In the world of running, the Japanese brand Asics is an institution. In conjunction with the Stepn “Move to Earn” app, Asics allows consumers to purchase an iconic physical sneaker from the brand for a chance to win exclusive NFTs. Focus on this new collaboration, but also on Asics’ desire to penetrate the world of web3 more sustainably.
An NFT collection in collaboration with Stepn!
Asics has therefore just announced a new collaboration in the field of web3 with the launch of its collection ASICS X SOLANA UI. A collection that will take as its model a flagship shoe of the brand: the GT-2000 11. Those who buy the trainer will also give themselves the chance to win a limited edition of the GT-2000, an NFT trainer co-created with Stepn app.
This collection has been on sale since this morning and will be available until November 8th. The shoes will be sold at a unit price of $200. Note that these are physical sneakers and not NFT. To buy them, you will necessarily have to go through the USDC stablecoin and the Solana Pay application. Upon purchase, consumers will receive an ASICS-stamped NFT badge. Via this, it will be possible to unlock certain rewards and exclusive experiences with the equipment manufacturer.
If you’re not familiar with Stepn, the FindSatoshi Lab app launched in 2021 and quickly exploded, thanks in part to the visibility of the Launchpad of the Binance platform. It’s about a application “Move to Earn” that rewards users when they move, run or walk. To be able to earn the rewards, Stepn users must first put on virtual sneakers in the application. Sneakers represented in the form of NFT.
Asics wants to invest more in web 3!
Like many other brands, Asics has understood that the development of web3 was not just an epiphenomenon. If the foray into this universe has long been considered too risky, it seems that the risk has changed sides. Now, it actually seems more risky to ignore web3 technologies than to embrace them. As detailed, in his own words, Joe Pace, in charge of web3 development for the Japanese equipment manufacturer:
We see a place to help us in Web3 and bring products that inspire people to be physically active.
If Asics is launching a new NFT initiative, the company is not at its first attempt. In July 2021, the Japanese brand launched its first collection, called Sunrise Red. A first initiative launched via the Ethereum blockchain!
A project that will work under the Solana blockchain
To launch its latest collaboration with Stepn, Asics has therefore chosen the Solana blockchain. A blockchain which, according to Joe Pace, makes it possible to have a scalable product and benefit from low transaction costs.
We want to build our program on a blockchain that we know can scale globally from day one and beyond […]. Raj [Gokal] et Anatoly [Yakovenko] have built an incredible culture at Solana that is welcoming and open. The people who work for them are of the same mindset.
We note in passing the sliding tackle to Ethereum, a solution that does not seem to have convinced at Asics. Anyway, this new project hosted by Solana tends to validate the place that the blockchain takes on the NFT segment. If the market is still largely dominated by Ethereum, Solana is gradually picking up. According to data from the CrytoSlam platform, $50 million worth of NFTs have been traded in the last 30 days via the Solana blockchain. At the same time, the trading volume on Ethereum exceeds 300 million. Until a few months ago, Solana did not even represent 1% of Ethereum’s volume.
At the time of writing, Solana is the tenth largest crypto project in terms of marketcap according to Coinmarketcap data. For a total valuation of 11.9 billion dollars.
Read also: Solana, the other NFT blockchain!
