David Edwards
The tap-to-earn paradigm is “probably dead,” according to Notcoin, a 2024 Web3 gaming breakthrough star, as the market shifts to more engaging and sustainable formats on platforms like Telegram. This change reflects a larger trend in Web3 gaming, as developers are moving away from straightforward reward systems and toward immersive, communal experiences.
Notcoin co-founders Sasha and Vladimir Plotvinov, as well as Uliana Salo, Head of Design and Product Lead at Not Games, discussed their thoughts on the future of Telegram-based gaming at the Token2049 event in Dubai. The once-popular tap-to-earn model has not been able to sustain long-term user interest, according to Vladimir Plotvinov. “We’re going to see different types of games, as tap-to-earn games are probably dead because they’re not sustainable,” he said.
Within three months of its introduction, Notcoin onboarded over 30 million users, using Telegram’s ecosystem to make it easier for mainstream users to get started with cryptocurrencies. However, many gamers switched to other games as soon as the gameplay incentives ran out. Players are increasingly looking for pleasurable, social relationships rather than just money gain, Sasha Plotvinov stressed. “Users who come to farm — their motivation is just to earn something. And with games, it’s more like, I have fun, I want to play with my friends, and I want to play within a group,” he said.
Game creation on Telegram is changing as a result of this feedback loop. New games are adding Web3 features as supplemental improvements rather than focusing the business on token farming. Even though Telegram doesn’t currently have any fully functional games, Sasha expressed optimism about the platform’s future.
This change is being accelerated by artificial intelligence. Vladimir Plotvinov emphasized how AI solutions simplify repetitive coding chores, increasing developer efficiency. “Time is saved. I’m delivering things faster now. “I write code more quickly than usual,” he remarked. To guarantee stable, scalable integrations, particularly when user loads are high, he warned engineers to maintain technical control.
Although tap-to-earn has declined, Telegram’s Web3 gaming ecosystem still has bright future prospects. Uliana Salo compared the potential of Telegram to that of social media sites with large gaming communities, such as Facebook and WeChat. “The number of users is practically the same,” she noted, although she acknowledged that Telegram currently lacks significant publisher presence and venture capital support.
However, Salo sees a time when people use Telegram to play games for fun rather than only financial gain. “We’re trying to get this extra part—this ‘fun’—with something that people are doing not only for money, just for themselves,” she said.
The Telegram gaming ecosystem is ready for a new period as the tap-to-earn era comes to an end. This new era will be fueled by creative game design, social interaction, and user experience.
