Mint Park created a “Hemi Badge” NFT for mainnet. We wanted to learn more.

A while back, we announced that we were working with Mint Park. As we approached mainnet, we noticed that their team had launched a free-to-mint “Hemi Badge” NFT via the Hemi testnet on Feb. 27. 

In 24 hours, it hit 5,000 mints, increasing to 18,000 by the weekend.

The following Monday, more than 82,000 had minted. As of this writing, the number stands at 93,340 according to the Hemi testnet explorer — or 9.2% of the addresses on Hemi at this time.

The Hemi team chatted with Mint Park co-founder Micheal to talk about their project and why they chose Hemi.

How did MintPark get started on Hemi?

When researching Bitcoin Layer 2s to build on, Hemi immediately caught our attention. We weren’t just looking for another chain to deploy on—we wanted an ecosystem worth investing our time in. Hemi’s modular, neutral approach to scaling both Bitcoin and Ethereum, paired with its focus on developer experience and innovative tech like PoP mining, deeply resonated with our team and fueled our inspiration.

Why did MintPark decide to do a “Hemi Badge?”

We created the Hemi Badge to test our integration, but it quickly became more than just a collectible. To our community, it’s a permanent record of participation, representing a badge of honor and bragging rights for early adopters who contributed to Hemi’s ecosystem from the start.

Why does the MP team think the badge went from 21k – 82k in a weekend?

MintPark fills a unique gap in Hemi and the broader Bitcoin Layer 2 ecosystem. While Bitcoin DeFi dominates attention—driving TVL and volume—we believe collectibles foster community and culture, cultivating the human sense of belonging. When Hemi reposted our integration announcement, that’s when the surge happened. Honestly, we were the most surprised by this—it not only validated our tech but confirmed a real interest in NFTs in Bitcoin L2, something we’ve always believed in.

What’s next?

The MintPark team is gearing up for the Hemi mainnet and our first wave of launches. Our vision is to create the next major NFT ecosystem, linking Bitcoin Layer 2 blockchains with seamless cross-chain trading and bridging experiences. We see these as the essential building blocks for a thriving NFT community—one that inspires other builders to launch their projects and grow alongside us.

[Ed. note: This feature is intended to highlight the projects and personalities that have decided to build on Hemi. It is not meant to convey an endorsement or establish any project as more “official” than any other.]