Good evening (because it's always evening somewhere!). You're reading "To The Moon," the only newsletter watching penguins fly. So, let's hold our toys close and dive into what's happening in the NFT space this past weekend.

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• NFT ‘Grails’ Sell for Almost $2.5 Million!

• 20,000 Pudgy Penguins Take Flight!

• Half Moons 🌗 - Daily tidbits

• NFTevening's Shooting Star 🌠 - Our artist of the day

• Dark Side of The Meme 🌚 - your daily dose of NFT laughter

To the Moon index

NFT ‘Grails’ Sell for Almost $2.5 Million!

2022 was the year of bankruptcy, with huge institutions like FTX and Three Arrow’s Capital (3AC) going under (not to mention our own NFT portfolios). Now, liquidators of 3AC are trying to claw back some funds.

So, Sotheby's, the prestigious auction house, recently held a rather lucrative auction of rare Grail NFTs from the bankrupt crypto hedge fund. And guess what? They made a whopping $2,482,850! 

Still, with an estimated $3.5 billion owed, this is just a drop in the ocean.

These Grails NFTs were no ordinary pieces. Sotheby's described them as "some of the most significant digital artworks ever assembled." I mean, who needs a Mona Lisa when you can have a Tyler Hobbs' Fidenza #725 or a Dmitri Cherniak's Ringers #375? Oh, and let's not forget the highly coveted Larva Labs' Autoglyph #187 and CryptoPunk #1326.

Sotheby's hand-picked seven of these generative art pieces for the auction, carefully selecting the crème de la crème. But don't worry, there's more to come! They still have other 3AC artworks waiting in the wings for future chapters.

Now, let's talk about the big bucks. The highest-priced NFTs in this auction were Fidenza #725 and Autoglyph #187. Fidenza #725 was expected to fetch somewhere between $120,000 and $180,000, but surprise, surprise, it ended up selling for a jaw-dropping $1,016,000! Autoglyph #187 wasn't far behind, selling for a cool $571,500. These prices would make even Scrooge McDuck blush.

The auction not only made a boatload of cash but also managed to show the world the growing prominence and value of digital art.

Read the full story here

20,000 Pudgy Penguins Take Flight!

Hold onto your flippers, folks! Amazon just experienced a frenzy unlike anything we've seen before. Those adorable Pudgy Penguin Toys took the world by storm, and within hours, over 20,000 of these cuties flew off the shelves.

These delightful plushie and figurine toys captured the hearts of fans everywhere, and the sales reached an astonishing $500,000 in just 48 hours.

Also, the Pudgy Penguins team introduced Pudgy World, an online portal that takes this penguin obsession to a whole new level. The video showed a child playing with NFT-inspired toys in her bedroom, similar to the Toy Story franchise. So, this offers non-Web3 native consumers a gateway to the world of blockchain. They can create their own blockchain wallet, discover soulbound and tradable NFTs, and connect with fellow penguin enthusiasts from around the globe. It's a penguin party like no other!

And let's not forget the special birth certificate that comes with each Pudgy Penguins toy. It's not just a toy, it's a ticket to unlocking a world of possibilities. Inside each box, you'll find a collection of exciting traits that you can trade, sell, or use to enhance your Forever Pudgy Penguin. You can even turn it into a dynamic NFT on the blockchain and customize it to your heart's content.

The Pudgy Penguins team has done an incredible job bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds. They've created a vibrant and connected experience that goes beyond just owning a toy. It's a lifestyle, a community, and a whole lot of penguin fun.

So, hats off to the Pudgy Penguins team for their strategic approach and remarkable success. Luca Schnetzler, the CEO, must be doing a happy penguin dance right about now. Selling $500,000 worth of Pudgy Penguin toys and delighting over 20,000 customers is no small feat.

These penguins have conquered the world, one fluffy waddle at a time!

Read the full story here

🚀Making Degen Moves in 2023

This year, we have seen the rise of Bitcoin NFTs, xNFTs, AI NFTs and more. The landscape is changing, and it can be difficult to keep up with the growing NFT space. Fear not - we have got you covered! Check out our guide to top NFT picks for 2023, from PFPs, to Art NFTs, Gaming and beyond.

Head to the end of this email and refer a friend to receive your free guide to NFTs in 2023. Let’s build that generational wealth!

Half Moons 🌓

• Gala Games Answers Community's Requests: Burns 21 Billion GALA Tokens for Long-Term Security [NFTEvening]

• What is ERC721-C and Why Should You Care? [NFTEvening]

• Deadfellaz Latest NFT IP Offering Goes Live: Streamingfellaz [NFTEvening]

• Web3 Leader Forj Launches Ape Accelerator for BAYC Community [NFTEvening]

Shooting Star 🌠

Adriana

British-Polish fashion NFT artist, Adriana Krawcewicz has worked in visual and musical mediums focusing on female empowerment through her artwork.

Featured Art: Metaverse Peacocks of 2007

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Dark Side of the Meme 🌚

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