Why DOGS and NOT Are Loved, CATIZEN and HAMSTER Aren’t

Community support often defines the success or failure of a token. Within the TON ecosystem, a clear divide is emerging between tokens that have gained significant traction and those that have faltered. While tokens like DOGS and NOT are immensely popular, others, such as CATIZEN and HMSTR, face backlash and struggle to gain the same level of acceptance.

Tokens Thriving in the TON Ecosystem

Certain tokens like DOGS and NOT have managed to build thriving communities. Here’s why they stand out.

• DOGS: The Community-Centric Token

  • Free distribution: 81.5% of DOGS tokens were airdropped to Telegram users, building immediate loyalty.
  • Tap-to-earn gameplay: Users earn DOGS through a simple, engaging tap-to-earn system, keeping participation high.
  • Telegram integration: As a token linked to Pavel Durov’s iconic dog doodle, it benefits from organic promotion within the Telegram ecosystem.
  • Social responsibility: Charitable donations to orphanages build goodwill and differentiate DOGS from typical meme coins.
  • Mass adoption: DOGS rapidly gained a large, loyal user base, helping it become one of the most recognized tokens in the ecosystem.

• NOT: A Gaming Powerhouse

  • GameFi success: NOT capitalizes on the play-to-earn model, rewarding players for completing tasks within the Telegram platform.
  • Referral systems: Community growth is driven by referral programs, where players earn rewards for bringing new users.
  • Cross-dApp utility: Seamless integration with other TON-based dApps encourages users to explore and engage beyond gaming.
  • Leaderboard competition: Players can join squads and compete for rewards, adding a layer of engagement and loyalty.
  • Stable growth: The token continues to maintain strong user interest, especially among casual gamers who seek fun, rewarding experiences.

Tokens Struggling to Gain Traction

While DOGS and NOT have gained strong community backing, CATIZEN and Hamster Kombat have faced challenges.

• CATIZEN: Ambitious but Complex

  • Overambitious goals: CATIZEN aims to be a multi-functional platform, combining gaming, TV, and e-commerce—making it less approachable for casual users.
  • Lack of focus: Its broad goals make it harder for users to understand its primary use case, diluting its appeal compared to simpler tokens.
  • High player base, low engagement: Despite 28 million players, the community lacks the enthusiasm seen with more straightforward tokens like DOGS.
  • Utility over fun: CATIZEN’s utility focus puts it at odds with the viral, meme-driven culture of the TON ecosystem.
  • Struggles to stand out: Competing against more user-friendly tokens, CATIZEN lacks the community-driven excitement that meme coins generate.

• Hamster Kombat (HMSTR): Failing the Community

  • Airdrop mismanagement: 57% of users were disqualified from receiving their airdropped tokens, leading to frustration and backlash.
  • Price volatility: HMSTR saw its price drop significantly after listing, from $0.013 to $0.007, eroding community trust.
  • Overhyped launch: Despite a large player base (35 million), the community felt misled by initial promises that didn’t deliver.
  • Trust erosion: Many users have lost confidence in the project, making it difficult for Hamster Kombat to rebuild its reputation.
  • Mishandled expansion: Despite plans to collaborate with other game developers, the project’s initial missteps continue to haunt its growth efforts.

Hamster Kombat is another failure within the TON ecosystem due to the poor handling of the airdrop and the extremely rapid price collapse after listing. Although many players backed it, the project lost its community’s trust due to disqualifying 57% of its players from the token airdrop and failing to meet expectations. Whereas other tokens such as DOGS and NOT build communities and give a layman’s enjoyable and rewarding experience, Hamster Kombat has failed miserably and continues to struggle to settle back on its feet, unfairly casting a shadow for its future growth.