Rare CryptoPunk NFT Changes Hands for Over $6 Million

A CryptoPunk just traded hands for 4,000 ETH, which works out to a little over $6 million at current prices. That’s a major transaction by any measure, even though it comes in lower than a previous deal for the same punk.

The NFT in question, CryptoPunk #3100, had last changed owners on March 4, 2024, for 4,500 ETH. So Friday’s trade reflects a drop of 500 ETH—roughly $10 million based on Ether’s price at the time of that earlier sale. Despite the difference, $6 million still lands far above the floor price for CryptoPunks, which currently sits around 42 ETH, or about $65,000.

What gives #3100 such value is its rarity. It’s one of only nine alien punks in the entire 9,985-piece collection. It also sports a hairband, a trait shared by just 406 punks, making it even more unusual.

Old NFTs Back in Focus?

This latest trade might draw fresh attention to the CryptoPunks series and other early, so-called “historical NFTs.” These are collections minted before 2018, including Spells of Genesis from 2015, RarePepes from 2016, and CryptoCats and Curio Cards from 2017. They’re often seen as part of NFT history, and a high-value deal like this can act as a reminder of their staying power.

However, not everyone is convinced the sale was entirely organic. In the NFT space, some high-value transactions have been questioned as wallet-to-wallet transfers with no real buyer involved—moves that can inflate perceived market value.

As of now, there’s no confirmation that Friday’s transaction was a wash trade.