{"id":26691,"date":"2025-05-14T09:47:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T09:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/yuga-labs-transfers-cryptopunks-ip-end-of-an-era-for-nfts\/"},"modified":"2025-05-14T09:47:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T09:47:01","slug":"yuga-labs-transfers-cryptopunks-ip-end-of-an-era-for-nfts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=26691","title":{"rendered":"Yuga Labs Transfers CryptoPunks IP: End of an Era for NFTs?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><em>Yuga Labs has transferred CryptoPunks IP to the Infinite Node Foundation. With trading volume up 170% to $2.8 million in 24 hours, is this the end of NFTs or a bold move to preserve digital art?<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CryptoPunks are among the most valuable NFTs. During the 2020\u20132021 bull market, driven mainly by DeFi and NFT activity, each of the 10,000 CryptoPunks was highly coveted. Those \u201cfortunate\u201d enough to purchase them paid millions of dollars in ETH.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">EXPLORE:\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/analysis\/crypto-forecast-best-crypto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">10 Coins with High Returns: Crypto Forecast 2025<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yuga Labs Hands Over CryptoPunks To NODE<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In August 2021, the collection generated $691 million in monthly sales volume. As NFT fever surged, one collector spent $23.7 million to acquire CryptoPunk #5822 in February 2022, making it the fourth most expensive NFT ever.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-237805\" src=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-14T114934.472.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1879\" height=\"812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-14T114934.472.png 1879w, https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-14T114934.472-300x130.png 300w, https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-14T114934.472-1024x443.png 1024w, https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-14T114934.472-768x332.png 768w, https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-14T114934.472-1536x664.png 1536w, https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-14T114934.472-50x22.png 50w, https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-14T114934.472-308x133.png 308w, https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-14T114934.472-350x151.png 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1879px) 100vw, 1879px\"><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">(<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cryptoslam.io\/cryptopunks?headerPeriod=all&amp;tab=historical_sales_volume\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Source<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For crypto and NFT enthusiasts, the 2021 boom was euphoric, but such valuation spikes may not return for years. Recognizing that NFT trading volume might not recover to billions monthly, Yuga Labs, the team behind Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20250512398123\/en\/The-Infinite-Node-Foundation-Acquires-CryptoPunks-IP-from-Yuga-Labs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">announced<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> on May 12, 2025, the transfer of full intellectual property (IP) rights for CryptoPunks to the Infinite Node Foundation (NODE).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rumors in January suggested the deal was imminent, pushing the floor price higher. Despite confidence that the agreement would be finalized within a couple of weeks, it took months to materialize. During this time, some of the <\/span><a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/cryptocurrency\/best-solana-meme-coins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">best Solana meme coins<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, including TRUMP, shot higher, dominating crypto headlines.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&#8217;m now confident enough to share it with y&#8217;all after hearing it from several sources close to the matter:<\/p>\n<p>Yuga Labs might be in the process of selling the CryptoPunks IP.<\/p>\n<p>They bought the IP + more than 400 CryptoPunk NFTs from Larva Labs back in March 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Who is the buyer?\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 wale.moca <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.1.0\/72x72\/1f433.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc33\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\"> (@waleswoosh) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/waleswoosh\/status\/1879224522324562055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">January 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The financial details of the agreement remain private and have not been divulged by NODE, a California-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving digital art, or by Yuga Labs. Still, the decision has ignited debate over whether transferring IP rights to NODE effectively buries CryptoPunks or serves the collection\u2019s long-term interests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yuga Labs is transferring CryptoPunks\u2019 IP to NODE amid a struggling NFT market, with trading volume down over 90% from 2021 peaks. Following the announcement, CryptoPunks\u2019 trading volume surged 170% to $2.8 million in 24 hours, with 21 sales transactions recorded. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The average sale price in May 2025 is $121,605, with total sales reaching over $9.7 million. In August 2021, the collection posted $691 million in total sales, but volumes steadily declined, hitting a low of $7.7 million in monthly average sales in September 2023. The fall mirrors the general performance in crypto, where even some of the <\/span><a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/cryptocurrency\/best-crypto-to-buy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">best cryptos to buy<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> contracted.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What\u2019s Next?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Is Yuga Labs divesting as NFTs face their demise as a speculative asset class? If so, the move is quite telling, as Yuga acquired CryptoPunks from Larva Labs in 2022. Less than three years later, they are transferring the collection to NODE. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As part of the agreement, NODE will debut a curated CryptoPunks exhibition at its permanent space in Palo Alto, helping educate the masses. The exhibition will feature a live Ethereum node to ensure on-chain accessibility.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cCryptoPunks sparked a cultural movement that blended code, community, and commerce,\u201d said Micky Malka, Chair of the Node Foundation. \u201cBy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If Yuga Labs is shifting focus to BAYC, this isn\u2019t their first IP divestiture. Earlier in 2025, they sold the Meebits IP before announcing a company restructure and lay-offs.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">1\/ The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MeebitCompany?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">@MeebitCompany<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/1confirmation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">@1confirmation<\/a>-backed venture, is excited to announce its acquisition of the Meebits from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yugalabs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">@yugalabs<\/a> and the launch of a new chapter for Larva Labs\u2019 third and most ambitious NFT project. We look forward to preserving the rich history of this collection\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0HLYyEJ9ZR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/0HLYyEJ9ZR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Meebits (@MeebitsNFTs) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MeebitsNFTs\/status\/1890436605728469159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">February 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Whether they are lightening their burden remains unclear. It should be noted that Yuga Labs was sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last year. However, the case was <a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/yugalabs\/status\/1896687377915187538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">closed<\/a> in March 2025. Even though this cleared legal hurdles, it didn\u2019t stop skepticism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some think the acquisition by NODE is the right move since Punks were \u201cnever meant to sit on a shelf next to Apes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yuga passing on the CryptoPunks IP to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nodefnd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">@nodefnd<\/a> is the move.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not that <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yugalabs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">@yugalabs<\/a> did anything wrong but Punks were never meant to sit on a shelf next to Apes.<\/p>\n<p>This IP deserves its own spotlight, its own tempo, its own team fully committed to the culture.<\/p>\n<p>With Matt &amp; John\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4ci3Z9AVzj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/4ci3Z9AVzj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Djani (@DjaniWhaleSkul) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DjaniWhaleSkul\/status\/1922302624746881244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">May 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In his view, the agreement is more like a \u201crealignment\u201d, not a sale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Meanwhile, others <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/0xQuit\/status\/1922292022238708048\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">think<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> the Punk community will get much more from NODE, including the possibility of revamping the budding process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">DISCOVER:<\/span><\/strong> <a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/cryptocurrency\/high-risk-high-reward-crypto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">9 High-Risk High-Reward Cryptos for 2025<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways\">\n<h3 class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__title\">CryptoPunks IP Transfer to NODE: Is the NFT Market Dead?<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list\">\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n         <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CryptoPunks NFT collection generated $680 million in August 2021<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span>    <\/li>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n         <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After acquiring CryptoPunks in 2022, Yuga Labs transfers its IP to NODE to focus on BAYC and Otherside metaverse<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span>    <\/li>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n         <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CryptoPunks\u2019 trading volume soared 170% to $2.8M <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">in<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> 24 hours after the announcement<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span>    <\/li>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n         <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The nonprofit Infinite Node Foundation will debut a CryptoPunks exhibition in Palo Alto<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span>    <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/news\/yuga-labs-transfers-cryptopunks-ip-end-of-an-era-for-nfts\/\">Yuga Labs Transfers CryptoPunks IP: End of an Era for NFTs?<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/\">99Bitcoins<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yuga Labs has transferred CryptoPunks IP to the Infinite Node Foundation. With trading volume up 170% to $2.8 million in 24 hours, is this the end of NFTs or a bold move to preserve digital art? CryptoPunks are among the most valuable NFTs. During the 2020\u20132021 bull market, driven mainly by DeFi and NFT activity, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3,4,5],"class_list":["post-26691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-crypto","tag-doge","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26691\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}