The crypto community has learned of the untimely loss of Benoit Pagotto, who at age 41 was a key figure in founding RTFKT, Nike's notable venture into NFT technology. According to Philippe Rodriguez, a founding partner at Avolta Partners—the consulting firm that played a pivotal role in RTFKT's acquisition by Nike in December 2021—Benoit Pagotto's death came without warning. The news has since been corroborated by Steven Vasilev, another of RTFKT's co-founders, who shared confirmation on the X platform. The loss marks a significant moment in the NFT industry, as Benoit Pagotto was instrumental in building one of the most ambitious mainstream entries into digital collectibles and blockchain technology.