RTFKT Co-Founder Benoît Pagotto Reportedly Dies at 41; Ethereum-Linked Studio Tied to Nike Faces Scrutiny

• Benoît Pagotto, RTFKT co‑founder, has died at 41 — colleagues and industry figures confirmed the news.

• Pagotto helped build RTFKT into a leading digital fashion studio acquired by Nike in December 2021 and known for Clone X × Takashi Murakami.

• Key facts: RTFKT founded in 2020; Nike acquisition December 2021; April 2025 cloud outage affected off‑chain images; $5 million class‑action lawsuit filed by NFT holders.

Benoît Pagotto death: RTFKT co‑founder dies at 41. Read COINOTAG’s report on tributes, Nike acquisition, cloud outage and the $5M NFT lawsuit. More details.

What is known about Benoît Pagotto’s death?

Benoît Pagotto death has been confirmed by colleagues and associates; Pagotto was 41 years old. Philippe Rodriguez first reported the “sudden” passing via a LinkedIn post; multiple industry figures posted public tributes on X and other social platforms. No official obituary or cause of death has been published as of the update below.

How did Benoît Pagotto shape RTFKT and the digital fashion movement?

Pagotto co‑founded RTFKT in 2020 with Chris Le and Steven Vasilev and served as a leading creative force behind its aesthetic and strategic direction. Under his stewardship, RTFKT fused luxury design, gaming mechanics and blockchain identity, producing hits such as the Clone X × Takashi Murakami drop. Nike acquired the studio in December 2021, and Pagotto continued to represent the brand publicly even after Nike began winding down some RTFKT operations in late 2024. In April 2025, a cloud‑hosting failure briefly removed images for several Ethereum‑based collections — an incident later described by then‑CTO Samuel Cardillo as a “temporary infrastructure problem.” The sequence of events — innovation, acquisition, infrastructure challenges and litigation — illustrates both the cultural impact and operational risks of bridging on‑chain and off‑chain systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who confirmed Benoît Pagotto’s death and what did they say?

Colleagues confirmed the death publicly. Philippe Rodriguez posted on LinkedIn describing Pagotto as “super creative, discreet and humble” and “passionate but always reasonable.” RTFKT co‑founder Steven Vasilev and former CTO Samuel Cardillo posted tributes on X, highlighting Pagotto’s creativity and unique personality.

Why did the crypto community respond strongly to Pagotto’s passing?

Pagotto was a visible creative leader whose work helped define NFT fashion and collectible culture. Community members and peers recalled personal interactions, mentorship during early days, and his distinctive public presence — memories shared broadly on social platforms and in industry statements, which amplified the outpouring of condolences.

Key Takeaways

• Confirmed passing: Benoît Pagotto, co‑founder and creative director of RTFKT, died at age 41; colleagues announced the news publicly.
• Industry impact: Pagotto’s work helped build RTFKT into a leading digital fashion studio that merged luxury design, gaming, and NFTs; Nike acquired RTFKT in December 2021.
• Outstanding questions: No official obituary or cause of death has been published; recent operational issues and a $5M class‑action lawsuit involving RTFKT remain relevant context.

Conclusion

COINOTAG reports that Benoît Pagotto death marks a significant moment for the digital fashion and NFT communities. Pagotto’s creative leadership at RTFKT — from founding in 2020 to the Nike acquisition in December 2021 — helped mainstream on‑chain identity and collectibles within luxury and gaming cultures. As investigations and reporting continue regarding operational outages and pending litigation, industry observers will be watching statements from Nike, RTFKT leadership and legal filings for further detail. Published: 2025-10-13. Updated: 2025-10-13. Author/Organization: COINOTAG.