Phaidon is set to release “CryptoPunks: Free to Claim,” the first comprehensive book featuring all 10,000 CryptoPunks, alongside an exploration of how these digital collectibles became a cultural phenomenon.
In a press release dated October 16, Phaidon announced that the book, compiled by creative director Zak Kyes and the web3 company Yuga Labs, will be available for order in December. It will retail for $100 USD, $135 CAD, £49.95 GBP, and €89.95 EUR. A special edition for CryptoPunk owners will feature the word “HOLDER” printed along the edge.
This groundbreaking book will showcase each unique CryptoPunk NFT, detailing their types, attributes, pixel colors, and on-chain data. Artist Simon Denny has designed the pages using tear-out blotter paper, placing miniature icons of each Punk throughout. A comprehensive timeline will also be included, alongside excerpts from community posts and timestamped tweets.
“CryptoPunks: Free to Claim” features interviews with key figures such as founders Matt Hall and John Watkinson, and artistic director Hans Ulrich Obrich. A glossary with over 100 web3 terms contributed by industry pioneers—including Beeple and Emily Segal—will enhance the reader’s understanding.
Notable contributors from the digital art and fashion sectors, including Gmoney, Chris Lyons (a16z), and Jack Butcher, have also provided texts and visuals for the book.
The publication aims to document the rich history of CryptoPunks and their cultural impact on crypto art, emphasizing their ongoing relevance. Launched on June 23, 2017, CryptoPunks are 10,000 uniquely generated 24×24 pixel avatars inspired by 1980s London punk culture and 1990s cyberpunk aesthetics.
Initially free to claim, the demand for CryptoPunks skyrocketed, leading to sales in the thousands to millions of dollars. Cumulatively, they have generated over $2.3 billion in sales, with some pieces auctioned for millions at prestigious houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s, and featured in collections at institutions like ICA Miami, Centre Pompidou, and LACMA.
