Nuclear Bunker in England Target of Solana NFT Project’s Crowdfunding Campaign

TLDR

• Solana NFT project “Meatbags” plans to sell 100,000 NFTs at $14 each to buy a Cold War nuclear bunker in Rutland, England
• NFT holders will join “Billionaire Bunker Club” DAO to vote on bunker’s future use
• The bunker auction is scheduled for April 24 with a guide price of £650,000 ($862,257)
• Project started as a joke but aims to “make NFTs fun again” according to co-founder Robert
• Similar to ConstitutionDAO’s past attempt to buy a US Constitution copy, though that effort ultimately failed

A Solana-based NFT project called “Meatbags” has unveiled plans to purchase a Cold War-era nuclear bunker through the sale of 100,000 digital collectibles. The campaign, dubbed “#buythebunker,” aims to raise approximately $1.4 million to acquire and refurbish a 1960s underground facility in Rutland, England.

Dead Bruv, the team behind the doomsday-themed Meatbags NFT collection, is offering these digital “land deeds” for $14 each. The sale begins April 21 at 8 AM EST and continues until just hours before the property’s auction on April 24.

Existing Meatbags holders will receive 10,000 of these NFTs through a 1:1 airdrop, while the remaining 90,000 will be available to the public. Buyers can use SolanaPay or credit cards to purchase the tokens.

We’re giving Doomsday Preppers around the world a chance to reserve their slice of the Billionaire Bunker Club—a Cold War artifact and the first historic site ever fractionalized into a fully decentralized, community-governed real-world asset on-chain.

— MEATBAGS (@mfmeatbags) April 19, 2025

The Bunker’s History and Features

The nuclear bunker was constructed in 1960 during the height of Cold War tensions. It served as one of 1,500 monitoring posts built across the United Kingdom to report nuclear attacks and track radioactive fallout.

After being decommissioned in 1968, the facility now sits on 1.4 acres of land near a former reservoir. The current owners have already secured planning permission to convert the bunker into a luxury residence.

SDL Property Auctions has listed the property with a guide price of £650,000 (approximately $862,257). The listing describes potential for a two-floor conversion with “cathedral-type ceilings” and large glass frontage offering views of the Leicestershire countryside.

Community Governance Through DAO

All NFT holders will gain membership to the “Billionaire Bunker Club,” a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that will vote on the bunker’s future use if the purchase is successful.

Robert, the pseudonymous co-founder of Dead Bruv, told Decrypt that several options are being considered. “I guess the idea would be to be able to have people come to the property, stay on it. Either I think it will turn into a tourist attraction, or I think it could also go down the route of being an insane property on Airbnb,” he said.

Other proposed uses include a “members-only survival resort with Doomsday DJ,” a venue for end-of-the-world festivals, or a unique Airbnb offering “caviar tastings and canned bean room service.”

Each NFT will transform on April 28 into one of 20 unique parts across four rarity tiers: Common, Uncommon, Rare, or Epic. The team emphasizes that while these rarities may unlock future perks, they won’t affect ownership percentage or voting power within the DAO.

Origins of the Project

The idea began as a joke but quickly evolved into a serious venture. Robert explained in an April 18 statement on X: “Taking risks. Getting creative. Pushing the boundaries of what this tech can do to create something completely new, absurd, and incredible.”

He added, “When something comes from a place of, this is completely insane, we gotta do it, that’s when I know we’re onto something.”

Psychrome, another pseudonymous co-founder and creative director, expressed optimism about the campaign’s chances despite the ambitious target. “I’m about as optimistic as you can be when betting on crypto and the apocalypse at the same time,” he told Decrypt.

The project has reportedly contacted the auctioneers, who appear open to the NFT collective’s participation in the bidding process.

Previous DAO Property Purchases

This isn’t the first time a crypto collective has attempted to acquire a high-value physical asset. In 2021, ConstitutionDAO raised approximately $47 million in Ether to bid on an original copy of the United States Constitution.

Despite the impressive fundraising effort, ConstitutionDAO ultimately lost to billionaire Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, who bid $43.2 million. Meatbags has promised to follow ConstitutionDAO’s example by refunding participants if they fail to secure the bunker or an alternative site within six months.

Other DAO efforts have proven more successful. LinksDAO purchased Spey Bay Golf Club in Scotland in 2023 and is currently renovating the property. They also claim to have added the US-based Hillcrest Country Club to their holdings in February 2024.

If the “Buy the Bunker” campaign fails to secure the Rutland property, Robert says the team has already identified alternative sites, mostly in the United Kingdom but possibly elsewhere. “We’re confident we’ll be able to get our hands on a bunker,” he said.

The NFT sale is scheduled to conclude just before the property auction on April 24, giving potential buyers limited time to participate in this unique crypto-meets-real-estate venture.