Pudgy Penguins prevail: How the collection outsmarted DeGods and Azuki amid market turmoil
In a turbulent 2023 marked by dramatic price fluctuations in the Non-Fungible Token (NFT) space, Pudgy Penguins has emerged as a beacon of stability and growth. This week, the adorable Arctic avian collection surpassed both Azuki and DeGods in terms of floor price, underlining its resilience amid widespread market chaos.
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Azuki and DeGods fall from grace
Initially seen as the last hope for Profile Picture (PFP) NFTs, Azuki’s Elementals mint turned out to be a double-edged sword. While raking in an impressive $37 million in just 15 minutes from the sale of 10,000 Elementals, the project attracted a wave of criticism.
Many claimed the artwork was lackluster and too similar to the original Azuki NFTs. The immediate aftermath saw Azuki’s floor price tumble by a staggering 57% within a week, hitting a new low of 5.8 ETH. Azuki Beanz and Elementals followed suit, dropping 68% and 78%, respectively.
Unfortunately, DeGods faced a similar fate. Following its migration from Polygon to Ethereum, the project announced its “Season 3” content drop, introducing a “points parlor” game for NFT holders. The idea was to allow users to upgrade their PFP artwork, but the move was met with little enthusiasm. In just two weeks, DeGods saw its floor price plunge from around 8.7 ETH ($15,900) to a measly 4.3 ETH ($7,750).
A different path: Pudgy Penguins’ retail refuge
Where both Azuki and DeGods faltered, Pudgy Penguins soared by taking a radically different approach: pivoting to the traditional retail sector. Rather than diluting its own collection with additional NFTs, Pudgy Penguins leveraged its intellectual property to create a line of toys and clothing.
This unconventional move created a new revenue stream immune to the NFT market’s volatility. Furthermore, it added an extra utility layer to the project, bolstering its value.
The verdict: Strategy over speculation
The contrasting fortunes of these three collections can be summed up in one word: strategy. While Azuki and DeGods tried to capitalize on the craze by adding new NFTs, thereby diluting their collections without any clear utility, Pudgy Penguins innovatively explored avenues outside the struggling NFT space. The reward for such tactical acumen? A steady floor price and the unflinching respect of its community.
Pudgy Penguins’ strategic diversification into the retail sector is a testament to the project’s resilience and a cautionary tale for other NFT projects that may find themselves navigating turbulent waters. In the volatile realm of digital assets, sometimes, the best way to stay afloat is to think outside the blockchain.
