PENGU is the community token of Pudgy Penguins, the brand that started as 8,888 hand-drawn penguin NFTs on Ethereum in July 2021. The token went live on Solana on 17 December 2024, with 25.9% of its supply set aside for an airdrop to the Pudgy Penguins community.

So, what can you actually do with PENGU in 2026? At Polkastarter, you can put your PENGU toward something tangible, from authenticated trading cards and sealed products to video games. New users can also claim a free mystery pack.

CoinBooking allows PENGU holders to book hotels and flights, with prices up to 30% lower than Booking.com. New users can also get $25 off their first booking.

Here are six ways to use PENGU in 2026.

Key Takeaways

• PENGU can be used to purchase verified trading cards, sealed products, and video games through Polkastarter. New users can also receive a free mystery pack after signing up.
• Through CoinBooking, PENGU holders can book flights and accommodation at prices up to 30% cheaper than Booking.com, and first-time users can claim $25 off their first booking.
• PENGU is the community token of the Pudgy Penguins brand, not a gas or governance token. It reached NFT holders and other communities through a December 2024 airdrop on Solana.
• Mastercard-linked crypto debit cards can let you spend PENGU at millions of merchants worldwide, wherever the card and asset are supported.
• PENGU can also be used to buy gift cards, prepaid products and mobile top-ups from more than 5,000 brands across 185+ countries on Coinsbee.

What Is Pudgy Penguins (PENGU)?

Pudgy Penguins is a consumer brand built around 8,888 hand-drawn penguin NFTs that launched on Ethereum in July 2021. It has since expanded into toys sold at Walmart and Target, a mobile game and licensing deals.

Entrepreneur Luca Netz acquired the brand in 2022. He is now CEO of Igloo Inc., the parent company that also built Abstract, a consumer-focused Ethereum Layer-2 network.

PENGU is the brand's community token. It went live on Solana on 17 December 2024 through an airdrop to NFT holders and other Web3 communities, and it trades on Binance, Coinbase and Upbit. The maximum supply is about 89 billion PENGU, with around 63 billion in circulation.

How Does Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) Work?

Pudgy Penguins works as a consumer brand with a crypto layer underneath. The NFTs on Ethereum are the original membership, while Igloo Inc. turns the penguin characters into toys, games and content aimed at people outside crypto.

PENGU sits on top of that as an SPL token on Solana, so transfers settle on the Solana network and fees are paid in SOL. It has no staking, gas or governance role.

Instead, PENGU works as the brand's community and meme token. It gives fans a lower-cost way into Pudgy Penguins than buying one of the 8,888 NFTs.

What I like about Pudgy Penguins is that it doesn't stop at NFTs. The penguins turn up in toys, games and content for people who've never touched crypto. If you hold PENGU, you've got a cheaper way into the brand than an NFT, and you'll just pay your transfer fees in SOL.

1. Buy Physical Collectibles With PENGU on Polkastarter

Polkastarter lets PENGU holders purchase authenticated physical collectibles, such as trading cards, sealed products, and video games. Ownership is recorded on-chain, while the physical items stay in professional storage.

Depending on the item, holders can request delivery or relist it on the marketplace. PENGU is not currently supported directly at checkout, so holders must first convert it into a supported cryptocurrency.

Once funded, holders can browse the available collectibles and Lootboxes, with the contents, value, and odds displayed before purchase. New users can also claim a free mystery pack once they sign up.

Check the Polkastarter marketplace for current stock and accepted payment methods.

This makes sense if you'd like something real to show for your PENGU. Polkastarter lets you put it toward authenticated trading cards, sealed products and video games, with ownership kept on-chain. And if you change your mind down the line, you can simply list the item back on the marketplace.

2. Book Hotels and Flights With PENGU on CoinBooking

Looking to spend PENGU on something outside the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem? You can book your next trip through CoinBooking at prices up to 30% cheaper than Booking.com. As a leading Dubai-licensed travel broker, CoinBooking gives PENGU holders access to more than 2 million hotels and flights across 190+ countries, and it accepts PENGU alongside 200+ other cryptocurrencies.

You can pay directly with PENGU without converting it into fiat first. CoinBooking also accepts Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

New users can also get $25 off their first booking after signing up.

What stands out to me about CoinBooking is the price. You can book a hotel or a flight for up to 30% less than on Booking.com and pay with your PENGU straight away. If you travel even a couple of times a year, that's money you get to keep.

3. Use PENGU Across the Pudgy Penguins Ecosystem

PENGU has its most direct role inside the Pudgy Penguins community. Many holders received it in the December 2024 airdrop, which covered holders of Pudgy Penguins, Lil Pudgys, Rogs and Pudgy Presents as well as long-standing Ethereum and Solana wallets.

The ecosystem around the token keeps growing. Pudgy Party, a free mobile game built with Mythical Games, launched on iOS and Android on 29 August 2025 and quickly climbed to the top of Apple's App Store charts. PENGU wasn't part of the game at launch, though the two companies said they were exploring ways to add tokens.

Abstract, Igloo Inc.'s Ethereum Layer-2, went live on mainnet in January 2025, with bonus XP for Pudgy Penguin and Lil Pudgy holders. In 2025, the SEC also acknowledged a filing by Canary Capital for a PENGU exchange-traded fund.

This makes sense, because PENGU is the simplest way to be part of the Pudgy Penguins community without owning an NFT. If you already play Pudgy Party or use Abstract, it's the token that ties you to the brand. And if you're not into the penguins at all, there's less reason to hold a lot of it.

4. Spend PENGU With a Crypto Card

PENGU holders can also spend the token through crypto payment cards. Depending on the provider, the cards can be used for online and in-store purchases, as well as payments through Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The options vary by region. RedotPay is available in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, but not to US residents. KAST offers both virtual and physical cards built on Solana, while Ether.fi combines self-custody with cashback on eligible purchases.

To get started, pick a provider that supports your location, fund the account with PENGU, and order your card. Check each provider's fees, features, and availability before signing up.

A crypto card is a good fit if you want to spend PENGU without overthinking it. You pay online or in a shop the way you usually do, and Ether.fi even hands you cashback on eligible purchases. It's worth comparing the fees first, because they vary from one provider to the next.

5. Buy Gift Cards and Everyday Products With PENGU on Coinsbee

Coinsbee provides another option for using PENGU for everyday purchases. It supports more than 200 cryptocurrencies and stocks gift cards, prepaid products and mobile top-ups from over 5,000 brands across 185+ countries.

Categories range from shopping and groceries to gaming, travel, food delivery and entertainment. Once you find a product, choose the denomination, select PENGU as your payment method and complete the purchase. After the payment is confirmed, Coinsbee sends the digital code through its delivery system.

Availability can vary by country, so check the Coinsbee catalogue before making a purchase.

What I like about Coinsbee is that it makes PENGU handy on an ordinary day. If you need to top up your phone or want a gift card for shopping or entertainment, you can pay with crypto and receive the code once it's confirmed. Just check what's available in your country before you buy.

6. Access Early-Stage Token Sales Through CoinTerminal

PENGU can also be converted into supported assets to take part in selected token sales through CoinTerminal. The platform provides access to early-stage projects before their tokens become available on exchanges, with contributions starting from $100 and no staking requirement.

PENGU is not accepted directly, so you will need to convert it into the asset each sale requires, usually USDT. CoinTerminal also lets participants request refunds during the refund window set for each launch.

Visit CoinTerminal for the currently available launches and review the conditions before contributing.

CoinTerminal is a good fit if you enjoy spotting projects before everyone else. You can join a sale from $100, there's no staking requirement, and each launch has a refund window, so you're not locked in from day one. You'll just have to convert your PENGU into USDT first.

Sources

• Pudgy Penguins on X, @pudgypenguins official announcements, claim details and roadmap updates
• Binance Academy, What Is Polkastarter (POLS)?
• Revolut, Polkastarter (POLS) Price Today
• CoinMarketCap, Polkastarter trade volume and market listings
• CoinMarketCap, Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) price, market cap and live token data

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) used for?

PENGU is the community token of the Pudgy Penguins brand. It reached NFT holders and other Web3 communities through a December 2024 airdrop on Solana and gives fans a lower-cost way into a brand that spans NFTs, toys, the Pudgy Party game and the Abstract network. It has no staking or governance role.

2. Can I book hotels and flights with PENGU?

Yes. Through CoinBooking, a Dubai-licensed crypto travel platform, you can book from more than 2 million hotels and flights in 190+ countries at prices up to 30% lower than Booking.com. You can pay directly with PENGU or use Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay and Apple Pay, and new users get $25 off their first booking.

3. Who owns Pudgy Penguins?

Pudgy Penguins belongs to Igloo Inc., the company led by CEO Luca Netz. He acquired the brand in 2022, a year after the 8,888 NFTs launched on Ethereum. Igloo Inc. has since built the Abstract network, and the Pudgy Penguins team launched the PENGU token on Solana in December 2024.

4. Why are Pudgy Penguins so popular?

The playful penguin art and an active community made the NFTs stand out, and the brand has reached far beyond crypto. Before the token launched, Pudgy Penguins had passed 50 billion social media views and put toys in Walmart and Target, and its Pudgy Party mobile game topped Apple's App Store charts in 2025.

5. Is Pudgy Penguins coin a good investment?

No one can reliably predict token prices, and this is not investment advice. PENGU is the community token of the Pudgy Penguins brand, with no staking or governance role, and it trades about 84% below its December 2024 all-time high of $0.0574. Whether that fits your goals and risk appetite is a judgement only you can make.