Pudgy Penguins Ethereum NFTs Pump 83% As Meta, Nansen Execs Join Advisory Board

Pudgy Penguins pumps.

First launched back in June 2021, the Ethereum NFT collection often referred to as “Pudgys” is starting to see some of its long-term efforts pay off. The minimum purchase price, or floor price, for a Pudgy Penguin PFP NFT has risen 83% in the past two weeks and 69% in the past month, according to NFTPriceFloor data.

“We’ve been working hard for the last 6 months and I feel like it’s finally being noticed,” said Luca Netz, head of Pudgy Penguins. Decrypt.

To expand its brand presence, the collection has had plans for physical plush toys and a children’s book for some time. But the results of Netz’s work are beginning to materialize.

“We’re announcing our children’s book partnership this week, as well as an announcement about our partnership with Non-Fungible Films to help bring Pudgys to life,” he said.

Earlier this month, NFT Collection announced the specific Penguin PFPs chosen for its line of “Pudgy Toys” and launched his own marketplace for Pudgy NFTs.

But it won’t just be plush toys — Netz said the upcoming toy lineup will be “diverse.”

On Sunday, the group continued their hot streak by announcing their new nine member advisory board of executives and tech industry heavyweights, including Nansen CEO Alex Svanevik, Saks Fifth Avenue COO RJ Cilley, Hasbro’s head of licensing Jess Richardson, and Jordan Sterling, who works on Meta’s partnerships team.

A day after the advisory board announcement, the rarest penguin in the collection sold on Monday for an eye-watering 400 ETH, which is roughly $630,000.

Yuga Labs and Bored Ape Yacht Club co-founder Greg Solano chimed in on the news with words of support.

“Great value for money!” he wrote on Twitter about the massive sale.

Things haven’t always been peachy for the penguins. Earlier this year, the gathering was on thin ice when some community members denounced former CEO Cole “ColeThereum” Villemain, claiming he failed to keep his promises, bribed a former moderator, and “toughened” his community with the release of a fishing rod. NFTs (Cole has denied the bribery allegations).

When some Pudgy owners called for Cole to leave – and “wrapped up” their penguins to prevent him from receiving further royalties – NFT enthusiast Luca Netz came to the rescue. Netz bought the collection for $2.5 million in April, taking over from Cole, and things seem to have run smoothly ever since.

“Everybody locks up and is parsimonious during the bear market,” Netz said of the past six months since he began leading the gathering.

“For us, this is a perfect moment to grab attention and show people what we do.”