Clone‑X NFTs Jump 200% After Nike’s Sale of RTFKT Studio
By [Your Name] – January 28, 2026
Nike’s experiment with non‑fungible tokens has come full circle. Four years after the sports‑wear giant surprised the market by acquiring the digital‑fashion studio RTFKT, it has now divested the business. The announcement has reignited interest in the studio’s flagship NFT series, Clone‑X, which saw its floor price on OpenSea climb from roughly 0.07 ETH to 0.3 ETH — a gain of about 200% in a single day.
Background
- 2019‑2020 acquisition – Nike bought RTFKT (later re‑branded as “Artifact”) to gain a foothold in the emerging metaverse fashion space. The deal was kept under wraps until industry outlets reported it in early 2020.
- 2023‑2024 downturn – Following a market‑wide correction, the Clone‑X collection, once trading as high as 24 ETH during the 2022 NFT bull run, fell to a low of 0.07 ETH after RTFKT announced it would cease operations in mid‑2024.
- December 2025 sale – According to The Oregonian, Nike quietly transferred ownership of RTFKT on Dec. 16, 2025. Neither the buyer nor the price was disclosed. Nike confirmed the transaction, and former RTFKT CTO Samuel Cardillo hinted on X (formerly Twitter) that the story is “not over,” suggesting possible future involvement.
Market Reaction
The news triggered a rapid price rebound for Clone‑X tokens:
| Metric | Before news | After 24 h | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor price (ETH) | 0.07 | 0.30 | +~300% (≈200% increase from prior baseline) |
| Trading volume (24 h) | ≈ 200 ETH | ≈ 620 ETH | +210% |
| Daily active wallets (OpenSea) | 1,200 | 1,850 | +54% |
The surge appears driven by speculative buying, as traders bet that the sale could revitalize the brand or that Nike may re‑enter the NFT space through a new partnership.
Analysis
-
Liquidity Reset, Not Fundamental Value Shift
The price spike reflects a liquidity bounce rather than a fundamental change in the underlying assets. Clone‑X’s utility—access to RTFKT’s virtual sneakers, events, and future drops—remains unchanged, and the collection’s scarcity is unchanged. -
Signal of Continued Institutional Interest
Nike’s willingness to exit its NFT studio may be read as a strategic pivot rather than abandonment of Web3. Large brands often acquire, incubate, and later spin out or sell subsidiaries once they have validated a technology or built a community. The sale could free the studio to pursue partnerships beyond Nike’s corporate constraints. -
Potential for Re‑integration
Cardillo’s cryptic messages suggest he may still play a role in the ecosystem, possibly as an advisor to the new owners. Should the buyer be a venture fund or a crypto‑native entity, we could see renewed development activity, new collaborations with other metaverse platforms, or a second wave of NFT drops that could further support floor prices. - Market Sentiment in the Post‑Bull Landscape
The broader NFT market has been recovering slowly from the 2022 crash, with floor prices for legacy collections remaining suppressed. The Clone‑X rally demonstrates that legacy, brand‑backed NFTs can still generate headline‑making moves when a significant corporate event occurs.
Key Takeaways
- Short‑term price boost: Clone‑X floor price rose roughly 200% in 24 hours after news of Nike’s RTFKT sale, driven mainly by speculative demand.
- No official buyer disclosed: The anonymity of the purchaser leaves the future strategic direction of the studio uncertain.
- Possible renewed development: Former CTO Samuel Cardillo’s comments hint at continuing involvement, which could translate into new product releases or collaborations.
- Institutional exit, not dismissal: Nike’s divestiture may signal a shift in how large apparel firms approach Web3—favoring asset sales over long‑term ownership while retaining brand rights for future use.
- Watch for follow‑up announcements: Further clarity on the new owner, any re‑branding, and upcoming NFT drops will be critical for traders and collectors evaluating the long‑term outlook for Clone‑X and related RTFKT assets.
Outlook: While the immediate price reaction is encouraging for Clone‑X holders, investors should monitor the post‑sale roadmap. If the new owner injects capital and partners with other metaverse projects, Clone‑X could see sustained appreciation. Conversely, if the studio remains dormant, the recent rally may prove fleeting, and floor prices could revert to pre‑sale levels. As always, participants in the NFT market should balance speculative opportunities with the underlying utility and community health of the collection.
Source: https://thedefiant.io/news/nfts-and-web3/clone-x-nfts-soar-200-as-nike-sells-rtfkt
