Thousands & Wildcard Alliance Secure $9M for Innovative Blockchain Gaming
▼ Summary
– Thousands and The Wildcard Alliance raised $9 million in funding, with $6.5 million secured so far, to advance their Web3 and gaming projects.
– Wildcard is a 2v2 Collectible Card Action Game combining real-time combat and strategic deck-building, set in an interactive arena.
– The funding will accelerate development of their ecosystem, including the Thousands protocol and Wildcard, aiming to reward creators and improve user acquisition.
– The Thousands network achieved $800,000 in revenue in May 2025, with high viewer-to-payer conversion (77%) and revenue-per-stream ($50,000), exceeding industry standards.
– Wildcard has been approved for Steam release, with 100k+ community members playtesting Alpha builds weekly ahead of its Early Access launch later this year.
The gaming and blockchain industries are buzzing with excitement as Thousands and The Wildcard Alliance secure $9 million in funding to revolutionize Web3 gaming. This joint investment, co-led by Arbitrum Gaming Ventures and Paradigm, will fuel the development of an innovative ecosystem combining interactive gameplay with decentralized creator economies.
Founded by industry veterans Paul and Katy Drake Bettner, known for hits like Words With Friends and Lucky’s Tale, the Texas-based companies have already raised $6.5 million, with the remaining funds expected within 60 days. The fresh capital builds on their $46 million Series A round in 2022, accelerating the launch of Wildcard, a groundbreaking Collectible Card Action Game (CCAG), and expanding the Thousands protocol, which redefines word-of-mouth marketing through blockchain technology.
Wildcard merges fast-paced arena combat with strategic deck-building, letting players summon creatures and execute dynamic abilities in real-time battles. Meanwhile, Thousands provides the infrastructure to track and reward user engagement, creating a transparent, incentive-driven economy for creators and players alike.
The synergy between these platforms has already delivered impressive results. In May 2025 alone, the Thousands network generated $800,000 in revenue, with an average revenue-per-stream of $50,000 and a staggering 77% viewer-to-payer conversion rate, far surpassing industry benchmarks.
Paul Bettner, co-CEO, emphasized the mission: “Wildcard thrives when its community thrives. Thousands ensures creators are fairly compensated for driving value, transforming passive viewers into active participants.”
Investors share this enthusiasm. Rick Johanson of Arbitrum Gaming Ventures praised Thousands’ “web-native streaming layer,” comparing it to “Twitch meets WalletConnect,” while Dave White from Paradigm highlighted the team’s track record in delivering highly anticipated crypto gaming experiences.
With Wildcard’s Steam Early Access launch approaching, weekly alpha playtests on Thousands.tv are already drawing over 100,000 engaged players, generating an average revenue of $141 per viewer.
Content creator Payton Kaleiwahea of WolvesDAO captured the platform’s disruptive potential: “Thousands isn’t just streaming, it’s an immersive, two-way experience where fans become part of the game.”
Backed by 60 full-time and contract employees, Thousands and Wildcard Alliance are poised to reshape gaming, proving that blockchain and community-driven economies are the future of interactive entertainment.
(Source: VentureBeat)
