The 10 Most Expensive Cryptopunks in 2022

In 2022, the most expensive Cryptopunks NFTs are also among the priciest collectibles on the market. But how much are collectors willing to spend for a rare punk avatar?

At the time of writing, the figures are outstanding: the most expensive Cryptopunk NFT sold for over $20M! This price tag is even more surprising since these NFTs were free to mint at launch.

Is CryptoPunks #9998 the most expensive NFT ever sold?

A quick look into the collection’s transactions reveals a $530M sale for Punk #9998. Don’t be fooled, though! This apparent sale was nothing more than a clever publicity stunt. In short, the NFT holder sold the digital asset to himself using two digital wallets – so it’s not an actual sale.

With that in mind, it’s time to reveal the priciest Punk NFTs along with their traits, buyers, and other insights.

Which are the most expensive Cryptopunks NFTs in 2022?

1. The most expensive CryptoPunks NFT, #5822: $23.58M

Back in February, the CEO of tech company Chain, Deepak Thapliyal, purchased Punk #5822 for a staggering $23.58M. The digital avatar is a very rare Alien Punk; in fact, there are only 9 such NFTs in the collection.

Furthermore, the avatar is wearing a bandana – a trait shared with only 5% of the collectibles.

2. CryptoPunk #4156: $10.35M

The second most expensive Cryptopunks NFT is also wearing a Bandana trait. Sold for 2,500 ETH in December 2021, this is one of the 0.24% Ape Punks in the collection.

Previously, the NFT had been sold for 650 ETH – less than a third of its latest price.

3. CryptoPunk #5577: $7.82M

This Punk sold for a whopping 2,501 ETH back in February – and for good reason. Not only is it an Ape, but the avatar also wears a Cowboy Hat.

Accordingly, only 1% of the CryptoPunks NFTs feature the Cowboy Hat. In fact, most hats are a rare trait among Punk collectibles, and our next NFT on the list has one too:

4. CryptoPunk #7804: $7.56M

This Alien Punk features a Cap Forward trait, shared with 3% of the other collectibles. In addition, the avatar has Small Shades and a Pipe – both rare traits among CryptoPunks NFTs.

It’s not just the rarity, though. All of these traits are very compatible design-wise. This factor can add plenty of value to any PFP collectible, regardless of its rarity.

5. CryptoPunk #3100: $7.51M

This is the third Alien Punk NFT on our list. It’s among the 4% digital assets with a Headband trait. The NFT was sold for 4,200 ETH on March 11th, 2021.

If Alien Punks aren’t your thing, though, a Zombie is among the most expensive CryptoPunks too:

6. CryptoPunk #8857: $6.64M

This Punk NFT is another great combination of traits. The digital asset features 3D Glasses and Wild Hair – both of which look good on a Zombie.

Only 0.88% of the collectibles are Zombie types, so they’re even rarer than Aliens. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the current owner had paid 2,000 ETH for this expensive CryptoPunk NFT.

7. CryptoPunk #5217: $5.44M

If you think Zombies and Aliens are rare, know that only 0.24% of the CryptoPunks are Apes. In addition, this NFT is wearing an orange Knitted Cap and a Gold Chain.

Therefore, this cool Punk NFT sold for 2,250 ETH on July 30th last year during the NFT boom.

8. CryptoPunk #7252: $5.33M

The 8th most expensive Zombie CryptoPunks NFT on the list sold for 1,600 ETH back in August 2021. It features Crazy Hair, a gold Earring, and a Chinstrap. These traits are visually compatible, increasing the collectible’s price.

To conclude, Zombie Punks are generally more expensive than other collectibles due to their rarity. Here’s another example:

9. CryptoPunk #6275: $5.11M

Surprisingly, this item was briefly owned by none other than Pranksy. However, the iconic collector sold it for 1,319 ETH on the same day of the purchase.

In terms of traits, the Punk NFT has a Shadow Beard and Mohawk Dark accessory – both very suitable for a Zombie.

10. CryptoPunk #2338: $4.35M

If this NFT seems just like the one from above, look again. Although both collectibles are Zombies with Mohawk Thin accessories, this one lacks the beard.

Nevertheless, Punk #2338 sold for a whopping 1,500 ETH in August 2021. The digital asset had three previous owners, but none of those sales exceeded 3.5 ETH.

Should you invest in the most expensive CryptoPunks NFTs?

CryptoPunks is undoubtedly among the most valuable (and stable) NFT collections. Of course, the floor price has dropped multiple times in the past. For example, CryptoPunks’ floor price was just 52.69 ETH in January when the BAYC briefly flipped it with its 53.9 ETH floor price.

At the time of writing, though, the collection’s floor price is 74.68 ETH. Moreover, some of the most iconic celebrities, NFT whales, and artists, proudly own CryptoPunks NFTs too.

To conclude, the most expensive CryptoPunks NFTs are worth looking into. Depending on your budget, these collectibles might bring plenty of profit in the long run.

Want to find out more about CryptoPunks? Our in-depth post offers insights on the collection’s founders, minting process, and other fascinating insights; you can check it out right here.