Two friends have had a bigger impact on the nft industry than perhaps anyone else: the founders of Larva laboratories.
By continually innovating the digital asset ecosystem, the work of Matt Hall and John Watkinson has created the environment we see today, forming the foundation and inspiration for many of today's most popular collections.
From the creation of the world's most valuable nft collection to the technical innovations that have propelled the industry forward, the two continue to push boundaries and forge new paths. They have left an indelible mark, but how did they do it?
Here's our complete guide to Larva Labs in 2024.
What is Larva Laboratories?
x.com/larvalabs” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>larva laboratories is a technology company founded by x.com/matthall2000″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>matt sala and John Watkinson, two seasoned creatives who, before nfts, were perhaps best known for creating an open source repository of legal documents. x.com/Docracy” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Docracyand Android avatar creator Androidify, which became the face of the Android brand.
Using their experience and expertise in a wide range of areas, they turned their attention to the burgeoning world of blockchain technology in 2017, creating the project they are perhaps most famous for now: CryptoPunks: a 10,000-piece fully on-chain pixel avatar. nft Collection.
CryptoPunks largely went unnoticed until nfts exploded into the mainstream consciousness in early 2021, and CryptoPunks quickly became 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 nft collection of generative art on ethereum, and one of the first of its kind. They followed this up with the launch 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 for a no-fee approach.
CryptoPunks, Autoglyphs, and Meebits innovated the digital asset industry in different ways and have led Larva Labs to gain a reputation for novel, intriguing, and completely unique products, tools, and applications.
The history of Larva laboratories
Founded in the early 2000s, Larva Labs began as a place for Matt and John to explore both professional and experimental projects.
Much of his early work focused on the then-new smartphone industry, with a focus on Android devices. They released two popular homepage experiences for Android: Slide Screen in 2009 and x.com/flowhomeapp” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Start flow in 2014, as well as the Androidify tool in 2011 and the 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 as it is the most valuable collection of nfts in the world and one of the most recognizable nfts in the mainstream consciousness.
Larva Labs launched its 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 proceeds going to climate charities. x.com/350″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>350and Larva Labs giving up any control over the collection in its code.
Their third collection, Meebits, minted in 2021, featuring 20,000 generative 3D voxel characters, complete with a free marketplace and asset pack that allows each Meebit to be used in any game engine, 3D studio, or virtual world that supports the rigging. of animated avatars.
Shortly after the historic peak of the nft market, Larva Labs sold the management and intellectual property rights of CryptoPunks and Meebits to Yuga Labs, creators of the second most valuable nft collection. x.com/BoredApeYC” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Bored Ape Yacht Club – in early 2022, and although that marked a pause in his active public involvement in the blockchain space, his contributions continue to be announced to this day.
What's next for Larva Labs?
As of 2024, even though Matt and John are largely inactive in the blockchain space, Larva Labs is still considered a vanguard of innovation in the nft industry and has been key in inspiring countless nft collections and blockchain games. to enter Web3. fold.
While many companies have taken steps forward, none have been able to match the advances made by their various products.
John Watkinson maintains a largely silent online presence, while Matt Hall is listed as working at Larva Labs and 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, although they have remained, for the most part, disconnected from the industry since.
Despite this breakout, we do not rule out a return to blockchain for the pair. Their past experiences have demonstrated 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 Larva Labs team could be working on.
Regardless of what the future holds, Larva Labs has left a mark like no other in the nft industry. Just 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 always be a cornerstone of the nft ecosystem.
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