Pre-orders are almost closed – they’re running on Nov. 4-9 – for the Asics running shoe designed “to get the Web3 community moving” and for sale only in exchange for the digital currency known as USDC.
USDC (U.S. Dollar Coin) is a digital currency of the so-called stablecoin variety. Unlike such cryptocurrencies as Bitcoin and Ether, stablecoins are backed by fiat currency (issued by a central bank) or related securities (in USDC’s case, U.S. Treasury bills). Fiat backing is supposed to smooth out volatility and make the stablecoin fit for non-financial transactions, such as the purchase of goods.
Asics will be selling GT-2000 11 running shoes from the Asics x Solana UI Collection (“UI” is short for “user interface” in reference to the shoes’ computer aesthetic) in exchange for USDC on a blockchain called Solana Pay. Buyers will receive a loyalty Asics Badge NFT and be entered into some sort of lottery for “an airdrop of a limited number of Asics x STEPN GT-2000 NFTs.”
The Badge NFT provides “access to future tokengated Asics rewards and experiences” through the Move and Earn app.
STEPN is a Web3 app that combines games and exercise. It was created by Find Satoshi Lab, whose name is a reference to the mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous inventor (or inventors) of Bitcoin.
The five-day pre-order period has a CSR angle. Asics says it reduces inventory and increases production efficiencies, as the company “won’t make or ship more products than are purchased.” The shoes come in “light mode” and “dark mode” and cost USDC 200.
