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The Infinite Node Foundation (NODE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and future of digital art, has announced that it has acquired all intellectual property rights of the iconic CryptoPunks collection from Yuga Labs. With this landmark move, the collection is set to be integrated into leading cultural institutions through a long-term vision of conservation and exhibition.
From Digital Origins to Global Impact: The Journey of CryptoPunks
Originally created in 2017 by Larva Labs, CryptoPunks is a pioneering NFT collection consisting of 10,000 unique characters that challenged the foundations of digital art. By redefining the ideas of ownership, community, and artistic expression, it left a significant cultural mark well beyond the blockchain.
NODE’s Vision: Preservation, Community, Expansion
NODE aims to preserve the legacy of CryptoPunks through three guiding principles: preservation, community, and expansion. In this scope, the foundation is building a digital infrastructure that will enable these works to be studied, displayed, and contextualized within art history.
The project is backed by an advisory board of prominent figures in the field:
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Matt Hall and John Watkinson (CryptoPunks creators, Larva Labs)
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Wylie Aronow (Co-Founder, Yuga Labs)
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Erick Calderon (Founder, Art Blocks)
Micky Malka, Chair of NODE, stated: “CryptoPunks ignited a cultural wave at the intersection of code, community, and commerce. We are creating a sustainable structure for its preservation at a museum-grade level.”
The founders of Larva Labs commented: “It was important for us that CryptoPunks stand as a symbol of decentralization and digital permanence. NODE is the ideal home to carry that mission forward.”
Wylie Aronow of Yuga Labs added: “Our goal wasn’t just to hold the IP—it was to elevate it. With NODE embracing this responsibility, the collection now truly finds its rightful home.”
10,000 Pieces, One Major Exhibition
Although CryptoPunks generated over $377 million in secondary market volume in 2024 alone, it remains underrepresented in the traditional art world. NODE is now taking steps to shift this narrative.
Following a curatorial process led by creators Matt Hall and John Watkinson, the entire CryptoPunks collection will be showcased at NODE’s permanent exhibition space in Palo Alto. This venue will also run a live Ethereum node to ensure on-chain accessibility and permanence.
A Historic Milestone in Digital Art
NODE becomes the first nonprofit organization to acquire full IP rights to a major internet-native artwork. Backed by strong financial support, NODE now stands as the most well-capitalized nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated solely to digital art.