Pudgy Penguins Unveils Pengu Visa Card with Up to 12% Rewards

12th February 2026- Pudgy Penguins has launched the Pengu Card, a Visa-powered crypto debit card built in partnership with KAST. The card allows users to spend cryptocurrencies and stablecoins directly at more than 150 million merchants worldwide. Users do not need to convert assets to fiat through a centralized exchange before spending.

In addition, the Pengu Card offers up to 12 percent cashback rewards and up to 7 percent yield on deposits, depending on the card tier. The launch marks a clear expansion of Pudgy Penguins from NFTs into everyday financial use cases. It also reflects a broader industry push to integrate Web3 assets with traditional payment infrastructure.

Background and Context

Pudgy Penguins began in 2021 as an 8,888-piece NFT collection on Ethereum. After an initial surge in popularity, the project entered a prolonged downturn known within the community as the “great blizzard.” In 2022, entrepreneur Luca Netz acquired the project for 750 ETH and initiated a strategic turnaround.

Since then, the team has repositioned Pudgy Penguins as a consumer-facing brand. It expanded into physical toys sold through major retailers such as Walmart and Target, launched digital experiences like Pudgy World, and invested in media and licensing initiatives.

In December 2024, the team launched the $PENGU token on Solana via a broad airdrop. The token was positioned as a social and utility asset for the ecosystem. Against this backdrop, the Pengu Card represents another step toward making the brand’s on-chain assets usable in everyday life.

Pengu Visa Card Features

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The Pengu Card functions as a crypto debit card powered by KAST and operates on the Visa network. Users can deposit cash, USDC, USDT, or other supported cryptocurrencies and spend those balances anywhere Visa is accepted, across more than 170 countries and over 18 currencies. 

Virtual cards are issued immediately for online purchases and digital wallet use, while physical cards are scheduled for later release. Alongside payments, users can access global transfers within the KAST platform and earn yield on deposited balances.

The card is offered in three tiers that scale rewards based on access and participation. The Standard tier provides 6 percent cashback and is free for users who join the waitlist and complete KYC verification with KAST. The Premium tier increases cashback to 8 percent and is awarded to top referrers within the ecosystem. 

The highest Luxe tier offers up to 12 percent cashback. Users receive a unique referral code after onboarding, and referral activity feeds into a leaderboard where top participants gain access to higher-tier benefits. 

This launch directly increases the real-world utility of $PENGU and other supported crypto assets by enabling everyday spending without friction. As a result, it may support higher engagement across the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem and strengthen the token’s role beyond speculation. 

Implications for the $PENGU Ecosystem 

From an industry perspective, the Pengu Card follows a familiar model established by platforms such as Crypto.com, Coinbase, and Binance, all of which offer crypto-linked payment cards. However, Pudgy Penguins is one of the first NFT-native brands to pair a global Visa card with such high reward levels.

Overall, the Pengu Card underscores Pudgy Penguins’ evolution from an NFT collection into a broader Web3 consumer brand. It also highlights how crypto-native projects continue to push toward mainstream adoption by blending on-chain assets with established financial infrastructure.