2026-01-15 13:32:29

It turns out Gary Vaynerchuk got into RTFKT earlier than most realized—backing the platform alongside a16z in an $8 million funding round, which happened even before Nike's major move into the space. That timing actually reframes his whole recent NFT momentum. Think about it: combining RTFKT's digital sneaker ecosystem with VeeFriends' community-driven approach could unlock something pretty significant. The synergies between virtual collectibles and brand-building through NFTs are starting to make a lot more sense now that the early investment pieces are coming into focus.

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Ser_This_Is_A_Casino

· 3h ago

GV, this move was really early. They jumped on board even before Nike entered the market. Very perceptive.

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CryptoPunster

· 3h ago

Gary, this guy is so smart. RTFKT was stuck before Nike, and he played the timing perfectly. Fantasy collaboration? Virtual shoes combined with community-driven efforts—this is just a new trick for the rookies. a16z has also invested, which shows there’s something to this, but don’t ask me how much I can make. I’ve already learned to smile and lose everything on this one. Early investment? Where are those people who said last year it would multiply tenfold this year? Now they’re all in gambling apps. This synergy sounds really impressive, but I wonder if they can make a second round after the first.

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GraphGuru

· 3h ago

GaryVee's move was really well-planned in advance. The $8 million funding round was even faster than Nike, with every detail meticulously prepared.

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HashBard

· 4h ago

gotta respect the timing play here... gary moving before nike even showed up is peak contrarian energy, but also makes u wonder if he's just riding the narrative arc or actually building something real 🤔 the vee + rtfkt synergy angle hits different tho, community psychology meets digital assets... sentiment metrics prolly gonna shift once people clock the actual utility beyond jpegs

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AirdropBuffet

· 4h ago

GaryV really got in early this time. When RTFKT was around, no one paid attention, and then Nike just came in... It's a bit outrageous.

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