A Million on a Hamster: Myth or Reality?

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has supported the clicker game Hamster Kombat and announced the imminent release of the project token on the TON blockchain. This article will examine all aspects of Hamster Kombat, from its game mechanics to its impact on the crypto market and potential risks. We will discuss what attracts users and what threats might await those who decide to "catch" their million on the hamster.

This game is rapidly gaining popularity: reaching the milestone of 100 million users in just a couple of months has turned it into an internet phenomenon. According to Durov, the project grows by 4-5 million people daily, making it the fastest-growing in the world.

What is Hamster Kombat?

Hamster Kombat is a clicker game on Telegram where users click on an image of a hamster to earn virtual coins. The game is available exclusively on the mobile version of the messenger, allowing it to reach a wide audience. It mainly attracts schoolchildren and inexperienced crypto enthusiasts, as the developers have gamified the entire process within Telegram. Unlike many other games, Hamster Kombat does not require donations—users spend only their time.

Players take on the role of the CEO of a cryptocurrency exchange and strive to lead it to success. The main gameplay involves tapping the hamster and upgrading cards. Players can also invest their game bonuses in improving the exchange by purchasing resources like CoinTelegraph or CoinDesk or enhancing security through KYC and AML. An interesting aspect of the game is that it immerses beginners in the world of the crypto industry, introducing them to concepts like staking, DeFi 2.0, GameFi, DAO, margin trading, and more.

The Impact of Hamster Kombat on the Crypto Market

Every market surge brings new trends that someone capitalises on. Recently, the world was swept by the NFT fever, followed by meme tokens. Hamster Kombat is drawing user attention in every possible way, despite the lack of a specific token release date on TON and a white paper. To get listed on major exchanges, the project will need to undergo a rigorous legal review. The project is likely preparing the listing at an opportune time to sell coins at the peak of their popularity. Currently, a large audience is being attracted to the game to boost the future token’s value.

An airdrop is planned, which will be based on the effectiveness of the in-game exchange rather than the currency balance. However, the developers do not guarantee participants any income. The project became successful against the backdrop of Notcoin's popularity but is unlikely to repeat its success, partly due to the abundance of bot farms that take potential profits from “retail” players. Nevertheless, the creators of the project are sure to profit.

Parallels with Bubbles and Network Marketing

The game has a Friends tab where you can invite friends via a referral link. The mechanics of the clicker game in Hamster Kombat resemble a Ponzi scheme, where the early participants get the most benefit at the expense of those who join later. This raises the question: what are they being promised money for if they are not providing any real value? Experts draw parallels with previous crypto bubbles, citing the rapid growth in the value of in-game tokens.

The creators of Hamster Kombat are still unknown, but Telegram is considered one of the beneficiaries. Users receive in-game money for every action, such as subscribing to a channel, which helps inflate the project's subscriber count and generate more advertising revenue.

Threats and Scams

Despite its popularity, the project faces various threats. Two fraudulent campaigns targeting Hamster Kombat players were discovered on Telegram. Users can fall victim to phishing when scammers promise to increase referrals for money and then disappear.

Moreover, Telegram has access not only to your phone book but also to many other data on your device, such as calls, contacts, photos, voice recordings, locations, files, and documents. The game developers can obtain this data while you click on the hamster in hopes of earning money.

International Reactions

In some countries, the game raises serious concerns. In Uzbekistan, players were threatened with arrest and fines. The game's popularity in Iran has drawn criticism from local authorities, who believe that the obsession with such applications undermines the culture of labour and entrepreneurship. According to local experts, the country's dire economic situation forces people to cling to a faint hope that the tokens will one day help them get rich without effort.

While Hamster Kombat offers an engaging gaming experience, it is important to consider the risks and exercise caution when participating in such projects.