Spekter Games Inc. has launched its first title, Spekter Agency, alongside a $5 million pre-seed funding round led by a16z Speedrun, London Venture Partners, and other notable investors. What sets this announcement apart is not just the funding or the gameplay, but the underlying strategy: Web3 incentives that enhance rather than interfere with user experience.
The game debuts on Telegram, leveraging the platform’s 1 billion+ monthly active users and built-in crypto infrastructure. This integration could lower the onboarding friction often associated with blockchain gaming.
Why It Matters: Web3’s Hidden Weapon May Be Telegram
The global gaming market is projected to reach $505.17 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Mobile gaming dominates this space, accounting for over 50% of revenue. Yet, Web3 gaming—despite being flush with VC money—has struggled with adoption, often due to clunky UX and token-centric economies that overshadow gameplay.
Spekter Games claims that they are taking a different approach. “We’re building games that people love for the gameplay, not just the rewards,” said Spekter Games Founder and CEO, Taehoon Kim (TK). “Web3 incentives can supercharge retention and virality, but they should never get in the way of the fun.
His philosophy is backed by experience. TK previously founded nWay, a mobile gaming studio behind hits like Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, which saw over 100 million downloads before its acquisition by Animoca Brands. Post-acquisition, TK worked on Web3 projects with Yuga Labs and Dapper Labs, gaining firsthand insight into what works—and what doesn’t—in blockchain gaming.
Telegram Mini Apps: The Trojan Horse for Crypto Gaming
Spekter Agency runs on Telegram’s Mini Apps infrastructure, which allows native gameplay with no need for app installations. Combined with Telegram’s custodial wallet services and potential crypto-native integrations like TON (The Open Network), this could create a seamless Web3 gaming experience.
This trend is gaining traction. Earlier this year, Telegram-based games like Hamster Kombat attracted over 100 million users in a matter of weeks. However, critics argue these titles lack depth and longevity. That’s where Spekter Agency hopes to differentiate itself—deep rogue-lite mechanics inspired by Vampire Survivors could give the game the stickiness required for long-term success.
Investor Confidence Reflects Broader Shift in Strategy
Funding came from a16z Speedrun, London Venture Partners, Chamaeleon, Accelerator Ventures, Impact46, and others. Notably, a16z’s Speedrun fund, launched in 2023, specifically targets Web3 gaming ventures that prioritize gameplay-first experiences over speculative models.
“There’s a real opportunity to improve early tap-to-earn games on Telegram with deeper mechanics,” said Robin Guo, investment partner at a16z speedrun. The statement reflects a broader industry pivot toward hybrid monetization: combining traditional in-app purchases with optional, passive blockchain incentives to boost retention and loyalty.
Future Plans
The $5M infusion will fuel cross-platform expansion to the App Store, Google Play, and other super apps like LINE and WeChat, the company mentioned in a press release shared with BlockFirms.
Spekter’s second game is already in development and is expected to follow the same gameplay-first, Web3-enhanced model.
Meanwhile, the industry continues to evolve. According to a DappRadar report, Web3 gaming leads the Dapp industry, and accounted for 20% of all blockchain activity in May 2025, driven by emerging ecosystems on Avalanche, Polygon, and TON.
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