Crypto Gloss

VeeFriends

VeeFriends is a collection of 10,255 NFTs featuring hand-drawn characters created by entrepreneur and internet personality Gary Vaynerchuk (GaryVee), launched in May 2021 on Ethereum — offering each holder real-world utility through direct access to Gary Vee himself (meetings, calls, experiences) and admission to VeeCon, his annual NFT and marketing conference, as the primary value proposition beyond the art.

The Collection

Attribute Detail
Supply 10,255 NFTs
Blockchain Ethereum (ERC-721)
Launch May 2021
Mint price $12,500 (varied by category)
Creator Gary Vaynerchuk (GaryVee)
Utility VeeCon admission + direct access tiers

VeeFriends features animals and characters, each hand-drawn by Gary Vee, with three access tiers:

Admission Tokens (9,400 NFTs): Access to VeeCon for three years, a real-world conference.

Access Tokens (555 NFTs): Direct access experiences with Gary Vee — calls, dinners, business meetings.

Gift Goat Tokens (300 NFTs): Physical gifts from Gary Vee delivered annually.

Gary Vaynerchuk and VeeFriends

GaryVee is one of the most prominent entrepreneurs and social media personalities in the business world:

  • CEO of VaynerMedia (digital marketing agency)
  • Author of multiple bestselling business books
  • Early venture investments in Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat, Uber, Coinbase
  • One of the most followed entrepreneurs on social media globally

VeeFriends represented Gary Vee’s full entry into NFTs — he had been publicly bullish on NFTs since early 2021. The collection sold out rapidly due to his existing audience of millions.

VeeCon

VeeCon is VeeFriends’ annual flagship event — a conference focused on business, marketing, and NFT culture held for NFT holders:

  • VeeCon 2022: Minneapolis; ~5,000 attendees
  • VeeCon 2023: Indianapolis
  • VeeCon 2024: Los Angeles

VeeCon is one of the first NFT-gated major conferences — ticket access is exclusively through holding a VeeFriends NFT. This creates ongoing demand for VeeFriends NFTs as long as VeeCon continues.

VeeFriends Series 2

In 2022, Gary Vee launched VeeFriends Series 2 — a larger collection (55,555 NFTs) at a lower price point (~$995):

  • More accessible entry to the VeeFriends ecosystem
  • Series 1 holders received priority access
  • Generated significant revenue but floor prices declined post-mint
  • The supply expansion was criticized by some Series 1 holders

Market Performance

VeeFriends had strong initial demand due to GaryVee’s audience:

  • Series 1 sold out quickly at high prices
  • Floor price appreciated significantly during the 2021 bull market
  • Bear market brought significant floor price declines
  • The utility of VeeCon access provides a floor for demand as long as VeeCon continues

History

  • May 2021 — VeeFriends Series 1 launches; sells out rapidly; Gary Vee’s massive audience drives immediate demand
  • May 2022 — First VeeCon in Minneapolis; NFT-gated conference proves the utility thesis
  • 2022 — Series 2 launches (55,555 tokens); bear market; floor declines significantly
  • 2023 — VeeCon 2023 in Indianapolis; community continues; Gary Vee maintains NFT advocacy publicly
  • 2024 — VeeCon 2024 in Los Angeles; VeeFriends maintains its position as the most prominent celebrity/entrepreneur NFT utility project

Common Misconceptions

  • “VeeFriends is just GaryVee cashing in on NFT hype.” — VeeFriends provided genuine utility through VeeCon events and real-world access tiers. VeeCon has run annually, delivering on the core promise. Whether the utility justifies the price is subjective, but the commitments were honored.
  • “Series 2 ruined Series 1 holders.” — While supply expansion from 10,255 to 55,555 diluted scarcity, Series 1 holders retained exclusive access tiers not available to Series 2. The floor impact was real but the tier differentiation was maintained.

Social Media Sentiment

  • X/Twitter: GaryVee’s massive following drives VeeFriends visibility; the community includes many business-oriented rather than crypto-native people; VeeCon generates positive coverage annually.
  • r/NFT: Polarizing — crypto-native NFT collectors often view VeeFriends as celebrity-driven rather than art or technology-driven; business community and GaryVee fans are enthusiastic.
  • Business/marketing community: Strong adoption; VeeFriends attracts entrepreneurs, marketers, and business people who are GaryVee fans entering crypto for the first time.

Last updated: 2026-04

Related Terms

See Also

  • Token-Gated Access — the model VeeFriends applies to conference access; NFT ownership as event ticketing and experience gating
  • Bored Ape Yacht Club — the blue-chip PFP that VeeFriends is often compared to; BAYC’s celebrity adoption model vs. VeeFriends’ celebrity creator model
  • Nouns — another utility-first NFT with governance and community-building at its core; useful contrast as community-built vs. creator-built utility

Sources