Two friends have had a bigger impact on the NFT industry than perhaps anyone else – the founders of Larva Labs.
Innovating the digital asset ecosystem at every turn, Matt Hall and John Watkinson’s work has created the environment we see today, forming the foundations and inspiration for many of the most popular collections around today.
From creating the most valuable NFT collection in the world, to technical innovations that have pushed the industry forwards, the two continue to push boundaries and forge new paths. They’ve left an indelible mark – but how did they do it?
Here’s our complete guide to Larva Labs in 2024.
What is Larva Labs?
Larva Labs is a technology company founded by Matt Hall and John Watkinson, two experienced creatives who – prior to NFTs – were perhaps best-known for creating open-source legal document repository Docracy, and Android avatar creator Androidify – which became the face of the Android brand.
Using their experience and expertise in a vast array of areas, they turned their attention to the burgeoning world of blockchain technology in 2017, creating the project they’re perhaps most famous for now: CryptoPunks – a 10,000-piece fully on-chain pixel avatar NFT collection.
CryptoPunks largely flew under the radar until NFTs exploded into mainstream consciousness in early 2021, with CryptoPunks quickly becoming the most valuable NFT collection in the world – a title the collection still holds to this day.
Larva Labs didn’t stop there. In 2019, they created Autoglyphs: a code-based generative art NFT collection on Ethereum – and one of the first of its kind. They followed this up with the release of Meebits in 2021: a 20,000-piece generative collection of 3D voxel characters, complete with a no-fee marketplace – again one of the first to push a no-fee approach.
CryptoPunks, Autoglyphs and Meebits each innovated the digital asset industry in different ways, and have led Larva Labs to gain a reputation for novel, intriguing and thoroughly unique products, tools and apps.
The History of Larva Labs
Founded in the early 2000s, Larva Labs began as a place for Matt and John to explore both professional and experimental projects.
Much of their early work focused on the then-new smartphone industry, with a particular focus on Android devices. They released two popular homepage experiences for Android: Slide Screen in 2009, and Flow Home in 2014, as well as the Androidify tool in 2011, and app-based chat tool AppChat in 2012.
In 2017, they launched CryptoPunks – a collection of 10,000 unique pixel art avatars on the Ethereum blockchain. CryptoPunks needs no introduction, being the most valuable NFT collection worldwide, and one of the most recognisable NFTs in mainstream consciousness.
Larva Labs released their second collection, Autoglyphs, in 2019 – a 512-piece fully on-chain code-based generative art collection (the first on-chain generative NFT collection of its kind), with the proceeds going to climate charity 350, and Larva Labs reliquishing any control over the collection in its code.
Their third collection, Meebits, minted in 2021, with 20,000 generative 3D voxel characters – complete with a no-fee marketplace, and an asset pack that enables each Meebit to be usable in any game engine, 3D studio or virtual world that supports the rigging of animated avatars.
Shortly after the all-time peak of the NFT market, Larva Labs sold the management and IP rights of both CryptoPunks and Meebits to Yuga Labs – creators of the #2 most valuable NFT collection, Bored Ape Yacht Club – in early 2022, and though that signalled a pause in their active public involvement in the blockchain space, their contributions continue to be heralded to this day.
What’s next for Larva Labs?
As of 2024, despite both Matt and John being largely inactive in the blockchain space, Larva Labs continues to be regarded as a forefront of innovation in the NFT industry – and have been key in inspiring countless NFT collections and blockchain games to step into the Web3 fold.
Whilst many companies have taken steps forward, none have been able to match the leaps forward achieved by their various products.
John Watkinson keeps a largely quiet online presence, whilst Matt Hall is listed as working at Larva Labs, and at Google’s Creative Lab through the Larva Labs project.
Their last major interaction with the blockchain space came through a series of interviews in late 2023, though they’ve remained – for the most part – disconnected from the industry since.
Despite this break, we wouldn’t count out a return to blockchain for the pair. Their past experiences have shown a deep level of interest, intrigue and respect for forging paths in new technologies – and as blockchain continues to become more mainstream, who knows what the team at Larva Labs might be working on.
Regardless of what the future may hold, Larva Labs have left a mark like no other on the NFT industry. Much like Matt and John did with Android, their work has influenced much of what we see in the blockchain industry today, and their contributions will forever be a cornerstone of the NFT ecosystem.
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