CryptoPunks NFT: $10M Lost in a Single Sale

CryptoPunks NFT: $10M Lost in a Single Sale

CryptoPunks NFT plummets as a high-profile sale results in a $10M loss, underscoring Ethereum’s declining value and shifting market dynamics.

This sale highlights the broader downturn in high-value NFTs, driven by Ethereum’s declining market value and waning collector interest. Once considered the blue-chip standard, CryptoPunks are now struggling to retain institutional appeal.

CryptoPunks NFT Crashes with $10M Loss

CryptoPunk #3100, one of the rarest Alien Punks, has just changed hands for 4,000 ETH, valued at approximately $6 million. This marks a staggering $10 million loss compared to its last sale in March 2024, when it was acquired for 4,500 ETH at a then-value of $16 million.

Over the past 12 months, Ethereum’s depreciation played a major role in this decline. The cryptocurrency has shed 57% of its value, exacerbating the seller’s losses in terms of ETH and USD.

ETH price movement over the past year, CoinMarketCap screenshot on April 11, 2025
ETH price movement over the past year, CoinMarketCap screenshot on April 11, 2025

Institutional Involvement in CryptoPunks Trading?

A peculiar aspect of this transaction is the involvement of a wallet linked to “Coinbase Prime 2” on Etherscan. The new buyer’s wallet received 4,001 ETH from this address before executing the purchase. This suggests that the transaction may involve a large-scale investor, possibly a hedge fund or institutional entity.

Interestingly, the buyer has not engaged in any additional blockchain activity, hinting at a strategic or speculative acquisition rather than an active collector’s move.

Ethereum Art and Collectibles NFT Trade Volume. Source The Block Data (April 11, 2025)
Ethereum Art and Collectibles NFT Trade Volume. Source The Block Data (April 11, 2025)

The Declining Status of CryptoPunks in the NFT Market

CryptoPunks, once the flagship collection of the 2021 NFT boom, has struggled to maintain its dominance. Despite Alien Punks consistently ranking among the highest on-chain sales, the broader market has cooled significantly.

Seven of the top CryptoPunk sales have involved Alien Punks, with Punk #5822 holding the record at 8,000 ETH ($23.7 million) in February 2022. However, the largest nominal sale remains Punk #9998, which traded for 124,475 ETH ($532 million), later exposed as a wash trade.

CryptoPunks NFT Price Floor Price Fluctuations Over Project Development History April 11, 2025
CryptoPunks NFT Price Floor Price Fluctuations Over Project Development History April 11, 2025

The market downturn is evident in CryptoPunks’ floor price, which has dropped 44% in the last 90 days, now sitting at approximately $65,373 per NFT. In contrast, at its peak in November 2021, the floor price surpassed $400,000.

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