what's azuki?
Azuki is a leading anime-themed NFT project developed by Chiru Labs, featuring a collection of 10,000 unique profile picture (PFP) avatars that emphasize community-driven storytelling and decentralized brand building in the Web3 space. The project's purpose is to create an open anime universe where holders can co-create intellectual property (IP), participate in events, and access exclusive utilities like airdrops and sub-collections such as Beanz and Elementals. Key features include integrations with platforms like OpenSea for trading and minting, the launch of the $ANIME token for ecosystem interactions, and expansions into physical merchandise, including streetwear, collectibles, and a forthcoming trading card game (TCG) with physical products distributed in retail stores like those in Los Angeles. Azuki has also been involved in rewards pools on trading platforms, offering incentives for trading its NFTs alongside major collections. The ecosystem fosters a vibrant community through IRL events, anime content production like Mizuki shorts, and tools for anime creation on platforms like anime.com.
Azuki generated 831 ETH in 3-month trading volume by mid-April 2026.
contract
arbitrum-one
ethereum
Generated 831 ETH in trading volume over the 3-month period from mid-January 2026 to mid-April 2026.
Animechain reached 1.82M+ transactions and 701K+ wallet addresses.
Partnered with CoreTCG to organize the competitive circuit for Azuki TCG.
Anime.com integration with Animechain expected in H2 2026.
Animechain x Phygitals collector passes for gacha spins generated approximately $13.5K in revenue from 300 mints.
Partnered with PSA, CGC, and Verse_Eight (powered by Story Protocol for licensed IP games).
Collaborates with Phygitals to bring tokenized collectibles to Animechain, including cards that have not been on-chain before with new drop mechanics.
Mints Collector passes on OpenSea with 10% discount, payable in $ANIME.
Teased a gacha-style TCG (trading card game) pools/marketplace product.
Included in JRNYcrypto's airdrop eligibility list allocating 69 JRNY tokens per NFT across 32 collections.
Launched "Domain Wars" community event with 82 Azuki runners competing across 4 teams in a 14-day running challenge from Tokyo to Kagoshima (approximately 1,400km), tracked via Strava with a live leaderboard.
Appointed namsan329 as CTO.
Launched RWA platform on Animechain with Phygitals integration.
Set 2 launch is scheduled for Q4 2026.
Second invitational tournament is scheduled for Q1 2027.
Hosts a roundtable discussion event on 2026-03-30 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 7pm CET.
A Spirit Azuki NFT was purchased for 32 ETH on 2026-03-30, marking the buyer's third Spirit acquisition.
Achieved over 1 million website hits on Anime.com.
Launched Gate #0 cards as native mints on Animechain via OpenSea, surpassing 600,000 mints.
Azuki Gate #0 cards have over 140,000 unique owners.
Raised $1,115,140 for TCG Set 1 presale, unlocked all 4 promo cards, and closed.
Holders are included in the BOOA allowlist as part of a recognition of communities that shaped the NFT space.
Generated 912,000 transactions and $239.8M volume from Gate #0 card mints on Animechain in 24 hours, including over 500,000 mints on OpenSea.
DemAzuki joined to lead growth for Animechain.
Released official Azuki TCG trailer and tutorial video.
Recognized as the most popular and furthest along anime NFT project in development, with solid art and community engagement from founder Zagabond inspiring faith and conviction.
Appointed Cornd0w0g, formerly of Pokemon, Head of Print Production for Azuki TCG.
Launched Gates Awakened TCG presale March 19, 2026, for Season 1 2026, generating $500K in Set 1 sales in under 2 hours, selling out Dragon Ascendant tier (8 units) at $35,000 each, committing $100,000 to the season; presale ends March 29, 2026. Launches inaugural TCG tournament season Summer 2026.
Listed on OpenSea with integration live.
Airdropped over $45,000 worth of tokens and NFTs to original minters who held continuously.
Distributed Red Envelope NFTs to all Bobu holders on AnimeChain without requiring claims or mints.
Azuki #3330 sold for 100 ETH on February 17, 2026, becoming the most expensive floor Azuki NFT ever sold.
Raised approximately 10,000 ETH (about $34M at the time) from the original 10k PFP mint in January 2022.
Raised 20,000 ETH ($38M) from the Elementals NFT mint on 2023-06-27, selling 10,000 units at 2 ETH each in a 15-minute presale, with 10,000 airdropped to holders.
Partnered with 424 for a capsule collection collaboration; sale ends 2026-02-21.
Listed among "hot NFTs" in a market overview newsletter alongside Milady on February 10th, 2026.
Collaborates with Milady NFT collection.
Purchased a Gold Azuki NFT by a wallet for 16 ETH ($31,000) on 2026-02-08.
Allocated 50.5% of supply to the community with zero vesting for holders, and imposed a 1-year lockup plus 2-year vesting for team and foundation tokens.
Reached a $1.5B FDV peak at TGE before declining sharply.
Adam Weitsman acquired a Spirit Azuki NFT for 32 ETH ($65,800) during January 6-13, 2026.
Floor price reached 0.79 ETH on January 13, 2026.
Participated in Paris Fashion Week with 424.
Hired an ex-Pokemon company employee for the TCG project.
Collaborating with an LA-based brand on a fashion collection.
Hosts the 15th Garden Gathering community event on January 9, 2026.
Bucket Man (Azuki expansion IP) is featured in a marketing campaign for HSBC, with the character appearing in advertisements and on a 0.68 tael solid gold card product.
Experienced a 15% price increase in one day on January 5, 2026.
A recognizable Azuki NFT sold for 13.5 ETH on January 1, 2026.
Released paid sticker pack on Telegram in 2025.
Azuki Elementals #10058 sold for 190.00 ETH.
Launched TCG app on iOS and Android; partnered with Pvramid Gaming for playmats, selling 3 SKUs in 5 minutes. Schedules $10k invitational regional tournament for January and hosts NYC Local event with app registration.
Launched Alley escape gaming activation on TON & Telegram, reaching almost 200K users, nearly double the 100K+ count from Dec 6.
Floor price trades below mint price, with community calling for the team to use treasury funds to sweep the floor and support price action.
A doopies drop occurs today, with Azuki WL winners able to mint cubes on Magic Eden starting at 12pm ET.
Featured as one of 15 NFT projects in MocaProof Beta's "Theme of the Month" campaign offering $50,000 in $MOCA rewards for credential verification from Dec 8 to Jan 8, 2025.
Azuki is featured in MocaProof Beta's "Theme of the Month" campaign offering $50,000 in $MOCA rewards to users who verify credentials of 15 NFT projects from Dec 8 - Jan 8, 2025. Fwog and Azuki create artistic tributes to each other.
Alley Escape game reaches 100K+ players, and Azuki TCG partners with Dragon Shield.
Azuki #5253 lists on auction at Sotheby's for 1,000 ETH.
Launched Animechain, a layer-3 blockchain using Arbitrum Orbital technology, with ANIME as its native token, on March 18, 2026. Partnered with OpenSea as exclusive marketplace for Panini, with OpenSea live on the network.
Azuki ranks among the top 5 most traded collections on Spaace marketplace this week. (ID: 1994791986285744146)
Alley Escape statistics will be released next week after the game's first few days of operation. (ID: 1994486584964485376)
Launched TCG Season 1, partnered with Anime.com x FaZe Esports, features $100K prize pool.
Alley Escape physical merchandise (fits) launches in real life. (ID: 1993754328553935149)
Reopened NFT licensing program for TCG, Manga, and playable games, including Verse_Eight.
Alley Escape game generates 40 user-generated content videos on YouTube from Telegram players in the last week.
Community manager/Web3 BD team member departs after 2.5 years with Azuki, currently exploring other Web3 positions.
Azuki #5629 sells for 30 ETH ($87,925 USD) in a whale transaction.
TCG activations live, Anime.com features new updates, and Alley Escape game offers a $30k reward pool.
Azuki Collector's profile receives update for holders who scanned the H. Moser & Cie PBT watch.
Developed Azuki Alley Escape game with GAMEE, acquired by a NASDAQ-listed company.
Launched Alley Escape game with holder exclusive perks and TCG mobile app on iOS and Android in 2026.
Community team member steps down from their role after 3 years, transitioning to look for new web3 opportunities.
Announces partnerships with Dragon Shield and Pvramid. Azuki Collectors Profile offers tiered box rewards for Azuki_Escape game players.
Schedules "Back in the Grass EP. 6" with Zagabond on November 20th at 6PM ET, offering $5k+ prize pool with OG Azuki as top prize.
Launches first official TCG set, with presale on 2026-03-19 featuring PSA graded items, and in-store launch in Q2 2026.
AI Garden app developed by @xnobui is accessible to users, featuring activity tracking functionality where participants complete physical activities like running. (ID: 1990914843382014001)
OpenSea purchases 10 Azuki NFTs for their Wave 2 Reward Pool using USDC and ETH accumulated over the last 30 days.
Partners with Gamee to release Azuki_Escape free-to-play game on Telegram next week, with early access currently available and prizes offered to users.
The Trading Card Game opens on its first day of operation.
Announces official partnership with PSA, the leading trading card grading company, to support the Trading Card Game initiative.
Company restructuring at Azuki results in numerous employee layoffs.
Announces collaboration with bythenAI.
The project announces a pivot to "cow cats in a box."
The project initiates licensing from NFT holders for a Trading Card Game (TCG).
Project pivots to "white cats in a box" after initially promoting "follow the white rabbit" messaging, generating community frustration over the perceived bait-and-switch.
Azuki announces company restructure with strategic pivot to focus on AzukiTCG and animecom.
Allegations emerge that multiple prominent paid promoters turned negative on the project and team after payments ceased.
Azuki registers on Story Network to bridge mainstream IP with on-chain revenue infrastructure.
Pre-registration for Azuki Escape Telegram game opens November 13th with rewards for early registrants. The free-to-play game partners with GAMEE, an Animoca Brands studio backed by Binance Labs with 100M+ players and 10B+ gameplays served.
Azuki flips MAYC in market rankings. The collaboration with Wale ends after almost 4 years.
Floor price falls below original mint price and reports emerge of major employee layoffs coinciding with the announcement of an expanded roadmap that includes manga and anime series following the TCG launch. Ecosystem collections (Potatoz, Captainz, Beanz, Elementals) converge in price with minimal gaps between them.
Azuki is listed among hot NFTs in today's market activity.
Azuki hosts Roundtable discussion about Alley Escape game today.
NFT floor price approaches 1 ETH.
Founder Zagabond conducts public Q&A on Twitter timeline and actively responds to criticism following the financial announcement, marking a shift from Discord-based communication to direct public engagement.
Archer character lore for the TCG has been officially confirmed.
TCG is being developed fully in-house with veteran TCG pro Jon and character designer Steamboy on the team, while manga development is planned alongside the anime roadmap.
Azuki Anthology consists of short episodes rather than a full anime series, while competitor BAYC announces development of an actual anime series.
Azuki TCG community develops a game simulator with beta test sign-ups now available through the community discord.