In a surprising and disheartening development, the highly anticipated airdrop from the crypto-mining app Hamster Kombat, which had captured public attention for months, has left thousands of Nigerians deeply frustrated.
For five months, users of the app engaged in relentless tapping, lured by promises of significant rewards. Many had high hopes of cashing in on life-altering payouts, with some dreaming of becoming overnight millionaires.
However, when the coin launched on Thursday, reality set in: instead of the large financial windfalls that had been promised, users received between a mere $1 and $4.
There were also unconfirmed reports that the highest payout ranged between $7 and $17, a far cry from expectations.
Social media has since erupted with complaints, as users shared stories of receiving as little as ₦2.75 for their months of effort.
Many of these disgruntled users have accused Hamster Kombat’s promoters of grossly misleading them.
The initial campaign had painted a picture of immense success, promising to turn ordinary Nigerians into billionaires and CEOs. Yet now, the once optimistic community is filled with disappointment, as many describe the situation as a complete “letdown.”
Hamster Kombat’s Launch: A Bitter Pill to Swallow
Hamster Kombat officially launched in March 2024. On Thursday afternoon, the app’s official X account, #hamster_kombat, announced the long-awaited release of its coin. The message read:
“THE MOMENT IS HERE
$HMSTR trading has officially begun! Congratulations, and to the moon, CEOs.
On-chain is on. On-chain direct claim and balance withdrawal options are open. You can now transfer your tokens anywhere!”
Despite the excitement surrounding the launch, the post—viewed nearly a million times within hours—was met with overwhelming disappointment. Over 13,000 comments flooded in, reflecting the growing discontent of users.
Shortly after, another post stated:
“TAKE YOUR POSITION @binance just opened futures trading for $HMSTR!
Trading with up to 75x leverage is available. Trade smart and follow your own risk policy! Where will the price go now?”
A check by our reporter revealed that Hamster Kombat’s cryptocurrency, listed as HMSTR on CoinMarketCap, ranked at number 114 with a value of $0.008315 as of 3:36 pm on Thursday. The market cap stood at $535.3 million, with a 24-hour trading volume of $448.7 million.
Social Media Uproar
Netizens have not hesitated to voice their displeasure. Geoffrey Nwankpa, using the handle #GeoffreyNwankpa, humorously expressed his frustration, writing:
“You gave me dust after 4 months. I’m hunting hamsters, rats, rabbits, anything that looks like a hamster. It’s hunting season.”
Another user, Ediboi via #hosky2701, sarcastically commented:
“I’m the CEO of dust. We’re all CEOs, yes or no?”
Several other users echoed similar sentiments. For instance, realworldxpp tweeted:
“Bro, this is the worst project ever.”
While Lord Nate with the handle #natedeyforyou wrote:
“I keep refreshing, hoping to see $0.19.”
User Obj, with the handle #iamofficialobj, lamented:
“So basically, I spent 5 solid months farming Hamster Kombat only to be rewarded with this? Really???”
Meanwhile, Ayaj Sunwaves on #AyajSayyad11 offered a poignant note:
“One minute of silence for the people… Who said Hamster will be $1. Thanks for whatever I got.”
In a related disappointment, users of another popular tap-to-earn app, Tapswap, powered by the TON Blockchain, also faced delays, as the allocation of tokens to users was postponed repeatedly, further dampening hopes.
