Infinite Node Foundation Acquires CryptoPunks IP
The Infinite Node Foundation (NODE), a digital art non-profit, announced on May 13 that it has acquired the intellectual property rights to the CryptoPunks NFT collection from Yuga Labs. The financial details of the transaction were not publicly disclosed.
NODE referred to CryptoPunks as a cultural icon that “sparked a cultural shift” in digital art. Along with the acquisition, NODE has received a $25 million endowment, which it states makes it the most highly capitalized U.S. nonprofit exclusively focused on digital art.
Advisory Board to Guide the Collection
To ensure thoughtful stewardship of CryptoPunks, NODE formed an advisory board that includes the original founders — John Watkinson and Matt Hall — a representative from Yuga Labs, and other leading voices in digital culture.
NODE says it is working to create a sustainable infrastructure for digital art that honors both internet-native innovation and traditional art history.
CryptoPunks: A Cultural and Financial Powerhouse
Launched in 2017 by Larva Labs, CryptoPunks is a series of 10,000 algorithmically generated pixelated characters. It’s widely regarded as the most valuable NFT collection, with a current market capitalization of nearly $1.2 billion and over $3 billion in total sales.
Each sale of a CryptoPunk also gives royalties to the owners of its IP. In 2022, one CryptoPunk was sold for nearly $24 million — a record for the collection.
From Yuga Labs to NODE
Yuga Labs, the company behind Bored Ape Yacht Club, acquired CryptoPunks and Meebits in 2022 from Larva Labs. It sold Meebits this year before transferring the CryptoPunks IP to NODE.
In March 2025, Yuga also announced the U.S. SEC had closed its investigation into the company, calling it “a huge win for NFTs.”
The CryptoPunks collection starts a new life under nonprofit ownership, with the aspiration to preserve and advance digital art as a cultural institution.
