On the 28th of January, Gordon Goner, the co-founder of the famous BAYC NFT project and Yuga Labs, stepped down from the core team. Gordon has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He hopes to use the break to recover from his deteriorating health condition.
The NFT advocate admitted that his intense work ethic made him focus less on his health. His symptoms remain mild, but significant adjustments in his work pattern need to be made.
Gordon also revealed that he once had a chronic illness earlier in life, which “wasted” a major part of his twenties. Following recovery from his illness, he started Yuga Labs, the parent company of BAYC. Gordon Goner, also known as Wylie, launched the NFT project in 2021.
Gordon Goner’s Yuga Labs Success Story
Since its launch in 2021, Yuga Labs has performed impressively, smashing milestones and making a big name for itself. Sometime last year, the NFT company was valued at $4 billion. The NFT company’s huge valuation was credited to the huge sales volume of the BAYC collection totaling over $1 billion.
Gordon’s company boasts of homing the biggest NFT collections. In March 2022, Yuga Labs acquired CryptoPunks and Meebits. In November, Yuga Lab’s also acquired Beeple’s WENEW, an NFT startup.
Some of Yuga Labs NFT projects now have their names inscribed in the Guinness book of records. Last year, the Bored Ape Yacht Club collection was the NFT collection with the highest floor price. At the time, the lowest price of the BAYC collection was a little less than 100ETH. This had a dollar value of $295,000 in March 2022.
Earlier, the CryptoPunks NFT collection broke the record of the most expensive NFT collectible ever sold. The NFT (CryptoPunk #5822) was sold for 8000 ETH or $23.7 million. Notably, though, Yuga Labs had yet to acquire CryptoPunks when this record was reached.
What Next for Gordon Goner and Yuga Labs?
Without a doubt, Gordon Goner’s company has achieved a whole lot within a few years. The metaverse-inclined co-founder hopes to see the company continue soaring despite his departure.
In his farewell statement, Gordon revealed that despite stepping down from his role in the core team, he would continue as a board member and strategic advisor. Daniel Alegre will join the core team, and Wylie has given him his vote of confidence.
Daniel Alegre is the president and COO of Activision Blizzard, a leading publisher, and distributor of blockbuster games. Activision Blizzard has produced world-class games like Call of Duty, Crash, and Heroes of the Storm. With Daniel Alegre joining the Yuga Labs family, NFT fans can expect Yuga Labs to build on its gaming utility.
