Before Web3, JB was the kind of student who skipped class to play Ragnarok. Like many Filipino gamers, he grew up inside internet cafés—sharing machines, loading credits, and dreaming of one day owning his own. That dream came true. And now, with NFT X-Street, he’s betting on a new kind of ownership: digital, decentralized, and built for players like him.
For JB, gaming wasn’t a phase. It was his social life, his after-school routine, and eventually, his professional calling. Today, JB is the founder of NFT X-Street, a grassroots Web3 gaming community that blends nostalgia with the promise of digital ownership.
He still plays Ragnarok and Axie, but now as a guild founder helping others navigate an evolving space. His goal isn’t just to introduce people to crypto games. It’s to help them understand what makes this new model different.
A Café Owner Who Grew Up in One
In high school, JB spent much of his time in esports cafés like Mineski Infinity and Gilmore Café in Quezon City. The atmosphere was familiar: the hum of the machines, the timed rounds, and the rhythm of players rotating between matches. It wasn’t just about games. It was about community, repetition, and routine.
“I’ve been a gamer since high school, since the internet cafés were created. I even skipped class just to play. And yeah, I’m a gamer at heart.”
He collected Ragnarok subscription cards. He remembers the days of trading items for fair prices in in-game marketplaces. That sense of economy stuck with him, even before he knew how it would evolve.
Eventually, he opened his own café. What started as a player’s dream became a space for others to gather, compete, and connect.
“Exactly. When my dream came true, I was really surprised. But it happened. That was my dream—to own one.”
Now, with NFT X-Street, he sees Web3 gaming as the next step in that evolution.
The Power of In-Game Ownership
Web3 games aren’t perfect, JB says, but they offer something that traditional games never did: the chance to actually own what you earn.
“We used to spend money on games and never see it again. Now, when you buy an item, you can sell it. It has value. It’s yours.”
For him, Ragnarok was a turning point. He remembers how players used to spend hours in-game, navigating markets, trading items, and grinding for progression. That same gameplay loop exists today, but Web3 adds something new: liquidity and ownership.
“Before, you needed to subscribe. You spent, but you couldn’t sell anything. Now, all the items in-game, you can sell. You can own it.”
That shift matters. It changes how players see their time. And during the pandemic, when many were out of work, it became more than just a mechanic. It became a lifeline.
A Community Built on Trust
NFT X-Street isn’t a massive operation, and that’s by design. JB prefers it that way. He checks in on members, hosts calls, and keeps the hype in check.
“I don’t want to hype a project that will rug. We look for games with a real team, a real roadmap, and a reason to stay.”
The guild isn’t just focused on income. It also talks about design, updates, and whether mechanics make sense. Players are taught to ask, not just play.
Trust, he says, starts with transparency. It’s why he vets every game before recommending it. He’s not just trying to onboard players—he’s trying to protect them.
Pushing Back on the “Scam” Narrative
JB knows what people think when they hear “Web3” or “crypto games.” The skepticism is everywhere, especially among traditional gamers. But he doesn’t argue. He just tells his story.
“When you tell your friends you're into crypto or blockchain, they’ll say it’s a scam. But here we are. We have a community. And we’re giving people the right information.”
It's a stigma JB actively works against by educating gamers on real use cases of NFTs, transparency in development teams, and how to spot red flags in tokenomics.
He believes most doubts come from confusion, not rejection. The learning curve is steep, and the terminology can be overwhelming. That’s why NFT X-Street focuses on education as much as onboarding.
“They just need guidance. If you talk about blockchain with a newbie, it gets complex fast. Thankfully, we have a community to help.”
For JB, Web3 doesn’t replace traditional games—it adds a new layer. Systems like grinding, trading, and building parties already existed. Now, they just come with ownership and opportunity attached.
What Keeps Him Going
The biggest reward, he says, isn’t tied to token prices or follower counts. It’s the moment someone new sets up a wallet, asks a smart question, or finally understands what an NFT actually is. That’s when the work pays off.
More than a guild, NFT X-Street is JB’s long-term bet on the future of gaming. What started as a dream to own an internet café has become something much bigger: a new kind of community, open to anyone willing to learn, play, and build alongside others.
From café walls to blockchain guilds, JB’s story is proof that Web3 gaming is more than a trend. It’s a movement reshaping how Filipino gamers play, earn, and connect.
