Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, one of the most popular messaging apps globally, has been singing the praises of Hamster Kombat, a game where you play as a hamster CEO of a crypto exchange.
This seemingly silly game has signed up a staggering 239 million users in just three months, and Durov believes it signifies a major turning point for Telegram.
Durov sees Hamster Kombat's success as a validation of Telegram's mini-app strategy.
Launched in 2020, mini-apps allow users to access various services directly within the Telegram interface, eliminating the need to switch between apps.
However, it only began to gain significant traction recently with the launch of tap-to-earn projects such as Notcoin.
With Hamster Kombat's meteoric rise, it proves the concept's potential for viral growth and user engagement.
Durov highlights Hamster Kombat's incredible statistics – 100 million users reached in just 73 days, and a daily influx of 4 to 5 million new players, making it the fastest-growing digital service on the planet.
This kind of user base is unheard of for most mobile apps, and it demonstrates the power of Telegram's built-in audience.
While Hamster Kombat is stealing the show now, it wasn't the first game to leverage Telegram's mini-app potential.
Notcoin, another tap-to-earn game that emerged earlier, paved the way. It witnessed one of the year's most successful gaming token launches.
However, Hamster Kombat has surpassed Notcoin in pre-token launch engagement, boasting over 150 million users.
This trend extends to other Telegram-based games like PixelTap and Yescoin, all capitalising on a simple gameplay mechanic coupled with the allure of crypto rewards.
So, what makes Telegram such a fertile ground for gaming and app development?
The answer lies in its seamless integration with the TON blockchain.
Unlike competitors, Telegram boasts a user base exceeding 900 million, offering developers a colossal audience from the get-go.
Furthermore, TON boasts a user-friendly interface, eliminating the complexities that have plagued Web3 for years.
This smooth user experience, according to DeFi analyst David Zimmerman, positions TON as a potential "crypto killer app."
Imagine introducing your friends to a new Web3 project—previously, a 40-minute tutorial filled with confusion was the norm.
With TON, that hurdle vanishes. Zimmerman himself has successfully onboarded 10 friends, a stark contrast to his past experiences.
This accessibility is a game-changer, making TON attractive to both developers and players.
The success of Hamster Kombat and other TON-based games like Notcoin and Catizen highlights a crucial shift – the rise of the "normies" in the blockchain arena.
These are users who are new to the crypto space but are drawn in by the simple gameplay and the promise of potential rewards.
Unlike Axie Infinity, the darling (turned cautionary tale) of the last crypto gaming cycle, TON games require no upfront investment, making them accessible to a wider audience.
This focus on user acquisition through "play-to-airdrop" mechanics, where players earn tokens through gameplay, stands in stark contrast to Axie Infinity's expensive entry barrier.
To further enhance the mini-app experience, Telegram recently introduced the mini-app bar. This new feature allows users to minimise mini-apps into a bar at the bottom of the screen.
This way, you can respond to messages, open other mini-apps, or check on your social media, and then seamlessly return to your game, like checking back in on your hamster CEO, without having to wait for it to reload.
The mini-app bar is a thoughtful addition that caters to the multitasking nature of mobile phone use. It ensures a smoother flow between communication, social interaction, and your quest for crypto glory in Hamster Kombat.
The mini-app bar is a game-changer for Hamster Kombat and similar titles. By letting users seamlessly switch between games without restarting them, the bar removes the friction of constant app switching.
This smoother experience can lead to increased engagement, especially for busy mobile users who juggle multiple apps throughout the day.
Imagine checking messages or browsing social media without having to wait for Hamster Kombat to reload – that's the kind of convenience that can keep players hooked and coming back for more crypto glory.
Hamster Kombat's success can also be attributed to the "play-to-airdrop" model it has adopted.
Similar to its predecessor, Notcoin, Hamster Kombat rewards players with tokens through airdrops.
These airdrops incentivize players and fuel the game's viral growth.
The anticipation surrounding the Hamster Kombat airdrop has even led to platforms opening pre-market trading for the game's token, even before its official release.
The explosive growth of Hamster Kombat on Telegram highlights the potential of marrying social media with play-to-earn mechanics.
By leveraging its massive user base and seamless TON integration, Telegram has created a fertile ground for simple, accessible crypto games.
This could usher in a new wave of "normies" entering the blockchain space, as hefty upfront investments are no longer a barrier to entry.
The recently introduced mini-app bar further enhances the user experience by allowing effortless multitasking.
While the long-term success of these play-to-airdrop models is yet to be determined, one thing is certain – Telegram's strategic mini-app play has disrupted the mobile gaming landscape.
Telegram's top crypto games, Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) and Catizen (CATI), have seen their tokens drop over 50% from peak values, echoing declines in other gaming tokens like Notcoin (NOT) and Toncoin (TON). The question now is whether they can recover or face a continued decline and possible collapse.
KikyoOn September 1, X Empire will initiate its first in-game currency burn, targeting users who haven’t logged into the game for over 30 days.X Empire’s token purge is designed to reward active players as the game prepares for its highly anticipated token launch, setting the stage for a significant moment in the tap-to-earn gaming landscape.
WenJunPavel Durov, founder of Telegram, was detained in France amid allegations that Telegram facilitated illegal activities. His arrest has sparked controversy and support from the crypto community, reflecting concerns over digital privacy and free speech.
AnaisNotcoin has experienced a 30% increase in the past 24 hours, outperforming major cryptocurrencies. The recent launch of a new game within the Telegram app has likely driven this surge.
DanteDotcoin, initially launched on the TON blockchain, is migrating to Venom to benefit from its advanced scalability and infrastructure. The move, which includes launching the $DTC token on Venom, aims to support Dotcoin's growth but faces challenges with community backlash and technical issues. Will this transition ultimately strengthen Dotcoin's position or lead to further complications?
AnaisNotcoin has launched a new story-driven Telegram game called “Lost Dogs” that will last for 6 weeks. Players vote daily on decisions that shape the story, earn both NOT tokens and the in-game currency, WOOF. So what is your choice?
KikyoPlayers can earn Notcoin tokens and a new in-game token in the story-driven game.This initiative seeks to leverage the potential of NFTs and blockchain technology to offer players a richer and more immersive experience.
DanteNotcoin has risen as a leading force in Web3 gaming, surpassing giants like Bitcoin and Ether in global regions and pioneering Play-to-Earn (P2E) projects on the TON blockchain. Its strategic partnerships, massive community airdrops, and focus on sustainable growth underline its potential impact on the future of crypto gaming.
JoyWenJunHamster Kombat allows players to earn HMSTR tokens, but the real-money potential remains speculative and risky. Players should approach this opportunity cautiously.
DanteDonald Trump's influence is boosting cryptocurrency enthusiasm in the US, impacting both regulatory attitudes and digital platforms like Hamster Kombat.
Huang BoDespite the brief disruption, Hamster Kombat continues to attract a large and engaged user base within the crypto gaming sector. As the game stabilizes post-outage, attention remains on its ongoing updates and the upcoming token launch on The Open Network.
Xu LinHamster Kombat is causing a surge in massage gun sales in Russia, as players use them to enhance screen tapping. The game is also facing criticism for its social pressure tactics to grow its user base.
KikyoTelegram’s TON, with hundreds of millions of users, is taking the lead in developing simple, addictive, and fun games based on the blockchain.
JinseFinanceHamster Kombat has amassed 116 million users within 72 days, offering dynamic hamster battles and the upcoming release of the TGE token on the TON blockchain.
ZeZhengThe recent, unexplained removal of crypto apps like Bitget from the Apple App Store highlights a worrying trend, raising concerns about transparency and user security in the crypto space.
BrianElon Musk says “WeChat is kickass” and wants to copy WeChat. He’s on a quest to develop an “Everything App” that could potentially emulate the success witnessed by WeChat in particular; what will it do and what are the risks?
CatherineNow, developers of current apps can sell NFTs within apps, and new apps can have NFTs within them.
OthersLine, Japan’s number one super app, has launched its own NFT marketplace, adding to its list of crypto-ready features.
Cointelegraph