Digital hamsters are reportedly taking over Iran, and the government isn’t too keen on it. The Telegram-based crypto game Hamster Kombat has seen surging interest in Iran, as local users flock to the simple tap-to-earn game ahead of its upcoming token launch. This interest has been reflected broadly in recent weeks as the game, which primarily revolves around tapping the screen and lets players oversee a fictional crypto exchange as a hamster CEO, has drawn vast numbers of players eager to get a share of the token drop.
Hamster Kombat’s developers announced that the game has now drawn 200 million total players, representing a sizable share of the reportedly 900 million overall Telegram users. This marks a significant increase from a claimed total of 150 million players on June 14. Based on internal data shared via screenshots, the exact numbers cannot be independently verified via public sources. However, the demand is evident from surging social media followings for the game, including the largest overall Telegram channel at nearly 44 million subscribers, more than double the next-largest channel, which is for rival game TapSwap.
The game’s popularity has also seen substantial growth across YouTube and Twitter. Reports from various outlets, including the Associated Press, support the notion that Hamster Kombat is rapidly gaining traction. But this rapid rise isn’t sitting well with the Iranian government. As players in the country tap away at their phones in hopes of gaining crypto rewards, members of the government apparently see it as undue Western influence. Iran is currently struggling with high inflation, limited job opportunities, and ongoing Western sanctions.
Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Iran’s deputy military chief, referred to Hamster Kombat as part of a “soft war by the enemy” in an interview with the state-run IRNA news agency. Sayyari speculated that Western forces are attempting to distract Iranians from the upcoming presidential election so that they won’t “pay attention to plans of presidential candidates.” Iran is set to elect a new president following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.
A state-run daily newspaper, JameJam, also criticized the rising interest in Hamster Kombat. The paper argued that it promotes “the dream of becoming rich overnight and gaining wealth without effort.” The publication warned that a society looking for shortcuts to wealth, rather than working and striving to succeed, would gradually lose the culture of effort and entrepreneurship, moving instead towards convenience.
Despite the government’s disapproval, Hamster Kombat’s developers are pressing forward with their plans. They have announced a token launch on The Open Network (TON) in July. The game follows the precedent set by Notcoin, a similar “clicker” game that launched earlier this year. Notcoin attracted 35 million players before dropping its own NOT token on TON in May. At its peak, Notcoin’s market cap surpassed $2 billion, though the NOT token’s price has since fallen by 52% from its all-time high on June 2.
The popularity of these games highlights the growing interest in crypto-based entertainment and the potential for significant financial gains through token launches. However, it also underscores the concerns of authorities who see these trends as distractions from economic and political engagement. The divide between the government’s perspective and the public’s enthusiasm for such games reflects broader tensions in a country grappling with economic challenges and political uncertainty.
As Hamster Kombat gears up for its token launch, it remains to be seen how the game’s popularity will evolve and what further impact it might have on the socio-political landscape in Iran. For now, the digital hamsters continue to captivate millions, offering a blend of entertainment and the allure of potential crypto rewards.
