Identity Revealed of Buyer of $16.4 Million USD CryptoPunk NFT
it was disclosed that the purchaser of CryptoPunk #7804 is the artist Artudito, known for his background in traditional art and intentions to showcase NFTs in museums.
In an interview with nftnow, Artudito explained his decision to acquire CryptoPunk #7804 for a hefty sum of 4,850 ETH ($16.42 million USD) last month, citing the unique appeal of CryptoPunks. He believes this collection will rise to iconic status akin to works by artists like Van Gogh.
"Through perseverance and innovation, creators like Larva Labs have opened new avenues, transforming what was once unfamiliar into the familiar and elevating the unfamiliar to icon status. This artwork encapsulates the journey of digital art development," the artist told nftnow.
Artudito, with a background in traditional art and a penchant for collecting artworks from around the world, plans to exhibit his NFTs in museums and exhibitions.
He previously made headlines for purchasing Autoglyphs NFTs for 5,000 ETH in February this year.
In a recent podcast, Artudito boldly predicted that the CryptoPunks collection, comprising over 10,000 NFTs, could become the world's most valuable, estimating its worth at $1.5 billion USD.
Punk #7804 is one of only nine Alien Punks among the entire CryptoPunks collection of 10,000. Artudito's transaction ranks as the second most expensive NFT sale in the collection's history, just behind the record of 8,000 ETH ($23.7 million USD) for Punk #5822 in February 2022.
Industry-wide, this transaction stands as the fifth most expensive NFT sale. The record is still held by "Everydays: The First 5000 Days" by artist Mike Winkleman, which fetched $69.3 million USD at a Christie's auction in March 2021.
