Notcoin team declares death of crypto tap games

The team behind Notcoin, one of 2024’s breakout Web3 gaming hits, says the tap-to-earn genre has run its course as developers pivot to more sustainable, socially engaging formats.
Speaking at Token2049 in Dubai, Notcoin co-founders Sasha and Vladimir Plotvinov and product lead Uliana Salo discussed the state of Telegram-based gaming and where it’s headed next, reports Cointelegraph.
Tap-to-earn fatigue sets in
“Tap-to-earn games are probably dead because they’re not sustainable,” said Vladimir, noting that users often jump from one game to another, farming rewards without sticking around. Notcoin itself attracted over 30 million users within three months of launch, but like others in the space, faced challenges in maintaining engagement.
Sasha emphasized the importance of shifting beyond pure earnings: “Users who come to farm… their motivation is just to earn something. But with games, it’s more like: I have fun, I want to play with my friends.”
Web3 becomes the add-on, not the core
While the first wave of Telegram games focused heavily on monetization, Sasha said the next phase will prioritize fun and community—where crypto integration is a feature, not the foundation. That evolution, however, will take time. “Telegram has no real games yet,” he noted, though he remains optimistic.
AI is helping developers build more efficiently, said Vladimir, who credited tools for speeding up code delivery. Still, he warned that deep experience is needed to ensure scalability and system integrity: “You have to see how the API will work… under high load with a lot of users.”
Salo believes Telegram can replicate the success of WeChat and Facebook’s game ecosystems, citing similar user bases. Though investor interest and publisher presence remain limited, she expects exponential growth, with future games focusing more on enjoyment than earnings. “We’re trying to get this ‘fun’… not only for money, just for themselves.”
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