Yuga Labs transfers IP rights to Infinite Node Foundation to preserve and expand the cultural legacy of the iconic Ethereum NFT project.
Yuga Labs, the company behind Bored Ape Yacht Club, has formally given the intellectual property (IP) rights of CryptoPunks to the recently established Infinite Node Foundation (NODE), a nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation and development of digital art. This is a significant change for one of the most recognizable NFT collections.
Tuesday’s news represents a significant turning point in the development of the 10,000-piece CryptoPunks collection, which Larva Labs first introduced in 2017. The collection’s long-term curator will now be the Infinite Node Foundation, which was established earlier this year with a $25 million endowment and prioritizes preservation, community, and cultural growth.
A Home for Digital Art History
“This is about giving CryptoPunks the permanent institutional home they deserve,” said Micky Malka, Chair of the Node Foundation. “By combining museum-quality preservation with a sustainable endowment, we can ensure this groundbreaking digital art is accessible and appreciated for generations.”
As part of the transition, Natalie Stone, General Manager of CryptoPunks at Yuga Labs, will join NODE as an advisor. Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed.
From Yuga Labs to a Cultural Institution
Yuga Labs originally acquired the CryptoPunks and Meebits IPs from Larva Labs in 2022. While it sold the Meebits IP earlier this year, the company had always intended to find a lasting home for the Punks.
“CryptoPunks weren’t just an acquisition—they were a responsibility,” said Wylie Aronow, co-founder and CEO of Yuga Labs. “We worked to honor and protect their legacy, but we always believed their final home should be one rooted in preservation. NODE brings that vision to life.”
Aronow will now serve on NODE’s advisory board alongside Art Blocks founder Erick Calderon and CryptoPunks creators Matt Hall and John Watkinson.
Decentralized Roots, Institutional Future
Hall and Watkinson praised the move, noting, “CryptoPunks were created as a decentralized digital experiment, and their lasting influence has helped shape the NFT space. The NODE Foundation is perfectly positioned to carry that legacy forward.”
The Foundation’s inaugural initiative will be a full exhibition of the entire CryptoPunks collection, set to debut at its gallery space in Palo Alto, California.
Market Response and Legacy
According to Punks.wtf, the CryptoPunks floor price has increased by more than 19% this week, with the average value now above $123,000, following the announcement and a general spike in Ethereum prices. The collection is among the most valuable and historically significant NFT projects to date, having generated over $3 billion in trading volume since its beginning.
CryptoPunks, which began as a free claim, have grown to represent artistic innovation, digital permanence, and the strength of online communities. They now have a basis that is commensurate with their prominence.
