Hamster Kombat, a crypto game launched on Telegram, has gained an astonishing 239 million users in just 81 days. Pavel Durov, the visionary CEO of Telegram, has hailed the game as a transformative force in digital services, signaling a significant shift in how blockchain technology is being integrated into mass-market applications.
Hamster Kombat on Telegram breaks records
In detail fasting On his personal Telegram channel, which has 2.7 million followers, Durov shared his enthusiasm for the game’s rapid adoption and its role in ushering in a up-to-date era of digital interaction. “Hamster Kombat has become the latest internet phenomenon that everyone is talking about,” Durov proclaimed.
He highlighted the unprecedented speed of user acquisition, noting, “Hamster took just 73 days to reach 100 million monthly users. Every day, 4.5 million new users join Hamster Kombat, making it the fastest-growing digital service in the world.”
Hamster Kombat is classified as an idle game, but it stands out due to its unique premise and gameplay. Players start as an avatar of a bald hamster who has just signed a contract to become the CEO of a cryptocurrency exchange.
The primary gameplay involves clicking on the hamster to generate coins in the game, with a secondary role being played by purchasing upgrades to augment the efficiency and profitability of the exchange.
The game’s social elements are solid, including features that allow players to earn extra coins by referring friends, solving daily Morse code-related ciphers from YouTube videos, or choosing specific daily upgrades that boost their performance. This mix of plain but engaging mechanics has not only kept player retention high, but also facilitated a community-based approach to gameplay.
Looking ahead, Hamster Kombat is looking to expand its presence in the blockchain space. Durov revealed plans for the game to mint its own token on the Telegram Open Network (TON), a significant step that could democratize access to blockchain technology.
“Soon, the Hamster team will mint its token on TON, bringing blockchain benefits to hundreds of millions of people,” Durov said. The integration indicates a strategic move by Telegram to leverage its massive user base and stalwart mini-app platform to influence the emerging blockchain ecosystem.
While the exact launch date of the token has not yet been revealed, the game’s development roadmap indicates that the key infrastructure for making in-game transactions via the blockchain has already been established, and players will be able to connect TON wallets to their in-game accounts starting in June 2024.
Hamster Kombat’s cultural impact extends beyond gameplay. The game has a significant presence on social media, particularly on YouTube, where it competes with some of the biggest content creators. The official Hamster Kombat YouTube channel quickly amassed 32 million subscribers, surpassing record-breaking channels like Mr. Beast. This social media strategy not only increases player engagement through interactive content, but also serves as a platform for cryptocurrency education, which aligns with the broader goals of promoting blockchain understanding among gamers.
Hamster Kombat’s success underscores the potential for Web3 games to be more than just entertainment. Durov’s vision for the game includes its role as a possible mechanism for a universal basic income (UBI), where players can trade time and engagement for concrete rewards. This model could provide insight into how blockchain-based applications can be structured to provide economic benefits that go beyond conventional gaming achievements.
At the time of going to press, TON’s share price was $6.63.
Featured image is from X @hamster_kombat, chart is from TradingView.com
