What is Zoo (ZOO)?

What Is Zoo?

Zoo is a Telegram-based play-to-earn game that allows users to build and manage virtual zoos while earning cryptocurrency rewards. The game operates as an idle mining system, meaning players accumulate in-game tokens by adding animals, upgrading enclosures, and keeping their zoo operational. Unlike traditional tap-to-earn games, Zoo focuses on passive income, requiring minimal daily interaction to generate earnings.

Since its December 2024 launch, Zoo has attracted millions of players, quickly becoming one of the most popular Web3 gaming projects on Telegram. The game leverages The Open Network (TON) blockchain, and its in-game currency has now been converted into an official cryptocurrency called ZOO token, which was launched on February 25, 2025. With the game’s initial mining phase complete, players who participated can now trade their ZOO tokens on major cryptocurrency exchanges.

How Zoo Works

Zoo is designed as a passive play-to-earn game, where players earn Zoo tokens by expanding and maintaining their virtual zoos. The core mechanics revolve around acquiring animals, feeding them, and optimizing your zoo for maximum earnings.

1. Building Your Zoo

Players start with a plot of land where they can place animal enclosures. Each enclosure generates Zoo tokens, which can later be converted into on-chain ZOO cryptocurrency. The more animals a player owns, the higher their earnings.

2. Mining Zoo Tokens (Earnings System)

Zoo operates on a mining-based token economy where animals passively generate in-game currency:

• Each animal produces a fixed amount of Zoo tokens per hour.

• Higher-level enclosures increase mining speed, allowing players to accumulate tokens faster.

• Animals stop generating tokens if they are not fed regularly.

3. Feeding Your Animals

Unlike fully passive games, Zoo requires players to feed their animals to keep them generating tokens.

• Players must use Animal Feed, an in-game resource, to sustain their zoo.

• Animal Feed can be acquired by completing daily challenges, quizzes, and social tasks.

If animals go unfed, token production pauses until they are fed again.

4. Upgrading Enclosures

Upgrading enclosures is essential for increasing mining efficiency.

• Higher-level enclosures generate more Zoo tokens.

• Upgrades require Zoo tokens and Animal Feed.

• The more expensive the upgrade, the higher the token yield.

5. Joining Alliances for Bonuses

Zoo features an alliance system where players can team up to boost earnings:

• Alliances provide mining speed multipliers for all members.

• Leaders receive 3% of all donations made by alliance members.

• Players can contribute Animal Feed to level up their alliance and increase collective mining rates.

6. Earning Additional Rewards

Beyond passive mining, Zoo offers various bonus mechanics to enhance earnings:

• Surprise Boxes appear three times a day, rewarding players with extra tokens or boosts.

• Daily Login Rewards grant Animal Feed and occasional mining speed bonuses.

• Task-Based Challenges (quizzes, social sharing, and interactive events) provide small token rewards.

7. Using Mining Boosts

Players can purchase boosts to temporarily increase their mining rate:

• A 2x speed boost allows animals to generate double tokens for a limited time.

• Boosts are time-limited, and only the longest active boost applies (they do not stack).

8. Referral System for Free Resources

Zoo incentivizes players to invite friends:

• Players earn Animal Feed for each new user they refer.

• Referral bonuses increase mining speed and token production for a short period.

Zoo Airdrop and Token Conversion

Zoo’s mining phase ended on January 31, 2025. Players who accumulated in-game Zoo tokens were eligible for a 1:1 airdrop conversion into ZOO cryptocurrency. However, the developers trimmed the last three digits of each balance.

Example: 1,000,000,000 in-game Zoo tokens → 1,000,000 ZOO tokens on-chain.

What Is ZOO Token?

ZOO is the native cryptocurrency of the Zoo ecosystem, officially launched on February 25, 2025. The token was distributed to players who participated in the mining phase before January 31, 2025. The total supply of ZOO tokens is 264,084,737,391, with 66% allocated to players from the mining phase. The remaining 34% is reserved for development, marketing, liquidity, and ecosystem incentives. To simplify the transition from in-game tokens to real cryptocurrency, the developers adjusted token balances by removing the last three digits—meaning that 1,000,000,000 in-game tokens were converted to 1,000,000 on-chain ZOO tokens.

Conclusion

Zoo has established itself as a Web3 gaming project on Telegram, combining idle gameplay mechanics with a crypto-based rewards system. While it has attracted significant user engagement, its long-term sustainability will depend on continued player activity, ecosystem development, and future updates. As with many blockchain gaming projects, maintaining interest beyond the initial mining phase will be key to determining its lasting impact in the crypto gaming space.