Meet Sergito Silva — or simply Sergito as he’s known — once the unofficial champion of the Meebits, that diverse collection of 20,000 3D voxel NFTs. Even though they were born from Larva Labs, the very creators of CryptoPunks and Autoglyphs, these digital characters were often seen as undervalued gems in the NFT space.

But fast forward to today, and this ex-Goldman Sachs dynamo now finds himself right at the heart of the Meebits universe, stepping into the role of CEO. This exciting change comes after he acquired the collection from Yuga Labs just this February. 

Sergito’s journey into the world of NFTs began in February 2021. It all started when he stumbled upon an article about a certain gmoney who had just dropped $150,000 on an Ape CryptoPunk, making it the most expensive Punk sale at that point.  

“That really caught my attention,” Sergito recalls. “I remember thinking, ‘What on earth is this? It’s crazy! Why are people spending real money on digital jpegs?’ Out of sheer curiosity, I downloaded Discord and joined the CryptoPunks group. And just 72 hours later, I was completely ‘NFT-pilled’!” 

“I found the community there incredibly engaging to chat with, everyone was super friendly and helpful,” Sergito says. “I bought my own Punk on February 13th of 2021, and honestly, I haven’t looked back since.” 

Sergito reflects on how owning a Punk unlocked doors in the digital collectibles realm, much like his Goldman Sachs business card had done in the traditional finance world. 

“When I started using the Punk as my profile picture on platforms like Discord and Twitter (now X), people really began to notice me. They were asking questions, and their whole demeanor towards me shifted,” Sergito recounts. “It reminded me of being fresh out of university, 23 years old and starting my career at Goldman Sachs in the Latin America sales team,” 

He explains that in the finance world, just having that Goldman Sachs name gave him immediate credibility with experienced pension and investment fund managers. “Even though they were far more experienced, because I had that Goldman Sachs business card, they gave me their attention, and I was given a seat at the table.” 

“Having the Punk as my profile picture brought back that same feeling, and it was a real ‘Aha moment’ for me. That’s when I actually delisted my Punk. I realized this was a powerful way of signaling something significant to a vast network of connected internet users around the world. The idea of owning digital assets and having true ownership on the internet was incredibly impactful.”

Snapping Up Crypto at Rock Bottom During the COVID Crash 

Sergito, who finished university smack in the middle of the 2009 Global Financial Crisis, had gained a decade of valuable experience by the time COVID-19 sent shockwaves across the globe in 2020. Sensing a familiar pattern emerging, he made a bold decision to go long on crypto amidst the unfolding chaos. 

This move was certainly daring, as many in the crypto space were bracing for a complete wipeout due to lockdowns and the fear of a worldwide depression. Bitcoin itself plummeted by 50% in a single day, and the total crypto market capitalization shrunk by over 50% during that volatile period in mid-March 2020. As someone who traveled internationally frequently and had an eye on global trends, Sergito had wisely exited the market early on.

“I actually shorted crypto and watched it crash – it was a good week for me, I’ll admit,” Sergito says. 

“But then I realized, they’re not going to simply let the market and the entire economy collapse to zero. So, I decided to buy into something with high growth potential… I’d seen Bitcoin rally and crash before, but it never went to zero. It just made sense to me.”

“It was my very first time buying crypto, and my timing turned out to be incredibly lucky. It was during that exact week when Bitcoin fell to around $3,000 and Ethereum dropped to something like $110.”

Kindling the Meebits Flame 

Sergito’s relationship with Meebits wasn’t exactly a case of love at first sight. He actually missed the initial minting event entirely, as he was joyfully preoccupied with the arrival of his second niece. 

His fascination with Meebits started to grow about a month later while chatting with the well-known collector Von Mises in the Punks Discord. Von Mises pointed out the incredible variety of traits within the Meebits collection, something that Sergito hadn’t fully appreciated until then.

“He asked if I’d really looked at all the Meebit trades,” Sergito remembers. “Of course, I had followed the initial hype around the mint and all the buzz about the Dissected Meebit and those big sales. I even had a couple of Meebits left over from the airdrop I received as a Punk holder. VonMises really encouraged me to properly explore the Meebits traits.”

“I came across a Meebit with a full suit and tie trait,” he says, “which really reminded me of my time back on Wall Street. It was the first time I truly felt a connection with a PFP – it actually felt like it represented me.”

Sergito’s appreciation for Meebits continued to grow. He recognized that Meebits were created by Matt and John from Larva Labs, figures he considers to be legends in the NFT space. He could clearly see the meticulous craftsmanship and dedication Larva Labs had invested in creating these avatars. 

“This voxel collection just had so many intricate details, and you could instantly tell it was high quality. I really became an advocate for it and for the thoughtful approach Larva Labs took with the collection,” Sergito explains. 

“Looking at history across various fields — technology, crypto itself — you often see that the early, high-quality projects tend to truly shine in the long run. I mean, Punks, were priced under 1 ETH for about three and a half years after they launched. For me, Meebits always made a lot of sense. No disrespect to other collections, and I do hold many others, but it’s undeniable how much quality went into Meebits.”

Taking the Helm: Acquiring Meebits from Yuga Labs 

Then, on February 15th, the news dropped: The Meebit Company (MeebCo), with Sergito at the helm as CEO, would be acquiring the Meebits collection from Yuga Labs. Yuga, in turn, had acquired Meebits (and CryptoPunks) from Larva Labs back in 2022.

Sergito received a call from Yuga in mid-December and shared that he felt truly honored that they considered him for the future of Meebits.

“One thing Yuga made very clear right from the start was that they were looking for someone, or a team, who genuinely cared about the Meebits. It wasn’t just about offloading an asset,” Sergito emphasizes. 

The announcement was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many believing that having a team solely dedicated to nurturing the Meebits made much more sense than Yuga Labs trying to manage it within their already extensive portfolio of collections. 

The deal to acquire Meebits involved three key players: MeebCo, 1confirmation (led by Nick Tomaino), and Yuga Labs, who still retain a small stake. MeebCo, however, now controls the Meebits brand, all of its IP, the official news channels, and the treasury. 

The Four Pillars: Meebits’ Strategy for the Future 

The Meebits team has developed a fresh four-pillar strategy to really amplify the development of Meebits and its surrounding ecosystem.

Art & Provenance 

“Of course, we want to truly honor Matt and John and Larva Labs,” he states. “That’s exactly why we launched the podcast, where Matt and John went deep into detail about how the attributes were created, and the algorithms they used to generate all the different traits and so on. These are their artistic creations.” 

“We want to empower everyone in the community, both current holders and those new to Meebits, to really help us highlight how Meebits fit into the grand narrative of digital art history.”

“And let’s not forget, when you own a Meebit, you can download the 3D models. As I always say, these are digital sculptures crafted by Larva Labs, and we’re going to continue pushing in that direction.”

Fun & Utility 

“I see this as the evolution of the ‘utility’ concept from 2021. It’s about combining robust, ambitious IP development from our side, at the Meebit Company, while simultaneously bringing to life engaging experiences that our holders and anyone who appreciates Meebits can enjoy — both in the digital world and the physical world, including real-life events.”

Tech Innovation 

“Punks, Autoglyphs, and Meebits were all significantly ahead of their time, so we want to continue to explore and push boundaries in that same spirit. One example is that I truly believe Meebits are the perfect digital avatars for AI agents, both on-chain and off-chain. We’re going to be developing tools and features that will help us keep exploring that avenue.” 

Community 

“Community comes first, always. The Meebits community is clearly feeling revitalized and empowered again, and we’re really excited to bring back that vibe from 2021. If you remember those early months of the Meebits project, there was such an electric energy from builders and creators. Things like the Meebits DAO were formed, and people really connected to explore what they could build together. 

“Empowering those creators and builders to take things to the next level is incredibly important to us. That’s why it’s one of our four core pillars.”  

NFTs: Like Hot Wheels for Grown-Ups in Their 30s and 40s

In the very first episode of the new Meebits podcast, Sergito sits down with Matt and John from Larva Labs for an in-depth conversation about the Meebits collection. They even touch on a puzzle that was cracked by an NFT community member back in 2022, which earned him a free pig Meebit. 

On the podcast, John fondly recalls the hidden secret found within the Protoglyph — the prototype that evolved into the Autoglyphs collection. He describes it as probably the funniest moment he’s had in the NFT space, culminating in the winner, Andrew Badr, scoring himself a free Meebit as a reward. 

Sergio believes that this type of gamification, combined with the powerful emotions NFTs can evoke, is what makes this crypto category so undeniably captivating.

“Looking back, I realized the majority of my NFT friends were all fellow millennials. In our 30s and early 40s, and I think many of us would admit this feels like going back to playing with our G.I. Joes and Hot Wheels, but in a digital format,” Sergito observes. 

“It’s about forming those tight-knit friend groups that can be harder to come by as adults. Life changes – people have kids, or your social circle often revolves around work. These connections aren’t always based on shared passions. But with NFTs, especially if you’re a Punk, a Bored Ape, a Pudgy Penguin, or a Meebit, it really reignites those feelings of shared enthusiasm.”

Rapid Fire Q&A on Meebits with Sergito

What’s your favorite type of Meebit? 

The robots, without a doubt. 

What are your top 3 favorite Meebits that you own?

1 – Definitely my current profile pic.

2 – I’ve got a full camo Meebit, with both a camo shirt and pants, and that camouflage is entirely generative. I really love that aspect of the collection – it’s like my ‘war mode’ Meebit. 

3 – And my full-suited elephant, of course. 

If you could own any Meebit in the entire collection, including one of the 40% that have never even been traded, which one would it be? 

The full-suited visitor, no question.

What’s your absolute favorite trait in the Meebits collection? 

It’s definitely the full suit.

What do you consider to be the most underrated trait within the Meebits collection? 

I’ll answer this as a private collector, thinking back to before I became CEO of the collection. I think the blue camo trait is seriously underrated.

Besides yourself, who are two or three other die-hard Meebits advocates out there? 

Honestly, it’s the three other guys on the MeebCo team.

1 – Token Juggler – he’s just an encyclopedia of Meebit traits, he knows everything!

2 – Bailey has been bringing Meebits to life since day one. He was the lead animator with Yuga, and now he’s our creative director for Meebits.

3 – Bojangle Guy – he’s been building the Meebits community since the very beginning. He’s someone who is just as obsessed with them as I am. 

Are people simply sleeping on the Meebits when you compare them to what collections like CryptoPunks and Autoglyphs have achieved? 

From an IP and artistic standpoint, absolutely, yes. I don’t want to make this purely about finances as I can’t predict the future market. But yes, just in terms of legacy, provenance, and artistic value – totally underrated.

Where do you see the Meebits in 2030? 

I think they’ll be iconic, instantly recognizable to everyone. People will see that distinctive voxel shape and the logo and just know – that’s a Meebit.

Rapid Fire Q&A – General with Sergito

What are some of your favorite NFTs outside of the Meebits collection? Name three currently in your wallet that you really appreciate.

1 – Carpoolers by Alejandaro Cartagena, specifically number 9. I just love that piece – it really takes me right back home to Mexico.

2 – I’ve got this really cool CryptoPunk – he’s an albino with a big beard and a headband, just super punk in every way.

3 – I also own a Mad Lads with a crown. It’s a Solana NFT, and I’m a big fan of that community, so I’d say that’s my third favorite.

Do you have a favorite 1/1 art piece in your collection? 

Yes, I have a piece called “Tales From The Glitch” – it’s a somewhat unknown 1/1 collaboration between Ric Galbraith, ACK, and Claire Silver. 

Ric actually wrote a mini-story to go with it. Claire created the visuals, and ACK did the music, and I was lucky enough to acquire it. I don’t think many people have truly seen it because the file is so large, it’s really difficult to share properly on social media like Twitter. But I absolutely love that collaboration.

What’s an underappreciated NFT project or collection in your opinion, outside of the Meebits? 

There are so many, but one that remains close to my heart is Bones by Jarritos. Jarritos is a really popular Mexican soda brand, especially within the Latino community in the USA. I think they’ve been one of the most organically successful Web2 brands to transition into Web3.

They’re constantly rewarding their community with cool gifts and gift cards, and I really appreciate the art style. It’s a collection of skeletons, very much in that vibrant Mexican style. I think it’s a fantastic community too. 

Who are your top favorite people to follow on X for insightful NFT content? 

Tyler Did It – I think he’s fantastic. His data analysis and stats are really insightful, and I just enjoy his content. He’s also become a good friend.

DC Investor. He’s like the OG – a real long-term thinker. I think he’s been responsible for guiding a lot of us into the NFT space.

Jalil – Jack Butcher’s partner. I think he’s great because he’s a builder, he’s an artist, he’s a deep thinker, and he’s a collector himself. I really appreciate his perspective on things and getting that behind-the-scenes look at what they’re building.

Finally, what advice would you give for how to thrive in crypto for the long haul? 

Always remember that while things can skyrocket 30X, they can also plummet 90% in just a couple of days. So, understand the inherent volatility of this asset class. This means having a solid plan in place and making absolutely sure that your plan helps you manage your emotions, both when things are incredibly hyped and when things aren’t going your way.

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Greg Oakford

Greg Oakford is the General Manager for Upside DAO, a leading Australian crypto & web3 co-working hub and investment fund. He is an avid NFT collector and the co-founder of NFT Fest Australia. Prior to crypto, Greg was a marketing and sponsorship specialist in the sports industry working on professional events.

Follow the author @GregOakford