. “The majority of people out there don’t know how to manage their money, right? You’re not taught in school how to manage your finances.”

In turn, the company sought to create a Roblox world given the platform’s massive popularity, boasting over 200 million monthly active users—the vast majority of whom are under the age of 18.

In turn, the company sought to create a Roblox world given the platform’s massive popularity, boasting over 200 million monthly active users—the vast majority of whom are under the age of 18.

As PiP World considered whether to build its own Roblox game and try to get it noticed, they encountered StockRise, which already dominated the sector that PiP hoped to enter. Rather than compete, they simply acquired the game for an undisclosed sum.

As PiP World considered whether to build its own Roblox game and try to get it noticed, they encountered StockRise, which already dominated the sector that PiP hoped to enter. Rather than compete, they simply acquired the game for an undisclosed sum.

“If you do a couple of things right from [a young age], it changes the trajectory of your life,” said Al Naja to Decrypt.

“If you do a couple of things right from [a young age], it changes the trajectory of your life,” said Al Naja to Decrypt.

PiP sees the Roblox game as a funnel into the rest of the ecosystem that they’re building. The PiP Trader mobile game will be the company’s “core gaming experience,” launching in Q4 of this year. Meanwhile, the PiP Academy will use AI to provide a richer and deeper educational product, launching around Q2/Q3 2025.

PiP sees the Roblox game as a funnel into the rest of the ecosystem that they’re building. The PiP Trader mobile game will be the company’s “core gaming experience,” launching in Q4 of this year. Meanwhile, the PiP Academy will use AI to provide a richer and deeper educational product, launching around Q2/Q3 2025.

? PiP Trader is here, legends! ?

? PiP Trader is here, legends! ?

The world's first AA arcade-style trading game where you compete using your financial knowledge ?

The world's first AA arcade-style trading game where you compete using your financial knowledge ?

Join this ? to see how you'll have the time of your life while putting an end to bad trades ? pic.twitter.com/eJZRMduwne

Join this ? to see how you'll have the time of your life while putting an end to bad trades ? pic.twitter.com/eJZRMduwne

— PiP World (@ThePiPWorld) August 12, 2024

— PiP World (@ThePiPWorld) August 12, 2024

“Roblox is our next generation of users,” said De Cata, whereas the mobile game will be for users 13 and up.

“Roblox is our next generation of users,” said De Cata, whereas the mobile game will be for users 13 and up.

Once folded into the broader ecosystem, users will be able to opt into play-to-earn elements by converting points into real cryptocurrency, though to engage with this users will need to prove that they’re over the age of 18 via a know-your-customer (KYC) process.

Once folded into the broader ecosystem, users will be able to opt into play-to-earn elements by converting points into real cryptocurrency, though to engage with this users will need to prove that they’re over the age of 18 via a know-your-customer (KYC) process.

De Cata said that just as companies need to have a presence on multiple social media platforms in order to “capture different audiences,” PiP World sees a similar opportunity in the world of gaming. Roblox will be just one channel into the ecosystem that the company is building.

De Cata said that just as companies need to have a presence on multiple social media platforms in order to “capture different audiences,” PiP World sees a similar opportunity in the world of gaming. Roblox will be just one channel into the ecosystem that the company is building.

“Over time, I’m excited to see each person downloading the application and what their journey is,” he said. “But ultimately, that’s where the bridge between Web2 and Web3 comes into play.”

“Over time, I’m excited to see each person downloading the application and what their journey is,” he said. “But ultimately, that’s where the bridge between Web2 and Web3 comes into play.”

Edited by Andrew Hayward

Edited by Andrew Hayward

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