SPOTLIGHT: BAYC Member And ApeChain Artist Popil Created A Lunar New Year NFT For ApeCoin That Was Minted 88K Times!

The Year of the Snake is off to a slitheringly good start for Bored Ape Yacht Club member and artist Popil, whose Lunar New Year NFT for ApeCoin was minted over 88,000 times!

Earlier this week, the ApeCoin DAO celebrated the Lunar New Year by inviting everyone with an $Ape wallet to spin the Wheel of Good Fortune, receive a Red Envelope, and win a new NFT created by Popil and possibly a piece of an 88,888 $APE prize pool!

In just three days, 88,077 of Popil’s works were minted by community members, making her one of the most collected creators in the ApeChain ecosystem!

“Seeing over 88,000 people collect my artwork in their wallets is truly surreal,” she told the Gazette. ‘As an artist, you always hope your work resonates with people, but the scale of this—becoming the most-owned ApeChain Lunar New Year NFT—is beyond anything I imagined. It’s humbling, and I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who took part in this journey.”

Lunar New Year has always been special to Popil, so creating an NFT for ApeCoin’s celebration on ApeChain was a dream come true.

“Lunar New Year has always been deeply meaningful to me—it’s a time of renewal, fortune, and connection,” Popil said. “ When crafting this piece, I wanted to bridge Web3 storytelling with cultural heritage. The Chinese zodiac holds powerful symbolism, representing cycles of time, personal identity, and fortune. Each of the 12 ApeChain projects was carefully chosen to reflect the energy and spirit of its corresponding zodiac animal.”

Each of the 12 ApeChain projects was selected to align with a zodiac animal based on their traits. In the piece, Popil chose the Gobs to represent the Rat because they’re “clever, resourceful, and opportunistic.” RILLAZ were the Dragon, embodying boldness, strength, and leadership. FUKUApes represented the Monkey, known for being playful, mischievous, and innovative.

Following the success of the Lunar New Year event, Popil wanted to thank ApeCoin, Ben White, and Yuga Labs for their support and for choosing her to create this piece!

“This collaboration with ApeChain wasn’t just about creating an NFT; it was about empowering creators and communities,” she said. “Seeing a blockchain ecosystem actively support artists, builders, and collectors reinforces how Web3 should operate—fostering opportunity, creativity, and ownership. ApeChain provided the foundation, but it was the community that made this truly special. To everyone who collected, shared, and supported this project—thank you. Your belief in this vision turned a dream into reality. The Lunar New Year is about new beginnings and shared prosperity, and this project embodied that spirit in every way. Here’s to more meaningful collaborations and an even brighter future ahead!”

The Bored Ape Gazette will continue to follow Popil and will let you know what she creates next. Stay tuned for updates!