Article Summary

The cryptocurrency and NFT communities are mourning the unexpected death of Benoit Pagotto, the 41-year-old co-founder of RTFKT Studios who revolutionized digital fashion and blockchain collectibles. Pagotto, who helped establish Nike's groundbreaking entry into the metaverse through RTFKT's acquisition, passed away Sunday, sending shockwaves through the crypto industry. As a pioneering figure in NFT innovation, Pagotto co-founded RTFKT Studios, which became synonymous with premium digital sneakers and virtual fashion items on the blockchain. The company's success in merging traditional fashion with cryptocurrency technology attracted Nike's attention, leading to a major acquisition that validated the NFT market's potential. Industry leaders across DeFi, cryptocurrency trading, and blockchain development platforms have paid tribute to Pagotto's visionary approach to digital assets. His work bridging Web3 technology with mainstream consumer brands helped legitimize NFTs beyond simple collectibles, creating utility-driven blockchain applications. The crypto market has seen increased attention on fashion-focused NFT projects following news of his passing, with several digital fashion tokens experiencing heightened trading volume as investors remember his contributions to the cryptocurrency ecosystem.