Tap-to-earn games are a novel form of crypto gaming that has swept through the messaging app Telegram and the world.
The concept is simple: you send a message to a Telegram bot to start the game, which loads within the Telegram app itself. You then tap the coin or icon at the center of the screen to earn points or in-game currency.
This is the core premise, but many newer games are evolving in different directions.
Play-to-earn (P2E) games emerged before tap-to-earn games but failed to gain traction. Why?
P2E games tried to bring gamers into the crypto space, but trust and mass adoption didn't follow.
The focus has now shifted to providing crypto enthusiasts with what they want: a quick and easy way to earn cryptocurrency.
While traditional P2E models typically require complex gameplay and significant time investment, tap-to-earn games offer a more accessible and engaging approach.
By leveraging social layers like Telegram, which consumers already use, these games have unintentionally opened a window for mass adoption.
Three months ago, a viral tap game called "Hamster Kombat" appeared on Telegram, attracting 239 million registrations in the past three months, making it the latest internet phenomenon.
Other successful tap-to-earn games in the Web3 space have notable but relatively lower numbers: TapSwap has 50 million total users, and Yescoin has over 26 million active players in less than a month.
These statistics resemble traditional Web2 games but represent a mass adoption center for the Web3 ecosystem within Telegram.
As a pioneer of tap-to-earn game success, Notcoin, launched on New Year's Day 2024, has attracted over 40 million players.
Among them, 11.5 million became Web3 users by claiming Web3 tokens after the Notcoin ($NOT) token was listed on top exchanges like Binance and OKEx.
As of this writing, Notcoin ($NOT) is priced at $0.016, up 14.5% in seven days. Their strategy has since been adopted by other viral apps like PixelTap.
The process is simple: start with entirely off-chain gameplay to avoid user friction, attract as many players as possible through incentives and referrals, and then announce an upcoming token airdrop.
Other strategies have also proven effective.
Yescoin and Catizen (a popular P2E Telegram mini-app) introduced on-chain mechanisms early on.
Time will reveal how different approaches chosen by each team impact conversion rates and user retention, especially after Hamster Kombat, TapSwap, and PixelTap launch their tokens.
Catizen and Notcoin have conversion rates from off-chain to on-chain users at 7% and 6.2%, respectively, far exceeding Telegram's average of 0.6%.
Notably, the tap-to-earn approach is being adopted by non-gaming applications as well. Blum, a hybrid crypto exchange launched by former Binance executives, started with simple clicker and quest-to-earn mechanisms, successfully attracting 30 million users before launching core product features. This suggests that tap-to-earn is essentially seen as an effective onboarding tool and a profitable revenue source.
Tap-to-earn games attract a large number of players due to:
Notcoin has risen as a leading force in Web3 gaming, surpassing giants like Bitcoin and Ether in global regions and pioneering Play-to-Earn (P2E) projects on the TON blockchain. Its strategic partnerships, massive community airdrops, and focus on sustainable growth underline its potential impact on the future of crypto gaming.
JoyPavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, champions Hamster Kombat, a game within Telegram that has quickly amassed 239 million users, showcasing Telegram's effective mini-app strategy and its potential for reshaping mobile gaming.
JoyHamster Kombat, a tap-to-earn game on Telegram, has attracted 200 million players globally, sparking both hope for income in Iran and concerns over its impact on society and politics.
AnaisBeneath Telegram games' gloss, risks and fraud lurk. Notcoin's founder Sasha questions the longevity of button-mashing games amidst Toncoin and Notcoin's declining values.
KikyoTap-to-earn games on Telegram, like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat, offer a gateway to crypto for mainstream users, with millions already engaged. While Notcoin faces uncertainty due to its lack of a whitepaper, Hamster Kombat's rapid growth and innovative features position it as a formidable contender for long-term success in the crypto gaming space.
JoyHamster Kombat, a Telegram game, has surged to 100 million players with its tap-to-earn mechanics, backed by a massive social media following. Its potential token airdrop and TON blockchain partnership fuel excitement, despite debates over coin accumulation strategies and comparisons to Tapswap.
WeatherlyTON ecosystem faced challenges during Notcoin listing, leading to disruptions and user losses. Compensation plan includes extra coin credits, trading fee refunds, USDT bonuses, waived P2P fees, and extended rewards. Total compensation exceeds $10 million, aiming to restore user trust and community resilience.
Huang BoNotcoin ($NOT) experienced a steep 70% decline post-launch due to rapid selling after a massive airdrop, underscoring the volatile nature of gaming tokens. While TapSwap seeks to capitalise on Notcoin's popularity, the long-term prospects of gaming tokens remain uncertain amidst underperformance in the sector.
JoyBybit found itself in the midst of a contentious situation surrounding the initial listing of Notcoin as well as a reiteration of a blacklist warning from France's securities regulator.
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Kikyo"Telegram+TON" jointly creates the Web3 version of the mini-program ecosystem.
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Huang Bo
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