Beeple creates the most controversial NFT event of the year, AI-forged "cryptopunks prequel" ignites a 140% rise in Nakamigos Floor Price.

Digital art superstar Beeple staged an astonishing performance at a studio event in South Carolina, claiming that the popular project Nakamigos is actually the "V0 punks" secretly developed by Larva Labs through an AI-forged "cryptopunks founder interview video." Although quickly confirmed to be fictional, the incident still caused Nakamigos NFT floor price to short-term soar by 140%, with a surge in 24-hour volume, sparking intense debates in the market about NFT boundary manipulation and performance art. This article details the course of the event, market reactions, and industry reflections.

Beeple ignites the annual controversy in the NFT world, AI-forged videos stir the market After several weeks of trying to quell the "Ethereum NFT Torch" craze, digital art top-tier Beeple sparked controversy again, creating a media storm in the digital collectibles field through a meticulously planned performance art.

The event took place at the Beeple studio in Charleston, South Carolina, originally intended as a tribute to the legendary NFT project Cryptopunks. However, the event quickly evolved into the most talked-about topic on NFT Twitter this week.

"V0 Punks" Scam Analysis, Nakamigos Manipulated to Soar During the event, Beeple played a deepfake "interview video" featuring CryptoPunks founders Matt Hall and John Watkinson. In the video, the two claimed that Nakamigos NFT is actually the predecessor of CryptoPunks and a secret project of Larva Labs.

The two dramatically unveiled the so-called "V0 Punk" with a countdown, directly linking the fictional background story to Nakamigos. The flyers distributed on-site further reinforced this mockery claim, completely igniting market speculation.

In just a few hours, the Floor Price of the Nakamigos NFT series, known for its MEME culture, skyrocketed nearly 140%, triggering a frenzy of on-chain trading. For holders, this brief surge in value is undoubtedly a pleasant surprise. As of the time of writing, the Nakamigos Floor Price still maintains a 25% rise, reported at 0.23 ETH (approximately 5500 RMB).

Industry response is polarized, is it performance art or market manipulation? The video was quickly identified as an AI-produced parody, and the entire "V0 Punk" story has been confirmed to be purely fictional. Historical records show that CryptoPunks were released in 2017, and there is no evidence to suggest any connection with Nakamigos or involvement from Larva Labs.

The NFT community has shown a serious split in response to this. Some traders believe this move is a clever "fishing" tactic to inject much-needed entertainment into an industry that has long been suppressed by the market gloom.

The well-known NFT figure Beanie commented: "Is there really someone getting angry at Beeple for this obvious parody? It's time for NFTs to regain their fun. If you lose money on this trade, you can only blame yourself for not understanding that Beeple is an epic 'fishing master'."

However, critics point out that the event blurs the lines between performance art and market manipulation, emphasizing that Beeple knowingly promoted falsehoods while still influencing market fluctuations. Although Beeple himself has not directly responded to the controversy, this incident once again confirms his ability to draw market attention solely through creative actions.

Conclusion: Controversial marketing awakens the dormant market, the NFT ecosystem falls into an ethical dilemma After a brief activation of the NFT market on Ethereum's tenth anniversary, Beeple's carefully designed spectacle has become a strong stimulus for industry activity. Whether viewed as a satirical performance art or precise market manipulation, the event profoundly reflects the inherent volatility and dramatic characteristics of NFT culture. When a 140% short-term surge is built upon AI-fabricated narratives, investors are forced to reassess the value anchors of the NFT market—Is it community consensus? Historical origins? Or merely the "fishing" frenzy of top artists? Against the backdrop of a bear market with ongoing liquidity depletion, such events may accelerate the reconstruction of the market's trust system.