The Sandbox, a leading metaverse platform under Animoca Brands, is restructuring its operations, with co-founders Arthur Madrid and Sebastien Borget transitioning to new strategic roles.
As part of an ongoing business optimization, Arthur Madrid has moved from his position as CEO to chairman, while Sebastien Borget has taken on the role of global ambassador, representing The Sandbox at key industry events worldwide.
In a conversation with Cointelegraph on Thursday, Borget emphasized that both founders remain deeply involved in the project. Both remain deeply involved in The Sandbox and its ecosystem, with key initiatives to be announced later this year through the appropriate channels, he said.
Staff layoffs amid AI-driven optimization
As part of its restructuring, The Sandbox is reducing its workforce, a move Borget confirmed but did not specify in numbers. The layoffs are part of a broader effort to optimize operations for maximum efficiency, particularly through advancements in artificial intelligence (AI).
Borget explained that AI technology’s impact on the gaming industry allows The Sandbox to accelerate content deployment, feature updates, and live operations, all while maintaining a leaner and more agile team.
While decisions that impact personnel are undoubtedly difficult and not made lightly, they are necessary to adapt to technological advances and ensure The Sandbox’s long-term success, Borget noted.
In addition to leveraging AI advancements, The Sandbox will also benefit from greater integration with Animoca Brands, which will provide shared resources and services. This integration is expected to further streamline operations and enhance the platform’s capabilities.
Staff reductions and memecoin rumors
Earlier reports indicated that The Sandbox was laying off up to 50% of its staff, with some speculation that the platform was making strategic leadership changes. Borget declined to comment on these reports but reassured that the company remains focused on its mission to empower creators and foster the growth of its token economy.
Amid these changes, there is also buzz about a potential memecoin launchpad on Coinbase’s Layer-2 network Base, inspired by the Solana-based Pump.fun marketplace for creating and distributing tokens. While Borget avoided speculating on market rumors, he reiterated that The Sandbox and Animoca Brands remain dedicated to their core mission.
Despite these operational changes, The Sandbox’s virtual assets, including the $SAND token, LANDs, NFT collections, and other ecosystem assets, will remain unaffected. Borget emphasized that these aspects of the platform’s ecosystem continue to thrive and will play a central role in the company’s future growth.