Telegram, one of the world’s most popular messaging apps with 800 million monthly users, has seen a meteoric rise among its ‘mini apps,’ with millions of users joining every day.

A Telegram ‘mini-app’ (TMA) is an online application built and run directly on messenger. According to the platform, it offers web3 getaway with TON SDK, an open-source protocol between wallets and apps TON Connect, and “tokens,” different monetization options such as advertising, subscription models, and in-app purchases, bot interaction, and community development to developers.

The buzz of last week – Notcoin (NOT) – might serve as an example of the popularity and the power of the Telegram community. The project, or rather the mini app, that was “the talk of the block” in the primarily Russian-speaking community for several months, was listed on several crypto exchanges last week and gained international popularity. Notcoin revealed that around five million tokens were claimed in the first 36 hours of trading. 

One of the mini apps that has been gaining traction very recently, mostly on Telegram itself and TikTok, is Hamster Kombat. 

Hamster Kombat describes itself as a “crypto exchange CEO simulator game,” in which players can increase their exchange income by buying “upgrade cards,” completing quests, and inviting friends. 

“Every hamster can experience what it’s like being a CEO ‘in real life’ instead of just giving advice to someone on X,” the game’s PR person said.

The cards, apparently, represent real-life tasks and challenges CEOs endure on a daily basis – from hiring and business development to compliance and licensing. 

The game with what may be considered a funny name has seen some serious numbers. 

According to the company’s PR manager, launched on March 26, the mini app already has 19 million daily active users and welcomed almost 2.9 million new users yesterday alone.

But what’s actually driving this growth? The game plot, the referral system, and rewards, the company believes. They note that the community is so active, they don’t even have to spend the marketing budget at this point – users create content and campaigns themselves. 

“We recently received a photo of a QR code printed and posted on a lamppost, beneath which was the referral link of one of our players. We’ve also noticed several Telegram communities purchasing paid advertisements to promote their channels. Within the game, there’s a leaderboard showcasing the most successful players at each level. Everyone wants to claim the top spot, and perhaps that’s the secret. The spirit of competition and rivalry drives engagement and enthusiasm,” the company shares.

Other Telegram mini apps have helped kickstart the game’s popularity, too. Particularly, Notcoin.

“It’s worth noting that the listing of Notcoin has played its part. The market and individuals have seen that a simple clicker game can transform into something actually tradable on the exchange.”

The developers of the game recognize that it does not have any web3 elements right now; they’re currently focused on “immersing players into this world through gameplay mechanics” and educating them “about the blockchain world through storytelling and gameplay elements.” But, web3/crypto integration is a part of the project’s roadmap.

The company says they are currently “in negotiations” with a number of major crypto exchanges about a potential listing of the game’s coin (the ticker is yet to be announced), which users will also be able to use for the game’s mechanics (also, yet to be revealed how exactly).

As to why Telegram has been so popular as a platform for web3 games, and the crypto community in general, Hamster Kombat thinks it’s due to its secure communication and community building capabilities. 

“Crypto projects use Telegram to communicate with users directly, make announcements, and discuss important news and updates. It is also used to host events, AMA sessions, webinars, and other activities related to the cryptocurrency industry.”

And mini apps are an efficient tool to engage the crypto audience, the company believes, largely due to their “access to various services such as cryptocurrency wallets, crypto games, crypto exchanges, and other convenient tools,” “transparency and security of users’ interaction,” and the ability to carry out different marketing campaigns directly to users.