"Tap to Earn" from Shariah Perspective.

In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, a new trend has emerged: "Tap to earn" crypto. This innovative concept has captured the attention of many in the digital currency community, promising an easy way to earn cryptocurrency through simple actions on mobile devices. While some of us may have already engaged in this activity, others might still be questioning whether it complies with Islamic principles.

What is "Tap to Earn"?

"Tap to earn" cryptocurrency games are a subset of the broader play-to-earn (P2E) ecosystem within the GameFi sector. These games allow players to earn cryptocurrency by performing simple actions, primarily tapping or clicking on a screen. This model has gained popularity due to its low barrier to entry and potential for passive income.

"Tap to earn" games operate on a straightforward mechanism where players repeatedly tap or click to achieve in-game goals, such as collecting resources, improving characters, or earning rewards in the form of points and tokens. The primary objective is to accumulate clicks to progress in the game and earn in-game currency, which can often be traded for real-world value.

Examples of "Tap to Earn" Games

1. TapSwap: Built on the Solana blockchain, TapSwap allows users to earn TAPS tokens by interacting with a Telegram bot. Players tap to mine coins, unlock boosters, and complete tasks. The game features competitive leagues and low transaction fees due to its integration with Solana. 
2. Pixelverse: This game involves a cyberpunk universe where players engage in PvE battles, collect NFTs, and customize bots to earn PIXFI tokens. Pixelverse has garnered significant attention and investment, raising $5.5 million from top VCs.
3. Hamster Kombat: A game where players act as hamster CEO of a crypto exchange, earning in-game currency by tapping. This currency can be used for various in-game activities like margin trading and obtaining regulatory licenses.

Shariah Perspective on "Tap to Earn"

The original ruling on earning from games is permissible (halal). From a Shariah perspective, the permissibility of "tap to earn" games hinges on several factors: 

1. Nature of Earnings: The earnings from these games must be derived from permissible activities. If the game's primary mechanism involves gambling, it would be considered haram (forbidden). For example, if the earnings come from the loss of another party, then this would resemble gambling. 
2. Transparency and Fairness: The game's operations must be transparent, and the distribution of rewards should be fair. Any form of deception or unfair advantage would render the earnings impermissible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while "tap to earn" crypto games offer an enticing way to earn cryptocurrency through simple actions, their permissibility from a Shariah perspective depends on specific conditions. As long as the earnings are derived from permissible activities, the game operations are transparent, and the reward distribution is fair, participating in such games can be considered halal. However, if the game resembles gambling or involves any form of deception, it would be deemed impermissible. Therefore, it's crucial for Muslims to carefully assess these factors before engaging in "tap to earn" activities.