Bored Ape Yacht Club

Ape mania is spreading across the real and virtual worlds. On crypto platforms, a Bored Ape endows its owner with a powerful sense of identity, self-esteem and status. BAYC owners demonstrate that this brand has become a badge of personal and collective flex, a social avatar in an anonymous system.\

In the NFT system, ownership translates to social capital. BAYC has essentially created a system that confers a hierarchy of powerful users within crypto, setting the elite apart from the rest. This plays out on Twitter, where a Bored Ape avatar is a badge of honor within the community.

BAYC also has an online network of celebrity owners. Thus, ownership establishes a strong connection with other powerful crypto members and confers immediate respect from those on crypto Twitter who do not own an Ape.

In October 2022, Yuga Labs, the BAYC collection creators, assembled a community council made up of seven notable Ape collectors to help grow its Web3 reach. The council was formed to uplift community-driven initiatives and provide Yuga Labs with essential feedback.

Collectively, BAYC owners are identified via the use of the avatar in social media profiles. That’s a powerful group binder, establishing a clear demarcation between those who are in the exclusive community versus the larger crypto Twitter community. Oneness is especially strong in group chats. Ownership comes with exclusive access, binding individuals to the community, which fosters further connections and collaboration.