MapleStory revives Avalanche, tops 1M daily transactions twice in a week

The Avalanche blockchain surpassed one million daily transactions twice in the span of a week, which is the first time the network hit this milestone since February 2024.

Avalanche transactions topped the mark on June 1 and again on June 7. Total transactions for the week beginning June 2 reached 5.8 million, also the highest weekly total since early 2024 spikes, according to data from blockchain analytics platform Nansen.

The spike in activity is largely driven by MapleStory Universe, Avalanche noted on X. MapleStory Universe is a Web3 gaming ecosystem built on Avalanche. Its first game, MapleStory N, launched on May 15.

Before the side-scrolling online role-playing game landed on Avalanche, the blockchain’s daily transactions rarely topped 500,000 in 2025.

MapleStory became a cultural phenomenon among gamers in the 2000s and early 2010s. It served as a proto-metaverse for socializing, making friends and even forming romantic relationships.

Its original Web3 version was one of the early examples of virtual economies, in-game currencies, tradable items and user-driven content — elements that blockchain technology now aims to enhance. The franchise remains deeply nostalgic for millennials across South Korea and Southeast Asia.

Veteran game developer Nexon is in Avalanche 

Excitement around MapleStory Universe is also buoyed by its developer, Nexon, a Tokyo-listed South Korean gaming giant and the world’s 21st-largest publicly listed corporate Bitcoin (BTC) holder, according to data aggregated by BitcoinTreasuries.NET.

As of June 9, it holds 1,717 BTC, acquired in April 2021 and held since.

MapleStory’s launch also introduced the developer’s Nexpace Coin (NXPC), the primary currency of the MapleStory Universe. 

Despite early buzz, NXPC has struggled to maintain its momentum. After reaching an all-time high of $3.77 shortly after launch, it has since fallen 64% to $1.34 at the time of writing.

Avalanche gaining momentum as gaming blockchain

Avalanche has been gaining traction in Web3 gaming since late 2024. Its momentum was fueled by the launch of Off The Grid, a shooter built on its GUNZ subnet, which marked a shift toward attracting mainstream gamers, not just crypto natives.

That narrative also applies to its native Avalanche (AVAX) token.

On May 14, the day before MapleStory N launched, AVAX was trading as high as $26. It has since declined to $20, far below its yearly high of $54 reached in December.