Crypto Gloss

Nakamigos

Nakamigos is a collection of 20,000 free-mint CC0 pixel art PFP NFTs on Ethereum launched in March 2023 — featuring compact 24×24 pixel character designs with an anime-adjacent aesthetic — that became one of the most viral free mint events of early 2023, drew speculation about involvement from HiRez Studio (makers of SMITE), and demonstrated continuing demand for free mint CC0 projects two years after the genre was pioneered by CrypToadz and Nouns.

The Collection

Attribute Detail
Supply 20,000 NFTs
Blockchain Ethereum
Launch March 2023
Mint price Free (gas only)
Art 24×24 pixel art
Licensing CC0 (public domain)

Each Nakamigo is a 24×24 pixel character with:

  • Anime-influenced facial features
  • Extensive trait variation (outfits, hair, accessories, backgrounds)
  • The minimalist pixel art style makes each character distinctly readable despite the tiny canvas
  • Clear design language that distinguishes Nakamigos from other pixel PFPs

HiRez Connection

One of the more unusual aspects of Nakamigos:

  • HiRez Studio (developers of SMITE, Paladins, Rogue Company) was speculated and later suggested to be connected to the project
  • The connection between a mainstream video game studio and an NFT collection attracted crossover attention
  • If true, Nakamigos was one of the first significant NFT collections to have mainstream gaming studio involvement from inception
  • The nature of the relationship was not formally disclosed at launch

Free Mint in 2023

By March 2023, the NFT market was well into the bear market. Nakamigos demonstrating strong free mint demand in this environment was notable:

  • The free mint generated massive gas competition (gas spikes during mint)
  • 20,000 NFTs is a large supply for a free mint; still oversubscribed
  • Floor reached multiple ETH after mint despite the bear market context
  • The CC0 approach positioned Nakamigos for derivative ecosystems

History

  • March 2023 — Nakamigos launches as a free mint; 20,000 pixel art NFTs; chaotic mint with gas spikes
  • March 2023 — Floor price rises quickly post-mint; speculation about HiRez involvement adds hype
  • 2023 — Nakamigos becomes a recognized 2023 NFT collection; CC0 derivatives begin appearing
  • 2023–2024 — Floor settles below peak; community remains active; ongoing CC0 builder ecosystem

Common Misconceptions

  • “Nakamigos is a Cryptopunks clone.” — While both use pixel art and feature PFP characters, Nakamigos uses a 24×24 canvas (vs. Punks’ 24×24 but different style) and has CC0 licensing; it’s its own distinct aesthetic and community.
  • “Free mint means low quality.” — Nakamigos had production-quality art design and professional execution. Free mint is the distribution model, not an indicator of effort or quality.

Social Media Sentiment

  • X/Twitter: Nakamigos generated significant excitement during the 2023 free mint period; the HiRez speculation amplified attention; pixel art aesthetics are well-received.
  • r/NFT: Nakamigos is cited as a 2023 success story for the free mint model; the collection showed the model still works in bear markets.
  • CC0 community: Nakamigos’ CC0 launch was welcomed; derivative projects and community builds followed quickly.

Last updated: 2026-04

Related Terms

See Also

  • CrypToadz — the CC0 free mint predecessor that Nakamigos draws on; both are important examples of the CC0 free mint model
  • CC0 NFT — the licensing foundation; Nakamigos’ CC0 launch is central to its community building potential
  • Free Mint — the distribution model; Nakamigos is one of the successful 2023 examples demonstrating the model’s continued viability

Sources