In a strategic partnership with Unstoppable Domains, Pudgy Penguins, originally an NFT collection that has evolved into a Web3 entity, is poised to launch their exclusive .pudgy domain. This initiative allows the purchase of domain names directly from the Unstoppable Domains platform or through a Pudgy Penguins-curated page. The collaboration signifies a transformative move for the brand, entailing the imminent release of a feature which will enable the creation of digital wallets associated with .pudgy domains.
Community Building and Brand Expansion
Since Luca Netz acquired Pudgy Penguins in 2022, the brand’s trajectory has shifted towards community development and leveraging its intellectual property. The unveiling of a $9 million investment in May 2023 marked the start of this reorientation. A line of toys replicating the Pudgy Penguins NFT figures first appeared on Amazon and later on Walmart’s shelves, with the product range now featuring 30 different items.
Game Integration and NFT Value Surge
Each toy includes a QR code that serves as a key to unlock features within the brand’s online gaming world, “Pudgy World,” which is currently in beta and set for a broader release in early 2024. Lorenzo Melendez, the President of Pudgy Penguins, highlighted that the toys and game are merely conduits to enhance the brand’s reach, aiming to make their penguin character universally celebrated. Parallel to these ventures, the base value of Pudgy Penguins NFTs has risen sharply, briefly eclipsing the Bored Apes collection in market price.
The .pudgy domain launch follows a series of partnerships orchestrated by Unstoppable Domains, marking it as their tenth major domain collaboration. These domains, backed by blockchain technology, represent a novel approach to user identity and interaction within the digital asset space.