YGG Play & Verse8 Launch $5K “Casual Degen” Game Track at BuidlHack 2026

YGG Play and Verse8 have partnered to introduce a US$5,000 (AU$7,250) “Casual Degen” game track at BuidlHack 2026, aimed at accelerating the development of crypto-native gaming experiences. The hackathon will run from 13–19 April as part of Korea BUIDL Week, bringing together developers to experiment with rapid game creation using AI tools and publishing support.

The initiative centres on “Casual Degen” games, described as lightweight, fast-paced titles designed for second-screen use while trading NFTs, memecoins or perpetuals. The model has already demonstrated strong commercial performance, with YGG Play’s LOL Land generating over US$8 million (AU$11.6 million) in revenue and outperforming traditional casual game monetisation benchmarks.

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Turning Ideas Into Scalable Web3 Games

Participants will use Verse8’s AI-powered platform to move from initial concept to playable prototype in a significantly shorter timeframe, while YGG Play provides go-to-market expertise and infrastructure. In addition to the US$5,000 (AU$7,250) prize pool, winners will share a further US$5,000 in platform credits and receive advertising support to scale their projects.

Promising teams may also gain access to Verse8’s investment network and be considered for publishing through YGG Play, which includes player acquisition channels and global distribution.

BuidlHack is part of Korea BUIDL Week, a series of technical events that draws more than 20,000 participants to Seoul, where the South Korean won frequently rivals the US dollar in global crypto trading volume. Co-founder of YGG, Gabby Dizon, said, “South Korea is one of the only places where crypto and gaming culture are actually mainstream, with nearly a third of the population active in the market”. 

YGG Play and Verse8 are tapping South Korea’s deep crypto liquidity and gaming strength to build BuidlHack into a “Casual Degen” launchpad. Kevin Lee, CEO of Verse8, said, “We are providing builders with the tools to generate and remix Web3 experiences instantly, and then plugging them directly into the industry’s most sophisticated publishing and scaling engine”.

The hackathon schedule includes a Builder Day on 14 April, submissions closing on 17 April, and a final showcase on 18 April, with both in-person and online participation available.

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