ChaosGround has acquired the assets of Epulze, the once-popular esports tournament platform that went bankrupt earlier this year, with plans to relaunch it under the ChaosGround.gg banner.
Epulze, former Dota TO, has been acquired by ChaosGround to make a web3 tournament platform. https://t.co/1lk3iKyqQ8
— Michael Hassall (@hoffasaurusx) September 30, 2025
The gaming and Web3 venture studio confirmed it has taken on Epulze’s technology, intellectual property, and community systems, merging them into its existing ecosystem. The move, according to ChaosGround, isn’t just about buying a brand but rebuilding grassroots esports with “Web3 superpowers.”
From Dota 2 Hub to Bankruptcy
Founded in 2015, Epulze quickly became a household name in competitive gaming circles. It hosted more than 150,000 tournaments and one million matches across its platform, and served as an official organiser for several Dota 2 Pro Circuit (DPC) qualifiers.
But after a string of in-person events in 2023, Epulze’s reputation took a serious hit. Players, casters, and production staff accused the company of failing to pay prize money, salaries, and invoices tied to DPC events in Southeast Asia, the Lima Major, and the Bali Major. By early 2025, the platform filed for bankruptcy, leaving much of its community disillusioned.
ChaosGround’s Vision: Web3 Meets Esports
ChaosGround CEO Keerthan Shetty sees the acquisition as an opportunity to breathe new life into competitive gaming.
“We see this as more than an acquisition; it’s the rebirth of grassroots esports with Web3 superpowers,” said Shetty. “By bringing Epulze’s proven infrastructure into our ecosystem, we are closing the retention gap in Web3 while giving players everywhere new opportunities to compete, connect, and be rewarded.”
The rebranded ChaosGround.gg will feature blockchain-backed prize pools and smart contract-based payouts, a system designed to address one of esports’ biggest pain points: payment delays and disputes. Token-based rewards and on-chain tournament tracking will also be introduced, adding layers of transparency and automation.
Image via chaosground.gg
A Second Chance or Too Late?
Whether ChaosGround’s Web3 approach will win back the trust of those previously burned by Epulze remains uncertain. For many players and teams, the memory of unpaid prizes still lingers. However, the promise of automated, tamper-proof payouts could be a major step forward for the industry if successfully executed.
Beyond tournaments, ChaosGround plans to leverage its GroundZero user acquisition engine to help developers build token economies and attract new audiences. The global launch of ChaosGround.gg is set for the coming months.
Web3 and Esports Continue to Intersect
The acquisition comes as Web3 companies deepen their involvement in competitive gaming. Platforms like Miomi Game, which recently integrated with the Polygon network, are already offering stablecoin rewards in games such as Counter-Strike, League of Legends, and EA Sports FC.
With ChaosGround.gg entering the fray, the push to merge blockchain technology with esports tournaments is gaining momentum. Whether it signals a genuine fix for long-standing industry issues or just another layer of complexity is a question that only time, and the community’s response, can answer.