SonicX, a pioneering tap-to-earn game intertwined with TikTok and driven by the Solana blockchain, has recently surpassed the milestone of 1 million players. This landmark achievement was shared by Sonic SVM on the platform X (formerly Twitter), marking a new chapter in blockchain gaming as it extends beyond Telegram to mainstream social media. Through the first Web3 Applayer on TikTok, SonicX is opening Web3 technology to a wider user base.
Expanding Tap-to-Earn Gaming Beyond Telegram
The tap-to-earn model first took off on Telegram, supported by The Open Network (TON) blockchain. Telegram’s setup, which supports mini-apps with integrated wallets, allowed users to earn rewards by engaging with in-app games. Thanks to the TON blockchain, these games thrived without needing players to manage external wallets or seed phrases, spurring rapid growth on the platform.
Telegram-based games have enjoyed tremendous success—amassing hundreds of millions of users, with some, like Hamster Kombat, surpassing 300 million players. SonicX is pushing this genre further by bringing it to TikTok, tapping into a massive audience and bringing blockchain gaming to a new demographic, many of whom may be exploring Web3 applications for the first time.
Sonic SVM: Powering SonicX’s Integration with TikTok
The technology powering this seamless Web3 experience is Sonic SVM, a Layer-2 solution based on Solana, crafted to support SonicX as a Web3 Applayer. Unlike Ethereum’s EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine), designed around the Ethereum blockchain, Solana’s SVM (Solana Virtual Machine) emphasizes speed and scalability, handling thousands of transactions per second while minimizing costs. With features like account abstraction and wallet abstraction, Sonic SVM removes the need for external wallets or intricate setups. TikTok users can dive into SonicX directly within the app using their existing TikTok accounts, bypassing traditional blockchain-specific requirements.
This architecture lowers the usual barriers tied to blockchain gaming. Rather than setting up a separate Web3 wallet or dealing with private keys, players can engage right away, making it easier for those new to blockchain to jump in.
SonicX vs. Traditional Tap-to-Earn Games on Telegram
While Telegram-based tap-to-earn games initially found success leveraging the TON ecosystem and Telegram’s vast user base, SonicX’s arrival on TikTok marks a notable expansion beyond Telegram, tapping into TikTok’s extensive audience.
A distinctive feature of SonicX on TikTok is its focus on verified users, courtesy of TikTok’s built-in KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements. Unlike many Telegram games where user verification remains optional, TikTok’s setup fosters higher user credibility, potentially adding a layer of transparency to Web3 gaming, where anonymity is often the norm.
Tackling the Challenge of Retaining Users Post-Launch
One key challenge for Sonic SVM will be maintaining player engagement after the anticipated token launch. Although the token generation event (TGE) date remains unannounced, a launch in 2025 seems likely. Numerous tap-to-earn games on Telegram faced high player churn after their token launches, as players sometimes became disillusioned with the perceived token value and quickly migrated to newer games.
SonicX intends to counter this trend by evolving beyond a single game into a versatile distribution platform. Soon, SonicX plans to become a hub for diverse games, offering curated game discovery, competitive leaderboards, and reward systems—all built on Sonic SVM’s robust framework. Partnerships with developers of games like Mahjong Verse and BR1: INFINITE, a kill-to-earn shooter game, hint at a variety of gaming options coming to the SonicX platform. This diversification could help SonicX retain player engagement by offering varied gaming experiences within one platform.
SonicX’s Milestone and Path to Long-Term Success
Reaching 1 million players on TikTok demonstrates that blockchain-based games can attract mainstream users when entry barriers are minimized. However, to establish itself as a successful Web3 Applayer, Sonic SVM will need to onboard millions of active players and maintain their engagement. SonicX’s design incorporates familiar elements like leaderboards and in-game rewards, easing the transition to blockchain gaming for casual gamers.
Looking ahead, Sonic SVM aims to broaden SonicX’s platform by incorporating additional games and interactive Web3 applications, all within TikTok. The vision is to create a comprehensive Web3 gaming hub where TikTok users can access multiple blockchain games in one place.
SonicX’s rapid growth underscores the potential of Web3 gaming within social media, suggesting that integration with popular platforms like TikTok could drive adoption among everyday users. SonicX’s success could foreshadow more mainstream applications, bridging social media and Web3 in new, unexplored ways.
