Hamster Kombat, the popular Telegram-based tap-to-earn game, has announced plans to launch a layer-2 network on The Open Network (TON).
This initiative follows a community vote supporting the creation of a dedicated blockchain to expand the utility of the Hamster Kombat token (HMSTR).
Hamster Kombat is Launching its Own Blockchain Network
The upcoming blockchain, reportedly named Hamster Network, will form the foundation of the broader Hamsterverse ecosystem. Developers confirmed that work on the network is already underway.
Over the next few weeks, the team plans to present a detailed roadmap and implementation strategy to the DAO, focusing on strengthening Hamster Kombat’s position in the decentralized gaming sector.
“The vote on the second proposal has ended! The DAO community has spoken: there WILL BE Hamster L2 blockchain built on TON! We will be serving our community, the biggest web3 community in the world, with the technological foundation it asked for,” the project posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Hamster Kombat community has previously supported high-profile initiatives, including events featuring a $1 billion prize pool for token holders. These decisions reflect growing enthusiasm for the platform’s expansion and its broader ambitions in blockchain-based gaming.
Tap-to-Earn Games On the Decline
After their initial hype in Q2 and Q3 this year, tap-to-earn games on Telegram have seen declining interest throughout the last few months. According to the latest reports, interest in such games has dropped nearly 80% between June and December 2024.
This is also visible in TON’s on-chain activity. Data shows that the number of monthly active wallets has dropped by nearly 50% since October.
Monthly Active Wallets on TON Since June 2024. Source: TON Stat
Hamster Kombat was widely regarded as a breakout hit in 2024. Its NFT integration plans also drove a 400% surge in Telegram’s NFT activity in October.
However, following a failed airdrop, the platform experienced a significant drop in users and token value. Within three months, its user base declined from 300 million to 41 million, and the HMSTR token lost nearly 60% of its value.
HMSTR Six-Month Price Chart. Source: TradingView
In November, the team announced the launch of the game’s second season, which promises to revamp gameplay. Players will gain opportunities to manage virtual game studios, create custom spaces, recruit team members, and run tests—marking a major shift in game dynamics.
Yet, interest in tap-to-earn games continues to plummet because of their lack of utility and repetitive gameplay. It will be interesting to see if users discover a renewed interest in Hamster Kombat after its new L2 network launch.
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