TLDR
- CryptoPunk #3100 sold for 4,000 ETH ($6 million), resulting in a $10 million loss from its previous sale
- The NFT was purchased for 4,500 ETH (about $16 million) in March 2024
- CryptoPunk #3100 is one of only nine “Alien” punks and the only one with a headband
- NFT trading volumes have drastically declined since 2021 heights
- Despite the market downturn, rare CryptoPunks still command high prices compared to the collection’s floor price of 42 ETH ($65,000)
In a striking example of the volatile NFT market, CryptoPunk #3100, one of the most coveted digital collectibles in the crypto space, was sold for 4,000 ETH (approximately $6 million) on Thursday. This sale represents a painful $10 million loss for the previous owner, who had purchased the same NFT for 4,500 ETH (around $16 million) in March 2024.
The transaction, reportedly brokered by crypto art brokerage Fountain, stands as the largest on-chain CryptoPunk sale since April 2024. The buyer’s wallet was funded with 4,001 ETH from an account labeled as “Coinbase Prime 2” on Etherscan, though the identities of both buyer and seller remain anonymous.
Punk 3100 bought for 4,000 ETH ($6,084,359.86 USD) by 0x074ad7 from 0x705876. https://t.co/YMzLi5i8se #cryptopunks #ethereum pic.twitter.com/2dsOqsjAc0
— CryptoPunks Bot (@cryptopunksbot) April 10, 2025
CryptoPunk #3100 holds special value in the NFT world due to its extreme rarity. It is one of only nine “Alien” punks in the entire 10,000-piece collection and the only one featuring a headband. These unique traits have historically driven its value far above the collection’s average.
The Fall of NFT Valuations
This sale highlights the dramatic shift in the NFT market since its peak. The price of Ethereum has fallen by 57% over the past 12 months, magnifying the dollar value of the loss beyond just the 500 ETH difference in sale prices.
The CryptoPunks collection, launched by Larva Labs in 2017, was once the ultimate status symbol in the crypto world. The collection’s floor price reached an all-time high of more than $400,000 in November 2021 during the height of NFT enthusiasm.
Today, that floor price has plummeted to just 42 ETH (about $65,000), representing an 84% drop from its peak. The collection has experienced a 44% decline in floor price over just the past 90 days, according to NFT Price Floor.
Historical Significance of CryptoPunks
Despite the market downturn, CryptoPunks maintains its status as the premier profile picture NFT collection in the crypto space. The top five most expensive NFTs ever sold all belong to the CryptoPunk collection, according to data from NFT analytics service CryptoSlam.
CryptoPunk #3100 now appears on the top sales leaderboard three separate times, having previously sold for $7.58 million before its $16.03 million sale last year. The current record holder for highest CryptoPunk sale is Punk #5822, which sold for $23.7 million in February 2022.
The Alien trait remains the most valuable in the CryptoPunk universe, even rarer than Zombies (88 punks) and Apes (24 punks). Sales of Aliens make up the seven highest on-chain Punk sales in history.
Broader NFT Market Conditions
The story of CryptoPunk #3100 reflects the broader state of the NFT market. Trading volumes have been on a general decline since 2021, with only occasional spikes during frenzied periods.
Overall NFT sales dipped to just over $58 million as of April 7, 2025, reaching levels previously seen in early 2021 before the major boom. This represents a massive drop from the market’s heyday.
The intellectual property rights for CryptoPunks were sold to Yuga Labs, creator of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, in 2022. This acquisition did not prevent the collection’s value from declining in the years that followed.
Other collections have occasionally challenged CryptoPunks’ supremacy. Earlier this month, Pudgy Penguins came close to dethroning CryptoPunks as the most expensive NFT collection, with its floor price surging from $19,000 to more than $138,000 in late 2024, riding momentum from a token airdrop.
Despite these challenges, CryptoPunks has maintained its position as the premier NFT collection, though its financial performance has disappointed many owners who purchased during higher valuation periods.
The recent sale of CryptoPunk #3100 serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with NFT investments, even for the most coveted pieces in the most respected collections.
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