Pixelcraft Studios, the company behind the crypto game Aavegotchi , announced Thursday that it plans to launch a “members only” Ethereum layer-3 gaming blockchain called Geist.

Powered by multiple Ethereum scaling technologies, Geist is designed to overcome various hurdles facing the current crypto gaming environment, including high player turnover and a prevalence of “botting” used to manipulate rewards initiatives.

"Geist is our response to the call for a more trustworthy and innovative gaming blockchain," said pseudonymous Pixelcraft CEO Coderdan, in a statement. "Geist's exclusive and rewarding ecosystem sets a new benchmark for crypto gaming, ensuring a secure and engaging experience for all members."

Interestingly, Geist will be built across multiple Ethereum scaling technologies, using Arbitrum ’s Orbit tech while also relying on Coinbase’s Base network for settlement. Blockchain development platform Alchemy is also contributing to the network.

According to a tweet thread , players will be able to gain access to the network through certain criteria, such as owning an Aavegotchi NFT —and then they can “pay the dues” to become a member. An FAQ shared with Decrypt ’s GG notes that membership requires ongoing payments when each cycle ends, but that invites come with a seven-day free trial.

However, users who owned Aavegotchi NFTs ahead of the announcement will be “eligible for a free membership,” with more details to be announced ahead. Decrypt ’s GG reached out for more details regarding the membership fees, but did not immediately receive a response.

Like Ronin and Xai , rival Ethereum gaming networks, Geist will be permissioned—which means the developers can determine which teams can build on the chain. The platform promises to offer a curated selection of games approved by Pixelcraft Studios or AavegotchiDAO.

Key features of the Geist platform include exclusive rewards such as badges and loot boxes, seamless game integration, an NFT marketplace called Aavegotchi Baazaar, and technical capabilities like a native on-chain random number generator and gasless transaction support. Aavegotchi’s GHST will be the network’s native token.

The network also aims to provide future opportunities for members to earn a portion of marketplace and sequencer fees through staking, per a release. To facilitate user participation, Geist plans to leverage major exchanges for easy ETH and GHST onramps.

No firm timeline was provided, though Geist is expected to launch in the “coming months,” per a release. A testnet rollout will precede the eventual mainnet debut.

Editor’s note: This article was written with the assistance of AI. Edited and fact-checked by Andrew Hayward .