What Is Immutable? The Ethereum Network for Crypto and NFT Games

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Immutable X is a layer-2 scaling solution built on Ethereum, designed specifically for blockchain gaming and NFT transactions. Developed by the Web3 company Immutable using StarkWare’s advanced zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup technology, it enables fast, secure, and gas-free transactions—making it an ideal platform for NFT-based games and digital asset marketplaces.

As Ethereum remains one of the most decentralized and secure blockchains, its mainnet has long struggled with high gas fees and slow transaction speeds. These issues became especially evident during the 2017 CryptoKitties craze, when the surge in NFT activity clogged the network and disrupted normal operations. Today, such limitations make it impractical for most game developers to build directly on Ethereum’s mainnet.

That’s where Immutable X steps in.

👉 Discover how developers are building the future of gaming with scalable blockchain solutions.

What Is Immutable X?

Immutable X is a gaming-focused layer-2 network that inherits Ethereum’s security while dramatically improving speed and cost efficiency. By leveraging ZK rollup technology, it processes thousands of transactions off-chain and batches them into a single proof submitted to Ethereum, ensuring both scalability and trustlessness.

According to its whitepaper, Immutable X supports zero gas fees for users—meaning players can mint, trade, and transfer NFTs without paying per-transaction costs. This is a game-changer for mass adoption, especially in play-to-earn and free-to-play models where frictionless interaction is essential.

The network boasts throughput of over 9,000 NFT transactions per second, far surpassing Ethereum’s base-layer capacity. This performance makes Immutable X one of the most efficient ecosystems for NFT-heavy applications like digital collectibles, in-game assets, and virtual economies.

Core Features:

These attributes position Immutable X as a leading infrastructure provider in the rapidly growing Web3 gaming space.

Who Created Immutable X?

Immutable, the Australian-based Web3 technology firm, is the driving force behind Immutable X. Founded in 2018 by James Ferguson, Robbie Ferguson, and Alex Connolly, the company operates at the intersection of blockchain development and game publishing.

Beyond building the protocol, Immutable has developed its own titles—most notably Gods Unchained, a popular NFT trading card game—and actively publishes other promising Web3 games like Guild of Guardians. This dual role allows Immutable to deeply understand developer needs while shaping user experience from a gamer’s perspective.

As of January 2024, Immutable has raised nearly $280 million in funding from major investors including Tencent, GameStop Digital Ventures, King River Capital, and others. This strong backing underscores confidence in its vision to become the foundational layer for blockchain gaming.

How Does Immutable X Work?

Immutable X integrates seamlessly with existing Ethereum tools and wallets. Users can access the network through familiar interfaces like MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet, or opt for Immutable Passport—a dedicated wallet designed for gamers.

Immutable Passport simplifies onboarding by offering social logins (e.g., Google or Apple), reducing the complexity often associated with crypto wallets. It also provides a unified identity across multiple games, allowing players to maintain consistent profiles and inventories without managing separate accounts.

Behind the scenes, Immutable X uses ZK rollups to bundle thousands of off-chain transactions into a single cryptographic proof verified on Ethereum. This design ensures:

Additionally, Immutable has built a suite of REST APIs that allow developers to integrate NFT minting, trading, and transfers via simple HTTP calls—bypassing the need for complex smart contract interactions. This significantly lowers the technical barrier to entry for game studios adopting blockchain features.

👉 Learn how easy it is to start integrating NFTs into your next game project.

Who’s Using Immutable X?

A growing ecosystem of game developers and NFT marketplaces have adopted Immutable X as their preferred platform.

Notable Games on Immutable X:

Major Marketplaces:

In June 2022, Immutable launched a $500 million fund through Immutable Ventures to accelerate Web3 gaming innovation. This initiative offers grants and investment to developers building on its ecosystem, further solidifying its leadership in the space.

Despite strong momentum, Immutable faces competition from other gaming-centric chains like Polygon, Avalanche, Arbitrum Nova, Sui, and Solana—each vying to become the go-to platform for scalable, immersive blockchain games.

What Is Immutable zkEVM?

Expanding beyond Immutable X, the company is developing Immutable zkEVM, a new zk-rollup network that combines Polygon’s zkEVM technology with Immutable’s gaming expertise.

Announced in March 2023, this collaboration aims to deliver a fully EVM-equivalent environment—meaning developers can deploy Ethereum-compatible smart contracts natively on the zkEVM chain without modifications. This compatibility simplifies migration from other EVM-based networks like Ethereum, Polygon, or BNB Chain.

Games already committed to launching on Immutable zkEVM include:

According to an official blog post, this network unlocks greater flexibility for developers by supporting existing tooling (like Hardhat and Remix) and enabling faster iteration cycles.

With native EVM support and optimized gaming infrastructure, Immutable zkEVM could become a dominant force in next-gen Web3 game development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is Immutable X built on Ethereum?
A: Yes, Immutable X is a layer-2 scaling solution built on top of Ethereum. It uses ZK rollups to process transactions off-chain while relying on Ethereum for final settlement and security.

Q: Can I use MetaMask with Immutable X?
A: Absolutely. Immutable X supports all standard Ethereum wallets like MetaMask and Coinbase Wallet. You can also use Immutable Passport for a more streamlined gaming experience.

Q: Are there gas fees on Immutable X?
A: No—users enjoy zero gas fees when minting or trading NFTs. Fees are typically covered by developers or marketplaces.

Q: What is the IMX token used for?
A: IMX is the native ERC-20 utility token of the Immutable ecosystem. It’s used for governance, staking, paying protocol fees, and incentivizing participation across games and platforms.

Q: How does Immutable compare to Solana for gaming?
A: While Solana offers high speed and low cost, it has faced concerns over network outages and centralization. Immutable X provides comparable performance with stronger decentralization by anchoring security to Ethereum.

Q: Is Immutable zkEVM live yet?
A: As of early 2025, Immutable zkEVM is in active development with several games preparing for launch. Developers can already begin testing on testnets.

As of January 2024, the IMX token ranks among the top 40 cryptocurrencies by market cap, reaching nearly $2.7 billion—a testament to investor confidence in its long-term potential within the Web3 gaming economy.

With robust infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and a clear focus on developer empowerment, Immutable is poised to play a central role in shaping the future of digital ownership in gaming.

👉 Explore how you can get started with blockchain gaming today.