KEYTAKEAWAYS
- Hamster Kombat, once a viral Telegram tap-to-earn game, now faces token decline, player fatigue, and questions about sustainable Web3 economics.
- The game attracted 300M users with simple rewards and social loops, but inflation, weak demand, and low returns threaten long-term stability.
- Despite network upgrades and 3.5M active players, Hamster Kombat struggles with regulation, competition, and skepticism over its Ponzi-like model.
CONTENT
In early September 2025, Hamster Kombat stays active with daily tasks. On September 5, the Daily Combo card answers were updated to raise mining efficiency and engagement. On September 4, the Daily Cipher used Morse code to unlock extra rewards, drawing millions of players. Community feedback shows about 3.5 million active players are still discussing Season 2 and comparing it with games like Notcoin and Union.
Daily active wallets on TON remain around 100,000 to 200,000, showing steady growth after the early tap-to-earn hype cooled. Recent network updates (such as the Hamster Network Upgrade on July 16) and card system tweaks (on August 4) aim to improve speed and user experience. These moves show a shift to more mature Web3 integration in 2025, but they also reveal market volatility and some player frustration.
ORIGINS AND RISE: VIRAL GROWTH ON TELEGRAM
Hamster Kombat launched in March 2024 and quickly became a hit in the Telegram ecosystem. As a tap-to-earn game, it mixes simple tapping with crypto rewards. Players tap the hamster to earn HMSTR tokens and manage a virtual exchange. The key draw is the low barrier to entry: you only need the Telegram app.
This drove fast growth in regions such as Africa and Asia, bringing in over 300 million users. Built-in social features, like invites and community tasks, amplified the viral loop. Compared with early Web3 games like Axie Infinity, Hamster Kombat focuses on instant “play-to-earn” feedback and avoids high entry costs.
It became a “Trojan horse” for Web3, onboarding millions to the TON blockchain. However, one year later, many players joke that they were “fooled,” as early high hopes did not match real returns.
ECONOMIC MODEL: TOKEN MECHANICS—OPPORTUNITY AND PITFALLS
HMSTR sits at the core of the economy. Players earn tokens through daily tasks, exchange upgrades, and mini-games. The token can trade on real markets such as Binance. The design blends meme coins and GameFi. Inflation encourages ongoing play but can cause oversupply. Optimists say TON DeFi integrations (such as Tonstakers and EVAA Protocol) add utility, letting users stake TON or borrow in-game.
Bears point out that the token has dropped 65% to an all-time low, hurt by whale selling and airdrop disappointment, and could fall further to $0.000497. The core issue is inflation and weak demand. Many players came for speculation. When the hype fades, value can collapse. This mirrors a common Web3 game problem—sustainable economies must balance rewards and scarcity.
WHY IT BECAME POPULAR: SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DRIVERS
The boom was not random. Hamster Kombat used Telegram’s social graph well, turning gameplay into a community activity. Players shared codes and formed teams, creating a viral loop. Psychologically, tap-to-earn triggers dopamine, like gambling, but under the label of “earning,” which lowers the barrier for many.
This worked in 2024’s uncertain economy, as many treated it as a side gig; even students played between classes. Like Notcoin, it lowered the Web3 entry barrier and helped push TON toward the mainstream, with 100,000 to 200,000 active wallets holding steady in 2025. But controversy followed. Critics call it “Ponzi-like,” relying on new users rather than deep innovation.
CHALLENGES AND RISKS: FROM BUBBLE TO REAL TESTS
Despite success, Hamster Kombat faces many risks. Regulation is one. As a crypto game, it is exposed to policy shifts, including U.S. scrutiny of meme coins. Player fatigue is another. Many look back on last year’s “grind” and complain about weak airdrop rewards, which split the community. Market swings worsen things.
The 200-day moving average for HMSTR keeps falling, showing a weak trend. Competition is rising. New titles like Union or Irys XYZ are pulling players away. The deeper issue is sustainability. Hamster Kombat brought users in, but long-term retention depends on real utility, not hype.
