CryptoPunk NFT Trader Faces Prison For $3.3M In Tax Evasion
- Trader evaded nearly $3.3M in taxes from CryptoPunk sales.
- Wilcox faces up to six years in prison for tax evasion.
- NFT sales and IRS scrutiny grow amid increasing digital asset regulations.
Waylon Wilcox, a 45-year-old man based in Dillsburg Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty to tax evasion after he failed to report income from CryptoPunk sales. Wilcox evaded about $3.3 million worth of taxes from the sale of 97 CryptoPunk NFTs between 2021 and 2022. On April 14th 2025 the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the tax evasion charges.
Wilcox earned more than $13 million in sales revenue but did not disclose this amount in his tax returns. Wilcox’s actions violated federal tax laws which classifies digital asset sales such as NFTs as taxable income. His failure to make tax payments resulted in evasion of millions of dollars in payments. The NFT tax investigation marks the first major case in the United States which shows the increased scrutiny of cryptocurrency and NFT transactions.
The lawsuit happens ahead of the annual tax deadline on April 15. The IRS requires taxpayers to disclose capital gains and losses from virtual currency and non-fungible token sales. Wilcox chose to plead guilty to avoid a potential six-year maximum prison term which applied to his crimes.
Evolution Of The NFT Market
The NFT collection CryptoPunks saw major sales during the 2021-2022 NFT market explosion which led to new price peaks. However, the market has experienced a major decline in both NFT sales volumes and a minimal growth in the price of Cryptopunks. The floor price of Cryptopunks is now $68,800 which shows an increase from $66,900 six months ago.
Yuga Labs acquired CryptoPunks in 2022 after which they abandoned the collection because of community backlash. Yuga Labs initially aimed to launch the Super Punk World collection based on CryptoPunks but decided to abandon the project completely. Yuga Labs’ CEO, Greg Solano, announced that CryptoPunks would remain decentralized on the blockchain and dedicate its efforts to support museums and education institutions.
Increased Crypto Scrutiny
Wilcox’s case shows the increased scrutiny on financial activities related to cryptocurrency. The IRS investigates sophisticated financial schemes that involve non-fungible tokens and other digital assets to ensure tax compliance. Yury Kruty, special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation, stressed the importance of taxpayers compliance with rules and tax payment after Wilcox’s plea admission.
The Wilcox case represents a major development in NFT-related tax enforcement, while he faces a reduced sentence because of his cooperation. Traders and collectors must understand their tax responsibilities especially because of the April 15 deadline.