Education 3 min read

TapSwap Airdrop: When Is It And Why Is It Being Delayed?

The TapSwap airdrop, originally expected earlier this year, has faced multiple delays.The viral Telegram-based tap-to-earn game now has over 60 million users, and it’s one of the fastest growing Web3 games. As its popularity continues to mount up, so does the frustration from the community over its impending airdrop and token generation event (TGE).

Initially scheduled for May 2024, the launch was postponed to July, and now it is anticipated in Q3 2024. The delay has been attributed to the need for more time to refine tokenomics and ensure a fair distribution process. Despite community frustrations, the TapSwap team insists that this delay will result in a more strategic and user-beneficial outcome, particularly as they prepare for a major exchange listing later this year.

Key takeaways

  • The TapSwap airdrop is now expected to launch in Q3 2024. The project’s team mentioned it has been delayed due to the need for better tokenomics planning and to ensure a fair and secure distribution process.
  • Significant red flags include the introduction of paid features, lack of transparency, and technical issues, which have raised doubts about the project’s legitimacy.
  • Despite these concerns, TapSwap maintains a large, active user base and ongoing communication, indicating potential legitimacy, but caution is advised.

What is TapSwap and how does it work?

TapSwap is a tap-to-earn gaming platform integrated with the TON blockchain. Launched in February 2024, the platform has quickly gained popularity, attracting millions of users. According to its founder, Naz Ventura, the game currently has around 18 million daily active users. The core mechanic of TapSwap revolves around tapping a screen to earn in-game currency, which can be converted into shares. These shares can then be used to upgrade various elements within the game, such as buildings in the recently introduced city-building game, Tappy Town.

The platform employs a unique system where users continuously tap their screens to mine tokens. The more a user taps and completes upgrades, the more shares they accumulate. These shares are then converted into tokens, which will be distributed as part of the platform’s airdrop. The game also integrates social and competitive elements, allowing users to engage in various tasks and challenges to maximize their earnings.

What is the TapSwap airdrop?

The TapSwap airdrop is a highly anticipated event in the crypto community, where users will receive free TAPS tokens based on their activity within the TapSwap platform. TapSwap is a tap-to-earn gaming app that rewards users for completing tasks like tapping, upgrading in-game items, and referring others. The airdrop is scheduled to take place in Q3 2024, although the exact date has been delayed several times as the team refines the tokenomics and finalizes distribution plans.

During the airdrop, users who have actively participated in the TapSwap platform will receive TAPS tokens. The distribution will be proportional to their engagement, including the number of taps, upgrades, and referrals they’ve accumulated. This event is especially exciting because it serves as a precursor to TapSwap’s listing on major cryptocurrency exchanges, which could significantly increase the value of the tokens.

The hype around the TapSwap airdrop stems from its potential for high returns, especially for early adopters who have invested time in the platform. With over 50 million users, the anticipation has been building as TapSwap continues to grow, and many see the airdrop as a major opportunity to profit from their in-game efforts

Understanding the tap-to-earn model

The tap-to-earn model is a gamified mechanism within blockchain-based platforms that allows users to earn cryptocurrency or tokens by simply interacting with an app, typically by tapping their screens.

This model is straightforward: the more users tap, the more rewards they earn. The rewards often come in the form of in-game currency, which can later be exchanged for tokens or other cryptocurrencies. The model emphasizes engagement and rewards users based on the frequency and intensity of their interaction.

How it works with Telegram

Platforms like TapSwap have leveraged Telegram’s bot functionality to implement the tap-to-earn model. Users interact with the platform through a Telegram bot, where they perform actions such as tapping to earn points. The bot tracks user activity, aggregates points, and eventually converts them into shares or tokens. For example, in TapSwap, users tap to mine tokens, upgrade in-game items, and increase their chances of receiving a portion of the upcoming airdrop. Telegram’s simplicity and widespread usage make it an ideal platform for these types of decentralized applications, allowing users to engage with crypto-based games directly within the app.

Several other games have successfully adopted the tap-to-earn model:

  • Hamster Kombat: This game uses a similar concept where users tap to engage in battles between digital hamsters. The more taps, the stronger the hamster becomes, leading to better rewards. Players earn in-game tokens based on their performance in battles and can exchange these tokens for cryptocurrency.
  • Notcoin: In Notcoin, users tap to generate coins, which can then be upgraded to produce more coins per tap. The game’s simplicity and addictive nature made it popular, especially among those looking to earn small amounts of cryptocurrency through minimal effort.

These games have become popular because they combine the ease of mobile gaming with the potential to earn real value, making them attractive to both casual gamers and crypto enthusiasts. The tap-to-earn model has proven to be an engaging way to introduce more users to blockchain technology while providing a fun and rewarding experience.

Hamster Kombat tap to earn game
Source: Getty

Reasons for delaying the airdrop

In a recent AMA session on X (formerly Twitter), the Tapswap team revealed several reasons for delaying their highly anticipated airdrop. Here’s a summary of the key reasons being outlined by the team:

  • Refinement of tokenomics: The TapSwap team needs more time to develop a fair and strategic token distribution model.
  • Ensuring fair distribution: The delay is intended to prevent abuse and ensure that tokens are distributed fairly among genuine users.
  • Coordination with exchanges: Ongoing discussions with crypto exchanges have introduced complexities that require additional time to resolve.
  • User engagement monitoring: The team is implementing systems to track and ban fraudulent activity, which has contributed to the delay

Despite these explanation, the community is growing extremely frustrated with the continuous delays. Many are taking to social media to label the project as a scam.

Is TapSwap legit or another scam?

TapSwap is undoubtedly one of the most popular crypto projects of this year. It’s integration with Telegram and TON, as well as its public relations strategy has been commedable. Its founder and project team have been active on the media to provide justification of their decisions.

Despite these efforts, the project has faced scrutiny due to ongoing delays in its airdrop and TGE. At this point, it’s difficult to make a conclusive statement on whether TapSwap is legitimate or a scam. To better understand the situation, it’s important to consider both the red flags and green flags surrounding the project.

Red flags

  • Introduction of paid features: TapSwap initially promised a free tap-to-earn model but later introduced a “double points” feature requiring users to pay with TON tokens. This shift has been perceived as a bait-and-switch tactic, undermining user trust. However, the game has since then ended this feature, and the team has clarified it was a trial.
  • Lack of transparency: The project’s tokenomics remain unclear, with little information provided about the total supply, value, or utility of the Tap tokens. This opacity raises doubts about the project’s long-term viability.
  • Suspicious integration with Nigerian news channels: TapSwap controversially integrated Nigerian news channels into its Telegram bot, leading to suspicions that the project might be exploiting its user base for external gains.
  • Frequent technical issues: Users have reported ongoing technical glitches, such as problems accessing the platform and connecting wallets, which have further eroded confidence in the project.
  • Absence of a community space: Unlike other crypto projects, TapSwap has not launched a community space, raising concerns about its commitment to transparency and user engagement.

Green flags

  • Active user base and engagement: With millions of users worldwide, TapSwap has demonstrated significant popularity, suggesting that the project has genuine appeal and utility. The game currently has over 60 million total users and around 18 million daily active users.
  • Ongoing communication with the community: Despite the delays, TapSwap’s team continues to engage with users through regular updates, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and long-term success.
  • Partnerships with tier-1 exchanges: TapSwap is reportedly in discussions with major cryptocurrency exchanges, which could enhance its credibility and provide the liquidity needed for wider adoption.
  • Strategic delays for better planning: The delays in the airdrop and TGE, while frustrating, indicate that the team is focused on ensuring a fair and secure launch rather than rushing to market.

Final thoughts

While TapSwap shows potential with its large user base and ongoing development efforts, the red flags cannot be ignored. Users should exercise caution and remain vigilant. Conduct thorough research, avoid putting all your resources into the project, and stay informed about any updates.

It would be interesting to see if the project upholds its latest claim of launching the airdrop by Q3 2024. Any further delays could completely shatter the community’s trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. 01.

    When is the TapSwap airdrop?

    The TapSwap airdrop is expected to launch in Q3 2024, though the exact date has not been confirmed due to ongoing delays.

  2. 02.

    Is TapSwap legit?

    TapSwap shows potential legitimacy with its large user base and ongoing development, but several red flags, including delayed airdrops and lack of transparency, warrant caution.

  3. 03.

    Why is the TapSwap airdrop delayed?

    The TapSwap airdrop has been delayed to allow more time for refining tokenomics and ensuring a fair, secure distribution process.

Mohammad Shahid @ CryptoManiaks
Mohammad Shahid

Mohammad is an experienced crypto writer with a specialisation in cybersecurity. He covers a wide variety of topics spanning everything from blockchain and Web3 to the retail crypto space. He has also worked for several start-ups and ICOs, gaining insight into the mindset and motivation of the founders behind the projects.