The iconic NFT project, CryptoPunks, is getting its own official book six years after its launch, which jumpstarted the entire NFT art movement. The book aims to chronicle the impact this project has had as it showcased the potential of decentralized digital art collecting to the world. Partnering with Yuga Labs, the IP owner of CryptoPunks, and Zak Group, the design studio responsible for the renowned book “Icons” from Nike and the late designer Virgil Abloh, the book is set to launch this winter.
Delving into the depths of CryptoPunks, the book will detail every Punk pixel by pixel, highlighting the artwork of the 10,000 Ethereum avatars and their significant effects on the industry. Zak Group Creative Director Zak Kyes sees this project as “a collision between art, design, and the internet in the 21st century.” By offering an all-in-one DIY user manual, archive, and catalog raisonné, the book invites artists, technologists, curators, and the Punks themselves to take shape within the culture in real-time.
Contributing to the book are Matt Hall and John Watkinson of Larva Labs, the original creators of CryptoPunks, in addition to renowned digital artists and community members like Mike “Beeple” Winkelmann, Art Blocks founder Erick “Snowfro” Calderon, and pseudonymous collector 6529. As the book’s development progresses, Yuga Labs plans to share the creation process, involve direct community input, and include untold stories about the project.
Launched as a free mint on Ethereum in 2017, CryptoPunks experienced a surge in value during early 2021 as the broader NFT market witnessed explosive demand. The project has generated over $2.1 billion in trading volume, with single CryptoPunks being sold for as much as $23.7 million. Despite a decline from its peak “floor price” of $417,000 back in November 2021, Ethereum NFTs are still trading for over $89,000 on secondary markets.
In March 2021, Yuga Labs acquired the CryptoPunks IP from Larva Labs, creator of the popular Bored Ape Yacht Club project, for an undisclosed price. Yuga Labs has since granted CryptoPunks holders commercialization rights for their owned artwork and emphasized the project’s historical value, including through NFT donations to art museums.
As CryptoPunks transitions into a tangible, physical medium with its upcoming book release, this endeavor highlights the ongoing evolution of the NFT art movement. Counterbalancing this optimism, however, is the reality that the NFT market remains volatile, as seen with the fluctuating valuations of CryptoPunks NFTs. Regardless of the outcome, this book serves as a milestone that could further propel CryptoPunks and the NFT industry into the mainstream consciousness.
Source: Decrypt
