Dogs

In late 2023, Telegram shifted gears towards a super app strategy, embracing the introduction of mini-apps. This move allowed external developers to deploy their services directly within the messaging client, marking a significant pivot in user engagement through what is now popularly known as social gaming or GameFi projects. These projects leverage blockchain technology to foster user engagement via proprietary tokens.

Unpacking the Dogs App: Earnings Through Engagement

Dogs emerged as a standout application under this new trend, integrating the ability to earn rewards simply through one’s Telegram account. This section explores the mechanics behind Dogs and how users can earn and withdraw DOGS tokens.

Origin of Dogs

At its core, Dogs operates as a mini-app within Telegram that performs a scoring of user accounts to distribute rewards. The principle is straightforward: users grant the service access to their Telegram account, and rewards are allocated based on account age and other criteria. The older the account, the higher the reward in DOGS tokens.

The idea likely stems from a desire to unite a loyal user base around a recognizable meme coin, potentially laying the groundwork for a new Dogs ecosystem.

Brand Identity and Cultural Significance

The project’s branding is deliberately tied to Spotty, a cultural icon among early social network users, particularly associated with VK. Interestingly, despite its close association with VK, Spotty was created by Pavel Durov, who sketched this recognizable character during a charity auction benefiting orphanages.

The decision to use Spotty was to reinforce the native meme coin identity of DOGS within the Telegram community, symbolizing the spirit and culture of its members. Moreover, this use of Spotty in promotional posts aims to strengthen the connection with Telegram’s team, echoing how Toncoin previously utilized branding elements reminiscent of the TON logo.

At the time of writing, the Dogs Telegram channel boasts nearly 6.5 million members, and its presence on platform X has attracted over 300,000 followers.

Earning DOGS Tokens: A Guide

Users can earn DOGS tokens by activating the Dogs mini-app and linking their Telegram accounts. The rewards are primarily based on the longevity of usage of the messenger—the longer the usage, the greater the token reward. Additionally, owners of Telegram Premium accounts receive extra DOGS, highlighting the benefits of subscribing or purchasing the premium service.