A stablecoin shopping service is exploring a “gacha” model that would let customers receive randomly selected products, after an investor predicted the concept could create a business worth more than $10bn.
Peter, whose X profile identifies him as part of investment firm 1kx, said on 21 October that gacha mechanics could expand beyond trading card games into a wide range of consumer goods. He suggested a company applying the model could become e-commerce’s next major success after Shopify.
The prediction was an investment thesis rather than a forecast supported by sales figures or consumer research.
In a separate post, Josip Volarevic said SP3ND was developing a service that would allow people to buy products from Amazon, eBay and other online retailers using stablecoins, while also working on randomised purchases.
SP3ND outlines proposed shopping model
Volarevic said SP3ND was working towards turning an online shop’s inventory into a gacha-style offering. He cited computer hardware from Amazon and baby supplies from a local store as possible examples, with a spin deciding which item the customer would receive.
No prices, prize tables, launch date or process for handling unwanted products have been published. His comments described the idea as being developed, rather than confirming that the randomised retail products are already available.
The proposal received a mixed response. A commenter named Sam called it “high-stimulus consumerism” and said blind boxes would not suit every category, even if shopping and entertainment became more closely connected.
Peter replied: “Agreed.”
Another user cited Pop Mart as an existing example. Peter said that was only the beginning and repeated his view that the model could move beyond the established collectibles market.
SP3ND’s current website describes a conventional process in which customers paste a product link, connect a wallet and pay with cryptocurrency. Supported assets include USDC, SOL and BONK, while the company says it can arrange delivery to more than 48 countries.
The Delaware corporation identifies itself as the merchant of record. It says it uses its own funds to obtain goods from suppliers or fulfilment partners after receiving payment.
Its listed fees are $2.50 for purchases below $100, 2.5% for orders between $100 and $999, and 1.5% for orders of $1,000 or more. No separate fee structure has been published for the proposed gacha service.
Although Volarevic described the service as operating without identity checks or limits, SP3ND’s terms, effective April 2026, say customers must be at least 18. Orders worth $10,000 or more require identity verification, and the company can request further information or block wallets flagged by screening services.
The FAQ says customers see fees and shipping estimates before paying. Delivery costs depend on the retailer and destination, while tracking is provided after dispatch. SP3ND collects an address and email to complete deliveries.
Existing gacha platforms and regulation
Collector Crypt’s developer documentation describes a live mystery-pack system in which an NFT is sent to the buyer when a pack opens. Machine data includes prices, inventory and prize odds, although configurations differ.
Eligible NFT holders can sell prizes back for a percentage of their insured value in USDC. The buyback process checks whether the NFT was distributed within the previous 72 hours and whether a confirmed buyback has already taken place.
Simon Dedic claimed on 21 October that the platform recorded 106,023 daily openings and more than $22m in gross revenue, figures attributed to operating claims rather than audited profit.
Coinbase previewed physical Pokemon card packs on 28 September, saying buyers would be able to open them on their phones and choose storage or delivery. It gave no firm launch date, pricing or initial market list.
OpenSea included Collector Crypt among the collections in its Solana NFT trading rollout announced on 31 August, allowing users to browse, buy, sell and bid on supported Solana NFTs through OS2.
The United States Federal Trade Commission’s January 2025 settlement with Cognosphere over Genshin Impact addressed children’s privacy, purchase costs and the odds of obtaining rare prizes. Cognosphere agreed to pay $20m to settle the allegations.
The proposed order would require parental consent for loot-box purchases by children under 16, clear odds and exchange-rate information, and the ability to buy loot boxes directly with real money. The FTC said court approval was needed before it could take effect.
