{"id":19506,"date":"2025-02-26T10:05:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T10:05:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/26\/meet-jonathan-head-of-ecosystem-and-art-at-rarible\/"},"modified":"2025-02-26T10:05:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T10:05:42","slug":"meet-jonathan-head-of-ecosystem-and-art-at-rarible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/26\/meet-jonathan-head-of-ecosystem-and-art-at-rarible\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Jonathan, Head of Ecosystem and Art at Rarible"},"content":{"rendered":"

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With a passion for web3 culture and an unstoppable drive, Jonathan Col\u00f3n<\/strong> is the heart of Rarible\u2019s rapidly evolving ecosystem. In just over a year, his results-driven approach has redefined the NFT drops experience, making it a key pillar of the platform\u2019s success. Read on to learn how his passion for collecting, background in sports, and sharp instinct for market trends led him to Rarible \u2014 and how now he\u2019s leading our ecosystem and art efforts.<\/p>\n

The kickoff: how it all began<\/h2>\n

Long before he was onboarding artists to web3, Jonathan was immersed in a world of creativity, competition, and culture. He spent a decade mastering the violin, played soccer competitively, and was an active gamer. His passion for collecting started early \u2014 whether it was Pok\u00e9mon cards, sports jerseys, or even stamps in a passport, he was drawn to the idea of owning and trading unique items.<\/p>\n

\u201cNFTs felt like a natural evolution of something I had been doing my whole life.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cMy parents also had a huge influence on my work mindset,\u201d he shares. \u201cThey moved from Puerto Rico to the US, worked incredibly hard, and built successful business careers. Seeing their determination and adaptability shaped my own approach to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

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When the pandemic hit, Jonathan was working in professional sports at New York City FC, had some crypto in his wallet, and came across a cool sports project that would change his life forever \u2014 NBA Top Shot<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the first time I saw the financialization of collecting in action. Waiting in a queue, buying a pack, pulling a rare moment, and then being able to sell it instantly on a marketplace \u2014 it clicked. NFTs weren\u2019t just digital images; they were programmable, tradeable pieces of culture.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That\u2019s when Jonathan went all in on crypto and web3 \u2014 getting his first Doodle<\/u><\/a>, collecting, testing out marketplaces, joining communities, and soaking up everything he could about this brave new world.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the future of owning<\/h2>\n

Then everything started moving at lightning speed. From his first role in web3 as Head of BD at Pinata Cloud, helping dApps store and distribute NFT metadata, to building a strong community with artists and web3-native brands at Wildxyz, Jonathan was deep in culture and tech. Then came Rarible.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had already known Rarible as an OG in the space. But what drew me in was seeing how they were expanding their ecosystem: from artist-focused tools to RaribleX and onboarding brands into web3. I wanted to be a part of it.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And so he did.<\/p>\n

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Nothing but sunshine and good vibes at the @cryptopunksnfts<\/a> brunch today \u2600<\/p>\n

Huge shoutout to everyone who came through! Great people, great conversations, and one of the best communities in Web3. Grateful to be involved \ud83d\udc9b pic.twitter.com\/EnAs2MtfXn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rarible (@rarible) February 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

He joined Rarible in January 2024, starting in a business development role. But within months, his deep understanding of NFT culture and market trends led him to carve out the Ecosystem branch, focused on curating and executing high-impact drops.<\/p>\n

Redefining Drops at Rarible<\/h2>\n

Jonathan\u2019s vision for Rarible Drops<\/u><\/a> was simple: making each mint a powerful cultural moment. One of his biggest breakthroughs came with Eclipse<\/u><\/a> \u2014 a Rarible partner with whom he orchestrated a remarkable first drop.<\/p>\n

\u201cI connected with <\/em><\/strong>Figure31<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/a>, an artist who specialized in sun and moon photography and dynamic NFTs \u2014 and we built a drop tied to a real-world solar eclipse. It ended up being one of Rarible\u2019s biggest success stories, with over <\/em><\/strong>190,000 mints in 24 hours<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Jonathan<\/figure>\n

This drop wasn\u2019t just about the numbers \u2014 it brought one of the most engaged communities to the Rarible ecosystem. Building on that momentum, RaribleX<\/u><\/a> went on to develop Scope<\/u><\/a>, a branded marketplace for the Eclipse chain.<\/p>\n

This shift changed the way Rarible approaches drops, making them more curated, strategic, and valuable than ever:<\/p>\n

\u2705 Partnering with top artists, brands, and collectors.
\u2705 Tying them to cultural moments and blockchain trends.
\u2705 Supporting artists with marketing, partnerships, and custom smart contract solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see drops as more than just minting. They should feel special \u2014 whether it\u2019s through partnerships, artist support, or integrating with key parts of web3 culture.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Jonathan<\/figure>\n

This approach led to collaborations with artists like Nygilia<\/u><\/a>, Amber Vittoria<\/u><\/a>, vintagemozart<\/u><\/a>, Tuukzs<\/u><\/a>, and some meme and culture names like TOSHI<\/u><\/a> and DEGEN<\/u><\/a>, as well as creator-focused chains such as Shape<\/u><\/a> and Etherlink<\/u><\/a>. And let\u2019s not forget, the best year yet<\/em> for drops on Rarible.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s Jonathan up to next?<\/h2>\n

If you’ve worked with Jonathan, you know that once he sets his sights on something, he makes it happen. And when it comes to the future of the Rarible ecosystem, he has big plans. Here’s what to expect:<\/p>\n

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  1. Rarible as the go-to place for NFT launches<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u201cI want people to dream of launching on Rarible because they know they\u2019ll get unparalleled support.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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    1. Empowering artists & projects\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \u201cDrops directly impact the lives of artists and partners. We want to keep pushing creative boundaries and giving them new opportunities.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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      1. A true cross-chain future<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \u201cSoon, any activity across any chain should be possible on a Rarible product \u2014 whether it\u2019s Rarible.com, RaribleX, or something new.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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        1. Onboarding, but done right<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          \u201cToo many people enter web3 through rug pulls. We need to make sure newcomers have positive first experiences, so they stay and keep building.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

          As the space evolves, Jonathan Col\u00f3n is committed to making Rarible<\/u><\/a> the home for groundbreaking projects, meaningful collaborations, and unforgettable drops. Cheers to our Ecosystem team, let them cook!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n