Two good friends have had a bigger impact on the NFT industry than anyone else – the founders of Larva Labs.
Pioneering the digital asset ecosystem we know today, the work of Matt Hall and John Watkinson has formed the foundations of the NFT industry, and been an 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 envelope of what’s possible, these two developers continue to make a big impact. Their contributions are unmatched – but how did they do it?
Master the pair, as we explain the past, present and future of Larva Labs in 2024.
What is Larva Labs?
Larva Labs is a technology company founded by Matt Hall and John Watkinson, two creative developers who – prior to NFTs – were best-known for creating open-source legal document repository Docracy, and Android avatar creator Androidify – which became the face of the Android brand.
Using this vast experience and expertise, they turned their attention to the growing world of blockchain technology in 2017, creating the project they’re most famous for now: CryptoPunks – a 10,000-piece fully on-chain pixel avatar NFT collection.
The CryptoPunks collection largely flew under the radar until NFTs exploded into mainstream consciousness in early 2021, with CryptoPunks becoming the most valuable NFT collection in the world – a title the collection still holds to this day.
In 2019, Larva Labs created Autoglyphs: a code-based generative art NFT collection on Ethereum – one of the first of its kind. They followed this up with 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 platform.
CryptoPunks, Autoglyphs and Meebits each innovated the NFT industry in different ways, giving Larva Labs a reputation for creating unique, cutting-edge and noteworthy products, tools and apps.
The History of Larva Labs so far
Founded in the early 2000s, Larva Labs was the face of Matt and John’s joint projects – both professional and experimental.
Their early work focused on the then-new smartphone industry, with a particular focus on Android. They released two homepage experiences for Android: Slide Screen in 2009, and Flow Home in 2014, as well as Androidify 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 Ethereum. CryptoPunks needs no introduction, being the most valuable NFT collection worldwide, and one of the most recognisable NFTs in mainstream consciousness.
Larva Labs minted their second collection, Autoglyphs, in 2019 – a 512-piece fully on-chain code-based generative art collection. The proceeds were given to climate charity 350, and Larva Labs reliquished any control over the collection through its code.
Their third collection, Meebits, minted in 2021, with 20,000 generative 3D voxel characters – each with access to a no-fee marketplace, and an asset pack that enabled each Meebit to be imported into any game engine, 3D studio or virtual world that supports animated avatar rigging.
Shortly after the all-time peak of the NFT market in early 2022, 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 – and though that signalled a pause in their active 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 pioneering force in the NFT industry – and a key inspiration for countless NFT collections and blockchain games.
John Watkinson keeps a 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 mostly disconnected from the industry since.
Despite this break, a return to blockchain for the pair wouldn’t be unexpected. Their past experiences have shown a deep level of interest and intrigue in new technologies, and as blockchain continues to face significant challenges in both technology and adoption, who knows what Larva Labs could be working on.
Regardless of what they may do in future, Larva Labs have made a massive impact 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 seen as important milestones for the NFT ecosystem.
Riding crypto waves since 2012, bridging digital and physical worlds through prose.