Pixel Vault

Gearin's background includes roles in business development and law, with an MBA from Duke University and a JD from Loyola Law School. He launched Pixel Vault with the concept of building stories and fractional ownership around a collection of 16 CryptoPunks, aiming to give the community access to high-value NFTs and allow them to build the intellectual property alongside the company.

The company's business model is centered on creating interconnected, multi-franchise intellectual properties, often described as building a 'decentralized Marvel'. They generate revenue through the sale of NFTs, such as the PUNKS Comic and MetaHero collections, and have engaged in partnerships with major brands like Adidas and UFC. Key projects include PUNKS Comic, which brings NFTs like CryptoPunks to life through storytelling, and the MetaHero Universe, a superhero-inspired gaming and social platform. Collectors can participate in the ecosystem through unique on-chain mechanics, decentralized governance, and true digital ownership, where fans are positioned as owners and builders. For example, holders of the genesis PUNKS Comic NFT could stake their comic to earn a share of tokens representing fractionalized ownership of the underlying CryptoPunks vault.

In February 2022, Pixel Vault secured a $100 million investment from Velvet Sea Ventures and 01A to launch a multi-franchise NFT development platform that allows artists and collectors to own digital content across movies, television, and video games. More recently, the company has faced challenges, including the ousting of CEO Sean Gearin in mid-2025 following allegations of a rug pull scheme. By July 2025, Pixel Vault announced it was exploring a potential company sale due to difficulties in establishing a sustainable business model in the volatile crypto entertainment sector.