Play to Win is a new narrative in Web3 gaming focused on skill-based competitive games and tournaments.
Play to Win emphasizes skill over luck, with players entering competitions by purchasing tickets or other proof-of-entry assets. The most skilled players compete, and the prize pool—funded by entry fees—is distributed among the winners.
Why is Play to Win Gaining Popularity?
- High Engagement – Larger prize pools intensify competition, driving more participation.
- Monetization Opportunities – Each tournament becomes a revenue stream by linking entry fees to prize incentives.
- Social Gaming on Telegram – Telegram’s viral mechanics, like group chats and social sharing, make it the perfect platform for competitive gaming.
- Skill-Based, Not Luck-Based – Unlike casinos, Play to Win relies on skill, avoiding regulatory issues tied to gambling.
Telegram’s Untapped Potential for Web3 Gaming
Telegram has already proven its ability to onboard millions of users into Web3 through viral mini-apps like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat. This ecosystem provides an unparalleled opportunity to scale Web3 gaming to over a billion users.
Lessons from WeChat’s Mini-Game Ecosystem
WeChat, a super-app with 1.34 billion users, has demonstrated how integrating mini-games into social platforms can drive massive engagement:
- 500M+ monthly active gamers (Statista, 2024).
- 400,000+ developers contributing to WeChat mini-games.
- 68.1 minutes per day spent on mini-games, surpassing traditional mobile gaming engagement.Most players have preferred casual mini games.
What If Telegram Achieves This Scale?
- Telegram’s 1B+ users make it a prime distribution channel for Web3 games.
- TON’s deep integration with Telegram enables frictionless gaming, turning the platform into a global Web3 arcade.
- Casual gaming could become a key driver for Web3 adoption, just as it did for WeChat.
- Industry leaders believe in Telegram’s Web3 future:
- Animoca Brands CEO Robby Yung: “Anybody with a Web3 app will have a Telegram strategy for user onboarding…” (Decrypt, 2024).
The Next Evolution of Telegram Gaming
Telegram has onboarded millions into Web3, but what’s next? Beyond tap-to-earn, competitive gaming and social tournaments are emerging.
ONTON is one of the most active Telegram mini-app communities, built for events, gatherings, and now, Play to Win contests & tournaments. Integrated with TON, it’s a place where communities can try new gaming experiences—whether for fun, competition, or something bigger.
ONTON: Gamifying Events in the TON Ecosystem
ONTON is revolutionizing event management in the TON ecosystem by integrating on-chain solutions like Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) for proof of attendance, NFT ticketing, and seamless event management within Telegram.
Now, ONTON is taking engagement to the next level by incorporating gamification, enabling event organizers to create competitive tournaments and gaming communities. By partnering with Elympics, ONTON is becoming a hub for the Play to Win movement.
Want to play competitive tournaments with crypto prize pools?
— TON Society (@ton_society) March 19, 2025@ONTONbot has partnered with @elympics_ai to launch “Play2Win” – a live stream of multiplayer tournaments anyone can join to win crypto by playing casual games.
This integration is powered by Elympics –… pic.twitter.com/d0x8w8fTFA
What is ONTON Doing with Gaming?
ONTON is making it easy for event organizers to add gaming tournaments to their events. By partnering with Elympics, organizers can create tournaments inside ONTON, and participants can join with just one click.
For Event Organizers (Community Builders):
- Add tournaments to your events effortlessly.
- Use partnered games to engage your community.
- Make events more interactive and rewarding.
For Participants (Community Members):
- Join tournaments directly from ONTON.
- Compete, have fun, and win rewards.
- Connect with others through games and contests.
Gaming is a powerful way to bring people together. ONTON makes it simple to turn events into exciting, engaging experiences—all within Telegram.
How ONTON Powers Play to Win
- Massive User Base – ONTON already has 1M+ users engaging in events.
- Marketing & Monetization – Web3 event participants are eager for gamified experiences, and organizers can monetize tournaments.
- Web3 Identity with SBTs – Participants earn digital badges for joining tournaments, building their Web3 gaming identity.
- Effortless Telegram Integration – ONTON’s native mini-app allows tournaments to be shared and played entirely within Telegram.
Why Elympics?
Elympics is a blockchain-powered infrastructure that enables Web2 game developers to transition into Web3 seamlessly. This partnership provides ONTON with access to multiple high-quality games and game developers.
Key Benefits of Elympics:
- Unlocks Mass Adoption – Helps Web2 studios bring their games to Web3.
- Casual Gaming Power – Titles like SweetRush (a Telegram match-3 game) and Basketbull Ferry have low entry barriers, perfect for onboarding non-gamers.
- Deep Telegram Integration – Elympics games are fully embedded into Telegram, ensuring a seamless experience within ONTON.
The Play2Win revolution is in full swing!
— Elympics (@elympics_ai) March 20, 2025⁰
Since launching with @ton_society & @ontonbot, we’ve seen thousands of players join PvP tournaments in just 24h ⁰Don’t miss out: fan-favorite IPs are coming to Web3, and you can be part of this new gaming paradigm – start here:… pic.twitter.com/GI4XbMZzf8
The Future: Onboarding 1B+ Users to Web3 Gaming
Scaling Play to Win to 1 billion users may seem ambitious, but the Telegram + TON ecosystem has already demonstrated its ability to onboard hundreds of millions into Web3. With the rise of viral gaming and mini-apps, Web3 gaming could become the next major wave of adoption.
Next Steps
The Play to Win narrative is still in its early stages, but ONTON is already making it a reality. You can experience it firsthand through the “Play to Win” tab in ONTON.
Ready to Play? Click the link below, explore tournaments, and start competing!
