Telegram tap-to-earn games gain millions of players, boosting TON blockchain's popularity
Telegram tap-to-earn games gain millions of players, boosting TON blockchain's popularity
The surge of "tap-to-earn" games on Telegram isn’t just a new genre in crypto gaming but a strategic approach for launching blockchain-based projects, according to Jack Booth, co-founder of TON Society. Booth described tap-to-earn as a “viral mechanic” that enables Telegram games to build massive user bases quickly by incentivizing engagement and distributing tokens through gameplay.
Tap-to-earn games, which leverage The Open Network (TON) blockchain, draw players into Telegram mini apps with simple, repetitive actions. Players spend months in a "mining phase," where game interactions contribute to a future airdrop. This model, showcased by popular games like Hamster Kombat and Notcoin, has garnered millions of users and significant attention for TON. Hamster Kombat alone amassed over 300 million players before its airdrop, while Notcoin achieved a peak market cap close to $3 billion, making it the most successful crypto gaming token launch this year.
Challenges and Shifting Strategies in Tap-to-Earn Gaming
Booth emphasized that tap-to-earn should be viewed as a launch strategy rather than a long-term gameplay model. “What we’re going to see next is projects using the viral mechanic, tap-to-earn, as more of a launch strategy,” he stated. The approach is intended to quickly distribute tokens and attract large communities, setting the stage for subsequent project phases.
However, the model is not without challenges. Many tap-to-earn games see their token prices drop after the airdrop, as players lose interest or expectations are unmet. Some projects have relaunched with smaller token incentives or pivoted to become platforms for other games and applications. This shift highlights the growing pains of Telegram’s rapidly expanding crypto gaming ecosystem, as developers work to retain player interest beyond initial airdrops.
However, not all tap-to-earn projects are doing well. For example, the token of the Hamster Kombat project dropped after the developers failed to deliver on their promise to launch the second season in October
