Bored Ape NFT Creator Yuga Labs Ends Involvement with Cryptopunks

As a researcher with a background in the NFT space, I’ve been following the developments between Yuga Labs and Cryptopunks with great interest. Having witnessed the acquisition of Cryptopunks by Yuga Labs in 2022, it was exciting to see how they intended to preserve its legacy and influence within the crypto industry.


As a researcher studying the dynamic world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), I’ve come across an intriguing development: Yuga Labs, the innovative team behind the widely acclaimed Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection, has announced their decision to reduce their engagement with Cryptopunks, another esteemed NFT project within the crypto community.

As a NFT market analyst, I would put it this way: In 2022, I analyzed the market trends and identified that acquiring Cryptopunks was a strategic move for the company to preserve its legacy within the Non-Fungible Token (NFT) community. This iconic PFP (Profile Picture) series has significantly influenced the NFT space, making it one of the most recognizable and impactful collections in this dynamic market.

After achieving great success with Cryptopunks, displayed in museums due to collector demand, Yuga Labs is now prepared to relinquish control after two years of management.

As a researcher studying the latest developments in the non-fungible token (NFT) space, I came across an intriguing announcement from Garga.eth, also known as Greg Solano, co-founder of Yuga Labs. In a detailed post, he revealed that Yuga Labs is planning to relinquish their control over the NFT collection and allow it to become fully decentralized. This means that the collection will be preserved on the blockchain, ensuring its permanence and accessibility for the community.

Yuga Labs  Launches New Edition of Cryptopunks

Within the past day, following Yuga Labs’ revelation of the new Super Punk World NFT collection, which was introduced on May 20th and crafted by renowned artist Nina Chanel Abney, this action ensued.

The Super Punk World comprises an intriguing assortment of 500 items, combining playfulness with depth. In our Punk in Residence partnership, @ninachanel has crafted thought-provoking 3D sculptures that challenge the boundaries between race, gender, and examine the concepts of virtual vs. real-life identities. Discover more here.

— CryptoPunks (@cryptopunksnfts) May 20, 2024

As a researcher studying the latest developments in the digital art market, I’ve come across an intriguing new initiative by Yuga Labs. They have released 500 unique NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), each bearing one of the Cryptopunks – the iconic collection of pixelated characters popular within the crypto community. This move signifies Yuga Labs’ ambitious endeavor to introduce Cryptopunks into the broader art scene. By permitting esteemed artists to create fresh works inspired by the Cryptopunks brand, they aim to expand its reach beyond the blockchain realm.

As a crypto investor and enthusiast of the Web3 ecosystem, I’m always on the lookout for innovative collaborations that bridge the gap between traditional industries and the digital world. Recently, an exciting initiative was announced to bring world-class artists into the fold, with the goal of connecting their artworks to the NFT community.

Certain critics of these collectible artworks, intended to represent diversity and question traditional notions of identity, have labeled them as “wokeness,” expressing the viewpoint that these avatar designs deviate from the authentic Punk aesthetic.

Yuga Labs to Airdrop NFTs to Abney Fans

Based on recent events, Yuga Labs has decided to renounce any further involvement with the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) Punks collection, discarding all future plans associated with it.

As a crypto investor, I can tell you that despite the company’s intention of not directly acquiring NFTs for museums themselves, they remain committed to facilitating this process. They will continue to assist museums in obtaining these digital assets and provide education to their collectors about NFTs.

“Garga.eth intends to aid a handful of museums and learning centers in their mission to obtain Punks and instruct their public about these artifacts,” was one possible way of paraphrasing the original statement.

Regarding the highly anticipated Super Cool World NFTs from Yuga Labs, they intend to share these artwork pieces with admirers of Abney’s creations via airdrops as a prospective distribution method. The team at Yuga Labs is pondering over randomly selecting recipients for this giveaway.

A well-known artist, famous for her pieces exhibited at MoMA and the Whitney Museums, previously gained admission into the Punk Artist-in-Residence program.

This endeavor was launched to make it easier for on-chain partnerships to thrive within the NFT project, thereby fostering innovative explorations in the wider NFT community.

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2024-05-21 12:30