Solana GameFi network Sonic will airdrop free tokens to TikTok users for joining its crypto game.

Layer-2 gaming-centric Solana-native network Sonic plans to send SONIC tokens to TikTok users onboarded via its social media blockchain game. The Solana (SOL) Virtual Machine protocol designed its SonicX game directly on TikTok, similar to The Open Network developers behind Telegram mini-games.

The idea revolves around tapping existing web2 audiences for web3 projects, accessing millions of users already on platforms like Telegram and TikTok.

Over 1 billion monthly active users log on to TikTok, with numbers expected to reach more than 2 billion by 2029.

SonicX, the first TikTok App Layer from Sonic SVM, will distribute $SONIC tokens to all eligible TikTok users. Over 2 million users have already joined via a seamless onboarding flow—no external wallet setup or gas fees required.

Sonic on X

Social media-native games became widely popular on TON and Telegram. Projects like Notcoin (NOT) and Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) amassed millions of users in a few short months.

However, the trend appeared shortlived as protocols experienced a sharp drop in activity post-token airdrop. Hamster Kombat lost over 80% of its users right after its cryptocurrency distribution.  Crypto giants like Binance and Gate have also released reports detailing a drop in Telegram mini app vitality.

Axie Infinity creator Sky Mavis lays off 50 employees as part of broader efforts to adapt post-hack and market shifts.

Sky Mavis, the developer of the blockchain-based game Axie Infinity, said it will lay off 21% of its staff — or roughly 50 employees — as part of efforts to streamline operations and focus on core products, TechInAsia has learned.

The firm’s co-founder Nguyen Thanh Trung emphasized in an X post that the decision was not driven by financial pressures, reassuring that the decision is a “strategic move that allows for a sharper focus and positioning Sky Mavis for hypergrowth in 2025 and beyond.”

“The decision to part ways with talented team members was not made lightly and does not reflect their contributions to Sky Mavis. […] In order to better focus on these products and have the agility needed to open Ronin in Q1, we have made the tough decision to let go of 21% of our workforce.

Nguyen Thanh Trung

Trung also shared that Sky Mavis would not pursue new directions, stating, “rather than trying to build products for all users, we are doubling down on what makes Sky Mavis truly exceptional.” As a result, the game developer will focus on the Ronin wallet and expanding the Ronin Network “for more builders.” Following the news, the price of the Axie Infinity (AXS) token plunged 3.78%.

Founded in 2018, Sky Mavis operates a play-to-earn model where players purchase monsters as well as earn non-fungible tokens and in-game currency. In 2022, North Korea-affiliated hackers launched a multi-level social engineering attack on the company, leading to a $600 million loss. In response, Sky Mavis shifted to a free-to-play model.

HashCats, a tap-to-earn miner game, is concluding its first season and shifting focus to its upcoming Token Generation Event. 

With nearly five million players engaged in the game’s first six months, HashCats has announced a $500,000 giveaway in collaboration with its partner Choise.ai to reward players ahead of this next phase, according to a release shared with crypto.news.

T2E games, which allow users to earn cryptocurrency by playing, have gained attention but faced challenges in maintaining long-term engagement. Games like Hamster Kombat and Catizen (CATI) initially sparked hype but have struggled to sustain user interest.

HashCats is trying to buck this trend by expanding its ecosystem and enhancing player incentives.

HashCats background

Tap-to-earn games let users generate cryptocurrency by playing simple games. In HashCats, players mine $HASH tokens by tapping their screens and upgrading virtual mining equipment. These tokens can then be converted into cryptocurrency or used within the game’s ecosystem. 

Unlike traditional games that charge for upgrades, T2E games aim to provide a potential income stream for players.

Season 1 of HashCats introduced basic mining mechanics, enabling players to use a single virtual ASIC miner designed for mining specific digital currencies based on their hashing algorithms. 

According to the release, Season 2 will expand this concept, enabling players to manage a full mining farm and introducing Secret Points, which boost TGE rewards. Players from Season 1 who accumulated SP through contests and giveaways will gain an advantage in the new phase.

HashCats and Choise.ai Collaboration

The partnership with Choise.ai, a platform that merges traditional finance with blockchain, adds an extra layer of incentives.