Sunflower Farmers game is exposing the weak link of crypto networks


Cables connected to a mining rig at a cryptocurrency mining centre in Nadvoitsy, Russia. As Sunflower shows, the number of games and participants is rising rapidly, as many crypto enthusiasts are also avid gamers, and the idea of combining the two passions appeals to many. — Bloomberg

Another immensely popular play-to-earn crypto video game is showing just how fragile and unpredictable blockchains really are.

Called Sunflower Farmers, the game lets players earn tokens for planting and harvesting crops, and its increased traction has resulted in so much network usage, it pushed transaction prices on the blockchain it runs on, Polygon PoS, to unheard of highs. Costs are now more than seven times higher than at the end of December, according to data tracker PolygonScan. Sunflower accounts for about 70% of all of the so-called gas used on Polygon by top accounts.

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