The Sandbox's COO & Co-Founder Sébastien Borget is a prominent and influential player in the virtual reality and video game market. Shortly after NFT Paris 2025 Aida Dzhanhirova, from Cultural Singularity, had the opportunity to interview him for the Magazine.
AD: You were at the origin of creating the virtual game The Sandbox in 2011. Your platform continues to evolve, and today, according to various rankings, it holds one of the leading positions in the industry. What sets your gaming platform apart from competitors, and what key advantages have you achieved? How many registered users do you currently have?
SB: Watching The Sandbox evolve and transform over time has been incredible. We are proud to currently have over 6.3 million registered users on the platform, with new users joining every day. There are many properties that set The Sandbox apart, but the decentralization and integration of blockchain-based assets is one of the main differentiators of the platform. Players are in a unique position as they can own what they create, and with a no-code creation tool, the barrier to creation has been lowered. This means anyone and everyone can create their own experiences, and reap the benefits of their creation.
AD: The Sandbox metaverse consists of 166,464 LAND parcels. These parcels are represented as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain and can be bought, sold, and used by users to create unique content within the virtual world. Who are some of the largest owners of virtual land in The Sandbox?
SB: Virtual land ownership in The Sandbox is central to the user experience. Owners of LAND can range from large brands and IPs like Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, BLOND:ISH, and more to creators and investors, who are heavily invested in Web3 and content development. LAND is one of the building blocks of The Sandbox, allowing users to create, build, and monetize content, host experiences, and interact within a shared virtual environment.
AD: You were at the origin of creating the virtual game The Sandbox in 2011. Your platform continues to evolve, and today, according to various rankings, it holds one of the leading positions in the industry. What sets your gaming platform apart from competitors, and what key advantages have you achieved? How many registered users do you currently have?
SB: Watching The Sandbox evolve and transform over time has been incredible. We are proud to currently have over 6.3 million registered users on the platform, with new users joining every day. There are many properties that set The Sandbox apart, but the decentralization and integration of blockchain-based assets is one of the main differentiators of the platform. Players are in a unique position as they can own what they create, and with a no-code creation tool, the barrier to creation has been lowered. This means anyone and everyone can create their own experiences, and reap the benefits of their creation.
AD: The Sandbox metaverse consists of 166,464 LAND parcels. These parcels are represented as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain and can be bought, sold, and used by users to create unique content within the virtual world. Who are some of the largest owners of virtual land in The Sandbox?
SB: Virtual land ownership in The Sandbox is central to the user experience. Owners of LAND can range from large brands and IPs like Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, BLOND:ISH, and more to creators and investors, who are heavily invested in Web3 and content development. LAND is one of the building blocks of The Sandbox, allowing users to create, build, and monetize content, host experiences, and interact within a shared virtual environment.
AD: What have been The Sandbox's most significant and exciting events recently?
SB: The Sandbox recently celebrated a very successful Alpha Season 4. We had the pleasure of featuring over 100 experiences with 40 major brands and 60 of the best UGC experiences. We saw over 580,000 unique players across those 10 weeks, and it was extremely rewarding to watch our players engage with the content, complete quests and participate in blockchain transactions. We love watching our players discover the unique capabilities and benefits of The Sandbox, and can’t wait to reveal what is next!
AD: In 2024, The Sandbox hosted the Digital Fashion Week project as part of NFT Paris, the largest metaverse event. This collaboration was impressive, as real fashion runway shows were mirrored in the metaverse—a new step in the twins concept. What did your platform gain from this collaboration? What role do you see digital fashion playing in the development of virtual worlds?
SB: The collaboration we did with NFT Paris last year was a highlight, we worked with Dress X to produce an AI modeling mirror where you could try on clothes. We’re excited to be at NFT Paris again this year, to continue to raise awareness about The Sandbox and the industry, and to reach new users through innovative and approachable activations. We’re always looking for the next innovative fashion brand to partner with to create unique experiences that showcase how people can connect with ideas and brands within the metaverse and inspire others.
AD: When I worked at the National Library of France (BnF) as the Chief Metaverse Officer, I regularly informed my colleagues about the opportunities of The Sandbox platform. The French government is committed to enriching its grand cultural heritage by integrating the latest technologies and innovations. What is your position on the heritage? Do you have a vision of how your metaverse could bring French cultural values into its virtual world?
SB: The Sandbox loves to host challenges of cities being rebuilt and reimagined in the metaverse - we previously had a “City Jam” where creators were invited and inspired to build an experience using iconic landmarks from Paris. We recently announced a new City Builder challenge inspired by New York. Watching players from around the world integrate elements of the city’s culture and history into their creations is always amazing.
AD: What are your key predictions for the crypto industry in 2025?
SB: It’s an exciting time to be in the crypto industry—I believe we’ll see more institutional players enter the space in legitimate ways over the next year. Combined with new technological advancements, and real-life applications for blockchain and crypto, 2025 looks very promising for crypto, the metaverse, and The Sandbox.
SB: The Sandbox recently celebrated a very successful Alpha Season 4. We had the pleasure of featuring over 100 experiences with 40 major brands and 60 of the best UGC experiences. We saw over 580,000 unique players across those 10 weeks, and it was extremely rewarding to watch our players engage with the content, complete quests and participate in blockchain transactions. We love watching our players discover the unique capabilities and benefits of The Sandbox, and can’t wait to reveal what is next!
AD: In 2024, The Sandbox hosted the Digital Fashion Week project as part of NFT Paris, the largest metaverse event. This collaboration was impressive, as real fashion runway shows were mirrored in the metaverse—a new step in the twins concept. What did your platform gain from this collaboration? What role do you see digital fashion playing in the development of virtual worlds?
SB: The collaboration we did with NFT Paris last year was a highlight, we worked with Dress X to produce an AI modeling mirror where you could try on clothes. We’re excited to be at NFT Paris again this year, to continue to raise awareness about The Sandbox and the industry, and to reach new users through innovative and approachable activations. We’re always looking for the next innovative fashion brand to partner with to create unique experiences that showcase how people can connect with ideas and brands within the metaverse and inspire others.
AD: When I worked at the National Library of France (BnF) as the Chief Metaverse Officer, I regularly informed my colleagues about the opportunities of The Sandbox platform. The French government is committed to enriching its grand cultural heritage by integrating the latest technologies and innovations. What is your position on the heritage? Do you have a vision of how your metaverse could bring French cultural values into its virtual world?
SB: The Sandbox loves to host challenges of cities being rebuilt and reimagined in the metaverse - we previously had a “City Jam” where creators were invited and inspired to build an experience using iconic landmarks from Paris. We recently announced a new City Builder challenge inspired by New York. Watching players from around the world integrate elements of the city’s culture and history into their creations is always amazing.
AD: What are your key predictions for the crypto industry in 2025?
SB: It’s an exciting time to be in the crypto industry—I believe we’ll see more institutional players enter the space in legitimate ways over the next year. Combined with new technological advancements, and real-life applications for blockchain and crypto, 2025 looks very promising for crypto, the metaverse, and The Sandbox.