Soaring past the painted walls of the Krop hallways, two tech-savvy students ride their ambitions on a flying pegasus. They follow a digital dream that binds the boys to one devoted mission: change the gaming world forever.

Krop seniors Alan Bentolila and Elias Kahn are tapping into the gaming and NFT worlds with their recently released project, Mile High Pegasus Club (MHPC). Using a “play-to-earn” model, purchasers of the MHPC NFTs can gain prizes and benefits through the specialized games developed by the two founders.

It started in May 2022 when Kahn and Bentolila first had the idea for their digital design. They were fascinated with the concept of earning money while playing the video games they love, like FIFA and Fortnite. Khan, who was already invested in cryptos and NFTs, reached out to his longtime friend, Bentolila, who had some knowledge in the coding field, to assist with the technicalities of the design as well as give input on the creative aspects of it. 

Working tirelessly for months after school and on weekends, balancing academics and extracurriculars, they birthed their digital baby.

Both Kahn and Bentolila are first-generation Venezuelan immigrants. Coincidentally, both of their families moved to Miami in 2014 when they were just about 9 years old. Though it was difficult for them to adjust to the American lifestyle and English dialect, there was one universal language they understood from early on: money. 

At the age of 10 Bentolila would wash cars around his neighborhood at $20 a pop; four years later he began a dropshipping business which funded his adolescent life relatively comfortably. Khan, on the other hand, had been captivated by the unpredictable thrill of the stock market and began making small independent investments after his bar mitzvah. 

“Elias had the knowledge and experience in the stock market that was pretty similar to what the NFT world was looking to become,” Bentolila said. “That, combined with my grit and desire to make as much money possible, is what allowed us to create our project.”

The pair had always been enthusiastic about the technological direction the world was heading towards, but after seeing the growth in popularity of NFTs and the multitude of ways they can be utilized, they knew they had to go along for the ride. 

Here’s how MHPC works: once a member buys a MHPC NFT, they will

be sent MHPC Meta tokens. These tokens are a form of cryptocurrency that can be traded, in major exchanges, for cash. To earn more of these tokens, members will be allowed to wager on digital mini races, in which first place earns the pot of the funds. 

The MHPC also includes a community wallet, where all members will be able to vote on the allocation of 15 percent of the funds generated by the project. These funds can be used to support scholarships, giveaways, and improve certain aspects of the game itself. 

Their scholarship program is open to any member of the MHPC community. With an emphasis on art and code, scholarship seekers can submit a piece of either the former or the latter in relation to the NFT project itself..

“We didn’t just want to make another NFT project,” Bentolila said. “We wanted to create something that would benefit the community and give back to the people that believe in what we are trying to accomplish.”

The site and first batch of MHPC NFTs are set to launch in early 2023. 

“We hope, with this project, that other young students around the world will become inspired to investigate the booming industry of cryptocurrency and work towards its advancement,” Kahn said. “I see this as the future of our world and encourage anyone with a passion for art, economics, or coding to become a part of its rise.”