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

Pudgy Penguins Toys To Be Sold in 2,000 Walmart Stores

On Tuesday, September 26th, IP brand Pudgy Penguins announced that their physical collectibles would become available in 2,000 Walmart stores across the country. This is a major moment for the brand, as their toys, plushes, and collectibles will now be available for purchase on shelves alongside legacy consumer brands. 

This isn’t Pudgy Penguins’ first foray into traditional retail. In May of this year, ‍Pudgy Penguins' CEO, Luca Netz, revealed on Twitter Spaces that the brand’s Amazon storefront had generated over $500,000 in toy sales through the sale of over 20,000 toys in the days following their debut on Amazon.

"Pudgy Penguins is at the forefront of transforming the toy industry, merging unique digital experiences with blockchain technology, like Ethereum and zkSync. 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. The team spent years developing the Pudgy brand and fostering our community through social media and the blockchain; we're thrilled to expand our reach with the support of Walmart,” said Netz.

Toys from both retailers serve as keys to access Pudgy World, the Pudgy Penguins universe powered by the Layer 2 chain, zkSync Era. Pudgy World is linked to a blockchain wallet, soulbound (or non-transferrable) NFT, and transferrable NFT, accessible through email registration. 

Walmart will reportedly carry 26 different Pudgy Toys including Plush Buddies, Clip-on Plushes, Igloo Collectibles, and Action Figures. Exclusively to Walmart, there will also be Ice Chrome and Gold Chrome collectible figures inside mystery Igloos, and Blind Box with a surprise Clip-On Plush inside.

Polygon and Courtyard Partner to Sell Tokenized NFT Pokemon Card Packs

Last week, Polygon saw the sale of Pokémon NFT card packs surge. Users were able to purchase “mystery boxes” which are virtual packs that could contain an NFT representing any of the advertised Pokémon cards. The sales of these on-chain versions of the PSA-graded physical cards took place on Courtyard.io. 

Courtyard, which according to its website is “Powered by the blockchain and protected by Brink’s,” says it “empowers card collectors to take control of their collection with true digital ownership.” 

The NFT Pokémon card packs were priced at $5.00 USD and users were required to set up a Courtyard account and use Google to connect, which automatically created a custodial wallet.

On September 21, Courtyard allowed users to open their packs and discover what cards were inside. From there, users could export them off-platform and into a self-custody wallet on Polygon.

BAYC x BAPE

Ape, meet ape. In a long-awaited collab, Yuga Labs’ Bored Ape Yacht Club and Japanese streetwear brand, A BATHING APE, have come together to create something new. Little is known about what the collaboration entails but the teaser image posted to BAYC’s X account showed an animated closet with a t-shirt hanging inside depicting an Ape Head logo. 

According to the same post, embedded below, “Apes will have first dibs, but the collection will drop globally in BAPE stores soon,” meaning BAYC holders will get the first shot at purchasing items from the collection, but after that, it would be available for purchase in BAPE’s retail stores.

The collection is set to launch during Ape Fest, the annual Yuga event for BAYC and MAYC folders, which is being held in Hong Kong this year on November 5th.

Web3 Game Studio, Mythical Games, Bringing Blankos Block Party to Mobile

Web3 game studio, Mythical Games, known for its smash-hit game NFL Rivals, will be bringing one of its other popular games, Blankos Block Party, to mobile soon. Mythical Games, which  secured an additional $37 million in funding from investors including ARK Invest, Andreessen Horowitz and Animoca Brands, is known for its Mythical Chain blockchain and gaming ecosystem, and its Mythical Marketplace, which is available in-game on mobile devices. 

Blankos Block Party was originally launched as a PC game. The game is described as a blended web2 and web3 game that enables users to make in-app purchases without the need to own or use crypto. According to the company, web3 technology enhances the experience of playing the game, but the approach is “gamers first” which means those choosing to play don’t need to understand blockchain technology to engage with the game.

Mythical made the announcement on September 20th but has not specified when Blankos will officially be available on mobile.

Transient Labs Introduces T.R.A.C.E.

Transient Labs and Alpha Centauri Kid have partnered to launch T.R.A.C.E.: Tokenized Records for Artwork Certification and Evolution. The new tech, which is a combination of digital and physical authentication tools, is reportedly said to ensure the provenance of artwork is secured via blockchain, setting a new standard for art authentication, documentation, and evolution.

T.R.A.C.E. works by putting tamper-resistant chips with the brand’s Digital Certificates of Authenticity into physical objects. The certificates are tied to contracts from layer 1 and layer 2 blockchains. In addition, Transient Labs’ protocol that allows users to add text to a token, Story Inscription, is used to further solidify provenance. 

The first piece of art to use T.R.A.C.E. is called “The Muse - Sage Green” by Alpha Centauri Kid, which will be auctioned at the famed auction house, Christie’s.

Moonbird ‘Space Helmet’ Holders Invited to Launch at Kennedy Space Center

On November 15th, 50 holders of Moonbirds with the “space helmet” trait will be invited to witness the launch of one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rockets. Why? To witness Moonbirds join art from 222 artists be sent to the moon. The works will be held inside The Lunaprise Museum, which is described as a series of indestructible nano fiche disks made of pure nickel, that can last in the harsh conditions of outer space. 

Moonbirds joins more than 20 other NFT collections, Grammy-winning musical artists, sports collectibles, historic speeches, photography, and more in the Lunaprise Museum.

Art Blocks Marfa Weekend Wraps Up 3rd Annual Event

Art Blocks, the generative art platform that blends classic modern art aesthetics with the power of artificial intelligence, hosted its third annual Art Blocks Marfa Weekend from September 21st to the 24th. The gathering, meant to celebrate the themes of contemporary art, tech, and finance, featured collections like The Field by Beervangeer and Sandaliya by Melissa Wiederrecht.

Art Blocks’ latest exhibition, Collēctīvus, which focused on themes of computation, consciousness, and collective memory, opened Friday and included panel discussions about the work and other projects.

The weekend-long fête held events at Glitch, a digital art gallery founded last year, at Saint George Hall, and at the Crowley Theater.