Pudgy World went live with 12 towns, plot-based quests, and mini-games in what the team calls "one of the most technically advanced browser-based games ever created." The PENGU token jumped 9% on the news.
A sharp slowdown in buying pushed the NFT market back toward its weakest levels of the year, as weekly and monthly totals fell sharply and overall valuations continued to slip. Related Reading: All-In On XRP: Why This Leading Investor Sold His Entire Bitcoin Stack According to market trackers, trading activity cooled significantly in November and the first week of December, raising fresh questions about demand heading into year end. Sales And Volume Plunge NFT sales fell to $320 million in November, down from close to $630 million in October, CryptoSlam data shows. That level is roughly on par with the $312 million recorded in September 2024. Based on reports, the trend did not improve at the start of December: from Dec. 1–7, collections generated about $62 million in sales — the weakest weekly total recorded so far in 2025. Market participants are being hit by lower turnover and fewer big trades. Market Cap Shrinks Dramatically CoinGecko data shows the sector’s market cap sits at $3.1 billion, which is down 66% from a January high of $9.2 billion. Reports have disclosed a steep month-to-month swing as well: values dropped from $6.6 billion in October to $3.5 billion in November, a fall of 46% in roughly 30 days. There was a brief uptick on Nov. 11 when market cap moved from $3.5 billion to nearly $4 billion during a memecoin-driven surge, but the recovery was short-lived and the market cap later retreated back to $3.1 billion. These moves show that prices are still volatile and driven by bursts of speculative interest. Blue Chips Mostly Lose Ground Top collections were not immune. Based on reports, CryptoPunks fell about 12% over the past month. Bored Ape Yacht Club slid 8.5%, while Pudgy Penguins dropped 10.6% in the same period. Art-focused blue-chip works also fell: Chromie Squiggle lost 5.6%, Fidenza declined 14.6%, Moonbirds went down 17.9% and Mutant Ape Yacht Club slipped 13.4%. The biggest fall among major names came from Hypurr, which dropped 48%. Two Collections Show Gains Not every project followed the downward path. Infinex Patrons posted almost 15% rise in the last 30 days, and Autoglyphs outperformed the top ten with a 21% gain. These outliers were lifted by collector interest, and in some cases by the projects’ small supply or unique on-chain history. Still, such gains remain the exception rather than the rule. Related Reading: Institutions Scoop Up 9,000 Ether, Fueling Bullish Signals Outlook As Year Ends The weak start to December suggests the pullback could continue into the close of the year. Liquidity is thinner now, and short-lived rallies driven by other crypto market events have failed to create lasting momentum. Prices were pushed down across a wide set of collections, and trading volumes have not shown a sustained recovery. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Shiba Inu’s blockchain platform, Shibarium, is reportedly stepping beyond its original role as a Layer 2 (L2) scaling solution. In a recent announcement, the development team revealed that Shibarium is now positioned as the core infrastructure for a decentralized, community-led future, highlighting its broader functionality and long-term vision for the evolving ecosystem. Shibarium Evolves Beyond Layer 2 Solution On August 4, the Shiba Inu team behind Shibarium clarified in an X social media post that the platform is more than just a Layer 2 scaling solution. They described it as a robust infrastructure designed to power a fully decentralized, community-driven ecosystem. This positioning marks a strategic expansion of Shibarium’s role in the broader blockchain space, emphasizing its importance as a foundational layer for both innovation and governance. Related Reading: Shiba Inu Team Unveils New Developer Hub Updates — Here’s The 411 Initially introduced as a Layer 2 built on the Ethereum blockchain to provide scalable and low-cost transactions, Shibarium’s evolution reflects a deliberate shift towards multifunctional utility. The team has outlined the platform’s capacity to support on-chain governance structures, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), and real-world applications. This indicates Shibarium’s readiness to serve as a multi-purpose blockchain ecosystem rather than a single-purpose scaling solution. Another key component highlighted by the Shiba Inu team is Shibarium’s ability to allow developers to build freely on the network while empowering communities to govern their protocols independently. This dual emphasis on infrastructure and self-governance aligns with the core principles of decentralization, giving Shibarium the potential to become a breeding ground for next-generation blockchain applications. Compared to other Layer 2 solutions that primarily focus on throughput and transaction fees, the Shiba Inu team notes that Shibarium integrates the above features within a framework geared toward long-term sustainability and utility. In doing so, the team presents Shibarium as a dynamic platform where resilience and innovation converge to support a decentralized future. WoofSwap Proposes Major Updates For Shibarium WoofSwap, a key community voice within the Shiba Inu ecosystem, released a set of reform proposals on X, aimed at enhancing Shibarium’s scalability, utility, and overall appeal. At the center of the suggestions is a potential revision to the 20 million BONE token allocation, with WoofSwap urging community input to fine-tune the distribution. Related Reading: Shiba Inu Bearish Reversal Setup Says Dump Below $0.000013 Is Coming Alongside tokenomics adjustments, the proposal targets technical improvements such as optimizing cross-chain speed to achieve a near one-minute transaction finality, positioning Shibarium as a faster and more competitive Layer 2 network. Other key technical refinements include streamlining smart contracts to lower Ethereum gas fees and expanding support for trendline cross-chain tokens. Beyond infrastructure, the proposal addresses governance and engagement for Shibarium. Decentralization also remains a priority, with a call to gradually open validator nodes while maintaining strict security standards. WoofSwap also urged influencers to be more cautious with their public roles, highlighting the need for credibility as Shibarium evolves. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko is facing backlash from the crypto community over his comments about meme coins and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Yakovenko made these remarks against these tokens despite his network being home to most of the top meme coins by market capitalization. Crypto Community Reacts To Solana Founder’s Comments The crypto community criticized Anatoly Yakovenko following his X post, in which he described meme coins and NFTs as “digital slop” and ones that have no intrinsic value. The Solana founder added that, like a mobile game loot box, people spend $150 billion a year on mobile gaming, in reference to his ideology about meme coins and NFTs. Related Reading: These Two Bearish Scenarios Put Solana Price At $162 After Fakeout Crypto marketer Anastasiia Bobeshko described the Solana founder’s comments as being funny, considering the traction that memes have brought into the Solana ecosystem. She further noted that the network made $1.6 billion in the first half of 2025 thanks to these meme coins. Another member of the crypto community, Ethereum developer Hanniabu, had earlier echoed a similar sentiment, suggesting that the network would be nothing without meme coins. Null, a member of the BONK community, declared that the Solana network would have never been where it is today without meme coins. Yakavenko replied sarcastically, saying, “Absolutely. Without lootboxes, iOS would have negligible revenues for Apple.” Meanwhile, Crypto community member Art Chick asked the Solana founder if he had a problem with memecoin traders spending $150 billion a year on his chain, but they don’t see it as mobile gaming. Yakovenko responded and alluded to an earlier reply in which he explained that what is important is the need to monitor data, fix problems, use snipers, and work towards sandwich-resistant market implementations. Difference Between Solana and Base Meme Coins It is worth noting that the Solana founder’s comment about meme coins stemmed from when he criticized a comment from Base’s lead developer Jesse Pollak, who suggested that Zora meme coins (which are Base tokens) are more valuable than those from Solana’s Pump.fun. In response, Yakovenko asked Pollak if Zora coins have any claims on future cash flows from creators, something which Pump.fun has. Related Reading: Top Meme Coins Stealing The Spotlight As Bitcoin Price Hits $118,000 ATH Pollak then clarified that each coin’s value depends on their fundamentals, which is why he believes that not all meme coins are the same. However, the Solana founder doesn’t believe meme coins as a whole have any “intrinsic value.” Despite his comment, these meme coins, especially the top ones like Fartcoin, BONK, PENGU, and TRUMP, continue to contribute to a significant amount of the daily trading volume on the network. Notably, the Solana price surged to a new all-time high (ATH) of $294 in January, around the time the TRUMP meme coin first launched. SOL witnessed a significant surge in its demand at the time, with investors requiring the altcoin to purchase the meme coin. At the time of writing, the Solana price is trading at around $183, down over 5% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
Hip Hop legend Snoop Dogg released a nearly 1 million non-fungible token (NFT) collection on Telegram, which sold out in minutes. The launch created massive interest online and raised over $10 million in sales. Related Reading: Bitcoin Back In ‘Retesting Phase’ After Key Level Reclaim – The Calm Before The Storm? Snoop Dogg’s Telegram Drop Raises $12 Million On Wednesday, Snoop Dogg launched digital collectibles on Telegram, igniting an NFT frenzy on the platform. The collection offered unique NFTs inspired by the rapper’s style, including multiple marijuana-themed collectibles, anthropomorphic beagles, and vintage cars. The drop is part of Telegram’s Collectible Gifts, unique works of art on the platform that can be displayed on profiles and have special attributes. As the website explains, the collectibles can be transferred between users or auctioned on NFT marketplaces. Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, revealed that the Snoop Dogg drop sold out in 30 minutes, selling 996,000 NFTs for $12 million, adding that “Blockchain minting and the secondary market go live in 21 days. It’s going to be wild.” Last week, Durov shared that the 4th of July-themed Gifts also sold out within minutes, with over 800,000 collectibles selling in 10 minutes. Amid the collectibles’ launch, the rapper promoted it alongside a new track titled “Gifts” on his official Telegram Channel. He shared the link to the song’s music video and tagged Durov’s Telegram channel, saying, “time to drop it like it’s hot.” In the track, Snoop Dogg shouts out Toncoin (TON), the native token of the TON Blockchain, and Telegram. “Plug in my phone, get dressed, and then I plot my play / Critical existence, digital resistance / Shifted, gifted, and lifted / (…) / Stickers and games on Telegram, guess it’s coming soon / My privacy is not for sale,” some of the lyrics read. Notably, this isn’t the rapper’s first NFT venture, as he entered the space when the sector first gained mainstream popularity in 2021 and dropped collections in 2022 and 2023. NFT Mania Making A Comeback? On X, NFT lead at the TON blockchain, Zenith highlighted the drop’s success, as some of the supply gifts sold out in less than 2 minutes. He explained that Telegram gifts have had a peak market capitalization of over $200 million and a trading volume of $122 million since their launch. According to the post, the first OG collection, the Plush Pepe, now has a floor price of 4,200 TON, worth $11,886. “They are NFT Collectibles that are on the TON Blockchain and inside of Telegram!” he noted. To Zenith, this could be the start of a new NFT narrative, adding that they “would not be surprised if other famous brands or web3 IPs would want to launch some gifts too!” However, they pointed out that it could also mean nothing for the sector. In a recent report, DappRadar shared that Q2 data revealed new narratives are emerging, while old ones are “making a comeback.” The report claims that “NFTs are becoming more affordable, but the interest hasn’t disappeared. On the contrary, it’s shifting in nature,” a trend the platform’s analysts have been observing “for a while.” Related Reading: Solana Ready For $160 Reclaim? Analysts Say Breakout Is A Matter Of Time Notably, NFT trading volume dropped by 45% in Q2, but sales increased by 78%. Meanwhile, the number of traders increased 20% from Q1, with an average of 668,598 monthly traders. “Taken together with the spike in sales, this suggests a slow but steady return of users to the NFT space, although likely for different motivations than in previous cycles,” the report concluded. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
The Shiba Inu price continues to attract the attention of analysts, who are watching for its next potential move. A recent report from Finder, based on the insights of 26 crypto industry experts, reveals a cautiously optimistic outlook for SHIB. Finder, a US-based information service, released a new quarterly report featuring price predictions for Shiba Inu in 2025. The report is based on a comprehensive survey conducted in January 2025, during which 26 crypto industry specialists shared their insights on Shiba Inu’s potential price by the end of 2025 and its projected performance through 2035. Diverging Opinions On SHIB Price In 2025 According to the panel, Shiba Inu is forecasted to reach an average price of $0.0000399 by year’s end, marking an 84.3% increase from its January starting point of about $0.00002165. For its long-term price projection, the panel predicts that the popular meme coin will see a steady rise in the following years, erasing one zero to reach $0.0001971 by 2030 and $0.0008543 by 2035. Related Reading: Bitcoin Analyst Says Shiba Inu Price Is Not Hitting $1 – Here’s Why Gracy Chen, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bitget, a crypto exchange, is among the most bullish voices among the panelists for the Shiba Inu price outlook. Chen cites SHIB’s positive technical indicators and recent support/resistance developments as signs of an ongoing bullish trend. She projects that the Shiba Inu price could hit a new target of $0.00006 by year-end. This represents 445.45%. Increase from the meme coin’s current market value of $0.000011. Similarly, Ruadhan O, founder of Seasonal Tokens, sees SHIB closing 2025 at $0.00005, though he warns of Dogecoin’s enduring dominance in the space. He believes that Dogecoin will most likely take the spotlight away from SHIB, making it unlikely for it to reach a new all-time high this year. Notably, not all panelists share the same bullish optimism for Shiba Inu. John Hawkins, a senior lecturer at the University of Canberra, projects that the price of SHIB will crash significantly, losing half of its value in 2025, falling to as low as $0.00001. His bearish prediction stems from the belief that meme coins could experience a similar decline to that of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). Hawks points to broader macro trends like US President Donald Trump’s political influence and Bitcoin’s dominance as key barriers that would limit meme coins’ growth. Shiba Inu And Dogecoin Rivalry Continues Despite the majority of Finder’s panelists having significantly bullish projections for the Shiba Inu price, 79% of them agree that SHIB will never surpass Dogecoin in market capitalization. Sathvik Vishwanath, the CEO of Unocoin, believes SHIB’s substantial circulating supply currently and speculative nature limit its long-term bullish prospects. This is despite its rapidly evolving ecosystem, which includes innovative projects like ShibaSwap and the upcoming TREAT token. Related Reading: Shiba Inu Burn Update: 99.44% Daily Burn Crash Could Spell Trouble For Meme Coin When asked whether now is the right time to buy, sell, or hold SHIB tokens, the panel was divided: 57% recommended holding, 13% advised buying, and 30% suggested selling. In addition, opinions on Shiba Inu’s current valuation were mixed. 48% of the panel believed that SHIB was overpriced, while 44% stated that it was fairly priced. Ronen Cojocaru, the CEO of 8081 Inc., was among the most bullish panelists. He forecasted that SHIB could hit $0.00000743 by year-end, although he acknowledged that Shiba Inu is currently overpriced. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
The NFT market has failed to reach the dizzying heights of 2022, but maybe it doesn't need to.
Eden Gallery argued that a group of NFT owners “may have buyers’ remorse, but their losses, if any, are due to market forces.”
Blockchain Gaming Association’s fourth annual survey showed growth in the C-suite, but other demographics appear to be slipping.
The new offering will be available across all Crypto.com card tiers with up to 8% rewards on spending.
A newly revitalized OpenSea is coming soon, but details were thin.
The Framework Ventures-backed platform has surpassed $150 million in TVL, despite a wider downtrend in the NFT market.
Crypto advocates urged Americans to help the industry flourish without "misapplied" securities regulations.
Toshiuki Otsuka, who founded a snap-to-earn platform, strongly opposed the narrative and argued that NFTs are "evolving."
Konami Digital Entertainment has teamed up with Avalanche to debut Resella, an intuitive NFT platform simplifying NFT creation, issuance and trading.