Whale Swallows 0.45% of CryptoPunks Supply in Landmark Deal
July 21, 2025 – An anonymous investor dropped 2,082 ETH ($7.79 million) today to acquire 45 CryptoPunks NFTs in a single transaction. The largest bulk purchase of the iconic digital collectibles since March 2024. The newly created wallet 0x1bb351c5410b2f6bae36a74aa6b38a9800ae72d6 paid approximately $173,000 per Punk, slightly below the current 47.5 ETH ($178,895) floor price.
Strategic Market Consolidation
The acquisition represents a deliberate consolidation of the pioneering NFT collection, comprising 0.45% of the entire 9,999-Punk supply. Blockchain analysts note the buyer subsequently diversified into Chromie Squiggles, suggesting a sophisticated digital asset strategy.
"CryptoPunks remain the gold standard of crypto-native art," remarked Artemis Capital's NFT lead Elena Rodriguez.
Institutional Endorsement of NFT Legacy
The timing signals institutional confidence amid broader crypto volatility:
- Coincides with Ethereum trading at $3,690 (+3.02% daily)
- Follows Yuga Labs' 2022 acquisition of CryptoPunks/IP, integrating utility with Bored Ape ecosystems
- Precedes key U.S. crypto policy report release tomorrow
Blue-Chip Resilience
Despite NFT market volume dropping 76.5% YoY, CryptoPunks demonstrate commanding dominance with:
- A 24-hour sales surge of $14.71 million (53% increase)
- Total market capitalization holding firm at $1.79 billion
- Lifetime sales reaching $3.12 billion
- The rarest Alien Punk maintaining its record $16.42 million sale price from 2024
The acquisition underscores CryptoPunks' institutional staying power amid broader NFT volatility, positioning the collection as a benchmark for digital asset valuation.
