FOGINT: Telegram and Its Race Against Time

December 3, 2024

fog from gifer 8AC8 small_thumb The article is a product of the humans working on the FOGINT team. The image is from Gifr.com.

The Financial Times recently stirred debate in the cryptocurrency community with its article, Telegram Finances Propped Up by Crypto Gains As Founder Fights Charges.” Telegram’s ambitions for an initial public offering (IPO) hinge on proving it has a sustainable, profitable business model.

According to the FT, Telegram sold off cryptocurrency holdings to shore up its balance sheet, reporting revenue of $525 million. The financials, based on unaudited statements, framed the crypto sale as a “tactical” move, with Durov’s confinement in France having no material impact on the company.

CCN added flair with its piece, Pavel Durov’s Telegram Nets $335M Windfall: Can It Ride a Crypto Bull to a $30B IPO by 2026,” highlighting that while crypto revenues and TON reserves have helped Telegram stay afloat, the firm still faces substantial debt and operating losses—$259 million in 2023 alone.

Crypto.news zeroed in on debt in its article, How Telegram Made Over Half a Billion Dollars Thanks to Crypto? Telegram, wholly owned by Durov, has raised $2.4 billion in debt financing, with repayment looming in 2026. In September, it used part of its crypto proceeds to repurchase $124.5 million in bonds. (Note: None of the news sources we reviewed noted that Telegram is using a variant of the MicroStrategy strategy of acquiring crypto currency to pump up the company’s “value.” See DLNews for more detail.)

The FOGINT research team identifies three key dynamics:

  1. Cash Flow Through Crypto Sales: Telegram’s crypto transactions inject much-needed liquidity, transforming a significant 2023 loss into a manageable red blot on its financial history.
  2. Tight Links to The Open Network Foundation (TON): Despite TON’s ostensible independence, the Foundation is deeply intertwined with Telegram. This relationship traces back to the U.S. SEC’s 2019 intervention against GRAM (now TON), which forced Telegram to offload its blockchain to the “independent” Foundation in 2023. Regulators in the U.S., UAE, and Switzerland appear to tolerate this arrangement for now.
  3. Racing Against the Clock: Telegram is fast-tracking innovations, like the BotFather’s high-speed processing and partnerships with firms such as Ku Group. Its developer meetups and funding programs are designed to rapidly build out its ecosystem. The urgency stems from a softening stance toward law enforcement—Telegram now appears more willing to share user data, potentially feeding into global investigative pipelines.

This newfound openness aligns with Telegram’s aggressive push to monetize its TON blockchain. At the November 1-2 Gateway Conference in Dubai, Telegram launched an all-out campaign to promote its crypto ecosystem. From YouTube videos and meetups to venture fund pitches, the effort signals a company operating in overdrive.

Blockchain researcher Sean Brizendine said: “”The Telegram hype is definitely real, and the Durov brothers’ future is on the line. Now is the time to pay attention as Telegram’s moves are breaking fast and furious.”

Why the rush? Telegram’s 900 million users and its wildly popular crypto games have been critical growth engines. But with its ethos of “do what you want” giving way to “use our crypto platform,” the stakes are higher than ever. The “leader” is in the grasp of French authorities. Fast-fashion-like life cycles of its crypto ventures underline a harsh reality: For Telegram, succeeding in crypto is no longer optional—it’s a turning point for the company and its affiliated organizations. Cornered animals can be more dangerous than some people think.

Stephen E Arnold, December 3, 2024

Creeping Crypto: Regulators Adapt to What People Have Been Doing

November 28, 2024

dino orangeThis write up is the work of a humanoid who admits he is a dinobaby; that is, deadwood too old to employ. By the way, the “dinobaby” lingo allegedly emerged from IBM during its housecleaning event years ago. The art, however, is from MidJourney and definitely AI fakery.

I don’t want to make a big deal of the “real” news in “Apple Pay, Cash App, and Other Digital Wallets Will Be Regulated More Like Banks Now.” The write up reports:

Major digital payment providers will soon be subject to bank-like supervision from the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). On Thursday, the CFPB issued a final rule that will regulate digital payment apps that process over 50 million transactions each year, covering services like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, PayPal, Cash App, and others. The new rule is meant to ensure digital payment providers adhere to the same laws as credit unions and large banks. It will give the CFPB the authority to oversee their compliance with federal laws surrounding privacy, fraud, and other rules through “proactive examinations.”

Some governments move slowly and others not at all. This “adjustment” reminds me that the world of digital payments, particularly the use of crypto currency, is moving a bit faster than the regulators mentioned in the Verge’s story. (Wow, that log strikes me as weird.)

I want to point out that in the last few days, Telegram turned on its Messenger app’s linkage to the CryptoCasino operation. Here’s a snapshot of what Telegram is engineering. (I drafted the following text for a couple of the law enforcement professionals who pay some attention to my research team’s work related to Telegram, the The Open Network Foundation, and TON Social. (If there are goods in the following summary, let me know. I feel like the Lone Ranger when I try to figure out what the Russia-flavored online messaging outfit is up to.)

Here’s the snapshot I provided as background information:

CryptoCasino.com went live earlier this week. Telegram provides access to the service owned by Armchair Online BV is an experienced online gaming firm based in Willemstad, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Information about the “organization” is sparse.

A Telegram user can access more than 5,000 games via the Telegram Messenger application. No additional registration is required. Plus Telegram’s platform provides the integration of the multiple steps required to engage in online gambling. This service illustrates the “new” Telegram which shifts from messaging functionality to programmatic services running on the distributed Telegram platform.

The gambling games range from poker to crypto horse racing. Live dealer sessions are available to VIP members who pay for additional privileges. The system uses a new $CASINO coin. This coin is available at a low rate and includes the same “bet on this coin’s value” functions as other Telegram “click to earn” games.
Why would Telegram offer a comprehensive online gambling services? The answer is, in the opinion of the Arnold research group is, “Revenue.” Telegram had previously agreed to team up with Ku Group, an organization indicted in the US for money laundering.

Organizations identified by Telegram as being involved in this new initiative are:

  1. Altcoin Edge
  2. AvatarUX
  3. Betby
  4. Coinbase
  5. Covey
  6. Decubate
  7. Evolution Gaming
  8. Fast Track
  9. Fireblocks
  10. Hacksaw
  11. MetaMask
  12. MyAffiliates
  13. Oddin.ggg
  14. Pragmatic Play
  15. Push Gaming
  16. Spribe
  17. Trust Wallet
  18. Wallet Connect
  19. Zealy

Users the Telegram or CryptoCasino.com Web site are blocked from accessing the site from the US for most users. The work around is to use a VPN (virtual private network) which provides service from Malta, Spain, or a similar nation state. Telegram continues with its effort to engage in high-profit activities and building out the Telegram platform as an application programming interface for an unregulated financial system. Telegram is, intentionally or unintentionally, furthering the effort to reduce or shift global financial markets from the US dollar to crypto currency.

The reason I mention this Telegram development is three fold:

First, it illustrates what I call the “high frequency” deals Telegram is doing even though its founder is in France under the supervision of French authorities. Services which could facilitate money laundering are examples of a CEO with a healthy sense of disdain for laws designed to regulate mere mortals. (Telegram’s founder has allegedly sired more than 100 children. He is offering free in vitro fertilization for those qualified to extend his genetic superbness.)

Second, the purpose of the CryptoCasino in Telegram is to make it really easy for about one billion people to engage in activities which are at present somewhat challenging for investigators to track in real time. Telegram games like the more than 5,000 in the CryptoCasino deal include VIP (very important person) memberships, speculative bets on $Casino coins, and options for moving crypto through multiple wallets. Tracking transactions in one wallet can be done. But multiple wallets activated in short time cycles can make the time and resources budget dwindle quickly.

Third, regulators are likely to struggle to develop rules, regulations, and guidelines able to deal with the array of crypto-ized traditional financial services Telegram explained at its November 2024 Gateway Conference. Other than Group I-B what security centric firm attended the event in Dubai?

So, the Verge’s article provides some information about regulatory velocity. Now the more significant and difficult regulatory work has to be accelerated. In a race between the tortoise and the hare? If you want to bet on the winner, head to the Telegram CryptoCasino service, become a VIP, and interact with one of the 24×7 customer support staff. It is probable that the tortoise and the hare bet can be accommodated.

Stephen E Arnold, November 28, 2024

FOGINT: Crypto Is a Community Builder

November 9, 2024

CreationNetwork.ai: A One-Stop Shop for All Your Digital Needs. And Crypto, Too!

Here is an interesting development. “CreationNetwork.ai Emerges As a Leading AI-Powered Platform, Integrating Over Twenty Two Tools,” reports HackerNoon. The AI aggregator uses Telegram plus other social media to push its service. Furthermore, the company is integrating crypto into its business plan. We expect these “blending” plays will become more common. The Chainwire press release says about this one:

“As an all-in-one solution for content creation, e-commerce, social media management, and digital marketing, CreationNetwork.ai combines 22+ proprietary AI-powered tools and 29+ platform integrations to deliver the most extensive digital ecosystem available. … CreationNetwork.ai’s suite of tools spans every facet of digital engagement, equipping users with powerful AI technologies to streamline operations, engage audiences, and optimize performance. Each tool is meticulously designed to enhance productivity and efficiency, making it easy to create, manage, and analyze content across multiple channels.”

See the write-up for a list of the tools included in CreationNetwork.ai, from AI Copywriter to Team-Powered Branding. The hefty roster of platform connections is also specified, including obvious players: all the major social media platforms, the biggest e-commerce platforms, and content creation tools like Canva, Grammarly, Adobe Express, Unsplash, and Dropbox. We learn:

“One of the most distinguishing features of CreationNetwork.ai is its extensive integration network. With over 29 integrations, users can synchronize their digital activities across major social media, e-commerce, and content platforms, providing centralized management and engagement capabilities. … This integration network empowers users to manage their brand presence across platforms from a single, unified dashboard, significantly enhancing efficiency and reach.”

Nifty. What a way to simplify digital processes for users. And to make it harder for new services to break into the market. But what groundbreaking platform would be complete without its own cryptocurrency? The write-up states:

“In preparation for its Initial Coin Offering (ICO), CreationNetwork.ai is launching a $750,000 CRNT Token Airdrop to reward early supporters and incentivize participation in the CreationNetwork.ai ecosystem. Qualified participants can secure their position by following CreationNetwork.ai’s social media accounts and completing the whitelist form available on the official website. This initiative highlights CreationNetwork.ai’s commitment to building a strong, engaged community.”

Crypto — The community builder.

Cynthia Murrell, November 11, 2024

FOGINT: ANKR and TON Hook Up

October 30, 2024

dino orange_thumbA humanoid wrote this essay. I tried to get MSFT Copilot to work, but it remains dead. That makes four days with weird messages about a glitch. That’s the standard: Good enough.

The buzzwords “DePIN” and “SNAS” may not be familiar to some cyber investigators. The first refers to an innovation which ANKR embraces. A DePIN is a decentralized physical infrastructure or a network of nodes. The nodes can be geographically distributed. Instead of residing on a physical server, virtualization makes the statement “We don’t know what’s on the hardware a customer licenses and configures.” There is no there there becomes more than a quip about Oakland, California. The SNAS is a consequence of DePIN-type architecture. The SNAS is a super network as a service. A customer can rent big bang systems and leave the hands on work to the ANKR team.

Why am I mentioning a start up operating in Romania?

The answer is that ANKR has cut a deal with The One Network Foundation. This entity was created after Telegram had its crypto plans derailed by the US Securities & Exchange Commission several years ago. The TONcoin is now “open” and part of the “open” One Network Foundation entity. TON, as of October 24, 2024, is directly accessible through ANKR’s Web3 API (application programming interface).

image

Telegram organization allows TONcoin to “run” on the Telegram blockchain via the Open Network Foundation based in Zug, Switzerland. The plumbing is Telegram; the public face of the company is the Zug outfit. With Mr. Durov’s remarkable willingness to modify how the company responds to law enforcement, there is pressure on the Telegram leadership to make TONcoin the revenue winner.

ANKR is an important tie up. It may be worth watching.

Stephen E Arnold, October 30, 2024

FOGINT: Telegram Game Surfs on an Implied Link: Musk, X, Crypto Game

October 29, 2024

dino orange_thumbWritten by a humanoid dinobaby. No AI except the illustration.

The FOGINT team spotted a report from Decrypt.com. The article is “Why ‘X Empire’ Telegram Players Are Complaining to Elon Musk About the Airdrop.” If you don’t recognize the Crypto and Telegram jargon, the information in the Decrypt article will not make much sense.

For crypto folks, the X Empire Telegram game is news. According to the cited article:

Telegram tap-to-earn game X Empire will launch its X token on The Open Network (TON) on Thursday, but its reveal of airdrop allocations has drawn complaints from players who say they were deemed ineligible for a share of the rewards. And some of them are telling Elon Musk about it.

From the point of view of Telegram, X Empire is another entrepreneur leveraging the Telegram platform. With each popular egame, Telegram edges closer to its objective of becoming a very important player in what may be viewed as a Web3 service provider. In fact, when the potential payoff from its crypto interests, the craziness of some of the Group and Channel controversies becomes less important to the company. In fact, the hope for a Telegram initial public offering pay day is more important than refusing to cooperate with law enforcement. Telegram is working to appease France. Pavel Durov wants to get back to the 2024 and beyond opportunity with the Telegram crypto activities.

What is interesting to the FOGINT team are these considerations:

  1. Telegram’s bots and crypto linkages provide an interesting way to move funds and befuddle investigators
  2. Telegram has traction among crypto entities in Southeast Asia, and innovators operating without minimal regulatory oversight can use Telegram to extend their often illegal interests quickly and in a novel way
  3. Telegram’s bots or automated software embody a form of workflow automation which does not require getting involved with high profile, closely monitored organizations.

FOGINT wants to point out that Elon Musk is not involved in the X Empire play. However, Decrypt’s article suggests that some game players are complaining directly to him about the “earned” token policy. This is not a deep fake play. X Empire is an example of identity or entity surfing.

Investigators can make sense of some blockchain centric criminal activities. But the emergence of in game tokens, Telegram’s own STAR token, and their integration within the Telegram platform creates a one-stop shop for online crypto activities. Cyber investigators face another challenge: The non-US, largely unregulated Telegram operating as a virtual company with an address in Dubai. France took a bold step in detaining Pavel Durov. How will he adapt? It is unlikely he will be able to resist the lure of a big payoff from the innovations embodied in the Telegram platform.

Stephen E Arnold, October 29, 2024

FOGINT: FBI Nabs Alleged Crypto Swindlers

October 23, 2024

Nowhere does the phrase “buyer beware” apply more than the cryptocurrency market. But the FBI is on it. Crypto Briefing reports, “FBI Creates Crypto Token to Catch Fraudsters in Historic Market Manipulation Case.” The agency used its “NexFundAI” token to nab 18 entities—some individuals and also four major crypto firms: Gotbit, ZM Quant, CLS Global, and MyTrade. The mission was named “Operation Token Mirrors.” Snazzy. Writer Estefano Gomez explains:

“The charges stem from widespread fraud involving market manipulation and ‘wash trading’ designed to deceive investors and inflate crypto values. Working covertly, the FBI launched the token to attract the indicted firms’ services, which allegedly specialized in inflating trading volumes and prices for profit. The charges cover a broad scheme of wash trading, where defendants artificially inflated the value of more than 60 tokens, including the Saitama Token, which at its peak reached a market capitalization of $7.5 billion. The conspirators are alleged to have made false claims about the tokens and used deceptive tactics to mislead investors. After artificially pumping up the token prices, they would cash out at these inflated values, defrauding investors in a classic ‘pump and dump’ scheme. The crypto companies also allegedly hired market makers like ZM Quant and Gotbit to carry out these wash trades. These firms would execute sham trades using multiple wallets, concealing the true nature of the activity while creating fake trading volume to make the tokens seem more appealing to investors.”

If convicted, defendants could face up to two decades in prison. Several of those charged have already pled guilty. Authorities also shut down several trading bots used for wash trades and seized over $25 million in cryptocurrency. Assistant US Attorney Joshua Levy stresses that wash trading, long since illegal in traditional financial markets, is now also illegal in the crypto industry.

Cynthia Murrell, October 23, 2024

Flappy Bird Flutters to Life Thanks to the Power of the New Idol, Crypto

October 15, 2024

dino orangeJust a humanoid processing information related to online services and information access.

Flappy Bird is coming out of retirement after a decade away. Launched in 2013, the original game was wildly popular and lucrative. However, less than a year later, its creator pulled it from app stores for being unintentionally addictive. Subsequently, players/addicts were willing to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for devices that still had the game installed. Now it has reemerged as a Telegram crypto game. Much better. Decrypt reports, “What Is ‘Flappy Bird’ on Telegram? Iconic Game Returns with Crypto Twist.” Writer Ryan S. Gladwin tells us the game is basically the same as before, with a few additions just for crypto bros:

“Developed by the Flappy Bird Foundation, the Telegram game mixes in elements from other crypto games on the app, including the likes of Hamster Kombat, by allowing players to passively earn in-game points by obtaining upgrades. These are earned through a variety of ways, including watching ads and inviting friends.”

Naturally, a custom Flappy Bird token will be introduced. And, as with most of this year’s “tap-to-earn” games, it will reside on Telegram’s decentralized network, simply named The Open Network (TON). We learn:

"Yes, there will be a FLAP token launched in relation with the Telegram version of Flappy Bird. This has been confirmed in tweets from the official game account on Twitter (aka X), and the game will also offer staking rewards for the future token. Previously, The Flappy Bird Foundation said that it has plans to integrate The Open Network (TON)—the network that most tap-to-earn games launch tokens on. Notcoin, the tap-to-earn game that started the Telegram craze with the largest crypto gaming token launch of the year, is the ‘strategic publishing partner’ for Flappy Bird’s return. This partnership is set to help introduce The Open Network (TON) ecosystem to Flappy Bird with the game starting a ‘free mining event’ at launch called ‘Flap-a-TON.’ A mining event is usually a period of time in which players can make gameplay progress to get a cut of a future token airdrop.”

What a cutting-edge way to maximize engagement. If he was so upset about his game’s addictive qualities, why did creator Dong Nguyen sell it to an outfit that meant to crypto-tize it? In fact, he did not. After the game languished for four years, the trademark was deemed abandoned. A firm called Mobile Media Partners Inc. snapped up the languishing trademark and later sold it to one Gametech Holdings LLC, from whom the Flappy Bird Foundation bought it earlier this year. That must have been quite a surprise to the conscientious developer. Not only were Nguyen’s wishes for his game completely disregarded, he is receiving no compensation from the game’s reemergence. Classy.

Cynthia Murrell, October 15, 2024

FOGINT: A Doggie Telegram Play in the Mists of Crypto

October 8, 2024

The FOGINT team has noticed an uptick about the Simplex messenger. You can download the end to end encrypted application from this link. According to chatter on interesting discussion services, individuals espousing certain beliefs are abandoning Telegram because Mr. Freedom (Pavel Durov is allegedly cooperating with law enforcement and other government officials in certain investigation). The causal link between Simplex and Telegram’s new, flexible approach to allegedly illegal activities may be clear to some people. That’s fine.

image

Some people will not be aware that the sheep are ignoring a government worker wearing a rather poor sheep disguise. Thanks, MSFT Copilot. How are those Windows updates going? Oh, how about those security changes?

However, Telegram continues to push into territory far more significant than fooling around with the craziness of those who use Telegram to organize traffic jams and sell contraband. The big fish is now on the dock. The fish mongers are crowding around to find out the value of the snatch.

The First Telegram ICO Is Here: Dogizen, Launches Today” reveals what may be a more significant move in the underground financial ecosystem. The FOGINT teams thinks that Telegram is doing its part to undermine the US dollar, not make weird animal games available to people who want free money. The article reported on October 4, 2024:

This is the first ICO to offer investors the chance to purchase the DOGIZ token directly from within Telegram itself and could open up a whole new slice of the crypto community. DOGIZ will go on sale at $0.00007, with a total of one hundred billion presale tokens available for purchase. Dogizen finds itself in the midst of Telegram gaming’s surge, which has recently gained attention with multiple successful launches, collectively amassing a market cap nearing $2 billion in just six months.

Telegram ran into a brick wall several years ago when the US Securities & Exchange Commission blocked the messaging company’s initial foray into crypto. Now the Telegram plan is coming into focus. There are STARs, TONcoins, and deals with outfits like Tether. This play with doggies is a transactional platform applied to providing for a fee the plumbing necessary to ramp crypto with essentially zero friction. The estimable Durov brothers are demonstrating that there is more to a messaging application than groups, channels, advertising, and faux compliance with government officials.

The Durovs are doggies who want to grow up to be wolves.

Stephen E Arnold, October 8, 2024

Russian Crypto Operation: An Endgame

October 3, 2024

green-dino_thumb_thumb_thumb_thumb_t[2]This essay is the work of a dumb dinobaby. No smart software required.

The US Department of the Treasury took action to terminate “PM2BTC—a Russian virtual currency exchanger associated with Russian individual Sergey Sergeevich Ivanov (Ivanov)—as being of “primary money laundering concern” in connection with Russian illicit finance.” The DOT’s news release about the multi-national action is located at this link. Fogint has compiled a list of details about this action.

The write up says:

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is undertaking actions as part of a coordinated international effort to disrupt Russian cybercrime services. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing an order that identifies PM2BTC—a Russian virtual currency exchanger associated with Russian individual Sergey Sergeevich Ivanov (Ivanov)—as being of “primary money laundering concern” in connection with Russian illicit finance. Concurrently, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning Ivanov and Cryptex—a virtual currency exchange registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and operating in Russia. The FinCEN and OFAC actions are being issued in conjunction with actions by other U.S. government agencies and international law enforcement partners to hold accountable Ivanov and the associated virtual currency services.

Here’s a selection of the items which may be of interest to cyber crime analysts and those who follow crypto activity.

  • Two individuals were added to the sanctions list: Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov. A reward or bounty has been offered for information leading to the arrest of these individuals. The payment could exceed US$9 million
  • The PM2BTC and Cryptex entities has worked or been associated with other crypto entities; possibly  Guarantex, UAPS, Cryptex, Hydra, FerumShop, Bitzlato, and an underground payment processing service known as Bitzlato
  • Among the entities working on this operation (Endgame) were Europol, Germany, Great Britain, Latvia, Netherlands, and the US
  • In 2014, the two persons of interest want to set up an automated (smart) service and may have been working with PerfectMoney and Paymer
  • The activities of Messrs. Ivanov and Shakhmametov involved “carding” and other bank-related fraud

Russian regulations provide wiggle room for certain types of financial activity not permitted in the US and countries associated with this take down.

Several observations:

  1. The operation was large, possibly exceeding billions in illegal transactions
  2. The network of partners and affiliated firms illustrates the appeal of illegal crypto services
  3. One method of communication used by PM2BTC was Telegram Messenger.
  4. “The $9 Million US reward / bounty for those two Russian crypto exchange operators wanted by US DOJ is a game changer due to the enormous reward,” Sean Brizendine, blockchain researcher told  the FOGINT team.

Additional information may become available as the case moves forward in the US and Europe. FOGINT will monitor public information which appears in Russia and other countries.

Stephen E Arnold, October 3, 2024

Hamster Kombat: Does It Matter?

October 2, 2024

green-dino_thumb_thumb_thumb_thumb_t[2]_thumb_thumbThis 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.

image

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

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