Notcoin Says Tap-to-Earn Games Are Over

Notcoin, one of the breakout names in Web3 gaming last year, says the days of mindless "tap-to-earn" mechanics are likely over.

Speaking at Token2049 in Dubai, the team behind the viral Telegram-based game said the genre simply doesn’t keep players engaged long-term—and the industry is shifting toward more social, entertaining experiences.

The Notcoin team, led by co-founders Sasha and Vladimir Plotvinov along with product designer Uliana Salo, reflected on the explosive growth of their game, which pulled in over 30 million users in just a few months. But the momentum was short-lived. Players, driven mostly by token farming, quickly moved on to other titles once the earnings dried up.

Sasha explained that earning alone isn’t enough to retain players. What gamers want, he said, is fun—with friends, in groups, with shared goals. That’s where Telegram games, in their early form, missed the mark. Future success, according to the team, depends on putting entertainment first and treating token incentives as secondary bonuses—not the core experience.

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AI is also helping speed things up. Vladimir noted that new tools have made game development faster and more efficient. But he cautioned that using AI isn’t a shortcut—it still requires technical know-how to ensure systems work under heavy user demand.

Despite the fading appeal of early Telegram games, the Notcoin team remains bullish. Salo compared Telegram’s potential to platforms like Facebook and WeChat, which host thriving game ecosystems. While Telegram lacks major publishers for now, she believes growth is inevitable—especially if games start being played for fun, not just profit.

Alexander Stefanov