Kaia, LINE, Telegram: Powering the Next Wave of Web3 Gaming in Asia

• Quinn Kwon, an official at Delabs Games, explains how K****aia, LINE, and Telegram are boosting the Web3 gaming ecosystem in the new age of technology.

When people think about Web3 gaming, the limelight often falls on technologies like blockchains, wallets, and tokens. But after decades in the gaming industry, Quinn Kwon, Head of Web3 gaming at Delabs Games, learned that technology alone doesn’t win players over. In a correspondence with Blockzeit, he said it also matters how they deliver experiences to them. And right now, messenger apps are stepping up to fill this gap.

In Asia, apps like LINE and Telegram do more than connect friends—they’re becoming full-blown gaming platforms. With the rise of Kaia’s MiniDapp ecosystem, Delabs is seeing a shift in how Web3 games reach their audiences.

Delabs Games stated they have been building inside these spaces. The company recently unveiled its latest game, Boxing Star X on LINE and Telegram earlier this year, and released its baseball-style game, GigaChadBat on Telegram late last year.

They’re witnessing from internal data, and throughout the industry more broadly, that they are only just seeing the beginning of what lies ahead for messenger-based gaming.

Beyond Chat: A New Gaming Frontier

LINE is a household name in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. It’s where people chat, share photos, and now play games. Through Kaia’s MiniDapp ecosystem, users can access blockchain-based games without leaving the app. No downloads. No wallets. No friction.

For the game development studio, the results have been fast and clear. Boxing Star X attracted over half a million users in just one week. Players spent more than 1.4 million $KAIA tokens in-game. Meanwhile, Delabs’ average revenue per paying user stood at 1,200 $KAIA.

And these aren’t just one-time purchases either, with players making 25 transactions each on average. This offers a glimpse into something more profound happening in the Web3 gaming space when it comes to messaging platforms and spending.

And this is just one part of a broader trend: Web3 game spending is on the rise. Reports note that blockchain gamers spend more on average than traditional gamers – “more than twice as much annually,” citing Helika’s 2024 report​.

The Secret Ingredient: Simplicity

GameFi has long struggled with onboarding. Wallets, gas fees, and clunky interfaces turn away casual players before they even start. LINE’s integration with Kaia MiniDapps offers a cleaner path. Players tap a link, and the game opens inside the app without setup or barriers.

It’s the same for Telegram, where games like Notcoin (NOT) and Hamster Kombat are trending—not because they’re flashy, but because they’re simple. Players tap, earn, and have fun. It’s easy, and it works.

This is just one reason why Telegram accounted for 21% of new Web3 game launches in 2024, fueled by its 950 million-strong user base and TON blockchain integration. Notcoin, for instance, amassed over 650,000 users in just a few weeks, showcasing Telegram’s viral potential.

By stripping away complexity, these platforms bring Web3 gaming to the masses. Not surprisingly, when things are simple, more people join in.

Why Mid-Core Games Are Winning

We’ve all seen tap-to-earn games go viral. They’re fun and accessible, but there’s a ceiling. Things get more interesting in the mid-core space with games that offer depth, progression, and player investment

That’s where Boxing Star X sits, as well as Delabs’ next launch this year, Ragnarok Libre. Graduating from tap-to-earn, the mid-core gaming experience is the next logical step for players and developers.

That’s because it’s not just about collecting tokens. Players compete, level up, and personalize their experiences, and are willing to spend to do so. And they’re eager to pay to do it. And the data is bearing that out

For instance, 10% of Delabs’ mid-core game users are heavy spenders, with consistent, sustained spending patterns that indicate a sustainable in-game economy

Asia Leading the Way

Web3 gaming thrives on reach. With Kaia and LINE, developers in Asia have access to over 250 million potential users across the continent. KakaoTalk adds even more reach in South Korea, which holds a near-total market share.

The infrastructure is strong, too. Kaia’s one-second block time, low fees, and user-friendly design make it ideal for fast-paced games, while account abstraction lets players jump in without needing to understand Web3. With a vast reach and established infrastructure, it’s no surprise that the ecosystem is growing and showing real momentum, with industry titles like Frog Defense, Elderglade, and Goblin Tycoon also on the way

And while LINE dominates East Asia, Telegram is surging in emerging markets, including Southeast Asia, South America, and parts of Africa. Its HTML5 games support and TON blockchain integration create an ideal Web3 playground. Developers love the speed of building; players love the ease of playing.

As of September 2024, Telegram’s nine major games recorded over 3 million active wallets, a growth rate rarely seen in traditional gaming. Like LINE, Telegram is rewriting distribution rules, meeting players where they already are.

Delabs Games’ Roadmap

All in all, this is to say that messenger-based gaming isn’t just a trend—it’s a long-term shift

At Delabs Games, they’re just getting started in messenger gaming. But the early signals show them that the combination of messenger apps and blockchain gaming isn’t just viable—it’s transformative

The company expects to see more developers lean into this space. It sees more players discover how easy Web3 can be. And we’ll see new ecosystems grow—not from hype, but from real, lasting engagement.

By removing friction, reaching vast audiences, and delivering ownership, accessibility, and real value, Kaia, LINE, and Telegram are defining the next era of gaming not just in Asia but globally.