Telegram, one of the most popular messengers in the world, now boasts over 900 million users. With the official integration of Telegram with the $TON ecosystem, more people are learning about cryptocurrencies every day. New features are gradually being introduced on Telegram, accessible only through cryptocurrency.
A prime example of this is the purchase of unique usernames. Recently, big CIS bank Tinkoff rebranded and acquired the username @tbank for 20,000 TON, equivalent to $10k US, at the time of sale. Additionally, payments to Telegram channel admins for advertising and the purchase of Telegram Premium subscriptions are being made in TON. This is just the beginning; as Telegram continues to evolve, more Web3-related functionalities will be introduced. The current interesting trend in the GameFi market is Telegram Mini Apps (TMA), which will be discussed further.
Why Mini Apps?
Telegram Mini Apps are an open platform allowing Web3 and Web2.5 businesses to deploy their projects within Telegram itself. New GameFi projects based on TMA are emerging daily, and the choice of the TG platform is driven by several reasons:
Simplified Integration: Thanks to the Telegram API, integrating crypto-themed applications into the messenger has been significantly simplified. Additionally, the platform provides an intuitive interface that is easy to use.
Data Protection: Telegram offers a high level of data protection for its users, extending to projects within the messenger integrated with the Telegram API and TON ecosystem.
Access to a Broad User Base: For GameFi projects, Telegram Mini Apps open doors to the messenger’s vast user base, among which the applications can be promoted.
These three factors have contributed to the global popularization of Telegram as a platform for releasing the latest GameFi projects on the TON blockchain.
The Phenomenal Success of Notcoin: Global Fame and Support from Pavel Durov
Notcoin is a Web3 Tap2Earn game integrated into Telegram, launched in January 2024. It gained incredible popularity in its early stages. Initially, tokens were earned by simply tapping the screen of your device. Additional earning methods included a referral program, boosters, daily rewards, and league rewards.
Many people were skeptical about the project, but Notcoin removed the tap feature in its second stage and demonstrated its own economic model. Staking tokens and information about listings on major crypto exchanges emerged at this stage. By April 2024, Notcoin appeared on Bybit and Binance. $NOT gained global popularity, and on May 17, Pavel Durov himself commented on the token.
The Telegram founder noted Notcoin’s success and emphasized the effectiveness of his messenger as a platform for developing crypto projects. Moreover, Durov promised to hold onto the gifted tokens until Notcoin grows 100 times its initial value. With this support, the NOT ecosystem continued its development, reaching a new ATH ($0.0284) in early June. Despite a subsequent correction, critics remain vocal. However, the fact remains: this coin has secured its stable place in the top 100 on CoinMarketCap.
HamsterCombat: Where Will the Hamsters End Up — In a Barbershop or on a Rocket?
HamsterCombat is a clicker game similar to Notcoin. In this app, you are the CEO of a crypto exchange that needs development. The game features bonuses, boosters, a referral program, and event rewards. Some people predict a future for HamsterCombat similar to Notcoin, but opinions vary.
Unbiasedly, the project’s strengths include a ready roadmap, an excellent marketing campaign, and a large base of active users. However, significant drawbacks are the lack of a whitepaper, unclear tokenomics, an anonymous development team, and an underdeveloped website. Despite its current popularity, the lack of transparency significantly reduces its appeal.
Considering current trends, HamsterCombat has a chance to follow Notcoin’s path if successfully listed, but the risks are high. Currently, over 150 million people play HamsterCombat worldwide. If each player were to receive at least $1 for participation, the project would need to distribute $150 million.
Additionally, documents regarding the project’s tokenomics were leaked and then removed. According to these documents, ordinary players would receive only 1% of the total token issuance. If true, the real hamsters are not in the HamsterCombat app but are tapping their screens now.
Telegram Mini Apps: Temporary Trend or New Standard?
Telegram Mini Apps are the new meta for GameFi projects. Telegram’s resource base as a platform for GameFi development is too significant for developers to ignore. Pavel Durov’s comments on Notcoin made it clear: continued support for TMA and TON blockchain projects is a primary focus for the messenger.
This leads to a logical conclusion: as long as the TON blockchain, the GameFi industry, and Telegram itself are in demand, TMA will remain the standard platform for gaming crypto projects.
How to Find Promising Projects Before They Hit the Market?
Observing the development of projects like NOT and DOGWIFHAT, people often wonder: can such gems be identified before they hit the market? The answer is yes, and special platforms exist for this purpose. Among the leaders is Alloca io, where experts carefully select new crypto projects based on key criteria:
Token Innovation: It’s crucial to have a technical foundation that distinguishes the crypto project and creates its USP, hence the potential for long-term development.
Market Demand: If the token has utilitarian features in demand, it significantly increases the chances of success.
Project Team: Analyzing the team’s background, the projects they’ve been involved in, their achievements, and reputation is essential.
Tokenomics: Understanding the token distribution and business model helps form a clear picture of the benefits that can be derived from the project.
Major Partners and Investors: Support from large venture funds or angel investors means the project will have sufficient resources to follow its roadmap. Moreover, serious investments also indicate the project’s recognition by expert analysts.
A comprehensive approach helps find truly promising coins, offering more than 10x returns from the initial allocations. Examples like XDAO, Sidus, and Kylin Network illustrate how scouting new crypto projects has helped the Alloca community secure profits.
