Video Game Trailblazer Atari Launches Ethereum Token

Atari is moving onto the blockchain. 

The video game developer has launched its own cryptocurrency called Atari Token, described on its dedicated crypto website as a “token that will power the future of the interactive entertainment industry.” 

It’s the latest in a series of big moves from the company, which also launches a revamped version of its legendary VCS console at the end of this month.

Atari’s cryptocurrency is an ERC-20 token, meaning that it runs on Ethereum. The gaming company has confirmed its plans to use Atari Token in games and services and a new casino and betting platform. 

Cryptocurrencies could potentially transform the gaming and gambling industries, enabling micropayments and other use cases that aren’t practical with traditional centralized currencies. 

The token launched with three presales, raising over $1.5 million between them. A public sale then went live via Bitcoin.com on Oct. 29, with tokens priced at $0.25. 

Atari is one of the world’s most celebrated game developers, widely recognized as the first pioneer for video game culture. 

Its development of arcade games and early consoles through the 1970s and 1980s laid the foundations for a wave of Japanese companies like Nintendo to enter the industry, changing the video gaming landscape forever. 

While it’s early days for Atari Token, the move could prove to be another visionary step that leads to other games embracing the power of blockchain technology over the years to come.