What Is The Sandbox (SAND) and How Does It Work?
The Sandbox (SAND) is a blockchain-based virtual world where users can create, own, and monetize their gaming experiences using
NFTs and the native SAND token. Built on
Ethereum and expanded to
Polygon, it combines elements of
gaming,
DeFi, and user-generated content to power a decentralized
metaverse.
In The Sandbox, players use tools like VoxEdit to create 3D assets and Game Maker to build interactive games on virtual LAND parcels. These digital assets can be traded on The Sandbox Marketplace using SAND, which also functions as the platform’s utility and governance token. SAND holders can stake tokens for rewards, participate in
DAO proposals, or access premium features in the metaverse.
Who Created The Sandbox and When Was It Launched?
The Sandbox was originally founded in May 2011 as Pixowl by Adrien Duermaël, Arthur Madrid, and Sébastien Borget, following their early success with the mobile game Doodle Grub. On May 15, 2012, the team launched the first version of The Sandbox as a 2D pixel-art world-building game on iOS, Android, and Steam. In August 2018, Pixowl was acquired by Animoca Brands for approximately $4.875 million, signaling a major pivot toward blockchain gaming. Following the acquisition, the company rebranded as TSB Gaming Ltd, doing business as The Sandbox, and began transforming the project into a fully 3D blockchain-powered metaverse.
Roadmap Highlights: Key Milestones for The Sandbox
• 2018 Q4: VoxEdit alpha released; Creator Fund launched
• 2019 Q4: LAND token presale; VoxEdit beta and Game Maker alpha go live
• 2020 Q2–Q4: Major upgrades including the Marketplace, multiplayer features, and mobile/console support
• August 2020: Launch of SAND token via Binance IEO
• November 2021: Public Alpha release; $93M Series B funding; record-breaking LAND sales
• 2022 Q1–Q4: Rollout of mobile support, DAO launch, and partnerships with brands like Gucci and Paris Hilton
• 2023 (Global Creators Day): Open publishing for LAND owners; Game Maker 0.9 release; launch of 100M SAND Creator Fund
• 2024: DAO governance fully operational; introduction of themed neighborhoods; ecosystem enters maturity
• By mid-2025: Ongoing user-generated content (UGC) expansion, enhanced staking rewards, and a growing global creator community
What Is the SAND Token Utility?
The SAND token powers The Sandbox’s virtual economy, enabling users to interact, transact, and participate in the decentralized metaverse. It serves as the platform’s core utility and governance token used for buying assets, staking, earning rewards, and voting on key ecosystem decisions.
1. Medium of Exchange: SAND is the essential
ERC‑20 token used for buying and selling virtual LAND, assets, avatars, and other in-game items across the Sandbox ecosystem’s Marketplace, Game Maker, and VoxEdit platforms.
2. The Sandbox Staking & Rewards: Users can stake SAND to earn passive rewards, including additional SAND, and special asset‑creation tokens like GEMs and CATALYSTs.
3. Governance via DAO: SAND holders participate in decentralized governance, influencing platform decisions, development funds, roadmap priorities, and grant distributions.
4. Foundation & Fee Capture: A 5% transaction fee on the Marketplace allocates 50% to ecosystem staking rewards and 50% to The Sandbox Foundation for grants and developer funding.
5. Play-to-Earn Incentives: Players earn SAND through gaming, contests, in‑game experiences, and activity-based rewards systems like Play-and‑Earn events.
You can trade SAND on BingX by placing buy or sell orders using the
SAND/USDT pair on the
Spot market. For advanced users, BingX also offers
perpetual futures trading, allowing leveraged exposure through USDT‑settled or crypto-margined contracts.
What Is The Sandbox Tokenomics?
The Sandbox (SAND) has a fixed maximum supply of 3,000,000,000 SAND tokens, with no inflationary minting planned. Here’s a breakdown of the initial allocation:
• 25.82% – Reserved for the Sandbox Foundation to fund ecosystem development and grants
• 17.18% – Allocated to seed sale investors
• 17.00% – Held by the team
• 12.00% – Reserved for the Binance Launchpad sale
• 10.00% – Company reserve
• 10.00% – Advisors
• 8.00% – Strategic sale investors
SAND is an ERC-20 token on Ethereum and bridged to Polygon for lower fees and faster transactions. A portion of all marketplace transaction fees (5%) is split equally between staking rewards and the Foundation fund, creating a sustainable economic loop.
How to Stake SAND Tokens on The Sandbox
Staking SAND allows you to earn passive rewards and participate more deeply in The Sandbox ecosystem by locking your tokens on the Polygon network.
1. Bridge SAND to Polygon: Connect your wallet on sandbox.game and use the built-in bridge to move SAND from Ethereum to Polygon (mSAND).
2. Access the Staking Dashboard: Navigate to your profile’s DeFi section and open the SAND-only staking pool.
3. Approve the Contract: Click “Approve” and confirm the transaction; gasless staking is supported via Biconomy.
4. Stake Your Tokens: Enter the amount of SAND to stake; it will convert to mSAND and start generating rewards.
5. Claim Rewards Weekly: Rewards are distributed in mSAND and can be claimed every 7 days.
Bonus Tip: If you own LAND on Polygon, you can stake up to 500 SAND per LAND parcel for higher APRs automatically.
What Blockchain Network Does The Sandbox Operate on?
The Sandbox primarily operates on the Ethereum blockchain, using the ERC‑20 standard for its native SAND token and ERC‑721/1155 standards for NFTs such as LAND and in-game assets. To reduce gas fees and improve scalability, The Sandbox has integrated Polygon as a
Layer 2 solution, enabling faster and cheaper transactions for users. Most staking, gameplay rewards, and asset interactions now occur on Polygon, while Ethereum remains the base layer for security and decentralization. This dual-network setup ensures both performance and reliability within the Sandbox metaverse.
How Many LAND Parcels Exist on The Sandbox?
The Sandbox’s virtual world is made up of a fixed total of 166,464 LAND parcels, each represented as an ERC‑721 NFT, this finite supply forms a 408 × 408 grid on the metaverse map. These LAND parcels, available in standard and premium categories, grant owners exclusive rights to create and monetize gaming experiences using tools like Game Maker, and LAND holders can also stake SAND tokens to amplify their rewards.
Which Wallets Support SAND Tokens?
You can securely store your SAND tokens directly on BingX in a custodial wallet, where they are protected by BingX’s security measures and accessible for seamless trading or participation in staking and other platform activities.
For
self-custody or external use, SAND tokens are supported by a wide range of wallets. Popular software and browser-extension wallets like
MetaMask,
Phantom Wallet, Venly,
Trust Wallet, imToken, and MyEtherWallet (MEW) work seamlessly across both Ethereum and Polygon networks. For offline security,
hardware wallets such as Ledger (Nano S, X, Stax) and Trezor (Model One, T, Safe) offer robust protection with integration via
Ledger Live or Trezor Suite. Mobile-friendly non-custodial options like Zengo (biometric), Tangem (card-based), and OneKey provide convenient and secure access on the go. These wallets enable users to send, receive, stake, or trade SAND with features like gasless transactions, dApp integration, and easy network switching.
How to Add SAND or LAND to MetaMask
To add SAND tokens to MetaMask, first ensure your wallet is set to the correct network - Ethereum for ERC‑20 SAND or Polygon for bridged SAND (mSAND). Then, open MetaMask and click “Import Tokens.” Enter the correct contract address for SAND, along with the token symbol and decimals (usually 18). After confirming, your SAND balance will appear under your assets tab. If you’re using mSAND, switch your network to Polygon and repeat the process using the mSAND contract address.
To add LAND NFTs (ERC‑721 tokens) to MetaMask, you’ll need to manually track them using tools like OpenSea or Etherscan. While MetaMask doesn't display NFT metadata by default, your LAND is still accessible on-chain via your
wallet address. For better NFT viewing and interaction, connect your MetaMask to platforms like OpenSea, which will automatically index and display your LAND parcels. Make sure to verify you’re connected to the Ethereum network when interacting with LAND NFTs, as they currently reside on Ethereum rather than Polygon.
Is The Sandbox (SAND) a Good Investment?
The Sandbox (SAND) can be considered a strong investment for several reasons. First, it's embedded in the rapidly growing metaverse ecosystem, offering a wide range of utilities such as buying LAND, creating games, trading NFTs, and participating in governance, which drives organic demand for SAND tokens. Additionally, its capped supply of 3 billion tokens introduces scarcity, while the decentralized DAO governance model and a portion of marketplace fees funnel back into staking rewards and ecosystem grants, creating a sustainable, symbiotic economy.
Second, The Sandbox boasts tangible strategic partnerships and real-world brand integrations (such as Gucci, Adidas, and Warner Music), which reinforce its visibility and utility in mainstream and niche virtual environments.