New York’s MoMA Welcomes CryptoPunks and Chromie Squiggles Donations Cementing NFTs as Recognised Cultural Assets

MoMA Adds Eight CryptoPunks And Eight Chromie Squiggles To Permanent Collection Elevating Onchain Art Recognition

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has welcomed a collection of digital art that merges technology and culture, acquiring eight CryptoPunks and eight Chromie Squiggles for its permanent holdings.

This addition represents one of the most notable institutional endorsements of onchain art, signalling the growing legitimacy of NFTs within the mainstream art world.

The works, all donated by creators and collectors, will join MoMA's Media and Performance department alongside video art, experimental technology, and other new media pieces, and are available for public viewing on MoMA’s website.

Who Donated And How The Collection Came Together

The CryptoPunks now in MoMA’s collection include #74, #2786, #3407, #4018, #5160, #5616, #7178, and #7899.

Larva Labs founders Matt Hall and John Watkinson contributed Punks #74 and #5160, while other donors included Mara and Erick Calderon (#2786), Rhydon and Caroline Lee (#3407), Ryan Zurrer of 1OF1 AG (#4018), judithESSS (#5616), the Tomaino Family (#7178), and the Cozomo de' Medici Collection (#7899).

The Chromie Squiggles, generative artworks from Art Blocks created by Erick Calderon (Snowfro) in November 2020, were coordinated through community donations from SquiggleDAO, gmoneyNFT, jdh, VonMises14, and several anonymous collectors, with 1OF1_art facilitating both sets of contributions.

MoMA curators Stuart Comer and Michelle Kuo received special thanks for their support of the acquisition.

Why These NFTs Are Historically Important

CryptoPunks, introduced by Larva Labs in 2017, are 24-by-24 pixel avatars widely regarded as the first NFT project on Ethereum, predating the ERC-721 standard that would later define NFTs.

With a total of 10,000 unique Punks dispersed across 3,121 wallets, the project established the blueprint for profile-picture collections and remains a cultural touchstone for digital collectors.

Chromie Squiggles represent the genesis collection of Art Blocks, a generative art platform.

The 10,000 algorithmically generated artworks were instrumental in popularising programmable art and contributed to Art Blocks recording over $587 million in monthly sales at its peak in August 2021, according to CryptoSlam data.

How The Market Reacts And Historical Context

The acquisition follows other efforts to secure CryptoPunks in leading institutions.

Earlier this year, Yuga Labs sold the CryptoPunks intellectual property to the Infinite Node Foundation, a nonprofit aiming to embed the collection in prominent art institutions globally.

Interest in blue-chip NFTs remains active.

CryptoPunks achieved over $24.6 million in trading volume in late July, marking their strongest weekly activity since March 2024.

Although total market capitalisation has fallen from nearly $2.5 billion earlier this year to around $763 million, trading activity indicates ongoing engagement from collectors.

Individual Punks have historically achieved significant auction prices; for example, CryptoPunk 9997 sold at Christie’s in 2021 for approximately US$4.35 million, nearly five times its highest estimate.

Community And Cultural Impact How Collectors See It

For collectors and enthusiasts, the acquisition is a symbolic moment.

On platform X, user Derek Edws commented:

"’CryptoPunks & Chromie’ Squiggle’

eight objects from each generative network now in MoMA's permanent collection.

Congrats Larva Labs & Art on Blockchain.

Crypto art."

Another enthusiast simply wrote:

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

The addition of these NFTs to MoMA not only cements their cultural and historical relevance but also demonstrates the growing integration of blockchain-based art into institutions traditionally associated with tangible mediums.

MoMA’s move reflects a recognition that digital ownership and generative creations are increasingly central to understanding contemporary art practices.

Could This Influence The NFT Market And Institutional Involvement

Coinlive observes that institutional recognition of digital art can recalibrate market perceptions.

By placing CryptoPunks and Chromie Squiggles in a major museum, MoMA elevates these works beyond speculative assets, framing them as cultural heritage.

The move may attract renewed institutional interest, increase valuations, and inspire other museums to consider similar acquisitions.

In a market still defining its long-term trajectory, such endorsements could reinforce the role of NFTs in shaping the future of collecting, curation, and the interplay between technology and art.