Async Art
Async Art is a programmable NFT art platform on Ethereum that enables collaborative digital art creation through a proprietary Master/Layer token architecture, serving individual NFT collectors, digital artists, and open-source developers via a self-serve web interface.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Async Art does
Async Art is a programmable NFT art platform built on Ethereum that pioneered a unique Master/Layer token architecture, in which a single Master artwork is composed of multiple Layer tokens that can be independently owned and updated by different stakeholders. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in San Francisco, the company enables collaborative, evolving digital art where collectors and artists interact through a self-serve web interface (async.art) that supports wallet connection, gallery browsing, layer modification, and issue reporting. The platform's technology stack combines Ethereum smart contracts with IPFS decentralized content storage to ensure permanence and accessibility of digital art assets, and also supports music NFTs via Async Music pieces. Revenue is derived from marketplace transaction fees on secondary trades and primary minting/sale commissions on Master and Layer tokens, though specific fee rates are not publicly disclosed.
The company was founded by Conlan Rios (CEO), Lisa Liang (CMO), and Nathan Clapp (CCO) and raised a $2 million seed round in February 2021 led by Lemniscap, with participation from Blue Wire Capital, Collab+Currency, Divergence Ventures, Galaxy Interactive, Inflection, Placeholder, Semantic Ventures, and The LAO. Following original operations ceasing, the platform has been revived and maintained by a community initiative called Digital Rescue Lab and developer Bård Ionson, who restored the Classic Art Editor (Revival Version 2) using legacy Async Code and now manage the www.async.art redirect and associated GitHub repositories. The current go-to-market is product-led and self-serve, targeting NFT art collectors, digital artists, and NFT infrastructure developers globally, with distribution limited to organic community channels (GitHub, Medium, X) and no traditional sales motion.
Async Art firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Async Art
- Website
- https://async.art
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Async Art is a programmable NFT art platform on Ethereum that enables collaborative digital art creation through a proprietary Master/Layer token architecture, serving individual NFT collectors, digital artists, and open-source developers via a self-serve web interface.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Async Art industry classification
Industry- Product category
- NFT Marketplace Platform
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (459920)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art & 1/1 Digital Art NFT Marketplaces (FSADANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- NFT Marketplaces & Aggregators (primary/secondary, discovery, cross-market routing) (FSAPAFAB), NFT Minting & Creation Tooling (no-code/low-code, batch minting, generative drops) (FSAPAFAA), Music & Audio NFT Marketplaces (FSADANAD)
Keywords
Where Async Art is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Async Art business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- NFT Marketplace Transactions: Platform facilitates peer-to-peer trading of programmable art NFTs. Transaction fees or royalties on secondary sales likely apply, though specific rates not publicly disclosed.
- Primary NFT Sales: Initial minting and sale of Master and Layer artworks created by artists on the platform.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Async Art product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Async Art operates a programmable, layered NFT art platform built on the Ethereum blockchain with IPFS-based decentralized storage. Artists create Master Artwork tokens composed of multiple Layer tokens, where each Layer can be independently owned and modified by separate collectors, enabling collaborative, evolving digital artworks. The platform supports browsing Master and Layer galleries, viewing current artwork states, and updating Layer values for token owners via the Async Classic Art Editor.
Product overview
Async Art is a single unified product offering centered on the Async Classic Art Editor — a platform for programmable, layered NFT art. The platform allows artists to create master artworks composed of multiple layers, where each layer can be independently owned and updated by different stakeholders. The current revival version (Version 2) by Digital Rescue Lab restores access to the legacy Async Code, enabling gallery viewing, layer browsing, master artwork state viewing, and layer value updates. The product is accessible via wallet connection through the async.art website.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Async Classic Art Editor A web-based programmable, layered NFT art platform where artists mint Master Artwork tokens composed of multiple updatable Layer tokens. Layer owners can independently modify their contributions while preserving the overall composition. The platform supports browsing Master and Layer galleries, viewing current artwork states, updating Layer values for owners, and reporting artwork issues. Access is wallet-based through the async.art website.
Companies that use Async Art
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Async Art technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Async Art partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Digital Rescue LabcoreCommunity initiative dedicated to restoring and maintaining the Async Art platform after its original operation ceased. Digital Rescue Lab has brought Async Art back to life using legacy code, restored the Classic Art Editor, and continues to work on additional restoration steps. They have been given the www.async.art redirect by the original Async Art team.
- Bård IonsoncoreDeveloper who created the Classic Art Editor Revival Version 2, restoring the ability to control classic Async Art pieces. Maintained both new and old GitHub repositories for the platform.
- X Art Rescue LabminorCommunity presence on X (Twitter) platform (@ArtRescueLab) providing support, restoration updates, and community engagement for Async Art users.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Async Art competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Art Blocks: Curated generative/programmable NFT art platform where collectors own algorithmically generated works. Directly comparable to Async Art as both focus on programmable/algorithmic art ownership rather than static images.
- SuperRare: Curated NFT art marketplace focused on 1/1 digital art with built-in royalty support. Comparable to Async Art in targeting digital artists and collectors with a curated art-first marketplace model.
- Foundation: NFT art marketplace for digital creators with auction-style primary sales and secondary royalties. Similar target customers (artists and collectors) and similar revenue model to Async Art's marketplace transactions.
- Zora: Decentralized NFT marketplace and minting protocol that allows any creator to issue media-based tokens. Closely comparable to Async Art's artist-driven, protocol-level approach to NFT creation and trading.
- fxhash: Open generative art platform on Tezos/Ethereum. Like Async Art, fxhash specializes in programmable/generative artworks where collectors buy outputs of generative code — a closely analogous use case.
- Nifty Gateway: Curated NFT art marketplace (now owned by Gemini) focused on drops from high-profile digital artists. Comparable in its artist-curated model and emphasis on primary sales of digital art.
- Rarible: Multi-category NFT marketplace with creator-friendly minting tools and royalty enforcement. Comparable to Async Art's marketplace-plus-minting positioning across digital art categories.
Broad incumbents
- OpenSea: Largest general-purpose NFT marketplace. While not specialized in programmable art, it is the dominant venue where most Async Art secondary trading would otherwise occur and competes for the same collector wallet.
Emerging players
- Manifold: NFT smart contract and minting platform for creators. Comparable to Async Art's artist tooling layer, though Manifold focuses on contract infrastructure rather than a curated art marketplace.
- Sound.xyz: Music NFT platform with artist drops and collector engagement mechanics. Relevant because Async Art explicitly supports music NFT layers (even if currently non-functional).
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
Async Art social profiles
Digital presenceAsync Art financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Async Art leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Async Art funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Async Art M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Async Art
What does Async Art do?
Async Art operates a programmable, layered NFT art platform built on the Ethereum blockchain with IPFS-based decentralized storage. Artists create Master Artwork tokens composed of multiple Layer tokens, where each Layer can be independently owned and modified by separate collectors, enabling collaborative, evolving digital artworks. The platform supports browsing Master and Layer galleries, viewing current artwork states, and updating Layer values for token owners via the Async Classic Art Editor.
Is Async Art a public or private company?
Async Art is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Async Art founded?
Async Art was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Async Art based?
Async Art is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Async Art make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. NFT Marketplace Transactions are the primary driver. The others are primary NFT Sales.
Who are Async Art's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Art Blocks, SuperRare, Foundation, Zora, fxhash, Nifty Gateway and Rarible. OpenSea is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Manifold and Sound.xyz.
Does Async Art have an API?
No public API is recorded for Async Art.
What industry is Async Art in?
Async Art's product category is NFT Marketplace Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSADANAB, Art & 1/1 Digital Art NFT Marketplaces, with a secondary code of FSAPAFAB, NFT Marketplaces & Aggregators (primary/secondary, discovery, cross-market routing). Its NAICS code is 459920 and its SIC code is 6200.