The Hamster Kombat Layer-2 (L2) blockchain, which briefly outperformed Solana in transactions per second (TPS), has suffered a near-total collapse in activity. Two weeks after its record-setting performance, the network is processing less than one transaction per second, raising concerns about its long-term viability.
Launched in February 2025, the Hamster Network was designed to support decentralized applications (dApps) and gaming within the “Hamsterverse.” Initially, it attracted widespread attention for its rapid transaction speeds and gaming incentives.
On March 4, the blockchain recorded an all-time high of 34,021 TPS—3.5 times higher than Solana’s. “34,028 TPS achieved by Hamster Network! That’s 3.5x faster than Solana! Big things are coming!” the project declared at the time.
However, as of March 13, the network has plummeted to just 0.84 TPS, processing only 52,516 transactions in the past 24 hours. This marks a 99.9% decline from its launch-day peak of nearly 150 million transactions.
Declining Player Base and Adoption
The downturn in blockchain activity has coincided with a sharp decline in Hamster Kombat’s player base. The game, which once boasted over 300 million monthly users, has seen significant user attrition. On February 26, the company reported 11.5 million active players. That number has since dropped to 10.3 million—a loss of over 1.2 million users in just two weeks.
New daily accounts have also stagnated, with only 12 created recently. Previously, Hamster Kombat had been adding thousands of new accounts daily, reflecting the game’s initial popularity.
Airdrop-Driven Hype Fizzles Out
Industry analysts suggest that much of Hamster Network’s early success was fueled by anticipation around crypto airdrops rather than genuine interest in its blockchain capabilities. Play-to-earn and tap-to-earn games often struggle with long-term retention once financial incentives fade, and Hamster Kombat appears to be following this pattern.
The decline comes after the conclusion of the “GameDev Heroes Combo,” an in-game event offering player incentives. Engagement has dwindled without the event’s rewards, raising concerns about the platform’s ability to sustain interest.
Despite the dramatic downturn, Hamster Kombat’s team insists that the L2 network is still in its early stages. They say additional stress tests will be conducted to assess its full capabilities.
Meanwhile, the blockchain’s native token, HMSTR, has also taken a hit. CoinGecko data shows HMSTR trading at $0.002144, marking a nearly 4% decline in the past 24 hours.
Whether Hamster Network can recover its initial momentum and regain user confidence remains uncertain.
