Telegram mini apps: development of a blockchain clicker

The client needed a full—fledged gaming product inside Telegram — not an MVP, but a commercial launch with scaling potential right away.

The format is a Telegram Mini App with deep game mechanics, internal economics, and a Web3 foundation.

Project objectives:

• attracting traffic via Telegram
• user retention through gameplay
• monetization through in-game economics
• preparing for possible token integration

At the start:

• the platform itself was missing
• There was no game logic
• There was no technical base

We implemented the product completely from scratch: from design to production.

Developed from scratch, play-to-earn is a turn-based clicker game. The player controls the dreamer by moving through the cells of the dream, answering quests, fighting nightmares and collecting resources. The client part for the browser, the connection of crypto wallets, smart contracts for the lumens currency and game items have been implemented. All visual elements have been created: location cards with three possible answers each, animations of moves, combat effects, changes in stress scales, luck, concentration and energy. Additionally, an admin panel has been implemented to manage the balance, prices, and event pool.

• ~30,000 users at launch
• ~ 1,000,000 users in the process of growth
• regular load spikes (advertising/traffic)
• simultaneous user activity inside the game

User behavior:

• 3-4 sessions per day
• 20-30 minutes per session

This is no longer a “mini-game”, but a full-fledged engagement product.

Before the project, the client did not have a tool for:

• audience retention inside Telegram
• building a gaming economy
• scalable user engagement
• preparing for the Web3 model

The task is to create a system in which:

• the user returns regularly
• The internal currency has value
• the player’s actions affect the outcome
• The product can be scaled and monetized.

The key focus is not just a game, but a tool for audience and revenue growth.

Game concept. Unlike classic “tap-to-earn” solutions, more complex logic is implemented here.:

• the user controls the character
• moves through the game world
• gets into various locations
• Makes decisions
• receives rewards, bonuses, or penalties

This is closer to an RPG strategy than a primitive clicker.

The game system. Key mechanics are implemented:

• character leveling system
• in-game currency
• user’s balance
• boosters
• tasks
• Daily rewards
• selection scenarios (decision-based mechanics)

Every action affects:

• progress
• economy
• further scenarios

Economy. The domestic economy is built as a managed system:

• accrual of currency for actions
• penalties and risks
• balancing income
• inflation control

Protection implemented:

• anti-fraud
• monitoring of abnormal activity
• protection against fraud

Telegram Mini App. Key Features:

• Telegram Web Apps API
• authorization via initData
• integration with the Telegram user
• working inside WebView

Solved problems:

• WebView instability
• bugs with sessions
• features of data transfer from Telegram

Backend

• Python (FastAPI + Django components)
• REST API (without WebSockets — an informed choice)
• Redis (rate limiting, cache, load management)

Frontend

• React (Telegram Mini App)
• adapting to Telegram WebView
• optimizing UX for platform limitations

Infrastructure

• VPS
• scaling under load
• peak request processing

Synchronization of probabilities between the client and the smart contract.
The probability of cells depends on the length of the session and is updated after each turn. It is implemented in such a way that the client calculates probabilities locally for smoothness, but the final card selection and reward calculation are always confirmed by a smart contract. This excludes cheating.

Animation without delay with frequent updates.
The player can make up to 20 moves per session, each move requires recalculating the balance and updating several scales. An optimistic update pattern was used: animation first, then confirmation from the blockchain. If the transaction fails, the animation is rolled back.

Negative balance processing.
According to the rules, lumens can be negative. This has complicated the interface and transactions. I had to add a red balance zone and a restriction: if the balance is negative, you cannot buy items, but you can continue playing.

Real-time energy recovery.
The recovery timer should work even when the application is closed. Implemented through server-side workers and notifications: when each unit of energy is restored, the player receives a push notification.

Compatible with mobile wallets.
We tested integration with Tonkeeper, MetaMask, and Trust Wallet. We had to adapt the widgets and link depth so that after signing the transaction, the player returns to the game.

Anti-fraud:

• protection against fraud
• behavior control
• filtering suspicious activity

The development took ~6 months.

• ~ 1,000,000 users
• a multiple increase from 30,000 at the start
• 3-4 sessions per day per user
• 20-30 minutes average session
• stable operation under loads
• implemented a full-fledged game economy

The client received more than just a Telegram Mini App.

This:

• gaming platform
• audience retention tool
• user engagement channel
• a system with an internal economy

a base for future Web3 integration