The Telegram mini-game Catizen has achieved significant success, earning $16 million from in-game purchases and donating 1% to saving stray cats.

Catizen Gains Popularity in the Blockchain Space

Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced that Catizen has generated $16 million through in-game purchases. Additionally, the game has donated 1% of these earnings to support homeless cats.

According to Durov, Catizen has attracted over 26 million users in just a few months. The development team has also created tools to help other developers launch projects on The Open Network (TON) via Telegram.

β€œCatizen introduced millions of people to blockchain because it uses TON-based smart contracts for its in-game rewards.”

Durov, a dog enthusiast, expressed his hope for a new game about his favorite pet, Dogizen.

Catizen’s Achievements

In early June, Catizen secured first place in The Open League’s third season App Battle competition. This victory builds on their success in the second season.

β€œCongratulations to Catizen, Yescoin, SquidTG, Getgems, Fanton, TON Punks, and Tonano, who have won a combined reward of $500,000 in Season 3.”

Catizen’s accomplishments caught the attention of Binance Labs, the venture capital arm of the largest crypto exchange. They invested in Pluto Studio, the developer behind Catizen. The specific investment amount remains undisclosed.

β€œPluto 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.”

What is Known About Catizen

Catizen, a gaming bot on Telegram, has quickly gained traction, especially among users of the TON blockchain. The Catizen community now includes 25 million gamers, with around 1.5 million users online at any given time.

The game is set in a digital universe called Meowverse, entirely dedicated to cat themes. Players manage a cat cafΓ© where customers pay to interact with cats, earning in-game currency vKITTY for each interaction.

Players also receive unique IDs that grant access to the Launchpool and additional in-game opportunities. Users participate in events and competitions to earn airdrops via the play-to-airdrop mechanics.

According to the project team, the game’s native token, CATI, will be launched and 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 significantly boosted the TON ecosystem, offering simple mechanics and tangible rewards. This mini-game trend on Telegram has accelerated cryptocurrency adoption and set new standards for integrating digital assets into social and gaming platforms.

With the rising popularity of mini-games, Durov announced that Telegram would soon introduce a Mini Apps store and a built-in browser with web3 support.

Telegram reports that over 500 million users interact with mini-apps monthly, purchasing goods and accessing various services and games. The integration with the TON blockchain has spurred the popularity of crypto-based games.

The Popularity of Telegram Has Attracted Scammers

As Telegram’s popularity grows, experts warn of increased phishing attacks targeting TON users. The Slow Mist platform has reported a rise in malicious links and bots distributed in Telegram channels, often under the guise of airdrop announcements.

Attackers are not only after cryptocurrency but also anonymous numbers used to create additional Telegram accounts. If these numbers are stolen, users can lose control over their profiles entirely.

Should You Pay Attention to Catizen and Other Mini-Games?

Games with tap-to-earn mechanics offer a glimpse into the potential of cryptocurrency games. Their simplicity and accessibility make them appealing to those interested in exploring the world of cryptocurrencies.

The rapid rise of mini-games like Catizen highlights the community’s interest in cryptocurrencies and provides an easy entry point into the blockchain space for everyone.

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