The Telegram mini-game Catizen earned $16 million in in-game purchases and donated 1% to saving stray cats.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said that Catizen earned $16 million from in-game purchases. They also donated 1% of this amount to save homeless cats.
According to Durov, within a few months, Catizen attracted more than 26 million users. In addition, its team has also developed tools to allow other developers to easily launch their projects based on The Open Network (TON) on Telegram.
“Catizen introduced millions of people to blockchain because it uses TON-based smart contracts for its in-game rewards.”
Pavel Durov, Telegram founder
Durov also noted that he is a dog lover. Therefore, he is looking forward to the developers of Catizen launching a game about his favorite pet, Dogizen.
Catizen gains popularity in the blockchain space
In early June, Catizen took first place in the App Battle competition of The Open League’s third season after winning the App Battle of The Open League’s second season.
“Congratulations to Catizen, Yescoin, SquidTG, Getgems, Fanton, TON Punks, and Tonano, who have won a combined reward of $500,000 in Season 3.”
The Open League team
The project’s achievements attracted the Binance Labs team, the venture capital division of the largest crypto exchange. They invested in Pluto Studio, the studio behind Catizen. The investment amount is not disclosed.
“Pluto Studio will use this new funding to fuel growth of the platform through supporting the development of the Catizen mini-app and game engine constructions, making it easier for more developers to join the Catizen ecosystem.”
Binance Labs team
What is known about Catizen
Catizen, a gaming bot on Telegram, immediately caught the attention of users, including those who actively use the TON blockchain. The Catizen community has grown to 25 million gamers, with approximately 1.5 million users constantly online.
The game takes place in a digital universe called Meowverse, which is entirely dedicated to cat themes. In this world, users can complete various tasks and receive valuable rewards.
In Catizen, gamers run a cat cafe where patrons pay to spend time with cats. When customers take a level 1 cat to play, players receive some in-game currency vKITTY.
Players also get unique IDs that provide access to the Launchpool and open up new opportunities within the game. Additionally, users actively participate in various events and competitions to earn airdrops through the play-to-airdrop mechanics.
According to the project team, the clicker’s native token, CATI, is planned to be launched and will also be available for staking. Players will receive 41% of the total CATI supply as an airdrop.
A new trend in the blockchain community
Tap-to-earn games have sparked significant growth in the TON ecosystem by offering simple game mechanics and tangible rewards. The mini-game boom on Telegram has accelerated the adoption of cryptocurrencies and set a new standard for integrating digital assets into social and gaming platforms.
Amid the growing popularity of mini-games on Telegram, Durov announced that the messenger will have a Mini Apps store and a built-in browser with web3 support by the end of the month.
According to the Telegram team, more than 500 million users interact with mini-apps monthly, purchasing goods and accessing services and games. The platform’s integration with the TON blockchain has led to a surge in the popularity of crypto-based games, especially after the success of Notcoin.
The popularity of Telegram has attracted scammers
Amid the growing popularity of Telegram, experts warned of an increase in the number of attacks. Thus, the Slow Mist platform reported an increase in the number of phishing attacks aimed at TON users.
Analysts say attackers distribute malicious links or bots in various Telegram channels. They most often do this under the guise of announcing an airdrop.
In addition to cryptocurrency, attackers steal anonymous numbers in the messenger, which are used to create additional accounts on Telegram. If the number is stolen, the user will completely lose control over the profile.
Should you pay attention to Catizen and other mini-games?
Games with tap-to-earn mechanics provide insight into cryptocurrency games’ potential. Their affordability and ease of use make them attractive to those interested in exploring the world of cryptocurrencies.
The rapid rise in popularity of mini-games like Catizen demonstrates the community’s interest in cryptocurrencies and provides an accessible entry point into the blockchain space for everyone.
