The Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 Release

by Des Lucréce

3.25.2026

BitMON

HONG KONG

BitMON Hong Kong by Des Lucréce is the official Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 release, introducing a new foil-pack collecting format that merges contemporary art, digital authentication, and the excitement of a physical pull.

Presented as a limited series of collectible BitMON trading cards, each sealed pack contains a physical card paired with an NFC-enabled claim card that links the work to its corresponding digital record and unlocks eligibility to purchase a matching fine-art print.

Blending collectible culture with digitally verifiable ownership, BitMON Hong Kong reflects a new model for experiencing art through discovery, connection, and participation.

Every BitMON Hong Kong Foil Pack contains a BitMON Hong Kong trading card, and an NFC-enabled Art Basel Art Card.

BitMON Hong Kong Foil Pack collectors have exclusive access to purchase a hand-signed and numbered print that matches their BitMON Hong Kong trading card.

MINT • BURN • RIP

Mint a BitMON Hong Kong Art Basel Foil Pack token on OpenSea, burn it through the ICONIC claim portal, and receive a sealed foil pack containing a BitMON Hong Kong trading card and a matching NFC-enabled Art Basel Art Card that allows the collector to claim the corresponding digital artwork.

MINT

Mint a BitMON Hong Kong Foil Pack Token on OpenSea.

Each token represents one sealed BitMON foil pack connected to the Art Basel Hong Kong release.

BURN

Following the mint, collectors can visit the ICONIC Claim Portal, connect their wallet, and burn their foil pack token.

During this step you will enter your shipping information so we know where to send your physical pack.

RIP

Receive your BitMON Hong Kong Foil Pack in the mail and open it.

Each foil pack contains:

  • 1 BitMON Hong Kong Trading Card

  • 1 NFC-enabled Art Basel Card that unlocks the matching digital artwork connected to your BitMON Hong Kong Trading Card.

BitMON Hong Kong Public Sale
Wednesday, March 25th at 12PM EST / 12AM HKT

  • Collection Size

    500 BitMON Hong Kong Foil Packs

  • Purchase Price

    $199 USD / Paid Via ETH on OpenSea or Via Credit Card at the Art Basel Hong Kong Store

  • Print Price

    $499 USD / Paid Via Credit Card

  • Purchase Information

    Purchase on 3/25/2026 at 12PM EST on OpenSea or at the Art Basel Hong Kong Store

ABOUT

THE PACK

A refined union of digital technology, collectible culture, and physical craft.

Each BitMON Hong Kong pack contains a physical trading card paired with an NFC-enabled Art Basel Art Card that links directly to its corresponding digital record. With a simple tap from any modern phone, collectors can authenticate their pull, access the digital counterpart, and unlock eligibility to acquire a matching fine-art print.

Intuitive to experience and rigorously verifiable, the system connects the thrill of a physical discovery with the permanence of digitally authenticated ownership.

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RELEASE DETAILS

  • Pack Contents: Each sealed pack contains two cards — one physical BitMON Hong Kong trading card and one paired NFC-enabled Art Basel Art Card that links to its matching digital counterpart.

  • Edition Types:
    • 1/1 BitMON (Signed) — ultra-rare pull
    • 1/100 Edition BitMON — four editions of 100

  • Pull Odds:
    • 1 in 5 chance of pulling a 1/1 signed BitMON
    • Otherwise, collectors receive a 1/100 edition card

  • NFC Claim Card: Included in every pack. Scan with any modern iOS or Android phone to access the digital artwork tied to the physical card pulled.

  • Ownership & Transfer: The NFT artwork is permanently tied to the Art Card on the Base network and can only be transferred by physically scanning the card’s chip (the card functions as the transfer key).

  • Unlocks Print Access: Collectors have the exclusive ability to purchase a corresponding, hand-signed and numbered fine-art print.

  • Print Price: $499 USD (available exclusively to card holders)

  • Pack Price: $199 USD per sealed pack

Buyers are responsible for any applicable import duties or VAT on their purchase. All sales on chipped NFT products are final.

ABOUT

BitMON HONG KONG

“BitMON began as a simple experiment in character and constraint. Small portraits built from a limited visual language, each one slightly different and carrying its own quiet personality.

For Art Basel Hong Kong, the project shifts into a physical form. Instead of living only on screens, these BitMONs appear as collectible cards that can be discovered, held, and exchanged. Each pack contains a single BitMON encounter, either an editioned work or a unique one. Inside the pack is also a corresponding NFC card that connects the physical object to its digital presence.

Part of this project is rooted in nostalgia. When I was young, I would often ride along with my father during his late-night pizza delivery routes. At the end of the night we would sometimes stop at a gas station and I would pick out a pack of trading cards. I was completely obsessed with a monster-catching game whose world was built from small sprite artworks. Tiny pixel portraits that somehow held entire personalities inside them. Opening those packs felt like uncovering small mysteries.

BitMON carries that same spirit of discovery. Each pack introduces a moment of chance where the work reveals itself only after the object is in your hands. Some encounters are editioned and others are completely unique, but the experience begins the same way. A sealed object and the curiosity of what might be inside.

The NFC pairing extends that idea further by linking the physical card to a digital counterpart. The card becomes both artifact and key, something tangible that unlocks a parallel space where the work continues to live.

BitMON has always been about subtle differences and quiet encounters. In this format those encounters take on a new dimension, merging childhood rituals, digital culture, and physical objects into a small moment of discovery.”

ABOUT

DES LUCRÉCE

Des Lucréce, a Norwegian-born Vietnamese artist based in the USA, excels in crafting unique GIF animations with an expressionist flair. His toolkit includes Procreate, Photoshop, and After Effects, allowing him to weave complex lines and motions reminiscent of artistic greats like Basquiat, Keith Haring, Maki Haku, Futura 2000, and Saul Bass.

Des Lucréce’s work is a deep dive into the theme of 'No Home Center,' reflecting the identity and belonging disconnect common among second-generation Asian immigrants. 

His background as a brand agency designer and a BFA in studio arts has honed his style, characterized by striking colors and expressive designs.  His art probes the nexus between desire, pleasure, and ownership, drawing insights from psychoanalysts Jacques Lacan and Slavoj Zizek.

At 30, Des Lucréce is recognized for his intellectual depth, weaving concepts from Roland Barthes, Derrida, and Kenya Hara into his art.

Visit Des Lucréce’s website HERE.

Digital + Physical Editions

Collectors of BitMON Hong Kong can purchase a corresponding fine-art print, creating a direct connection between the physical card, its authenticated digital record, and the final printed work.

Print Details

  • Paper: Museum quality Hahnemühle Photo Rag

  • Signature & Edition: Hand-signed and hand-numbered by Lucréce

  • Print Size: 24 × 24 in. / 60.9 × 60.9 cm.

  • Provenance: Your NFC-enabled Art Card is an on-chain record for verifiable linkage

  • Print Claims Open: April 8th

  • Print Claims Close: May 31st

  • Print Price: $499 USD

Buyers are responsible for any applicable import duties or VAT on their print purchase.

ABOUT

THE NFC CHIP

An NFC (Near Field Communication) chip is a small device that enables enhanced digital connectivity and verification for each piece. By scanning the chip with a phone, collectors can access their digital BitMON Hong Kong artwork and unlock access to purchase a matching print, making each artwork both unique and interactive.

  • Here’s a simple breakdown of how the NFC chip, the NFT, and your wallet all connect—and how ownership works.

    1) The NFC Chip Is the Key to the NFT

    Each physical art card contains an NFC chip (powered by IYK). That chip is not the NFT itself. Instead, the chip is a secure access key that controls the NFT. Think of the chip as the “transfer button” and the NFT as the artwork stored on-chain.

    2) The NFT Lives On-Chain (on Base)

    Your NFT is permanently stored on the Base network. You can view it anytime on:
    ・OpenSea
    ・Basescan
    ・Any standard NFT viewer that supports Base

    You do not have to use the IYK app to see the artwork. The chip just controls ownership.

    3) You Can Add Your Wallet Before Claiming

    If you want the NFT to go straight into your own wallet:
    ・Log into/create your IYK profile
    ・Add your wallet first
    ・Then tap the NFC card
    ・Choose the wallet you added
    ・The NFT transfers there

    4) If You Sell or Gift the Card

    Ownership of the NFT follows the physical card. This means:
    ・If you sell the art card
    ・Or trade it
    ・Or give it to someone else

    The new holder can tap the chip and move the NFT into their own wallet.
    ・There is no “lock-in.”
    ・There is no “soul-bound” restriction.
    ・The card is simply the mechanism that controls transfer.

    5) The Card = Ownership

    ・If you hold the card, you control the NFT.
    ・If you lose the card, you lose access to transfer it.
    ・If you buy a card from someone else, you have full rights to claim the NFT.
    ・This keeps everything trustless and physical-digital at the same time.

    6) Common Misunderstandings

    “Is the NFT stuck forever in the IYK app?”
    No. It’s on Base, fully viewable on OpenSea or anywhere else.

    “Is the NFT soul-bound?”
    No. It can be transferred—as long as you have the card.

    “What if someone already claimed it—can I still get it?”
    Yes. Whoever holds the card can always move the NFT to a new wallet.

    “Do I have to use IYK’s default wallet?”
    No. You can add your own wallet before tapping the chip.

  • 1) Scan the NFC chip on your Art Card and enter your preferred email address. IYK will email you an access code.
    2) Log in to IYK using that access code.
    3) Click your Profile Icon (top right) → Settings.
    4) Go to the Wallet tab → Add New Wallet.
    5) Connect your preferred wallet (via Base or WalletConnect).
    6) Once your wallet is connected, scan the NFC chip again and click "Claim", and select the wallet you would like your BitMON HK NFT will be sent to.

    If you have any questions or encounter any issues while claiming or transferring your NFT, the team at IYK has been phenomenal in assisting our collectors. You can reach them directly at help@iyk.app

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ABOUT:

THE RELEASE

  • Every collector of BitMON Hong Kong by Des Lucréce has the opportunity to purchase a matching hand-signed and hand-numbered print.

    • Paper: museum quality Hahnemühle Photo Rag

    • Signature & Edition: Hand-signed and hand-numbered by Des Lucréce

    • Print Size: 24 × 24 in. / 60.9 × 60.9 cm.

    • Provenance: Your NFC-enabled Art Card is an on-chain record for verifiable linkage

    • Purchase Price: $499 USD

    • Print Claim Mechanics
      Holders of an Art Basel Art Card can claim a matching hand-signed, hand-numbered print by visiting the designated claim portal and entering their NFT number. Each print is payable via credit card. ICONIC verifies that every claim corresponds to a collector who holds the matching NFT, ensuring that only Art Basel release holders are eligible to receive their corresponding physical print.

    • Print Claim Window: April 8th - May 31st

  • The “Art Card” is a collectible, NFC-enabled artwork credential that elegantly unites the physical and digital. Tap the card with any modern phone to claim your digital artwork, and unlock access to purchase a matching hand-signed, hand-numbered print.

    Because the digital work is directly tied to the card’s NFC chip, the Art Card also serves as a living certificate of provenance.

  • Art Basel and Iconic have partnered to bring Official Art Basel Art Fair Posters to a global audience, offering exclusive, museum-quality editions that celebrate the intersection of fine art and cutting-edge innovation.

    Through this collaboration, collectors and art enthusiasts can access limited-edition works by renowned artists, available online and at Art Basel Shops worldwide.

    This partnership reflects a shared commitment to elevating contemporary art, making exceptional works more accessible while upholding the highest standards of craftsmanship and authenticity.

  • Collectors can purchase their BitMON HK foil pack online through OpenSea, or in-person at the Art Basel Hong Kong store.

    A limited supply is available both online and in-store.

About Iconic

At the core of Iconic’s mission is the integration of traditional art institutions and emerging digital networks.

Founded in 2015, Iconic is a global pioneer in expanding the reach of cultural institutions and the arts. Iconic partners with museums, digital artists, and brands to produce incredible digital and physical art for cultural collectors around the world.

United Nations World Summit Award Winner Culture & Tourism