John Crain

John Crain is a prominent entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of SuperRare, a leading marketplace for buying and selling digital art as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the Ethereum blockchain. He co-founded SuperRare in 2017, with the platform going live in 2018. Under his leadership, SuperRare has evolved into not just a marketplace but also a social network for artists and collectors, allowing users to create and trade unique digital artworks while fostering community engagement through features like "SuperRare Spaces" for artists to showcase their work.12

Background and Career

Before founding SuperRare, Crain worked in various roles that combined technology and creativity. He was involved with ConsenSys, where he focused on product development related to blockchain technologies, and he served as a Creative Technologist at MRY, where he was engaged in design and engineering projects.34 His experience also includes mentoring at the Tachyon Accelerator, which supports early-stage startups utilizing blockchain technology.5

Contributions to the NFT Space

Crain has been instrumental in pioneering artist royalties within the NFT marketplace, ensuring that creators benefit from secondary sales of their work. This innovation has set SuperRare apart as a leader in the digital art community, emphasizing the importance of artist rights.26

In addition to his role at SuperRare, Crain has been recognized in various lists highlighting influential figures in art and technology, such as the Apollo 40 Under 40 Art & Tech list.15 His vision for SuperRare continues to shape the future of digital art collecting and the broader Web3 landscape.