Fast forward to 2026 in Wisconsin—at the gym today, someone actually recognized my BAYC tee. "Bored Apes?" he asked, genuinely curious. I froze for a second. Didn't expect to bump into anyone who'd heard of it anymore.

Honestly? It's wild how the conversation hit different. It's been over a year since I cashed out my collection, and encounters like this make you realize how the NFT narrative has shifted. The hype bubble burst, sure, but seeing someone reference it casually still feels strange.

The jpeg era feels distant now. Part of me misses the energy, the community vibes. But the market's matured—people are looking beyond the novelty. Curious if we'll see a second wind for blue-chip collections like BAYC, or if that chapter's really closed.