Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph I

About CSA Hackatao Sisi & Franz Joseph

The Crypto Stamp Art Hackatao edition of 12 December 2024 is the third CSA edition by Österreichische Post and the first collaboration with Italian crypto art duo Hackatao (Sergio Scalet and Nadia Squarci). The edition features Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) and Emperor Franz Joseph I as motifs, returning to Habsburg historical subjects after the abstract 3D crypto art of the FVCKRENDER edition (2023).

Hackatao

Hackatao is the artist duo Sergio Scalet and Nadia Squarci, active in the crypto art scene since 2018. Career timeline:

• 2007: Beginning of joint artistic activity
• 2018: First NFT "Girl Next door" on SuperRare (animated GIF)
• Exhibitions: Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg, Sotheby's London
• Style: Combination of Sergio's surrealist techniques and Nadia's super-flat pop art
• Advocacy: Promoted 10% artist royalties on secondary market sales

Concept: Yin-Yang Duality

Hackatao positioned the two Habsburg figures as contrasting poles in a yin-yang composition:

Franz Joseph I — Yang. The emperor's 68-year reign (1848-1916) witnessed the rise and fall of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Hackatao depict him ascending the throne at 18 during the 1848 Revolutions. Represents duty, stoic rule, introversion.

Empress Sisi — Yin. Represents the emotional counterpoint to Franz Joseph's stoic rule. Her interests in travel, beauty, health, and freedom are depicted as timeless human motifs. Hackatao show her with an anchor tattoo — a royal with an adventurous spirit.

The duality reflects in the artistic style: Sergio's surrealist approach merges with Nadia's super-flat pop techniques.

The Four Motifs

The edition comprises 10,000 stamps in 4 motifs of 2,500 pieces each:

1. Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi alive)

Sisi with flowing hair roaming through Alps and Mediterranean. Represents her quest for freedom across borders.

2. Franz Joseph I of Austria (Franz Joseph alive)

Depicted with sense of duty and stoic dignity — the weight of imperial responsibility.

3. Sisi Skull (Sisi dead)

Inspired by the Habsburg funeral rite, where titles are abolished and identity revealed through passing into the beyond. Hackatao show Sisi's skull as her poetic soul fascinated by tragic hero myths.

4. Franz Skull (Franz Joseph dead)

The Habsburg funeral rite counterpart. Franz Joseph's skull as liberation from a duty-fulfilled life. Both skulls represent ultimate equality in mortality.

Animation Rarity System

The digital NFT versions are animated and differ by color-coded rarity. The rarest level is a glitch version with visual distortion — a reference to glitch art tradition in NFTs. Mintage of glitch variants was not publicly communicated; collector estimates suggest 50-100 pieces per motif (2-4% of 2,500).

Soulbound Token

The edition introduces the soulbound token concept to crypto stamps.

What is a Soulbound Token?

A soulbound token (SBT) is an NFT that cannot be transferred independently. In the CSA Hackatao context: the NFT is bound to the physical stamp. Selling the stamp requires transferring the NFT — and vice versa.

Why Soulbound Token?

This addresses the separation of authenticity and ownership. Previous crypto stamps could be sold separately (physical piece with one collector, NFT with another). A collector could own the physical stamp without the associated NFT.

The soulbound token enforces inseparability between physical and digital components.

Implications for Collectors

• No wallet-to-wallet transfer: NFT remains bound to the stamp
• Sale only as set: Physical and digital must transfer together
• Authenticity protection: Forgeries identifiable through missing NFT access
• Inheritance: Requires documented transfer of NFT access data

Distribution

The edition was released through four channels:

1. cryptostamp.com — primary online channel
2. Sisi Museum Vienna — thematically aligned with Sisi motif
3. Schönbrunn Palace — Habsburg historical site
4. Post offices: 1030 Vienna, 1210 Vienna, 5110 Oberndorf, 4411 Christkindl

Sales through Sisi Museum and Schönbrunn Palace reached tourists and Habsburg history enthusiasts beyond stamp collectors.

Sales Performance

The Hackatao Sisi edition sold out faster than the FVCKRENDER edition (2023). Contributing factors:

1. Hackatao reputation: Hermitage and Sotheby's exhibition history
2. Habsburg motifs: International appeal of Sisi and Franz Joseph
3. Soulbound token: Technical innovation for collectors
4. NFT market recovery: November 2024 NFT sales reached USD 562 million (6-month high)
5. Price point EUR 21.80: Accessible to broader collector base
6. Multiple sales locations: Museums expanded collector pool

The edition's performance led to the second Hackatao collaboration Mozart & Hedy Lamarr in June 2025.

Significance in Crypto Stamp History

CSA Hackatao Sisi marks several developments:

1. First soulbound token edition: Technical innovation in crypto stamps
2. First Italian artist collaboration: Geographic expansion of CSA program
3. Yin-yang concept: Philosophical depth in CSA editions
4. Habsburg reference: Historical anchoring of CSA line
5. Museum distribution: Extension beyond stamp collectors
6. Sales recovery: Fast sellout after cautious FVCKRENDER reception

The Hackatao Sisi edition combines historical themes with established crypto artists. The approach justified a second Hackatao edition (Mozart & Hedy Lamarr 2025).