The Hamster Kombat airdrop significantly impacted its game ecosystem, particularly user activity. Initially, it drove a massive surge, with over 300 million users by July 2024, fueled by anticipation of the September 26, 2024, HMSTR token drop. However, post-airdrop backlash—due to low rewards (averaging $5-$10), disqualifications (2.3 million banned), and vesting delays—led to a sharp decline. TON network data shows daily active wallets dropped 65% from 1.47 million to 52,951 by October 2024. Disillusionment reduced engagement, highlighting that while airdrops boost short-term activity, trust and reward fairness are critical for sustained ecosystem vitality.

The Hamster Kombat airdrop had a significant impact on user activity, driving a surge initially but leading to a sharp decline due to low rewards and disqualifications. This highlights the importance of trust and fair rewards for sustaining ecosystem vitality.