What is Notcoin? A Beginner's Complete Guide

Imagine earning cryptocurrency just by tapping your phone—no upfront cash, no complicated setup. That’s the promise behind Notcoin.

If Bitcoin is digital gold stored in a vault, Notcoin is a digital arcade where your high score becomes real money. Millions first learned about crypto through this playful on-ramp.

Notcoin at a Glance

• Current Price: $0.00167 (-2.3% today)
• Market Cap: $170M+ (91st largest cryptocurrency)
• Created: January 1, 2024
• Founder: Sasha Plotvinov (founder of Open Builders)
• Purpose: Make Web3 gaming accessible for anyone inside Telegram

What Problem Does Notcoin Solve?

Most people never touch crypto because the learning curve is rough:

• Technical complexity – wallets, seed phrases, and gas fees scare newcomers
• High entry costs – many blockchain games demand pricey NFTs up front
• Clunky onboarding – downloading apps, creating accounts, and navigating unfamiliar interfaces
• Geographic limits – plenty of platforms block users in emerging markets
• Trust issues – people worry about scams and losing money

Notcoin strips away those hurdles:

• Play right inside Telegram—no extra apps
• Start instantly with zero investment
• Simple tapping that’s easy to grasp in seconds
• Works anywhere Telegram does
• Built around squads, referrals, and community chat

How Does Notcoin Work?

Think of Notcoin as a pocket-sized gold rush. Every tap mines in-game coins that later convert to real NOT tokens.

The Tap-to-Earn Mechanism

Each tap “mines” Notcoins. When mining was live, 1,000 in-game Notcoins swapped for 1 NOT token. Energy regenerates over time, just like stamina bars in mobile games.

Example: Tap 10,000 times, earn 10 million in-game Notcoins, and you’d receive 10,000 NOT once you converted.

Energy System

Your energy bar drains with each tap and recharges gradually. The limit slows bots, levels the playing field, and keeps people checking back.

TON Blockchain Integration

Notcoin runs on The Open Network (TON), Telegram’s blockchain. Think of TON as a highway built for Telegram-scale traffic: low fees, speedy settlement, and deep integration with Telegram mini-apps. TON advertises throughput in the millions of transactions per second under optimal conditions, which suits a game serving tens of millions of players.

Smart Contract Architecture

The NOT token uses TON’s jetton standard (similar to Ethereum’s ERC-20). Smart contracts handle:

• Token distribution to players
• Wallet-to-wallet transfers
• Exchange and DeFi integrations
• Future staking plus governance hooks

Typical TON fees land under a cent, far cheaper than Ethereum during busy periods.

Who Created Notcoin?

Sasha Plotvinov (Alexander Plotvinov) heads Notcoin. He’s a Russian entrepreneur and founder of Open Builders, a studio focused on TON tools. The idea began as a community experiment in viral crypto adoption.

The Team Behind Notcoin

• Sasha Plotvinov – Founder and product lead
• Open Builders – Developers building TON mini-apps and infrastructure
• TON Foundation – Network support and grants
• Community Contributors – Thousands of volunteers promoting the game and running squads

Notcoin launched January 1, 2024, with no ICO, presale, or venture funding. It hit 20 million users in two weeks, making it the fastest-growing Web3 app ever.

The Philosophy

Plotvinov saw crypto adoption stall because everything felt intimidating. His answer: remove all friction. No dense whitepaper, no complicated tokenomics—just tap, share, and learn by doing.

What Can You Build on Notcoin?

What started as a tap-to-earn diversion now anchors a wider Web3 playground.

Gaming Ecosystem

Tap-to-Earn Empire
Notcoin popularized the genre, and copycats flooded in. Players now stack rewards across multiple tap-to-earn games, almost like building a gaming yield portfolio.

Gaming Infrastructure
Studios and toolmakers are racing to support this new genre. That’s opened doors for game devs, community managers, marketers, and influencers who understand TON mini-apps.

DeFi Applications

Decentralized Trading
NOT trades on centralized exchanges (CEXs) and decentralized venues (DEXs) with more than $1B in cumulative DEX volume. Holders can swap, provide liquidity, and chase yields.

Lending and Borrowing
Newer TON protocols let NOT holders lend their tokens for interest or post them as collateral.

Staking Opportunities
Native staking isn’t live yet. The team guides for a Q1 2025 launch with tiered rewards and governance privileges.

NFT Integration

Digital Collectibles
TON marketplaces list NFTs priced in NOT, ranging from profile pictures to game assets.

Gaming NFTs
Future updates aim to add NFT-based boosts, skins, and perks that carry across tap-to-earn titles.

Social and Community Features

Squad System
Players join Telegram squads for bonus multipliers. Squads climb leaderboards, some with millions of members, turning tapping into a team sport.

Referral Networks
A viral referral tree rewards players who onboard friends. Top referrers reportedly amassed millions of NOT by building sprawling networks.

Task Completion
Brands sponsor tasks—join a channel, watch a teaser, try a partner app—to distribute NOT. The mechanic doubles as a Web3-native ad network.

Enterprise Applications

User Acquisition
Companies ride Notcoin’s audience to attract customers. Sponsored campaigns and branded experiences give them reach in regions where traditional ads fall flat.

Micropayment Infrastructure
NOT enables tiny payments inside Telegram: tipping creators, unlocking premium chats, or paying for bite-sized digital goods.

Web3 Education
The game walks people through wallets, coins, and DeFi concepts without dumping jargon on them.

Notcoin's Financial Performance

Price History & Major Events

The Meteoric Rise
Notcoin launched as a Telegram mini-app on January 1, 2024. Five million users piled in within five days; 20 million by day fourteen. The NOT token hit exchanges May 16, 2024, at $0.01078 with 78% of supply airdropped to players.

By June 2, 2024, NOT spiked to $0.02896 thanks to:

• Binance listing and Launchpool rewards
• Additional top-tier exchange listings (OKX, KuCoin, Bybit)
• Active users jumping to 35 million
• DEX volume topping $1B

The Reality Check
Momentum faded through summer. By September 2024, NOT drifted to ~$0.00167—down 94% from the peak—driven by:

• Early miners cashing out
• User activity cooling after the airdrop
• Weak macro sentiment in crypto
• Competing tap-to-earn titles stealing focus

Market Metrics & What They Mean

Market Capitalization
Around $170M in market cap places NOT near rank 91. Comparable to a mid-cap public company, it’s modest against Bitcoin but sizeable for a newborn token.

Trading Volume
Volume swings between $1.6M and $230M, spiking around exchange news, partnership announcements, TON developments, or wider market surges.

Holder Distribution
Roughly 2.8M wallets hold NOT, with 61% of supply on-chain. The top 100 wallets own about 35%, which is relatively dispersed for a fresh gaming token.

Supply Dynamics & Economics

Token Distribution Model

• 78% to miners and players – the largest community allocation on record
• 9% to ecosystem fund – seed projects and partnerships
• 5% to community incentives – tasks, campaigns, rewards
• 5% to development team – lean allocation by industry standards
• 3% to Binance Launchpool – to bootstrap liquidity

No Vesting, No Locks
All tokens unlocked at launch. That removes fear of future unlock dumps but also means no scheduled supply sink.

Supply Mechanics

• Current Circulation: 99.4B NOT (97% of max supply)
• Maximum Supply: 102.5B NOT (hard cap)
• No Inflation: No new tokens planned
• No Burns Yet: Burning proposals are still just talk

The 1,000:1 conversion ratio kept tapping rewarding while managing token decimals.

The Evolution from Play to Explore

Pure tap-to-earn proved unsustainable. Mid-2024, the team pivoted to “explore-to-earn,” rewarding users for trying TON apps, joining campaigns, teaching others, and contributing content. The shift turned Notcoin into a discovery layer for Telegram’s Web3 ecosystem rather than a one-trick game.

How to Buy Notcoin

Step-by-Step Purchase Guide

For Complete Beginners:

1. Download a Crypto Exchange App
   Choose a user-friendly platform like Binance, OKX, or KuCoin with deep NOT liquidity.
2. Complete Verification
   Submit ID documents for KYC. Most approvals arrive within 5–30 minutes.
3. Deposit Funds
   Add money via bank transfer, debit, or credit card. Pick what your region supports.
4. Search for NOT
   Use the exchange’s search bar and confirm the official token.
5. Place Your Order
   Market orders fill instantly; limit orders let you name your price.

Recommended Exchanges

Best for Beginners:

Best for Advanced Trading:

Best for US Users:

Decentralized Options

Prefer to stay on-chain? Swap TON assets for NOT on DEXs:

Storage Options

Hot Wallets (Convenient)

Cold Storage (Secure)

For large balances, hardware wallets add an extra barrier.

Earning Opportunities

Native staking is slated for Q1 2025. Until then you can:

Liquidity Provision
Deposit NOT in DEX pools to collect trading fees.

Future Staking
The roadmap outlines:

• Tiered rewards (Gold and Platinum levels)
• Lockups ranging from 30 to 365 days
• Governance participation
• Potential compounding

Risks and Considerations

Technical Risks

Smart Contract Vulnerabilities
The contracts aren’t publicly audited. Admin keys can update parameters, which aids upgrades but introduces centralization risk. A compromised key could freeze or drain funds.

Platform Dependencies
The project lives or dies with Telegram. Policy changes, outages, or legal trouble—like the August 2024 arrest of CEO Pavel Durov that triggered a 20% NOT drop—could crater the token.

Scalability Challenges
TON touts massive capacity, yet sustained load at Notcoin scale remains unproven. Congestion during peak tap events could smash the user experience.

Investment Risks

Extreme Volatility
NOT already fell 94% from its high. Low float plus whale wallets can move price violently, especially on leverage.

Regulatory Uncertainty
Tap-to-earn sits in a gray zone. Regulators may treat NOT as an unregistered security or even gambling. Several countries—including China—ban crypto gaming outright. The SEC hasn’t taken a clear stance but keeps circling gaming tokens.

Market Saturation
Competitors mushroom weekly. Hamster Kombat’s 300M users dwarf Notcoin’s 35M. Keeping attention as novelty fades is a constant battle.

No Revenue Model
Without revenue, the ecosystem fund eventually runs dry. If the team can’t monetize, development cadence and server uptime become question marks.

User Experience Risks

Attention Span Challenge
Tapping loses its charm quickly. Many casual games see 90% churn in the first month; Notcoin fights the same gravity without fresh features.

Earning Dilution
More players means thinner rewards. Early miners snagged thousands of NOT per day; newcomers see double-digit payouts at best. Disappointment drives churn.

Technical Barriers Remain
Converting to real money still requires learning wallets, exchanges, and gas fees. Plenty of players tap enthusiastically yet never bridge the gap to cash out.

Notcoin vs. Competitors

Direct Comparison Table

Competitive Advantages

What Notcoin Does Better:

• First-Mover Advantage – pioneered the tap-to-earn model
• Simplicity – onboarding in minutes, not hours
• Distribution – unprecedented community allocation
• Telegram Integration – instant access to a 900M-user app
• Zero Cost – no paywall or NFT hurdle
• Community Ownership – grassroots distribution builds loyalty

Competitive Disadvantages

Where Notcoin Falls Short:

• User Base – rivals already pulled 10x the audience
• Gameplay Depth – shallow compared with Axie or Sandbox
• Token Utility – limited outside the TON ecosystem
• Ecosystem Maturity – TON still lags Ethereum or BNB Chain in DeFi breadth
• Developer Tools – younger tooling and documentation
• Revenue Generation – no obvious monetization loop

Market Positioning

Notcoin is the gateway drug to Web3. It doesn’t compete on graphics or storylines; it competes on ease. Think of it as crypto’s “Angry Birds”—simple, viral, and a stepping stone to deeper experiences.

Investment Thesis: Bull vs. Bear Case

Bull Case: Why Notcoin Could Succeed

Mass Adoption Catalyst
Telegram’s 900M users form crypto’s largest untapped pool. Even 10% adoption means 90M new crypto participants—more than all current DeFi users combined. Notcoin converts curiosity into action faster than almost any on-ramp.

TON Ecosystem Growth
TON, backed by Telegram, earmarked $30M for gaming. As TON’s TVL grows from $600M toward the billions, NOT could become the default gaming currency, similar to how SAND anchors Polygon gaming.

Untapped Emerging Markets
Notcoin resonates in places with unstable banking: Nigeria, Venezuela, Southeast Asia. For many players it’s their first brush with digital assets, giving NOT real utility as a lightweight store of value or payment rail.

Strategic Development Pipeline
With 97% of supply circulating, there’s no looming unlock cliff. Staking, explore-to-earn partnerships, and deeper Telegram integration could soak up liquidity and keep users engaged.

Bear Case: Why Notcoin Could Fail

Fundamental Value Questions
Strip away the story and NOT is a token earned by tapping. There’s no defensible moat, no revenue, and a rapidly shrinking novelty. The 94% drawdown might be the market’s verdict.

Competitive Obliteration
Hamster Kombat, and soon traditional gaming giants, are coming for the same audience with richer gameplay. First place in a fading genre isn’t a durable edge.

Regulatory Sword of Damocles
Durov’s arrest showed how quickly regulators can disrupt Telegram. If authorities label tap-to-earn securities or gambling, the price could collapse overnight.

Unsustainable Economics
Without cash flow, the project relies on goodwill and token appreciation. When ecosystem funds run dry, who pays developers, servers, or support teams? Diluted rewards already sour new users.

Getting Started: Your First Steps

For Complete Beginners

1. Download Telegram and create an account.
2. Search @notcoin_bot and start the mini-app.
3. Play a few rounds to learn the mechanics (mining ended, but demos remain).
4. Join community channels for updates and tips.
5. Pick a TON wallet once you’re ready to store or move tokens.

For Investors

1. Start with small amounts—assume you could lose it all.
2. Use dollar-cost averaging instead of lump-sum buys.
3. Set stop losses to manage volatility.
4. Diversify your portfolio across multiple assets.
5. Track news from official channels and reputable outlets.

For Developers

Building on TON or launching your own tap-to-earn idea? Check out:

• TON smart contract docs
• Open Builders community forums
• Telegram mini-app developer guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still mine Notcoin by tapping?

No. The mining phase ended in April 2024. You can now earn NOT from partner campaigns, community tasks, or by buying on exchanges. The game leans toward “explore-to-earn.”

What's the difference between Notcoin and Hamster Kombat?

Both are Telegram tap-to-earn games. Notcoin launched first and already issued its token. Hamster Kombat claims 300M users but hasn’t released a token yet. Notcoin favors simplicity; Hamster layers in exchange management gameplay.

Is Notcoin a good investment?

It’s very high-risk. The token trades 94% below its ATH and faces intense competition. Never invest more than you’re ready to lose, and understand how dependent it is on Telegram’s fate.

How is Notcoin different from Bitcoin?

Bitcoin acts as digital gold with a fixed supply and 15-year track record. Notcoin is a gaming token with utility mostly inside the TON ecosystem. They serve entirely different purposes.

What happens if Telegram shuts down?

If Telegram disappeared, Notcoin would struggle to survive. Distribution, wallets, and use cases all live inside Telegram, making it a single point of failure.

When will staking launch?

The team targets Q1 2025 for staking tiers like Gold and Platinum. Delays are common in crypto, so treat this timeline as provisional.

The Bottom Line

Notcoin showcases both the promise and the pitfalls of viral crypto adoption. It taught millions that blockchain doesn’t need to feel intimidating, yet it now must prove it can outlast the hype.

The Good: Notcoin achieved what countless projects couldn’t—it made crypto approachable. A massive community participated in a fair launch with no VC carve-out.

The Bad: The token lacks clear utility or revenue. A 94% drawdown signals that markets doubt its staying power.

The Reality: Notcoin is a speculative bet on Telegram’s Web3 ambitions and tap-to-earn longevity. It might become the default gateway for mainstream users—or fade as the crowd chases the next novelty.

Beginners can treat it as a low-stakes learning tool. Investors should view it as a lottery ticket at best. Either way, only risk what you can comfortably lose.

Want to Learn More?

• Official Website: notcoin.org
• Telegram Community: Join @notcoin for updates
• TON Documentation: docs.ton.org
• Track Prices: CoinGecko NOT Page
• TON Ecosystem: ton.org