Coin overview
HMSTR
Ended--
Last price (USDT)
659.04K
24h total (USDT)
5.16M
Total vol (USDT)
2024-09-13 08:00:00 ~ 2024-09-26 11:30:00
Trading time (UTC+0)
2024-09-27 00:00:00
Delivery time (UTC+0)
Total supply100.00B
Resources
Introduction
Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) is an engaging Telegram-based tap-to-earn game where players take on the role of a CEO running a virtual cryptocurrency exchange. The goal of the game is to level up from being a humble "shaved hamster" to the prestigious "grandmaster CEO" of a tier-1 exchange. Players achieve this by tapping on their screens to accumulate in-game currency known as Hamster Coins. HMSTR Total supply: 100,000,000,000 X: https://twitter.com/hamster_kombat Telegram: https://t.me/hamster_kombat
Telegram games like 'Notcoin' and 'Hamster Kombat' helped chart a new path for web3 gaming
User acquisition has long been the biggest challenge across the web3 gaming sphere. Then, in 2024, with the launch of mini-games on the Telegram messaging platform, it appeared that web3 gaming may have turned a corner. Telegram has said that it has 950 million users worldwide. With the introduction of clicker games that promised to reward players with token rewards, the messaging platform experienced a surge in gaming. In August, TON blockchain gaming lead Inal Kardan told The Block that “around 20%” of Telegram users were actively playing games. TON, or The Open Network, is the blockchain network used by games published within Telegram. The success of the mini-game "Notcoin" is credited by many as the title that kicked off the wave of game development within the TON ecosystem, largely due to the success of its airdrop. After launching in January, the "Notcoin" team then initiated a $1 billion token airdrop in May, with the project airdropping 80 billion NOT tokens. "'Notcoin' was the one to sort of say this is how easy it is, anyone can do it," Martin Masser, chief business development officer at Ston.Fi, said when speaking at The Block’s Emergence crypto conference in Prague. "That was version one and now everyone is building on top of that." Ston.Fi is a decentralized automated market maker built on the TON blockchain. Following the lead of "Notcoin," other popular titles then launched, including "Hamster Kombat," "Yescoin" and "Catizen," although none have seen their tokens perform on par with "Notcoin." The "Notcoin" token had a market capitalization of about $700 million as of Dec. 18, according to The Block Price Page . Explosive growth on TON network The growth of gaming on Telegram clearly had a positive impact on the TON blockchain. In roughly one year, the number of accounts on the TON network increased from approximately 4 million to 128 million, according to TonStat data . Additionally, the blockchain's native token, toncoin, saw its price rise by over 100%, amassing a market capitalization of $14 billion as of Dec. 18, according to The Block Price Page. "We have onboarded the regular web2 messenger users into the ecosystem, a lot of the time in order to receive the air drops from a lot of these tap-to-earn games, they had to create a wallet," Tobias Lewis, business development and partnership manager at The Open Platform, said at Emergence. "These users who had never experienced web3 or crypto before their first experience of web3 was intuitive, accessible, easy, not intimidating, which I think is a big barrier to entry for a lot of other ecosystems out there." Now it appears the challenge is keeping Telegram gamers engaged and enticing them to try other blockchain-based apps live on the messaging platform. Even "Notcoin" founder Sasha Plotinov told The Block in June that he didn’t believe the clicker model, where users chase token rewards, would last. "From my perspective, only the games that have sustainable models will survive," he said at the time. Since launching "Notcoin," the game's creators have launched other gaming projects in an effort to expand beyond the success of their first game. Alternative game distribution However, the success of onboarding users has been undeniable, and according to Animoca Brands CEO Robby Yung, Telegram games have demonstrated an alternative way to publish crypto games. "The biggest problem we have is that most of the big distribution platforms are kind of actively hostile to our industry that includes Apple and Google on the mobile side or in the game industry platforms like Steam or the console platforms," Yung said when speaking at The Block's Emergence conference . "So we don't really have great distribution channels. So what TON represents to us is this capability of having relatively unfettered distribution for a quite a broad audience." In July, Animoca Brands subsidiaries, Mocaverse and MOCA Foundation, partnered with the TON Foundation and entered into a token-swap agreement to augment activity between the two ecosystems. The TON Foundation is a core contributor to, and advocate for, the TON ecosystem. TON's gaming lead Kardan said he believed the next wave of games to gain traction on Telegram, titles with more potential for sustainability, will be "mid-core" games. Mid-core games, popular on mobile devices, tend to be more complicated and strategy-driven than casual games like "Hamster Kombat" and "Notcoin." These types of games can also generate significant revenue from in-app purchases as players pay to augment their gaming experience. Lewis said that since the success of Telegram gaming, many influential firms have taken notice of the meteoric rise of gaming on the messaging app and should help to foster the development of new gamefied experiences. "We had a lot of big institutional players recognize the value proposition of TON and Telegram like Animoca and Pantera and they kind of gave the ecosystem a lot more; they made us more well known. So larger, bigger, more experienced teams started to come into the ecosystem."
Hamster Kombat will build an L2 blockchain on the TON chain
Hamster Kombat announced on X that its DAO community has completed voting on the second proposal, deciding to build the Hamster L2 blockchain on the TON blockchain. Hamster Kombat stated that it will immediately start development work.
Hamster Kombat to Launch Layer 2 Network Based on TON Blockchain
Once a popular game Telegram-the Hamster Kombat game will launch a second-level network based on the The Open Network (TON) blockchain. The majority of the crypto project community voted for this decision. Voting on the proposal has ended! Community DAO has spoken out: a second-level Hamster blockchain WILL be created on the TON platform! We will serve our community, the largest Web3 community in the world, by providing the technological foundation they have been asking for, the project developers said in an announcement. According to the participants of the vote, the development of its own second-level network will expand the possibilities of using the Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) token, including for paying for gas. This is especially relevant against the backdrop of the falling popularity of the cryptocurrency after the unsuccessful airdrop. Launched in Telegram In March 2024, the game Hamster Kombat quickly gained popularity and within five months had millions of users. According to the Hamster Kombat team, over 300 million people have registered in the app. Of these, slightly less than half of the players were eligible to receive HMSTR tokens. At the same time, over 2,3 million users were classified as scammers and excluded from the airdrop lists. However, after the giveaway, which was plagued by technical issues, Hamster Kombat's popularity plummeted. By early November, the user base had shrunk by 86%, falling from 300 million to about 41 million monthly active players. At the time of publication token HMSTR was trading at $0,003006, down 70% from its all-time high in late September. Its market cap has fallen from a peak of $552 million to $194,57 million.
The Future Challenges and Opportunities of GameFi in 2025
Author: cointelegraph According to a survey by the Blockchain Game Alliance, 42% of respondents believe that player reward models are the biggest advantage in attracting new users. However, as the GameFi industry evolves, blockchain games will face multiple challenges by 2025. Tobin Kuo, CEO of Seraph, stated in an interview with Cointelegraph that maintaining player engagement, adopting new technologies, and building a sustainable in-game economy are obstacles that GameFi must overcome to remain competitive. Tobin pointed out that over 60% of players quit Web3 games within 30 days. He believes that the lack of long-term incentives and poor game mechanics are the main reasons Web3 games struggle to sustain growth. He told Cointelegraph: "With the accelerated development of the attention economy, projects must prioritize player-centric design, focusing on immersive storytelling, skill-based rewards, and game mechanics that go beyond 'profit-first' models, rather than relying on trends to attract attention." In 2025, developing better blockchain games will also require the integration of emerging technologies, such as generative AI, to enhance player experience. Tobin noted that GameFi projects that fail to adopt new technologies in a timely manner typically see a 30%-40% drop in player retention. According to a survey of the Web3 gaming industry, these issues are considered the biggest challenges facing the GameFi sector in 2024. Source: Blockchain Game Alliance Building a Sustainable In-Game Economy Tobin emphasized, "An unstable in-game economy is a major reason for project failures." He believes that building a sustainable token model for Web3 games that controls inflation and is based on data-driven player rewards is key to maintaining player retention. He further explained, "Dynamic loot distribution, staking-based rewards, and economic strategies that enable player control through decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) could become best practices in GameFi development." Taking Hamster Kombat as an example, this clicker game made headlines in July, surpassing 300 million users in less than five months. However, after what is considered the largest token airdrop in cryptocurrency history, the game's active user count plummeted by 86%. As of November, the game's player count was down to 41 million, a significant drop from the summer peak of 300 million. Current State of the Blockchain Gaming Industry in 2024 The Blockchain Game Alliance recently released the "2024 Industry Status Report," surveying 623 professionals in the Web3 gaming industry. The report shows that about 53% of respondents believe that poor user experience and complex user interfaces are the biggest challenges preventing new players from entering Web3 games. Industry insiders outlined the main issues facing the GameFi sector. Source: Blockchain Game Alliance An early report from BGA indicated that 10% of users abandon entering Web3 games due to the complexity of setting up crypto wallets. At the Blockchain Futurist Conference held in August, Long Do, CEO of Anomaly Games, stated that abstracting blockchain functionality and allowing players to interact with the chain unconsciously is key to driving adoption. Additionally, BGA's 2024 report showed that 33% of respondents believe that poor gaming experience is one of the top three challenges currently facing the industry. According to a survey conducted by OnePoll earlier in 2024, among over 2,000 adults, most surveyed players lack understanding of blockchain games. The survey revealed that 52% of respondents did not know what blockchain games are, while another 32% reported having heard of blockchain games but never played them. Conclusion As the GameFi industry rapidly evolves, changes in player demand and market competition drive developers to continuously innovate and optimize. In 2025, how to maintain player stickiness, introduce new technologies, and establish sustainable economic models will be key factors determining the success or failure of GameFi projects.
TEMA Price Prediction: TEMA Plummets 16% As This Slap-To-Earn Meme Coin Surpasses 20K Holders – Next Hamster Kombat?
The TEMA price has plummeted 16% in the last 24 hours to trade at $0.05343 as of 8:04 a.m. EST on a 7% jump in trading volume to $90 million. TEMA Price Spikes Along A Parabolic Curve The TEMA/USD chart on the 4-hour timeframe shows a strong parabolic uptrend, with the current price at $0.05344 , reflecting a 1.79% increase. Key support levels are visible, with Support Level 1 at $0.0134 representing the initial consolidation zone that fueled the rally, and Support Level 2 at $0.0349 aligning closely with the 50-period Moving Average (MA). The price has been following a parabolic curve, suggesting strong bullish momentum, though such patterns often lead to sharp corrections once momentum weakens. TEMAUSD Analysis Source: Dextools.io The MAs further emphasize the uptrend, with the 50-period MA at $0.03497 and the 200-period MA at $0.01342. The price trading significantly above both MAs confirms the strength of the bullish trend. However, a breakdown below the 50-period MA could signal a loss of momentum and a potential reversal. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator supports the bullish outlook, with the MACD line at 0.0054 above the signal line at 0.0051 and a positive histogram reading of 0.0003. While this indicates upward momentum, the narrowing histogram suggests that momentum may be slowing, increasing the risk of a bearish crossover. Similarly, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 65.81, approaching the overbought zone (above 70). This indicates bullish conditions but warns of potential price exhaustion if the RSI continues to rise. Tema Price Bulls Aim For $0.07 High If the price holds above Support Level 2 at $0.0349, the bullish trajectory is likely to continue, with the potential to surpass $0.07 in the coming sessions. Conversely, a breakdown below the parabolic curve or Support Level 2 could trigger a correction toward $0.0349 or, in extreme cases, $0.0134. Traders should watch for pullbacks near the parabolic curve or support levels as entry points for long positions, with targets set above $0.07. Alternatively, short positions could be considered if the price breaks below $0.0349, targeting lower levels. Catslap Viral Meme Coin Poised For Explosive Growth As Tema price shows signs of a potential pullback, investors are increasingly looking to the cat-themed meme coin Catslap (SLAP) , with the growing hype around the crypto potentially triggering a significant price surge in the short term. According to influencer Jacob Crypto Bury, who has more than 45K YouTube subscribers, SLAP has the potential to become the next 100X meme coin. Catslap has become hugely popular thanks to its viral slapping game, where players can slap characters like Pepe the Frog, Chris Rock, Kamala Harris, and Michael Jackson. So far, the game has racked up over 1.8 billion slaps worldwide. The project has gained even more traction with the introduction of a slap-to-earn feature, allowing players to earn cryptocurrency rewards with each slap. SLAP Set For Major Growth With Strategic Listings The addition of the new feature has sparked speculation that Catslap could mirror the success of the viral clicker game Hamster Kombat, which has a market cap of over $155 million. With Catslap’s current market cap at $28.3 million, there’s potential for investors to see at least a 5X return if it achieves the same level of success as Hamster Kombat. Unlike most traditional meme coins that rely on presales, SLAP took a different approach by launching directly on the open market, avoiding the risk of post-presale dumps. It’s already available on a decentralized exchange and recently secured a listing on MEXC, one of the top centralized exchanges by daily trading volume. This listing boosts SLAP’s visibility and gives it access to a wide pool of traders. On top of that, Catslap has partnered with Best Wallet , one of the fastest-growing crypto wallets, which gives SLAP access to over 100,000 users and makes it easier for investors to purchase the token. With its innovative strategy, viral gaming appeal, and increasing accessibility, SLAP is positioning itself as a strong contender in the meme coin market. The upcoming token burn and other strategic developments could further accelerate its growth, making it an attractive investment opportunity. Purchase SLAP here. Related Articles: “Buy The Dip” Mentions Soars To 8-Month High Amid Crypto Crash Top 5 Meme Coins to Watch for Massive Gains in 2025 Prison Sentence For Former FTX Executive Ryan Salame Reduced By 1 Year
Challenges for GameFi in 2025
Blockchain gaming faces several challenges in 2025. Tobin Kuo, CEO of blockchain gaming company Seraph, told Cointelegraph that sustaining player engagement, adopting new technologies, and building sustainable in-game economies were the hurdles GameFi must overcome to remain viable. According to Kuo, over 60% of players disengage from Web3 games after only 30 days. The CEO said a lack of long-term incentives and poor gameplay mechanics were behind the Web3 gaming sustainability problem . Kuo told Cointelegraph: "As the attention economy accelerates, projects must prioritize player-centric design, focusing on immersive storytelling, skill-based rewards, and game mechanics that go beyond 'earn-first' models instead of relying on trend-based attention." Building better blockchain games in 2025 also requires integrating new technologies such as generative AI to enhance player experiences. The Seraph CEO said that GameFi projects failing to integrate nascent tech typically record 30%-40% reductions in player retention compared to projects embracing new technologies. A poll of Web3 gaming professionals shows the biggest negative impact on the GameFi sector in 2024. Source: Blockchain Game Alliance Related: Executives flood blockchain gaming firms ahead of 2025’s AAA launches Building sustainable in-game economies “Unstable in-game economies are a leading cause of project insolvency,” Kuo said. Building sustainable token models for Web3 games that control inflation and feature data-driven player rewards was key to maintaining player retention. The CEO explained: "Strategies such as dynamic loot distribution, staking-based rewards, and player-controlled economies via decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are likely to emerge as best practices for sustainable GameFi development." Clicker games like Hamster Kombat are a prime example. Hamster Kombat captured headlines in July after the game surpassed 300 million users in less than five months. However, the game experienced an 86% reduction in active users following a token airdrop, which was considered the largest in crypto history. As of November, the game only had 41 million players compared to the 300 million peak levels recorded during the summer. State of the blockchain gaming industry in 2024 The Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA) recently released its 2024 State of the Industry Report, which polled 623 professionals from the Web3 gaming industry. According to the report, approximately 53% of respondents indicated poor user experience (UX) and complex user interfaces (UI) present the biggest challenges to onboarding new players to Web3 games. Industry professionals outline the main problems facing the GameFi sector. Source: Blockchain game Alliance An earlier report from the BGA revealed that 10% of users were deterred from Web3 gaming due to complexities in setting up a crypto wallet. During a panel at the Blockchain Futurist Conference in August, Long Do, CEO of Anomaly Games, said abstracting away blockchain features so players did not know they were interacting onchain was key to driving adoption. The BGA’s 2024 report also showed that 33% of respondents said poor gameplay experiences were one of the top three challenges currently facing the industry. A OnePoll survey conducted earlier in 2024, polling over 2,000 adults, found that the majority of gamers polled were unaware of blockchain gaming . According to the survey, 52% of respondents did not know what blockchain games are, and another 32% indicated they heard of blockchain games but never played one. Magazine: How to pick a crypto gaming token winner this bull run: Web3 Gamer
GameFi faces major challenges in 2025 due to player engagement issues
Blockchain gaming is expected to encounter significant challenges in 2025, particularly around player engagement, technology adoption, and sustainable economies. Tobin Kuo, CEO of blockchain gaming company Seraph, shared insights highlighting that over 60% of players disengage from Web3 games within the first 30 days. Kuo attributed this to poor gameplay mechanics and a lack of long-term incentives. “As the attention economy accelerates, projects must prioritise player-centric design, focusing on immersive storytelling, skill-based rewards, and game mechanics that go beyond ‘earn-first’ models instead of relying on trend-based attention,” he stated. In addition to improving gameplay, integrating new technologies, such as generative AI, is essential for maintaining player retention. Kuo noted that projects that fail to adopt such technologies see a 30%-40% reduction in player retention compared to those that do. The need for sustainable in-game economies is also a critical challenge. Kuo explained that unstable in-game economies are a leading cause of insolvency for many projects. He suggested that best practices for sustainability may include dynamic loot distribution, staking-based rewards, and player-controlled economies through decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs). The case of Hamster Kombat (CRYPTO:HMSTR), a game that gained 300 million users in less than five months, underscores these challenges. After a token airdrop, the game saw an 86% drop in active users, with just 41 million remaining by November. The Blockchain Game Alliance’s 2024 State of the Industry Report also revealed that 53% of Web3 gaming professionals cited poor user experience and complex interfaces as significant barriers to onboarding new players. Meanwhile, 33% identified poor gameplay experiences as a major obstacle.
Crypto's 12 biggest stories of 2024: From Bitcoin ETFs to Hamster Kombat and even the FBI
There’s always something going on in the crypto space — and this year was no exception. From Bitcoin ETFs to Sam Bankman-Fried, Hamster Kombat, Donald Trump and the halving, here are 12 of the top stories from 2024 to enjoy this Christmas. SEC approves spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US On Jan. 11, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved proposals for multiple spot bitcoin ETFs on an accelerated basis. ETFs from Ark Invest/21Shares, Bitwise, BlackRock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, Invesco, Valkyrie (now CoinShares), VanEck and WisdomTree began trading the next day. An additional spot ETF from Hashdex and Grayscale’s mini Bitcoin ETF launched in March and July, respectively. As the most successful ETF launch in history by many measures, the combined spot Bitcoin funds have since gone on to attract more than $36 billion in net inflows , with around $110 billion in assets under management amid bitcoin’s substantial price rise this year. BlackRock’s IBIT spot Bitcoin ETF has dominated most metrics, accounting for approximately $54 billion in AUM alone and over 70% market share by trading volume. A $1.2 million bitcoin mistake In one of the crazier stories of the year during the same month, as an unknown user sent 26.9 BTC , worth $1.2 million at the time, to Bitcoin's Genesis wallet, which was created by the blockchain’s pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto and is unlikely to be accessible or return the funds. The transaction, originating from a wallet linked to the crypto exchange Binance, according to blockchain analytics platform Arkham, cost an unusually high $100 fee and brought the Genesis wallet's balance to nearly 100 BTC, worth $4.3 million at that point. "Either Satoshi woke up, bought 27 bitcoin from Binance, and deposited it into their wallet, or someone just burned a million dollars," Coinbase director Conor Grogan said. Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison In March, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay $11 billion in restitution for orchestrating one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history. In September, Bankman-Fried filed an appeal and called for a new trial, with his lawyer criticizing Judge Lewis Kaplan's handling of the case. A month later, former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets Ryan Salame also began a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for his role in the debacle. However, former CEO of FTX's sister trading firm Alameda Research, Caroline Ellison , was handed a lighter sentence of two years, while FTX's former engineering director Nishad Singh and FTX co-founder Gary Wang received no prison time after the pair cooperated with authorities. Dogwifhat's iconic photo sold as NFT for $4.3 million On a lighter note, in March, the iconic photo of Achi, the dog behind the Dogwifhat memecoin, was sold as an NFT for $4.3 million to crypto trader Gigantic Rebirth Ventures. Achi's image became a viral sensation, leading to the creation of the Dogwifhat memecoin, which now ranks in the top 50 cryptocurrencies with a market cap of over $3 billion . The NFT sale came just days after crypto holders raised over $650,000 to put the dogwifhat picture on the Las Vegas sphere — an initiative that is yet to transpire into a reality. Bitcoin ushers in fourth halving In April, Bitcoin’s fourth halving event reduced miners’ block subsidy rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC, marking a new epoch for the network. The halving, occurring at block height 840,000, means miners now produce around 450 BTC daily compared to the previous 900 BTC. Bitcoin halving events, which occur roughly every four years, will continue reducing rewards until the last bitcoin is mined around 2140, after which miners will earn only transaction fees. Billionaire Mark Cuban’s remarks weighing in on the halving was one of the most popular stories this year. However, while the Dallas Mavericks owner and "Shark Tank" host noted the direct impact on revenue for bitcoin miners, he was more interested in the potential impact of AI on the industry. The FBI’s warning to American crypto users The same month, another popular story centered around the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation warning Americans to avoid using cryptocurrency services not registered as Money Services Businesses under federal law to prevent financial and legal risks. The FBI advised checking the registration status of crypto services using the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network MSB lookup tool and to also avoid platforms that lack know your customer ID verification compliance. "Cryptocurrency money transmitting services that purposely break the law or knowingly facilitate illegal transactions will be investigated by law enforcement," the FBI said at the time. "Using a service that does not comply with its legal obligations may put you at risk of losing access to funds after law enforcement operations target those businesses." ZKsync’s token launch and airdrop ZKsync was among the largest token launches of the year, swiftly reaching a $1 billion market cap following its airdrop campaign and major crypto exchange listings in June that The Block had exclusively unveiled a month earlier. ZKsync Era is a Layer 2 network designed to enhance Ethereum's scalability using advanced zero-knowledge proof technology. It aims to improve Ethereum's throughput while maintaining the network's core principles of freedom, self-sovereignty and decentralization at scale. EigenLayer , Scroll , LayerZero , Starknet , Wormhole , Jupiter , Notcoin , Blast , Magic Eden , WalletConnect and Polymarket were also among the crypto projects that launched or hinted at tokens and airdrops this year. Hamster Kombat taps into TON blockchain-linked Telegram clicker game craze The most popular story of the year depicted Hamster Kombat’s rise to the reigning king of the Telegram-based clicker game craze as its founders revealed the game’s origins and plans for a second token airdrop on TON blockchain. In July, Hamster Kombat’s anonymous founders said they were inspired by the success of Telegram crypto game pioneer Notcoin and meme-driven stories like GameStop when creating their own clicker game, which now boasts over 250 million users. The team plans to launch a second airdrop within the next two years as part of a second season, following its first airdrop to 131 million users in September. The project aims to educate users about blockchain and web3, with a mission to reach 1 billion participants while addressing challenges like bot activity to maintain game integrity. Residents of a Norwegian town complained about a Bitcoin mine's noise; and it cost them Residents of Stokmarknes, a Norwegian town in the north of the country, had been trying to get rid of a local Bitcoin mining facility for three years amid complaints of noise from its air-cooling fans. One of the quirkier stories of the year, in September, the residents reportedly celebrated as the KryptoVault-managed site ceased operations. Critics of Bitcoin mining frequently highlight the energy consumption and noise pollution generated by the industry. However, supporters argue that by acting as a variable load, Bitcoin mining can absorb surplus energy, helping to stabilize the grid and reduce waste while lowering costs for other users. What the Stokmarknes residents perhaps didn't foresee is a more than 20% hike in their energy bills, as local power company Noranett now seeks to recover from a loss in revenue due to the sites' closure. Mt. Gox pushes repayment deadline to 2025 In October, defunct bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox postponed its repayment deadline to Oct. 31, 2025, marking a further delay from the previously revised deadline of Oct. 31, 2024. The delay temporarily eased concerns of further bitcoin selling pressure following Mt. Gox’s transfer of 47,229 BTC earlier this year, among several other transactions to approved crypto exchanges as part of plans to redistribute over $9 billion worth of funds in bitcoin, bitcoin cash and fiat currency to its creditors. The Tokyo-based exchange was founded in 2010, swiftly becoming the largest bitcoin trading platform. However, it suddenly collapsed in 2014 after losing 850,000 BTC in a security breach. Pro-crypto Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris in US presidential election Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election in November, defeating his Democrat rival Kamala Harris, amid a Republic sweep of the House, Senate and White House, sparking bitcoin’s move to new all-time highs . Trump’s newfound pro-crypto stance adopted in this year’s campaign involved making a series of pledges to the industry. His promises included dismissing Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler and commuting Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht's life sentence "on day one," establishing a Crypto Presidential Advisory Council, repealing SAB 121 , ending “ Operation Choke Point 2.0 ,” turning the U.S. into a bitcoin mining “powerhouse” and creating a national strategic bitcoin reserve . Gensler subsequently announced his departure from the SEC later in November. The crypto industry became a major election issue this year for the first time, with significant funding from super PACs and crypto executives backing both candidates, though Harris' approach to digital assets was more vague than Trump’s — a potentially significant factor in the eventual outcome, according to Paradigm. MicroStrategy’s bitcoin billions MicroStrategy continued its bitcoin buying spree throughout the year, with the business intelligence firm turned “bitcoin treasury company” making its largest set of acquisitions to date when it acquired an additional 55,500 BTC for approximately $5.4 billion at an average price of $97,862 per bitcoin between Nov. 18 and Nov. 24 The company now holds 444,262 BTC, worth more than $42 billion, having adopted bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset since 2020. MicroStrategy’s total holdings were bought at an average price of $62,257 per bitcoin, a total cost of around $27.7 billion, including fees and expenses, according to the company's co-founder and executive chairman, Michael Saylor. A month earlier, MicroStrategy announced plans to raise a total of $42 billion in equity and debt offerings to acquire yet more bitcoin as the company eyes a trillion-dollar valuation in an endgame to become the leading "bitcoin bank."
HamsterVerse upgrades double surprise: DAO governance goes online, three new games are about to start
Recently, Hamster Kombat announced a major update and launched Hamster DAO. HMSTR holders can now directly participate in project governance, including proposals, voting, and key decisions, and contribute their voice to the future development direction of the project. The official stated that this is an important step for empowering the community, aiming to achieve true decentralized governance. In addition, Hamster Kombat has released its upcoming Season 2 content plan. The second season will not be limited to a single game, but will launch three new games based on the HamsterVerse worldview. These games will become the core pillars of the ecosystem, providing players with immersive experiences through characters and narratives. The HamsterVerse ecosystem focuses on entertainment and innovation, and the $HMSTR token will run through all game scenarios, becoming the key to user interaction and rewards. In order to ensure high-quality content launch, the official has launched a closed beta recruitment activity, inviting community members to participate deeply in testing and jointly shape the future game ecology. The Hamster Kombat team stated that the scale and influence of the second season will far exceed expectations, and the community is welcome to actively participate.
Hamster Kombat: Season 2 will build the foundation of the HamsterVerse with three games and is launching closed beta
On December 23rd, Hamster Kombat announced that Season 2 will begin with three games instead of one, and they will form the foundation of HamsterVerse. Season 2 will not just be one game, it will be much bigger and stronger than originally expected. HamsterVerse is an entertainment ecosystem built around the characters and storyline of Hamster Kombat. All HamsterVerse games will regularly use the HMSTR token. The team is launching a closed beta test and welcomes community participation.
Hamster Kombat: Season 2 will build the foundation of HamsterVerse with three games, and is currently initiating closed beta testing
December 23rd news, Hamster Kombat announced that Season 2 will start with three games instead of one, which will form the foundation of Hamster Verse. Hamster Verse is an entertainment ecosystem built around the characters and storylines of Hamster Kombat. All Hamster Verse games will regularly use HMSTR tokens. The team is launching a closed Beta test.
A Throwback at the ‘Major’ Events of “Crypto” Space in 2024
The cryptocurrency world experienced a tumultuous year in 2024, filled with historical events, unexpected twists, and important milestones. Let’s take a deep dive into the events of 2024 and explore each of these major developments in the cryptocurrency world. RLUSD Launch The most-awaited Ripple’s new stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), started trading globally on December 17, 2024. RLUSD, a stablecoin backed by the U.S. dollar, received approval from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) on December 10, 2024. Ripple introduced RLUSD in June 2024, with the stablecoin being backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars, supported by U.S. government bonds and other cash equivalents. Contents RLUSD Launch Hamster Craze WazirX Hack Trump’s Pro-Bitcoin Stance Gary Gensler’s Resignation Ripple Wins Legal Battle Nakamoto Documentary BlackRock ETF Hamster Craze This year was quite hyped for crypto games, as there was the launch of Hamster Kombat, a play-to-earn crypto game. This game quickly gained popularity, with over 300 million players worldwide. The game allowed users to collect $HMSTR tokens by completing tasks such as tapping to earn points, which they believed would make them rich. However, as the game progressed, many felt let down when the rewards didn’t meet their expectations. Problems like unfair token allocation, disqualifications, and bans left players feeling cheated. The game faced criticism when some influencers got large rewards without playing , angering users who spent hours earning points that turned out to be nearly worthless. WazirX Hack The WazirX hack, one of the biggest in India’s crypto history, took place on July 18, 2024, resulting in a loss of Rs 2,000 crores ($234.9 million) in cryptocurrencies. Hackers infiltrated the exchange by exploiting a compromised account. The breach was first reported by Cyvers Alerts, a cybersecurity firm. WazirX later confirmed the incident and paused all withdrawals to investigate. Investigations found that hackers used credentials sold by Masud Alam , a crypto investor from West Bengal. Masud created an account using the KYC details of a laborer, Souvik Mondal, who knew nothing about crypto. He sold the account to a Bangladeshi named Hasan, believed to have planned the hack. Hasan’s location is still unknown, delaying further investigation. WazirX and its creditors are now working on a plan to recover losses and restart operations. Trump’s Pro-Bitcoin Stance Before the 2024 election, Donald Trump emphasized his vision for making the U.S. energy dominant by producing all remaining Bitcoin domestically. At the Bitcoin 2024 Nashville conference, he criticized SEC Chair Gary Gensler, promising to fire him on his first day in office if elected. Trump also announced Paul Atkins as his choice for the next SEC Chair, replacing Gensler, and highlighted Teresa Goody Guillén, a blockchain expert, as a potential candidate for SEC leadership. Gary Gensler’s Resignation The announcement that SEC Chair Gary Gensler will step down on January 20, 2025, is being seen as a positive shift for the crypto space. Gensler, who has faced criticism for his strict regulatory stance on digital assets, has been a polarizing figure in the industry. His tenure saw high-profile enforcement actions, the rejection of Bitcoin ETF applications, and attempts to classify most cryptocurrencies as securities. With his departure, many in the crypto community are hopeful that new leadership will bring clearer guidelines, more innovation, and better support for blockchain technology. Ripple Wins Legal Battle This year, Ripple Labs achieved a major victory in its lawsuit against the SEC, with U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruling that XRP is not a security and does not need to be registered with the SEC. This ruling, issued on July 13, marked a significant win for Ripple and the cryptocurrency industry. The decision helped reduce regulatory uncertainty surrounding XRP, potentially leading to increased liquidity and adoption by businesses and investors. Nakamoto Documentary In October 2024, HBO released its documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” directed by Cullen Hoback, which claimed to reveal the real identity of Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. The documentary named Peter Todd , a Bitcoin Core developer since 2010, as the possible identity behind Nakamoto. However, Todd quickly denied the allegations on social media, stating he was not Satoshi and dismissing Hoback’s claims as speculative The true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains a mystery, despite various claims and theories. BlackRock ETF In January 2024, the first Bitcoin ETFs began pre-market trading , with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) taking the lead. This debut generated excitement about spot-Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. market. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs for listing, allowing companies like BlackRock and Grayscale to submit their applications. 2024 has been a pivotal year for crypto, with key events like Ripple’s RLUSD launch, Hamster Kombat’s rise and fall, and SEC leadership changes. The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs and Ripple’s legal win set the stage for more innovation and clearer regulations in the industry. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these developments shape the future of digital assets. Follow The Crypto Times on Google News to Stay Updated!
⚡️Hamster News | December 19⚡️
⚡️Hamster News | December 19⚡️ • Youngest Bitcoin Core dev awarded Bitcoin Scholarship • JPMorgan believes that Trump is already impacting the crypto market • Arthur Hayes foresees major crypto sell-off after Trump's inauguration • Jerome Powell says Fed cannot hold Bitcoin, not seeking to change that • Osprey Funds launches first BNB publicly-quoted fund in the US
New Meme Coin Flockerz Raises $7M in Presale as Trader Tips FLOCK as a Top Meme Coin to Buy Now
Flockerz (FLOCK) has reached a major milestone by raising $7 million in its presale, making a strong case for being a top meme coin as December heats up. This marks a big change for the project, which started slower but is now gaining momentum as the market prepares for a possible meme coin supercycle. The market isn’t just focused on one or two meme coins gaining – it could lead to a trillion-dollar meme coin supercycle, boosting meme coins by 8X to 10X on average. Flockerz is well-positioned to take advantage of this trend, thanks to its innovative approach and strong community support. Flockerz presale raises $7 million The Flockerz presale has become a major event, raising over $7 million so far. Interested investors can buy $FLOCK tokens for just $0.0064523 each. To join the strong bullish trend, visit the Flockerz website, connect a wallet like Best Wallet, and purchase $FLOCK using ETH, BNB, USDT, or a bank card. Potential investors can visit our guide on how to buy $FLOCK token here. The Best Wallet app gives instant access to the latest Flockerz updates and project news. Download it from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Investors can also stake their tokens right away and earn estimated APYs of 385%. These high returns are attracting attention but will decrease as more people stake their $FLOCK. Flockerz’s team has prioritized security, with Coinsult and SolidProof auditing the $FLOCK token’s code and finding no issues. Getting audited this early is rare for a new meme coin. Investors are paying attention, and many Telegram members believe Flockerz could list on top exchanges like Binance or Coinbase after its presale. These exchanges have recently started listing more meme coins, which could work in Flockerz’s favor. The presale currently has no end date. Experts predict a meme coin supercycle, with the market cap possibly reaching a trillion dollars. This would be a huge jump from the current $130 billion market cap, and meme coins could see average gains of 8X to 10X, with some experiencing 50X to 100X increases. Flockerz could be a top meme coin with Vote-to-Earn feature Flockerz stands out from typical meme coins with its FlockTopia DAO. While other projects like Shiba Inu and Hamster Kombat have talked about launching DAOs, none have fully succeeded—until now. The Flockerz team is actually making it happen. The key innovation is that FLOCK holders can earn more tokens simply by voting on important decisions. Here’s how it works: when someone acquires $FLOCK, they automatically join FlockTopia. They can vote on things like marketing strategies and token burns, and the smart contracts reward participants with extra tokens. This setup creates a cycle where active community members can earn crypto income by helping shape the project’s future. It seems unique in the market right now, and the “Vote-to-Earn” model is starting to attract attention. With its rising popularity, strong staking rewards, and distinctive governance model, Flockerz is poised to benefit from the growing meme coin trend. The ongoing presale activity—nearly a million dollars daily—shows the project’s positive momentum. As the meme coin market heats up, Flockerz is becoming a strong contender in the space. To take part in the $FLOCK token presale visit flockerz.com. Related Vote-To-Earn Meme Coin Flockerz Raises Over $7M In ICO – The Top Play For A Santa Claus Crypto Rally Analysts Predict Flockerz Could Follow Pepe Unchained’s Post-Launch Surge Flockerz Soars Past $5.6M In Presale, Innovative New V2E Mechanism Combats Hawk Tuah-Like Scams
⚡️Hamster News | December 17⚡️
⚡️Hamster News | December 17⚡️ • Bitcoin and Ethereum reach another ATH • SoftBank plans to invest $100 billion in AI development in the US • Drake’s X account was hacked to promote crypto scam • Ripple launches a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin • FTX to begin repayments on January 3
Gamers Adopt Play-to-Earn in Web3, but Questions About Enjoyment Persist
Key Takeaways Incentives and rewards are the “top benefit” offered by Web3 games. Mainstream adoption from Sony, Konami, Square Enix, Atari, and others continues to drive Web3 gaming innovation. Industry experts remain concerned that boring games with poor gameplay remain a top issue for the Web3 gaming sector. Blockchain gaming has come a long way and continues to draw in players worldwide, but players aren’t really enjoying the games. Web3’s promising play-to-earn (P2E) model may still be a long way from ever being sustainable, yet it may be the primary reason anyone’s playing in the first place. You May Also Like AI March of the Web3 AI Agents: An Undead Internet Theory Technology Hitachi Solutions Unveils Web3 Development Support, Joining Sony in Blockchain Push Technology Sony’s Soneium Minato Testnet Joins Optimism’s Superchain ADVERTISMENT P2E Model, Overplayed? In its 2024 State of the Industry Report , the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA) has found an interesting divide between gamers who play for fun and those who play for incentives. According to 42.4% of respondents, earning rewards from P2E titles is the main draw. Contrastingly, 46.2% identified the games as not fun, which is a main misconception around Web3. This is somewhat understandable, as wildly popular and overtly simplistic mobile titles such as Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) and Catizen (CATI) lack the prestigious gameplay seen with other blockchain titles such as Off the Grid, which is available on PlayStation 5 and desktop. For some time, the question of whether the P2E model could be sustained has been a point of contention. But Telegram’s ongoing efforts suggest that rewarding players will continue to be a mainstay of the most popular Web3 gaming offerings. It’s certainly come a long way since the early days of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which facilitated early blockchain-based P2E experiences in titles such as Axie Infinity. Now, there are many free-to-play titles with few barriers to entry, which sometimes makes earning/NFTs an optional part of the experience. It’s worth noting that these views come from industry professionals who work at major blockchain and gaming firms such as Square Enix, Ubisoft, The Sandbox, Immutable, Accenture, and others. Overcoming Challenges Beyond the complicated interplay of P2E mechanics and making fun games, 53.9% of respondents cited onboarding and poor user experience (UX) as the main challenges facing Web3 gaming. It’s an improvement from 2023’s 79.5% result, which reflects Web3 gaming’s shift toward developing free-to-play titles and gasless transactions. For quite some time, layer-2 scaling solutions such as Ronin were absolutely necessary to keep Web3 games accessible and affordable, as network fees would act as a sizeable barrier to mainstream adoption. The need to hold crypto and NFTs has been largely eliminated in favor of creating a “seamless entry point” for gamers of all shapes and sizes. The survey notes that “poor gameplay” has dropped from second to third place as a key challenge for Web3 gaming. According to the report, 33.2% of respondents still believe that Web3 games lack rich gameplay options.
MicroStrategy wins Bitcoin miners’ approval for convertible note strategy
Bitcoin miners are taking notes, literally, from MicroStrategy’s aggressive financial strategy. Riot Platforms and MARA Holdings are now following the playbook, issuing convertible notes to buy Bitcoin. Clearly, these guys are no longer satisfied with just validating transactions and earning rewards. Instead, they’re mimicking MicroStrategy (MSTR) CEO Michael Saylor’s tactic of turning corporate resources into a Bitcoin stockpile machine. Wall Street’s obsession with the skyrocketing MSTR—up over 600% this year—is impossible to ignore. Hedge funds are loving the opportunity, deploying arbitrage strategies that take advantage of Bitcoin’s infamous volatility. Miners can’t keep up with MicroStrategy’s pace Despite the hype, Riot and MARA aren’t seeing the same success as MicroStrategy. Since the software company started its Bitcoin-buying spree in 2020, Riot and MARA shares have underperformed. Both remain far below their 2021 highs. The April Bitcoin halving event didn’t help. It slashed the rewards miners earn for adding new blocks to the blockchain, putting a major dent in profits. Throw in increased competition, and miners are now fighting an uphill battle to stay relevant. Riot’s convertible notes have raised eyebrows though. The notes came with a 32.5% conversion premium, lower than MicroStrategy’s November issuance, which had a 55% premium. Riot is also facing pressure from activist investor Starboard Value, which recently took a stake in the company. Starboard is pushing the miner to shift some of its operations toward hyperscalers—large-scale data center users—rather than focusing solely on Bitcoin mining. See also Michael Saylor claims the US should replace gold with Bitcoin Meanwhile, analysts are questioning the long-term viability of using convertible debt to stockpile Bitcoin. Stephen Glagola from JonesTrading has expressed doubts about this strategy, saying, “We would prefer the company to increase BTC held per share organically with its mining operations.” Meanwhile, investment giant BlackRock is cautiously endorsing Bitcoin as part of diversified portfolios. The firm suggests investors allocate up to 2% to Bitcoin but only if they’re prepared to stomach its wild volatility. MicroStrategy on its way to Nasdaq 100, critics weigh in MicroStrategy is now eyeing a spot in the Nasdaq 100 Index, a move that could trigger massive passive inflows into its stock. Exchange-traded funds worth $451 billion track the index, and inclusion would mean huge stock purchases. But not everyone is sold on the idea. Critics argue that MicroStrategy’s reliance on Bitcoin makes it more of a financial entity than a technology company. Michael Lebowitz from RIA Advisors went as far as calling it “essentially a dead company” without its Bitcoin holdings. Despite the criticisms, MicroStrategy has amassed a $98 billion market cap, largely due to its aggressive Bitcoin acquisitions. The company now holds over $40 billion in Bitcoin, but its core software business isn’t doing so hot. It reported a $340 million net loss in Q3 this year. Still, its Bitcoin-focused strategy has kept its stock soaring, even as skeptics question its sustainability. See also What happened to Hamster Kombat? A tale of caution for developers MicroStrategy has branded itself as a “Bitcoin Treasury Company.” This identity could work in its favor for Nasdaq inclusion, as the index excludes financial companies. Its classification as a technology company by the Industry Classification Benchmark might be its saving grace. But Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart has warned that a reclassification could be on the horizon, jeopardizing its eligibility. From Zero to Web3 Pro: Your 90-Day Career Launch Plan
Floki and Mastercard Launch Cryptocurrency Debit Card in Europe
Cryptocurrency project Floki is releasing a debit card within the Mastercard payment network. The Floki Card will be available in 31 European countries. Floki introduced a prepaid crypto card that enables users to pay for daily goods and services using digital assets anywhere Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Both virtual and physical versions of the Floki Card will be available. This new financial product will be accessible across most European countries. Users can top up their Floki Card directly from crypto wallets, supporting assets from eight blockchain networks, including BTC, ETH, BNB, TON, SOL, and NOT, as well as meme coins DOGS and FLOKI, the HMSTR token from the popular Hamster Kombat app, and stablecoins like USDC, USDT, EURT, and XAUT. The top-up fee is 2%, while transaction and asset conversion fees are waived. There’s a one-time card issuance fee, and the daily spending limit is set at 5,000 USDT. Floki cautioned that Mastercard or issuing banks may restrict services in certain countries, regions, or for specific merchants at their discretion. Additionally, some merchants and payment service providers (PSP) may choose not to accept prepaid virtual debit cards. The Floki project began as the FLOKI meme coin and since evolved into a broader cryptocurrency ecosystem. Its offerings include platforms for asset tokenization, staking, decentralized finance, NFT issuance and trading, among others. The ecosystem is also preparing to launch a Metaverse play-to-earn (P2E) project. In March 2024, investment giant Franklin Templeton highlighted in a note to investors that, despite lacking utility, meme coins could offer short-term investment advantages.
Hamster Kombat to launch DAO ecosystem
According to Hamster Kombat's official tweet: Hamster Kombat will launch a DAO, allowing HMSTR token holders to make decisions, vote and determine the future of the ecosystem.
Tap-to-Earn Games See User Counts Plunge Despite Crypto Boom
Telegram-based tap-to-earn crypto games are losing users rapidly, even as the broader cryptocurrency market enjoys a bullish phase. Data from Google Trends reveals that search interest in “tap-to-earn” has plummeted by 80% between June and December 2024. This significant decline suggests that players and investors may be shifting their focus to other areas in the thriving crypto market. Decline in Tap-to-Earn Games User Interest and Engagement Leading Telegram-based games such as Hamster Kombat, Notcoin, and Catizen have seen massive drops in users despite a booming crypto market. According to TGStats, Hamster Kombat alone lost over 3 million users in just one month, while Notcoin and Catizen shed 428,000 and 407,000 users, respectively. On-chain activity data paints a similar picture. The Ton blockchain, which powers these games, recorded more than 1 million daily active wallets in September. According to TonStats, this number had fallen below 500,000 by December. TON Blockchain Falling Daily Active Wallets. Source: TONStats A Chainplay survey of 957 players supports these findings. While 17.8% of users quit after their first airdrop, a notable 50.6% reduced their activity, suggesting declining interest after initial rewards. Moreover, developers continue to struggle with user retention, as many players leave after claiming free tokens. Animoca Brands reports that top-performing projects manage to retain only 60% of their peak daily active users, with less successful projects retaining as little as 25%. Why Tap-to-Earn Games Are Losing Players Repetitive gameplay remains a primary issue. Chainplay reported that over 51% of surveyed players cited monotonous tasks as a key reason for quitting. Despite efforts to improve user experience, many tap-to-earn games rely on simple mechanics, causing player fatigue. Additionally, larger player bases dilute airdrop rewards, leaving participants feeling undervalued. More than half of surveyed users expressed dissatisfaction with smaller allocations. Why Players Stop Playing Tap-to-Earn Games. Source: Chainplay Fraud and security concerns also contribute to user attrition. Games like Hamster Kombat have banned millions of accounts for exploiting reward systems. Security risks such as hacking and cheating further discourage participation, with 21.8% of respondents highlighting these issues. Lastly, difficulties in withdrawing rewards have frustrated players, with 35.9% citing cash-out challenges. As retention problems persist, the future of tap-to-earn crypto games will depend on developers addressing these core issues and delivering engaging, secure experiences that appeal to a broader audience.
Filled orders
Delivery scenarios
