ZACARY Egea works two jobs as a motorcycle taxi driver and courier in economically crippled Venezuela. In his downtime, the 32-year-old plays an online game to earn extra money by amassing so-called non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
Egea is one of many Venezuelans to have turned to NFT gaming to augment their income as the country confronts its eighth year of recession and fourth of hyperinflation.
NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital collectibles, each with a certificate of authenticity created by the same blockchain technology that underlies cryptocurrency. It cannot be forged or otherwise manipulated.
Egea plays the game Plant vs Undead, in which plants "grown" in an online garden battle zombie-like monsters. Players invest time in "watering" and otherwise caring for their plants purchased with cryptocurrency.
Each plant is an NFT that can be sold for real-world money.
The former policeman made an initial investment of $300 earned through his more traditional jobs.
"What do I want to achieve with this? To save up for a house for my family," said Egea, who shares an apartment with his mother in a poor Caracas suburb.
"It is a long-term project," he told AFP.
- Sunflower and cabbages -
Before starting, Egea opened a digital "wallet" with which to transfer his gains into real money.
He spent some money on upgrading his computer, then bought a digital sunflower and some cabbages for $80.
These he will farm until he can sell them to buy a digital tree, which, when mature, will be worth as much as $2,000.
In a notepad, Egea keeps a meticulous record of his farming activities and NFT price movements.
"At 6:00 am, I get up for the game. During work hours, while waiting (for a client), I water the plants, check that there aren't any crows" to eat them, he explained.
One night, he said, he awoke in a panic that his plants had died.
"I got up and connected (to the gaming site), but everything was fine," he laughed.
- Enough to support a family -
Plants vs Undead is currently the 18th most-visited website in Venezuela, according to Amazon's Alexa index.
In 35th place is Axie Infinity, another NFT game that works on a similar principle but requires a higher initial investment of about $1,000.
"These gaming platforms in which participants can earn money have become, in hyperinflationary countries such as Venezuela, options for generating additional income... (by) playing for an hour, three, four a day," said Venezuelan economist Aaron Olmos.
In this alternative economy, NFTs tend to start off at a relatively affordable price that grows at an attractive rate as more and more people get involved, he said, but warned the price can also drop and investments be lost.
One form of gaming that has gained in popularity is an investor paying someone else, often a teenager, to play on their behalf, generating income for a fee.
Axie Infinity, for example, can yield $400 or $500 a month for the hired player, enough "to support a family," said Yerson Rivero, a crypto-investor and NFT gamer.
In Venezuela, the minimum wage for public service is $2.5 per month and the average salary about $50, while a basket of basic groceries for a family of five costs about $220.
Rivero and a group of friends "farm" out of a tiny office in the back of a mechanical workshop, where they water virtual plants day in, day out.
"Cryptocurrency is the future," said Jesus Almerida, one of the group.
"I've decided that as soon as I have enough capital, I will... create a crypto wallet for each of my children... to pay for their university."
ETX Studio
Wed Sep 22 2021
![Cyber 'farming' to boost income in Venezuela Cyber 'farming' to boost income in Venezuela](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-09/61632285894_VIDEOGAMES.jpg)
Zacary Egea, a former member of the Bolivarian National Police, checks several video games while playing the Plant Vs Undead video game in Caracas. - ETX Studio
![Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723706198_TBsurirumahmaut.jpg)
Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik
Seorang wanita yang sebelum ini dilaporkan hilang ditemui meninggal dunia disyaki dibunuh dalam bilik tidur rumahnya di Indera Mahkota di sini pada petang Rabu.
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701143_TBastro.jpg)
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
AWANI Ringkas: Pemain bola bawa kerambit juga suspek baling bom petrol
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723702959_TBMahkamahSesyen.jpg)
Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China
Sepasang suami isteri dan empat individu didakwa menculik seorang lelaki warga China untuk mendapatkan wang tebusan berbentuk mata wang kripto.
![X buang sokongan NFT untuk gambar profil X buang sokongan NFT untuk gambar profil](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61704932956_XNFT.jpg)
X buang sokongan NFT untuk gambar profil
Pengguna tidak lagi boleh menetapkan NFT sebagai gambar profil.
![Cristiano Ronaldo disaman AS$1 bilion angkara Binance Cristiano Ronaldo disaman AS$1 bilion angkara Binance](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/71701306042_CristianoRonaldo.jpg)
Cristiano Ronaldo disaman AS$1 bilion angkara Binance
Plaintif meminta ganti rugi melebihi AS$1 bilion kerana Ronaldo terlibat dalam mempromosikan Binance kepada orang ramai.
![Syarikat jual-beli NFT terkenal OpenSea buang 50% pekerja Syarikat jual-beli NFT terkenal OpenSea buang 50% pekerja](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/51699095175_OpenSea.jpg)
Syarikat jual-beli NFT terkenal OpenSea buang 50% pekerja
Ini hadir lanjutan daripada 20 peratus pekerja yang telah dibuang sekitar setahun lepas.
![Marilyn Monroe diabadikan dalam projek 'Modern Muse' Marilyn Monroe diabadikan dalam projek 'Modern Muse'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-02/81677040084_ModernMuse.jpg)
Marilyn Monroe diabadikan dalam projek 'Modern Muse'
Imej mendiang ikon Hollywood Marilyn Monroe akan diabadikan dalam projek NFT baharu yang dipanggil Modern Muse.
![AEON tawar 4,800 NFT percuma AEON tawar 4,800 NFT percuma](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/61665110640_TBAEON.jpg)
AEON tawar 4,800 NFT percuma
AEON CO (M) Bhd (AEON) sekali lagi menampilkan penyertaan pada arena 'Non-Fungible Tokens' (NFT) sempena sambutan kemerdekaan dengan menawarkan 4,800 NFT yang boleh ditebus sehingga 16 Oktober depan.
![Di mana kedudukan Malaysia dalam dunia Web3? Di mana kedudukan Malaysia dalam dunia Web3?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/71663473755_WebMalaysia.jpg)
Di mana kedudukan Malaysia dalam dunia Web3?
Memandangkan kesemua teknologi ini masih 'muda' dan 'kelabu' dari pelbagai segi, potensi yang ada pada Malaysia cukup besar untuk menjadi kuasa besar teknologi di rantau ini.
![Pandelela lancar koleksi NFT pertama 'P.Zero1' Pandelela lancar koleksi NFT pertama 'P.Zero1'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-08/51661316308_PandelelaNFT.jpg)
Pandelela lancar koleksi NFT pertama 'P.Zero1'
P.Zero1 menceritakan kisah hidup Pandelela daripada seorang gadis kampung Bidayuh kepada seorang olahragawati yang diiktiraf di peringkat antarabangsa.
![NFT Edisi Khas #Merdeka65 kini dibuka untuk pendaftaran NFT Edisi Khas #Merdeka65 kini dibuka untuk pendaftaran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-08/61661167531_MerdekaNFT.jpg)
NFT Edisi Khas #Merdeka65 kini dibuka untuk pendaftaran
NFT #Merdeka65 akan ditempa sebanyak 65 unit yang diinspirasikan daripada perkongsian foto di media sosial kepada Astro AWANI.
![Web3 Expo bakal lonjak Malaysia ke Metaverse Web3 Expo bakal lonjak Malaysia ke Metaverse](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-02/71644246629_teknologi.jpg)
Web3 Expo bakal lonjak Malaysia ke Metaverse
Web3Expo, sebuah acara mega yang akan menghimpunkan nama-nama besar dunia ekonomi digital, akan diadakan buat julung kalinya di Malaysia.
![Manfaatkan NFT untuk bakat seni - Tun Mahathir Manfaatkan NFT untuk bakat seni - Tun Mahathir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/71658845925_tunM.jpg)
Manfaatkan NFT untuk bakat seni - Tun Mahathir
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad menyeru karyawan Malaysia memanfaatkan Non-Fungible Token (NFT) bagi mengembangkan karya seni mereka ke seluruh dunia.