Web3 Gaming, AI & The Rise of Telegram

Hi, it’s Marc. ✌️

“The hype around Web3 gaming really outpaced the product delivery. Many teams prioritized token launches over actually building fun games. Games are actually B2C products. It has to be fun. It’s not necessarily about tokens and being able to earn in games.”

We sat down with Anton Umnov, Founder and CEO of Helika, to discuss the future of Web3 gaming, AI, and the rise of Telegram as a gaming powerhouse.

With over 15 years of experience in data analytics across fintech and crypto, Anton built Helika, a leading Web3 gaming analytics platform.

On the role of social gaming & mini-apps, Anton said:

“The biggest Web3 games will emerge from mini-app ecosystems like Telegram, TikTok, and Line—not traditional app stores.”

Here’s what we’ve covered:

* Evolution of Web3 gaming: In the last cycle, many Web3 games rushed to launch tokens instead of building actual gameplay. Now, the focus has shifted to creating engaging, player-first experiences that can compete with traditional games. The industry is learning that fun must come before financial incentives.

* Telegram is the new gaming powerhouse: With 1B+ users, Telegram’s mini-apps are becoming the fastest, lowest-cost way to scale Web3 games. These games benefit from frictionless onboarding, viral sharing mechanics, and built-in social engagement, making Telegram a low-cost, high-growth alternative to traditional app stores.

* AI in game development: AI is shortening development cycles from 3-5 years to just 12-18 months by automating in-game economy balancing, NPC behaviors, and real-time A/B testing. AI-powered agents will adjust difficulty, create personalized experiences, and enhance monetization strategies dynamically.

And much more.

The future of gaming is a fusion of AI, Web3, and social-driven distribution models. Games won’t just be played—they’ll be owned, evolved, and monetized in real-time.

🚨 Mark your calendars:

On February 6th 12:00PM EST we’ll host a panel on:

* How The Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) increased member spend with sponsors by 40%, generated 1M+ loyalty transactions in just two months with millions in additional revenue.

* How Karate Kombat built a global sports league with millions of fans bey turning their marketing budget into direct incentives for fans, pioneering a model that every sports club (and brand!) can adopt.

With top-tier speakers:

* Robert Bryan (Founder Karate Kombat)

* Michael Chock (Chief Strategy Officer, Smart Media Technologies),

* Mark Epps (Director Comms & Web3, ATP Tour)

* John Timoney-Gomez(Co-Founder Uptop)

Attendees we’ll receive early-bird access to our biggest report yet on fan engagement across sport & entertainment with Web3 tech.

🚨 Secure your spot & report below, spots are limited! 👇

Key Take-Aways for Brand Leaders

* Web3 gaming is maturing: Web3 gaming over-promised and under-delivered in the last bull cycle. Brands and investors should bet on game studios prioritizing engagement over speculation—the next 12-24 months will be crucial.

* PRO TIP: Track Telegram mini-app adoption as an early indicator of Web3 gaming’s next breakout successes.

* Adopt AI and optimise: Traditional AAA games take 3-5 years to build. AI and blockchain infrastructure are cutting this down to 12-18 months by automating game balancing, NPC behavior, and A/B testing. 

* PRO TIP: Studios should integrate AI-driven procedural generation and real-time player analytics to accelerate development and optimize monetization.

* Telegram as the App Store of Web3 games: Telegram has 1B+ users, and Web3 gaming is taking off through its mini-app ecosystem. First-gen Telegram games (Notcoin, Katiz) proved the model—now, mid-core+ games are launching. Web3 game developers and brands should prioritize Telegram mini-apps—they offer the fastest user onboarding and lowest marketing costs.

* PRO TIP: Use Telegram-native viral mechanics (stickers, social sharing, tokenized rewards) to bootstrap adoption at near-zero cost.

* Web3 Gaming = Fintech in disguise: Web3 games are embedding staking, lending, and DeFi mechanics inside gameplay. This creates sticky user engagement and makes gaming wallets a financial hub beyond just in-game purchases.

* PRO TIP: Brands should treat Web3 gaming as an entry point into next-gen fintech—gaming wallets could become the Venmo of Gen Z.

* Move beyond US: Korea has higher crypto adoption than the U.S., and major studios there are already integrating blockchain. MENA (Middle East & North Africa) governments are creating regulatory sandboxes to attract Web3 game developers. Studios should localize incentives for Asian & MENA audiences—financialization matters more to these markets than to Western gamers.

* Community co-creation: Unlike traditional gaming, where AAA studios build in stealth, Web3 games require constant player feedback and iteration. Successful Web3 games treat early adopters as stakeholders, not just customers.

* PRO TIP: Game studios should launch early betas, use Discord/Telegram for real-time community feedback, and adapt mechanics in response to user behavior.

The future is AI + Web3 + Social Virality → where games evolve in real time, monetization is adaptive, and global adoption scales through messaging apps, not app stores.

Tune in to dive deeper into Anton’s Web3 gaming strategy.

That’s all for now.

Marc & Team

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