In June, Iranian officials alleged that the popular crypto game Hamster Kombat was distracting voters during the presidential election. The game, hosted on Telegram, boasts over 300 million players and has drawn attention from various sectors, including the military in Iran, which labeled it a tool in the West’s “soft war” against the nation.
Click Here To Play Hamster Kombat
Hamster Kombat’s creators, who prefer to remain anonymous, denied any involvement in election tampering in an email exchange with WIRED, jokingly offering to send confirmation from a “CIA email.” The developers, with 15 years in professional gaming and a long history in Bitcoin trading, emphasize their love for hamsters, some having had them as pets.
Launched on March 26, Hamster Kombat quickly attracted millions of users eager to earn free “coins,” which they hope will eventually hold real value. The game’s Telegram channel has 53 million subscribers, its YouTube channel nearly 35 million, and its X account 12 million, making it one of the fastest-growing projects in crypto history.
The game’s success stems from Telegram’s “mini-app” ecosystem, allowing users to start playing with just one click without downloading additional apps. Inspired by the earlier success of a game called Notcoin, Hamster Kombat has integrated a system where users’ in-game actions can potentially convert into real-world cryptocurrency, thanks to Telegram’s native Web3 wallets.
The game’s viral growth strategy includes earning coins for inviting friends, watching videos, and engaging with its Telegram channel. The founders closely monitor real-world events to keep the game relevant and engaging, incorporating humorous and topical elements that resonate with their audience.
Click Here To Play Hamster Kombat
Despite its simple gameplay—primarily tapping to earn coins—the game offers complex options for players to expand their hamster’s crypto exchange, investing in various aspects of the business to increase profits. This strategy component can become addictive, with players like Liliya Chumarina spending hours optimizing their in-game earnings.
While some criticize the game’s simplicity, the founders argue that its design, inspired by the user-friendly interfaces of modern apps like Tinder, is intentional. They highlight the difference in user experience in the US, where Telegram’s native crypto wallet is not available due to regulatory concerns.
Sustainability remains a key question for Hamster Kombat. The founders claim profitability through multiple revenue channels, including in-game ads, YouTube ads, and their large Telegram channel. They aim to onboard users into the TON ecosystem, viewing the game as a gateway to introduce millions to blockchain technology.
Click Here To Play Hamster Kombat
Looking ahead, Hamster Kombat plans to launch the largest airdrop in crypto history, distributing “HMSTR” tokens to its vast user base. The creators envision building an interconnected ecosystem of games and services centered around these tokens, potentially making some players actual millionaires, while also reflecting the inherent risks of the Web3 space.