The burgeoning trend of clicker games within Telegram's mini-app ecosystem has significantly contributed to the surge in popularity and utility of the TON Blockchain and its native cryptocurrency, Toncoin (TON).
This phenomenon has been driven by the seamless integration of a play-to-earn (P2E) model, which incentivises user engagement with cryptocurrency rewards.
The inherent community-centric nature of Telegram, coupled with the viral spread potential of social media, has facilitated the rapid dissemination of these games among its vast user base.
The convenience of in-app gaming, which obviates the need for additional downloads, has further streamlined the onboarding process, making these games accessible to a broader demographic.
The gamification strategy employed by these clicker games taps into the addictive allure of repetitive tasks, often complemented by the development of intricate in-game economies and currencies.
However, it is crucial to approach the allure of these Telegram-based games with a discerning eye.
The emergence of so-called "tap" games within the DeFi space, which promise substantial returns for minimal effort, often masks underlying risks and potential for fraud.
The shiny veneer of easy profits belies a darker reality, where unsuspecting users may find themselves ensnared in schemes that prioritise quick gains over long-term sustainability and user protection.
As such, while the integration of digital assets within social and gaming platforms represents a novel evolution in crypto adoption, it is imperative for users to exercise caution and conduct thorough due diligence to safeguard against the pitfalls that may accompany these seemingly lucrative opportunities.
The phenomenon of clicker games within the Telegram ecosystem was pioneered by Notcoin (NOT), introduced by Open Builders in early 2024.
This game revolutionised the scene by allowing users to accumulate in-game currency with a simple button press, a mechanic that ultimately led to a $1 billion token airdrop.
Notcoin has since established itself as a pivotal entity within the Telegram gaming landscape.
However, despite its success, Sasha, the pseudonymous founder of Notcoin, has expressed scepticism about the long-term viability of button-mashing games.
Sasha noted:
“I do not expect it will last forever. I do not expect it will have any sustainability. From my perspective, only the games that have sustainable models will survive."
Notcoin was the trailblazer in shifting away from the traditional clicker format, introducing a novel approach where users are rewarded with free in-game assets in anticipation of future airdrops.
Sasha posits that Notcoin will not be the last to adopt such strategies and emphasizes the existence of games with sustainable business models.
He points to Catizen as an example, highlighting its claim of having over half of its user base as paying customers and its substantial revenue generation.
Sasha has made it clear that he intends to steer Notcoin away from its clicker origins.
He outlined a four-year plan aimed at achieving project autonomy by developing sustainable and efficient subsystems.
A current focus is the implementation of campaigns within the Notcoin app, which incentivise users to engage with other emerging Telegram games, thereby earning Notcoin.
This initiative is designed to establish Notcoin as a central hub for fostering other ecosystem projects, stimulating demand for Notcoin, and facilitating token burns.
He iterated:
“It's like farming, but not for providing liquidity, but providing your time and attention. This model allows us to be sustainable because we don't have to print new notcoins.”
Sasha anticipates a significant increase in the frequency of these campaigns, potentially reaching 50 to 100 per week.
Moreover, Sasha hinted at a multitude of other potential subsystems, including contests, contributor incentives, game platforms, and even a decentralised university leveraging AI-generated content accessible to all.
He added:
“We experiment with this. Some models will die, some will evolve and become successful, and so on."
Toncoin’s (TON) price has recently witnessed a retracement from its newly achieved all-time high (ATH), as investors are observed transferring their holdings to exchanges.
After a period of sustained bullish momentum, Toncoin's price soared to an unprecedented peak of $8.2, buoyed by the market's favourable disposition towards Telegram-related cryptocurrencies.
Investors held onto their positions until this significant milestone was reached, but have since shifted their focus towards safeguarding their profits.
A surge in profit-taking activities has been evident across the network over the past few days.
This behaviour is having a notable impact on the future price trajectory, as evidenced by the increasing liquidations on the network.
Toncoin Profit Taking. Source: Santiment
Long contracts have experienced higher liquidations compared to short contracts over the past week, a consequence of the recent price decline.
This indicates that profit-taking is impeding further upward momentum in Toncoin's price.
As a result, traders anticipating a rally may retreat due to mounting losses, potentially leading to a bearish market sentiment.
The ongoing profit-taking could have long-term implications for the altcoin.
The question remains as to how this will affect the possibility of Toncoin reaching a new ATH.
The price decline is partly attributed to the prevailing negative sentiment within the broader cryptocurrency market.
Historical trading sessions show Toncoin's price attempting to rebound from $6.6 to $8.1 but failing to maintain these gains.
A few hours ago, Toncoin was trading at $6.94, having experienced a 16% drawdown over the last four days.
This has led to TON breaching several support levels at $7.5 and $7.0.
These levels have been tested multiple times in the past, underscoring their significance as critical support thresholds.
At the time of writing, the price had marginally recovered to $7.21.
However, should profit-taking persist and intensify, a breach below this level is conceivable, potentially driving TON down to $6.0.
Despite these challenges, the Toncoin ecosystem has demonstrated a remarkable resilience.
Crypto analyst Ali Martinez has provided insights into the potential future price movements of Toncoin.
He suggests that Toncoin has a 40% upside potential, which could propel the asset's price towards $11.
However, Martinez also points out that the TD Sequential indicator hints at a possible price drop to replenish liquidity before embarking on another uptrend.
Key levels to monitor include the $6.78 support level, which has historically arrested downward price movements, and the $8.17 resistance level.
The burgeoning interest in Telegram Coins has thrust Notcoin (NOT) into the spotlight, attracting a wave of investors eager to capitalise on its potential.
However, following a period of robust performance, the altcoin appears to be faltering, along with the optimistic outlook of its investor base.
Currently, Notcoin is embroiled in a downward price trend, and despite efforts to reverse this trajectory, progress has been minimal.
The resulting shift in sentiment among NOT holders is becoming increasingly apparent, with investors adopting a more pessimistic stance regarding the coin's recovery prospects.
This pessimism is reflected in the negative funding rate, a phenomenon observed for the first time this month.
This indicator suggests that short contracts are currently dominating the market, as investors are positioning themselves for a price decline rather than an increase.
This bearish sentiment persists even in the face of a short-term bullish signal from the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD).
Over the past week, Notcoin has experienced a decline in excess of 4%, hinting at a growing bearish sentiment among investors.
The NOT price has been oscillating within a narrow range between $0.015 and $0.021.
Just a few hours ago, it was trading at $0.01539, marking a 0.17% decrease over the past 24 hours.
At the time of writing, it has marginally recovered to $0.01583.
A diminishing buying momentum has been a contributing factor to Notcoin's price decline.
For the time being, the NOT price is precariously close to the critical support level of $0.015, and it is anticipated to continue its lateral movement below $0.018 until it accumulates sufficient momentum to initiate another rally.
The downtrend line that has constrained NOT for several weeks, prior to a brief false breakout, is expected to reassert its influence.
Should the Telegram Coin manage to breach this line, a more favourable, bullish scenario could unfold.
Conversely, if investors maintain their bearish stance, there is a significant risk that Notcoin could plummet below the $0.015 support level.
Such a breach would not only undermine the bullish narrative but could also herald even lower lows for NOT, potentially targeting $0.014 and $0.013.
In the event of a prolonged downturn, the price could conceivably decline to around $0.012, signalling a deeply bearish market sentiment.
Should bearish pressures intensify further, Notcoin may find itself in a precarious position, potentially dropping to $0.01.
Emerging decentralised finance (DeFi) projects on Telegram, colloquially known as "tap" games, entice users with the allure of substantial returns for minimal input.
Yet, beneath this glossy veneer lies a landscape riddled with risks and the potential for fraudulent activities.
Several key concerns are commonly associated with these tap games:
Volatility: The value of tokens associated with tap games can be extremely volatile, rendering them speculative ventures. There is a significant risk of total investment loss if one is not vigilant.
Fraud: A concerning number of tap games operate as scams, designed to deceive participants. These schemes frequently vanish with substantial investor funds, leaving victims with no recourse.
Lack of Transparency: Many tap games offer little to no insight into their team, codebase, or operational model, making them opaque and inherently risky investments.
Market Manipulation: Certain tap games engage in manipulative practices to artificially boost their token prices, which can lead to precipitous drops once the manipulation ceases.
Influencer Reliance: Tap games often leverage social media influencers to promote their offerings. These influencers are frequently compensated for selling tokens, introducing a conflict of interest that may lead them to endorse unsafe or unreliable projects.
Considering these substantial risks and the observed price fluctuations, one must question whether Telegram-based games are merely fleeting phenomena, destined to be ephemeral hits without lasting impact.