Dong Nguyen, the creator of the viral mobile game Flappy Bird, has refuted claims of his links to a reboot of the game that has alleged ties to crypto and web3.

Flappy Bird was a simple yet addictive mobile game that took the internet by storm back in 2013. Downloaded over 90 million times, it was raking in a staggering $50,000 per day in ad revenue at its peak.

Created by Dong Nguyen, the game’s sudden rise to fame was as meteoric as its abrupt disappearance when Nguyen pulled it from app stores, citing concerns over its addictive nature. Fast forward a decade, and Flappy Bird is flapping back into headlines—this time wrapped in a controversy that even has its original creator stepping in to set the record straight.

Last year, Gametech Holdings LLC, the firm behind the foundation, filed an opposition to Nguyen’s Flappy Bird trademark, arguing that Nguyen had abandoned it, a Sept. 12 Forbes report noted. In January, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) sided with Gametech, terminating Nguyen’s claim to the trademark.

Ngyuen’s response came after the foundation announced plans to re-release Flappy Bird, claiming they had acquired the legal rights and hinted at a collaboration with the original creator.

In a Sept. 15 X post, Nguyen called out The Flappy Bird Foundation, declaring that he had not sold any rights to the foundation and is not involved with their project, adding, “I don’t support crypto.”

Undisclosed ties to crypto

According to a report by cybersecurity researcher Varun Biniwale, some hidden pages on The Flappy Bird Foundation’s website hinted at plans to integrate crypto elements into the game. 

Although the pages have been deleted, it mentioned features like a “$FLAP token,” a “Web 3.0” version of the game on the Solana blockchain, and a “play and earn” model. There were also references to staking mechanisms, free airdrops, and a “flap-to-earn” event exclusive to Telegram users.

Biniwale also uncovered an already active leaderboard system that featured the names of several crypto influencers and their scores, hinting that the game be maybe available as a part of a closed early release. Some of these influencers are reportedly already following the game’s X page.

This discovery has led to speculation that the game’s revival might be leveraging Flappy Bird’s nostalgic appeal to promote crypto-related offerings. Biniwale called the project “shady” and speculated it was quietly looking to “make money from cryptocurrency and Web3 integration.”

The game surfaces at a time when the crypto sector is experiencing a surge in blockchain-based gaming, especially on Telegram, and its associated blockchain The Open Network (TON). The messaging app has become a fertile ground for “tap-to-earn” games like Hamster Kombat and NotCoin, which have taken the crypto community by storm.