TL;DR: With a new update or NFT collection being released almost every day, it’s clear the crypto ecosystem is constantly evolving. Yu-Gi-Yn is one of the NFT collections paving the road to the digital universe — but it’s just the beginning. Knowing what brought it here and why it was created will lead you to make better decisions when investing or simply interacting with Yu-Gi-Yn.

In this article, we’re gonna dive into the Yu-Gi-Yn lore, answer all the Yu-Gi-Yn related questions and even more. Prepare yourself for a fantasy story and a journey to the future of Yu-Gi-Yn!

What is Yu-Gi-Yn?

Yu-Gi-Yn is an NFT collection of 8,888 characters that live on the Ethereum blockchain.

The story takes place in the futuristic city of Shiybuya, at the center of which is located the Yu-Gi-Yn skyscraper. It is the year 2056, and the APES faction dominates every aspect of the economy. They've amassed significant wealth, existing beyond the reach of any national authority. Even the internationally acclaimed entertainment hub, SHIBUYA-TOKYO, has fallen under the ownership of the APES. They've masterfully transformed the heart of SHIBUYA into a thriving virtual realm. Meanwhile, the FUNGIBLES, devoid of digital riches, have been driven to subterranean existence, stripped even of their native skies.

For the girls and boys of the FUNGIBLES, this world is one of limited possibilities. But they've found hope in ¥u-Gi-¥n, the exclusive games club accessible solely to the APES. It's their sole opportunity to alter the course of their destinies. With determination, the 8888-strong FUNGIBLES are armed and prepared to set off a revolution right on the Ethereum network.

As the narrative unfolds, you'll find that every NFT character dons monkey mouth masks, while their uniqueness is identified by their attire, accessories, tattoos, background hues, and various distinctive elements. Exceptionally rare characters, distinguished by a deep black backdrop, will exhibit exclusive abilities that will come into play in forthcoming metaverse games, enabling them to dramatically alter the course of events.

You too can be part of the FUNGIBLES resistance by holding one of the 1/8888 Yu-Gi-Yn NFTs.

Owning an NFT is different than screenshotting a JPEG - just like holding an original Rembrandt is more valuable than owning a replica. As their name suggests, NFTs are non-fungible by design. This is different from digital tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Fungible assets can be exchanged for another asset of the same type, much like BTC, ETH, or even fiat. NFTs, on the other hand, are unique assets where their ownership details are documented on the blockchain, ensuring digital scarcity and unique attributes for each asset.

But how exactly is digital scarcity being enforced?

The concept of NFTs first emerged in 2012 with the creation of Colored Coins, which could be used to represent real-world assets on the blockchain. However, Colored Coins only worked in a permitted environment, making it more similar to a database than anything else.

As the crypto industry became more popular, people have continued to experiment with the idea of a digitally scarce asset. This led to the creation of ERC-721 and ERC-1155.

The ERC-721 standard is like a set of rules for making NFTs. These actions help in making special tokens with their unique information, making them different from one another.

Behind the scenes, ERC-721 smart contracts keep a list of who owns which token, making it safe to pass tokens from one person to another. The contract also keeps count of how many tokens there are altogether and how many each person has.

As previously mentioned, Yu-Gi-Yn NFTs are secured by the Ethereum blockchain. Ownership and transaction history are publicly visible on the Ethereum blockchain along with other important info such as the NFT's metadata.

Understanding how to access an NFT's metadata is essential for holders to grasp the specifics of what they're buying.

Metadata usually includes visual attributes like color, type, wearables, and so on. On the blockchain, it looks something like this:

Yu-Gi-Yn have their own set of traits that make up their uniqueness. These are accessories, background, chain, clothing, eyes, eyewear, full face mask, hair, head, headgear, jewellery, mask, neck, piece, stud, and type.

Some traits are rarer than others, which makes a specific NFT stand out from the rest. For example, only two Yu-Gi-Yn NFTs with black chokers exist.

There are 9 types of rarity in total. Depending on the rarity, holders will be given “special gaming abilities” unique to their characters.

The Yu-Gi-Yn NFT collection has been autogenerated. This means that out of the potential combinations, only 8,888 Yu-Gi-Yn will ever exist!

What is the utility of Yu-Gi-Yn?

Yu-Gi-Yn makes for an awesome avatar pic, but it’s also your ticket to the Yu-Gi-Yn ecosystem. And by that, we mean access to the virtual world hosted by the Yu-Gi-Yn skyscraper.

According to the roadmap, their Yu-Gi-Yn ecosystem will have three districts. Each of these districts aims to combine the metaverse experience with the idea of an economic zone.

In addition to free passes at digital and IRL events, holders have the ability to stake their NFT and accumulate ¥¥ Tickets every week. The number of tickets you can receive is related to the type of NFTs you own. You can buy tickets to win various products.

The available prizes include YGY NFTs and rare & high-value products. To maximize your chances of winning, you can strategize based on the number of tickets you have acquired and decide which lottery offers the most efficient probability.

As the Yu-Gi-Yn brand expands, NFT holders will be able to continually earn rewards. Whether you are hodling for a season or longer, the Yu-Gi-Yn ecosystem continues to explore new ways of keeping holders engaged.

Who created Yu-Gi-Yn?

Yu-Gi-Yn was founded by Shu Mononobe (aka Rock) and Monet on June 1, 2022. Besides the founders, Yu-Gi-Yn was built in collaboration with a team of Japan-based artists.

Shu Mononobe (Rock) is the CEO of UNITY ZERO LIMITED, a cross-border branding and community platform. Unity Zero has been involved in the Asian NFT scene, having organized several NFTs festivals.

Previously, Rock worked at the Hakuhodo Group’s digital agency, Spice Box, which operates in the advertising industry. Over the following five years, he advanced to the position of Communication Director, providing support to prominent Japanese companies.

By 2016, he had taken on the role of Executive Officer, where he oversaw international ventures and explored new business opportunities. A year later, in 2017, he assumed the position of Vice President and Director.

In 2018, Shu Mononobe went on to establish UNITY ZERO LIMITED. This marked a significant step in his career, venturing into entrepreneurship and establishing his own enterprise.

Nii is the lead designer for the 3D works of Yu-Gi-Yn. She also worked as the director/concept artist for the single “fly with me” by millennium parade. The artwork was voted the Best Alternative Video at MTV Music Awards Japan 2020.

Suny Creative is the director and music works for ¥u-Gi-¥n. Rapper by craft, Suny has a musical career in parallel and was responsible for planning Kendrick Lamar’s Japan concert.

Yong and Goh work as director, and art director, from Margt, a creative unit based in Tokyo / New York. Together, they directed the music video Movie”Belle” × ”millennium parade”, which was voted the Best Collaboration Video in MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2021.

Yu-Gi-Yn gathered a team of top creative designers and market analysts from Tokyo’s music and entertainment scenes, forming the cross-industry dream team known as Yu-Gi Labs. Their mission was to launch an authentic 3D metaverse project.

The project’s characters and overall worldview were crafted by an innovative creative team known for their pioneering contributions to modern art in Japan. This team had previously worked on various art projects, including music videos and CD covers for notable Japanese rock bands like King Gnu and Millennium Parade, as well as producing peripherals and creative designs for various artists and groups. They had established a reputation for their creative excellence.

Right off the bat, the vision for Yu-Gi-Yn was to create a powerful metaverse experience that is rooted in Japanese culture. And what better way to showcase the authentic Tokyo culture than uniting some of the best Japanese artists?

Cultural connections have always been a driving force in bringing communities together. Whether it’s shared traditions, styles, or ways of thinking, culture unites people under a common banner, transcending boundaries like race, gender, or age. Tokyo, with its rich cultural heritage, has given rise to influential global phenomena, from anime and manga to gaming and fashion. This cultural dynamism has spurred the success of collectible NFTs like CLONE X and AZUKI, inspired by the vibrant Tokyo culture.

In fact, a significant portion of the top NFT projects on OpenSea is centered around Tokyo-inspired themes, constituting a substantial share of the total trade volume. These statistics underline the global impact of communities with shared interests and cultural bonds, regardless of the platform they use. Embracing the principles of Web3, Yu-Gi-Yn strives to foster communities that connect people through culture and real-time engagement, paving the way for it to become a respected brand in this space.

The whitelist mint event took place on October 12, 2022. The initial mint price was 0.0777 ETH with 2 mints per wallet. All NFTs were sold out within hours.

Out of the 8,888 NFT supply, 4,444 have been reserved for institutional investors and in-person NFT sales. One such event was at NFT ART TOKYO, where Yu-Gi-Yn set up an exhibition space to educate the world about Yu-Gi-Yn’s perspective on the landscape of the NFT market.

In the initial round, a limited number of opportunities to acquire NFTs were distributed through a lottery system to both NFT collectors and contemporary art enthusiasts. In this round, a total of eight NFTs were successfully sold for 14.4 ETH, equivalent to approximately 3.9 million yen.

Who is developing Yu-Gi-Yn now?

Yu-Gi-Yn is being developed and maintained by TNZ NFT DAO & Yu-Gi-Labs — two extremely strong entities in Web2 and Web3.

TNZ NFT DAO is a dedicated organization with a mission to nurture and advance creative ventures within the rapidly expanding NFT arena. Situated in the vibrant district of “Tennoz, Tokyo,” this collective brings together creative mavens and marketing experts who pool their expertise to assist collaborators in conceptualizing and realizing NFT initiatives. Their spectrum of services encompasses project strategizing and development, both on local and global scales, as well as comprehensive marketing and public relations support.

There are three companies behind TNZ NFT DAO: Terrada Art Complex, Spicebox, and Unity Zero Limited.

The TERRADA ART COMPLEX stands as Tokyo’s preeminent hub for the arts, renowned for housing the most expansive and all-encompassing art facility in all of Asia. This complex skillfully manages numerous art storage, museum, and gallery enterprises. It is consistently at the forefront of the art world, frequently curating and hosting prestigious exhibitions and auctions featuring the works of globally celebrated artists and intellectual properties (IPs). Notable recent events include captivating showcases of the enigmatic Banksy and the beloved creations of Ghibli.

Spicebox, a digital communication company under the HAKUHODO GROUP umbrella, plays an integral role in the realm of advertising in Japan. As part of the second-largest advertising company in the country, boasting a turnover exceeding $5 billion, Spicebox provides invaluable support for the marketing strategies and e-commerce endeavours of renowned Japanese companies, brands, and intellectual properties (IPs). Notable examples include “SHUEISHA” and “TOHO,” both of which enjoy widespread recognition throughout Japan.

UNITY ZERO LIMITED serves as a dynamic marketing agency with a global reach, offering comprehensive support for the marketing efforts of corporations, brands, and IP businesses. This agency has been a robust ally for various entities, including facilitating LVMH Japan’s international marketing endeavors, spearheading Onitsuka Tiger’s expansion into the Asian market, orchestrating promotions for PARCO Shibuya’s inaugural anniversary, and providing digital business support for prominent Japanese streetwear luxury brands. UNITY ZERO LIMITED has also been instrumental in fostering digital business partnerships and collaborations within Japan’s entertainment industry, effectively assisting numerous celebrated entertainers and entertainment entities, as well as a host of other well-known brands and IP businesses.

Yu-Gi Labs is a collaborative assembly of accomplished experts in the realms of 3D computer graphics (CG) art, art direction, creative direction, engineering, design, and music, all working diligently to craft virtual worlds. The team was founded by trailblazers in the luxury industry and brings together top-tier creative designers and market analysts from Tokyo’s vibrant music and entertainment scenes.

This remarkable ensemble is entrusted with the creative conception of characters and the meticulous construction of entire universes. Spearheaded by Tokyo’s avant-garde modern art creative team, known for their exceptional work with acclaimed Japanese rock band King Gnu, as well as their contributions to the music videos and CD covers of Millennium Parade, their artistic talents are in high demand for various Tokyo-based merchandise trends and much more.

Leading the charge in the domain of 3D computer graphics art is our prominent artist at Yu-Gi Labs, a recognized master in the field. This artist is celebrated for crafting top-notch full-length CG image works and boasts extensive experience as a principal designer involved in numerous award-winning projects.

For the crucial role of art direction, Margt takes the lead — a creative duo with a strong presence in both Tokyo and New York, known for their collaborative work with many renowned luxury fashion brands. And, adding an extra layer of flair to the creative and music direction is none other than a member of the Los Angeles-based HIP-HOP label Dos Monos.

Investors are also an important component of the Yu-Gi-Yn ecosystem. Although they don’t get involved directly in the governance of the project, they do exert an influence over the brand’s expansion into the mainstream. According to the Yu-Gi-Yn mint details, 4,444 NFTs have been reserved for private investors/institutional investors.

Yu-Gi-Yn doesn’t rely on a governance system like we see with other NFT or DeFi projects. That is not to say community members have no say. Instead, Yu-Gi-Yn is ready to assign special roles to those members making major contributions to the community. Based on their contribution, Yu-Gi-Yn community members will have a chance to join the team.

How does Yu-Gi-Yn make money?

Now, let’s get to the juicy part – how does Yu-Gi-Yn make money?💰 (No, flipping and rug pulling are not the correct answers)

The answer to this question is strongly related to intellectual property.

Think of popular trademarks such as Mickey Mouse, Spider-Man, or Coca-Cola. Every time you see movies, books merch, or posters with them, know that the owners of the IP get a share of the profits. The same thing goes with the NFT holders, in theory.

When it comes to NFTs, it’s quite challenging to fit them into the traditional framework of copyright law. To give more context, owning an NFT doesn’t mean holders have automatic control over the creative work. This creative control needs to be granted by the creator.

As such, NFT holders should pay attention to what IP rights, if any, come with owning the NFT.

There is no clear indication about the IP rights of the holders. It can be assumed that Yu-Gi-Yn holds the IP rights, as they have different methods of rewarding NFT holders. In addition, Yu-Gi-Yn is generating other sources of revenue from its sales of physical items.

Another way of generating revenue is via royalties. As of 2023, Yu-Gi-Yn earns 7.5% in royalties from secondary market sales.

The mission of Yu-Gi-Yn is to bridge real Tokyo Culture with the expanding possibilities of Web3. To achieve its mission, Yu-Gi-Yen is developing a digital virtual space where NFT holders can hang out, consume Tokyo Culture, and make friends.

The long-term vision of Yu-Gi-Yn is to embrace both the domestic Japanese brands/IP business and the global brand/IP inspired by Tokyo culture into their ecosystem.

In order to bring Japanese culture to the rest of the world, Yu-Gi-Yn has collaborated with several events and artists to raise awareness. Here is a short list:

On September 29, 2022, the Yu-Gi-Yn team participated at the NFT ART TOKYO, where they set up an exhibition space educating/enlightening the world about Yu-Gi-Yn's perspective on the landscape of the NFT market.

On July 56, 2023, Yu-Gi-Yn was the official partner of Asia’s largest Web3 conference “WebX.” They have been in charge of the overall production of the NFT special hall as gold sponsor and partner.

Where can I buy Yu-Gi-Yn?

You can buy Yu-Gi-Yn on OpenSea.