Crypto Community Mourns Passing of RTFKT Co-Founder Benoit Pagotto
An Unfortunate Farewell
Well, folks, it seems the crypto community has got itself in a bit of a tizzy over the recent passing of Benoît Pagotto, the creative mastermind behind the digital fashion wonderland known as RTFKT. At just 41 years young, Benoît left us all too soon, and it’s hit harder than a rogue crypto drop.
Tributes Pour In
Philippe Rodriguez, a long-time buddy and fellow tech enthusiast, broke the news on LinkedIn with all the feels. He described Benoît as “super creative, discreet, and humble,” which sounds like he was the kind of guy you’d want around to sprinkle some magic dust on your Monday morning meetings. Rodriguez shared how Benoît genuinely believed in the power of beauty to change the world—a sentiment that feels extra poignant now.
As news spread like wildfire across Twitter, friends and associates started paying their respects. Steven Vasilev, another RTFKT co-founder, chimed in to say that Benoît’s vision and inspiration would continue to glow like a neon sign in the dark corridors of crypto.
The Colorful Character of Benoît
Then there’s Samuel Cardillo, former CTO of RTFKT, who perfectly captured the essence of Benoît with a cheeky, “a grumpy Parisian cliché, an asshole, and a genius.” Sounds about right, huh? Samuel fondly recalled how Benoît was unfiltered in his thoughts, and when you combine that with genius? You’ve got an unforgettable cocktail. He even hoped Benoît would come back as a “badass mean crow”—and honestly, who wouldn’t want that?
Greg Solano, the co-founder of Bored Ape Yacht Club, shared his favorite memory of Benoît being, well, just an all-around good dude. Greg recalled how Benoît had a knack for helping out when they were still new on the scene, and that his hearty laugh could fill an entire restaurant (or maybe even a stadium). Forget the NFTs; it was his personality that truly shone the brightest!
A Creative Legacy
Benoît played a crucial role in marrying luxury design with gaming and crypto culture, helping RTFKT become a household name in the digital asset world. Remember those futuristic virtual sneakers and jaw-dropping collectibles? Yep, that was him! He and his partners, Chris Le and Vasilev, made waves right from the start in 2020.
Fast forward to December 2021, when Nike snatched up RTFKT. Under Benoît’s creative helm, they ventured into uncharted territories like physical-linked NFTs and digital drops—all while keeping the spirit of sneaker culture alive. Even when Nike began winding things down for RTFKT, Benoît was still out there championing the brand like a true superhero.
Challenges and Controversies
In April, things took a turn when images for several Ethereum-based collections mysteriously went MIA. A cloud-hosting glitch played spoilsport, revealing how vulnerable centralized systems can be to hiccups—definitely not the sort of permanence RTFKT promised its followers.
To add icing on the cake, RTFKT found itself in hot water, hit with a $5 million class-action lawsuit from disgruntled NFT holders who felt pretty bamboozled by Nike’s grand promises of premium investments, only to feel abandoned when support was cut. It certainly left a bad taste in the mouths of many, dubbing the situation a “soft rug pull.”
Looking for Answers
As of now, the hunt for official confirmation is still on. Decrypt has reached out to Nike, the RTFKT co-founders, and close associates for comment, but there’s no official word yet on the cause of Benoît’s untimely death. The crypto realm has lost a true gem, and while the exact reasons remain shrouded in mystery, one thing is for sure—Benoît Pagotto will be sorely missed.