Yuga Labs Transfers CryptoPunks Rights to Infinite Node Foundation

Yuga Labs, the company behind the popular Bored Ape Yacht Club, has made a significant move by selling the intellectual property rights of the CryptoPunks NFT collection to the Infinite Node Foundation. This announcement was made by the foundation on Tuesday and represents a pivotal moment for one of the most renowned NFT collections in the market.

Key Takeaways

Yuga Labs has sold the rights to CryptoPunks to the Infinite Node Foundation.
CryptoPunks, created in 2017 by Larva Labs, features 10,000 unique pixel-art characters.
The Infinite Node Foundation is committed to preserving and exhibiting digital art.
A new museum program will showcase all 10,000 CryptoPunks in a permanent exhibition in Palo Alto, California.
The foundation aims to further study and appreciate CryptoPunks' cultural significance.
Yuga Labs previously acquired CryptoPunks in 2022 with a focus on preservation rather than commercialization.

Yuga Labs sells CryptoPunks rights to Infinite Node Foundation

Main Content

Originally launched in 2017 by Larva Labs, CryptoPunks comprises 10,000 pixel-art characters that have become iconic symbols of early digital art culture and the emergence of blockchain-based ownership. The transfer to the Infinite Node Foundation is significant, given the organization's mission to preserve and showcase digital art.

The Infinite Node Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of digital artworks. Its plans include expanding the legacy of CryptoPunks through various initiatives, such as academic studies and physical exhibitions.

As part of these efforts, the foundation is set to introduce a new museum partnership program and will launch a curated exhibition that features all 10,000 CryptoPunks at its upcoming permanent exhibition space located in Palo Alto, California. This venue will also host a live Ethereum node, highlighting the on-chain nature of these artworks.

Micky Malka, chair of the Infinite Node Foundation (often referred to as NODE), stated, "With this acquisition, we’re building an architecture that allows CryptoPunks to be understood and studied as part of both art history and internet culture."

NODE's advisory board consists of notable figures in the NFT space, including Matt Hall and John Watkinson, the creators of CryptoPunks, along with Yuga Labs co-founder Wylie Aronow and Art Blocks founder Erick Calderon. This acquisition makes the Infinite Node Foundation the first nonprofit organization to fully acquire the intellectual property of a significant internet-native artwork.

Yuga Labs acquired CryptoPunks from Larva Labs in 2022 and has emphasized that its objectives focus on long-term preservation rather than commercialization. "We always knew Punks needed a permanent home built for preservation," Aronow expressed.

Despite generating over $377 million in secondary sales in 2024 alone, CryptoPunks have largely remained outside the traditional art world. The transition of rights to the Infinite Node Foundation may provide fresh opportunities for their recognition and appreciation within the wider context of art and culture.