How to Get Started on the Abstract L2

The talk of the block this week is the launch of the Abstract network. The big ideas here:

• It's an Ethereum Layer 2 chain built on ZKsync tech and created by the parent company of the Pudgy Penguins
• It's focused on all things consumer crypto—starting with collectibles, games, social media, etc., and with plans to expand deeper into DeFi, DePin, and beyond
• It's providing unique offerings, like a one-stop discovery hub, the Abstract Global Wallet, Abstract Incentives, Abstract Live, and Panoramic Governance

I've already seen more than a few people asking for a guide on how to get started on this new L2, so let's walk through the basics of diving in below.

Creating an Abstract account

Your portal for interacting with the Abstract app ecosystem will be the Abstract Global Wallet (AGW), a smart wallet that allows for social logins, account recoveries, and more. To begin here:

1. Go to www.abs.xyz
2. Click on the "Login" button
3. Sign in with an email, a Google account, a passkey, or another wallet

At this point, your AGW account will be created, and you'll arrive at your personal wallet hub (abs.xyz/wallet) like so:

Funding your Abstract account

Now you can proceed by funding your account with ETH, Abstract's gas token, using the "Fund" button on the right side of your wallet page.

Clicking here will bring up a series of deposit options, including Coinbase and Moonpay. Selecting the "Bridge" option will bring you to a Jumper bridging interface in case you want to send funds in from another one of your Ethereum wallets.

After your ETH has arrived, you'll see the funds confirmed in your Abstract wallet dashboard, and you'll be ready to start exploring the network.

Claiming your first Abstract badges

Thanks to the Abstract Incentives system, you can earn XP points by 1) interacting with Abstract apps, and 2) achieving certain user milestones that can be claimed via NFTs through weekly badges, flash badges, and secret badges.

To get started here, click on the "Rewards" tab in your Abstract wallet dashboard or head to www.abs.xyz/rewards. Doing so will bring you to a page that looks like this:

This is where you'll be able to track your Abstract XP points, discover new badge challenges, and claim badges you've already achieved. You can also connect your Discord account at this point for an added XP boost.

To lock in your achievements, check the "Badges" tab and click on any available "Claim" icons you see. Right off the bat, you'll be able to easily collect badges for funding your account and connecting your Twitter and Discord accounts.

Two other badges that are easy to knock out are through the "App Voter" and "The Trader" achievements:

• Complete the voting milestone by heading over to the "Discover" tab (abs.xyz/discover) and clicking on the green upvote arrow on one of the highlighted apps
• Complete the trading milestone by going to the "Trade" tab (abs.xyz/trade) and using the UI to swap into one of the available tokens

Keep in mind that you can earn a $PENGU holder XP multiplier by holding at least 88,888 $PENGU on Abstract, so consider this as a swap option if you're interested in boosting your points.

Ultimately, any trade will suffice for the trading achievement, though. Carry out these initial quests, and you'll be able to quickly rack up your first 5 Abstract badges.

Trying your first Abstract apps

The simplest way to find Abstract apps to explore is through the "Discover" tab (abs.xyz/discover) of your wallet portal.

At the top of this page, you'll find curated "Spotlight Apps." These projects currently include:

• Moonshot — A memecoin launcher and trading platform
• Magic Eden — A popular multichain NFT marketplace
• Multiplier — A memecoin betting app
• Vibes TCG — A Pudgy Penguins trading card game
• Duper — A real-time strategy game with wagering and social deception
• Myriad — A predictions marketplace

You can also scroll down on the Discover page to find trending tokens, ongoing livestreams, and a full list of all the projects that are active in the Abstract ecosystem.

If you're not sure where to begin, one of the easiest starting points is collecting an Abstract NFT on Magic Eden. For example, my first collect was from derplets, an interactive, fully onchain project by dailofrog. At the time of writing, the floor price was 0.02 ETH.

If you're feeling adventurous and wanting to try something more advanced, consider Duper—it's a social war game that's like a cross between Catan and Poker, and it brings deception, strategy, and wagering together in a really interesting way.

To dive in, you can exchange some ETH for Chips, which cost $1 each and are used to pay the entrance fee for ranked matches. One game round should take just a little bit over 30 minutes.

Zooming out

Abstract just launched, so in the coming months expect more improvements, more app launches, more streamers, more AI experiments, and beyond.

In time, I think it's certainly possible for Abstract to become a top 10 L2 when it comes to total value secured and activity levels. The network's developers have what it takes to raise their ecosystem up to these heights, and now it's just a matter of continuing to deliver on the vision.

The grand question currently is where the Abstract XP system will go from here. Presumably it's leading up to an airdrop, so keep an eye on your Abstract Rewards page to track new badge opportunities and position yourself in the meantime!