Despite a significant downturn in the non-fungible token (NFT) market, with reports indicating that over 70% of collections are now considered “dead” or worthless, specific segments of the NFT market continue to be profitable. Earlier today, an investor who purchased a CryptoPunk for 42 ETH in August 2021 has sold it for 120 ETH, realizing a profit of nearly $300,000.
In other news, there was a 120 ETH ($382k USD) Hoodie CryptoPunk sale three hours ago.
The seller bought it 5 years ago, August 2021, for 42 ETH ($83k USD).
Nice flip pic.twitter.com/ODUzapWF3g
— wale.moca 🐳 (@waleswoosh) January 20, 2026
Iconic Hoodie Punk NFT Sells For $382K
Data compiled by CryptoSlam.io, an on-chain crypto market aggregator and non-fungible token explorer tracking NFT collections from more than 20 blockchain networks, confirmed that iconic Hoodie Punk #9901 has found a new holder. This NFT collection, previously bought for 42 ETH, equivalent to $87,299 five years ago, was sold for 120 ETH, equivalent to $382,026. This investor has pocketed nearly $300,000 in profit.
In response to this significant sale, the CryptoPunks NFT collection has surged by 60% to over $1.3 million in the past 24 hours. During this period, the global NFT market has seen a surge of 108% to $14 million, while Ethereum NFT trading volume has increased by 274% to $9.9 million. Other NFT collections that have experienced substantial growth today include Pudgy Penguins, which have risen by +50%, and Moonbirds, which have surged by 82%.
Launched in 2017, CryptoPunks is a globally recognized non-fungible token series. Originally from the digital asset firm ‘Larva Labs,’ it is now managed by the non-profit organization, Infinite Node Foundation. The iconic NFT collection, Punks, features a fixed supply of 10,000 pixilated NFTs hosted on the Ethereum blockchain. CryptoPunks stands as one of the leading NFT series in the global NFT market.
The Future of Punks NFTs
The iconic Punk NFT collection gained significant attention in 2021 during the historic NFT bull run, with rare Punks selling for millions of dollars. However, the future trajectory of Punks NFTs appears to be shifting from speculative art towards long-term preservation as "blue-chip" digital art. As pioneers in the NFT space, Punks are cemented as historical artifacts, with their value increasingly linked to their cultural significance and their role as proof of digital ownership.