Non-fungible token (NFT) entrepreneur Wylie Aronow of Yuga Labs – the team behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and CryptoPunks collections – will be taking a leave of absence from work to manage a series of heart failure symptoms.
On January 28, in a Twitter message to his 144,900 followers, Aronow explained that the difficult decision to retire was due to a diagnosis of heart failure after experiencing a series of symptoms in recent months.
Some heavy news: a few days ago I was told by my doctor I have congestive heart failure. Symptoms started last year out of the blue and I put off seeking help (like an idiot) so I could keep working. But after testing, my doctor called and asked me to radically change my life.
— GordonGoner.eth (Wylie Aronow) (@GordonGoner) January 28, 2023
A few days ago my doctor told me that I have congestive heart failure. The symptoms started last year suddenly and I put off seeking help (like an idiot) so I could keep working. But after the tests, my doctor called me and asked me to radically change my lifestyle.
The businessman explained that although his “mild” symptoms still allow him to lead a “mostly normal life”, his condition has rapidly accelerated to the point that he has had no choice but to de-prioritize his work.
The Yuga Labs co-founder did not set a date for when he expects to make a full recovery and return to his daily tasks.
However, Aranow confirmed that he will continue on the Administrative Council and as a strategic advisor.
It’s also not the first medical diagnosis that has kept Aranow out of a job.
Aranow revealed that he suffered from a chronic illness at the age of twenty that prevented him from progressing in his career. So when he finally recovered and co-founded Yuga Labs, there was no going back:
“When I recovered and we got Yuga going, I didn’t want to waste a second chance at life. I tried my best. I worked 12 hour days, almost every day. I should have taken the advice of everyone around me and sought the Balance”.
“My goals now are to receive the best medical treatment I can and to be cured,” he added.
Aronow also expressed his excitement to soon be working alongside the company’s new CEO, Daniel Alegre, former President and COO of Activision Blizzard.
Although Aronow did not elaborate on what he would do as a strategic advisor, he announced on November 8 that he would propose a new model for NFT creators’ copyrights.
Aronow co-founded Yuga Labs with Greg Solano in February 2021.
Among the most prominent NFT collections developed by the company are CryptoPunks, BAYC, MeeBits and Othersidemeta.
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