My journey into the world of cryptocurrency began with Telegram Web3-based mining games. It all started when I stumbled upon a bot called Hamster Kombat Tap to Earn. I played the game regularly during my free time. At the time, it was extremely popular because of its simplicity—many people participated, dreaming big about what they could earn.
As the popularity of Hamster Kombat grew, numerous alternative Telegram bots with similar concepts appeared. However, most people ignored these alternatives, recognizing them as scams. Despite this, the excitement around crypto gaming stuck with me.
Photo by Pierre Borthiry - Peiobty on Unsplash
Discovering the Dogs Bot
During this period, a new Telegram bot called Dogs was launched. Unlike Hamster Kombat, it wasn’t a “tap-to-earn” bot. Instead, users earned points through daily check-ins. Although the bot’s Web3 interface wasn’t very appealing, the project caught my attention because I discovered it was linked to Telegram’s official NOT Coin project. Unfortunately, I missed the NOT Coin airdrop, but I decided to engage with the Dogs airdrop every day. I also continued to use Hamster Kombat, even though my expectations for it were low.
What set the Dogs airdrop apart was its faster token allocation and listing process. The original listing date for the DOGS token was August 20, 2024, at 12:00 PM (UTC). Due to overwhelming community participation, it was postponed twice—first to August 23 and then to August 26, which coincidentally is International Dog Day.
August 26 turned out to be a remarkable day for me. Surprisingly, I earned $47 from the Dogs token listing. While it wasn’t a huge amount, it felt significant because it was my first earning in the crypto field. This small success motivated me to dive deeper into the world of cryptocurrency.
Learning the Crypto Basics
After the launch of the DOGS coin, I began researching the crypto market extensively. I turned to YouTubers and Google to learn the basics of spot trading and futures trading. I closely monitored the price movements of the DOGS coin, watching it pump and dump over time.
Initially, I held my earnings of $47 for about two weeks, during which the value grew to $82. However, I didn’t sell at this point because I believed the price would go higher. Unfortunately, the token’s value started to decline, eventually dropping to $41.
Shifting to Bitcoin
At this point, I decided to sell my DOGS tokens and reinvest the $41 into Bitcoin. Bitcoin had a solid reputation, and I knew it was a smart long-term investment. At the time, Bitcoin was valued at $59,000.
This decision turned out to be a wise one. Fast forward to now, as I write this blog, Bitcoin has reached an impressive $100,000, and my $41 investment has grown to $94. If I had continued holding DOGS tokens, my value would still be under $40. This taught me an essential lesson about managing risk and making informed decisions in the crypto market.
A Funny Twist: Hamster Kombat's Small Surprise
Interestingly, while Hamster Kombat ended up fooling many people, I did receive a small allocation of $3 from it. While this amount was negligible, I am still thankful for Hamster Kombat because it introduced me to the world of crypto. On the other hand, the Dogs bot helped me understand how to navigate the field more effectively.
Conclusion
My first steps into cryptocurrency may have started small, but they set the foundation for my growth and learning. From Telegram mining bots to Bitcoin investing, every experience has contributed to my journey. I’m excited to see where this path will take me next in the ever-evolving world of crypto!