John Patten is the co-founder of Treasure, a blockchain gaming and metaverse project. He previously served as Head of Growth at Osmosis, a decentralized exchange built on the Cosmos blockchain. Patten is known for his contributions to blockchain gaming ecosystems and his work on integrating AI agents with blockchain technology.

Overview

John Patten established himself in the blockchain space through his leadership roles at Treasure and Osmosis. His work has focused on developing decentralized gaming ecosystems and exploring the intersection of blockchain technology with gaming and artificial intelligence. Patten has written extensively about mechanism design in blockchain projects, particularly around concepts like "Proof-of-Work in the Metaverse" and the integration of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) with gaming experiences.

Throughout his career, Patten has advocated for innovative approaches to blockchain gaming, including the implementation of novel tokenomics models and the exploration of AI agents within decentralized economies. His vision for Treasure DAO has evolved over time, particularly in response to market conditions and technological developments in the blockchain gaming space.

Education

John Patten holds a diverse educational background that has informed his approach to blockchain technology and business development. He attended Vanderbilt University beginning in 2020 ^[1]. Prior to this, he earned a Master of Arts degree in 2014, following another Master of Arts from Missouri State University in 2012. His undergraduate education includes a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University, which he completed in 2010 ^[1].

Career

Early Career

Before entering the blockchain industry, John Patten worked in various data analysis and research roles. He served as a Researcher at Indiana University Public Policy Institute (PPI), where he developed skills in data analysis and policy research. Following this, he worked as a Data Coordinator and Client Services representative at the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division, further honing his analytical capabilities ^[1].

Patten later joined the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development as a Statistical Analyst 3, where he applied his data analysis skills to economic development initiatives ^[1].

Patten's entry into the blockchain space came with his role as Head of Growth at Osmosis Labs, the organization behind Osmosis, a decentralized exchange protocol built on the Cosmos blockchain ^[2]. At Osmosis, he worked alongside other notable figures in the Cosmos ecosystem, including Josh Lee, Sunny Aggarwal, and Dev Ojha ^[3].

Treasure DAO

In 2021, John Patten co-founded Treasure, a metaverse ecosystem built initially on Arbitrum, a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum ^[4]. As co-founder, Patten has been instrumental in shaping the project's direction and vision.

During Treasure's early development, Patten authored several influential articles outlining the project's philosophy and approach. In September 2021, he published "Proof-of-Work in the Metaverse," which detailed Treasure's adoption of a Proof-of-Work mechanism for its native token, MAGIC ^[5]. This approach was designed to create a more sustainable and equitable distribution model for the project's token economy.

Patten also wrote about the broader implications of NFTs and blockchain gaming in pieces such as "Loot's Proof of Imagination: Joy as a Form of Collateral" and "Loot Begins a Renaissance in Mechanism Design" ^[6]. These writings demonstrated his interest in novel economic models and mechanism design within blockchain ecosystems.

Recent Developments

In early 2025, Treasure DAO faced significant challenges that led to organizational restructuring. In April 2025, Patten proposed a major pivot for the organization, suggesting a move away from game publishing to focus on AI agents and core products. This proposal included shutting down Treasure's game publishing stack, halting grants to game developers, and discontinuing Treasure Chain, a zkSync-based gaming rollup that had launched in December 2024 ^[7].

The proposed restructuring aimed to streamline Treasure's operations to focus on four core products: the Treasure marketplace, its native game Bridgeworld, gaming IP Smolworld, and AI agent scaling technology. Patten argued that this pivot was necessary for the organization's survival, stating that "Treasure as a game publisher and game platform would only last until July 2025" under its previous structure ^[7].

This period also saw a reduction in Treasure's workforce by approximately 15 people and the departure of co-founder Karel Vuong ^[7].

Patten's recent focus on AI agents suggests an evolving vision that incorporates artificial intelligence with blockchain technology. He has emphasized the importance of finding market fit through continuous adaptation, stating, "We must pivot, pivot, and pivot again, until we find market fit". ^{[7] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}