Key Takeaways
Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) is a collection of 10,000 unique non-fungible tokens (NFTs) styled as cartoon apes, created on the Ethereum blockchain.
Each Ape has a combination of seven traits with varying rarity levels, meaning some are statistically scarcer and may trade at higher prices on secondary markets.
Owning a BAYC NFT has historically provided access to sub-collections, airdrops, and community events — though the value of these benefits has shifted as the NFT market has evolved.
Sub-collections including Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) and Bored Ape Kennel Club were distributed free to existing BAYC holders, demonstrating how the project expanded its ecosystem.
BAYC floor prices peaked above $420,000 in 2022 and have declined substantially since, reflecting broader NFT market conditions in 2025–2026.
What Is Bored Ape Yacht Club?
Bored Ape Yacht Club is a collection of 10,000 NFTs created on the Ethereum blockchain by Yuga Labs, founded by four pseudonymous creators: Gargamel, Gordon Goner, Emperor Tomato Ketchup, and No Sass. Each token represents a unique cartoon ape with a distinct combination of visual traits. Like earlier projects such as CryptoPunks, no two BAYC apes share the same appearance.
The project launched in April 2021 and quickly attracted attention for its combination of digital art rarity, community access, and a series of follow-on releases. Holding a BAYC NFT has functioned as a membership pass to an exclusive club, giving owners early or free access to new collections and events.
By 2026, the NFT landscape has changed considerably. BAYC floor prices, which peaked above $420,000 in mid-2022, stood at approximately $10,700 as of April 2026 — a reflection of the broader decline in NFT demand since the 2021–2022 cycle. Despite this, BAYC remains one of the more recognizable NFT brands and ranks second among all NFT collections by market capitalization at approximately $106 million.
How Do Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs Work?
Each Ape is an ERC-721 token on Ethereum, governed by smart contracts that define ownership, transfer rules, and royalty mechanics. The ERC-721 standard ensures each token is unique and cannot be exchanged on a one-to-one basis with any other token.
Every Ape is built from seven trait categories:
Background
Clothes
Earring
Eyes
Fur
Hat
Mouth
Within each category, there are multiple possible variations with different levels of scarcity. An ape with a combination of rare traits will generally be listed at a higher price on secondary markets than one with more common attributes, though market conditions ultimately determine sale prices.
What Are the Benefits of Owning a BAYC NFT?
BAYC holders have historically received early or exclusive access to Yuga Labs' follow-on releases. Both the Mutant Ape Yacht Club and the Bored Ape Kennel Club were distributed to BAYC holders at no additional cost, with only gas fees required. Some of these derivative NFTs later sold on secondary markets for notable prices.
In addition to collection access, BAYC has experimented with community features such as the Bathroom — a shared virtual canvas where holders can paint one pixel every 15 minutes — and the Mutant Arcade, a small browser game released alongside the MAYC collection. These features are designed to maintain engagement within the BAYC community rather than provide standalone utility.
What Is Mutant Ape Yacht Club?
Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) is a separate collection of NFTs created by applying a mutant serum vial to an existing BAYC Ape. Yuga Labs airdropped serum vials to BAYC holders: M1 and M2 serums created a mutant version that shares some visual traits with the original Ape, while the rarer M3 serum generated a completely new mutant Ape with no visual connection to the original.
In addition to the airdrop, a public sale made additional mutant Apes available at 3 ETH each. This allowed non-BAYC holders to participate in the ecosystem at a lower price point than the original collection.
What Is Bored Ape Kennel Club?
Bored Ape Kennel Club (BAKC) is a collection of digital dog NFTs distributed exclusively to BAYC holders. Each wallet holding a BAYC Ape was eligible to claim one Club Dog at no cost, apart from the Ethereum transaction fee. A royalty on secondary sales was donated to animal charities for a limited period.
BAKC follows the same rarity-based attribute structure as the original BAYC collection, with different traits commanding different prices on secondary markets.
What Happened to ApeCoin and the DAO?
Yuga Labs launched ApeCoin (APE) in March 2022 as a governance and utility token for the BAYC ecosystem, managed by the ApeCoin DAO. In June 2025, ApeCoin holders voted 99.66% in favor of dissolving the ApeCoin DAO and transferring governance to a new entity called ApeCo. The stated aim was to reduce bureaucratic inefficiency and concentrate resources on core Yuga Labs projects, including ApeChain and the Otherside metaverse platform.
This restructuring reflects a broader trend in the NFT ecosystem, where decentralized governance experiments have often encountered challenges balancing community involvement with operational decision-making.
Where Can You Buy a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT?
BAYC NFTs are available exclusively on secondary markets, as all 10,000 original mint slots have been filled. Marketplaces where BAYC trades include OpenSea and Magic Eden. To purchase, you will need a crypto wallet compatible with decentralized applications (DApps) and enough ETH to cover the purchase price plus Ethereum gas fees.
Floor prices have declined significantly from the 2022 peak, but BAYC NFTs remain among the more expensive items in the NFT market. Prospective buyers should research current prices and market conditions independently before making any decision.
FAQ
What is the Bored Ape Yacht Club?
Bored Ape Yacht Club is a collection of 10,000 unique NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain. Each token depicts a cartoon ape with a distinct combination of traits. Ownership has historically provided access to exclusive sub-collections and community events organized by Yuga Labs.
How much does a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT cost?
As of April 2026, the floor price for a BAYC NFT is approximately $10,700, down significantly from the 2022 peak of over $420,000. Prices vary by rarity of individual traits and prevailing market conditions.
What is the difference between BAYC and MAYC?
BAYC refers to the original 10,000 Ape NFTs. MAYC (Mutant Ape Yacht Club) is a derivative collection created by applying a "mutant serum" to an existing BAYC NFT. BAYC holders received serum vials via airdrop, and additional mutant Apes were sold publicly at 3 ETH each.
Who created Bored Ape Yacht Club?
BAYC was created by Yuga Labs, founded by four individuals operating under pseudonyms: Gargamel, Gordon Goner, Emperor Tomato Ketchup, and No Sass. The project launched in April 2021.
Have Yuga Labs released any games?
Yuga Labs released a small browser-based game called Mutant Arcade alongside the MAYC collection. More substantial gaming and metaverse utility has been explored through the Otherside project, though broader playable gaming experiences for BAYC holders remain limited as of 2026.
Closing Thoughts
Further Reading
Disclaimer: This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Where the content is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not liable for any losses you may incur. For more information, see our Terms of Use, Risk Warning and Binance Academy Terms.