## Exercising and Earning at the Same Time? Why Is This Web3 Concept Suddenly Popular?

Have you ever thought that you could make money every time you go for a run or a walk? It sounds like a fairy tale, but in the world of Web3, this has become a reality. All of this stems from a new concept called **x to earn**—where users earn Token incentives by performing certain actions. Since the explosive popularity of Stepn, this model has quietly been changing people's definition of "earning money."

## What exactly is x to earn? Why is it so popular?

Simply put, **x to earn means turning users' daily behaviors into economic value**. The "x" can be exercise, gaming, learning, singing, or even sleeping—any activity that contributes to a Web3 project can earn you Token rewards.

It originally originated from DeFi's Stake to Earn (staking profit), but the concept has greatly expanded. Unlike traditional DeFi, which emphasizes the size of funds, **x to earn focuses more on the time and effort users invest**. Essentially, it is an efficient user acquisition method for Web3 projects—driving user behavior through Token incentives to rapidly amplify network effects.

Why is it so popular? The core reason is that it solves a long-standing unfairness: **In traditional apps, users' contributions are often monopolized by platforms or centralized institutions**. x to earn uses a Token economy model to allow every participant to share in the ecosystem's growth dividends.

## Why has Move to Earn become the biggest winner?

In 2021, the year of GameFi's rise, the explosion of Axie Infinity demonstrated the power of Play to Earn—peaking at over 2.7 million daily active users. But the homogeneity of pure gaming projects quickly emerged, with many projects becoming copies, leading to user fatigue.

Developers began to think: can this incentive mechanism be applied to real life? **Move to Earn was born**.

Stepn is a prime example in this space. This app, based on Solana and BSC, allows users to buy digital running shoe NFTs and earn Tokens through daily walking or jogging. It was the first to reach millions of virtual shoe sales, with daily active users surpassing 500,000 within just two months of launch. Its collaboration with sports brand Asics further ignited market enthusiasm. Now, Stepn has over 700,000 daily active users.

Why is Move to Earn easier to explode than Play to Earn? **Because it connects Web3 with real life**. Users don't need to sit in front of a computer clicking repeatedly; they can earn rewards while exercising. The combination of fitness, health, and earning creates a compelling value proposition with real potential to break into mainstream markets.

## The ecosystem is accelerating its expansion

Stepn's success has attracted many developers. Dozens of Move to Earn apps have emerged, each with its own特色:

- **Stepn (STEPN)**: The leader in running apps, helping millions develop daily exercise habits
- **Step App (FITFI)**: Built on Avalanche, a running chain game that uses NFTs and geolocation AR to migrate Web2 users to Web3 at low cost
- **Genopets (GENE)**: A free NFT game on Solana combining pet-raising, activity tracking, and combat systems, where users gain experience through daily walking
- **BikeRush (BRT)**: A GameFi+SocialFi app focused on cycling, integrating fitness, environmental protection, and social features

All these projects follow the same logic: **using NFTs to track user behavior and Token incentives to encourage participation**, building a bridge between the virtual world and real-world exercise.

## How big is the market potential? What are the risks?

Data shows that there are over 400 million running users worldwide, and more than 1 billion people incorporate walking, jogging, or running into their daily routines. The COVID-19 pandemic has further amplified people's focus on physical and mental health. **Move to Earn has seized this opportunity**, boasting a user base broader than any other Web3 sector.

But there are also hidden risks:

**1. Doubts about the real value of assets** — Some Tokens lack real-world backing and rely solely on supply and demand, making them highly susceptible to rapid price swings.

**2. Business model risks** — If a project only implements a simple "earn to recover costs" mechanism, and new user growth stalls, with inflows less than outflows, the entire ecosystem could spiral into a death spiral.

**3. Sustainability challenges** — Are users genuinely passionate about exercise, or are they just in it for the money? Long-term user engagement is the key.

**x to earn represents a new direction combining Web3 with real life**, and Move to Earn is the most successful practice in this direction. However, the future of this track depends on whether projects can balance effective incentives with long-term value creation.