CryptoPunks: The Original NFTs That Changed Digital Ownership

When you think of CryptoPunks, a collection of 10,000 unique pixel-art characters minted on Ethereum in 2017. Also known as Larva Labs Punks, they weren’t just digital art—they were the first real test of blockchain-based scarcity. Before CryptoPunks, digital items had no proven ownership. You could screenshot them, copy them, share them—no one could say "this one is mine." CryptoPunks changed that by locking each one to a unique Ethereum address. No central server. No middleman. Just code and cryptography.

They’re not just art. They’re Ethereum NFTs, tokens built on the ERC-721 standard that prove you own a one-of-a-kind digital asset. And that standard? It was practically invented for them. CryptoPunks showed the world that digital scarcity could have real value. One sold for $23.7 million. Another went for $11.8 million. These aren’t random spikes—they’re signals. People aren’t just buying pixels; they’re buying history, status, and proof that they were early.

What makes CryptoPunks different from today’s NFT projects? They didn’t promise utility, metaverses, or tokenomics. They didn’t need to. Their value came from being the first. They’re the original. While newer NFTs chase hype, CryptoPunks sit like museum pieces—rare, unchanging, and deeply respected. They’re also the reason why digital collectibles, items with verifiable ownership on the blockchain, often valued for rarity and provenance became a billion-dollar category. Today’s NFTs might have better graphics or animated traits, but none have the legacy.

And here’s the thing: owning a CryptoPunk isn’t about flipping it. It’s about being part of a movement. The community doesn’t talk about price targets. They talk about which punk they own—the alien, the zombie, the ape. Each one has a personality. Each one has a story. And every single one is tied to a real person’s wallet, forever recorded on Ethereum.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides, deep dives, and honest takes on what makes NFTs work—or fail. You’ll see how CryptoPunks set the stage for everything that came after. Whether you’re curious about ownership, trading, or just why these weird little faces cost millions, the answers are here.