TLDR
- Solana NFT project “Meatbags” aims to sell 100,000 NFTs to purchase a Cold War nuclear bunker in England
- NFTs will cost $14 each with holders joining a DAO called “Billionaire Bunker Club” to vote on the bunker’s purpose
- The bunker in Rutland is listed for £650,000 ($862,257) with auction scheduled for April 24
- Project founders say the initiative aims to “make NFTs fun again” and began as a joke
- Similar to ConstitutionDAO’s effort to buy a U.S. Constitution copy, though that attempt was unsuccessful
A doomsday-themed Solana NFT project called Meatbags is attempting to purchase a Cold War-era nuclear bunker through a unique crowdfunding approach. The creators, a team known as Dead Bruv, plan to sell 100,000 NFTs at $14 each to raise funds for buying a bunker located in Rutland, England.
The bunker, built in 1960 as a monitoring post during the Cold War, is currently listed by SDL Property Auctions for £650,000 ($862,257) with an auction date set for April 24. The property spans 1.4 acres and includes a former reservoir, with permissions already in place to convert it into a house.
From Joke to Reality
According to Robert, the pseudonymous co-founder of Dead Bruv, the initiative started as a joke but quickly evolved into what he called a “lightbulb moment.” He stated that the project aims to “make NFTs fun again” by “taking risks, getting creative, and pushing the boundaries of what this tech can do.”
“When something comes from a place of, this is completely insane, we gotta do it, that’s when I know we’re onto something,” Robert said in a statement shared on X.
Meatbags, grab your masks and your bug out bags. April 21, we’re kicking off #buythebunker—the weirdest crowdfunded property purchase on the internet ever 🧵 pic.twitter.com/WV0WPyYbva
— MEATBAGS (@mfmeatbags) April 19, 2025
The project plans to mint 100,000 NFTs starting April 21, with existing Meatbags holders receiving 10,000 as an airdrop. The rest will be sold to the public at $14 each, potentially raising up to $1.4 million.
The Billionaire Bunker Club DAO
Purchasers of these NFTs will gain entry into a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) called the Billionaire Bunker Club. This DAO will function as a “fully decentralized, community-governed real-world asset onchain” according to project materials.
If the purchase is successful, DAO members will vote on what to do with the bunker. Some ideas already proposed include creating a “members-only survival resort with Doomsday DJ,” hosting end-of-the-world festivals, or turning it into “an Airbnb with caviar tastings and canned bean room service.”
The project has factored various costs into their fundraising goal of $1.4 million. This includes the purchase price, refurbishment costs, negotiation room, and funds for management, operating, and legal fees.
NFT holders will also receive an on-chain land deed verifying their ownership share of the bunker and an invitation to an opening party.
The bunker was one of 1,500 monitoring posts built across the United Kingdom during the Cold War. These posts were tasked with reporting nuclear bursts and monitoring radioactive fallout. This particular bunker was decommissioned in 1968.
Current planning permission would allow the site to be transformed into a luxury home with two floors of “cathedral-type ceilings,” a large glass frontage, and views across the Leicestershire countryside.
Robert claims to have contacted the auctioneers, who seem open to the NFT project purchasing the property. The team has also prepared contingency plans if their bid is unsuccessful.
“We’re confident we’ll be able to get our hands on a bunker,” Robert told Decrypt. He mentioned they’ve already identified alternative sites, primarily in the United Kingdom but possibly elsewhere.
Learning from Previous DAO Efforts
This initiative bears similarities to previous attempts by DAOs to purchase high-value assets. Most notably, ConstitutionDAO raised approximately $47 million in Ether in 2021 to buy an original copy of the United States Constitution at a Sotheby’s auction.
Despite their efforts, ConstitutionDAO fell short, losing to billionaire Citadel CEO Ken Griffin who placed the winning bid of $43.2 million.
Meatbags has promised to refund participants if they cannot secure the bunker or an alternative site within six months of a rejected bid, similar to how ConstitutionDAO handled its unsuccessful attempt.
However, not all DAO property purchases have failed. LinksDAO successfully bought Scotland’s Spey Bay Golf Club in May 2023. The group later added the US-based Hillcrest Country Club to its portfolio in February 2025.
The Meatbags NFT project itself has a doomsday theme, focusing on “preppers” living in a world that is ending. This fictional setting, called “Surviville,” reflects real-world concerns such as war tensions, global pandemics, and AI advancement.
Given this thematic alignment, there’s speculation that if successful, the DAO might vote to maintain the property as a functional bunker for emergency scenarios.
The Billionaire Bunker Club NFTs will go on sale Monday at 8am ET, with purchase options including Solana Pay or credit card via the Dead Bruv website.
Stay Ahead of the Market with Benzinga Pro!
Want to trade like a pro? Benzinga Pro gives you the edge you need in today's fast-paced markets. Get real-time news, exclusive insights, and powerful tools trusted by professional traders:
- Breaking market-moving stories before they hit mainstream media
- Live audio squawk for hands-free market updates
- Advanced stock scanner to spot promising trades
- Expert trade ideas and on-demand support
