Hamster Kombat: Does It Matter?

October 2, 2024

This essay is the work of a dumb dinobaby. No smart software required.

The Fogint team pays attention to crypto plays like Hamster Kombat. Those engaged in cyber fraud investigations, analysis, and research may want to take a quick look at what is called a “click to earn” game. I was asked the question at a recent lecture to cyber fraud professionals, “Why should I care about Hamster whatever?” This free, public blog is not the place for a detailed answer. However, I am willing to share several observations offered by Coin Telegraph.

First, check out this chart. From zero users in late March 2024 to a few weeks ago. The hockey stick is what is reported at 300 million users. Anecdotal information suggests that one third may be agentic; that is, bots. And “only” 100 million are people looking to make a quick buck on a crypto play.

Note that the chart only shows growth through June 2024. The number cited above is derived by normalizing user estimates from a range of sources which the Fogint team has compiled and reviews on a daily basis.

Second, the word game does not convey exactly what Hamster Combat and similar “games” offer their users. Cointelegraph.com reports that an expert named Sébastien Borget uses the phrase “play to earn games.” The question some may pose is, “What is a play to earn game?” The clicks on icons or the actions of the user generate money in the form of crypto for those who play them. The easiest way to understand the business model is to get a burner mobile phone, a pay-as-you-go SIM, a disposable email address, and the Telegram app. Search for Hamster Kombat and “play.” If you cannot figure out the interface, ask a mobile-dependent teen.

Third, this facet of Telegram is one that helps differentiate its “games” from those available on other platforms. Everything in Hamster Kombat is about revenue generation, the belief that the HMSTR coin will be increasingly valuable, and the addictive nature of clicks, buying software items from Hamster Kombat, and becoming “addicted” to or dependent upon the Open Network, a “spin off” or “spin up” from Telegram and its plumbing.

The Fogint team believes that Telegram itself will be monitoring more closely than the fate of Pavel Durov (Telegram’s founder who is possibly enjoying the ministrations of the French bureaucracy) how the TON blockchain handles validation. This process is not going to be explained in this blog post, but for those who are curious, just email benkent2020 at yahoo dot and a Fogint professional will respond with options for getting more information about what is likely to be a significant digital fraud event in 2025. “INDOAX Exchange the first Exchange to list Hamster Kombat coin does not allow US residents to open accounts,” Sean Brizendine, blockchain researcher told the FOGINT team.

When this post becomes public, the mining of HMSTR coins will be underway. Hamster Kombat is a combination of old-fashioned online games, crypto mining, and human enthusiasm to get rich quick. And what does one need to join in the craze? The Telegram application and the mini app Hamster Kombat.

Stephen E Arnold, October 2, 2024

Written by Stephen E. Arnold · Filed Under cryptocurrency, cybercrime, Fogint, News

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Stephen E. Arnold monitors search, content processing, text mining and related topics from his high-tech nerve center in rural Kentucky. He tries to winnow the goose feathers from the giblets. He works with colleagues worldwide to make this Web log useful to those who want to go "beyond search". Contact him at sa [at] arnoldit.com. His Web site with additional information about search is arnoldit.com.