Axie Infinity (AXS) Jumps 60%, Breaks $2—Is GameFi Finally Waking Up?

Axie Infinity (AXS) price is back in motion, and it’s doing what GameFi tokens usually do when sentiment flips: move fast and pull attention with it. After months of relative quiet, AXS has surged back above the $2 zone, posting a sharp multi-day rebound that has outpaced many larger coins on a percentage basis. The bigger story, though, isn’t just price—it’s the cluster of ecosystem changes landing at the same time, just as traders start sniffing around gaming tokens again.

This sets up a clean weekend question: Is GameFi finally waking up in 2026—or is this just a dead-cat bounce fueled by thin liquidity and leverage?

Why AXS Price Is Rising Today

The rally is being driven by a mix of flow (traders rotating into GameFi) and real catalysts coming from Axie’s token economy.

SLP Emissions Were Halted in Axie Origins

Axie Infinity announced that SLP emissions in the Origins game mode would cease starting January 7, 2026, citing that the previous reward structure created opportunities for automated/bot farming that harmed the long-term in-game economy. SLP still remains usable for crafting and morphing, but the key change is that the “farm and dump” loop gets disrupted. 

bAXS Positioned as a New Tokenomics Lever

Alongside the SLP change, Axie is rolling out bAXS, described as a gameplay-earned token that can be used within the ecosystem (spent, staked, or sold), with the early phase reportedly bound to accounts. Coverage around the rollout frames bAXS as part of an effort to reduce sell pressure and improve engagement. 

2026 is Being Framed as the Year of “Big Swings”

Recent commentary around Axie’s direction for 2026 highlights a willingness to take bigger risks and make “big swings” to refresh the ecosystem. That messaging matters because GameFi rallies often run on belief first—traders buy the possibility of a resurgence before the proof shows up. 

How High Can the Axie Infinity (AXS) Price Go Next?

The AXS price surged and is holding key levels, more than any GameFi token, indicating an improved trader engagement and liquidity rotating within the ecosystem. The volume has been rising consistently for the past few days, marking highs over $435 million. The web 3 gaming is getting attention again and with a strong move, the attention is now concentrated on the AXS price and whether the next move could be above $2.5 or not?

The latest upswing has pushed the AXS price within an important resistance zone between $2.04 and $2.14, while a surge may help the token to enter the demand range. The CMF displays a strong upswing, suggesting the price is closing near highs, and the volume is supporting the move. Besides, A/D is also supporting the bullish narrative, as the buyers are absorbing the supply, while the sudden vertical move signals heavy buying. 

These indicators combined suggest there is a significant influx of liquidity and the traders are accumulating rather than booking profit. 

Will the AXS Price Reach $3 This Month?

GameFi is starting to pick up again as broader crypto sentiment turns optimistic at the start of the year. In this setup, Axie Infinity (AXS) has room to extend, and a move toward $3+ looks achievable if buyers stay in control. That said, momentum indicators are already running hot, so the next leg higher may come only after a short cooldown or consolidation. If bulls defend key levels during that pause and overall market tone remains supportive, AXS could still push beyond $3 later this month.