Globally recognized street artist Alec Monopoly is set to launch his first project set within the Web3 space. The generative collection, Rags to Richie, will include NFTs, digital gaming, and activities featured inside the metaverse.

With 6,500 NFTs hand drawn by Monopoly, the project will tell the story of his newly created character Richie and aims to connect and integrate Monopoly’s Web2 and Web3 into one seamless community. Although this is Monopoly’s first NFT collection, he told Hypemoon that he’s been an NFT collector and crypto investor for about two years, creating his first NFT back in 2018.

Contrasting Monopoly’s traditional art medium, he said he has “always been drawn to the unique process and creative freedom of digital art.” Throughout the project’s design process, Monopoly said that he “fell in love with the use of layers and mapping out the bridge between physical and digital expression.”

Monopoly aspires to build something long-term by blending his artistic abilities with unique utilities, which will hopefully welcome a variety of new collectors.

“Holders will also get exclusive access to a variety of limited edition art toys, prints, and collectibles including a series hand designed Jacob & Co. x Rags to Richie necklaces that will launch during New York Fashion Week,” he shared. For wallet addresses that successfully mint an NFT, Monopoly said they will also automatically be entered into a giveaway offering $1 million USD of Monopoly’s art pieces.

The #RagstoRichie Roadmap has been in the works since day one ??

Richie toys are already here, we’re only waiting for you! pic.twitter.com/uRYrDXQ1c4

— RAGS to RICHIE by Alec Monopoly (@ragstorichienft) July 15, 2022

Ownership may also allow collectors to explore commercialization as the project looks to create “…a middle ground that protects both the holder and Alec,” said Rags to Richie co-founder, Avery Andon. The collection “definitely wants to explore outward IP usage and unique structures/formats for every holder’s IP,” he added.

With the official mint date set for July 24, the project has been steadily building its community prior to launch. Aside from active Discord engagement and pre-mint parties, the project has already dialed in collaborations with established Web3 communities including Neotokyo Citizens, Kaiju Kings, Invisible Friends, Random Character Collectible, Maison Ghost and more, said Andon.

Rags to Richie’s will use Moonpay’s new payment solution, Hypermint, to introduce an easy NFT mint process for traditional art collectors, allowing users to seamlessly mint the Rags to Richie NFT either using crypto or any major credit card, shared Monopoly.

#RagstoRichie is partnering with @moonpay ‘s innovative @hypermint technology, for a secure, seamless minting experience. ?

This will guarantee a safe & secure minting process and even enable credit card payments through their Moonpay platform! ?? pic.twitter.com/oKEbZv1KHs

— RAGS to RICHIE by Alec Monopoly (@ragstorichienft) June 28, 2022

Utilizing the digital landscape, Alec Monopoly has also partnered with JOYSTICK and The Sandbox to host an interactive virtual art gallery and premier for new music through live DJ Sets.“I am so excited for all the potential we have to bridge both my Web2 and Web3 art into our very own metaverse gallery, which will make my art accessible all over the world,” Monopoly said.

As more artists attempt to join the digitalized space, Monopoly told Hypemoon that his secret to success in Web3 is “patience.”

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