Game Changers 101: Virtual Currencies

At the end of 2024, The Roblox Company reported that their game generated a whopping $3.6 billion in total yearly revenue. And similarly, Epic Games’ Fortnite was estimated to have raised over $5.8 billion in just last year alone, bringing its all-time total earnings to an astounding $40 billion since its launch back in 2017.

At first glance, these figures are certainly eye-opening, but a closer look can reveal such to be expected. After all, there’s a common thread weaving together the financial success of these two games, along with many others—the integration of virtual currencies for exclusive in-game goods and premium features.

Whether it’s Robux in Roblox or V-Bucks in Fortnite, the strategic implementation of virtual currencies allowed games to establish a continuous revenue loop driven by player purchases, fueling sustained financial growth and spiking player engagement through the digital roof.

In our previous Game Changers 101 article about microtransactions, we mentioned the monumental role of virtual currencies in the rise of microtransaction-based monetization strategies in gaming, but now it’s time to delve deeper.

In this month's edition, we’ll explore the trajectory of virtual currencies as they evolved into the in-game gold standard for live-service, MMO, free-to-play games, and more while uncovering the unique properties that enable countless game studios and creators to transform digital coins into real-world fortunes.

The Origins 

When pinpointing the exact game that first introduced the concept of virtual currencies, the reality of the matter is that virtual currency has been a prominent aspect of gaming since the early days (1970s and 1980s), with the dawn of the arcade.

As you know, players traded real cash for tokens to play classics like Pac-Man or Space Invaders. Much like today's virtual currencies, which hold no value outside their respective games, these tokens had no worth beyond their corresponding arcade, making them an early example of players using a form of currency to access in-game experiences.

It wasn’t until late in the 1990s that the concept of virtual economies we know today would really start to take shape with the rise of early online multiplayer games. Game titles like Ultima Online and EverQuest presented their own in-game economies, letting players earn and spend virtual gold for goods and services within the game’s world.

The rising popularity of free-to-play games in the early 2000s is where the idea of virtual currencies as a monetization strategy began to turn heads within the industry, with games such MapleStory and World of Warcraft allowing players to purchase in-game currency to unlock exclusive items and content.

By the 2010s, casual social games like FarmVille, The Simpsons: Tapped Out, and Clash of Clans catalyzed the use of in-game currencies as a standard monetization strategy—normalizing the adoption of virtual currency for accessing premium content and setting a precedent for many games that followed.

Bringing us to today, where virtual currencies are a primary fuel in powering thriving in-game economies, unlocking sustained revenue growth for countless game studios and server owners around the globe.

Why Are In-game Virtual Currencies So Effective?

The effectiveness of virtual currencies as a monetization strategy in gaming stems from several factors, each playing a crucial role in keeping players engaged and invested for different reasons:

• Customization freedom: Virtual Currencies encourage players to customize their gameplay experience in relation to their unique tastes and preferences.
• Continuous engagement: The ability to earn, spend, and trade virtual currency within the game creates a dynamic and interactive economy, cultivating a deeper immersion that drives players to keep coming back for more.
• Reward systems: Virtual currencies are often integrated with reward systems such as daily challenges, achievements, and in-game events, providing players with a sense of accomplishment as they earn and spend currency.

The Tebex Role

With over 12 years of experience as a leading monetization platform for private game servers and game studios, Tebex has helped thousands of developers and server owners implement successful in-game economies as a key revenue driving force.

Virtual currencies is a core strategy for many of 30,000+ Tebex partners, allowing them to seamlessly integrate premium purchases into their games in a way that feels organic—where in-game stores and digital goods naturally fit into the game’s setting.

Hypixel, one of the most popular Minecraft servers, implemented their Skyblock Gems as a premium virtual currency. Players use these gems to unlock valuable in-game items in Hypixel SkyBlock allowing for a better gameplay experience while seamlessly integrating monetization into the game world.

Similarly, Wynncraft, a Minecraft MMORPG, has tradable Silverbull Shares functioning as its in-game currency, allowing players exchange them for various in-game store perks, or use them to boost their guild and unlock cosmetics, not only enriching their adventure but supporting the server’s long-term sustainability.

Another example is PokéFind, a Pokémon-inspired Minecraft server that employs PokéGems as its virtual currency. Players can spend PokéGems on rare Pokémon, exclusive cosmetics, and special abilities, reinforcing engagement and driving ongoing monetization.

With Tebex, you gain more than just another monetization engine; you gain a partner dedicated to your growth and enabling your success every step of the way. Ready to level up your? Reach out to Tebex today to learn why we’re known for Gaming Payments Done Right.