The Infinite Node Foundation has officially acquired the intellectual property rights to CryptoPunks from Yuga Labs, marking a major moment in the history of digital art.
While the exact terms of the deal remain undisclosed, sources familiar with the matter revealed that the acquisition cost was around $20 million.
Preserving a Digital Icon
CryptoPunks, one of the earliest and most influential NFT collections, will now be under the care of Infinite Node Foundation (NODE), a nonprofit organization backed by Ribbit Capital founder Micky Malka and Becky Kleiner. The foundation is focused on long-term preservation of digital art and had recently received a $25 million grant to support this mission.
NODE’s leadership aims to cement CryptoPunks’ place in art history. Plans include collaborating with global museums and art institutions, launching a curated exhibition of the full collection, and opening a permanent space in Palo Alto. This facility will also operate a live Ethereum node as a symbol of their commitment to decentralized infrastructure and accessibility.
Guided by Original Creators and Experts
To ensure the integrity of CryptoPunks’ legacy, NODE has formed an advisory board that includes key figures from the NFT and digital art world. Among them are CryptoPunks creators Matt Hall and John Watkinson, Yuga Labs co-founder Wylie Aronow (aka Gordon Goner), and Art Blocks founder Erick Calderon (aka Snowfro).
Yuga Labs, which had previously acquired the IP from Larva Labs, expressed full support for the transition. Aronow stated that NODE is the best possible steward for CryptoPunks, emphasizing their nonprofit structure and cultural mission as ideal for long-term preservation.
Market and Community React Positively
Following the announcement, the CryptoPunks floor price rose from 42 ETH to nearly 48 ETH (approx. $124,766), reflecting strong market confidence. The NFT community also celebrated the deal, with major collectors and stakeholders praising NODE’s commitment.
Ryan Zurrer, founder of 1OF1, called the acquisition one of the most generous and committed acts toward digital art. Collector Daniel Maegaard (Seedphrase) echoed this sentiment, calling it the best possible outcome for both collectors and culture.
A Full Circle Moment for CryptoPunks
Created in 2017 by Larva Labs, CryptoPunks began as an experiment and quickly evolved into a symbol of the NFT movement. With this new chapter, the collection returns to the care of its original creators and a team dedicated to preserving its cultural value rather than commercializing it further.
As collector Von Mises noted, the deal allows CryptoPunks to grow in a space free from market pressures—ensuring its legacy as a digital art pioneer lives on.