Hamster Network Sees Dramatic Decline in Transaction Volume

Initially, Hamster Kombat’s Layer-2 blockchain outperformed Solana in transactions per second but has since faced a significant downturn in activity.

Launched in February 2025, the Hamster Network was designed as a gaming-centric blockchain intended to host decentralized applications (dApps) and games in what is dubbed the "Hamsterverse" gaming ecosystem.

Early reports highlighted that Hamster Kombat’s Layer-2 network achieved an astonishing peak of 34,021 transactions per second (TPS), which is approximately 3.5 times faster than Solana’s network. This high performance fueled excitement about an upcoming accelerator program aimed at empowering developers to create dApps without the burden of exorbitant gas fees.

“34,028 TPS achieved by Hamster Network! That’s 3.5x faster than Solana! Big things are coming!” stated Hamster Kombat, adding that they were set to launch an accelerator program for developers.

However, as of March 13, the Layer-2 solution’s TPS has plummeted to a mere 0.84. The last 24 hours saw a total of just 52,516 transactions—an alarming contrast compared to its peak of nearly 150 million transactions on launch day.

Alongside the plummeting transaction metrics, the engagement in the clicker or tap-to-earn gameplay has also seen a decrease. Initially boasting over 300 million monthly users, Hamster Kombat is now experiencing a dramatic drop in player counts. The game, which had 11.5 million monthly players as of February 26, 2025, has since dwindled to just over 10.3 million, indicating a loss of more than 1.2 million users within two weeks. The daily creation of new accounts has dwindled to a mere 12.

Industry experts believe that the initial success of the Hamster Network was mainly driven by hype surrounding crypto airdrops rather than a genuine interest in the platform's potential. It is typical for play-to-earn (P2E) and tap-to-earn titles to grapple with player retention once the initial rewards fade, and it seems Hamster Kombat is facing similar issues.

The decline in user activity also follows the end of the 'GameDev Heroes Combo' in-game event, which previously incentivized users to participate. Without such encouraging aspects, it remains uncertain if the game can sustain user interest.

Despite these challenges, Hamster Kombat's team maintains that the Layer-2 network is in its infancy and will undergo further stress tests to unlock its full potential. Nonetheless, the drastic decrease in transaction volume and player engagement underscores the unpredictable nature of blockchain gaming projects.

The future of the Hamster Network and whether it can regain its early momentum is still uncertain, as is the question of whether developers and players will see continued value in its platform.

Currently, the price of Hamster Kombat’s native token, HMSTR, is listed at approximately $0.002144, reflecting a nearly 4% drop in the last 24 hours.