The developers of degen gaming ecosystem Cambria have raised an additional $2 million in a strategic funding round led by Bitkraft Ventures and Axie Infinity creators Sky Mavis.

Fundraising Details 

Next to the 2 prominent names leading the fundraise, the round also saw participation from several investors and crypto figures, including:

  • Moe (@Yassuo),
  • Zeneca.xyz (@Zeneca),
  • Legendary (@legendarygainz_),
  • vydamo (@vydamo_),
  • Andrew (@andr3w),
  • apix (@apixtwts),
  • Flowdesk (@flowdesk_co),
  • and “many more”

The studio’s X announcement regarding the funding stated that the new capital will help further develop its high-stakes web3 MMO and expand its ecosystem of on-chain, risk-based game modes.

The team has focused heavily on building complex on-chain economies and refining risk-based gameplay through early-access testing over the past 2.5 years. Its most popular modes, Gold Rush and Duel Arena, have both grown rapidly. In Gold Rush Season 2, more than 4500 concurrent players participated, risking a total of $1.5 million in on-chain wagers over 2 weeks, which is said to be an 8x increase from Season 1. Meanwhile, Duel Arena has generated over $145 million in total wagered volume since launch, becoming one of the most active crypto-native social hubs.

According to the announcement, Cambria’s latest round follows strong community traction and the success of its in-game economic model, with the team now planning to use the new funding to support development, as well as prepare for Gold Rush Season 3, which is planned to go live at some point November, with details on how to participate planned to be revealed soon.

Sky Mavis co-founder Jeff “Jihoz” Zirlin commented that the Cambria team “has consistently shown their ability to innovate, create new mechanics, and drive massive volume,” noting that few teams have demonstrated the same level of conviction in blockchain gaming.

“Thrilled to back @cyberpunk and the @playcambria team here. Very few have the conviction to double down on gaming here. Congrats to everyone involved. Cambria has consistently shown their ability to innovate, create new mechanics, and drive massive volume.”

What Is Cambria?

Cambria is an experimental blockchain MMORPG designed around real, on-chain economic risk. Set in a medieval fantasy universe, the game combines old school MMO mechanics with decentralized financial systems where players can risk and earn cryptocurrency through gameplay.

Players can participate in an evolving, PvPvE open world where every interaction has on-chain consequences, creating a competitive setting where players can lose or gain real crypto assets based on their success.

Cambria’s world draws inspiration from early online RPGs like RuneScape and Ultima Online, emphasizing community-driven economies and player specialization. Participants can take on various roles, from warriors and traders to resource gatherers, contributing to a shared ecosystem in which in-game wealth has measurable, real-world value.

NFT Collections

Cambria’s in-game ecosystem is supported by 3 live NFT collections with a combined market capitalization of approximately $5.3 million, according to the team. These are Cambria Founders, Cores, and Islands, each offering different forms of utility and in-game benefits.

  • Cambria Founders (Genesis Collection): The first and most exclusive NFT series, representing early supporters and contributors to the project. Holders generally receive early access to new features and closed test phases.
  • Cambria Cores: Utility-driven NFTs that can be used within the game’s crafting and economic systems. Cores play a role in both the Duel Arena and Gold Rush modes.
  • Cambria Islands: Virtual land assets that provide ownership over locations within the Cambria universe. Players can use these areas as bases of operation, trading posts, or safe zones for other participants.

Most of these NFT collections has been integrated into Cambria’s live systems through the Ethereum blockchain, with Cores available on Ronin.

Game Modes

Cambria currently features 2 main live game modes that define its ecosystem as browser-based titles: Duel Arena and Gold Rush.

  • Duel Arena: A 24/7 live “degen social hub” where players challenge one another to skill-based duels using real on-chain stakes. Each match can be played for fun or for cryptocurrency wagers, with the winner taking the full pot. The mode includes various mini-games such as Pit Fights, Flower Poker, and Dicing, as well as features like cosmetic trading and fishing. Since its launch, Duel Arena has recorded more than $145 million in total volume.
  • Gold Rush: A large-scale, seasonal MMO built around extraction-style gameplay. Players venture into dangerous zones to collect rare items, hunt monsters, and engage in PvP battles to earn rewards. Outside the safety of the capital city, every action carries risk, as dying results in lost assets that can be looted by others.

Both game modes form part of the broader Cambria universe, which the team plans to expand over future seasons with new mechanics, maps, and asset types.

Upcoming Plans

The next major milestone for the project is Gold Rush Season 3, set to launch at some point in November 2025. While there are no details at the time of writing, we can likely expect the new season to introduce expanded mechanics across the board for an even better blockchain gaming experience, which will no doubt be helped by the new $2 million in strategic funding.

Before the next season of Gold Rush kicks off, you may want to take a glance at Duel Arena, as that game has received a Halloween update, adding the ability to play to earn Halloween Masks by winning crypto duels, though the chance of winning these Masks, which come in 3 different colors, is only 0.5%. The color of the Mask you might possibly get depends on the duel stake in crypto (Red = 0.1 ETH and above; Green = 0.01 ETH and above, and Black = 0.001 ETH and above), and these are all indeed tradable Halloween Masks.

The update doesn’t stop there though, as you can look forward to 2 spooky events this weekend, one being the Pit Fight Champion Token Event for Friday, October 31, while a Haunted Bathhouse Party is scheduled for Saturday at the Duel Arena bathhouse for anyone interested in the game’s annual Halloween Costume Party. There will be rewards and community voting for the Best Dressed, Most Cursed, and Most Unique outfit. As for the Friday event, it marks Round 3 of Champions Tokens, with a prize pool of more than 4 ETH up for grabs for the best players.