Iranian government officials and hard-liners have strongly criticized the popularity of the blockchain game Hamster Fighting, arguing that the simple game is a soft power tool exploited by Western countries. Habibollah Sayaria, the deputy chief of staff of the Iranian military, and Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shijianqi, a religious leader, have accused the game of trying to distract Iranians from the upcoming presidential election. Moreover, they view the entire cryptocurrency sector as rife with fraud. Despite Iran's severe economic woes, including Western sanctions and high inflation, blockchain games like Axie Infinity are rapidly emerging in developing countries, providing residents with a considerable source of economic income.