TL;DR
- Development Halt: Yuga Labs will stop developing the CryptoPunks collection after community backlash against the new “Super Punk World” edition.
- Community Backlash: The new edition by artist Nina Chanel Abney, intended to bridge Web3 and traditional art, was criticized as “woke” and not true to the original Punk style.
- Decentralization and Airdrop: Yuga Labs plans to decentralize the collection, preserve it on the blockchain, and airdrop Super Punk World NFTs to select fans of Abney’s work.
Yuga Labs, the creator of the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, has announced it will cease further development of the CryptoPunks collection. This announcement came shortly after the release of a new edition of Punks, dubbed Super Punk World, on May 20, which was met with significant backlash from the community.
The Controversial Super Punk World
The latest edition, created by renowned artist Nina Chanel Abney, included 500 pieces of artwork intended to integrate the CryptoPunks into the broader art world.
The initiative aimed to bridge the gap between the Web3 ecosystem and traditional art by collaborating with world-class artists. However, the community’s reaction was less than favorable, with some members criticizing the new direction as “woke” and not in line with the original Punk aesthetic.
Decentralization and Preservation of CryptoPunks
In response to the outcry, Garga.eth (Greg Solano), co-founder of Yuga Labs, expressed in a post that the company would end all involvement with the NFT collection.
gm,
wanted to share an update on punks: when we acquired the collection a couple years ago, we did so with the intention of preserving the legacy of the collection.
we see punks as the early cave paintings of this new medium, and we were heavily influenced by them when creating…
— Garga.eth (Greg Solano) 🍌 (@CryptoGarga) May 20, 2024
The decision is to make CryptoPunks fully decentralized, ensuring its preservation on the blockchain. Despite the project’s success in getting CryptoPunks displayed in museums, Yuga Labs is ready to step back after two years of stewardship.
Future Plans for CryptoPunks and Super Punk World
While Yuga Labs is withdrawing from active development, it still plans to support museums and institutions in acquiring CryptoPunks and educating audiences about the collection. As for the Super Punk World NFTs, Yuga Labs intends to airdrop the artworks to fans of Abney’s work, potentially selecting recipients randomly.
The Punk in Residence Program
Nina Chanel Abney, whose works have been featured at prestigious institutions like MoMA and the Whitney, was part of the Punk in Residence program. This initiative was designed to foster on-chain collaborations and encourage creative experimentation within the NFT project and the sector at large.
The halt in development and the shift towards decentralization mark a new chapter for CryptoPunks, as Yuga Labs steps away, leaving the legacy of the collection in the hands of the community.
