Gaimin Gladiators has benched its entire CS2 roster and is actively weighing whether to leave the game altogether. The catalyst: a brutal combination of poor tournament results and Valve’s restructured sticker revenue system that left the organization with crumbs.

The Canadian esports organization, which operates alongside the Gaimin.io platform for monetizing idle GPU power through utility tokens, pulled the plug on June 23. Players Gabriel “NEKIZ” Schenato, Henrique “HEN1” Teles, and Luca “Luken” Nadotti were all benched, along with assistant coach Luan “lopz” Lopes.

A disastrous showing at IEM Cologne

The team finished dead last at the IEM Cologne Major, managing to scrape together just 16 rounds across four maps in Stage 1. For context, a single map in CS2 typically features 24 to 30 rounds total. Winning 16 rounds over four maps means the team was getting demolished in nearly every engagement.

Valve’s new sticker revenue distribution model awards teams based on their tournament placement. Teams eliminated early, like Gaimin Gladiators, received just a 0.72% share of the total sticker revenue pool.

Sticker revenue has historically been one of the most reliable income streams for CS2 organizations. Fans buy digital stickers featuring team logos and player autographs, and the proceeds get split among participants. The old system was more egalitarian. The new one rewards winners and punishes losers, creating a dynamic where bottom-tier teams might not earn enough from a Major to cover their travel costs, let alone player salaries.

A short-lived comeback

The timing makes this especially painful. Gaimin Gladiators only re-entered the CS2 scene in September 2025, assembling an all-Brazilian lineup with hopes of qualifying for ESL Pro League Season 23.

The organization, founded in 2019, has never had a smooth ride. Its Dota 2 division has faced its own share of turbulence, including player lawsuits and a withdrawal from The International 2025.

Gaimin Gladiators hasn’t formally announced a complete departure from CS2. The organization is reportedly reviewing its entire CS2 program, which could mean anything from rebuilding with cheaper talent to walking away entirely.

What this means for crypto-adjacent esports

Gaimin Gladiators isn’t just any esports organization. Its parent ecosystem includes Gaimin.io, a platform that lets users monetize idle GPU computing power through utility tokens. The organization sits at the intersection of gaming and crypto infrastructure, making its financial decisions relevant to both communities.

The broader question is whether Valve’s new revenue structure will push more organizations to the exits. The old system effectively subsidized weaker teams by distributing sticker revenue more evenly. The new performance-based model creates a winner-take-more economy where only consistently competitive rosters can justify their costs.