Experts Draw Parallels Between Clicker Games and Ponzi Schemes

Popular clicker games offer users a low entry barrier to the crypto market, yet their long-term viability and the reliability of their economic model are questioned by industry professionals, reports Cointelegraph.

Co-founder and CEO of the gaming Web3 studio Eldarune, Kan Picak, stated that the mechanics of “tap games” remind him of a Ponzi scheme, where early participants gain the most benefit.

“The aim to reach a billion players with projects like Hamster Kombat raises questions about their true value and market saturation potential. It seems more like a massive marketing ploy than genuine cryptocurrency adoption. I have concerns about sustainability,” he added.

Referring to the rapid rise in the value of in-game tokens, experts draw parallels with previous crypto bubbles. The earning mechanics in clickers are so simple that they allow for automation through the creation of bots, notes Luke Paglia, COO of the Web3 game My Pet Hooligan.

“There is also a significant risk that the economy will quickly become hyperinflationary, resulting in many users owning thousands of worthless tokens,” he explains.

To avoid a sharp devaluation of coins, developers are advised to implement balanced tokenomics and mechanisms for burning excess emissions.

A well-thought-out economic structure and depth of game mechanics, beyond a simple clicker, will allow projects to retain users.

According to Paglia, the mass adoption of clicker models seems less likely to him.

“Gamers traditionally play games because they are fun to play, not because they will make them money,” the expert explained.

Previously, Notcoin creator Alexander Plotvinov stated that his team wants to move away from the clicker idea to create a more sustainable model and attract additional revenue.

At the end of May, the project launched a new type of missions for passive token earning.