Moonbirds, one of the best-known pixel-art collections of the 2022 NFT boom, launched its BIRB token on Solana on January 28, 2026. The launch came with Nesting 2.0, a new version of the project's lock-up program, and it moved the Ethereum-born owl brand onto a second blockchain under its owner, Orange Cap Games.
Historical news event: 2026-01-28. Retrospective report prepared November 2026.
The token had been a long time coming. Orange Cap Games first teased BIRB at a "Birbhalla" side event during Token2049 in Singapore in October 2025, when the official account said only that it would arrive "soon(ish)," as Decrypt reported at the time. The studio's CEO, Spencer Gordon-Sand, kept the details close. "Timing is everything," he posted on X in early October 2025, in a message quoted in the same Decrypt report.
A new owner and a new chain
Moonbirds has changed hands twice. Its original creator, PROOF, launched the 10,000 owls in 2022 and later made the art CC0, letting anyone reuse it. Yuga Labs bought PROOF in February 2024, then sold the Moonbirds, Mythics and Oddities brands to Orange Cap Games in May 2025. Orange Cap Games is best known for Vibes, a physical and digital trading card game built on the Pudgy Penguins brand, and its website now says it owns the Moonbirds, Mythics and Oddities IP.
Choosing Solana was a notable step for a collection whose pixel art is stored fully on Ethereum. The pitch for Solana was cheap, fast transactions that suit small, frequent rewards and consumer apps. It followed the path set by Pudgy Penguins' PENGU token, which also launched on Solana even though the NFTs live on Ethereum.
Image: Moonbirds
How Nesting 2.0 works
Nesting isn't new to Moonbirds. Since 2022, holders could "nest" their owls, which locked them from sale and built up status and rewards. Nesting 2.0 ties that habit to BIRB. According to the project overview on Solana Compass, holders of eligible Moonbirds, Mythics or Oddities deposit their NFTs and get a non-transferable soulbound token as a receipt. BIRB is then paid out monthly, on the 28th, over 24 months. Taking an NFT out early gives up the claims that remain.
The official claim site sits at claim.moonbirds.com. The Moonbirds account warned users that it was the "ONLY official claim site," a standard but necessary caution, since fake claim pages are a common way to drain wallets during token launches.
Who gets the tokens
BIRB has a fixed supply of 1 billion tokens with no inflation, according to the project's published tokenomics. The team said 65% goes to the community: 27% for holder rewards, 12% for ecosystem partners, 10% for "value chain" incentives tied to real-world operations, 8% for liquidity and 8% for an innovation reserve. Investors and advisers hold 25% and the team 10%. These are allocation plans, not a measure of what the tokens are worth.
The project describes BIRB as a brand and consumer token rather than a governance token. Its stated uses include holder rewards, small payments, partner activations and future game tie-ins. Moonbirds characters are slated to appear in Orange Cap Games' Vibes card game.
Market reaction
The launch didn't lift the NFTs. Several outlets reported that the Moonbirds floor price fell sharply once the tokenomics were public, with The Defiant headlining a slide of more than 30%. Some collectors had hoped for a larger or faster distribution, while the 24-month schedule rewards people who keep their owls nested for the long run.
From collectibles to characters
The Moonbirds appeal starts with the art: expressive pixel owls with distinctive colors, eyewear, hats and accessories, plus an illustrated version that holders can switch to. It's the kind of character design that can work on a trading card, a toy, a game avatar or a T-shirt without anyone needing to understand smart contracts.
Orange Cap Games' plan is to treat Moonbirds as consumer IP first, with the token as a loyalty and rewards layer. That's a familiar path in 2026, and it's a hard one. Launching a token is a dated event. Building a lasting franchise means games, products and events that people want even when token rewards are small.
BIRB's January launch is best read as an experiment in linking a recognizable NFT brand with a blockchain-based rewards program. The owls can bring people in. Whether they stay depends on what Orange Cap Games builds around them.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Moonbirds BIRB token launch?
BIRB launched on Solana on January 28, 2026, alongside the Nesting 2.0 rewards program.
What is Moonbirds Nesting 2.0?
It's a program where holders lock eligible Moonbirds, Mythics or Oddities NFTs, receive a soulbound receipt token and claim BIRB monthly over 24 months. Removing an NFT early forfeits the remaining claims.
How is the BIRB supply split?
The project said 65% of the 1 billion tokens go to community uses such as holder rewards and liquidity, 25% to investors and advisers and 10% to the team.
Who owns Moonbirds?
Orange Cap Games, led by CEO Spencer Gordon-Sand, bought Moonbirds from Yuga Labs in May 2025. Yuga had acquired the original creator, PROOF, in February 2024.
Why did Moonbirds launch BIRB on Solana?
The project pointed to Solana's low fees and speed for frequent, small consumer transactions, even though the Moonbirds NFTs themselves are on Ethereum.
Sources
- Moonbirds official BIRB claim and nesting site
- Orange Cap Games
- OpenSea Digest, January 30, 2026
- Solana Compass: Moonbirds project overview
- Decrypt: Moonbirds token BIRB to take flight on Solana, October 2, 2025
- The Defiant: Moonbirds debuts BIRB token on Solana
Featured image: Moonbirds
Frequently asked questions
When did the Moonbirds BIRB token launch?
BIRB launched on Solana on January 28, 2026, alongside the Nesting 2.0 rewards program.
What is Moonbirds Nesting 2.0?
It's a program where holders lock eligible Moonbirds, Mythics or Oddities NFTs, receive a soulbound receipt token and claim BIRB monthly over 24 months. Removing an NFT early forfeits the remaining claims.
How is the BIRB supply split?
The project said 65% of the 1 billion tokens go to community uses such as holder rewards and liquidity, 25% to investors and advisers and 10% to the team.
Who owns Moonbirds?
Orange Cap Games, led by CEO Spencer Gordon-Sand, bought Moonbirds from Yuga Labs in May 2025. Yuga had acquired the original creator, PROOF, in February 2024.
Why did Moonbirds launch BIRB on Solana?
The project pointed to Solana's low fees and speed for frequent, small consumer transactions, even though the Moonbirds NFTs themselves are on Ethereum.
Last updated NOV 14, 2026
