Introduction
According to CoinGecko, Abstract is the 59th largest blockchain by TVL ($28.3M) today. Yet our focus isn’t on the TVL but rather on the implications the blockchain poses for consumers. In the US alone, consumers spent $16.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025. This article outlines Igloo Inc and Cube Labs’ (Abstract creators) broad vision of simplifying blockchain adoption. By targeting everyday consumers who are put off by blockchain complexities, Abstract aims to simplify their transition to crypto-powered apps and services. Let’s dive into the project below.
What is Abstract?
Most NFT’s died in mid-2022, but Pudgy Penguins has managed to thrive, with their plush dolls and other toys in front of millions of people at Walmart stores across the U.S. The toys significantly impacted PP’s brand awareness and revenue while giving onlookers more attachment to the NFTs.
The stats:
Over $13 million in retail sales since launch. Walmart alone accounted for $10 million in toy sales, with a rapid expansion from 2,000 to 3,100 stores.
More than 1 million plushies sold in the U.S. within a year.
Available at major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Amazon, Walgreens, and Five Below, with Walgreens carrying exclusive designs.
Each toy has a QR code that unlocks a free NFT on the zkSync chain. The NFT unlocks a personalized character, “Forever Pudgy Penguin,” to use in Pudgy World, their blockchain-powered online game—no need to hold crypto or own a wallet.
Around 20% of buyers scanned the QR codes to claim their NFT at the time.
What many don’t realize is that the team behind Pudgy Penguins—Igloo Inc.—is also behind Abstract. Pudgy Penguins is arguably the face of crypto, and wants a worldwide franchise like Pokemon, Hello Kitty that people connect to crypto immediately they see it. Apart from the success of the plushies, there are millions of people who don’t know what crypto is, and yet they use Pudgy Penguins GIFs and stickers to communicate with family and friends on social platforms. One of the most impressive things about Pudgy Penguins characters is that they have almost a 100B GIF views on GIF platforms like Giphy, Tenor, etc and are one of the fastest growing IP companies in both America and Asia.
Abstract was built to replicate Pudgy's consumer success at scale. Dubbed the “go-to blockchain for consumer crypto products and applications”, Abstract is designed with low fees and high scalability to handle massive usage and under the hood there is chain abstraction, Zero Knowledge stack and EigenDA. The aim is to simplify wallet management, lower fees, and create a governance model that incentivizes developers and users alike. The ultimate goal: fast-track crypto adoption to the billion mark by optimizing crypto “normie” onboarding. Unlike legacy blockchains, which have prioritized security and decentralization over scalability/usability, Abstract prioritizes consumer experience.
General purpose blockchain focus
The image above depicts a current blockchain fragmentation. While blockchains launch with ambitious goals of being the latest catalyst to crypto adoption, they soon experience fatigue and lose momentum as it takes more than ambition and catchy projects to achieve that.
What it will take for broad based blockchain adoption to occur is proliferation of blockchain-powered applications that serve billions of people in their everyday lives. This adoption will happen in three phases and is based on the average consumer’s spending habits:
Phase 1: Leisure spending: Activities done during free time include gaming, social media, trading, gambling (casinos), betting, collectibles (IRL & digital), etc.
Phase 2: Necessities: Purchases and transactions beyond leisure like SaaS, digital media, digital commerce, and payments.
Phase 3: Essentials: Transactions absolutely essential to an individual’s well-being like online banking, credit & loans, real estate, insurance, data, internet connectivity, identity & voting.
We are currently at a crossroads similar to the early 2000s internet boom. Just like the internet, thousands of dapps, projects, blockchains and infrastructure have emerged, but few have managed to onboard the masses. Abstract aims to be the all-encompassing blockchain – the chain that breaks through to the mainstream.
According to Luca Netz, Pudgy Penguins co-founder: “Blockchains are like cities, and like all cities, demand for them is driven by the attractions and activities they offer. For this reason, I believe that the breakthrough for consumer adoption will come from teams hyper-focusing on curating premier attractions within their city. Once you have an attraction that is driving people into your ecosystem, you can then build the city around that attraction.”
Currently, Abstract mainnet has launched and is live for builders and users to explore. Additionally, users, builders and creators can earn “XP” each week by interacting with the blockchain and its applications.
What Abstract promises
Panoramic Governance
Panoramic governance is a governance mechanism that incentivizes active voters & projects that are most impactful in an ecosystem. PG has two symbiotic systems: one that distributes sequencer fees to participants who actively engage in the network and vote on proposals, and another that enables the same voters to allocate token emissions to protocols. As protocols increase block space usage, sequencer fees are increased. More sequencer fees mean more earnings for active governance participants, who, in turn, allocate more tokens to protocols.
Abstract Global Wallet (AGW)
The Abstract wallet is an ecosystem-specific wallet, i.e., owners can only use it to interact with Abstract projects. Powered by account abstraction, AGW provides a seamless and secure way to onboard users using familiar login methods (email, social accounts, passkeys, etc), after which they can use this account to interact with any Abstract application. No technical expertise is needed to use AGW.
Familiar UI/UX experiences
An example is the AGW mentioned above. AGW eliminates the challenge of figuring out seed phrases and private keys because users can sign in to their wallets as easily as they log in to their online bank accounts. Because the current UX of crypto is complex, Abstract promises to create user flows that match or exceed even the best traditional Web2 experiences.
Community & Culture
One defining characteristic of consumers is that they belong to communities with distinctive cultures. And because they are creatures of habit, they connect to communities & cultures that resonate with them. Abstract is a network entrenched in community & cultural values. The vibes and activities will attract users, and as the community grows, more people will be attracted, and cultural relevance increases.
App Discoverability
Abstract promises better ecosystem project curation and network-wide discoverability. Both developers and users will have a cohesive & intuitive experience across the ecosystem. There’ll also be a suite of projects meant to simplify the complexities of existing blockchain technologies.
Where to start?
Abstract mainnet is live but the token isn’t launched yet. Through the Abstract Portal, there’s an opportunity to earn XP, which will make participants eligible for a potential token drop. Abstract’s thriving ecosystem consists of fun games and social & trading platforms. Below is a list of which ones to check and keep an eye on. Note that most of them can be found in the portal.
NFTs
Since it all started from Pudgy Penguins and its appeal to consumers, it is no surprise that Abstract includes NFTs. According to DappRadar, NFT sales & sales volumes are 4870 and $239k respectively. Notable collections are Canna Sapiens, Gigaverse ROM, Genesis Heroes, etc. Some collections like Canna Sapiens offer holders opportunities to license their NFT IPs for use in content, product lines, and points of sale to earn financial and token-based rewards. The NFTs are available on Magic Eden and Opensea.
Games
There are multiple games on Abstract like Laser Party, Moonsheep Cannon, LOL Land, Onchain Heroes, Duper, Death Fun, Hash Crash, etc. Each of them is simple, fun and financially rewarding. The concept is to read each game’s rules, play to win crypto with ETH, and cash out anytime you choose. Each game has a proof of randomness unique to the game that ensures players win/lose, which you can verify before playing. They can be found in the Discover tab of the Abstract portal.
Social apps
Social platforms like Multiplier.fun, a casino-style SocialFi game, and NFT initiatives such as Canna Sapiens reflect Abstract’s push toward fun-first, consumer-friendly crypto experiences. Other social apps include Duper, a strategy game with a poker-inspired card system and Zoo.fun, a token launchpad that lets users mint and trade new tokens with minimal friction. Together, they form the backbone of Abstract’s social ecosystem—one that prioritizes simplicity, virality, and everyday use over traditional DeFi mechanics.
Trading platforms
Abstract's trading layer is designed to make swaps, liquidity provision, and DEX interactions easier. Beyond that, there's DYLI, a social commerce platform which adds a twist to trading by letting users buy physical products and hold digital rights to them. Items can be traded, resold, or redeemed later—bridging collectibles with onchain liquidity. Meanwhile, there's Moonshot, where users can launch memecoins and trade them P2P.
Conclusion
Abstract isn’t chasing hype, it’s intent on building foundations that’ll usher in massive crypto adoption. By focusing on everyday consumer experiences and simplifying blockchain interactions, it continually positions itself as the chain for the next billion users. If the future of crypto lies in relatable, daily use cases, Abstract might be the location with the most irresistible attractions.
