Points of Focus  

• AXS up 130% in one week, 190% in January 2026, after bAXS rewards in Origins S16.  
• Non-transferable bAXS with reputation-based conversion fees targets bots.  
• 80K bAXS prize pool rewards long-term players over farmers.

Axie Infinity’s AXS token has surged 130% over the past week and 190% monthly following the January 21, 2026, launch of Origins Season 16, introducing bonded bAXS rewards and reputation-based fees designed to curb bots and reward genuine player engagement.

Axie Infinity, one of the earliest play-to-earn games on the Ronin network, has seen a strong resurgence in January 2026. Its governance token, $AXS, has risen more than 200% over the month, moving from sub-$1 levels to around $2.56–$2.70, its highest price since July 2025.

That… pic.twitter.com/vncEYKBq5i

— TECA (@CryptoTeca__) January 22, 2026

The “Rare Era” update features an 80,000 bAXS prize pool distributed via leaderboards, with all in-game rewards now in non-transferable bAXS, 1:1 backed by AXS, for breeding, evolving, and other utilities. Converting bAXS to liquid AXS will incur a Treasury fee scaled by a player’s Axie Score.  High-reputation veterans get to pay less, while low-score bots and short-term farmers face steeper costs. 

AXS prices rally to show widespread acceptance

Sky Mavis teased the changes earlier this month, which drove the rally to $2.70. Per CoinMarketCap, AXS climbed from $1.10 weekly open amid community excitement on X, where players hailed the anti-bot measures as a “game-changer for real earners.” 

Origins S16 is LIVE!

Welcome to the Rare Era ⚔️

✨ Introducing bAXS rewards
🏆 Over 80K bAXS up for grabs
🎁 Collectible chest rewards at 10K bAXS

Play Origins 👇

🔗 : https://t.co/Ya2ZWxuvp9

Full announcement 👇

📜 : https://t.co/gJqfM30t43 pic.twitter.com/3BHQYVMHOH

— Axie Infinity (@AxieInfinity) January 21, 2026

The Lunacian blog confirmed S16’s Elite 4 format remains, with collectible chest rewards at 10K bAXS. The reactions on X so far have been overwhelmingly positive, with crypto gaming fans relieved to hear some good news from the sector.

bAXS as the game changer in a reviving sector

Users are tired of bot-dominated economies, and as such, Axie’s bAXS system is a smart evolution. There have been industry calls for healthier gaming models, and bAXS seems to have responded to that, shifting value from mercenary farming to long-term participation. This can potentially boost retention and organic growth. 

Finally some positive news for crypto gaming tokens. We have suffered for way too long. Hope this lasts a longer time https://t.co/FZNiXb9Mgd

— Bobby Ong (@bobbyong) January 22, 2026

The reputation fees also favor dedicated players, potentially increasing real earnings and retention while discouraging automation. The 130% surge is a sign of market approval; however, sustainability depends on its ability to keep daily active users beyond the initial hype period. 

$AXS surges to $2.65 for the first time since September 2025, now up 209.3% this month.

Is GameFi and Axie Infinity making a comeback? pic.twitter.com/Dhpwg5LnEz

— CoinGecko (@coingecko) January 22, 2026

For gamers, it means fairer rewards but higher costs for casuals. This is a trade-off that could rebuild trust if leaderboards show genuine competition. The gaming crypto sector has been on a recent revival, and Axie’s anti-bot pivot positions it well, but execution on prize distribution and chain performance will determine if this sparks a lasting comeback or fades like past seasons.

Conclusion 

Axie Infinity’s update coincides with a period of wider revival signals in gaming crypto, including Axie Infinity’s own Ronin chain upgrades, GameFi surge, and rising NFT volumes. However, skeptics have questioned whether fees alone can sustain engagement without broader ecosystem improvement.