Crypto Gloss

Meebits

Meebits are a collection of 20,000 unique 3D voxel characters on Ethereum created by Larva Labs — the team behind CryptoPunks and Autoglyphs — launched in May 2021 as the first major attempt to extend the CryptoPunks IP into three dimensions, with each Meebit represented as a downloadable 3D model usable in games, animations, and virtual environments, subsequently acquired by Yuga Labs in March 2022 alongside CryptoPunks.

The Collection

Attribute Detail
Supply 20,000 NFTs
Blockchain Ethereum (ERC-721)
Launch May 3, 2021
Mint method CryptoPunk/Autoglyph holders minted free; public at 2.5 ETH
Creator Larva Labs (Matt Hall and John Watkinson)
Acquired by Yuga Labs (March 2022)

Each Meebit is a 3D voxel character — built from small cubes in the style popularized by Minecraft. The characters come in multiple types:

  • Human (most common)
  • Zombie (rare)
  • Skeleton (rare)
  • Robot (rare)
  • Pig (ultra-rare)
  • Dissected (ultra-rare)

Each Meebit is accompanied by a downloadable OBJ file — the 3D model in a format compatible with Blender, Maya, Unity, Unreal Engine, and other 3D tools.

CryptoPunk Connection and Mint Design

The Meebit mint was designed to reward existing Larva Labs community members:

  • CryptoPunk holders could mint a Meebit for free (one per Punk)
  • Autoglyph holders could also mint for free
  • Public sale at 2.5 ETH followed

This created an immediate connection between the CryptoPunks and Meebits ecosystems and drove significant secondary market demand from the CryptoPunks community.

The 3D/Metaverse Vision

Meebits launched at the height of metaverse hype (2021) — the timing aligned with:

  • Facebook’s metaverse announcement (October 2021)
  • Rising interest in 3D-ready NFT avatars for virtual worlds
  • The Sandbox, Decentraland, and other virtual world platforms seeking avatar standards

The OBJ download made Meebits one of the few NFTs with an immediately usable 3D asset attached. Holders could animate their Meebits, use them in games, or create derivative content.

Yuga Labs Acquisition

In March 2022, Yuga Labs — the company behind Bored Ape Yacht Club — acquired both CryptoPunks and Meebits from Larva Labs. The acquisition was a landmark moment in NFT IP consolidation.

Post-acquisition changes:

  • Yuga granted full commercial rights to CryptoPunk and Meebit holders (Larva Labs had not done this)
  • Meebits were integrated into Yuga’s broader IP ecosystem including Otherside metaverse plans
  • The commercial rights grant significantly changed the value proposition for holders

History

  • May 3, 2021 — Meebits launch; CryptoPunk/Autoglyph holders mint free; public sale at 2.5 ETH; sells out rapidly
  • May 2021 — Flash crash during Dutch auction as gas wars drove extreme fees; some mints failed; Larva Labs faced criticism over mint mechanics
  • 2021 — Meebits floor rises with the NFT bull market; 3D avatar/metaverse narrative drives collector interest
  • March 2022 — Yuga Labs acquires both CryptoPunks and Meebits from Larva Labs; commercial rights granted to holders
  • 2022 — Bear market; floor declines; metaverse hype cools; but Yuga IP position provides floor support
  • 2023–2024 — Meebits maintained as part of Yuga portfolio; Otherside metaverse development continues; floor remains above many non-Yuga collections

Common Misconceptions

  • “Meebits and CryptoPunks are the same project.” — They were created by the same team (Larva Labs) and share an IP universe, but they are distinct collections. Meebits are 3D; CryptoPunks are 2D pixel art. They were minted two years apart (2017 vs. 2021). Yuga now owns both.
  • “The OBJ file makes Meebits immediately usable in any game.” — The OBJ file is a 3D model, but integration into any specific game or virtual world requires additional work. No major game has natively integrated Meebits as playable avatars, though the format is theoretically compatible with 3D platforms.

Social Media Sentiment

  • X/Twitter: Meebits holders are often from the CryptoPunks community; the Yuga acquisition and commercial rights grant were well-received; 3D avatar use cases are frequently showcased by creative holders.
  • r/NFT / r/CryptoPunks: Meebits are respected as blue-chip Larva Labs IP; some debate about whether the 3D format delivered on the metaverse vision or was more speculative.
  • Discord (Meebits): Active collector community; significant overlap with CryptoPunks holders; Yuga integration has brought additional resources and attention.

Last updated: 2026-04

Related Terms

See Also

  • CryptoPunks — the Larva Labs collection that predates Meebits; the 2D pixel art original that the Meebit ecosystem was designed to extend into 3D
  • Yuga Labs — the company that acquired both CryptoPunks and Meebits; now controls the Meebit IP and commercial rights
  • Autoglyphs — the other Larva Labs collection; on-chain generative art; Autoglyph holders received free Meebit mints alongside CryptoPunk holders

Sources