GameFi in 2026: Yat Siu & Gary Vee Give Exclusive Predictions & Alpha
TL;DR
- The GTA 6 launch will bring insane gaming hype with a spillover to GameFi.
- Regulatory clarity and stablecoins will enable inflows.
- Anti-cheat mechanisms and less FUD will drive player retention.
Intro
The oracles said that 2025 would bring a bull run for the ages to reward our patience since 2021. Yet they punished us with more loops and turns than Expedition 33 as the GameFi gods were usurped by newer, shinier crypto celestials like meme coins and prediction markets. And crypto oracles partially caused the great Trump tariff market crash in Q4.
Let’s take a look at the potential 2026 catalysts that could revive GameFi’s fortunes.
But don't just take my word for it: Hear it from two real Web3 visionaries, NFT entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuck and the godfather of GameFi himself, Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu.
Keep reading until the end for an exclusive Q&A.
Source: CoinMarketCap
Vaynerchuck sees it differently, especially considering the incoming influence of AR and VR technology. However, he has a much longer time horizon in mind.
“In 13 years, AR is about to eat up the oxygen of the room. Are we too early? Are we too late? The question is always, “When?” But if we define Web3 as VR, AR and blockchain, that is what I’m bullish on the most.
NFTs’ reputation is currently in the gutter. Just like internet stocks in 2000, greed took over the oxygen. Still, I believe digital collectibles are a foregone conclusion, and CryptoPunks will be the Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock of NFTs, while entrepreneurs like me are trying to build the Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Pokémon of this category.
We are going through the same period the internet experienced in the early 2000s. Web companies had a terrible reputation, then became the world. COVID, greed and timing badly damaged the NFT brand. Yet there are far more NFT sales happening each week than people realize. I believe in digital collectibles. They are going to matter."
Sit back, and enjoy the top five GameFi predictions for 2026.
1. Top Catalyst: GTA 6’s November Launch
Animoca Brands’ Siu believes that GTA VI's November 2026 release will be the biggest catalyst for gaming next year, serving as a Super Bowl of gaming and the biggest media event of the year.
“GTA 6 will command massive global attention, shifting the macro narrative back to gaming. That attention spillover can ignite Web3 gaming tokens and on-chain engagement, much like prior narrative waves did for AI tokens.
GTA’s ecosystem fosters user-generated economies. With clearer token rules expected, major studios can safely experiment with tokens as social/ownership layers. The combination of a culture-defining launch, UGC-driven participation, and improving regulatory clarity sets the stage for Web3 gaming to surge alongside GTA 6’s release window.”
Mainstream validation will have ripple effects that will trickle down to the gaming sector, with influencers like Adin Ross planning crypto-integrated RP servers for real earnings.
Source: Jack
Of course, this only happens if GTA 6’s release finally happens!
2. CLARITY Act To Greenlight Gaming Tokens
“The CLARITY Act gives us a concrete legal framework to launch tokens and understand how to do it responsibly. It clarifies that most tokens aren’t securities, which meaningfully reduces legal uncertainty for builders like us.
With clearer compliance paths, I expect major game companies — especially in the U.S. — to finally move forward.
Overall, I see 2026 as a big year for crypto, with the CLARITY Act acting as a strong booster. I expect many game companies, especially in the U.S., to proceed now that there’s a clear legal framework for tokens.”
3. Stablecoins Integrate With GameFi
This could help bring more users to Web3 gaming, as it will make it easier for people to earn in-game rewards and withdraw stablecoins for use in the real world.
The seeds were planted when Playtron launched Game Dollar on Sui.
Source: Voh
4. Anti-Cheat and Fraud Detection
Anti-cheat and fraud detection methods can be used to separate real people from users and incentivize true gamers.
5. Less FUD, More Adulting
GameFi had a bad year in 2025, bringing it to its knees and sounding the death knell for dozens of projects and studios. In 2026, the industry will likely face less criticism and FUD as expectations readjust. This will give developers the chance to reset, reflect and improve where possible.
What You Can Do Now
- Review your 2025 GameFi trades to identify what worked, what failed and where to tighten execution.
- Monitor VC funding flows and social data to anticipate liquidity shifts before entering your next position.
- Filter out noise and make data-driven GameFi decisions as 2026 setups begin to form.
Here are some additional insights from my Q&A session with Siu:
Q: What are the benefits and appeal of Web3 gaming for casual gamers?
Web3 gaming provides ownership for casual gamers by using cryptocurrencies and tokens to represent digital assets — such as in-game items, skins and achievements — that players actually control.
This means casual gamers can truly own, trade or sell their in-game assets outside of the game environment, rather than being limited by traditional gaming systems where assets remain locked to an account.
Q: How do prediction markets and GameFi intersect?
Q: Were you happy with what Web3 games delivered this year?
