A new report from Lenta.ru reveals a disagreement between the founder of the popular TON game Hamster Kombat and previous investors. Eduard Gurinovich’s previous venture Arenum raised $10 million through an Initial DEX Offering (IDO) but allegedly did not share the profits, claiming that the funds were used for development and testing.
Investigations now suggest a closer connection between Arenum and Hamster Kombat than previously acknowledged.
Arenum, which focuses on game development, faced financial difficulties in early 2021. The team proposed an IDO, a type of crypto crowdfunding, to raise more funding. AD.RU, a marketing and investment firm, backed the initiative, allowing Arenum to raise $10 million. However, Arenum reportedly did not distribute profits to investors, citing ongoing development costs.
In the spring of 2024, Arenum released Hamster Kombat, which quickly gained popularity on Telegram and was even appreciated by Telegram founder Pavel Durov. Despite the game's success, investors allegedly saw no return. In June 2024, Eduard Gurinovich reportedly distanced himself from Arenum, claiming that Hamster Kombat had no affiliation with the company.
AD.RU CEO Anton Gorshkov denies Gurinovich’s claims. He notes that AD.RU has been involved in the project for over four years, contributing not only financially but also to the development of the game mechanics used in Hamster Kombat. Gorshkov claims that Gurinovich initially assured investors of future returns, but later denied any connection between the two projects.
*This is not investment advice.