Yuga Labs Offloads CryptoPunks IP to Infinite Node Foundation in Surprise Move

NFT giant Yuga Labs—once the undisputed king of pixelated prestige—just severed ties with its crown jewel. The company quietly transferred all CryptoPunks intellectual property rights to the Infinite Node Foundation, a little-known entity with ties to decentralized governance.

Why it matters: This isn’t just a portfolio reshuffle. It’s a strategic retreat from the blue-chip collection that defined Yuga’s rise, raising eyebrows across Web3. The Foundation claims it’ll ’preserve the Punk ethos’—corporate speak for ’we’ll monetize this differently.’

The cynical take: Another ’decentralization’ theater act. Infinite Node’s wallet address shows heavy VC backing. Prepare for Punks-branded DAO governance tokens (read: dilution) by Q3 2025.

CryptoPunks floor price spikes to six-month high

CryptoPunks remains the collection with the highest price floor, at over 47 ETH at the time of the acquisition. The collection’s floor price shot up to a six-month peak, though still far from the all-time high from 2021 at over 113 ETH. Individual sales picked up in the past day, with one of the Punks changing hands at 148 ETH.

The collection has reportedly reached trading volumes above $3B during its lifetime. Punks were also offered through Sotheby’s auctions, becoming one of the iconic images of crypto culture. 

The collection was copied with variations on multiple chains and platforms, becoming a model for other NFT cults. However, as with other NFTs, there is no single standard to preserving and hosting the images. The removal of NFT platforms or updates may threaten the digital art. 

The Infinite Node Foundation, created in 2025 by Micky Malka and Becky Kleiner, will use its endowment and resources to preserve the collection of 10,000 CryptoPunks. The Foundation will run its own crypto node, ensuring protection on the technical side. In terms of digital art, the Node Foundation plans exhibitions and curated events to showcase the collection. 

All owners will retain rights to trade their NFT. However, the trading of IP rights once again puts a question on the permanence of NFT collections and their digital future without dedicated preservation.

Yuga Labs will still retain its ownership of Punks, after donating five selected images to the Infinite Node Foundation. The company will remain engaged by providing advice and leadership in preserving the influence of the collection.

NFT volumes have fallen in the past few years, with only blue-chip collections surviving. ethereum remains the busiest chain for NFT trading, though with the highest reported wash trades.

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