There are countless PFP-led NFT collectibles out in the wild. One team set out to buck this trend, and has created one of the most unique, successful and highly-regarded NFT projects in the world. That NFT project is 10KTF.
Built around the mysterious master craftsman known as Wagmi-san, who calls the virtual city of New Tokyo his home, 10KTF has carved out a unique niche by merging digital art, storytelling and blockchain tech in fresh, innovative and creative ways.
10KTF offers an immersive experience unlike anything else in the NFT industry – but what exactly is 10KTF, how does it work, and why has it become such a success?
Master the topic, as we explain the past, present and future of 10KTF.
What is 10KTF?
10KTF is an innovative NFT project that operates as a virtual workshop for modifying NFTs.
Holders of prominent NFT collections – such as CryptoPunks, Bored Apes, Cool Cats and many more – can utilise 10KTF to customise their assets with a range of high-quality accessories. This serves to boost the uniqueness, individuality and desirability of some of the world’s most sought-after NFTs.
By connecting your wallet to the 10KTF platform, the site verifies your ownership of leading blue-chip NFT collections. Holders of supported collections can select from a huge variety of digital items – such as shoes, apparel, accessories and more – and customise them in a style suitable for their asset.
Once designed, these personalised digital items are then minted as unique NFTs, inextricably linked to the blue-chip NFT collectible. This is recorded on the blockchain using ERC-721 smart contracts, ensuring everything is traced, verified and recorded on chain.
10KTF is a creation of WENEW Labs – which was co-founded by renowned digital artist Beeple.
One of the standout elements of 10KTF is its narrative-driven approach to its brand. 10KTF emphasises serialised storytelling through lead character Wagmi-san and the fantasy city of New Tokyo, creating a narrative-rich experience that encourages community participation.
Community plays a massive role in 10KTF. Users can take part in missions that advance the storyline of Wagmi-san and New Tokyo, earning rewards such as badges, materials, tools, and even $APE tokens. This interactive approach has kept users invested in 10KTF’s story to date, and is likely to keep them engaged well into the future.
The history of 10KTF
10KTF debuted on September 17, 2021, introducing its concept of a virtual workshop for custom NFT accessories. The idea took off, and in early 2022, 10KTF expanded its list of supported NFT collections – which today, runs to well over 20 of the world’s top NFT collections.
March 2022 saw 10KTF partner with luxury fashion label Gucci to launch the Gucci Grails collection, merging high fashion with digital art. This wouldn’t be the only big-name brand to partner with 10KTF during the year, as sportswear giant Puma also inked a deal to work with this fledgling new brand later in the year.
Just 14 months after first making its presence known, Yuga Labs – creators of the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection, and stewards of the CryptoPunks NFT collection – acquired WENEW Labs and the 10KTF project. This led to renewed interest in the integration of 10KTF accessories in Yuga-made NFTs, and drove speculation of possible integrations between 10KTF and the in-development Otherside metaverse.
2023 saw 10KTF focused on enhancing the user experience of their platform, and integrating additional NFT collections into its supported network to expand its community.
This period saw the introduction of crafting mechanics that used “blanks” and “tools”, which allowed for greater customisation options. Ongoing storytelling elements continued to keep users engaged with new missions, updates and in-universe lore – and 10KTF grew to over 22,000 items, with a total volume exceeding 12,500 ETH.
October 2024 saw renowned design studio Possible Productions – best-known for working with the likes of Netflix, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber – announce their acquisition of 10KTF from Yuga Labs, forming a new company titled Kagami to drive its ongoing development.
As of writing, Kagami has largely kept quiet since its acquisition of 10KTF – though given their wealth of experience in managing some of the world’s leading brands, events and personalities, we can be certain that whatever they’re cooking up will have a huge impact on the Web3 industry.
What’s next for 10KTF?
Under the new stewardship of Kagami, 10KTF’s focus has shifted to “building tools for a broader web3 audience”, according to CEO @awildbambam.
Potential developments include:
- A 10KTF metaverse. Once rumoured whilst under the ownership of Yuga Labs, the expansive lore surrounding Wagmi-san and New Tokyo is perfectly-suited to a metaverse-style experience, and could breathe new utility into existing 10KTF assets.
- Enhanced features. New types of accessories are always on the cards for 10KTF, and the introduction of not just new assets, but new interactive options, could help to deepen user engagement.
- New partnerships. The end of 2024 saw numerous big-name brands collaborate with leading Web3 names – and so with both Gucci and Puma having already worked with 10KTF, there’s plenty of potential in another brand leveraging 10KTF to connect with their audience.
- Community initiatives. One of 10KTF’s biggest strengths has been its community. A continuation of its storytelling efforts, events and missions will continue to grow, enhance and develop that community into a powerful asset in the 10KTF ecosystem.
With rediscovered freedoms under Kagami, 10KTF can once again look to push the boundaries of the NFT industry and look to create wholly unique interactions, experiences and assets.
10KTF represents an important evolution in how users can interact with their digital collectibles. By providing a path to true personalization – alongside utility and a compelling narrative – it breaks away from the expectation of NFTs as static assets and creates a much more involved experience for NFT holders. This has not just enriched the value of supported NFTs, but served to demonstrate the power of NFTs as a digital asset medium.
The 10KTF project is one with tons of potential – and perhaps more so than any other NFT project, the path ahead is wide open, with limitless opportunities ahead. Whatever happens next, we’re certain that they’ll continue to break expectations, pursue the unique, and bring never-before-seen experiences to the apex of art, technology, and storytelling.
Riding crypto waves since 2012, bridging digital and physical worlds through prose.