In early 2025, an unexpected gaming phenomenon took the world by storm — Palworld, a sandbox survival game developed by a small team of just four people, skyrocketed to the top of Steam’s charts. Within 8 hours of release, it sold over 1 million copies; within 24 hours, that number doubled. In under six days, it surpassed 8 million units sold, making it one of the fastest-selling indie games in history.
But what many don’t know is that the man behind this explosive success — Takuro Mizobe, co-founder of game studio Pocket Pair — once stood at the helm of Japan’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Coincheck, before stepping away to pursue his passion for gaming.
This is the story of resilience, reinvention, and the quiet ambition that fuels innovation across industries.
From Wall Street to Crypto: The Rise of Coincheck
Takuro Mizobe graduated from Tokyo Institute of Technology, one of Japan’s most prestigious engineering schools, and began his career as an engineer at JPMorgan Chase. In 2014, he returned to Japan and co-founded ResuPress Inc., where he served as Chief Engineer. It was here that he played a pivotal role in launching Coincheck, a cryptocurrency exchange that quickly gained traction in Japan’s rapidly growing digital asset market.
By 2017, Coincheck had captured nearly 40% of Japan’s yen-based crypto trading volume, becoming the country’s most popular platform for retail investors to buy and trade cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and NEM.
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Despite its success, Coincheck faced a devastating setback in January 2018, when hackers stole approximately 500 million NEM tokens (worth around $530 million at the time) — one of the largest exchange breaches in history. Under intense regulatory scrutiny, Coincheck reimbursed nearly 90% of affected users, a rare move in the crypto world that preserved trust but drained company resources.
Later that year, Monex Group acquired Coincheck for $335 million, effectively ending the original founders’ involvement. While the brand survived under new management, Mizobe and his co-founders quietly moved on.
A Bold Pivot: From Cryptocurrency to Game Development
While most entrepreneurs might have retreated after such a high-profile incident, Mizobe had already laid the groundwork for his next chapter. As early as 2015, while still involved with Coincheck, he founded Pocket Pair Inc., a game development and publishing company focused on experimental, player-driven experiences.
At the time, few connected the dots between the crypto entrepreneur and the obscure game studio. But now, with Palworld’s unprecedented success, that link has come into sharp focus.
Koichiro Wada, another Coincheck co-founder, recently reflected on their journey in a social media post:
"Even though I was a co-founder, when I said ‘I want to make games,’ we completely let go of Coincheck and started building something new."
This mindset — abandoning past successes to chase unproven passions — underscores a rare kind of entrepreneurial courage.
What Makes Palworld So Addictive?
Palworld blends familiar mechanics from beloved franchises like Pokémon with darker, more mature survival gameplay. Players explore a vast open world populated by creatures called "Pals", which can be captured using Pal Spheres, trained, and used in combat or labor.
But unlike traditional monster-collecting games, Palworld introduces morally ambiguous choices: Pals can be forced into factory work, used as living weapons, or even… farmed for resources. This blend of whimsy and dystopia creates a unique tone that resonates with adult audiences seeking depth beyond nostalgia.
Yet what truly sets Palworld apart is its emphasis on companionship and coexistence — players don’t just command Pals; they build bases, fight together, and survive as a team. It fulfills a long-standing fantasy among Pokémon fans: What if my Pokémon could actually fight beside me?
Could Palworld Embrace Blockchain?
Given Mizobe’s background in cryptocurrency and Coincheck’s history with blockchain gaming, speculation is mounting about whether Palworld could integrate NFTs, decentralized ownership, or even a tokenized economy in future updates.
After all, Coincheck wasn’t just an exchange — it was an early adopter of Web3 gaming:
- In 2020, Coincheck partnered with Enjin to launch Japan’s first NFT marketplace, featuring NFTs for games like Minecraft.
- In 2022, it began supporting NFT land sales in Decentraland, launching the “Oasis KYOTO” project — a virtual city planned for 2035.
- Also in 2022, Coincheck teamed up with Animoca Brands, a major player in blockchain gaming, to develop IP and foster creator communities in Japan.
These moves suggest that Mizobe and his team have long understood the potential of games as digital economies — not just entertainment products.
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With Palworld already boasting millions of active players, integrating blockchain elements could unlock new forms of player agency — such as true ownership of rare Pals, tradable in-game assets, or community-governed servers.
However, any such move would need to be handled carefully. The gaming community remains wary of exploitative monetization models disguised as “Web3 innovation.” Success will depend on delivering real value — not just speculation.
Core Keywords & SEO Integration
Throughout this narrative, several key themes emerge that align with current search trends:
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These keywords naturally appear across sections discussing Mizobe’s journey, Palworld’s gameplay innovations, and the broader implications for blockchain in gaming — ensuring strong SEO performance without compromising readability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who is the CEO of Palworld?
A: The co-founder and driving force behind Palworld is Takuro Mizobe, who previously co-founded the Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck in 2014.
Q: Was Palworld made by former crypto founders?
A: Yes. Takuro Mizobe, along with other members of the original Coincheck team, shifted focus to game development and established Pocket Pair Inc. in 2015 — years before Palworld’s release.
Q: Is Palworld going to add NFTs or blockchain features?
A: There is no official announcement yet. However, given Mizobe’s background and Coincheck’s prior investments in NFTs and blockchain gaming (e.g., Decentraland, Enjin), future integration remains a strong possibility.
Q: How did Palworld sell 8 million copies so fast?
A: Its unique mix of familiar creature-collecting mechanics, adult survival gameplay, and strong multiplayer appeal created viral momentum on platforms like Steam and social media.
Q: What happened to Coincheck after the hack?
A: After losing 500 million NEM tokens in 2018, Coincheck reimbursed most users and was later acquired by Monex Group for $335 million. The original team exited shortly afterward.
Q: Can blockchain improve games like Palworld?
A: Potentially — through true digital ownership, cross-game asset portability, and player-driven economies. But only if implemented transparently and without pay-to-win mechanics.
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Final Thoughts: A New Chapter in Digital Innovation
Takuro Mizobe’s journey — from Wall Street engineer to crypto pioneer to indie game visionary — reflects a broader trend: technologists leveraging decentralized expertise to reshape traditional industries.
Palworld isn’t just a game; it’s a testament to what happens when bold ideas meet execution. And if history is any guide, its story may only be beginning.
As blockchain technology matures and gamer expectations evolve, we may soon see a new generation of games that blend fun, freedom, and financial sovereignty — all built by those who’ve already mastered the future once before.