The Cultural Revolution of the Encryption World: The Rise of the Fat Penguin

Recently, a unique trend has emerged in the encryption community. Many well-known projects have changed their social media profile pictures to the image of a chubby penguin. This is not just an interesting collaboration, but also reflects an acknowledgment of the long-termism spirit and brand strategy of Pudgy Penguins. This cute chubby penguin is pushing grassroots experiments in encryption towards mainstream culture.

The fat penguin is once again in the spotlight, what is the secret behind the "rebirth" of the small image?

Recently, Pudgy Penguins has sparked an avatar craze in the mainstream encryption circle. Several heavyweight institutions in the industry have successively changed their official avatars to Pudgy Penguins' derivative images. This is not the first time Pudgy Penguins has triggered a "head swap" trend. Similar phenomena also appeared at the end of 2024 and in April 2025.

The collective change of avatars in encryption projects reflects support and recognition for the constructive narrative and long-term culture of Pudgy Penguins. Many founders in the encryption field are themselves holders of Pudgy Penguins NFTs.

Unlike other NFT projects that were once popular but ultimately faded away, the key to Pudgy Penguins' success lies in its clear strategic planning, strong operational capabilities, and narrative-building power. Since the downturn of the NFT market in 2022, Pudgy Penguins has actively pursued IP licensing and commercial implementation, telling a vivid story about brand building, cultural operations, and long-termism.

The vision and rich resources of the project's core operators make the brand management and operational methods of Pudgy Penguins more aligned with traditional market aesthetics. By collaborating with well-known retailers to launch physical toys, partnering with top Hollywood talent agencies and publishers, and developing game products among other diversified strategies, Pudgy Penguins continues to expand its brand influence.

They also created viral spreads through mainstream social media platforms, participated in high-end art auctions, and exhibited in Times Square, New York, significantly increasing brand exposure and public awareness. It is reported that the global audience of Pudgy Penguins has reached 87.4 million, and it is expected to approach or exceed the target of 100 million by the end of the year.

The operational style of Pudgy Penguins, which is similar to traditional enterprises, breaks the stereotype that the NFT and the entire encryption market are solely about speculation, showcasing the true value and extensibility of Web3 brands to the traditional world.

More than ringing the bell: Opening the mainstream market door with the help of financial giants

The brand imagination of Pudgy Penguins is not limited to IP storytelling. A cute penguin that was originally only active in the encryption community has surprisingly appeared on the stage of the traditional financial market. The driving force behind this cross-border breakthrough is the veteran investment management company VanEck.

VanEck not only used the image of a fat penguin in its Ethereum ETF promotional video, but also collaborated with Pudgy Penguins to ring the opening bell on Nasdaq. This marks the first time a Web3 native IP has entered the global capital markets stage, bringing unprecedented brand exposure to Pudgy Penguins and symbolizing its formal recognition by the financial community.

VanEck's support for Pudgy Penguins seems to be a strategy of leveraging publicity. VanEck introduced this event on platforms aimed at traditional investors in a relatively neutral tone, while handling it discreetly on platforms active in the encryption community. The promotional team for Pudgy Penguins heavily promoted the event on relevant platforms, sparking widespread discussion in the encryption community.

Regarding the recent trend of Pudgy Penguins changing avatars, the head of VanEck Web3 explained that people are more focused on culture rather than history. Pudgy Penguins are cute, friendly, and have MEME potential, making them naturally suitable for spreading. They are friendly enough for brands, children, and a broader mainstream audience, while still maintaining the original spirit of Web3. This culture can be shared, imitated, and participated in, and it can inspire public engagement.

More groundbreaking is that Pudgy Penguins is paving the way for the advancement of financial products. A trading platform has already submitted application documents for the Canary PENGU ETF to the U.S. SEC. If it passes the review smoothly, PENGU will become the first U.S. ETF product to directly hold MEME or NFT, gradually becoming a core component of mainstream investment portfolios.

As market sentiment rises, the ecosystem of Pudgy Penguins is also on the rise. Its NFT floor price has reached a new high in nearly half a year, and the price of the token PENGU has also surged, nearing its historical peak.

From the small profile picture to the cultural consumption brand, and then to the financial asset target, the comeback story of Pudgy Penguins not only establishes itself as a diversified visual asset but also marks a phased victory for the culture of encryption elites.