Thousands and Wildcard Secure $9 Million Investment for Game Development
In a significant stride for the gaming industry, Thousands and its sibling company, Wildcard Alliance, have collectively announced a successful fundraising round amounting to $9 million. This investment was co-led by Arbitrum Gaming Ventures and Paradigm, two prominent players in the blockchain and gaming realms. The innovative web3 protocol initiated by Thousands seeks to redefine word-of-mouth marketing by offering a distinct attribution infrastructure that benefits both creators and users alike.
Founded by the seasoned duo, Paul and Katy Drake Bettner, known for their acclaimed games like Words With Friends and Age of Empires, the initiative has already garnered $6.5 million of its target, with expectations to close the remainder within the next two months. This fresh round of funding marks a substantial follow-up to their previous success in raising $46 million during the Series A phase in 2022.
The main aim of this recent influx of capital is to expedite the development of an integrated ecosystem of products that leverage the Thousands protocol along with the Thousands.tv platform. This systems’ goal is to unlock new methods of user acquisition centered around content creators, while simultaneously supporting the impending launch of their new game, Wildcard.
As highlighted by Paul Bettner, the co-CEO, the success of Wildcard is intrinsically tied to the achievements of its creators and community. ("It's essential that we devise a more effective strategy to reward those remarkable contributors who significantly enhance the value of our game. The Thousands protocol offers us the on-chain capabilities to accurately monitor and incentivize user acquisition and conversion at every touchpoint within the user journey.")
The collaboration between Thousands and Wildcard has already produced outstanding results, as evidenced by the Thousands network's impressive revenues that soared to over $800,000 in May 2025 alone. With metrics such as an average revenue per stream reaching $50,000 and a viewer-to-payer conversion rate of 77%, their performance has notably outpaced industry expectations.
This innovative Thousands network targets an enormous, underutilized market within the word-of-mouth economy, transforming the ways influence is measured and encouraged. By making attribution accessible, programmable, and properly aligned with incentives, the platform allows creators to earn immediate rewards whenever their content leads to user conversions. In contrast, intellectual property owners benefit from significantly lower customer acquisition costs than traditional marketing methods.
Rick Johanson, a founding partner at Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, elaborates on the potential of Thousands, stating, ("It’s reshaping the connection between games and their audiences. With their web-native streaming layer, resembling a blend of Twitch and WalletConnect, any connected viewer is positioned to actively participate in a new on-chain economy, turning passive watchers into engaged users.")
The confidence in the teams behind Thousands and Wildcard is echoed by Dave White, a research partner at Paradigm. ("We are genuinely excited not just about the game but about the team itself, who have crafted one of the most anticipated games in the crypto space. We eagerly await what comes next.")
Both platforms have seen remarkable progress since their initial funding. Wildcard is now primed for release on Steam, with an enthusiastic community of over 100,000 players who are currently playtesting the Alpha versions of the game each week in anticipation of its Early Access launch later this year. These playtests, which are streamed multiple times a week on Thousands.tv, serve to showcase the network's capability to promote engagement and monetization, achieving an astonishing revenue per viewer of $141.
A game creator, Payton Kaleiwahea, emphasizes the transformative nature of the Thousands platform. ("It’s not merely streaming anymore; it’s evolved into a two-way interaction. This isn’t just entertainment; it creates connections. When you engage with Thousands, you’re part of something—you're invested. This alters the entire experience.")
In summary, the collaboration between Thousands and the Wildcard Alliance marks an exciting chapter in the evolution of interactive entertainment. By emphasizing community-driven content and utilizing advanced technologies, they are carving a new path for the gaming industry, one where creators and players alike can thrive. With the backing of significant investments and a robust strategy in place, the future looks bright for this ambitious venture. Those intrigued by these developments can explore more about their projects at wildcardgame.com and thousands.tv.
Founded by the seasoned duo, Paul and Katy Drake Bettner, known for their acclaimed games like Words With Friends and Age of Empires, the initiative has already garnered $6.5 million of its target, with expectations to close the remainder within the next two months. This fresh round of funding marks a substantial follow-up to their previous success in raising $46 million during the Series A phase in 2022.
The main aim of this recent influx of capital is to expedite the development of an integrated ecosystem of products that leverage the Thousands protocol along with the Thousands.tv platform. This systems’ goal is to unlock new methods of user acquisition centered around content creators, while simultaneously supporting the impending launch of their new game, Wildcard.
As highlighted by Paul Bettner, the co-CEO, the success of Wildcard is intrinsically tied to the achievements of its creators and community. ("It's essential that we devise a more effective strategy to reward those remarkable contributors who significantly enhance the value of our game. The Thousands protocol offers us the on-chain capabilities to accurately monitor and incentivize user acquisition and conversion at every touchpoint within the user journey.")
The collaboration between Thousands and Wildcard has already produced outstanding results, as evidenced by the Thousands network's impressive revenues that soared to over $800,000 in May 2025 alone. With metrics such as an average revenue per stream reaching $50,000 and a viewer-to-payer conversion rate of 77%, their performance has notably outpaced industry expectations.
This innovative Thousands network targets an enormous, underutilized market within the word-of-mouth economy, transforming the ways influence is measured and encouraged. By making attribution accessible, programmable, and properly aligned with incentives, the platform allows creators to earn immediate rewards whenever their content leads to user conversions. In contrast, intellectual property owners benefit from significantly lower customer acquisition costs than traditional marketing methods.
Rick Johanson, a founding partner at Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, elaborates on the potential of Thousands, stating, ("It’s reshaping the connection between games and their audiences. With their web-native streaming layer, resembling a blend of Twitch and WalletConnect, any connected viewer is positioned to actively participate in a new on-chain economy, turning passive watchers into engaged users.")
The confidence in the teams behind Thousands and Wildcard is echoed by Dave White, a research partner at Paradigm. ("We are genuinely excited not just about the game but about the team itself, who have crafted one of the most anticipated games in the crypto space. We eagerly await what comes next.")
Both platforms have seen remarkable progress since their initial funding. Wildcard is now primed for release on Steam, with an enthusiastic community of over 100,000 players who are currently playtesting the Alpha versions of the game each week in anticipation of its Early Access launch later this year. These playtests, which are streamed multiple times a week on Thousands.tv, serve to showcase the network's capability to promote engagement and monetization, achieving an astonishing revenue per viewer of $141.
A game creator, Payton Kaleiwahea, emphasizes the transformative nature of the Thousands platform. ("It’s not merely streaming anymore; it’s evolved into a two-way interaction. This isn’t just entertainment; it creates connections. When you engage with Thousands, you’re part of something—you're invested. This alters the entire experience.")
In summary, the collaboration between Thousands and the Wildcard Alliance marks an exciting chapter in the evolution of interactive entertainment. By emphasizing community-driven content and utilizing advanced technologies, they are carving a new path for the gaming industry, one where creators and players alike can thrive. With the backing of significant investments and a robust strategy in place, the future looks bright for this ambitious venture. Those intrigued by these developments can explore more about their projects at wildcardgame.com and thousands.tv.
Topics Entertainment & Media）
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