Hoffman's Bold NFT Move: What Drives This Crypto Expert to Embrace Cryptopunks

LinkedIn co-founder and well-known venture capitalist Reid Hoffman has demonstrated his support for the Cryptopunks NFT community by changing his X (formerly Twitter) profile image to a Cryptopunk character. On October 26, Hoffman shared, "I purchased this NFT several months back. My involvement in the crypto sector dates to 2013, and I’m thrilled to join one of the most impactful communities in this space," according to

. This gesture highlights Hoffman’s ongoing commitment to blockchain innovation and his strategic investments in digital assets, which also include early stakes in companies such as Facebook and Airbnb.

Debuting in 2017, the Cryptopunks series is regarded as a landmark NFT project, with some pieces selling for millions. Recent figures show their popularity remains strong: in the last week alone, three Cryptopunks each sold for more than $170,000, as reported by

, despite significant fluctuations in the broader NFT market. While total NFT sales have dropped 42% year-to-date to $93 million, the continued demand for Cryptopunks highlights their reputation as cornerstone assets in the crypto world, the report noted.

Hoffman’s adoption of a Cryptopunk avatar coincides with renewed momentum in the NFT sector. OpenSea, the top NFT trading platform, has revealed plans to introduce its own token, SEA, in the first quarter of 2026, allocating half of the initial revenue for buybacks, according to

. Meanwhile, another major NFT collection, Pudgy Penguins, experienced a 76% drop in sales during the same timeframe, as per crypto.news. These contrasting results illustrate the uneven landscape of the NFT market, where established collections like Cryptopunks retain value while newer projects face challenges.

This development also ties into larger conversations about digital property rights and decentralized platforms. A

revealed that a recent change to Counter-Strike 2’s in-game economy wiped out $2 billion in value by modifying how cosmetic items work, sparking renewed debate over centralization in gaming. Supporters of blockchain-based models argue that NFTs can help prevent such losses by ensuring transparent, secure ownership. co-founder Vitalik Buterin has pointed to centralized control in games like World of Warcraft as a major motivation for developing blockchain technology, the article added.

Outside the NFT realm, Hoffman has also drawn attention for defending Anthropic, an AI safety startup, against claims of excessive regulation from Trump-era officials. In a direct X thread, Hoffman described Anthropic as "one of the good guys," praising its "responsible" approach to AI compared to rivals he accused of ignoring social consequences, according to the

. His comments escalated a dispute with David Sacks, Trump’s AI and crypto advisor, who alleged that Anthropic was hindering innovation with "fear-driven" regulatory tactics, as reported by . Elon Musk, whose company xAI competes with Anthropic, supported Sacks’ criticism, according to .

This dispute reflects a widening rift in Silicon Valley over how AI should be governed. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei rejected Sacks’ accusations and agreed with Vice President JD Vance’s stance that AI should focus on "beneficial applications" while reducing risks, as noted by AOL. At the same time, Sacks has pushed for federal laws to override state-level AI rules, warning that a fragmented regulatory approach could undermine America’s edge over China, according to

.

Hoffman’s simultaneous advocacy for NFTs and AI demonstrates his conviction that blockchain can transform digital ownership and influence AI ethics. As the crypto and technology industries continue to shift, his prominent endorsements—and the debates they generate—are likely to shape both sectors.