馃惂 Pudgy Penguins Expands to Asia, Fidelity Launches Stablecoin, Vitalik Discusses L2 Scaling

馃惂 Penguins invade Asia

By OpenSea
Feb 9, 2026, 3:16 PM
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Pudgy Penguins Goes East

The popular NFT project is launching events across Asia, marking a significant geographic expansion for the brand.​

Fidelity Enters Stablecoin Market

Traditional finance giant Fidelity has launched its own stablecoin, joining the growing list of institutional players in the digital currency space.​

Vitalik on Layer 2 Solutions

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin shared insights on Layer 2 scaling solutions, addressing ongoing discussions about network efficiency.​

Prediction Markets Meet Real World

Prediction market platforms are distributing groceries in New York City, bridging the gap between crypto applications and everyday consumer needs.​

These developments highlight the continued evolution of web3 infrastructure and mainstream adoption efforts across different sectors.​

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OpenSea Digest: February 5, 2026

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Prediction Markets Launch Free Grocery Initiatives in NYC

Prediction Markets Launch Free Grocery Initiatives in NYC

**Kalshi and Polymarket** have launched competing grocery giveaway campaigns in New York City this week, marking an unusual marketing push by prediction market platforms. **Key developments:** - Both platforms ran free grocery store promotions in NYC - Polymarket donated **$1 million** to Food Bank for NYC - Polymarket plans additional pop-up events later this month The initiatives represent a shift toward community-focused marketing by prediction market platforms, moving beyond traditional digital advertising to physical retail experiences and charitable contributions.

Fidelity Launches Digital Dollar Stablecoin for Retail and Institutional Use

Fidelity Launches Digital Dollar Stablecoin for Retail and Institutional Use

**Fidelity Investments has officially launched its first stablecoin**, the Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD), now available to both retail and institutional investors across its platforms. **Key details:** - Built on Ethereum - Accessible through Fidelity's existing infrastructure - Marks Wall Street giant's entry into the stablecoin market The launch represents a significant move by one of the world's largest asset managers into the digital currency space, bringing stablecoin access to its broad customer base. [Read the announcement](https://x.com/DigitalAssets/status/2019040196214329826)

Vitalik Calls for Sharper L2 Definitions as Ethereum L1 Scales

Vitalik Buterin is pushing for **more precise terminology** when discussing Layer 2 solutions and their relationship to Ethereum's base layer. As Ethereum's L1 continues to improve its own scaling capabilities, he argues the ecosystem needs **clearer frameworks** for evaluating L2s and their specific roles. The discussion comes amid ongoing debates about: - How L2 growth affects L1 security and decentralization - The need for better classification of different L2 approaches - Balancing innovation on L2s with maintaining L1's core strengths This reflects broader questions about Ethereum's multi-layer future and how to preserve decentralization as scaling solutions evolve. [Read Vitalik's thread](https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/2018711006394843585)

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