Yuga Labs Streamlines NFT Portfolio, Shifts Focus to Apes and Otherside

Yuga Labs, the once-dominant force in the NFT space, is divesting from several high-profile collections including CryptoPunks and Moonbirds. The MOVE signals a strategic pivot toward its core assets—Bored Apes and the Otherside metaverse project—amid broader market headwinds.

CryptoPunks' intellectual property rights have been transferred to the Infinite Node Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to digital art preservation. While terms remain undisclosed, industry estimates suggest the deal closed NEAR $20 million—a fraction of 2022's acquisition cost and a stark contrast to peak NFT valuations.

Moonbirds now falls under Orange Cap Games, an emerging player in blockchain gaming. Yuga retains advisory roles through standard IP licensing agreements, with Natalie Stone confirming continued involvement via an oversight council for CryptoPunks.