Bicycle Playing Cards, a heritage Cartamundi brand that’s more than 130 years old, purchased Bored Ape #1227 in early June of this year. As its latest step into Web3, Bicycle selected an ape donning holographic eyeglasses and a joker card in his helmet.  

“We see communities like the Bored Ape Yacht Club as the heart and soul of Web3,” says Tricia Bouras, chief executive officer and president, U.S. Playing Card Company / executive vice president, retail and industry, North America Cartamundi Group. “Bicycle is all about playfully connecting, and Web3 opens up new ways for us to interact and co-create with communities.” 

Bored Ape #1227 will also be featured on a classic Bicycle card deck launching next year featuring the brand’s new NFT in a royal Ape-themed deck. The inaugural card deck will continue the journey within the Bored Ape Yacht Club community. More details will be revealed in the coming weeks. 

This latest step into Web3, the purchase of Bored Ape #1227, follows the launch of Bicycle’s Genesis Collection that featured traditional cards transformed 1,000 years into the future. The Unique Genesis collection is sold out, but consumers still have an opportunity to get the Main Genesis Collection with a physical collectible deck to be released to NFT holders next month.   

Related:Cartamundi: It’s in the Cards

This week, the brand is celebrating its new NFT purchase with an activation at Artcade, the first experiential NFT gallery, curated boutique and streaming studio located in Fred Segal on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, Calif. Bicycle ape-branded merchandise and collectible items are featured alongside Genesis Collection merchandise at the event until the end of the year or while supply lasts. 

“Artcade combines culture and technology to create innovative IRL and metaverse experiences,” says Doug Scott, chief creative officer and co-founder, Subnation, a venture studio and owner of Artcade. “Bicycle Playing Cards exemplify both the type of brand we want to feature and the IP creators we want to collaborate with. The product is another example of how NFT holders are monetizing their IP and attracting new collectors, influencers and consumers to the community.”