Ethereum News Today: Crypto Investors Shift to BullZilla's Yield-Driven Meme Coin as NFTs Lose Luster

The crypto market experienced significant volatility in late 2025, with Pudgy Penguins ($PENGU) and Bonk ($BONK) underperforming while BullZilla ($BZIL), an Ethereum-based meme coin, emerged as a standout for passive income strategies. Pudgy Penguins, a prominent NFT project, saw its floor price slip 7.5% in the week ending October 3, 2025, amid a broader correction in the NFT and play-to-earn gaming sector. Similarly, Bonk, a memecoin linked to the Bonk Doge project, fell 6.3% as market participants shifted focus to projects with stronger yield-generating mechanics. In contrast, BullZilla's presale and staking mechanisms attracted attention, with its tokenomics offering a 70% annual percentage yield (APY) through its "HODL Furnace" program, positioning it as a top contender for 2025's best crypto for passive income .

BullZilla's rapid ascent is driven by a structured presale model that increases the token price every 48 hours or upon reaching $100,000 in funding-whichever occurs first. As of October 3, 2025, the project had raised $710,000, selling 29 billion of its 159.999 billion total supply. The presale's progressive pricing engine, combined with scheduled token burns (known as "Roar Burns") at each funding milestone, has created a scarcity-driven narrative. Investors who purchased tokens in Stage 4 at $0.00010574 faced an imminent 6.3% price jump to $0.00011241, amplifying early buyers' return on investment (ROI) potential to 4,885.25% if held until the projected listing price of $0.00527 . This dynamic pricing model has drawn comparisons to Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Ethereum (ETH), though BullZilla's ROI projections far exceed those of established assets, with a $2,500 investment in Stage 4 potentially yielding $124,600 at listing .

The Pudgy Penguins ecosystem, meanwhile, has pivoted toward play-to-earn mechanics to retain user engagement. Its flagship game, Pudgy Party, launched in August 2025, allows players to mint free NFTs, such as the Tim Talisman, by reaching level 30. The game also integrates referral rewards, with users earning free NFTs for inviting friends. Despite these efforts, the broader NFT market remains bearish, with Pudgy Penguins' floor price dropping to $8,000 from a peak above $10,000 in early 2025. Passive income opportunities within the project include staking $PENGU tokens, which currently offer a 14% average APR, though promotional periods have occasionally spiked yields to 100% .

BullZilla's tokenomics further differentiate it from traditional yield-generating projects. The "HODL Furnace" locks tokens for compounding rewards, while the "Roar-To-Earn" referral system incentivizes community growth by rewarding 10% of referred purchases. Additionally, the project's audit by third-party firms and Ethereum-based infrastructure have bolstered investor confidence. Critics, however, note that meme coins remain high-risk, with BullZilla's success dependent on continued retail participation and execution of its roadmap .

Ethereum, a foundational asset for both BullZilla and Pudgy Penguins, faced mixed signals in October 2025. While institutional investors pulled $796 million from ETH-based ETFs, whale activity showed net inflows of $1.7 billion, pushing the price above $4,115. Analysts remain divided on ETH's trajectory, with some predicting a rebound to $7,500 by year-end and others cautioning against short-term volatility . For investors seeking passive income, Ethereum's staking yields and Layer-2 innovations continue to offer alternatives to high-risk meme coins, though BullZilla's ROI potential has outpaced both ETH and BNB in recent weeks .

The divergence in performance highlights a broader shift in investor priorities. Projects like BullZilla, which combine meme-driven narratives with structured yield mechanisms, are attracting capital away from traditional NFT and DeFi models. Pudgy Penguins, while still a major player in the NFT space, faces challenges in sustaining its value proposition amid a saturated market. As the crypto landscape evolves, the ability to balance speculative appeal with tangible utility will determine which projects emerge as long-term leaders in passive income generation.

Source: [1] BullZilla Official Website (https://www.bullzilla.com/)

[2] CoinCentral (https://coincentral.com/is-ethereum-losing-its-edge-bullzillas-48-hour-surge-crowns-it-as-the-top-new-crypto-presale-to-join-in-2025-as-bch-stalls/)

[3] TheCryptUpdates (https://www.thecryptoupdates.com/ethereum-whales-shift-1-7b-bnb-targets-1200-bullzilla-sparks-heavy-buying-as-the-top-new-presale-in-october-2025/)

[5] BulbApp (https://www.bulbapp.io/p/81c3e8e2-f2a1-4f79-8b7f-bad05f3766e3/pudgy-penguins-2025-the-ultimate-play-to-earn-airdrop-guide)