Hamster Kombat’s Unprecedented Growth
Hamster Kombat, a viral tap-to-earn game on Telegram, has seen explosive growth, amassing 239 million users in just 81 days since its launch in March 2024. This rapid adoption highlights the potential for blockchain gaming to onboard millions into the Web3 ecosystem. Telegram founder Pavel Durov emphasized that this success could bring over 200 million people to blockchain technology.
Durov shared impressive statistics, noting that the game reached 100 million monthly users in just 73 days, with 4-5 million new users joining daily. The game’s popularity has made it one of the fastest-growing digital services globally.
Upcoming Token Launch
The game is set to mint its token on the TON blockchain, further integrating blockchain benefits for its vast user base. While the exact date for the token launch is yet to be announced, the development of on-chain infrastructure and in-game wallet implementation was completed in June.
Players have been eagerly preparing for the token airdrop by linking TON wallets within the game since June 2024. The developers have emphasized the importance of profit per hour as a critical metric for players to consider ahead of the token launch.
Record-Breaking Engagement
Hamster Kombat has achieved several Guinness World Records for its rapid user growth and engagement. Its YouTube channel, which features daily news and cryptocurrency educational content, has gained 32 million subscribers since its launch in May. The game’s social media presence is also substantial, with 11.3 million followers on X and 49.4 million subscribers on Telegram.
Game Mechanics and Social Impact
Hamster Kombat’s gameplay revolves around players acting as CEOs of a virtual cryptocurrency exchange. Players earn in-game coins by tapping their hamster avatar and upgrading their exchange to increase profit per hour. The game also rewards users for referring friends and completing challenging in-game tasks, such as solving morse-code ciphers linked to daily YouTube videos.
The game’s developers suggest that Hamster Kombat could serve as an alternative universal basic income (UBI) mechanism, introducing core components of Web3 to newcomers through engaging and educational content.
Bybit Lists Hamster Kombat for Pre-Market Trading
On July 8, Bybit announced the listing of Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) tokens on its pre-market trading platform. This move allows users to trade HMSTR tokens before their official market listing, providing early access and securing purchase prices.
Bybit’s pre-market OTC platform launched trading for HMSTR at 10:00 am UTC on July 8. This initiative represents a significant step forward, enabling users to lock in their purchase or sale prices early.
Market Impact and Expectations
While the exact date for HMSTR’s spot trading debut remains unknown, pre-market trading has shown price fluctuations between $0.001 and $0.1. Bybit cautioned that pre-market prices may reflect market expectations but are not necessarily indicative of the official listing price.
Comparative Success
Hamster Kombat follows the success of another Telegram-based game, Notcoin (NOT), which saw significant market movements after its pre-market and spot trading listings on Bybit. Notcoin’s pre-market price was $0.0059, and it surged to $0.2 shortly after its spot trading debut.
