Crypto Gloss

Mutant Ape Yacht Club

The Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) is a collection of 19,423 mutant ape PFP NFTs launched by Yuga Labs in August 2021 — created by “mutating” existing Bored Ape NFTs with Mutant Serums (airdropped to BAYC holders) and through a public sale of 20,000 additional mutants — designed to be the more accessible and higher-supply entry point to the Bored Ape Yacht Club ecosystem, typically trading at 20–40% of the BAYC floor.

The Collection

Attribute Detail
Supply 19,423 NFTs
Blockchain Ethereum
Launch August 2021
Creator Yuga Labs
Origin BAYC mutations + public sale

How the collection was created:

Serum mutations (BAYC holder airdrop):

  • BAYC holders received “Mutant Serum” NFTs (M1, M2, M3 tiers)
  • Applying a serum to a BAYC created a Mutant Ape that shared some traits with the original BAYC but added mutation effects
  • The original BAYC was not consumed; holders got a mutant version in addition
  • M3 (Mega Mutant) serums were the rarest and produced the most dramatic mutations

Public sale:

  • 20,000 additional MAYC were sold to the public
  • This brought MAYC’s supply to ~20,000 vs. BAYC’s 10,000

Position in the BAYC Ecosystem

MAYC serves as the “accessible” tier of the Yuga ecosystem:

  • Typically 20–40% of BAYC floor price
  • Receives similar benefits: MAYC holders had APE token airdrops, Otherdeed priority
  • Not exactly the same as BAYC — BAYC holders maintain premium status
  • MAYC is the common entry point for people who want Yuga ecosystem exposure without BAYC prices

Ecosystem Benefits

MAYC holders have received:

  • APE airdrop (2022): MAYC holders received ApeCoin (different amount than BAYC)
  • Otherside access: MAYC holders could purchase Otherdeeds
  • Events and merchandise: MAYC holders invited to some (but not all) BAYC events

History

  • August 2021 — MAYC launches via serum mutations and public sale; immediate strong reception
  • 2021 — MAYC floor rises quickly; becomes second-largest collection in the Yuga ecosystem by market cap
  • March 2022 — APE airdrop; MAYC holders receive ApeCoin allocation
  • April 2022 — Otherdeed mint; MAYC holders can participate
  • 2022 — Bear market; MAYC floor declines significantly from peak; correlation with BAYC
  • 2023–2024 — MAYC continues as the primary accessible entry to the Yuga ecosystem; floor at subdued levels

Common Misconceptions

  • “MAYC is just a cheaper BAYC.” — MAYC holders have some but not all BAYC benefits; the distinction matters for ecosystem access and social signaling. BAYC retains a premium in community and event access.
  • “Mutant Apes are just BAYC with a filter applied.” — The mutation process creates genuinely different art; some mutations are dramatically different from the original Ape. M3 Mega Mutants are among the most visually distinct NFTs in any collection.

Social Media Sentiment

  • X/Twitter: MAYC is a recognizable status symbol at a lower price point than BAYC; MAYC PFPs are widely used.
  • r/NFT: MAYC is frequently recommended as the “starting point” for BAYC ecosystem exposure.
  • BAYC community: MAYC holders are welcomed into the broader ecosystem; the community distinguishes between BAYC and MAYC without exclusion.

Last updated: 2026-04

Related Terms

See Also

  • Bored Ape Yacht Club — the parent collection; MAYC’s value is derived from and correlated to BAYC’s ecosystem health
  • Yuga Labs — the company that created and continues to develop both BAYC and MAYC
  • Bored Ape Kennel Club — the third major Yuga collection; together BAYC, MAYC, and BAKC form the core Yuga NFT ecosystem

Sources