Scoop: CryptoPunks IP Sells for Around $20 Million to Infinite Node Foundation

The most influential NFT project now has a new home.

The Infinite Node Foundation (NODE) announced the full acquisition of the CryptoPunks intellectual property from Yuga Labs in a landmark deal that transfers the stewardship of one of digital art’s most iconic collections.

While terms of the deal were not disclosed, multiple sources close to the situation tell Now Media that NODE paid in the range of $20 million for the CryptoPunks IP.

The Infinite Node Foundation (NODE) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the intellectual property of @cryptopunksnfts from @yugalabs.

Launched by Larva Labs in 2017, CryptoPunks are widely regarded as the catalyst for the modern digital art movement. Their $3.07B in sales… pic.twitter.com/RQ6apT8A3o

— NODE (@nodefnd) May 13, 2025

NODE has appointed an advisory board of notable voices from across the CryptoPunks ecosystem, including Larva Labs founders Matt Hall and John Watkinson, Yuga co-founder Wylie Aronow (aka Gordon Goner), and Art Blocks founder Erick Calderon (aka Snowfro). The move is widely seen as a full-circle return for the collection’s original creators.

Founded by Ribbit Capital founder Micky Malka and Becky Kleiner, the Infinite Node Foundation is a nonprofit endowment focused on preserving digital art. In April, NODE announced a $25 million grant from Malka and Kleiner to advance its vision for the future of digital art

NODE plans to work closely with leading museums and art institutions to embed CryptoPunks into the global art-historical canon, while debuting a major curated exhibition of the entire collection alongside the opening of its own permanent exhibition space in Palo Alto. The facility will also run a live Ethereum node to underscore its focus on long-term accessibility and decentralized infrastructure.

“CryptoPunks sparked a cultural movement that blended code, community, and commerce,” said Malka. “By pairing museum-grade conservation with an evergreen endowment, we intend to future-proof this landmark work and make it easier than ever for scholars, curators, and collectors to engage with it.”

“When Yuga acquired CryptoPunks’ IP, it wasn’t just about ownership– it was about honoring a cultural icon we believed in,” said Aronow. “We’ve worked to elevate and protect their legacy, but we always knew Punks needed a permanent home built for preservation. Seeing that vision come to life with the Node Foundation feels like a full-circle moment. They are best positioned to protect the Punks legacy.”

We are excited to announce CryptoPunks have found a permanent home at The Infinite Node Foundation. @nodefnd is a non-profit committed to the preservation and expansion of contemporary digital art.@larvalabs founders & artists Matt Hall & John Watkinson are returning to join… pic.twitter.com/0E2gk0RuyD

— CryptoPunks (@cryptopunksnfts) May 13, 2025

As part of the handover, former CryptoPunks GM Natalie Stone will be moving to an advisory role to aid in the transition.

The market responded favorably to the news, with the floor price rising to nearly 48 ETH ($124,766) from 42 pre-announcement. The community response has been largely positive, with notable Punk holders taking to X to comment on the landmark deal.

“The acquisition of Crypto Punks (IP + website) by Node is one of the most extraordinary acts of generosity & commitment to digital art we’ve ever seen,” said Ryan Zurrer, Founder of 1OF1, who had previously been linked to acquisition efforts around the project.

“Congratulations to Node on acquiring the CryptoPunks IP,” said collector Daniel Maegaard (aka Seedphrase). “This is, without a doubt, the best outcome for collectors and the culture (especially with Matt and John involved).”

Collector Von Mises hailed the news as “about as bullish for Punks as it could get.”

“This means Punks IP has found its “end of the line” where it can grow and flourish without any need to monetize or be corrupted in any way,” he said. “We’ve all wanted Punks to be left alone, and I do think we have exactly what we want.”

CryptoPunks began as an experiment by Larva Labs in 2017 and became a turning point for digital art. Long before the NFT boom, the 10,000-character collection challenged conventions around authorship, ownership, and value.

Learn more about the project in our exclusive docuseries, “Punks As Told by CryptoPunks.”