Are digital sneakers the CryptoKitties of 2019?

CryptoKitties, the furry tradable cats, were all the rage in 2018, making headlines in various top media. The rise of CryptoKitties shows a shift in society from collecting material objects, such as baseball cards or snowglobes, to collecting the intangible. In such a digital world, it only makes sense that various objects of our daily life are migrating into the virtual world. So what’s next in the digital collectible world?
Blockchain technology hit its peak earlier this year, with thousands upon thousands of coins popping up and various applications of the new technology developed. From financial institutions and VCs, to digital exchanges and medtech companies, there was no area untouched by the blockchain.

With blockchain most prominent in the financial and investment world, who would have thought that the rise of this technology would lead to one of the most millennial trends of 2018...digital tradable cats? Just as blockchain can be used to revolutionize some of the most, for lack of a better word, mundane institutions in the world, we’ve also seen a more playful side of this robust technology.

CryptoKitties, the furry tradable cats, were all the rage in 2018, making headlines in various top media. The rise of CryptoKitties shows a shift in society from collecting material objects, such as baseball cards or snowglobes, to collecting the intangible. In such a digital world, it only makes sense that various objects of our daily life are migrating into the virtual world. So what’s next in the digital collectible world?

It seems like Portion, the company putting digital art and collectibles on the blockchain, gives us the answer. The company recently announced the launch of its digital sneaker collection, done in collaboration with snkrINC, a media brand focusing on sneaker culture. Portion and snkrINC will work together with up-and-coming artists, allowing them to express their creativity and individuality by creating custom digital footwear. The sneakers will then be traded on the Ethereum blockchain, and collected by users, similar to how CryptoKitties are traded and shared.

Portion’s first collaborations will be with artists such as StomperHaus and Robb Harskamp, among others. The artists will be able to see their sneaker designs come to life in the digital world, and watch as fans and sneaker aficionados trade and collect them. This is a huge step forward for sneaker culture, which has seen growing popularity over the years. First popularized by Nike with its NIKiED customized shoes, the digital sneakers that Portion is offering gives digital artists, fashion lovers, and sneaker collectors a new way to express their creativity and passion.

Digital Sneaker Collectible on Portion

Before diving into the world of digital sneakers, Portion was founded as a decentralized and digital auction house. The company, which targets millennials, offers users an easy and accessible way to dabble in the art and collectible world, even if it's something they aren’t familiar with. Portion makes the auction house world fun and less intimidating (don’t picture buttoned up men with gravels in their hand). The company will offer products relevant to a more mainstream audience, such as digital sneakers, allowing a new generation to participate in trading collectibles like never before.  

Portion’s main features include:

  • Transparency like you’ve never seen before - The mere fact that this auction house for collectibles and art sits on the blockchain provides it with a secure and safe infrastructure, guarantees that ownership of goods and payments are transparent.

  • Cryptocurrency payment - Portion will accept cryptocurrency exclusively.

  • Trusted marketplace - Portion is a one of a kind marketplace to buy, sell, and trade art and collectibles.

  • Straight from the source - Portion showcases brands, artists, and creators directly to ensure that all goods are authentic and represented accurately.


Although I’m not exactly sure I’d be interested in owning a digital sneaker just yet, I’m excited to see where Portion goes and what the company has to offer in the upcoming months.