Hamster Kombat: The Viral Blockchain Game

Web3, AI and the creator economy in under 3 minutes per week!

Author

Shira Lazar
July 07, 2024

Hey Alpha Fam!

I’ve been reluctant to cover anything in Web3 because, to be honest, nothing has really interested me. But after hearing about this story from a few people, I couldn’t help but dive in and share.

Hamster Kombat has attracted 239 million users in just 81 days, setting new records and driving interest in blockchain technology through its interactive gameplay.

It all started on the messaging app Telegram, where a community of over 50 million has amassed. Once you go there, you can click play, and the game will open up in your browser.

The game lets players act as hamsters running a cryptocurrency exchange, with simple gameplay where you literally tap on the hamster in the game to earn tokens. The Block dives deeper into the game and how to play it here.

With over 200 million players and counting, Hamster Kombat is now the most popular Telegram mini app. 

Its YouTube channel has also amassed a ridiculous number of subscribers (32 million and counting), and videos are released that provide clues for the game as well.

It reminds me of the hype around the viral HQ game show app back in 2017 but on the blockchain and on steroids.

Who is behind this crazy project? According to one site, “The team behind Hamster Kombat has remained fairly anonymous. However, recent reports revealed that it was co-created by Russian IT entrepreneur Eduard Gurinovich, who is known for founding CarPrice and CarMoney, and he has a strong background in venture investments and blockchain technology.”

By the way, Telegram is a messaging app that recently introduced paid content through its digital currency, Stars.  Content creators can now unlock content with Stars, convert it to Toncoin, or use them for ad discounts. Users can also discover stories by tapping on hashtags or location tags to view all related public stories.

With these updates, Telegram seems to be on its way to becoming the "everything app," especially in the crypto world.

My hot take 🔥: The growth of this is so wild, it makes me wonder if it’s all real or bought. That said, it’s something worth paying attention to if you’re interested in YouTube channels going viral, the future of gaming, messaging, and blockchain interactivity.

Shira Lazar

Other headlines to check out:

Web3

Creator Economy 

AI

On my radar …

Noplace is a new social app for Gen Z that has surged to the top of the App Store charts with its combination of Twitter-like real-time updates and Myspace's customizable profiles. It lets users share what they're listening to, watching, or doing and connect with others through shared interests and tags. The app features two feeds, one for friends and a global one, both in reverse chronological order, focusing on text-based updates. Designed for real-time sharing and community building, Noplace is quickly becoming a favorite among younger users.

The founder is also worth paying attention to. In 2015, Tiffany Zhong became the youngest venture capitalist in Silicon Valley at the age of 18 after being hired by Binary Capital to work as an analyst. She founded the early-stage consumer VC firm Pineapple Capital in 2017 and led the Gen Z-focused research firm Zebra IQ, which has worked with Snapchat and Levi's.

I’m Bullish On… 💪

Opus Clip

OpusClip is a generative AI video tool that repurposes long videos into shorts in one click. Creators across different industries are tapping in as shorter videos are going viral. I created the clip above with OpusClip!

Gentle reminder 🤲 

You do the inner work not just for yourself, but so you can fully hold space for others too, without taking on their hurt and pain as your own.

Remember, I'm Bullish on you!

With gratitude,