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Knak

knak

Cyber security, as an industry, has recorded exponential growth, especially within the last two decades. It grew along with the Internet and evolved from a simple buzzword to a real technological risk that can put you out of business rather quickly. Within the last years cyber security seized media’s attention and reached on top of most CEO’s agendas. But 20 years ago, it was not like this. The need for cyber security arose briefly after the period when inter-connectivity and inter-compatibility among systems and apps grew sky-high. Once you could reach any corner of the globe and data could be easily transformed into many formats, the real digital transformation of humanity started. The opportunity to disrupt this development became a valuable strategic and tactical advantage. That is why, today, when talking about the most dangerous threat actors in cyber space, we actually refer to nation states, governments that have taken advantage of this great “opportunity”. Short history But let’s take a deep dive into how exactly we got here and what is to be done to tackle this phenomenon. Well, it all started in 1971 with the Creeper virus, less than 20 years after the launch of the first commercial PC (IBM 701, 1953). Bob Thomas created as an experimental self-duplicating program. Bob didn’t have malicious intentions, he just wanted to illustrate how software can be duplicated from one system to another. Creeper (Figure 1 — Creeper virus and it’s source code) Since the Creeper, other viruses have erupted during the 80’s (Cascade, Friday 13 th, Stoned etc.). All was made possible by the adoption of the TCP/IP standards (1981) that basically allowed wide scale interconnections and opened the gates to threats. It was not until 1988, when the worm massively hit the internet (infected around 10% of the Internet), when people really realized that if proper measures are not taken, malware can seriously disrupt the digital world. Morris Things continued to escalate as the Internet was growing (5 mil. devices in 1995), and many companies started falling victim to cyber-attacks. It was around the 2000’s years, when the term cyber-crime started to be used. Cyber-crime is becoming a business, as many cyber incidents are starting to fall within this category. A global convention against cyber-crime is signed in Budapest in 2001 ( ). Budapest Convention on Cyber Crime In 2007 we see a major milestone, where Estonia, a 2 mil. people country is temporarily wiped off the Internet map (1 mil. computers affected). This is the moment when cyber-crime became a threat to national security. The story goes on with Stuxnet, the first cyber weapon, aimed at disrupting Iran’s nuclear program. Nation states involvement is clearer than ever, and the scale achieve becomes impressive, but also scaring. Another important milestone is the WannaCry, Petya and NotPetya attacks that clearly demonstrated the global impact that cyber-attacks can have. If one is to describe how cybercrime evolved over the years, he can undoubtedly point to the picture below, adapted after an graphical representation. You can easily notice how complexity and volume of cyber incidents evolved over time, going from „simple” incidents to actual attacks. Also, the motives behind changed dramatically, from personal fame, jokes or showing-off (script-kiddies) to financial interests or cyber warfare (launched by nation states). Infosec Institute (Fig. 2 — Cyber Crime historical evolution) More on cyber security history can be found . here Business analysis Measuring one’s evolution should also rely on facts and figures. A proper assessment can only be done judging on rather mathematical data, not based on press titles. In this respect, I have considered several metrics, to catch the evolution of the cyber security industry over time: incident cost, global security spending, global investments, security budget and workforce. It’s good to know, in general, that the is evaluated at around $120 billion for 2019, estimated to grow to $170.4 billion in 2022. A good source of statistics in this area can be found . According to , around half of the total spending goes into security services, while the other half is divided among different types of solutions. value of the cyber security market here Gartner When talking about the you will always run into colossal values. It’s like they all want to emphasize on the importance of this aspect, meaning that incidents cost a lot of money, so better prepare yourself. Nevertheless, one needs to keep in mind that the financial impact for a cyber incident is not something that can be computed easily. cost of incidents A lot of factors must be considered, aspects that in most of the cases depend directly on the particularities of the situation. Such as, in many cases you cannot generalize based on unreliable sets of data (such as incidents collected from public sources). Having this in mind, one should not expect too much accuracy when seeing a statistic on the financial impact of cyber incidents. Scouting the available online resources will give you plenty of articles and studies on this topic. Among them I have found the following: $6 trillion damage cost/year by 2021, according to ,$3.86 million avg. cost data breach, according to an ,$13 million avg. cost per company according to an Accenture study,$150 per record, according to the same IBM study above, cited by . this source IBM study this source Another metric, that’s worth analyzing, is the . Don’t expect here to find straightforward figures, as companies rarely publish such numbers. What statistics usually show here is the percentage of spending in security out of the total IT budget. According to the , such percentages vary between 22% (education) and 38% (retail), depending on the industry type. What’s worth mentioning is that the security budget is taking bigger and bigger chunks out of the IT budget. security budget 2017 Cyberthreat Defense Report There is also another trend to be mentioned here, the positioning of the Information Security department under a more business-related unit, such as under the CFO (chief financial officer). This shows that cyber is getting more and more attention and starts to be rightfully treated as a risk to the business. When trying to comprehend the value of an industry, one must also have a look at the , meaning the amount of money funneled into an industry (as investment), in a specific timeframe. According to , more than $5 billion were invested in more than 350 companies, in 2018. That’s a 20% increase from 2017 and almost double compared to 2016. Definitely the trend is positive here also. global venture capital investments Strategic Cyber Ventures Finally, another representative metric is the . Numerous online resources underline a quite large number of unfilled positions in cyber security. mentions 3.5 million unfilled jobs globally by 2021. That’s quite a huge number! workforce gap CyberSecurity Ventures The workforce gap is there, for sure, as it can clearly be seen with a naked eye. Nevertheless, going into details, will bring up some interesting underlying facts. , a portal that provides useful data on the cyber security job market (supported by NIST, among others), mentions that in January 2020 there are almost 1 mil. employed cyber security workforce and around 500,000 openings in US only. That gives us a supply/demand ratio of 2, that apparently is quite tight. Other industries have around 6,5 people employed for everyone opening. CyberSeek.com .CyberSeek also provides info on certification holders vs. openings requiring a certification. As you may notice entry level positions (such as CompTIA Security+) are not in very high demand (or the market is saturated), but more “senior level” certifications (CISSP, CISM, CISA) are in very high demand. An analysis on these aspects has been done by Richard A. Clarke and Robert K. Knake, within the book “ “. Their conclusion is that if the real shortage in the cyber-security workforce regards mostly the experienced professionals, it is a much harder problem to solve. The Fifth Domain: Defending Our Country, Our Companies, and Ourselves in the Age of Cyber Threats Overall, business wise, looking from measurable perspective, seems like all indicators are going up, meaning the industry is still expanding, and has not reached maturity yet. The problem is that we do not know how much expansion this industry can still handle. Technical assessment Figure 1 shows the amount of code needed to compile the first virus in history (Creeper). 14 lines, that’s all was needed. Nowadays, malware, may contain multiple modules with thousands of lines of code. Early malware (called virus) was just displaying annoying messages or messing up with your peripherals. You could have also clearly divided malware into categories such as virus, trojan, logic bomb etc. Modern malware can do more damage such as erase hard drives, steal data or disrupt networks, it’s polymorphic and manages more often to bypass detection. Bottom line is that malware has evolved, attackers have evolved, so suddenly we are facing threats that are more advanced and persistent. On the other side, tools we use to protect our systems have also evolved. Some say antivirus is dead. Instead we use endpoint protection, a more complex solution, with many more functions beside the old antivirus function. Although it is called endpoint, such solution usually protects more than just the endpoint itself. Endpoint may contain modules such as: antivirus, behavioral analysis, host IDS, containment and sandboxing, URL filtering etc. Firewalls have also evolved over time. Since their birth, in 1989, their coverage extended from packet filtering only to stateful inspection, application level control, VPN and intrusion detection. We now buy (NGFW) a tool that covers many more functions than just packet filtering. Next Generation Firewalls Bottom line is that cyber security technology is evolving. Even though you might get the impression that, for some years now, innovation has stopped in cyber and the industry is just reshuffling and combining what were once separate solutions, some amount of technological advancement is clearly visible. On the other hand, cyber domain is leader when it comes to adopting new technologies, such as AI/ML. A study done by Deloitte, available , shows that ranks cyber security on the 3rd place globally, in the top use cases for AI adoption. here Conclusion The above story basically tells us that cyber has historically evolved in terms of complexity and volume. More malware, more complexity, many solutions and different motives behind attacks. In business terms, cyber has become an industry, that is still growing. Nevertheless, we are not sure, at this point, upon its maturity. It can continue to grow in numbers for the next decade or it can deflate, just as a . bubble burst But if, by now, you got the impression that it’s all ok with cyber, keep in mind that, despite of all the improvements and developments described above, the Internet (and not only) still relies on a pile of legacy technologies, such as the TCP/IP stack of protocols. Unfortunately, we did not yet find the business case for a full technological rewrite of the Internet. Many patches (https, DNSSEC, SFTP etc.) have been added over the years, on top of the legacy infrastructure, but that’s still not enough. Even the most advanced and secure networks, can fall victim to cyber-attacks, if attackers have the proper motivation and persistence. As Robert Mueller (FBI Director 2001–2013) would say it “I am convinced that there are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those that will be”. There’s also the inter-dependencies issue. Systems have become more complex nowadays, meaning that you will certainly rely on/connect to, some parts/resources where you have no control over. Nobody develops systems (especially apps) from scratch anymore. There’s always a function or library somewhere, that you can use to shorten the delivery date. That helps the propagation of vulnerabilities, bugs, zero-days etc. Getting back to our question in the title, the answer should probably be NO, at least not in this lifetime. Cyber security is an industry, and industries die hard. Or they don’t die, they reinvent. An industry concentrates many forces that feed each other, so they don’t starve. Secondly, there is still room for development, by bringing in new technological developments from outside the bubble (AI/ML, quantum etc.). There’s still work to be done and who knows what might follow after. Finally, it’s about the complexity, interconnections and the too many variables to manage. No matter how many resources you will invest, a determined hacker will always find a way in! Originally published at http://technology-insights.com on January 29, 2020.

Are We Ever Going to Solve Cyber Security?

They’re often (mis)used by malicious hackers and other cyber-criminals, so the question about their legality could come to mind easily. Privacy coins are cryptocurrencies designed to enhance user anonymity by hiding transaction details, such as the sender, receiver, and amount. Popular examples include Monero and Zcash, but there are more of them. The concerns about them are obvious: potential use in illegal activities, such as money laundering or tax evasion. To be fair, that could also be perfectly done (and it is done) with traditional cash. Even with electronic fiat money, and with cryptocurrencies that aren’t privacy-focused. If criminals have a can-do attitude, they surely can accomplish their dark goals, no matter the tool involved. Privacy coins have legitimate use cases, of course, including protecting personal financial information, safeguarding against identity theft, enabling secure donations to sensitive causes, and facilitating private transactions in oppressive regimes. That’s maybe why privacy coins aren’t illegal in most countries, per se. However, there are some exceptions and limitations. Regulations on Privacy Coins Privacy coins are subject to varying regulations globally, reflecting the balance between financial privacy and the need for security against illicit activities. While these cryptocurrencies remain legal in most of the world, countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia have implemented restrictions, leading to the delisting of prominent privacy coins such as Monero and Zcash from some exchanges. The European Union has also considered a comprehensive ban, highlighted by a draft anti-money laundering bill proposing that financial institutions and crypto service providers be prohibited from dealing with anonymity-enhancing coins. Mainstream exchanges like Kraken, Huobi and BitBay have acted on these regulatory pressures by ceasing support for privacy coins. In the U.S., the government has taken a hard stance against privacy services, exemplified by sanctions imposed on Tornado Cash, a mixing service associated with money laundering activities. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has even invested in potential technology to de-anonymize privacy coins, reflecting a broader governmental commitment to transparency in cryptocurrency transactions. Now, we have to say this: as long as transactions are made directly peer-to-peer (P2P), users are completely safe using these coins. Current bans apply to businesses, and not to individual users. Things get complicated when they touch centralized crypto exchanges, subjected to strict regulations worldwide. Especially about identifying their customers (KYC) —which, by the way, kills all the purpose of using privacy coins in the first place. Blackbytes in Obyte Blackbytes (GBB) is a privacy-focused currency on Obyte, designed to enhance transaction confidentiality. This token conceals recipient information and payment amounts on the public ledger and only transaction hashes are published, while sensitive data is shared via private messages. This approach allows users to verify the legitimacy of transactions without exposing the full history, thereby providing a higher level of privacy compared to public assets like GBYTE and other cryptocurrencies. Blackbytes are legal and safe to use by individual users, since they were designed to be exchanged solely through peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. This means that these privacy tokens don’t engage with centralized exchanges, which have faced increasing scrutiny and restrictions regarding privacy coins worldwide. By focusing on a P2P trading directly from the Obyte wallet, Blackbytes can avoid the complicated landscape faced by other privacy coins worldwide. In many jurisdictions, while these tokens may face significant regulatory challenges, the operation of tokens like Blackbytes can continue without the same level of scrutiny, as they don’t require engagement with regulated financial institutions. This positioning may provide a path for privacy-focused cryptocurrencies to navigate the current legal landscape while maintaining user anonymity. Featured Vector Image by Freepik They’re often (mis)used by malicious hackers and other cyber-criminals, so the question about their legality could come to mind easily. Privacy coins are cryptocurrencies designed to enhance user anonymity by hiding transaction details, such as the sender, receiver, and amount. Popular examples include Monero and Zcash, but there are more of them. The concerns about them are obvious: potential use in illegal activities, such as money laundering or tax evasion. To be fair, that could also be perfectly done ( and it is done ) with traditional cash. Even with electronic fiat money , and with cryptocurrencies that aren’t privacy-focused. If criminals have a can-do attitude, they surely can accomplish their dark goals, no matter the tool involved. Privacy coins have legitimate use cases, of course, including protecting personal financial information, safeguarding against identity theft, enabling secure donations to sensitive causes, and facilitating private transactions in oppressive regimes. and it is done and it is done electronic fiat money electronic fiat money Privacy coins have legitimate use cases, of course, including protecting personal financial information, safeguarding against identity theft, enabling secure donations to sensitive causes, and facilitating private transactions in oppressive regimes. That’s maybe why privacy coins aren’t illegal in most countries, per se. However, there are some exceptions and limitations. Regulations on Privacy Coins Privacy coins are subject to varying regulations globally, reflecting the balance between financial privacy and the need for security against illicit activities. While these cryptocurrencies remain legal in most of the world, countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia have implemented restrictions , leading to the delisting of prominent privacy coins such as Monero and Zcash from some exchanges. varying regulations varying regulations While these cryptocurrencies remain legal in most of the world, countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia have implemented restrictions The European Union has also considered a comprehensive ban, highlighted by a draft anti-money laundering bill proposing that financial institutions and crypto service providers be prohibited from dealing with anonymity-enhancing coins. Mainstream exchanges like Kraken, Huobi and BitBay have acted on these regulatory pressures by ceasing support for privacy coins. consider ed consider In the U.S., the government has taken a hard stance against privacy services, exemplified by sanctions imposed on Tornado Cash , a mixing service associated with money laundering activities. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has even invested in potential technology to de-anonymize privacy coins, reflecting a broader governmental commitment to transparency in cryptocurrency transactions. Tornado Cash Tornado Cash invested invested Now, we have to say this: as long as transactions are made directly peer-to-peer (P2P), users are completely safe using these coins. Current bans apply to businesses, and not to individual users. Things get complicated when they touch centralized crypto exchanges, subjected to strict regulations worldwide. Especially about identifying their customers (KYC) —which, by the way, kills all the purpose of using privacy coins in the first place. Now, we have to say this: as long as transactions are made directly peer-to-peer (P2P), users are completely safe using these coins. Blackbytes in Obyte Blackbytes (GBB) is a privacy-focused currency on Obyte, designed to enhance transaction confidentiality. This token conceals recipient information and payment amounts on the public ledger and only transaction hashes are published, while sensitive data is shared via private messages. This approach allows users to verify the legitimacy of transactions without exposing the full history, thereby providing a higher level of privacy compared to public assets like GBYTE and other cryptocurrencies. Blackbytes (GBB) Blackbytes (GBB) Blackbytes are legal and safe to use by individual users, since they were designed to be exchanged solely through peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. This means that these privacy tokens don’t engage with centralized exchanges, which have faced increasing scrutiny and restrictions regarding privacy coins worldwide. Blackbytes are legal and safe to use by individual users, since they were designed to be exchanged solely through peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. By focusing on a P2P trading directly from the Obyte wallet , Blackbytes can avoid the complicated landscape faced by other privacy coins worldwide. In many jurisdictions, while these tokens may face significant regulatory challenges, the operation of tokens like Blackbytes can continue without the same level of scrutiny, as they don’t require engagement with regulated financial institutions. This positioning may provide a path for privacy-focused cryptocurrencies to navigate the current legal landscape while maintaining user anonymity. Obyte wallet Obyte wallet Featured Vector Image by Freepik Featured Vector Image by Freepik Freepik Freepik

Educational Byte: Are Privacy Coins Like Monero and Zcash Legal?

Byte Educativo: ¿Monero ukat Zcash ukham Privacidad Monedas ukanakax Legal ukhamäpachati?

Vzdělávací Byte: Jsou soukromé mince jako Monero a Zcash legální?

Byte educativo: ¿Son legales las monedas de privacidad como Monero y Zcash?

Koulutustavu: Ovatko Monero- ja Zcashin kaltaiset tietosuojakolikot laillisia?

Byte éducatif : les pièces de confidentialité comme Monero et Zcash sont-elles légales ?

शैक्षिक बाइट: क्या मोनरो और ज़ेकैश जैसे गोपनीयता सिक्के कानूनी हैं?

Educational Byte: Apakah Koin Privasi Seperti Monero dan Zcash Legal?

教育バイト: Monero や Zcash のようなプライバシー コインは合法ですか?

Byte Éducatif: Est-ce que ba mbongo ya vie privée lokola Monero na Zcash ezali légal?

Educational Byte: Ara-dalàna ve ny vola madinika momba ny fiainana manokana toa an'i Monero sy Zcash?

Educational Byte: Czy prywatne monety, takie jak Monero i Zcash, są legalne?

Байти таълимӣ: Оё тангаҳои махфият ба монанди Monero ва Zcash қонунӣ ҳастанд?

Why Everyone is Wrong About the Future of Work™

কেন সবাই কাজের ভবিষ্যত সম্পর্কে ভুল ™

Warum alle falsch liegen, wenn sie über die Zukunft der Arbeit sprechen™

Por qué todo el mundo está equivocado sobre el futuro del trabajo™

Pourquoi tout le monde se trompe sur l’avenir du travail™

काम के भविष्य के बारे में हर कोई गलत क्यों है™

誰もが仕事の未来について間違っている理由™

왜 모든 사람이 미래의 일에 대해 틀렸는가?™

Por que todos estão errados sobre o futuro do trabalho™

Почему все ошибаются относительно будущего работы™

Neden Herkes Çalışmanın Geleceği Hakkında Yanılıyor?™

Tại sao mọi người đều sai về tương lai của công việc™

为什么每个人对工作的未来都有误解™

In-messenger games, a digital era phenomenon born in Asia and rapidly adopted across the globe, have fundamentally reshaped social interactions and digital economies since their emergence in the early 2010s. These games, integrated into popular instant messaging platforms like WeChat, Kakao, and Telegram, have evolved from simple entertainment to complex ecosystems involving blockchain technology and digital assets. The question now is: Which player will reshape the landscape with decentralized technologies and take the lead in this evolving space? Drawing from my experience at TonTon Games. Asian In-Messenger Games: WeChat vs. Kakao WeChat, developed by Tencent, has positioned itself as a leader in integrating mini-games within its messaging platform since 2017. This initiative has proven highly successful, with WeChat’s mini-games attracting over 400 million monthly active users and generating approximately $2.3 billion in revenue in the first half of 2024 alone. Popular titles include "Jump Jump," known for its simplicity and addictiveness, and "The Pirate Game," a strategy-based offering. Meanwhile, "Xundao Daquian" has shown firm performance, leading Interactive Entertainment rankings with 162.41 million monthly active users in February 2024. WeChat's success can be attributed to the seamless integration of these games, their accessibility, and high user retention rates. The platform's mini-games have become integral to daily user engagement, demonstrating the massive potential of in-messenger gaming. KakaoTalk, founded by Kakao Corp in 2010, dominates the South Korean market with a 93% market penetration. Leveraging this extensive user base, Kakao Games has implemented in-messenger gaming features. Their strategy revolves around utilizing KakaoTalk's social network to enhance player connectivity, driving user engagement and retention. Kakao Games has taken a strategic approach to its growth, forming partnerships with global developers like Ocean Drive Studio, Chrono Studio, Candy Digital, and METABORA. This collaborative strategy has diversified its gaming portfolio, focusing on high-quality, narrative-driven experiences. Key offerings like "Guardian Tales" and "Eversoul" testify to the platform's commitment to quality and innovation, instilling confidence in its future. Innovative Approach to In-Messenger Games: Telegram's Web3 Strategy In the Western market, Telegram has emerged as a frontrunner in integrating blockchain technology within its messaging platform, positioning itself at the forefront of the Web3 movement. As of 2024, Telegram boasts a substantial global user base of 950 million active users, largely driven by the growing popularity of games, creating a significant market for its Web3 initiatives. Telegram's strategy leverages The Open Network (TON) to facilitate secure and rapid transactions within the app, supporting in-game economies and decentralized applications (dApps). This aligns with industry projections from DappRadar, which anticipate the blockchain gaming market to reach a valuation of $39.7 billion by 2025, indicating substantial growth potential and exciting opportunities in this sector. However, as Daniil Shcherbakov, CEO of TonTon Games, cautions, merely porting over successful Web2 games won’t resonate with today’s Web3 audience on Telegram. Shcherbakov explains, “It’s not enough to take a Web2 game, even a successful Web2 game, and put it on Telegram and expect money to grow on trees. There is no audience currently for that. It should have a proper, well-developed Web3 narrative. Without it, people won’t play it, at least the people that are playing now.” This focus on Web3-native gaming mechanics is evident in Telegram's gaming portfolio, which includes titles designed to leverage blockchain integration. For instance, Notcoin is a tap-to-earn game where users can accumulate Notcoin (NOT) through simple gameplay mechanics, while SnakeTON is a survival game that rewards players with cryptocurrency as they navigate obstacles. Similarly, Catizen is a strategic, community-based game allowing players to earn and trade digital assets, offering an experience that appeals to Web3-minded users looking for both entertainment and economic participation. By addressing these demands, Telegram is building an ecosystem that supports not only traditional gaming enjoyment but also deeper engagement with GameFi (Game Finance) elements. Asian Super Apps vs. Telegram: Key Differences Cultural background undoubtedly shapes game design, impacting every step in the process — from narrative themes to character development. Game developers often draw inspiration from their cultural heritage, enriching gameplay and fostering a deeper connection between players through storytelling. Telegram games focus more on individualism, freedom, and open-world exploration, while Asian games often emphasize community, structured progression, and deep storytelling. This approach reflects players' cultural values and preferences in each region, vividly illustrated through game mechanics, aesthetics, and engagement strategies. The adoption of blockchain and Web3 technologies further highlights the divergence between these approaches. WeChat faced significant hurdles in this area due to strict government oversight of blockchain and cryptocurrency activities in China. Kakao, despite joining the Bank of Korea's digital currency project through its subsidiary Ground X, was positioned more as a follower than a leader in blockchain innovation. Telegram's approach differs markedly from that of its Eastern counterparts. The platform enhanced user engagement by integrating blockchain technology via TON, implementing features such as collectible gifts and NFTs, and opening new monetization channels. This proactive approach positioned it as a pioneer in the Web3 space within messaging platforms, yet it also poses some challenges. Potential Challenges for Telegram's Web3 Ecosystem Achieving mass adoption of Web3 technologies, including decentralized applications (dApps) on Telegram, will be critical for the long-term success of its ecosystem. However, widespread adoption demands significant efforts in user education and onboarding, as blockchain technology remains unfamiliar to many users. Ensuring clear, accessible information alongside user-friendly interfaces is essential for driving engagement and building a broader user base within the Web3 environment. Integrating Web3 features within a messaging platform also presents challenges related to interoperability with TON. Maintaining scalability, performance, and security will be essential to support high transaction volumes without compromising user experience. Additionally, Telegram must navigate regulatory compliance carefully, as evolving legal landscapes across jurisdictions could impact the development and deployment of Web3 features. Final Thoughts: The Future of In-Messenger Games and Web3 Integration Blockchain technology will likely reshape the gaming industry in several exciting ways. Virtual worlds and economies will become more interconnected, allowing players to own and trade in-game assets across different games truly. This will create new revenue streams for both developers and players. As in-messenger gaming continues to evolve, a few key technologies are paving the way for broader adoption across global audiences. HTML5 and Cocos are emerging as essential tools that can support mass-market growth and enhance game quality, accessibility, and lightweight functionality — crucial elements for games hosted within messaging platforms. These technologies provide the flexibility and performance needed to deliver responsive, visually rich experiences while keeping the file size low and eliminating the need for complex installations, making them ideal for today’s mobile-first world. The social dynamics within these games are shifting, too. Where early in-messenger games were primarily focused on single-player or light social elements, modern games within platforms like WeChat, Kakao, and Telegram are deeply interactive, with live chat channels and in-game communities allowing hundreds of thousands of players to engage, give real-time feedback, and build a sense of camaraderie. This is a departure from the one-way ratings and reviews seen on app stores, adding another dimension to user experience and engagement. Finally, the integration of blockchain technology on platforms like Telegram brings a new level of innovation through GameFi elements. In-game assets are becoming valuable digital items, tradable and secure through NFTs, while in-game staking and blockchain-based payments offer users new ways to invest, earn, and participate in the ecosystem. This trend echoes a global shift toward decentralized ownership and economies, signaling a new era of in-messenger gaming where players can interact with, own, and trade game assets freely. In-messenger games, a digital era phenomenon born in Asia and rapidly adopted across the globe, have fundamentally reshaped social interactions and digital economies since their emergence in the early 2010s. These games, integrated into popular instant messaging platforms like WeChat, Kakao, and Telegram, have evolved from simple entertainment to complex ecosystems involving blockchain technology and digital assets. The question now is: Which player will reshape the landscape with decentralized technologies and take the lead in this evolving space? Drawing from my experience at TonTon Games. TonTon Games. Asian In-Messenger Games: WeChat vs. Kakao Asian In-Messenger Games: WeChat vs. Kakao WeChat, developed by Tencent, has positioned itself as a leader in integrating mini-games within its messaging platform since 2017. This initiative has proven highly successful, with WeChat’s mini-games attracting over 400 million monthly active users and generating approximately $2.3 billion in revenue in the first half of 2024 alone. 400 million monthly active users 400 million monthly active users $2.3 billion in revenue Popular titles include "Jump Jump," known for its simplicity and addictiveness, and "The Pirate Game," a strategy-based offering. Meanwhile, "Xundao Daquian" has shown firm performance, leading Interactive Entertainment rankings with 162.41 million monthly active users in February 2024. WeChat's success can be attributed to the seamless integration of these games, their accessibility, and high user retention rates. The platform's mini-games have become integral to daily user engagement, demonstrating the massive potential of in-messenger gaming. KakaoTalk, founded by Kakao Corp in 2010, dominates the South Korean market with a 93% market penetration . Leveraging this extensive user base, Kakao Games has implemented in-messenger gaming features. Their strategy revolves around utilizing KakaoTalk's social network to enhance player connectivity, driving user engagement and retention. 93% market penetration 93% market penetration Kakao Games has taken a strategic approach to its growth, forming partnerships with global developers like Ocean Drive Studio, Chrono Studio, Candy Digital, and METABORA. This collaborative strategy has diversified its gaming portfolio, focusing on high-quality, narrative-driven experiences. Key offerings like "Guardian Tales" and "Eversoul" testify to the platform's commitment to quality and innovation, instilling confidence in its future. Innovative Approach to In-Messenger Games: Telegram's Web3 Strategy Innovative Approach to In-Messenger Games: Telegram's Web3 Strategy In the Western market, Telegram has emerged as a frontrunner in integrating blockchain technology within its messaging platform, positioning itself at the forefront of the Web3 movement. As of 2024, Telegram boasts a substantial global user base of 950 million active users , largely driven by the growing popularity of games, creating a significant market for its Web3 initiatives. 950 million active users 950 million active users Telegram's strategy leverages The Open Network (TON) to facilitate secure and rapid transactions within the app, supporting in-game economies and decentralized applications (dApps). This aligns with industry projections from DappRadar , which anticipate the blockchain gaming market to reach a valuation of $39.7 billion by 2025, indicating substantial growth potential and exciting opportunities in this sector. industry projections from DappRadar However, as Daniil Shcherbakov, CEO of TonTon Games, cautions, merely porting over successful Web2 games won’t resonate with today’s Web3 audience on Telegram. Shcherbakov explains, “It’s not enough to take a Web2 game, even a successful Web2 game, and put it on Telegram and expect money to grow on trees. There is no audience currently for that. It should have a proper, well-developed Web3 narrative. Without it, people won’t play it, at least the people that are playing now.” “It’s not enough to take a Web2 game, even a successful Web2 game, and put it on Telegram and expect money to grow on trees. There is no audience currently for that. It should have a proper, well-developed Web3 narrative. Without it, people won’t play it, at least the people that are playing now.” “It’s not enough to take a Web2 game, even a successful Web2 game, and put it on Telegram and expect money to grow on trees. There is no audience currently for that. It should have a proper, well-developed Web3 narrative. Without it, people won’t play it, at least the people that are playing now.” “It’s not enough to take a Web2 game, even a successful Web2 game, and put it on Telegram and expect money to grow on trees. There is no audience currently for that. It should have a proper, well-developed Web3 narrative. Without it, people won’t play it, at least the people that are playing now.” This focus on Web3-native gaming mechanics is evident in Telegram's gaming portfolio, which includes titles designed to leverage blockchain integration. For instance, Notcoin is a tap-to-earn game where users can accumulate Notcoin (NOT) through simple gameplay mechanics, while SnakeTON is a survival game that rewards players with cryptocurrency as they navigate obstacles. Similarly, Catizen is a strategic, community-based game allowing players to earn and trade digital assets, offering an experience that appeals to Web3-minded users looking for both entertainment and economic participation. By addressing these demands, Telegram is building an ecosystem that supports not only traditional gaming enjoyment but also deeper engagement with GameFi (Game Finance) elements. Asian Super Apps vs. Telegram: Key Differences Asian Super Apps vs. Telegram: Key Differences Cultural background undoubtedly shapes game design, impacting every step in the process — from narrative themes to character development. Game developers often draw inspiration from their cultural heritage, enriching gameplay and fostering a deeper connection between players through storytelling. Telegram games focus more on individualism, freedom, and open-world exploration, while Asian games often emphasize community, structured progression, and deep storytelling. This approach reflects players' cultural values and preferences in each region, vividly illustrated through game mechanics, aesthetics, and engagement strategies. The adoption of blockchain and Web3 technologies further highlights the divergence between these approaches. WeChat faced significant hurdles in this area due to strict government oversight of blockchain and cryptocurrency activities in China. Kakao, despite joining the Bank of Korea's digital currency project through its subsidiary Ground X, was positioned more as a follower than a leader in blockchain innovation. Telegram's approach differs markedly from that of its Eastern counterparts. The platform enhanced user engagement by integrating blockchain technology via TON, implementing features such as collectible gifts and NFTs, and opening new monetization channels. This proactive approach positioned it as a pioneer in the Web3 space within messaging platforms, yet it also poses some challenges. Potential Challenges for Telegram's Web3 Ecosystem Potential Challenges for Telegram's Web3 Ecosystem Achieving mass adoption of Web3 technologies, including decentralized applications (dApps) on Telegram, will be critical for the long-term success of its ecosystem. However, widespread adoption demands significant efforts in user education and onboarding, as blockchain technology remains unfamiliar to many users. Ensuring clear, accessible information alongside user-friendly interfaces is essential for driving engagement and building a broader user base within the Web3 environment. Integrating Web3 features within a messaging platform also presents challenges related to interoperability with TON. Maintaining scalability, performance, and security will be essential to support high transaction volumes without compromising user experience. Additionally, Telegram must navigate regulatory compliance carefully, as evolving legal landscapes across jurisdictions could impact the development and deployment of Web3 features. Final Thoughts: The Future of In-Messenger Games and Web3 Integration Final Thoughts: The Future of In-Messenger Games and Web3 Integration Blockchain technology will likely reshape the gaming industry in several exciting ways. Virtual worlds and economies will become more interconnected, allowing players to own and trade in-game assets across different games truly. This will create new revenue streams for both developers and players. As in-messenger gaming continues to evolve, a few key technologies are paving the way for broader adoption across global audiences. HTML5 and Cocos are emerging as essential tools that can support mass-market growth and enhance game quality, accessibility, and lightweight functionality — crucial elements for games hosted within messaging platforms. These technologies provide the flexibility and performance needed to deliver responsive, visually rich experiences while keeping the file size low and eliminating the need for complex installations, making them ideal for today’s mobile-first world. The social dynamics within these games are shifting, too. Where early in-messenger games were primarily focused on single-player or light social elements, modern games within platforms like WeChat, Kakao, and Telegram are deeply interactive, with live chat channels and in-game communities allowing hundreds of thousands of players to engage, give real-time feedback, and build a sense of camaraderie. This is a departure from the one-way ratings and reviews seen on app stores, adding another dimension to user experience and engagement. Finally, the integration of blockchain technology on platforms like Telegram brings a new level of innovation through GameFi elements. In-game assets are becoming valuable digital items, tradable and secure through NFTs, while in-game staking and blockchain-based payments offer users new ways to invest, earn, and participate in the ecosystem. This trend echoes a global shift toward decentralized ownership and economies, signaling a new era of in-messenger gaming where players can interact with, own, and trade game assets freely.

The New Era of In-Messenger Games: How Asia’s Innovations and Web3 Technology are Shaping the Future

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Crypto Trends in 2024: From Tap-to-Earn Games to Blockchain in Education

OFF Radio Krakow, a radio station in Poland, has made a groundbreaking move and replaced its human presenters with AI. And this is just the beginning. In the not-too-distant future, many radio and television stations will likely begin to replace their presenters with AI due to advancements in natural language processing and video synthesis technologies. AI technology can also help translate scripts and interviews from one language to another. Imagine CNN, MSNBC, or FOX using AI instead of human staff. According to a BBC report, “In Kuwait, an AI persona by the name of Fedha ran through the headlines for Kuwait News. Hermes presented the news in May 2023 for Greek state broadcaster ERT. South Korean broadcaster SBS handed over the duties of news presenting to Zae-In, an AI-generated deepfake, for five months this year. There are others in India and Taiwan, too – all created by AI.” It may not be a bad idea. For one, this could potentially reduce mistakes, gaffes, and unpleasant moments. It could also save costs. According to The Wrap, Anderson Cooper is said to earn an estimated $20 million a year; Wolf Blitzer, $15 million; Jake Tapper, $8.5 million; and Chris Wallace, who makes about $8 million. Other networks no doubt pay their hosts similar salaries, and it is no wonder that companies are showing a keen interest in understanding how AI could work for them and whether the move is worthwhile. So far, the idea seems to suggest it would pay off financially. In terms of programming, AI hosts can literally provide news 24 hours a day without getting tired. They can also deliver breaking news within seconds, don’t need make-up, and don’t go on vacation. While these are, of course, great advantages for networks seeking to cut costs and operate continuously, they don’t solve every problem. Networks will maintain the role of human broadcasters in fields that require deep contextual knowledge, personal experience, or emotional intelligence, like investigative journalism and complex live reporting. There are other reasons as well. While in much of the world, journalists view the use of artificial intelligence as a looming threat to livelihoods, in Venezuela – where showing your face on a news report can conceivably land you in jail – many people view it as protection. In an interesting development in this field, Microsoft and OpenAI are investing up to $10 million to help local news organizations implement artificial intelligence in their operations. Each recipient outlet will receive funding to hire a two-year AI expert, along with $5 million worth of combined cash and technology credits split between Microsoft Azure and OpenAI services. The program aims to help local news organizations develop new revenue streams and improve their operations using AI tools. The program is part of the Lenfest Institute's Local Independent News Coalition, which includes eight of the largest independently owned metropolitan news organizations in the United States. These outlets will work together to develop AI solutions that uphold journalistic standards while strengthening their business models. According to Open Society Foundations, AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), in particular, “are likely to bring about significant and lasting structural change to information ecosystems as we know them.” Global concerns about the use of AI in news production and misinformation are growing, a report published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found. The report found that consumers are suspicious about the use of AI to create news content, particularly for sensitive subjects such as politics. According to the survey, 52% of U.S. respondents and 63% of UK respondents said they would be uncomfortable with news produced mostly with AI. The report surveyed 2,000 people in each country, noting that respondents were more comfortable with behind-the-scenes uses of AI to make journalists' work more efficient. However, this specific poll deals with journalists using AI to write stories as opposed to newsrooms using AI characters to deliver the news on television. Part of the problem is that AI avatars cannot interpret or express humor or deal with complex ethical judgments. Certainly in a round- table setting, AI will not be able to engage in banter and various degrees of analysis. For this type of journalism, perhaps the most important kind where the public relies on journalists to decipher and analyze important news, AI will remain insufficient, and the need for human presenters will continue. OFF Radio Krakow, a radio station in Poland, has made a groundbreaking move and replaced its human presenters with AI . replaced its human presenters with AI And this is just the beginning. In the not-too-distant future, many radio and television stations will likely begin to replace their presenters with AI due to advancements in natural language processing and video synthesis technologies. AI technology can also help translate scripts and interviews from one language to another. Imagine CNN, MSNBC, or FOX using AI instead of human staff. According to a BBC report , “In Kuwait, an AI persona by the name of Fedha ran through the headlines for Kuwait News. Hermes presented the news in May 2023 for Greek state broadcaster ERT. South Korean broadcaster SBS handed over the duties of news presenting to Zae-In, an AI-generated deepfake, for five months this year. There are others in India and Taiwan, too – all created by AI.” BBC report Hermes presented the news handed over the duties It may not be a bad idea. For one, this could potentially reduce mistakes, gaffes, and unpleasant moments. It could also save costs. According to The Wrap , Anderson Cooper is said to earn an estimated $20 million a year; Wolf Blitzer, $15 million; Jake Tapper, $8.5 million; and Chris Wallace, who makes about $8 million. According to The Wrap Other networks no doubt pay their hosts similar salaries, and it is no wonder that companies are showing a keen interest in understanding how AI could work for them and whether the move is worthwhile. So far, the idea seems to suggest it would pay off financially. In terms of programming, AI hosts can literally provide news 24 hours a day without getting tired. They can also deliver breaking news within seconds, don’t need make-up, and don’t go on vacation. While these are, of course, great advantages for networks seeking to cut costs and operate continuously, they don’t solve every problem. Networks will maintain the role of human broadcasters in fields that require deep contextual knowledge, personal experience, or emotional intelligence, like investigative journalism and complex live reporting. There are other reasons as well. While in much of the world, journalists view the use of artificial intelligence as a looming threat to livelihoods, in Venezuela – where showing your face on a news report can conceivably land you in jail – many people view it as protection. can conceivably land you in jail In an interesting development in this field, Microsoft and OpenAI are investing up to $10 million to help local news organizations implement artificial intelligence in their operations. to help local news organizations implement artificial intelligence Each recipient outlet will receive funding to hire a two-year AI expert, along with $5 million worth of combined cash and technology credits split between Microsoft Azure and OpenAI services. The program aims to help local news organizations develop new revenue streams and improve their operations using AI tools. The program is part of the Lenfest Institute's Local Independent News Coalition, which includes eight of the largest independently owned metropolitan news organizations in the United States. These outlets will work together to develop AI solutions that uphold journalistic standards while strengthening their business models. According to Open Society Foundations , AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), in particular, “are likely to bring about significant and lasting structural change to information ecosystems as we know them.” Open Society Foundations Global concerns about the use of AI in news production and misinformation are growing, a report published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found. The report found that consumers are suspicious about the use of AI to create news content, particularly for sensitive subjects such as politics. According to the survey, 52% of U.S. respondents and 63% of UK respondents said they would be uncomfortable with news produced mostly with AI. The report surveyed 2,000 people in each country, noting that respondents were more comfortable with behind-the-scenes uses of AI to make journalists' work more efficient. However, this specific poll deals with journalists using AI to write stories as opposed to newsrooms using AI characters to deliver the news on television. Part of the problem is that AI avatars cannot interpret or express humor or deal with complex ethical judgments. Certainly in a round- table setting, AI will not be able to engage in banter and various degrees of analysis. For this type of journalism, perhaps the most important kind where the public relies on journalists to decipher and analyze important news, AI will remain insufficient, and the need for human presenters will continue.

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