While most blockchain launches are accompanied by infrastructure and finance applications, the upcoming blockchain Abstract takes a consumer-centric approach, aiming to excite and entertain active Web3 participants with “fun and viral” applications .
The layer 2 Ethereum network is being built by Igloo Inc., the parent company of Pudgy Penguins, which raised $11 million in July to “change the dynamics of how users interact with blockchain technology.”
As excitement builds for Abstract’s planned launch in January 2025, you may be wondering how to prepare to participate from day one. Below, we’ve put together some ideas on how you can be ready.
What can you do on Abstract before launch?
Even though the Abstract mainnet is not scheduled to launch until later in January 2025, forward-looking participants are already preparing to be able to jump in at launch.
Join the waitlist and claim the Early Bird badge
The most official way to interact with Abstract before launch is to join its email waitlist and claim a spot for the eventual “Early Bird” badge.
No benefits for the badge have been announced and details on how to claim it are still to come.
Interact with the abstract testnet
Participation in the Abstract testnet is not incentivized – in other words, transacting on-chain will not result in any direct benefit like a token airdrop. However, you can familiarize yourself with the channel, its user interface and experience by interacting on testnet.
Abstract’s block explorer suggests that over 16 million transactions have been validated to date.
A testnet bridge is open and available for users wishing to transfer funds from Ethereum’s Sepolia testnet to the Abstract testnet.
Take your role in Abstract Discord
Abstract Discord is an essential platform for staying up to date with information about the channel and the projects that will be launched there.
The Discord may also offer exclusive benefits to active users and those who are eligible for high roles within it. For example, users with the “Elite Chad” role were eligible for an allocation from the PENGU airdrop in December and “will receive high chances to participate in post-mainnet incentives for Abstract,” according to a post from a moderator.
Interact with applications that will migrate to Abstract
More than 350 applications are in the works for Abstract, and about 120 projects are expected to be up and running on day one, according to Phin, Abstract’s pseudonymous marketing manager.
Although some new applications will be built natively on Abstract, a handful of projects committed to building the chain are already underway and could migrate from other blockchains.
Getting to know and interact with these projects before the mainnet launch could give users a head start when they eventually find a home on Abstract.
Some examples include games like Duper and Vibes, prediction markets from MYRIAD (Myriad Markets is a product of Decrypt(the parent company of DASTAN), and existing Web3 projects like Imaginary Ones and Dogami.
A more complete list of Abstract Ecosystem additions can be found in the Abstract Ecosystem Updates Discord channel.
How are others preparing for Abstract?
A popular way users prepare for Abstract is to whitelist NFT projects that will launch on the consumer-focused channel.
Lists are already circulating, attempting to rank the most “hot” upcoming NFT projects.
Many of these projects, like Ruyui Studios and Finalbosu, are already distributing or submitting applications to access their next mints.
What are the potential benefits?
Although early posts from the Abstract Ecosystem Twitter account mention a native incentive system, no details have been officially shared by the Abstract team.
Nonetheless, it is highly speculated that there will be a native abstract token used for its unique panoramic governance and additional incentive for building the on-chain economy.
However, it is important to note that engaging in projects or communities in the ecosystem does not guarantee any eventual rewards.
More information about Abstract can be found in our learning guide on the channel.
Edited by Stephen Graves
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