MoMA Includes CryptoPunks in Its Permanent Collection: A Historic Moment for NFTs and Digital Art

The Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) has officially added eight legendary CryptoPunks to its permanent collection, marking a significant step in recognizing NFTs as part of contemporary art. This event highlights the evolution of digital assets from niche collectibles to objects preserved in leading museums around the world.

According to the announcement from the CryptoPunks team on platform X, the punks numbered Punk 4018, Punk 2786, Punk 5616, Punk 5160, Punk 3407, Punk 7178, Punk 74, and Punk 7899 have now found a permanent home at MoMA. These unique pixelated avatars, created by Larva Labs in 2017, are considered one of the first NFT projects on the Ethereum blockchain and symbolize the beginning of the digital collecting era.

The acquisition was made possible thanks to the collective generosity of the community. Among the donors are Art on Blockchain and Mara Calderon, Cozomo de' Medici, Judith ESSS, NTmoney, kukulabanze, and Rhyd0n. Additionally, Larva Labs contributed punks from their personal collection, demonstrating long-term commitment to the project. Special thanks were expressed to 1OF1_art for assisting in coordinating this deal.

But that's not the only news: MoMA has also acquired a full set of eight Chromie Squiggles – generative artworks from Art Blocks, created by Eric Calderon (known as Snowfro). Among the Squiggles donors are SquiggleDAO, anonymous collectors, gmoneyNFT, jdh, VonMises14, and others. This underscores the growing integration of blockchain-based generative art into traditional art institutions.

The community is reacting with enthusiasm. In posts on X, users are calling it a "full circle" for crypto-art, noting that such steps legitimize NFTs in a cultural context. For example, collector Derek Edws wrote:

"CryptoPunks & Chromie Squiggle: eight objects from each generative network now in MoMA's permanent collection. Congrats Larva Labs & Art on Blockchain. Crypto art ".

This event could impact the NFT market. CryptoPunks, which already hold a strong market position, may see increased interest from institutional investors. According to analysts, similar recognitions by museums have historically increased the value of collections, making them part of a broader cultural heritage.

MoMA, known for its collection of modern art, continues to explore digital media, adding works that reflect the evolution of technologies. This acquisition is not just about NFTs, but about how blockchain is changing concepts of ownership and art preservation.

For the CryptoPunks community, which numbers thousands of owners, this is a moment of pride. As one commenter on X noted:

"Punks unite! What a great day to be a Punk collector ".

The event took place in New York, and details are available on the official accounts of CryptoPunks and MoMA.