Creative visionary behind Nike’s digital fashion arm remembered for fusing beauty, technology, and culture Benoît Pagotto, co‑founder of the pioneering digital fashion studio RTFKT (pronounced “artifact”), has died at the age of 41, according to public posts and confirmations from close colleagues in Paris.
The news was first shared by French tech executive Philippe Rodriguez, founding partner at Avolta Partners, who described Pagotto’s passing as sudden in a LinkedIn message on Sunday. Avolta Partners advised RTFKT during its December 2021 sale to Nike.
“He will remain the entrepreneur, super creative, discreet and humble. Passionate but always reasonable, he inspired as much as he sought inspiration from others,” wrote Rodriguez in French, later adding that Pagotto “believed that beauty could change the world.”
The cause of death has not been disclosed. As of publication, no official obituary or civil registry notice has appeared in French media.
Colleagues and industry figures pay tribute
Pagotto’s co‑founder Steven Vasilev confirmed the news on X, writing:
“The vision, mission, and inspiration Benoît gave to the world will live on forever.”
Samuel Cardillo, former RTFKT chief technology officer, remembered him with characteristic candor as “a grumpy Parisian cliché … and genius,” saying Pagotto spoke “without filters” and once raised crows outside his apartment window, a quirky symbol of his unorthodox creativity.
Among those outside RTFKT paying tribute was Greg Solano (Garga.eth), co‑founder of Bored Ape Yacht Club, who called Pagotto “one of the kindest, funniest people I met in crypto,” recalling that he offered support “when we were nobodies” and remained genuine after RTFKT’s success.
Benoit was one of the kindest, funniest people I met in crypto. Reached out when we were nobodies, just offering advice and seeing how he could help.
— Garga.eth (Greg Solano) (@CryptoGarga) October 12, 2025
You got the feeling he was that way with everyone.
And when things took off for us, he was always the same. Not transactional,… https://t.co/LH2qosrhxX
Tributes also appeared from artists Takashi Murakami and Jeff Staple, both frequent collaborators on RTFKT design drops that blurred the lines between gaming culture, fashion, and blockchain innovations.
From start‑up to Nike acquisition
RTFKT was founded in 2020 by Pagotto, Vasilev, and Chris Le as a studio merging luxury design, esports culture, and non‑fungible tokens (NFTs). Its Clone X × Takashi Murakami avatars became a defining project of the 2021 bull market, generating nearly $120 million in lifetime trading volume, according to data from DeFiLlama.
Nike acquired RTFKT in December 2021, positioning the brand as its digital and metaverse‑focused arm. Under Pagotto’s creative direction, RTFKT pioneered phygital (physical‑digital hybrid) sneaker drops and experimented with on‑chain authentication, early examples of real‑world assets merged with digital identity.
In 2022, Pagotto was named to The Business of Fashion’s “BoF 500” list for shaping the future of fashion through Web3 innovation.
A legacy of innovation amid setbacks
By 2024, however, RTFKT’s momentum slowed amid the broader NFT downturn. That April, artwork from several Ethereum‑based collections temporarily vanished after a cloud‑hosting outage, prompting industry reflection on the fragility of off‑chain storage.
The same month, Nike and RTFKT faced a $5 million class‑action lawsuit from NFT holders claiming the companies had misled buyers about long‑term support for their tokens. Plaintiffs alleged that when Nike announced plans to wind down RTFKT, confirmed later that year, it effectively “abandoned” the community.
Despite turbulence, Pagotto remained with Nike as Senior Director of Brand and Partnerships through early 2025, continuing to advise on metaverse‑related initiatives and mentoring emerging Web3 creators.
Market reactions
Following public confirmation of his death, Clone X NFTs rose about 21 percent in floor price over 24 hours to 0.19 ETH, and the broader RTFKT ecosystem tokens gained more than 400 percent.
Ethereum (ETH) traded around $4,174 (up 8 percent day‑to‑day). Nike’s stock (NYSE: NKE) slipped 4.2 percent to $65.22, continuing its year‑to‑date decline of roughly 13 percent, per Google Finance data.
Remembering a Web3 pioneer
Rodriguez described Pagotto as “a rare alchemy between aesthetic demand and technical knowledge.” Steven Vasilev wrote that the team intends to “preserve the mission Benoît began.”
Pagotto’s cross‑disciplinary work helped legitimize fashion NFTs and inspired established labels, including Adidas and Dolce & Gabbana, to experiment with blockchain‑based drops shortly thereafter.
His passing marks a significant loss for the intersection of design, culture, and decentralized technology.
Key RTFKT milestones
| Year | Milestone | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | RTFKT founded | Fusion of gaming, streetwear, and NFTs |
| 2021 | Nike acquisition | $33 M valuation; metaverse expansion |
| 2021–22 | Clone X × Murakami | $120 M in sales |
| 2024 | Server outage + lawsuit | $5 M class action; questions of stability |
| 2025 | Pagotto’s passing | Enduring creative legacy |
Kristian Koch
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