An anonymous owner of a rare CryptoPunk NFT incurred a staggering $10 million loss after selling their digital asset for 4,000 ETH (approximately $6.07 million) on Thursday. The transaction involved CryptoPunk #3100, one of only nine Alien Punks in the 10,000-piece collection and the only one featuring a headband. The sale occurred through a private offer on the CryptoPunks marketplace, reportedly brokered by crypto art firm Fountain.
The seller had acquired the sought-after NFT just months earlier in March 2024, paying 4,500 ETH—valued at roughly $16 million at that time. This represented the third-largest on-chain CryptoPunks transaction ever recorded. The 500 ETH difference between purchase and sale prices expanded into a $10 million deficit due to Ethereum‘s significant price depreciation over the past year.
Transaction Details
While the identities of both buyer and seller remain unknown, blockchain records reveal that the purchasing wallet funded its account with 4,001 ETH from a wallet labeled "Coinbase Prime 2" shortly before the transaction. According to CoinGecko, Ethereum’s value has plummeted by 57% over the past 12 months, dramatically affecting the dollar value of ETH-denominated assets.
This sale marks the third time CryptoPunk #3100 has appeared on the collection’s top sales leaderboard, following previous transactions of $7.58 million and $16.03 million. The transaction represents the largest on-chain CryptoPunk sale since April 25, 2024, when Punk #7804—another Alien with accessories including a cap, shades, and pipe—sold for $16.42 million.
Market Context
Alien CryptoPunks maintain their status as the rarest type in the collection, outnumbering the uncommon Zombie (88) and Ape (24) variants. These Alien NFTs account for the seven highest-value on-chain Punk sales, including the record-setting $23.7 million sale of Punk #5822 in February 2022.
Despite CryptoPunks’ continued prominence as the premier profile picture NFT collection, its financial performance has deteriorated significantly. According to NFT Price Floor, the collection’s floor price has decreased by 44% in the last 90 days to $64,727. This represents a dramatic fall from its all-time high floor price exceeding $400,000 in November 2021.
Originally created by Larva Labs in 2017 and offered free to early claimants, the CryptoPunks intellectual property was subsequently acquired by Yuga Labs, creator of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, in 2022.
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