KAST and Pudgy Penguins Enter the Payments Arena
KAST, the stablecoin-focused card platform already running a 12-variant Visa lineup, has partnered with Pudgy Penguins to launch the Pengu Card collection. The co-branded cards offer 6%, 8%, and 12% cashback across three tiers, making the Luxe tier the highest flat cashback rate we have tracked on any crypto card.
The cards launch virtual-first, with instant access via Apple Pay and Google Pay at over 150 million Visa merchants in 170+ countries. Physical cards are planned for a later phase.
Why Pudgy Penguins? The NFT Brand That Went Mainstream
Pudgy Penguins is not a typical NFT project. The collection has expanded beyond PFPs into physical retail (plush toys at Walmart and Target), a mobile game (Pudgy World), and the PENGU token on Solana. With over 770,000 token holders and a market cap that has fluctuated in the hundreds of millions, it is one of the most recognized Web3 consumer brands.
The collaboration makes strategic sense for both sides. KAST gets access to Pudgy Penguins' massive community for card distribution. Pudgy Penguins gets a real-world payments product that turns brand loyalty into everyday utility. For cardholders, the question is whether the cashback rates are sustainable or promotional.
Three Tiers, One Clear Value Proposition
| Tier | Cashback | Annual Fee | Card Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pengu Card (Standard) | 6% | $0 | Virtual first |
| Pengu Premium Card | 8% | TBD | Virtual first |
| Pengu Luxe Card | 12% | TBD | Virtual first |
The Standard tier is confirmed free for users who join the waitlist. Premium and Luxe pricing has not been publicly disclosed. All tiers support USDC, USDT, cash, and cryptocurrency deposits, processed through Visa at 150M+ merchants in 18+ local currencies.
The key difference from KAST's existing lineup: the Pengu cards pay guaranteed cashback, not speculative Season 5 points. KAST's original cards earn 2-8% in pre-TGE points (redeemable for KAST tokens at the Token Generation Event targeted for Q2 2026). The Pengu line removes the speculation entirely.
Pengu vs KAST's Existing Cards: Points vs Cashback
This is the critical comparison for existing KAST users deciding between the two product lines:
| Feature | Pengu Standard | KAST K Card | Pengu Luxe | Solana Gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate | 6% cashback | 2% points | 12% cashback | 8% points |
| Rewards type | Guaranteed | Speculative (pre-TGE) | Guaranteed | Speculative (pre-TGE) |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 | TBD | $10,000 |
| $MOVE cashback | TBD | 4% on top | TBD | 4% on top |
The Pengu Standard's 6% guaranteed cashback at $0 is 3x the K Card's 2% speculative points. Unless you are specifically farming for the KAST TGE, the Pengu Card is the objectively better free-tier option.
At the premium end, the Pengu Luxe's 12% cashback is 50% higher than the Solana Gold's 8% points, and it pays in guaranteed returns rather than tokens of uncertain value.
The 12% Rate in Market Context
Few crypto cards offer double-digit cashback. The Bybit Supreme can reach 10% but ties rates to trading volume. Crypto.com's Obsidian maxes at 5% and requires a $400,000 CRO stake. The Pengu Luxe's 12% flat rate, if sustained, would be unprecedented.
The open questions are: what asset is the cashback denominated in (PENGU tokens, fiat, or stablecoin)? Are there monthly caps? And can KAST sustain these rates long-term, or is this a promotional launch window? None of these details have been confirmed on the product page yet.
What This Means for the Crypto Card Market
The KAST-Pudgy Penguins deal signals a broader trend: NFT brands seeking real-world utility through payments. We have seen Coinbase lean into AI agents with agentic wallets, ether.fi build self-custodial spending, and now KAST bringing an NFT community's brand power into a card product.
If the Pengu Card delivers on its cashback promises, it could pull significant volume from competitors. A free card with 6% cashback undercuts nearly every free-tier crypto card on the market. The Premium and Luxe tiers will depend on pricing, but even at KAST's existing price points ($1,000/yr and $10,000/yr), the higher rates would meaningfully improve break-even math.
FAQ
Is the KAST Pengu Card available now? The waitlist is open at kast.xyz/pudgy-penguins. Standard tier is free for waitlist joiners. Top 10 referrers earn a free Premium card.
Do I need a Pudgy Penguins NFT to get the card? No. The card requires a verified KAST account with KYC, not NFT ownership.
Does the Pengu Card work with Season 5 points? This has not been confirmed. The Pengu line uses "cashback" terminology, not "points," suggesting it is a separate rewards system from KAST's Season 5 program.
What is the cashback paid in? Not yet disclosed. It could be PENGU tokens, fiat, stablecoin, or another asset. We will update when confirmed.
Overview
KAST's partnership with Pudgy Penguins adds three cashback-focused cards to an already large 12-variant lineup. The Standard Pengu Card (6%, free) is the strongest free-tier value proposition in the KAST ecosystem and one of the highest we have tracked across any crypto card. The 12% Luxe rate, if sustained, would set a new ceiling for the market. Key unknowns remain: Premium/Luxe pricing, cashback denomination, and long-term sustainability. Users looking for guaranteed returns should consider the Pengu line over KAST's speculative Season 5 points cards.
Recommended Reading
- Crypto.com 2026 Card Overhaul: New Tiers
- Solana Leads Payment Platforms With 750% Growth
- Living on Off-Ramp: The Bankless Guide
