Adidas Enters the World of Blockchain Gaming with STEPN’s Running Shoe NFTs
Sportswear giant Adidas has made its way into the world of blockchain gaming! STEPN, the pioneer of “earn while you run” blockchain games, recently announced a long-term partnership with Adidas, kicking off with a limited edition collection of running shoe NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
The first release, “STEPN x adidas Genesis Sneakers,” is limited to 1000 pairs and features STEPN’s lightning logo and Adidas’ iconic three-stripe design. Priced at 10,000 GMT (STEPN’s native token), which is approximately $2,500, these NFT sneakers will be deployed on the Solana blockchain and sold on the MOOAR marketplace.
The “STEPN x adidas Genesis Sneakers” mark the first collaboration between STEPN and Adidas, and future releases will include both physical and digital collectibles.
Shiti Manghani, CEO of STEPN, stated that the main motivation behind this partnership is to engage the Web3 communities of both brands and encourage their active participation. After all, sports, fitness, and lifestyle are core values emphasized by both Adidas and STEPN.
Manghani further revealed that the collaboration between the two brands will extend to their respective applications and involve “products that reward people for participating in running.” However, specific details have not been disclosed yet.
The launch of the “STEPN x adidas Genesis Sneakers” will occur in two stages. Starting from April 17, a lottery will be held on the MOOAR marketplace, and eligible participants include ALTS by adidas NFT holders, STEPN OG sneakers and Genesis shoe holders. The public sale will then be open from April 18 to April 21.
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Nike Virtual Sneakers: Real Versions and Online Sales, What Caused the Community Frenzy?
What is Adidas’ Web3 Strategy?
Adidas has been deeply involved in the Web3 space for the past two years and is now making a deeper foray into the blockchain industry by entering the world of blockchain gaming.
In 2021, Adidas launched the NFT project “Adidas Originals: Into The Metaverse,” which has now entered its third phase. Adidas’ NFT project has withstood both bull and bear markets. In early 2023, the company announced the establishment of the Web3 studio “/// Studio,” showcasing its commitment to deep development.
In May 2023, Adidas partnered with NFT security certification company Tokenproof for a three-year collaboration. Through the Token-gated verification on Tokenproof’s CONFIRMED mobile app, exclusive experiences were provided to Adidas NFT community members, allowing them to purchase special collaborations and designer collections.
In August of last year, Adidas’ product line Adidas Originals collaborated with streetwear brand BAPE to release a limited edition “Triple-White Forum 84 BAPE Low” sneaker. What made this collaboration unique was that the shoes were released through Adidas’ Web3 studio “/// Studio” using an integrated virtual and physical approach and were auctioned on Adidas’ digital collectibles platform, Collect.
According to official sources, this was Adidas’ first-ever auction of digital assets.
Source:
Decrypt, Forbes
Editor: Gao Jingyuan