A casual bet on the 2020 Trump-Biden election transformed Batsoupyum from a crypto enthusiast into one of the most influential NFT collectors in the space. What began as a playful exchange on Polymarket led to an unexpected obsession with digital art—one that would redefine his investment portfolio and artistic sensibilities.
Before diving into NFTs, Batsoupyum was no stranger to crypto. He had invested in Bitcoin and dabbled in liquid token funds, but digital art was not on his radar. That changed when he connected with Polymarket’s CEO, Shayne Coplan, while making election-related wagers. “I went on that website and started kind of rabble-rousing, saying stupid things, but I also sent helpful tips,” he recalled. Coplan, an avid collector on SuperRare, introduced him to the NFT world—a space he initially dismissed as absurd.
From Skeptic to Collector
Despite ridiculing the concept, Batsoupyum couldn’t ignore his curiosity. “Credit to Shayne—I was merciless, but he got me interested enough to research,” he said. In late 2020, following Biden’s election victory, he spent weeks studying NFTs.
The pivotal moment arrived in March 2021 with Beeple’s historic $69 million sale of ‘Everydays: The First 5000 Days.’ The public auction, involving multiple bidders, convinced him that NFTs were more than a passing trend.
“I thought, if there are multiple bidders willing to pay that much in a transparent market, there’s something real here,” he said. With that realization, he fully immersed himself in collecting digital art.
Building a Multi-Million Dollar Collection
Today, Batsoupyum is regarded as one of the most respected collectors in the NFT space. His holdings include eight CryptoPunks, an Autoglyph, two Twin Flames by Justin Aversano, a Gazer by Matt Kane, and numerous works from renowned artists such as Beeple, Claire Silver, and XCOPY. OpenSea estimates his primary wallet, batsoupyumvault.eth, at 455 ETH ($1.2 million), though insiders believe his entire collection is worth significantly more.
His dedication led to a key role in 6529’s NFT ecosystem, working alongside the influential collector Punk6529. Their initiative, The Memes by 6529, aims to empower artists through decentralized art ownership. “I’m at a point where making more money isn’t the goal,” he explained. “I want to give back and support creators.”
The Art World’s Biggest Blunder?
Despite his success, Batsoupyum remains frustrated with traditional art circles dismissing NFTs. In September 2023, he posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling it a generational mistake: “Lumping digital art in with PFPs and calling them all ‘NFTs’ just to dismiss the entire space will go down as one of the biggest blunders the art world has seen.”
While high-end galleries continue to resist digital art’s legitimacy, he believes the movement is unstoppable. “They see Bored Apes and think it’s all speculation, but underneath, there’s a real art movement happening.” Nearly two years later, that pinned tweet remains his public stance.
