Yuga Labs, a leader in the web3 space and the home of popular NFT collections like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), has partnered with Zak Group, a renowned design office responsible for Virgil Abloh’s ICONS, to publish the official documentation of the CryptoPunks collection.
The CryptoPunks project, created by Matt Hall and John Watkinson of Larva Labs, is one of the earliest NFT collections on the Ethereum blockchain and played a significant role in pioneering the modern CryptoArt movement.
The collaboration between Yuga Labs and Zak Group aims to capture the driving forces and cultural influence behind the CryptoPunks collection. The book will feature in-depth descriptions of each unique avatar, pixel by pixel, as well as contributions from prominent figures in the web3, digital art, design, and tech communities. The goal is to create a comprehensive record of the vibrant community that helped shape CryptoPunks. Content from the Punks community Discord and Twitter will also be included.
According to Greg Solano, Co-Founder of Yuga Labs, CryptoPunks has become an iconic collection that has transcended the crypto world and entered broader culture. The book will serve as a high-quality catalog of CryptoPunks’ rich history and hopes to inspire both the Punks community and a wider audience.
Zak Kyes, Creative Director of Zak Group, describes CryptoPunks as a collision between art, design, and the internet in the 21st century. The book will offer an opportunity to give shape to culture in real-time, with contributions from artists, technologists, curators, and the Punks themselves. It will serve as a user manual, archive, and catalogue raisonné, encapsulating the essence of CryptoPunks.
In an innovative approach, CryptoPunks is involving the community in the creative process. The community will have direct input as the project evolves, and pre-sales for the book will begin in the fall of 2023, with the release planned for winter. Those interested can follow the development of the catalog in public by visiting book.cryptopunks.app.
Yuga Labs is a web3 company that aims to shape the future through storytelling, experiences, and community-building. They have been making waves in the NFT space, releasing IP licenses to their NFT holders, acquiring and releasing rights to other top collections like CryptoPunks and Meebits, and launching Otherside, an ambitious interactive metaverse project. Yuga Labs raised $450 million in a seed round in March 2022, valuing the company at $4 billion.
Overall, this collaboration between Yuga Labs and Zak Group to publish the first-of-its-kind book on CryptoPunks highlights the cultural significance and community-driven nature of the collection, and it serves as a testament to the growing interest and investment in NFTs within the institutional crypto investor community.