@tigerisfine@JCSSnacks Opposite here - dig the idea of no phones most places but when meeting lots of people I’ve interacted with online IRL for the first time I like to quickly reference their Twitter, discord, etc to see what we’ve talked about (or to add them if I wasn’t following them)
So here's something I haven’t spoken about with many people.
Thank you for the tag @friesframe and @sher13z@tim_8093 I'll touch on your great idea and more detail on why these legend Apes tagged me.
A few years ago when our @TheBoredGlobal AIP didn’t pass, the feedback was that the concept was exactly what was needed, but it should be funded by @yugalabs, not @apecoin.
Even though I was disappointed (because we saw it as critical infrastructure not only for the Club, but the wider Yuga ecosystem), I completely understood and agreed.
From there, we split the idea into two separate products:
BAYC Media House (targeting Web2)
BAYC token-gated Digital Clubhouse
I then started a separate conversation with the @BoredApeYC team about building the official BAYC Digital Clubhouse. After several years of calls, demos, and a meeting at ApeFest Vegas, things ended on a positive note, heading toward a potential final budget sign-off by the top brass.
Then early 2026, after a few internal restructures and shifting priorities, the platform fell to the back burner. Sad after all the work and dollars put in, but I get it. I haven’t had any contact since, so I can only assume it won’t be moving forward.
Within the BAYC Digital Clubhouse, we had a similar feature to what @tim_8093 you are describing, but more focused on letting you see and message other members (who choose to enable location) within a set distance from your current location. No world map, but if you land in LA, you can check Apes who are nearby and open to connect.
At a high level, the BAYC Digital Clubhouse provided:
A token gated home for all official updates (huge for members who aren’t tapped into X because updates won't get lost in the feed). Live video meetings, where members get a notification when a session goes live.
A clickable event calendar capturing both official BAYC events and any community events you’ve chosen to join inside the platform
Other features included an onboarding flow for all new members, partnering with @WelcomeApes and @BoringSecurity each with their own section and admin control. New Apes would get the full rundown and a warm welcome in the main BAYC Members Bar chat.
MBA (Made by Apes): a seperate gated section where MBA members could meet, connect, and participate in initiatives, including startup support and education.
Community Clubs: an official area where each BAYC-approved CC had its own gated channels and full admin control. Members could easily browse clubs and request to join. eg a new Ape based in UK joins BAYC and after a search sees there is @UKApeClub they can then click request to join. UK Apes admin then verify they are UK based and approve the new member. New member instantly connected with fellow Apes in their area. Hosts have the tools to run chats, hold spaces, manage calendars, and more. This provides our CCs with the support so they don’t need to build a new community across other platforms.
ApeFest: we built this to capture all the features (and more) from the ApeFest Lisbon app. Full calendar for official + community events, with community hosts able to post updates directly to attendees. Members could also share event photos internally.
Resident Artists: each month we’d feature a new resident artist (supporting our incredible artist members) with an interview, admin control of their section, and the ability to offer commissioned BAYC art (physical or digital). I know this is an area @rocsolmiami would support.
Probably my favourite, Ape Global Alliance: an exclusive area where Apes could offer other Apes unique benefits. Over the years I’ve spoken with Apes who have things like holiday homes or investments they don’t normally make available, but would for another Ape (often at a discounted rate). This section gives the offer provider full control of details, and ability for gated members to make a request. Members like @AdamWeitsman are incredibly thoughtful and I'm sure a controlled framework like this would provide the confidence to participate. We were also looking to work with other external private clubs to see how a reciprocal partnership may be formed.
As you can see, we built a complete top-to-bottom club structure with the goal of giving the community as much control as possible. @CryptoGarga once said they wanted the community to build alongside Yuga. That was my mission when we created the framework for the BAYC Digital Clubhouse. The BAYC team would have top-level control, while the members (a community full of builders) could build out from below.
Our Club is global. I believe we need a Clubhouse we can all call home, and on special occasions, we meet at the IRL Clubhouse.