Daryl Xu is the co-founder and CEO of NPC Labs (B3), a startup focused on developing infrastructure for on-chain gaming. Xu's career has been pivotal in the landscape of blockchain gaming, leveraging his experience in the crypto and technological ecosystems to innovate and expand the reach of Web3 gaming platforms. Before establishing NPC Labs, Xu held significant roles at Coinbase, where he managed projects related to blockchain gaming and crypto scaling solutions. ^[4]

Early Life & Education

Daryl Xu received a double Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the University of Chicago. While enrolled, he was awarded the University of Chicago College Outstanding New Leader Award in recognition of his philanthropic efforts.

He also completed a study abroad program at Renmin University of China, where he studied Eastern Languages and Civilizations and earned a 4.0 academic record.

Before attending university, Xu studied at Mark Keppel High School. ^[4]

Career

A.T. Kearney

Daryl Xu worked as a Management Consultant at A.T. Kearney from 2015 to 2018 in the New York City Metropolitan Area. His work during this period preceded his transition into the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector.

Scale8 Partners

In 2018, Xu became a founding partner of Scale8 Partners. The firm provides consulting and go-to-market (GTM) services for cryptocurrency companies and traces its origins to the Strategic Advisory Group at Wachsman, which was established in 2018. Xu has continued to serve as a founding partner since the firm's establishment.

Coinbase

Xu joined Coinbase in November 2019, working in business development until March 2024. During his tenure, he also served as the gaming and crypto onramp lead for Base, Coinbase's Layer 2 network. His responsibilities included work related to blockchain gaming initiatives and onchain gaming applications.

NPC Labs

In March 2024, Xu co-founded NPC Labs with former Coinbase colleagues Viktoriya Hying and Sean Geng. The company develops infrastructure for Web3 gaming and products related to onchain gaming.

At NPC Labs, Xu has been involved in the development of B3.fun, a gaming platform that integrates blockchain-based games with features such as gasless transactions and chain abstraction technology.

His work at the company has also included projects related to GameFi and blockchain gaming on the Base network. NPC Labs has introduced products including the Basement.fun portal as part of its gaming ecosystem.

During Xu's tenure, NPC Labs raised $21 million in funding from investors including Pantera Capital and Hashed. The company has also formed partnerships with organizations including Collab+Currency, Sfermion, and Mantle EcoFund. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Interviews

B3’s Ecosystem Incentive Model #01

On February 19, 2025, Daryl Xu appeared on the Blockchain Gaming World YouTube channel to discuss the design of the B3 blockchain ecosystem and its approach to developer incentives. During the interview, Xu described B3 as a Layer 3 blockchain built on Base that was developed for gaming applications. He stated that the project was intended to address factors such as transaction costs, network performance, and infrastructure requirements identified by game developers.

Xu described B3 as an ecosystem composed of multiple game-specific blockchains connected through a shared incentive structure. He explained that when a player first joins the ecosystem through one game and later performs on-chain transactions in another, 30% of the revenue generated by those transactions is allocated to the game that originally introduced the player to the network. According to Xu, this mechanism is designed to distribute economic activity across participating game chains.

During the discussion, Xu also outlined B3's approach to user experience and infrastructure. He stated that the project aims to reduce the need for users to manually perform actions such as bridging assets or switching blockchain networks while allowing individual games to operate on dedicated game chains. He said this architecture is intended to provide developers with greater control over network resources and transaction processing.

Xu also discussed the project's exploration of artificial intelligence. He referred to experimental initiatives involving AI-based characters integrated into games and stated that AI could be applied to gameplay systems and development processes. According to Xu, these experiments were being evaluated as part of the broader development of the B3 ecosystem.

The interview also included comments on the launch of the B3 token. Xu stated that the token serves as part of the ecosystem's economic model and said that the project's ongoing activities are centered on the development of its infrastructure, the expansion of its game chain network, and collaboration with participating game studios. ^[6]

Building B3's Crypto Gaming Ecosystem #02

On February 7, 2025, Daryl Xu appeared on the Delphi Digital podcast to discuss B3, its development, and topics related to blockchain gaming.

During the interview, Xu stated that B3 was established to develop infrastructure for blockchain-based games. He described the project as a Layer 3 network built on Base that provides development tools and operational support for game studios, including services related to distribution, marketing, and funding.

Xu also discussed basement.fun, describing it as a platform for discovering blockchain games. According to his explanation, the platform incorporates browser-style games alongside blockchain features such as digital assets and reward mechanisms. He further outlined B3's concept of application-specific gaming blockchains, referred to as "game chains," which are intended to use referral-based incentives between networks within the ecosystem.

In discussing blockchain gaming, Xu stated that the technology enables gameplay features including on-chain wagering, multiplayer interactions, and low-value on-chain transactions. He presented these features as examples of mechanics that blockchain infrastructure can support within games.

The interview also covered the proposed functions of the B3 token. Xu stated that the token is intended to be used for staking, governance, developer services, and participation in ecosystem funding decisions. He explained that token holders would be able to participate in governance processes related to protocol development and the allocation of funding for games.

Xu also discussed broader topics affecting the blockchain gaming sector. He stated that regulatory developments could influence the adoption of blockchain-based games by affecting payment systems and distribution channels. In addition, he described maintaining a long-term focus during changing market conditions as an approach to building projects in the cryptocurrency industry. ^[7]