While the realm of blockchain gaming has grown from strength to strength over the last five-odd years, not a single soul would have expected the privacy messaging app Telegram to have had the impact that it has on the ecosystem at large.
What started as a simple texting service back in 2013 has gradually transformed into a holistic project replete with innovative decentralized applications (dApps), connecting traditional communication channels with blockchain-based gaming experiences.
With over 900 million monthly active users, Telegram’s transformation hasn’t happened overnight. For instance, the platform’s continued integration with The Open Network (TON) blockchain over the past year has helped facilitate the creation of a whopping 23 million unique wallet addresses (UAWs).
Most recently, Telegram introduced a self-custody option along with TON Space — a tool allowing users to manage digital money directly within the ecosystem — thereby empowering users to have complete control over their assets and private keys.
Similarly, Telegram’s strategic positioning has attracted both developers and users, with recent data showing that 53.56% of surveyed gamers prefer Telegram to meet their mobile gaming. In comparison, an impressive 78.77% of the respondents revealed that they engage with Web3 games daily.
These metrics are rooted in the fact that Telegram has substantially lowered barriers to entry into the Web3 market, thanks to its built-in crypto wallet and intuitive interface.
Lastly, the platform’s Web3 gaming success is further bolstered by its remarkable growth metrics. To this point, during Q3 2024, the number of unique wallets transferring NFTs daily on Telegram surged from under 200,000 in July to over one million by September (a 400+% increase).
Even more telling was the increase in average gaming session length across various titles, with the metric jumping from 2.8 minutes in August to 6.7 minutes by early October — revealing growing user engagement and satisfaction.
Tap-to-earn gaming is a revolution that needs to be talked about more.
From the outside looking in, the emergence of tap-to-earn games has proven particularly successful on Telegram. At their core, these applications involve simple, repetitive tapping mechanics that are able to generate in-game currency or rewards for players.
As a result, they are ideally suited for quick gaming sessions, especially between messages or when one may be taking a short break.
The success of this format is evident in games like Hamster Kombat and Notcoin, which have set impressive benchmarks for the category. For example, Hamster Kombat was able to amass a whopping 300,000 players within just the first month of going live.
At the same time, Notcoin, another similar offering, was able to amass over a million users within mere months of its debut.
That said, the tap-to-earn genre has been evolving fast, with projects like Funtico’s Lucky Fanatic now beginning to elevate the genre to new heights. To elaborate, Lucky Fanatic has refined the basic tapping mechanics found in Notcoin and Hamster Kombat into a sophisticated gaming experience that rewards both casual players and dedicated enthusiasts.
The game’s energy-based system, where players tap to earn FUNZ currency, is both accessible and engaging. Moreover, with features like 500 units of regenerating energy every five minutes and various boosters to enhance gameplay, Lucky Fanatic has created a sustainable gaming loop capable of keeping players coming back for more.
However, what truly sets Lucky Fanatic apart from the rest of the fray is its comprehensive integration with the broader Funtico ecosystem. Thanks to this setup, players can earn passive income through the game’s unique card system, participate in community events, and even transform their earnings into valuable NFTs.
The game further distinguishes itself through its rich collection of 48 unique cards, each offering different attributes and benefits, and its innovative Saga progression system — which includes detailed stories and chapter-based rewards — keeps players busy .
The future of Web3 gaming will be driven by consumer engagement.
As per numerous financial projections, the Web3 gaming market is only just beginning to heat up. To elaborate, experts believe that the industry’s 2023 market valuation of $4.6 billion will climb to $28.86 billion by 2030.
Not only that, these mammoth numbers are also supported by increasing user engagement, with blockchain gaming dominating 26% of all decentralized application activity through 4.4 million daily active wallets in Q3 2024.
Similarly, investment figures validate this trajectory even more, with Q2 2024 marking the strongest quarter since Q3 2022, locking in $1.1 billion worth of investments into Web3 gaming — a 314% increase from the previous quarter.
Within this broader context, projects like Funtico, with their innovative approach to gaming and robust ecosystem development, are well-positioned to capitalize on this growth as the industry continues to evolve. Interesting times ahead!
