The Tap-to-Earn Era Is Likely Over as Telegram Gaming Evolves

Notcoin — one of the most notable Web3 gaming projects in 2024 — has stated that the tap-to-earn genre is “probably dead,” as the Web3 gaming landscape shifts toward more captivating and interactive experiences.

At the Token2049 event in Dubai, Notcoin co-founders Sasha and Vladimir Plotvinov, along with Uliana Salo — head of design and product lead at Not Games — spoke with Cointelegraph about the current state of Telegram-based Web3 games.

Vladimir explained that game developers are exploring new genres, as tap-to-earn has failed to maintain long-term player interest. He said:
“We’re going to see different types of games because tap-to-earn is probably dead — it’s just not sustainable.”

Players Want Fun, Not Just Earnings

In 2024, Notcoin became one of Telegram’s most popular tap-to-earn games, attracting over 30 million users within three months of launch. In a previous interview, Sasha credited this growth to Notcoin’s ability to “solve the onboarding problem” of bringing Telegram users into crypto.

However, the Telegram gaming boom quickly saw players “game-hopping,” moving from one project to another after farming all the rewards. Sasha told:
“Users who come to farm — their only motivation is to earn. But with real games, people want to have fun, play with friends, and enjoy the experience as part of a group.”

He added that although Telegram’s first wave of games lacked strong social elements, Web3 still has a vital role to play in the platform’s gaming ecosystem.

According to Sasha, developers are now shifting away from token-farming models. In this new wave of games, the Web3 economy becomes an “add-on” rather than the core value of the experience. That said, creating truly meaningful games will take time. Sasha acknowledged that Telegram doesn’t have any “real games” yet, but he remains optimistic about what’s to come.