659.04K
5.16M
2024-09-13 08:00:00 ~ 2024-09-26 11:30:00
2024-09-27 00:00:00
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
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⚡️ • 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
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⚡️ • 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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Every day at 8 a.m. ET, the game releases a special “daily combo,” allowing players to grab 5 million free balls, which are the game’s version of in-game coins. This gives players a chance to build up their resources and get ready for a future token launch on The Open Network (TON) . Captain Tsubasa: Rivals Offers a Fun Spin on Tap-to-Earn Games The game , which is based on the beloved Captain Tsubasa anime and manga series, lets you tap the screen to earn coins and upgrade your team, tactics, and stadium. It’s an easy-to-play game that’s starting to gain a lot of attention. But don’t be fooled—there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. Players are upgrading their squads to get ready for the upcoming token launch, where they might be able to cash in on their hard work. Captain Tsubasa just announced their partnership with Blum! They are the first official Japanese IP Web3 project in the world (licensed from the Captain Tsubasa Manga IP), with the web2 game revenue exceeding $500M+ and 80M+ manga copies sold. Now it’s time for a web3 twist… https://t.co/A8KCldDQsG pic.twitter.com/agRWGGM4Re — CryptoMaMa♟️ (@1CryptoMama) November 27, 2024 Each day, players can take advantage of the daily combo by collecting three specific cards, which they need to either buy or upgrade in the game. Once they have all the right cards, they earn 5 million balls for free. However, it’s not all smooth sailing. How to Claim Your Daily 5 Million Free Balls in Captain Tsubasa Some days, players might not have enough balls to purchase the cards they need, and some cards are locked until you invite friends to play, which could slow down your progress. But with a reward as big as 5 million balls, it’s worth putting in the effort. Captain Tsubasa is coming to Web3! ⚽ The legendary manga is making its debut with @TsubasaRVonTG and HUGE support from @okx , @animocabrands , @official_kddi & @docomo ! The team behind the game secured it access to Most Valuable Builder (MVB) program of @BinanceLabs ! How?? By… pic.twitter.com/s3c3dgA2lD — GemsScope (@GemsScope) November 27, 2024 Captain Tsubasa: Rivals is mixing things up with this tap-to-earn approach. It’s a fresh spin on the classic Hamster Kombat formula but with an anime twist. Players are getting a head start on the game’s eventual airdrop, which could turn their daily efforts into real rewards. Disclaimer The information discussed by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. This is for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only. Any information or strategies are thoughts and opinions relevant to the accepted risk tolerance levels of the writer/reviewers and their risk tolerance may be different than yours. We are not responsible for any losses you may incur due to any investments directly or indirectly related to the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments so please do your due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.
Arthur Hayes is calling for a return to the glory days of initial coin offerings (ICOs). His call comes amid a playing field that is increasingly dominated by venture capital (VC) gatekeepers and centralized exchanges (CEXs). The BitMEX co-founder’s manifesto, “How to Make ICOs Great Again,” critiques the current state of crypto capital formation. He advocates for a decentralized, community-driven approach that prioritizes retail investors and revitalizes the industry’s speculative spirit. The Industry’s Malaise Hayes paints a grim picture of crypto’s growth, where once-vibrant grassroots movements have succumbed to the influence of centralized entities. He likens today’s project founders to patients afflicted with a “CEXually transmitted disease,” where the whims of exchanges and VCs dictate their decisions. Hayes argues that crypto’s founders have forgotten its foundational ethos: decentralization, user empowerment, and wealth creation for retail participants. “Why did we as an industry forget about the third pillar of crypto’s value proposition — making retail rich?” Hayes quipped. He points to the dismal performance of VC-backed tokens in recent years. He argues that these projects often debut with inflated, fully diluted valuations (FDVs) and low circulating supplies. However, they alienate retail investors by prioritizing institutional interests. As BeInCrypto reported, projects like Hamster Kombat turn down VC support for this reason. Nevertheless, Hayes attributes crypto’s meteoric rise to three key factors: Government Capture: Decentralization serves as an antidote to the concentration of power by governments and large corporations. It offers a system free from traditional gatekeepers. Magical Technology: Blockchain technologies like Bitcoin’s resilience and potential have proven their value as revolutionary monetary systems. Greed: The lure of significant financial returns has driven adoption. Retail investors seeking life-changing gains are often overlooked in traditional finance. To illustrate the divide, Hayes contrasts the egalitarian nature of meme coins with the exclusivity of VC-backed projects. Meme coins, he says, rely on “memetic content virality,” allowing retail participants to gamble on speculative assets without gatekeeping. Conversely, VC coins are burdened by inflated valuations. A closed ecosystem of elite institutions and investors with little regard for the retail market perpetuates them. “Retail would rather roll the dice on a $1 million market cap meme coin than a $1 billion FDV project backed by the most ‘esteemed’ cohort of VCs,” Hayes explained. The Case for ICOs Hayes sees ICOs as the antidote to the industry’s malaise. In their purest form, ICOs empower teams from diverse backgrounds to raise funds directly from the community without intermediaries. This model embodies decentralization, enabling innovation while giving retail investors access to early-stage opportunities. Drawing lessons from the 2017 ICO boom, Hayes highlights two intrinsic value drivers: Memetic Value: Projects that resonate with the zeitgeist can attract users and build a strong community. Potential Technology: ICOs fund teams to create groundbreaking technologies addressing global challenges, often before a single line of code is written. While acknowledging that many ICOs failed spectacularly, Hayes argues this speculative nature is a feature, not a bug. It allows retail investors to dream big and aim for transformative gains. Against this backdrop, Hayes outlines a roadmap for revitalizing ICOs and making them great again. Faster Token Issuance: New frameworks and liquid decentralized exchanges (DEXs) allow teams to distribute tokens within days, enabling immediate trading and price discovery. Improved Infrastructure: Advances in blockchain scalability and reduced transaction costs, particularly on chains like Aptos (APT) and Solana (SOL), make ICOs more accessible. Enhanced User Experience: Non-custodial wallets and streamlined platforms lower barriers to entry, ensuring broader participation. CEX Independence: By bypassing centralized platforms, ICOs eliminate gatekeeping, giving power back to the community. Further, Hayes cautions investors to avoid the traps of the current system, urging the crypto community to embrace the speculative, democratized nature of ICOs, which offer a chance for life-changing financial returns without the constraints of traditional finance. “Just say no to VC-backed high FDV, low float projects, and overvalued tokens on CEXs,” he noted. As the crypto market enters a potential new bull cycle, Hayes predicts a resurgence of ICOs driven by an engaged, risk-tolerant community. Platforms like Pump.fun and Spot.dog exemplify the shift towards decentralized, retail-focused capital formation. With these tools, Hayes envisions a future where crypto once again empowers individuals to take audacious bets and reap the rewards of decentralized innovation. “Let’s return to the spirit of crypto’s early days. It’s time to make ICOs great again,” Hayes concluded.
Telegram messenger has significantly boosted global crypto adoption by offering cryptocurrency-integrated Mini Apps and supporting various types of crypto wallets, allowing users to access digital assets directly within the platform. While some industry observers said Telegram could be the key to reaching the first billion crypto users , the messenger is not seen as a competitor or a threat to conventional crypto entry points like web browsers. Although browsers like Apple’s Safari have taken a cautious stance on adopting crypto features, the crypto ecosystem has thrived on crypto-friendly browsers like Brave and Opera. Chrome browser had a 64.61% market share in October 2024. Source: SimilarWeb Google, the operator of the world’s most popular browser, Chrome, also has not limited crypto extensions and other related tools on its browser, Jorgen Arnesen, executive vice president of Mobile at Opera, told Cointelegraph. Brave doesn’t see Telegram as a competitor Telegram-linked blockchain platform, The Open Network (TON), posted massive growth in 2024, with many users being introduced to crypto through Mini Apps like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat . Telegram also supports various types of crypto wallets , allowing users to choose between self-custodial and custodial wallet solutions for holding cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin ( BTC ) directly on the messenger. Top five Telegram app coins by market capitalization. Source: CoinGecko “As a major hub for crypto communication, we see the adoption of crypto on Telegram as a natural fit,” Brave’s vice president of business operations, Luke Mulks, told Cointelegraph. Telegram’s crypto rise shows the demand for crypto and extra opportunities for use cases among more mainstream users, but he said this doesn’t pose a threat or competition to browsers. Many of Telegram’s crypto features, such as an integrated wallet and opportunities for users to earn, have been available in Brave for several years, Mulks noted, adding: “We don’t see browsers as being left behind. The browser is the gateway to the web, including Web3. Our focus has been from a higher level, how we can integrate stronger security and Web3 use cases into the Web2 world.” Web-based crypto adoption is strong Opera’s Arnesen shared a similar perspective on Telegram’s crypto adoption versus adoption through web browsers. “While Telegram’s TON blockchain and projects like Hamster and Notcoin have undeniably made waves, we believe that web-based crypto adoption is poised to outpace even these impressive strides,” he said. Related: Telegram’s crypto holdings rose to $1.3B in H1 2024: Report Chrome browser, which has 3.45 billion users in 2024, has also “fostered a thriving ecosystem of crypto extensions and tools, empowering users to interact with crypto directly within their browser,” Arnesen added. TON ecosystem expands beyond Telegram Although Telegram is home to the TON ecosystem, the TON Foundation doesn’t see Telegram as the exclusive platform for its engagement, TON Foundation ecosystem lead Alena Shmalko told Cointelegraph. “Telegram is just one distribution channel for TON-based projects, although it’s a very big one with over 950 million users,” Shmalko said, adding: “We’re working around the clock to foster a decentralized ecosystem where the most exciting Web3 products on TON are accessible through whichever method the end-user wants to engage with most — whether that’s as a web app, a Telegram Mini App, or even as a Chrome extension.” While the TON Foundation is working to expand TON’s reach beyond Telegram, the messenger’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov , remains under investigation in France. With French prosecutors accusing Durov of facilitating a platform that enables “illicit transactions,” Telegram’s founder faces up to 10 years of prison time . Magazine: Crypto has 4 years to grow so big ‘no one can shut it down’: Kain Warwick, Infinex
The Popcat price is down more than 26% on the weekly time frame despite a slight 24-hour gain to trade at $1.23 as of 7:30 a.m. EST as traders dump their holdings in the meme coin. With the drop over the last 7 days, the POPCAT price is also down more than 40% from the all-time high of $2.07 that it set just 10 days ago. Popcat Price At Risk Of Losing A Vital Support 4-hour chart for POPCAT/USD (Source: GeckoTerminal) The Popcat price has printed multiple lower lows and lower highs on the 4-hour chart in the last couple of days, resulting in the formation of a negative medium-term descending channel. Now, the meme coin is testing the key support level at $1.2548. Should it lose the support of this price point, POPCAT stands the risk of dropping all the way down to $0.9168. However, the Popcat price maintaining a position above $1.2548 for the next 12 hours could invalidate the bearish thesis. In this alternative scenario, the meme coin’s price might start to rise. Traders could end up pushing the value of Popcat out of the negative price channel. Escaping this negative range might then lead to a challenge of the $1.5606 resistance. In an extremely bullish case, the Popcat price could rise to as high as $1.8824 in the short term. Technicals Suggest Bulls Are Trying To Take Control Of The Popcat Price From a technical perspective, there are signs on POPCAT’s 4-hour chart that suggest bulls are trying their best to take back control of the meme coin’s price. In the last couple of hours, Relative Strength Index (RSI) readings have started to level off in the low 30s. This suggests weakening seller strength. In addition to the leveling RSI values, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) line has started to rise toward the MACD Signal line. This narrowing gap could be an early indication of a bullish reversal of POPCAT’s current negative trend. A confirmation of this shift in momentum might be if the MACD line crosses above the MACD Signal line. As POPCAT tries to overcome bearish pressure, investors are flocking to meme coin rival Catslap (SLAP) for potential parabolic gains. A Cat-Themed Meme Coin Taking The Crypto World By Storm Catslap (SLAP) is a new meme coin project that is off to a very strong start after launching less than a week ago. Already, more than 7,000 wallets hold the meme coin. Additionally, the project has a market cap of more than $28.5 million, with over $850K worth of SLAP already staked. A possible reason behind this exceptional start could be the team’s decision to avoid the traditional presale route and instead give every investor an equal opportunity to get in on the ground stage of the project. By launching on a decentralized exchange (DEX) from the get-go, SLAP will likely not undergo the post-presale correction that new project’s suffer when they enter the open market. There are other reasons that are contributing to the meme coin’s success at this early stage. One of these factors is the large burn initiatives that Catslap has in the works. With these potential burns, the value of SLAP, which has skyrocketed over 2,723% in just six days, will likely continue to rise as less tokens are made available. The team will also add a play-2-earn (P2E) element to the project’s viral slap game. With this P2E element, Catslap could follow the same growth trajectory as the Telegram clicker game, Hamster Kombat. Prominent analyst and YouTuber ClayBro recently told his over 130K subscribers that Catslap might be the next 50X opportunity in the meme coin space. Catslap Team About To Make A “Major Announcement” Catslap’s team will be making a major announcement in less than 8 days. Will the team announce a potential exchange listing on a major platform like Binance or Coinbase, or something else? Given the success of the project since its launch less than a week ago, this upcoming announcement will likely have a positive effect on SLAP’s price. To get in on the token ahead of the major announcement, investors can use the widget embedded on the project’s website. Selling for $0.00340401, SLAP can be bought with either ETH, USDT, or bank card. Purchase SLAP here before the major announcement. Related Articles: Trump Team Mulls CFTC Oversight Of Major Part Of Crypto Market DeFi TVL Reaches 2021 Level, Crypto All-Stars Rockets Past $6M Most Trending Cryptocurrencies on Polygon
US President-elect Donald Trump is weighing a shift in crypto regulation that could hand more authority to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), reducing the influence of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Fox Business reported. The CFTC could oversee digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which have been deemed to be commodities, as well as exchanges and spot markets, potentially covering up to 70% of the $3.2 trillion crypto market, sources familiar with the matter told Fox Business in a Nov. 26 report. SEC Control Over US Crypto Market Could Be Reduced During the Biden administration, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), under the leadership of its outgoing Chair Gary Gensler , targeted crypto companies operating in the US with a regulation by enforcement strategy. Should the CFTC start to regulate more of the crypto market, it would cut back the SEC’s power over the nascent digital asset space. Gensler was in favor of the idea of the CFTC taking over the regulation of Bitcoin and its associated markets. This is after he called the leading crypto a commodity. With regards to ETH, the CFTC argued in March that the altcoin is a commodity in a complaint against the crypto exchange KuCoin. CFTC Could Regulate Digital Commodities From Day 1 Of Trump’s Term Former CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo, who is also known as “Crypto Dad,” believes the “CFTC could hit the ground running” and “begin regulating digital commodities on day one of Donald Trump’s presidency.” Giancarlo served as the CFTC’s Chairman during the President-elect’s first term, and is reportedly being considered for the role of “crypto czar” for the incoming administration. Over the years, he has called for the CFTC to play a bigger role in regulating crypto markets. Giancarlo also wrote a letter to the Senate Agriculture Committee in 2022 in support of the agency having authority over the spot crypto market. Related Articles: Crypto All-Stars: 25 Days Until A Meme Coin Revolution Begins Catslap Soars 3,297% In 4 Days – Is It The Next Hamster Kombat? Pepe Price Plunges As Investor Frenzy Erupts Around ThisRival
⚡️Hamster News | November 21⚡️ • Trump team considers creating first-ever White House crypto role • MicroStrategy breaks into top 100 US publicly traded companies • FTX co-founder Gary Wang avoids prison time • Arkham Intelligence to launch a spot trading platform in the US… https://t.co/nghyf103fD https://t.co/C8ePkzxfGZ
Hamster Kombat, a Web3-based game, is working to reignite interest among its players after seeing a decline in monthly active users (MAUs). The game, which initially gained massive attention, reached 300 million users in August but has since seen a drop, now retaining around 30 million MAUs. Despite the cooling off, a representative from the team expressed that the decline aligns with their expectations, as the game experiences natural fluctuations in interest. Hamster Kombat’s spokesperson explained that the drop is expected during the transition between seasons, noting that the team is currently preparing for the launch of the second season. Even in this interim period, the game’s MAU number remains strong at over 30 million, indicating sustained engagement. The team aims to reconnect with season one players while also attracting new users. Additionally, the game reported a $1.3 billion daily trading volume and $4 billion in perpetual trading volume for its HMSTR token, alongside 11 million tokenholders. READ MORE: Expert Trader Shares Secrets to Transforming Your Crypto Portfolio The spokesperson emphasized that the game’s large and active player base positions it to compete with other top blockchain projects and to expand into new markets in the future. While Hamster Kombat works to expand its audience, other Telegram Mini Apps are also gaining momentum. Paws, another popular Telegram game, has seen rapid growth, currently boasting 40.7 million MAUs. Blum, a hybrid exchange app offering both centralized and decentralized exchange features, and Major, a task-based app that rewards users with cryptocurrency, are also rising in popularity, further intensifying the competition in the Telegram Mini App space. Source
Hamster Kombat's token, HMSTR, has faced significant challenges despite attracting 300 million active users at its peak. After hitting an all-time high (ATH) of $0.01004 two months ago, the token is now trading at $0.003897, a 61% drop. Although it briefly recovered following Bitcoin’s rally, the price didn’t hold. However, there’s some optimism as trading volume has surged, signaling renewed interest. The game’s popularity took off after its January launch, attracting millions of users and culminating in the launch of the HMSTR token in late September. Unfortunately, issues like airdrop distribution delays and the controversial anti-cheat system led to a sharp price decline after its listing. The game’s active user base also fell dramatically, from 300 million to just 41 million in a matter of months, contributing to the token’s poor performance. Despite recent price declines, HMSTR’s trading volume is on the rise, with a notable increase in the past week, reaching $118.5 million. This surge indicates that user interest may be returning. The token had even seen a brief spike in both spot and perpetual trading volume earlier this month, reaching $1.3 billion in spot and $4 billion in perpetual trades, pushing its price to $0.005938 before it dipped again. READ MORE: Miner Selling Pressure Mounts as Bitcoin Approaches $100K The excitement surrounding Season 2, announced in early November, has fueled renewed hope. The new season promises enhanced features, such as virtual studio management, custom game spaces, and community-driven challenges, which has stirred player enthusiasm. As a result, trading volume spiked following the announcement, and sentiment indicators show that 73% of voters are bullish on the token, while only 23% remain bearish. Additionally, HMSTR has become the second-largest on-chain holder, surpassing even Aptos. With Bitcoin’s broader market rally and positive sentiment, Hamster Kombat’s token may have potential for recovery in the near future.
Web3 game Hamster Kombat plans to “re-engage” with its season one participants and attract new users despite a recent drop in monthly active users (MAU). While the popular Telegram clicker game broke records and reached 300 million users in August, the hype has since cooled , leaving the game with about 30 million MAUs. Still, a spokesperson for Hamster Kombat told Cointelegraph that the drop aligns with their expectations. The Hamster Kombat team said interest rises and falls but will grow again with any project. “Since our project has seasons, this is expected. We’re currently in the interlude period, preparing to launch the second season,” the spokesperson said. “Even during this mid-season phase, our MAU metric remains above 30 million, showing sustained interest.” The spokesperson added that the team is “planning to re-engage” with season one participants while trying to attract new players. Retaining the “core group” of players On Nov. 14, Hamster Kombat reported a $1.3 billion daily spot volume and $4 billion perpetual trading volume for its Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) token. It also reported 11 million tokenholders. The spokesperson told Cointelegraph: “We now have over 11 million tokenholders, allowing us to compete with the top blockchains. We plan to increase the number of holders and enter new markets.” The team said it has retained a “core group” of players of about 30 million, who are actively engaged even after the first airdrop. “That’s more than the entire community of many other projects even before their airdrops,” the spokesperson said. Hamster Kombat expects its audience to grow further as new activities are planned for the future. Related: Hamster Kombat Season 2 lets players become CEOs, build game studios Paws, Blum Telegram games surge While Hamster Kombat works on a comeback, other Telegram Mini Apps are gaining traction. This includes Paws, which has surged in popularity and become one of the fastest-growing Mini Apps on Telegram. At the time of writing, Paws had 40.7 million MAUs, according to Telegram. Highest-ranked Web3 apps on Telegram. Source: Telegram In addition, Blum, a hybrid exchange offering features of both centralized and decentralized exchanges, is emerging as a leading Mini App. Blum also includes a clicker game allowing users to earn points convertible into an airdrop token. Another app, Major, has risen to the top of the Telegram Mini App rankings with 34.9 million MAUs. Major allows users to complete tasks and earn cryptocurrencies. Magazine: Will gaming token ‘enthusiasm’ return this crypto bull run? Web3 Gamer
Hamster Kombat (CRYPTO:HMSTR), the cryptocurrency token linked to the Telegram Mini App of the same name, has recorded a significant $5.3 billion in daily trading volume. According to the Hamster Kombat team, spot trading volume accounted for $1.3 billion, while perpetual trading volume reached $4 billion. The project currently boasts 11 million tokenholders. “It’s over 239 Yankee Stadiums full of hamsters holding the tokens and believing in its value,” the team noted in a statement. Despite a recent decrease in users, community sentiment around Hamster Kombat remains positive. CoinMarketCap data reveals that 73% of 87,689 voters maintain a bullish outlook, while 27% are bearish. This comes after a significant decline in active users, which dropped from a peak of 300 million in August to 41 million by November 5, marking an 86% decrease. IntoTheBlock data also indicated a reduction in active addresses, which fell from over 700,000 on September 27 to just above 20,000 by November 13. The token’s price has seen fluctuations, dipping from an all-time high of $0.01 on September 26 to $0.0022 by November 4. However, a slight rebound occurred, with the price rising to $0.004401 on November 14. At Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai on October 30, experts discussed the challenge of user retention in blockchain-based games. Sasha Plotvinov, co-creator of Notcoin, emphasized the need for social and emotional elements in gaming to maintain user engagement. Plotvinov emphasised that each project aims to provide a “new thing” for users to enhance retention and interaction. At the time of reporting, the Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) price was $0.003753.
Hamster Kombat, the Web3 game built on the Telegram Mini App, has seen a significant surge in its cryptocurrency token despite a recent decline in active users. As of November 14, the game’s token, Hamster Kombat (HMSTR), has reached impressive trading volumes. Daily spot trading for the token has soared to $1.3 billion, while perpetual trading volume has hit $4 billion. The Hamster Kombat team announced that the token now has 11 million holders, a number they likened to filling 239 Yankee Stadiums with “hamsters” who believe in the token’s value. Even though the game experienced a sharp drop in active users recently, the community’s sentiment remains largely optimistic. CoinMarketCap data reveals that 73% of voters are bullish on the token, while 27% have a bearish outlook. This optimism persists despite the game’s active monthly users plummeting from 300 million in August to just 41 million by November 5, a staggering 86% decline. Further data from IntoTheBlock shows that active addresses have also fallen drastically, from over 700,000 on September 27 to just above 20,000 by November 13. READ MORE: Can U.S. Spot Bitcoin ETFs Keep Momentum After Hitting $500 Billion in Trading Volume? Along with the drop in users, the token’s price fell from its peak of $0.01 on September 26 to $0.0022 by November 4. However, the HMSTR token showed signs of recovery, climbing back to $0.004401 on November 14. At Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, experts discussed the challenges of user retention in Web3 games. Sasha Plotvinov, co-creator of Notcoin, emphasized that retaining users requires creating social and emotional connections within the game, offering experiences that are unique and emotionally engaging. This focus on emotional investment is seen as key to keeping players engaged long-term.
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