Russia and Hamster Kombat: Only 40% Russians aware of viral game

by

As a seasoned financial analyst with extensive experience in the Russian market, I have witnessed firsthand the intriguing dynamics of Russia’s relationship with cryptocurrencies. The recent phenomenon of Hamster Kombat, a viral play-to-earn Telegram game, has piqued my interest due to its rapid growth and unique features.

In Russia, the viral Telegram game called Hamster Kombat, which allows players to earn cryptocurrency, has gained immense popularity unexpectedly despite the country’s traditionally strict stance on digital currencies.

Just three short months after being released, the clicker game has amassed an impressive following of over 250 million engaged users, with a significant portion hailing from Russia.

Lately, reports have surfaced about a surge in electric massager sales in Russia. This trend can be attributed to the widespread appeal of Hamster Kombat, an online game where participants must continuously click on a Hamster image to accrue complimentary tokens.

In Russia, the popularity of Hamster Kombat had reached unprecedented heights when Anatoly Aksakov, a local legislator, voiced his opposition to the game. He accused Hamster Kombat of being a deceitful scam that exploits young users, raising red flags about potential security hazards and detrimental effects on the youth.

The All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) recently shared intriguing insights from a survey they conducted regarding the popularity of games involving cryptocurrencies and the broader crypto market situation in Russia.

What survey on Hamster Kombat players in Russia revealed?

Among the 1600 Russian adults surveyed, a vast majority of 87%, acknowledged being familiar with cryptocurrencies. However, just over half or 42% of these respondents recognized Hamster Kombat, a relatively new and buzzing game.

Although most people have heard of cryptocurrencies, Hamster Kombat is still a lesser-known concept to many. Despite the growing buzz surrounding digital currencies, Hamster Kombat manages to fly under the public’s radar.

According to the survey findings, GenZ young adults exhibit a greater familiarity with both cryptocurrencies and Hamster Kombat compared to other age groups.

Approximately 95.8% of GenZ have been exposed to cryptocurrency, but just 35.2% possess a solid understanding of it. In contrast, only 86% of this demographic are acquainted with Hamster Kombat, suggesting its relatively low recognition and appeal within the Telegram community.

Among individuals who are well-versed in cryptocurrency, frequent users of Telegram, and urban residents, the recognition of Hamster Kombat is notably more prevalent.

As a crypto investor with a good understanding of the market, I’ve come across some intriguing data. Around two-thirds (67%) of those with cryptocurrency knowledge have acknowledged being familiar with a particular game, while nearly two out of every three respondents who use Telegram daily (62%) also made this claim.

Although just over half of the survey participants (57%) were unfamiliar with Hamster Kombat, only a little more than half (43%) reported having heard about it.

Why is Hamster Kombat getting popular in Russia?

Although the gameplay of Hamster Kombat may be uncomplicated, the allure for Russian youth lies in its unique “earn-as-you-play” model. Users can amass Hamster tokens by continually pressing the Hamster image, which later serve as currency to engage in various game functions.

Anonymous creators of Hamster Kombat assert that users can exchange their earned tokens for cryptocurrencies once the $HMSTR token is officially listed on prominent digital currency exchanges.

Word of Caution: 

Due to the anonymity of Hamster Kombat’s creators, we have limited access to details about their whitepaper, the underlying smart contracts, and the forthcoming project roadmap. Additionally, there is no guarantee that users will be able to exchange their Hamster Tokens or learn the specific exchange rates.

Will Russia ban Hamster Kombat?

A Russian legislator has proposed banning the popular Telegram game Hamster Kombat due to concerns over it being a phishing scam. However, the final decision on whether to outlaw the game lies with Russian authorities. Notably, the developers must first list their token on cryptocurrency exchanges before this can occur. In Russia, there is significant awareness of cryptocurrencies, but Hamster Kombat has yet to gain widespread recognition among diverse demographics.

Read More

2024-07-24 12:05