Coinbase broke with its common blue emblem on X, posting a Pudgy Penguins non-fungible token as its profile image alongside the quip “new pfp, who dis.”
Minutes later, PENGU, the native token of the penguin-themed ecosystem, began surging. The token rose greater than 60% within the rally earlier than enduring a correction, however it’s nonetheless up greater than 35% for the week.
The official Pudgy Penguins account mirrored the transfer, sending matching ice-blue avatars gliding throughout feeds and main to speak of a partnership between Coinbase and Igloo Inc., the startup that steers the gathering. Numerous crypto-related corporations, together with VanEck, MoonPay, and AwakenTax, have since modified their profile photos to pudgy penguins.
The stunt has additionally lifted the ground value of Pudgy Penguin NFTs, which was earlier this week round 9 ETH, and shortly jumped to 11.58 ETH based on NFTPriceFloor information. The amount for the challenge’s NFTs grew practically 690% within the final 24 hours.
Coinbase modified its profile image throughout a brief account takeover from pseudonymous Crypto Twitter persona AlexOnChain, who beforehand led the social media account of main cryptocurrency change Binance for 4 years.
After the takeover, Coinbase revealed they’re hiring AlexOnChain as their first full-time “CT Lead.”
“The brand new focus is making comms extra social native – direct, clear, and interesting. That is the trail to constructing a much bigger appreciation for all the pieces they’ve contributed to this area (which is rather a lot), and to assist reconnect with ct,” Alex mentioned in a put up. “It’s a giant job, it received’t be simple, and that’s why I took it.”
PENGU’s value rise additionally comes because the U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee (SEC) acknowledged Canary Capital’s submitting for a spot PENGU ETF.
