TLDR
- Hamster Kombat banned 2.3 million users for cheating before HMSTR token airdrop
- 6.8 billion HMSTR tokens confiscated from cheaters, half to be burned
- Only 43% of total player base (131 million out of 300 million) qualified for airdrop
- Last-minute rule changes and influencer favoritism sparked community criticism
- Airdrop faced previous delays and controversies, including Binance Launchpool listing issues
Hamster Kombat, a popular crypto gaming platform, has taken drastic measures against cheating as it prepares for its highly anticipated HMSTR token airdrop.
The company announced a ban on 2.3 million users, citing various cheating tactics detected by their anti-cheat system.
The gaming platform, which launched in March 2024, has grown to include 300 million players. However, only 131 million users will now be eligible for the Season 1 airdrop, representing 43% of the total player base.
This significant reduction in eligible participants comes after Hamster Kombat’s crackdown on cheating activities.
Hamster Kombat’s anti-cheat system identified several methods employed by users to gain unfair advantages. These included linking multiple accounts to a single Binance wallet and creating thousands of fake referrals.
The company also monitored player behaviors such as simultaneous logins and repetitive actions at specific screen locations.
As a result of the ban, Hamster Kombat has confiscated 6.8 billion HMSTR tokens from the identified cheaters. The company plans to burn half of these tokens, while the remaining half will be redistributed among rule-abiding players. This action aims to maintain the integrity of the game and protect legitimate players and long-term token holders.
🛡 PROTECTING THE HAMSTER 🛡
👿 We’ve banned over 2.3 million cheaters — enough to fill the entire city of Rome!
🏴☠️ Wondering how we caught them? Well, here’s an example: One person connected over 400 accounts to a single Binance address, while another invited almost 2,000… pic.twitter.com/LaHrn3ow2K
— Hamster Kombat (@hamster_kombat) September 23, 2024
The HMSTR token distribution plan allocates 75 billion of the 100 billion total tokens to community members. The initial airdrop after the conclusion of season one will distribute 60 billion tokens, with the remaining tokens scheduled for release during season two.
Eligible players will have immediate access to 88.75% of their tokens, with the rest vesting over a 10-month period post-listing.
However, the airdrop process has not been without controversy. A last-minute introduction of an anti-cheat rule led to the disqualification of many players who believed they had met all the requirements for the airdrop.
This sudden change in eligibility criteria has caused frustration within the community, with some members feeling betrayed by the unexpected modifications.
Criticism has also emerged from influential figures in the crypto community. Some have accused Hamster Kombat of favoring YouTubers and influencers in the token allocation process, claiming that a large portion of the airdrop has been set aside for referrals from these individuals.
Additionally, concerns have been raised about the implementation of token vesting without prior community notification.
The controversy surrounding the HMSTR airdrop is not new. Earlier issues included a postponement of the airdrop date from July due to operational challenges.
Further complications arose when Binance announced Hamster Kombat as the 58th project on its Launchpool platform, a move that initially generated excitement but quickly became a source of contention within the community.
Hamster Kombat has defended its actions, stating,
“Cheaters don’t belong in our community. They automate their selling through software to get an advantage over regular players. We care about our players and market participants, especially long-term holders, and want to protect them.”
The gaming platform took a snapshot of player activities on September 20 to determine airdrop eligibility, marking the end of the season. Despite the controversies, Hamster Kombat is moving forward with its plans to distribute tokens to eligible players and launch the HMSTR token.
