A major blue-chip NFT sale has pushed Cryptopunks back into the spotlight. Onchain records show that Cryptopunk #3100, an “Alien Punk” known for its headband trait, sold on Monday for 4,500 ETH, or roughly $16 million. The transaction now ranks as the second-highest sale in Cryptopunk history, well above its previous sale price of about $7.67 million recorded three years earlier.
Second only to the all-time record
Cryptopunk #3100 is one of the rare “Alien Punk” NFTs in the collection, a category long considered among the most valuable in the market. According to the report, the NFT has now passed through the hands of three collectors. The top sale record in the collection is still held by another Alien Punk, Cryptopunk #5822, which previously sold for $23.7 million.
The asset’s long-term price appreciation stands out. About seven years ago, its first owner bought it for just $2,133. Three years ago, it changed hands for around 4,200 ETH, equal to $7.67 million at the time. The latest transaction at 4,500 ETH suggests that demand for ultra-rare, top-tier NFTs remains intact despite broader market fluctuations.
Ethereum NFT activity gets a boost
The sale also had an immediate impact on broader NFT market activity. In the past 24 hours, Cryptopunks moved to the top of NFT collection sales rankings, overtaking Nodemonkes and Uncategorized Ordinals. Over the same period, total NFT sales volume on the Ethereum network reached $39,046,592.
Fueled largely by the #3100 transaction, Ethereum-based NFT sales rose 63.38% over 24 hours. Data cited from nftpricefloor.com also showed the Cryptopunk floor price climbing to 57 ETH. The move highlights how a single marquee sale in a blue-chip collection can still reshape short-term trading volumes and market attention across the Ethereum NFT ecosystem.