One of the most popular non-fungible token (NFT) collections now has toys available in Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT) stores. The move comes after the collection was acquired in 2022 for 750 Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), or around $2.5 million, and saw its new CEO conduct an impressive comeback story.
What Happened: NFT and IP brand development company Pudgy Penguins now has plushies and collectibles available at about 2,000 Walmart stores.
Each toy comes with an access code to Pudgy World — an open-world digital social experience powered by Layer 2 blockchain zkSync Era. In Pudgy World, users will be able to walk around, play games and customize their character.
Every Pudgy Toy comes with a birth certificate and claimable unique traits via a QR code.
“Pudgy Penguins is at the forefront of transforming the toy industry, merging unique digital experiences with blockchain technology, like Ethereum and zkSync,” Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Netz said. “Walmart’s inclusion of Pudgy Toys in their stores is a testament to the evolution of how consumers engage with brands in the digital era.”
Netz, who took over Pudgy Penguins last year, was a speaker at Benzinga’s 2022 Future of Digital Assets event. Hear Netz at the 2023 Future of Digital Assets, where the Pudgy Penguins CEO will be a keynote speaker.
Netz and Pudgy Penguins shared a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of getting in Walmart stores on Tuesday.
“The team spent years developing the Pudgy brand and fostering our community through social media and the blockchain; ...