Case Study: The Composables PFP Collection

Some projects go viral. Others go deep…The Composables did both, minting out 5,000 NFTs, generating nearly 700 ETH in volume, and building lasting trust with collectors. It wasn’t hype or luck. It was the result of a clear vision, strong community alignment, and the right partner to make it all work.

The numbers:

• Mint price: 0.0359 ETH.
• Current floor price: 0.285 ETH.
• 4,500 NFTs were minted through allowlist access within hours.
• 500 NFTs sold out during the public mint in just minutes.
• 717.8 ETH in trading volume to date.

About the Project

Espresso Network is a new confirmation layer designed to bring fast, secure crosschain communication to L2s. They’re making our cross-chain dreams a reality. The Composables is their flagship NFT collection: built for community, and a fully cross chain future.

What began as a way for early contributors to represent themselves online evolved into something much bigger: a visual symbol of the network’s values – interoperability, creativity, and composability – as well as a practical tool to showcase interop. (more on that soon).

It took the team about 5 months to go from idea to mint day! It was a slow, natural, progression… the initial idea came from Espresso CSO Jill Gunter – she wanted a unified looking PFP for all Espresso team members posting on X. And it snowballed from there, until we realised that we needed to sit down and create something intentional for the community.

From there, they worked with their team of talented designers, led by Martin Egrt, to workshop a collection that was totally unique and represented the Espresso community. At the heart of everything was the idea of composability. To really connect with the community, this collection needed to reflect the fundamentals of Espresso’s tech. Composable not only by name, but also by design and function.

Why Espresso chose Rarible

When it came time to mint, RARI Chain and Rarible were an easy choice. Committed to innovative NFTs from day 1, and a firm believer in a multichain future, Rarible was more than willing to step up to the plate to make this happen.

RARI Chain was the first chain to integrate with the Espresso Network, so it was a natural fit for our first community NFT. Plus, we know Rarible is a pioneer in the NFT space and is interested in developing crosschain NFT marketplaces, which is exactly what Espresso is all about – secure confirmations that let chains communicate quickly and securely. The Rarible team was incredibly supportive in bringing our vision to life.

The Drop: Phased, Fair, and Fast

Rarible worked closely with the Espresso team to build a custom allowlist flow that met their communities needs. Access to each phase was determined by an individual’s involvement in the Espresso Ecosystem. Some spots were given to members whose past activities deserved rewards. Some spots were earned through actions and quests. The idea was to do everything possible to make sure that these NFTs ended up in the hands of true believers.

Phase 1

It started with a reserved batch for early contributors. 200 NFTs were held back, to be distributed amongst the core team that made Composables possible.

Phases 2 & 3

This was followed by two allowlist phases – one with guaranteed access, the other first-come-first-served. 

Phase 4

Finally, the mint closed with a public phase of 500 NFTs, which sold out in minutes.

In the lead-up to the mint, Rarible also supported a giveaway campaign. Participants could complete simple quests to earn a chance at winning an allowlist spot – helping build early momentum and engage new community members.

Plus Rari Foundation are giving away a Composable PFP:

Why this drop worked

This wasn’t a drop that relied solely on hype, it was crafted with intention and care. From the start, the Espresso team focused on engaging real contributors and supporters.

1. A Clear Why

From the start, this collection had purpose. It began as a way to visually unite early contributors and evolved into a flagship identity for the network. That clarity of intent made it easy for the community to rally around.

2. Designed for the Community

The allowlist wasn’t a giveaway contest. Access was earned through meaningful contribution and engagement. That set the tone: this drop was for real believers, not just speculators.

3. Phased Launch Structure

The four-phase mint allowed for momentum to build gradually—early contributors were rewarded, allowlisted users had clarity, and the public still had a chance to participate. This structure balanced fairness with hype, and it worked: the final phase sold out in minutes.

4. On-Chain Values, On-Chain Design

Each NFT was more than a PFP. It was a modular identity that could evolve and travel across chains—just like Espresso’s tech. That alignment between product, mission, and design built trust and excitement.

5. Rarible as a Strategic Partner

Rarible didn’t just host the mint—they enabled it. From supporting RARI Chain integration to co-developing a seamless minting experience, the Rarible team helped translate vision into execution.

Looking ahead

The Composables roadmap introduces a wave of new features built around true crosschain functionality. First up is Composable Drip—a mint-anywhere collectible that holders can eventually merge with their NFTs, no bridging required. Soon, Composables themselves will be able to travel between Espresso-integrated chains, evolving with each move and earning rewards. Read more here.

Looking further ahead, Espresso and Rarible are collaborating on crosschain NFT markets, enabling seamless buying and selling across chains without asset transfers. Altogether, these updates showcase a frictionless, composable multichain future in action.

Let’s launch the next big NFT collection

If you’re building for a real community and you’re ready to launch something meaningful, Rarible can help make it happen.

Let’s build your collection together.