Yuga Labs is a Web3 and digital-entertainment company known for developing the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and projects connected to its wider ecosystem. The company, its NFT collections, related tokens, and community-governance organizations are distinct things with separate rights and rules.
Company and projects
Yuga Labs launched BAYC in April 2021. Its work later expanded to collections and experiences such as Mutant Ape Yacht Club, Bored Ape Kennel Club, Otherside, and ApeChain. The company’s current portfolio can change, so old descriptions should not be treated as a permanent list. Yuga’s own overview describes Otherside as an evolving digital world and ApeChain as a Layer 2 network associated with its ecosystem.
NFTs, tokens, and ownership
A Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT is a collectible token associated with artwork and collection-specific terms; holding one does not mean owning Yuga Labs or receiving shares in the company. Rights to use associated art also depend on the applicable license. For example, Yuga’s BAYC avatar terms tie certain avatar-file rights to ownership of the corresponding NFT and set conditions for how those files may be used.
ApeCoin is a separate token associated with the broader ecosystem. A token, a collection NFT, and a company are not interchangeable: each has its own contracts, governance arrangements, and risks. Yuga also created the Bored Ape Kennel Club collection, which is separate from BAYC itself.
History and portfolio changes
- April 2021: BAYC launches as a collection of 10,000 NFTs.
- 2022: Yuga announces Otherside and acquires CryptoPunks intellectual property from Larva Labs.
- 2024: Yuga helps launch ApeChain, described by the company as a Layer 2 network for its ecosystem.
- May 2025: The Infinite NODE Foundation acquires the full CryptoPunks intellectual property from Yuga. CryptoPunks should therefore not be described as a collection whose current IP Yuga owns.
Limits and criticism
Yuga’s projects combine collectible art, membership claims, online experiences, and commercial plans, but a promised feature or future utility is not guaranteed to launch or retain demand. NFT ownership is not company equity, and the practical rights attached to an NFT depend on the relevant terms. Buyers and researchers should check the current contract, official license, and project status instead of relying on old market-era summaries or assuming all Yuga-related projects share one governance structure.
Social Media Sentiment
- r/CryptoCurrency discussion about Otherside development — A December 26, 2025 post and a handful of short replies were mixed: some dismissed the metaverse plan or said the rollout had attracted little notice, while one commenter appreciated that the team was still building. This is a small, older anecdotal sample, not a measure of current or general opinion.
Last updated: 2026-10
Related Terms
See Also
- NFT Gaming and Digital Ownership Explained
- OpenSea Trading Cards and Physical Collectibles Explained
- Wallet Names, NFTs, and Media Ownership
- Swap crypto with ChangeNOW
Sources
- Yuga Labs — About — Gives the company’s own history and current descriptions of BAYC, Otherside, and ApeChain.
- Yuga Labs — BAYC Avatar License Terms — Defines the license conditions for use of BAYC avatar files and how the license relates to holding the NFT.
- Infinite NODE Foundation — CryptoPunks — Records the 2022 Yuga acquisition and the 2025 transfer of CryptoPunks intellectual property to NODE.
- ApeCoin — Official Token Information — Describes ApeCoin’s relationship to BAYC, Otherside, and ApeChain as a separate token ecosystem.