How Telegram’s Tap-to-Earn Games Are Bringing New Faces to Crypto
In a world where we’ve been eagerly waiting for crypto to go mainstream, it looks like Telegram is finally delivering. According to Gleb Kostarev, the CEO of Blum and former vice president at Binance, the tap-to-earn games on Telegram are drawing in people who’ve never interacted with crypto before. At the Korea Blockchain Week, Kostarev revealed some impressive numbers—half of the 50 million users registered on his Blum platform are completely new to the world of Web3.
For many in the crypto space, this is a huge breakthrough. Think about it: we’ve all been talking about “mass adoption” for years, but it always seemed just out of reach. Now, with simple games like Tapswap, Catizen, and Hamster Kombat, Telegram is quietly but powerfully exposing millions of people to crypto. These aren’t just gamers anymore; they’re potential investors, traders, and even future DeFi users.
The concept behind these tap-to-earn games is fairly straightforward. You perform basic actions—like tapping on your phone repeatedly—and in return, you earn in-game tokens. It’s fun, simple, and easy to understand, which makes it a perfect entry point for people who are new to crypto.
But it’s more than just fun and games. These in-game tokens are tied to real-world assets on the blockchain, specifically Telegram’s own blockchain, The Open Network (TON). Whether players know it or not, they’re stepping into the world of cryptocurrency with every tap, every game played, and every token earned.
For traders, this is an exciting development. We’ve always known that crypto needed to find a way to bring in people who weren’t necessarily tech-savvy or financially invested in the space. Telegram has finally cracked the code, using something as simple as a game to attract millions of new users.
The Education Challenge: New Users, New Opportunities
While it’s exciting to see so many new faces entering the crypto space, it also brings a challenge: education. Kostarev acknowledged this at the event, saying, “Yeah, they come to crypto, but they don’t know anything about it.” For crypto traders and developers, this creates both an opportunity and a responsibility.
On one hand, you now have millions of new users who are curious about crypto. On the other, you have to educate them, protect them, and help them understand what they’re getting into. These users aren’t just numbers; they’re real people who could easily get scammed or lost in the complexities of the crypto world if they don’t know what they’re doing.
For traders, this is where the real potential lies. If Telegram can successfully educate these users, guiding them from simple tap-to-earn games to more advanced crypto trading and DeFi platforms, the sky’s the limit. We could see an influx of liquidity, new projects, and more innovation in the market. But first, education is key.
Kostarev emphasized this by saying, “It’s not enough just to bring a mass user base to crypto, it’s also about what they will do there and how to prevent them from being scammed.” For crypto businesses, this could mean developing user-friendly interfaces, offering educational resources, and providing guidance to these new entrants to the space.
DeFi and Mobile: Telegram’s Edge Against Big Tech
Another key point Kostarev made during the interview is how Telegram is uniquely positioned to help decentralized finance (DeFi) grow, particularly through mobile platforms. If you’ve been in the crypto space long enough, you’ve probably noticed that many DeFi projects struggle with mobile accessibility. Sure, they have websites, but most users—around 80%, according to Kostarev—prefer accessing platforms via mobile apps.
And this is where the big tech companies like Apple and Google come into play. Both tech giants have strict policies that limit DeFi adoption on their platforms. For example, Apple’s App Store enforces a hefty 30% fee on in-app purchases and doesn’t support cryptocurrency transactions or NFTs. This has made it difficult for DeFi projects to offer a smooth, mobile-friendly experience for their users.
But Telegram is different. With its decentralized nature and the development of its own blockchain, Telegram is not beholden to the same restrictions as Apple and Google. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for traders and developers alike. Imagine having full access to DeFi apps through a messaging platform that millions of people use daily—no restrictions, no high fees, just seamless, decentralized financial services at your fingertips.
Kostarev believes this could be a game-changer for DeFi adoption. If Telegram can provide a platform that’s mobile-friendly and not limited by big tech policies, we could see a significant rise in the use of DeFi services. For traders, this means more opportunities to explore decentralized markets, lending platforms, and other financial services—all through your mobile device.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. Telegram has recently come under scrutiny from authorities, particularly in France, where its founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested for allegedly allowing criminal activity on the app. While this doesn’t necessarily affect Telegram’s blockchain ambitions, it does highlight some of the challenges the platform faces as it continues to grow.
