Physical shoes can be ordered using USDC
About Asics
Asics is a Japanese sportswear company that designs and manufactures footwear and apparel for a wide variety of sports, including running, tennis, golf, and more. The company has been in business since 1949 and its products are sold in over 190 countries around the world. Asics is best known for its running shoes, which make up a large part of the company’s product line.
About Stepn
Stepn is a Solana-based fitness app that allows users to earn cryptocurrency while they exercise. The app tracks your steps and rewards you with tokens based on the number of steps you take. Stepn also has a social feature that allows users to connect with other users and share their progress. The platform was launched in 2021 by app developer FindSatoshi Lab.
The partnership
Asics is partnering with the Solana-based startup Stepn to create a new running shoe that will be available for purchase using USDC. The collection called the Asics ASICS x SOLANA UI Collection will feature custom-made limited-run GT-2000 11 running shoes that will allow the user a chance at winning a limited edition ASICS x STEPN GT-2000 NFT.
ASICS Director of Web3 & Digital Goods Joe Pace spoke on how the company sees itself in web3.
“We see a place for us to help in Web3 and bring products that inspire people to be physically active. For us, it’s just a different way of telling stories about our products and getting specific communities excited about them”
The ASICS x STEPN Shoes
The GT-2000 running shoe was built for the web3 community but that does not limit itself to just that sector. The shoes are for anyone that wants to be “in balance with physical activity” according to Pace.
The Shoes are available for preorder for a very limited time and will be off the market by November 8,2022. The shoes are going for $200 and can be purchased via USDC with Solana Pay. The shoes will have two colorways “light mode” and “dark mode” and will come with a Solana-inspired design symbolizing computers, phones, and physical activity.
Upon purchase of the shoe, the customer will receive an ASICS badge NFT. The digital asset will unlock access to future ASICS rewards and experiences. Pace spoke on how the company decided to humbly stay within its own lane even when preparing a digital fashion offering.
“We’ve purposely chosen to stay true to ourselves with this project and do what we are known for, which is making amazing running shoes, and running shoes that you would be excited to wear every day.”
Solana was chosen due to its scalability and low transaction costs, the usual reasons for working on the Solana chain.
“We want to be building our program on a blockchain that we know can scale globally from day one and beyond, Raj [Gokal] and Anatoly [Yakovenko] have built an incredible culture at Solana that’s welcoming, kind, and open. The people who work for them are the same way.” stated Pace
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