GENE Token Value Estimator
Economic Reality of Genopets
Key Insights
As explained in the article:
GENE is not earned through walking - Your steps earn KI (in-game currency), not GENE. GENE must be purchased or traded.
High risk & low liquidity - Daily trading volume can be less than $500, meaning you may not be able to sell GENE when needed.
Token supply issues - Total supply isn't capped, and GENE has already dropped 71% since October 2023.
Not for investment - This tool shows potential value but GENE is not a safe investment. It's primarily for game functionality.
Important Risk Warning
Only invest what you can afford to lose
GENE is a high-risk asset - The token has dropped over 71% in the year leading up to October 2023. Market cap was around $570,000 with extremely low liquidity.
Not a path to wealth - You cannot earn GENE through walking alone. You must buy or trade for it.
Technical issues - 68% of Trustpilot complaints are about technical glitches that can cause loss of progress.
Only play if you enjoy the game - If you're only interested in GENE as an investment, the risks far outweigh any potential returns.
Genopets isn’t just another crypto coin. It’s a game you play while walking. You step, your pet evolves, and you earn GENE - the token behind it all. If you’ve ever used a fitness tracker and thought, ‘I wish I got paid for this’, Genopets is trying to make that real. But it’s not magic. It’s blockchain, NFTs, and a tricky economy wrapped in a cute pet-raising game.
What is Genopets?
Genopets is a free-to-play mobile game built on the Solana blockchain. You download the app, connect your wallet, and link your phone’s step counter (HealthKit or Google Fit). Every step you take turns into energy - and that energy feeds your digital pet, called a Genopet. Your pet grows, changes color, and unlocks new abilities based on how much you move. It’s like Tamagotchi meets Pokémon, but your real-world walking drives the progress.
The game isn’t just about walking. You battle other players’ pets, craft rare NFT items using in-game materials, and even build habitats for your pets. These actions use two tokens: GENE and KI. GENE is the main crypto coin. KI is the in-game currency you earn daily from steps. They don’t work the same way, and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes new players make.
What is GENE, the Genopets coin?
GENE is the governance and utility token of the Genopets ecosystem. Think of it like the fuel for the game’s economy. You need GENE to buy your first Genopet NFT (called a Genesis Genopet), to craft high-value items, to join seasonal drops, and to stake for rewards. It’s not something you earn just by walking - you have to buy it, trade for it, or win it in special events.
As of October 2023, there were 85 million GENE tokens in circulation. The total supply isn’t capped, which means more could be released over time. That’s a red flag for some investors. When supply grows without demand, prices tend to fall. And that’s exactly what happened. GENE dropped over 71% in the year leading up to October 2023. Its market cap hovered around $570,000 - tiny compared to big crypto names, and even smaller than its Move-to-Earn rivals like Stepn at its peak.
Trading volume is dangerously low. On some days, less than $500 worth of GENE changed hands. That means if you buy it, you might not be able to sell it easily. Liquidity is thin. If the price drops suddenly, you could be stuck.
How does the dual-token system work?
GENE isn’t the only token. KI is the one you actually earn from walking. Every day, your steps convert into KI. There’s a daily cap - so no matter how many steps you take, you can’t earn more than a set amount. That’s to stop inflation.
Here’s how KI is used:
- Crystal Refinement: Turn KI into crystals, which are needed to craft items.
- Alchemy & Crafting: Combine KI and crystals to make gear for your Genopet - like armor, weapons, or accessories.
- Terraforming: Use KI + GENE + crystals to build new habitats for your pets.
So GENE is for big purchases and control. KI is for daily play. You can’t craft good gear without both. But here’s the problem: getting enough GENE to craft anything meaningful takes real money. Most new players can’t earn enough GENE through gameplay alone. That means you either spend cash upfront, or you get stuck playing for months just to unlock basic upgrades.
Is Genopets worth playing?
For some, yes. People on Reddit say they walk 40% more because their Genopet needs it. One user said their daily steps went from 5,000 to 7,000 - not because they cared about crypto, but because they didn’t want their pet to stagnate. That’s the real win: motivation to move.
But if you’re hoping to make money, it’s risky. The token price is down hard. The game has a steep learning curve. You need to understand wallets, Solana, NFTs, and two different tokens - all before you even take your first step. And even then, the app crashes. Step counts don’t sync. People report losing progress. Trustpilot reviews show 68% of complaints are about technical glitches.
Also, the Move-to-Earn trend is dying. In early 2022, Stepn had a $1 billion market cap. By late 2023, the entire sector had collapsed to $180 million. Genopets is surviving, but barely. Its 18,500 monthly active users are a fraction of what it needs to sustain the economy. Without more players, GENE has nowhere to go but down.
How to get started
If you still want to try it, here’s how:
- Download the Genopets app on iOS or Android.
- Install a Solana wallet like Phantom or Backpack.
- Connect your wallet to the app.
- Link your phone’s step tracker.
- Summon your first Genopet. You can get a free basic one, or buy a Genesis NFT with GENE.
Start slow. Don’t buy GENE right away. Play for a week. See if you actually enjoy the gameplay. If you do, then think about spending. If you don’t - you’re better off walking without the app.
What’s next for Genopets?
The team is trying to fix things. Their roadmap includes:
- Player-vs-player battle arenas (launched late 2023)
- Better governance features for GENE stakers (early 2024)
- Compatibility with Ethereum (mid-2024)
They’re also adding more crafting options and seasonal events. But none of this matters if users keep leaving. The biggest hurdle isn’t tech - it’s keeping people engaged after the novelty wears off. Walking every day for a digital pet? That’s hard. Most people quit within 30 days.
Genopets could become the next big thing. Or it could vanish like hundreds of other crypto games. Right now, it’s in the middle - a clever idea with a broken economy, held together by a small, loyal group of players who just want to see their pets evolve.
Should you buy GENE?
Only if you understand the risk. GENE is not a safe investment. It’s a speculative bet on whether Genopets can grow its user base - fast. If they hit 50,000 active users, the token might rebound. If they stay at 18,500, it’ll keep falling.
Don’t buy GENE because you think it’s ‘the future of fitness.’ Buy it only if:
- You already play the game and love it
- You’re willing to lose your entire investment
- You’re not counting on it to pay your bills
For most people, the best use of GENE is as a game token - not a portfolio asset. Play for fun. Walk for health. Let the crypto be a bonus, not the goal.
Is Genopets a scam?
No, Genopets isn’t a scam. It’s a real game with real code, a working app, and a team that’s still developing it. But it’s a high-risk project with a failing token economy. The problem isn’t fraud - it’s sustainability. If not enough people play long-term, the GENE token will keep losing value. That’s not a scam. That’s a failed business model.
Can I earn GENE just by walking?
No. Walking earns you KI, not GENE. GENE has to be bought, traded, or won in special events. You can’t mine it or farm it from steps. Some players trade KI for GENE on third-party marketplaces, but that’s risky and often expensive. Don’t expect to earn GENE passively.
Do I need to spend money to play Genopets?
You don’t need to spend money to start. The app lets you summon a basic Genopet for free. But to progress beyond the beginner level - to craft good gear, battle effectively, or unlock rare pets - you’ll need GENE. Most players who stick with the game end up spending real money. It’s designed that way.
Is Genopets available on iOS and Android?
Yes. The Genopets app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You need a smartphone with step-tracking capabilities (HealthKit for iPhone, Google Fit for Android). No GPS is needed - just your phone’s pedometer.
What wallet should I use for Genopets?
Phantom and Backpack are the two most recommended wallets for Genopets because they’re built for Solana and integrate smoothly with the app. MetaMask won’t work - it’s for Ethereum. You need a Solana wallet. Make sure you back up your recovery phrase. If you lose it, you lose your Genopet and any GENE you own.
Why is the GENE token price dropping?
The price is falling because demand isn’t keeping up with supply. Fewer people are playing, and those who are aren’t buying GENE. The Move-to-Earn craze faded after 2022. Trading volume is extremely low, making the token volatile and hard to sell. Without more users or new features that create real demand, the price will likely keep falling.
Can I play Genopets without a smartphone?
No. The game requires a smartphone with step-tracking apps (HealthKit or Google Fit). You can’t play on a desktop or tablet. It’s designed to be a mobile-first experience that ties real-world movement to in-game progress.
Is Genopets legal in the US?
The legal status is unclear. The SEC has cracked down on other crypto projects that reward users for activity, calling them unregistered securities. Genopets hasn’t been targeted yet, but it’s in a gray area. If you’re in the US, treat GENE as a high-risk speculative asset - not a guaranteed return.
