Yuga Labs co-founder Greg Solano has denied rumors of a potential sale of the intellectual property rights to the CryptoPunks NFT collection. These rumors, which arose after a post on X by NFT researcher Wale Moca, sparked widespread discussion within the Web3 community.
Moca claimed to have information from multiple sources that Yuga Labs intended to sell the rights to CryptoPunks. Solano responded quickly, posting on X, “Nothing.” He clarified that while the company has received numerous offers, no deal will be made unless it provides long-term benefit to the collection.
CryptoPunks Remain an NFT Market Leader
Acquired by Yuga Labs from Larva Labs in March 2022, CryptoPunks remains one of the most valuable collections in the NFT sphere. Following the rumor, the collection’s floor price jumped by 145%, reaching a monthly high of 40.39 ETH, while trading activity increased by 116.67%.
Possible Buyer
According to Moca, a potential buyer could preserve the collection in its original state, ensuring it retains its cultural and historical value. One candidate mentioned was NFT collector @seedphrase, whose “CryptoPunks ❤” tweet further fueled interest.
“If CryptoPunks get bought, I hope it’s @seedphrase. That’s exactly who we need to preserve the collection’s legacy properly,” wrote one user.
The potential buyer is known for his loyalty to the collection and has made it a key part of his digital identity. In November 2024, he arranged the largest loan in history — $2.75 million, collateralized by CryptoPunk #8348.
Moca noted it is unlikely that a major Web2 company or another well-known NFT project like Pudgy Penguins or Azuki is the purchaser.
Users on X have picked up rumors about the sale of the collection’s IP and are actively speculating on it. On social media, there is a flood of tweets claiming that the alleged new owner of the collection’s copyrights could be:
- NBA star Scottie Pippen.
- Intel co-founder Ryan Carson and Milk co-founder Kevin Rose.
- Disney.
- Entrepreneur and influencer Haliey Welch, known for the Hawk Tuah shitcoin.
- Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the collapsed crypto exchange FTX.
A Difficult Year for the NFT Market
Despite the excitement surrounding these rumors, 2024 was not easy for the NFT market. According to a DappRadar report, it was among the worst years for trading volume and sales; activity on Ethereum declined, and investors shifted their attention to other blockchain solutions, including Solana. Nevertheless, CryptoPunks remain a leader, with an overall estimated value of $1.3 billion.
