RTFKT And Nike Announce The Public Draw Of Cryptokicks iRL, The First Native Web3 Sneaker

From Bored Apes to CryptoPunks, the NFT space has more than proved that digital assets are as valuable as tangible art. And following said projects’ success, footwear brands the likes of adidas and Nike have begun to immerse themselves in the Web3 sphere, teaming up with notable creators for their very own virtual goods. Many of these, however, have not been too well-received, as their digital nature goes against the physical foundation of the hobby itself.

This is exactly what Nike and RTFKT are attempting to reconcile with Cryptokicks iRL, the “first native Web3 sneaker.” Combining new technology with the Swoosh’s decades of experience in the industry, the project aims to bridge the digital and physical worlds, all in four debut colorways: “Blackout,” “Stone,” “Ice,” and “Space Matter.”

The design of Cryptokicks iRL, though part-inspired by Tinker Hatfield’s Air Mag, is most akin to Nike’s more recent self-lacing sneakers, such as the Adapt BB 2.0. Clearly borrowing design cues from the latter — employing a very similar silhouette — the smart shoe features autolacing, enhanced lighting, haptic feedback, gesture control, walk detection, app connectivity, AI/ML algorithms, and wireless charging.

Cryptokicks iRL will be limited to 19,000 pairs, with the colorway split to be determined by the collectors themselves. They will be sold as NFTs that can then be redeemed for their physical counterparts, a process RTFKT dubs “Forging.”

If you’d like to secure a pair of any of the four above-mentioned colorways, the public draw is live from now until December 9th, 11AM ET, on RTFKT.com. To enter, you must have an RTFKT account, a crypto wallet supported by WalletConnect, a US shipping address, and at least .5 ETH (Roughly $616 USD) in your wallet. Only one entry per unique account and wallet address will be allowed.