Exploring the Origins of Ethereum’s Iconic NFT CryptoPunks in ‘What The Punk’ Documentary

The narrative of the most renowned project in crypto-art originates in a dreary Brooklyn neighborhood, as Matt Hall describes the polluted surroundings that sparked his collaboration with Larva Labs co-founder John Watkinson, detailed in the recent documentary “What the Punk.”

This 80-minute account of counterculture traces the journey of two modest Canadian programmers who delved into technology and art in 2005, eventually landing their creation, CryptoPunk #110, at Centre Pompidou in Paris, courtesy of Yuga Labs.

During the late 2000s, Hall and Watkinson, while developing mobile apps, embarked on the Pixel Character Generator project, a feature enabling the creation of unique profile pictures with basic pixelated overlays.

With the emergence of Ethereum, the duo, avid sports card collectors, recognized the blockchain’s potential to create a new form of collectible, leading to the birth of CryptoPunks. This collection of 10,000 algorithmically generated pixel images with 87 unique attributes inspired the ERC-721 standard and kickstarted the PFP movement.

The launch of CryptoPunks in June 2017 initially went unnoticed but gained traction rapidly, resulting in sales exceeding $10 million worth of ETH. This surge in interest and investment contributed to the rise of NFTs.

“What The Punk” features key figures in the blockchain art scene, including former Christie’s digital art lead Noah Davis and art expert Yehudit Mam, shedding light on the impact of CryptoPunks on the art world.

The documentary, directed by Hervé Martin-Delpierre and produced by Marc Lustigman, delves into the story of CryptoPunks, avoiding technical jargon to focus on the collection’s influence and the diverse perspectives surrounding it.

Released internationally on VIMEO OTT and ARTE, the film explores the highs and lows of CryptoPunks’ journey, appealing to both fans and newcomers to the crypto art space.

As documentarians, Martin-Delpierre and Lustigman aimed to present a balanced view of CryptoPunks, capturing the essence of a project that has both captivated and polarized audiences, all while exploring the evolution of art on the blockchain.

The release of “What the Punk” marks a significant moment in the crypto art narrative, showcasing the impact of CryptoPunks and its role in shaping the digital art ecosystem.