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Batsoupyum is one of the most prolific and respected NFT and digital art collectors there is. Prior to discovering NFTs, he’d invested in Bitcoin and participated in various venture and liquid token funds.
But crypto was more of a side interest than a full time job. That changed in late 2020 when he tried to place a bet on the Biden vs. Trump election on Polymarket. Whilst stirring the pot on the site, he ended up getting connected to Polymarket’s CEO, Shayne Coplan.
“I went on that website and I started kind of rabble-rousing and saying stupid things, but I also would send helpful tips,” says batsoupyum.
“Shayne hopped into my DMs and we started chatting, and he mentioned at one point that he was buying digital art on SuperRare. I was like, boy, this is really stupid. I mean, I couldn’t say enough bad things about what an idiotic idea that was. At the same time, I was kind of intrigued, kind of like watching a slow moving train wreck.”
Despite ridiculing the whole concept, it still sparked his curiosity.
“Credit to Shayne, I was merciless against him and told him what an idiot he was but he was the one that actually got me interested enough to go and research. Timing wise, this was after the election in 2020 so around November and December. I spent a number of weeks just kind of looking at it and studying this whole space. I was convinced that there was something to it.”
Beeple’s $69 million sale
Beeple’s historic $69 million sale of ‘Everydays: The First 5000 Days’ that sent shockwaves through the art and crypto worlds, and garnered worldwide attention in March 2021 was another key catalyst for batsoupyum to fortify his thinking and go all in on NFTs.
The public nature of the auction, along with multiple competitive bidders willing to spend such high sums, triggered his belief that NFTs had to be more than just a passing fad.
“I can’t remember exactly the date but right around that time of the Beeple $69 million ‘Everyday’ sale happened. I thought, well there were multiple bidders there, and I’m sort of a student of capital markets. My thought after that was, if there’s multiple bidders for an NFT in a very public auction for that amount of money, there’s really something here,” says batsoupyum.
“I was already interested before that but with those two things together — being Beeple and observing capital markets, that kind of clinched it for me. I thought wow, there’s really something interesting going on here and I need to start paying serious attention.”
He’s since become one of the most renowned collectors.
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Batsoupum’s collection and 6529 ecosystem role
Possessing one of the more desirable collections in NFTs and digital art, batsoupyum is highly respected by a huge number of artists and collectors alike.
Some notable NFTs within his collection include 8 x CryptoPunks, 1 x Autoglyph, 2 x Twin Flames by Justin Aversano, 1 x Gazer by Matt Kane, 4 x Drifter Shoots, and multiple pieces of artists such as Beeple, Alotta Money, Claire Silver, Hackatao, Coldie and XCOPY.
OpenSea’s new collector interface estimates one of his primary wallets, batsoupyumvault.eth wallet at 455 ETH ($1.2mil) but this is a very conservative number with its estimate valued on top collection offers only.
“I’ve just got this really unhealthy addiction to NFTs and I’ve got way too much stuff but I love it.”
His addiction to NFTs landed him a role on team6529, the creation of arguably NFT’s biggest advocate, Punk6529. 6529 and his team are also the founders of The Memes by 6529 collection, something batsoupyum loves being a part of.
He recalls a meeting with 6529 in New York in 2021 as the encounter that kicked everything off.
“It came about at a bar in SoHo in late 2021. We were there for NFT NYC, one of the first big NFT events. Not coincidentally, it was probably close to the peak.”
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“The reason why it was such a good fit is that we are both, along with everybody in the organization too, mission aligned. My background is that I did well in a career prior to this in financial services, and I’m definitely at a point in my life where I am not really wanting to go off and become a mercenary for someone. Making a bunch of money is not high on my priority list anymore, it was at one time.”
“What is high on my priority list is trying to give back with whatever life I have left. Part of that, and part of the reason why I’m so interested in NFTs in general is that you are able to connect and enable creators. The Memes collection is a big project of ours and we’ve been able to help artists in doing so.”
The biggest blunder the art world has ever seen
In September 2023, batsoupyum tweeted a passionate plea to the traditional art world that not all NFTs are the same. “Lumping digital art in with PFPs and calling them all ‘NFTs’ so people can quickly/easily dismiss an entire package and lazily move on will go down as one of the biggest blunders the art world has seen in our generation,” he posted.
While many in the traditional art world acknowledge that NFTs contain artistic value, they see them as separate from their own high stakes market, where single pieces sell for in the tens of millions.
“I think most of the traditional art world has lumped us into a bucket that is not part of traditional art. They think we’re idiots, or they think we’re speculators, or it’s too difficult to set up a wallet or whatever. Whatever it may be, they don’t want to take the time to deal with this space,” says batsoupyum.
Nearly 18 months removed from his tweet that still stays pinned to his X profile, batsoupyum is doubling down on his stance that dismissing NFTs is going to be an all-time blunder by the art world.
“I think that’s going to end up being a huge mistake. I think what’s going on is that all they’re seeing is Bored Apes, bunnies, kittens, punks and crazy shit like that. But that’s the part that’s visible. The part that’s not visible, that’s less visible, I should say, is what’s underneath, which is there’s an art movement going on under the surface.”
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Rapid Fire Q&A with NFT Collector, batsoupyum
Your top favorite digital artists right now?
“She has done a brilliant job of taking on poetry and basically putting it onchain in a way that I’ve never seen before or would have never even thought of. I think she’s just absolutely phenomenal, the way she’s thinking about the space and what she’s doing. I think her work is spectacular.”
“Claire is very high on the list. I think her work in the AI space is just fascinating, Both artistically and narratively. What she’s saying, the statements that she’s saying. She just puts up with so much hate. I can’t imagine dealing with some of the bullshit that she deals with on a daily basis.”
“Matt Kane is a genius. What he’s created in the past and the way he thinks about work going forward. Every time I read his timeline, it just wows me.”
“Osinachi is a Nigerian artist. I don’t know if he still does this, but a lot, if not all of his art has been created in Microsoft Word. Talk about someone who is using a medium that I don’t know any other artists who uses Microsoft Word. I mean, I don’t necessarily go around asking either, but that’s just amazing what he’s been able to do. It’s just brilliant with the statements and art that he can make.”
“I’ve always liked Drifter Shoots, he’s created the Where My Vans Go series as a photographer. His story is incredible. His art is incredible. I don’t know if you know his background, but he had PTSD and he has spent time in prison. He was a decorated veteran out of the Afghanistan war. The guy is just fascinating. The whole story is fascinating. He’s spectacular.”
“I think he’s great. The interesting thing about him is that he’s Incredibly nice and just such a funny guy. I sometimes think his persona might cover up the message that his art is trying to send. And if you didn’t know who he was and you just looked at his art, you would probably think this is so disturbing.
“It’s that dichotomy. It’s like that yin and yang of who he comes across as on X, but what his art is actually saying, and it’s really dark, and it’s really spot on in most cases. I just love the interplay between those two. I think that the narrative between those two is just really cool to me.”
What is your favorite piece from the 6529 The Memes Collection?
“One of my favorite ones is Sculptor of Self done by a guy named Gianmarco or @gart3_eth on X. I like this card so much that I recently bought a 1 of 1 from him with a similar character in it. I just think this card is phenomenal. The community loves it. He’s such a good artist. He is a very under the radar artist too, which I really like.
“Another favorite card that’s not nearly as well known is this one by Paul Reed called Hunted. Paul is Scottish and I believe an oil painter. I think his piece speaks to the movement and it fits The Memes really well.”
Are there any up and coming artists that you would encourage readers to pay attention to?
“I can’t name just one so you’ll have to allow me four!
“Samantha Cavet — she’s a photographer. Her work in post-photography production is fascinating to watch. The work just comes across as almost like a Monet painting.
“Ana María Caballero — is definitely one to keep an eye on. She’s doing super interesting things with poetry and putting it onchain in a descriptive way that doesn’t just involve the text itself.
“Sasha Stiles — in a very similar vein to what Ana María Caballero has done. She is so interesting in the way she created an AI persona of herself years ago, not just recently when it became trendy. I just find it fascinating and I didn’t even own any of her work until recently.
“Ayla — she basically built her brand around nude art and using the ocean in a way that combines the body with the spirit so to speak, I don’t want to put words in her mouth. She’s taking it in a direction that is so interesting. It’s not just about photography anymore. Now it’s about digital, sort of like movement and oil painting, and she’s done a lot of abstract art. I think she’s a super up and coming artist.”
Who are your top favorite followers on X for NFT content?
“Punk6529 — I think 6529 has this dialed in unlike anyone else that I talk to or see. I wouldn’t still be here if I didn’t believe so strongly in the mission and what he stands for. At the same time, the things he says are spot on. I agree with almost everything that he talks about, so I would say he’s very, very high on my list.”
“Patrick Amadon — in the art space. I think he just says a lot of very interesting and provocative things. Sometimes controversial and annoying to some people, but very thought provoking.
“Punk9059 aka Stats — I really like Punk9059, I love stats in general and he’s a great source. Just a good follow for NFTs.
“DeeZe — must give DeeZe a mention too, really strong follow.
“Cath Simard — is a fun follow because she goes on these crazy journeys to places like Peru and documents them.”
Outside of your own portfolio, who do you think has the most desirable NFT collection?
“I think there’s two very underappreciated collectors out there who have been around much longer than I have. Every time I look at their collection, my jaw just drops.
“The first is Token Angels, and the second one is Moderats.”
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Greg Oakford
Greg Oakford is the General Manager for Upside DAO, a leading Australian crypto & web3 co-working hub and investment fund. He is an avid NFT collector and the co-founder of NFT Fest Australia. Prior to crypto, Greg was a marketing and sponsorship specialist in the sports industry working on professional events.
