Casio Launches Its G-SHOCK NFT on Polygon
Casio, the renowned Japanese electronics company, has partnered with Ethereum scaling developer Polygon Labs to introduce its virtual G-SHOCK watch on Polygon’s blockchain protocols. This exciting partnership is set to commence with the release of an NFT-based collection of community access passes.
Starting from September 23rd, users will have the opportunity to claim one of the 15,000 NFT-based G-SHOCK creator passes. As per an official statement, these passes will grant holders access to an exclusive Discord channel dedicated to the project. Casio’s existing customers who are registered for a CASIO ID on the company’s membership site can participate in the pre-distribution phase, which runs from September 23rd to September 26th. A public distribution phase will be conducted from September 26th to September 29th.
This announcement follows Casio’s recent filing of a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on August 22nd. The application covers virtual clothing, watches, NFT-backed media, and stores for virtual goods. Casio’s move into the NFT space aims to leverage the enduring popularity of its shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch, which has shipped over 100 million units since its debut in 1983.
Community Involvement and Design Contest
In an effort to engage the community, Casio plans to invite users to submit design ideas for the G-SHOCK creator pass. Users will also have the opportunity to vote on the appearance of the pass. The winning design will then be incorporated into a variant of the NFT pass.
Casio cited Polygon as its preferred blockchain platform for this venture due to its ability to facilitate lightning-fast transactions, making the minting and management of NFTs seamless, convenient, and environmentally friendly.
Takahashi Oh, Senior General Manager of Timepieces at Casio, stated,
“At its core, our virtual G-SHOCK was built to be accessible, innovative and inclusive, meaning that user experience must be frictionless and simple. This is why Polygon was the most natural and logical choice for us. The goal is for the company and users to work together and develop the G-SHOCK brand, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.”
Casio’s NFT collection will be accessible to residents of select countries, including the U.S., UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Japan, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam.
Casio Joins Other Notable Brands on Polygon
Casio joins a growing list of prominent brands, including DraftKings, Adidas, and Starbucks, in launching initiatives on the Ethereum scaling solution Polygon. For instance, DraftKings established an NFT marketplace on Polygon in 2021, featuring NFL star Tom Brady in its inaugural drop. The company later became a full validator for the Polygon network in the same year.
In 2022, Adidas and Prada announced an NFT project on Polygon, incorporating user-generated content. Furthermore, in April this year, Starbucks unveiled an NFT collection on the Polygon network.
Jordi Baylina, co-founder of Polygon Labs, remarked
“It is inspiring to see that more and more global brands are embracing decentralization by expanding their presence in the web3 world.”
It’s worth noting that weekly trading volumes of Polygon-based NFTs experienced a decline to their lowest levels in a month last week, reflecting a broader downturn in NFT sector activity.
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