CryptoPunks Acquired by Nonprofit to Foster Digital Art Accessibility

Micky Malka, a prominent figure in the venture capital and startup sector based in New York City, has announced that the Infinite Node Foundation (NODE) has successfully acquired the intellectual property (IP) of CryptoPunks from Yuga Labs. This acquisition represents a significant moment in the development of digital art. NODE is committed to “future-proofing this landmark work” and improving accessibility, enabling a much larger audience to experience these iconic NFTs.

According to claims made by the founders, CryptoPunks has catalyzed a cultural revolution. Today, it’s known as one of the most groundbreaking projects that started the non-fungible token (NFT) movement. The platform has recently garnered significant media attention for its record-breaking high-value sales. One CryptoPunk NFT recently sold for the equivalent of almost $24 million in cryptocurrency — no joke! These sales have proven both the enormous monetary value and cultural value attached to these digital assets.

Earlier this fall, NODE completed a $25 million roll-up round from investors Micky Malka and Becky Kleiner. With their support, NODE hopes to ensure a future that is sustainable for digital art and for projects like CryptoPunks to remain relevant and accessible. The grant announcement back in April portended a bold vision to explore, expand, and enhance the digital art ecosystem.

With this collective acquisition, NODE’s goal is to develop and introduce strategies that elevate the ways users interact with CryptoPunks. This project aims to remove those barriers, so that more people can find and enjoy this innovative historic collection. The foundation’s commitment to making CryptoPunks more accessible aligns with Malka’s vision of democratizing digital art.

CryptoPunks has an official site with a top sales tracker, allowing for a new level of insight into the NFT market. Dig into this data on the CryptoPunks App! You can find the top 25 highest-priced sales and learn how the project is changing the landscape for collectors and for the larger cultural discourse.