Telegram’s user base has become a fertile ground for the adoption of cryptocurrencies, as viral games like Notcoin gain immense popularity. In just under two months, Notcoin managed to attract over 30 million users on Telegram and establish cryptocurrency wallets based on The Open Network. This “idle game” allows users to earn NOT tokens by tapping their screens, and it has successfully onboarded 3% of Telegram users to Web3. The subsequent listing of NOT tokens on prominent cryptocurrency exchanges has also resulted in significant financial gains for casual gamers.
In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, Inal Kardan, the gaming lead at TON Foundation, highlighted the unparalleled ability of blockchain gaming to attract new users to the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Kardan mentioned that Notcoin’s achievement of gaining 35 million users in five months demonstrated how games can thrive on Telegram and how easy it is to onboard users. Similar Telegram-based games are also experiencing rapid user growth and generating substantial revenues by leveraging marketing mechanics like sharing and mining within the platform.
Kardan described Telegram as an accessible and somewhat untapped distribution channel that combines existing Web2 technologies with web page extensions and blockchain functionality. He also noted a shift away from “play-to-earn” models seen in popular Web3 games like Axie Infinity. Games like Notcoin adopt newer approaches that incorporate traditional monetization tactics such as advertising.
Yat Siu, the co-founder of blockchain gaming venture capital firm Animoca Brands, stated that the ability to utilize viral growth mechanics, previously only possible on platforms like Facebook or the Apple App Store, has contributed to the success of Web3 games on Telegram and TON. Siu explained that Web2 players have restricted these mechanics because limiting vitality is more beneficial for advertising as a business. Siu acknowledged that idle clicker games have always been popular but emphasized that the user engagement approach of games like Notcoin sets them apart. These games offer greater value for end-users and are more aligned with growth incentives compared to the adversarial nature of Web2 advertising business models.
Siu also pointed to Gamee, a Web3 gaming firm actively deploying hyper-casual games on TON and Telegram, as evidence of the effectiveness of these mechanics. Gamee’s average daily active user count has risen to approximately one million as a result of engaging users with staking and idle game mechanics. Siu further highlighted that many Telegram users are already crypto natives, and the convergence of Web2 and Web3 gamers is creating a shared ecosystem.
Michał Dąbrowski, the CEO and founder of blockchain game infrastructure provider Elympics, believes that Web3 games are well-positioned to attract new cryptocurrency users. Dąbrowski explained that game developers have historically struggled with monetization mechanics, but blockchain-based infrastructure solves this problem by enabling studios to use cryptocurrency wallets to incentivize and engage players. Elympics sees immense potential in the TON ecosystem, which is closely linked to Telegram’s massive user base. The company’s infrastructure aims to assist studios and developers in deploying Web3 games on these platforms. Dąbrowski cited Notcoin as a prime example of tapping into the viral aspect of a social platform like Telegram, where sharing plays a crucial role in the mechanics. Additionally, Web3 functionality is revitalizing the idle gaming genre by monetizing soft currencies earned by players, giving them ownership and value for their time spent playing.