Market
Why Telegram’s Tap-to-Earn Segment Is Winning Investors
The rapid rise of tap-to-earn games on Telegram, powered by The Open Network (TON) blockchain, has attracted significant attention — and funding — from venture capitalists. Investors are making substantial bets on Telegram’s tap-to-earn games like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat, and Catizen, seeing them as the future of Web3 gaming.
But what exactly is driving these investment decisions, and how do investors envision the future of tap-to-earn? BeInCrypto recently interviewed Animoca Brands, one of the biggest TON validators, and Hashkey Capital, which has made significant investments and formed partnerships with Catizen.
Investors Eye Social Experiences as the Future of Tap-to-Earn Games
Undeniably, one of the key reasons venture capitalists are drawn to Telegram’s tap-to-earn ecosystem is its vast and engaged user base. With 950 million active users as of July 2024, the platform offers an unparalleled audience for developers looking to launch and scale games. This kind of organic reach dramatically reduces user acquisition costs, which is a major selling point for investors.
Furthermore, its crypto-native infrastructure sets Telegram apart from other platforms in the Web3 gaming space. The integration of TON blockchain allows for seamless transactions, reducing friction between the gaming experience and the user’s wallet. This ease of use is a significant draw for both developers and investors, as it allows instant monetization without the hurdles typically associated with blockchain adoption.
“Telegram is one of the few platforms where Web3 mechanics are baked into the experience. The ability to move from gameplay to crypto transactions without leaving the app is a huge competitive edge,” Junbo Yang, Investment Manager at Hashkey Capital, explains.
For investors, this integrated experience makes Telegram a prime candidate for further investment. The platform’s low transaction fees, scalability, and growing list of mini-apps ensure that developers can continue to innovate and retain users without the technical barriers that often plague Web3 adoption.
As TON ecosystem and tap-to-earn games grow, investors remain optimistic about the future of this segment. For instance, Hamster Kombat alone has attracted over 300 million users across 190 countries, with its upcoming HMSTR airdrop poised to be one of the largest in the crypto space.
Read more: What Is Hamster Kombat?
Meanwhile, Catizen has successfully built a loyal user base while optimizing its monetization strategy. Likewise, Notcoin attracted over 40 million global users and executed one of the year’s largest airdrops, solidifying its position as a key player in TON ecosystem.
Both Hashkey Capital and Animoca Brands see the success of these games as just the beginning. They believe as developers improve game mechanics, they will also discover new ways to retain users, moving beyond simple rewards to social and immersive experiences.
Why Telegram Could Drive the Next Web3 Boom?
Furthermore, the investors view these games as a proof of concept, demonstrating the scalability of the tap-to-earn model and its ability to retain users beyond initial incentives. This success reveals significant potential for growth and expansion within the tap-to-earn sphere.
In a recent exclusive interview with BeInCrypto, Yat Siu, the co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, strongly advocated integrating blockchain gaming into Telegram. He sees that the built-in audience allows games to scale quickly without costly marketing campaigns—a crucial factor for venture capitalists eyeing high returns.
“The next 100 to 200 million users in Web3 will come from Telegram and its gaming ecosystem,” Siu remarks.
Investors are primarily focused on three factors: user acquisition, scalability, and retention. However, they are also particularly excited about the potential for long-term monetization. Catizen, for example, stands out for its ability to retain users and optimize their lifetime value (LTV), showcasing sustainable growth and a profitable tap-to-earn model.
Junbo Yang highlights how Catizen and similar games set the stage for future development by prioritizing monetization and long-term user engagement.
“The early success of Catizen in monetizing its user base offers a blueprint for how other developers can scale their games,” Yang notes.
These investors’ perspectives align with the game teams’ long-term visions. In an email to BeInCrypto, the Hamster Kombat team revealed their plan to evolve into a multi-game platform.
“After the first airdrop, we will launch the second season with a massive expansion, allowing players to choose from multiple games to play. This begins the transformation of Hamster Kombat from a game into a gaming platform, similar to how Valve moved on from launching cult-status games to Steam, the largest game marketplace for PCs,” they elaborated.
Turning Setbacks into Growth: Why Investors Remain Optimistic Despite TON’s Hiccups
While the tap-to-earn model has proven its ability to attract users, the key challenge is keeping them engaged beyond initial airdrops and rewards. Some critics have raised concerns about mercenary users—those who join games solely to earn tokens—but investors see this as a short-term challenge.
However, investors believe that as developers increasingly adopt the tap-to-earn model, they will also find ways to extend user lifecycles, enhancing its sustainability. Yat Siu believes that the tap-to-earn model, while currently reward-driven, is laying the foundation for a much larger gaming ecosystem.
“Tap-to-earn is just the beginning. Once users enter the ecosystem, the goal is to build community and social experiences that keep them engaged for reasons beyond just token rewards,” Siu argues.
In addition to the sustainability concerns, the Telegram ecosystem has faced recent challenges. For instance, earlier in August, BeInCrypto reported that TON blockchain experienced an outage, temporarily halting block production for several hours. This incident raised concerns about the network’s ability to handle future surges in activity, especially with the increasing number of users participating in tap-to-earn games.
Addressing the issue, Yat Siu acknowledged the outage but remained confident in TON’s resilience. Siu emphasized that TON is still in its early stages and believes that such challenges are part of the network’s growth process. He sees TON’s potential to become even larger than Telegram itself in the future, driving the platform’s growth.
“TON itself should remain as a censorship-resistant decentralized platform like other chains, but the projects and dApps themselves can implement measures to ensure stability,” he said.
Read more: Top 7 Telegram Tap-to-Earn Games to Play in 2024
Regardless of these challenges, venture capitalists remain confident in the potential of tap-to-earn. The coming years will reveal whether this model will secure its place as a lasting feature in Web3 gaming, but for now, investors are fully committed.
Disclaimer
Following the Trust Project guidelines, this feature article presents opinions and perspectives from industry experts or individuals. BeInCrypto is dedicated to transparent reporting, but the views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of BeInCrypto or its staff. Readers should verify information independently and consult with a professional before making decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Rallies 10% and Targets More Upside
Ethereum price started a fresh increase above the $3,220 zone. ETH is rising and aiming for more gains above the $3,350 resistance.
- Ethereum started a fresh increase above the $3,220 and $3,300 levels.
- The price is trading above $3,250 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
- There is a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken).
- The pair could gain bullish momentum if it clears the $3,385 resistance zone.
Ethereum Price Regains Traction
Ethereum price remained supported above $3,000 and started a fresh increase like Bitcoin. ETH gained pace for a move above the $3,150 and $3,220 resistance levels.
The bulls pumped the price above the $3,300 level. It gained over 10% and traded as high as $3,387. It is now consolidating gains above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent move from the $3,036 swing low to the $3,387 high.
Ethereum price is now trading above $3,220 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price seems to be facing hurdles near the $3,350 level. There is also a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD.
The first major resistance is near the $3,385 level. The main resistance is now forming near $3,420. A clear move above the $3,420 resistance might send the price toward the $3,550 resistance. An upside break above the $3,550 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,650 resistance zone or even $3,880.
Another Decline In ETH?
If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,350 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,300 level. The first major support sits near the $3,250 zone.
A clear move below the $3,250 support might push the price toward $3,220 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent move from the $3,036 swing low to the $3,387 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $3,150 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $3,050.
Technical Indicators
Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone.
Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone.
Major Support Level – $3,250
Major Resistance Level – $3,385
Market
Rallies 10% and Targets More Upside
Ethereum price started a fresh increase above the $3,220 zone. ETH is rising and aiming for more gains above the $3,350 resistance.
- Ethereum started a fresh increase above the $3,220 and $3,300 levels.
- The price is trading above $3,250 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
- There is a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken).
- The pair could gain bullish momentum if it clears the $3,385 resistance zone.
Ethereum Price Regains Traction
Ethereum price remained supported above $3,000 and started a fresh increase like Bitcoin. ETH gained pace for a move above the $3,150 and $3,220 resistance levels.
The bulls pumped the price above the $3,300 level. It gained over 10% and traded as high as $3,387. It is now consolidating gains above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent move from the $3,036 swing low to the $3,387 high.
Ethereum price is now trading above $3,220 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price seems to be facing hurdles near the $3,350 level. There is also a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD.
The first major resistance is near the $3,385 level. The main resistance is now forming near $3,420. A clear move above the $3,420 resistance might send the price toward the $3,550 resistance. An upside break above the $3,550 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,650 resistance zone or even $3,880.
Another Decline In ETH?
If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,350 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,300 level. The first major support sits near the $3,250 zone.
A clear move below the $3,250 support might push the price toward $3,220 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent move from the $3,036 swing low to the $3,387 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $3,150 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $3,050.
Technical Indicators
Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone.
Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone.
Major Support Level – $3,250
Major Resistance Level – $3,385
Market
GOAT Price Sees Slower Growth After Reaching $1B Market Cap
GOAT price has skyrocketed 214.29% in one month, recently breaking into the $1 billion market cap and securing its place as the 10th largest meme coin. It now stands just ahead of MOG, which closely trails its position in the rankings.
However, recent indicators suggest that GOAT’s uptrend may be weakening, raising questions about whether it can sustain its rally or face a potential correction.
GOAT BBTrend Is Negative For The First Time In 4 Days
GOAT BBTrend has turned negative for the first time since November 17, now sitting at -0.54. This shift suggests that bearish momentum is beginning to take hold, with the asset’s recent upward trajectory starting to weaken potentially.
BBTrend measures the strength and direction of price trends using Bollinger Bands, with positive values indicating an uptrend and negative values signaling a downtrend. A negative BBTrend reflects increased downward pressure, which could indicate the start of a broader market shift.
GOAT has had an impressive November, gaining 61% and reaching a new all-time high on November 17.
However, the current negative BBTrend, if it persists and grows, could signal the potential for further bearish momentum.
GOAT Is In A Neutral Zone
GOAT’s RSI has dropped to 52, down from over 70 a few days ago when it reached its all-time high. This decline indicates that buying momentum has cooled off, and the market has moved out of the overbought zone.
The drop suggests a shift toward a more neutral sentiment as traders consolidate gains and the strong bullish pressure seen earlier subsides.
RSI measures the strength and velocity of price changes, with values above 70 indicating overbought conditions and below 30 signaling oversold levels. At 52, GOAT’s RSI is in a neutral zone, neither signaling strong bullish nor bearish momentum.
This could mean the current uptrend is losing strength, and the price may consolidate or move sideways unless renewed buying pressure reignites upward momentum.
GOAT Price Prediction: A New Surge Until $1.50?
If GOAT current uptrend regains strength, it could retest its all-time high of $1.37, establishing its market cap above $1 billion, a fundamental threshold for being among the biggest meme coins in the market today.
Breaking above this level could pave the way for further gains, potentially reaching the next thresholds at $1.40 or even $1.50, signaling renewed bullish momentum and market confidence.
However, as shown by indicators like RSI and BBTrend, the uptrend may be losing steam. If a downtrend emerges, GOAT price could test its nearest support zones at $0.80 and $0.69.
Should these levels fail to hold, the price could fall further, potentially reaching $0.419, putting its position in the top 10 ranking of biggest meme coins at risk.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
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