Welcome to the OpenSea digest. Let’s look back through the biggest NFT and web3 news of the week.

DEAFBEEF brings digital and sculptural work to Art Basel 2026

DEAFBEEF, a generative artist who creates images through computer code, will present "Matter and Signal," a solo project combining digital artworks with hand-forged iron sculptures at Art Basel 2026, bringing together programming and traditional blacksmithing. 

London-based Asprey Studio, which specializes in precious metals and handcraft, is presenting the exhibition at Booth Z3 in Zero 10 from June 16 to 21 in Basel, Switzerland, returning for its third presentation in the fair's digital art section following shows in Miami Beach and Hong Kong. 

The showcase features works that pair onchain generative pieces with physical sculptures, including "Synth Poems" (audiovisual works paired with forged iron), "Chronophotographs" (referencing 19th-century motion photography) and "Hashmarks" (sculptures linked to digital tokens). 

The partnership connects with Asprey Studio's core practice, as the gallery operates an atelier in Kent where silversmiths, goldsmiths, sculptors and digital animators work together.

DEAFBEEF’s fusion of material and immaterial processes is a natural fit for the studio's approach to contemporary art-making.

Pudgy Penguins expands Manchester City football club partnership

Pudgy Penguins is continuing its collaboration with Manchester City to create experiences where digital collectibles and physical activations intersect for soccer fans worldwide. 

According to the X announcement, the partnership builds on a successful first release, with additional details coming soon. 

The collaboration will bring Pudgy Penguins characters and Manchester City's Pengu mascot to fans through both onchain digital items and in-person events.

Fantasy.top shutting down at end of June

Fantasy.top, a social game where users collected digital character cards and earned cryptocurrency, will shut down at the end of June after two years in operation. 

In its announcement, the platform said it has distributed more than $20 million to players, but the volume of card trading could not sustain ongoing costs, a challenge similar to other crypto-based collectible games like TopShot and SoRare. 

The company will end competitions on June 18 and allow players to keep their cards.

MegaETH consolidates Terminal program with Rabbithole platform

Blockchain ecosystem MegaETH is ending its Terminal rewards program early and merging the features into Rabbithole to create one unified platform.

According to the announcement, participants who tested applications throughout the program will receive $USDM tokens based on accumulated points. Users will have one week starting next week to register their digital wallet address for payouts.

Vitalik pushes AI verification to protect cryptocurrency systems

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposed in a blog post this week that using artificial intelligence to verify software code mathematically before it runs on cryptocurrency networks could safeguard against hidden flaws that could expose users to irreversible financial losses. 

Called “formal verification,” the technique would test whether code behaves as intended using mathematical proofs. Buterin argues recent AI advances make it more practical for real-world use. 

As Decrypt noted, Buterin's warning arrives as AI systems grow better at finding bugs in software. For instance, Anthropic's Claude Mythos recently discovered 271 defects in Mozilla Firefox during recent testing.

Still, Buterin cautioned that verification won't solve every security problem, but it might be able to help protect the most critical parts of cryptocurrency networks, including systems built to withstand future quantum computers.

Solana blockchain gets faster and easier to build on with latest updates

Solana released new software versions and approved changes designed to speed up how quickly the network confirms transactions by cutting block confirmation time in half. The updates are intended to make the blockchain more responsive for users. 

Developers building on Solana now have improvements to Quasar, the tool developers use to build Solana apps, implemented to help catch coding mistakes quicker before they cause significant problems. 

The updates also added testing environments where developers can practice to see how their apps will work when they go live. The network is testing a major change called Alpenglow that affects how the network verifies transactions. Network operators are trying it on a test version before it goes live for everyone.

QQL #336 enters OpenSea Flagship Collection

OpenSea has added QQL #336 by generative artist Tyler Hobbs to its Flagship Collection, the company’s archive honoring artists and works that have shaped digital culture and the NFT ecosystem. Curated directly by Hobbs for the Flagship Collection, the piece reflects QQL’s impact on generative art, creative participation, and long-term cultural relevance. OpenSea’s new QQL documentary explores the making and curation of QQL #336, while the broader QQL project continues to invite anyone to experiment with creating their own generative artworks.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or trading advice. References to specific projects, products, services, or tokens do not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation by OpenSea. OpenSea does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented, and readers should independently verify any claims made herein before acting on them. Readers are solely responsible for conducting their own due diligence before making any decisions.