Nike Unleashes Virtual ‘CryptoKicks’ That It Patented Back In 2019

Video screenshots via RTFKT

Hypebeasts looking to cop the latest kicks need to run, not walk, into the metaverse, as that’s where all the trendiest designs seem to be. Nike’s certainly headed there; back in December, it acquired virtual sneaker studio RTFKT in hopes to take its products into the digital space, and the pair have finally revealed what they’ve had up their sleeves.

For collectors, the first steps for Nike and RTFKT’s partnership began in February, when the latter rolled out a mysterious non-fungible token (NFT) called a MNLTH. The asset, depicting a metallic cube sporting both Nike and RTFKT logos, challenged owners to complete some quests in order to unravel its contents.

Nike and RTFKT have finally announced what objects lie inside this cube: the first CryptoKicks, along with a “skin vial” and a second MNLTH to unwrap future, elusive products.

The CryptoKicks take on the Nike Dunk silhouette and sport the same basic design. As visualized in an animation, though, the skin vial is then slotted into the tongue, and that’s when the sneakers adopt various colorways. As reported by Vogue Business, one of the skins was designed by Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami, but there will be more accessibility for artistic contributions in the near future.

The project reveals Nike’s incredible foresight about the evolving crypto world. The patent for CryptoKicks was filed in 2019—almost two years before Beeple’s Everydays JPG went under the hammer for US$69 million and nudged the concept of NFTs into the mainstream.

As suggested by the patent filing, moving forward, Nike also plans to launch software for a cryptocurrency wallet, work on a marketplace for digital assets, and host online treasure hunts, among other ideas.

[via Business of Fashion, Vogue Business, Google Patents, video and cover image via RTFKT]