The Sandbox (SAND): Complete Guide to This Metaverse Game That Allows You to Earn Money

Why Did The Sandbox Establish Itself as One of the Major Metaverse Projects?

Meta’s transition (formerly Facebook) to the metaverse in 2021 marked a turning point in the crypto industry. Since then, blockchain-based virtual worlds have shifted from futuristic fiction to tangible reality. The Sandbox (SAND) emerged as one of the main protagonists of this digital revolution.

What makes The Sandbox different? Its proposal combines elements that have historically worked in isolation: blockchain technology, gaming, decentralized economy through DeFi, and verifiable digital assets via NFTs, all packaged in an immersive 3D environment. Unlike other games, here the user not only consumes content but also creates and monetizes it.

The core of the project revolves around limitless creativity. Inspired by platforms like Minecraft, The Sandbox allows players to build their own virtual worlds using NFTs as structural components. The GameMaker 3D software simplifies this process, removing technical barriers: you don’t need to be a programmer to create interactive experiences.

Monetization in The Sandbox: Multiple Income Streams

The internal economy of The Sandbox is designed so participants can generate profits in various ways. The game’s global map is divided into 166,464 parcels identified as LAND, each considered a verified digital property via NFT.

LAND owners enjoy diversified options:

Leasing and rental model: Premium landowners can become landlords, renting their properties to other users or brands. This strategy generates passive income without requiring constant activity.

Paid experiences: Those controlling a LAND can create events, installations, or games that other users visit by paying an entry fee. Some owners even combine multiple parcels to form ESTATEs, larger spaces that attract more visitors and, consequently, higher earnings.

Creation and sale of assets: Using tools like VoxEdit, creators produce customized NFTs (called ASSETs) that they sell on the Marketplace. Creators retain 95% of the profits, while the remaining 5% is distributed between the project’s Foundation and the staking fund.

Participation in events and competitions: Players earn incentives by participating in tournaments, challenges, and special experiences organized within the ecosystem.

The Three Key Tools That Power The Sandbox

VoxEdit: Your Digital Creation Studio

VoxEdit is the software that transforms any creative idea into a tokenized NFT. It works with voxel-based graphics, allowing you to design avatars, equipment, decorative elements, interactive art, and much more. Each creation is registered as a unique ASSET on the blockchain.

The beauty of VoxEdit lies in its accessibility: no professional artistic experience is required. Created ASSETs are sold on The Sandbox Marketplace or used to enhance your own LAND and character.

The Sandbox Marketplace: The Exchange Hub

The Marketplace functions as the economic epicenter. Here, ASSETs of all kinds are bought and sold. The assets acquired are interoperable, meaning you can use them within The Sandbox and potentially in other metaverse platforms that adopt this compatibility.

GameMaker: Democratizing Game Creation

GameMaker is the tool that eliminates the need for programming. Anyone with an idea can design a playable game within The Sandbox metaverse. Developers test, tweak, and publish their experiences without writing a single line of code.

The SAND Token: Economic Engine and Governance

SAND is the ERC-20 token circulating on the Ethereum (with plans to migrate to Polygon) blockchain. Its functionality goes beyond mere transactions:

• Medium of exchange: SAND drives the entire internal economy, facilitating the buying and selling of LAND, ASSETs, and experiences.
• Governance token: SAND holders participate in decentralized decisions about the project’s future.
• Passive income generation: Through staking mechanisms, holders earn additional rewards.

The migration of The Sandbox to Polygon marks an important milestone: transaction fees will be drastically reduced, making the platform accessible to users who previously found Ethereum Layer 1 costs prohibitively high.

Sand Staking: How to Put Your SAND to Work

SAND staking offers a passive income strategy, especially after adopting Polygon. Understanding the process is key to maximizing your yields.

The Evolution of Staking in The Sandbox

Initially, on Ethereum, staking SAND required being a liquidity provider (Liquidity Provider), a technically demanding task involving maintaining two assets in perfect balance. This method carried risks like impermanent loss if the balance became uncalibrated.

With SAND on Polygon (renamed mSAND), the process was radically simplified. Now, staking is as straightforward as with any other token, without complex liquidity balancing.

Practical Steps for SAND Staking on Polygon

First, your SAND tokens must reside on the Polygon network. If they are still on Ethereum, use the official Bridge tool available on the official site:

1. Log into your profile on The Sandbox official platform
2. Locate and click the Bridge SAND icon
3. Connect your MetaMask wallet
4. Specify the amount of SAND to transfer
5. Confirm and complete the transaction

Once your funds are on Polygon, proceed to staking:

1. Go to the Earn → Staking section on the official site
2. Link your wallet to the platform
3. Authorize the fund access by clicking Approve
4. Deposit your mSAND by selecting the desired amount
5. Sign the transaction and confirm
6. Your mSAND is staked immediately and begins generating rewards

You can claim your rewards weekly by accessing the staking tool, clicking Claim, and signing the corresponding transaction.

Decentraland vs. The Sandbox: Who Leads the Blockchain Metaverse Race?

Decentraland (MANA) is the main competitor of The Sandbox. Both share fundamental features: they are decentralized virtual reality platforms built on Ethereum where users create, experience, and monetize content.

However, notable strategic differences exist:

The advantage of the pioneer: Decentraland launched first, establishing a solid presence among blockchain metaverse enthusiasts. This initial position creates user inertia and brand recognition that are hard to beat.

Differential positioning of The Sandbox: While Meta (the tech conglomerate) likely offers a centralized and highly controlled experience, The Sandbox bets on authentic decentralization, where SAND token holders have real influence over the protocol’s direction.

Room for multiple winners: It’s not a zero-sum market. The blockchain metaverse is large enough for several projects to thrive simultaneously, especially if each develops its niche and unique value proposition.

Is Investing in The Sandbox (SAND) Worth It?

Any investment in metaverse projects carries inherent risks. This sector is still in its infancy, similar to the early internet phase: experimentation will occur, some projects will fail spectacularly, and others will become industry pillars.

Factors favoring The Sandbox:

The project is already operational and functional, not just a future promise. It has attracted collaborations with global renowned brands (Adidas, The Walking Dead, Atari, Square Enix, Snoop Dogg), which would not invest in something without real traction. The team continues developing tools that democratize content and game creation.

Investment outlook:

If you believe virtual worlds will be relevant in the next decade and decentralized models will outperform centralized ones, The Sandbox presents an early bet with significant potential. The key is to maintain a long-term perspective, recognizing this as a gradual consolidation journey, not a quick-rich scheme.

For those seeking exposure to The Sandbox ecosystem, SAND is available on multiple reputable crypto exchanges. Strategic patience and deep understanding of the project are your best allies.

Recommended Readings for Deepening

• Fundamentals of Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Concept, risks, and opportunities
• Comparison of Layer 2 protocols: Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism in the Ethereum ecosystem