Casio Drops Futuristic Virtual G-Shock NFTs

The Virtual G-Shock NFT collection features two unique designs, the VGA-001 and the VGA-002 — digital watches designed to echo Casio’s legacy of durable and futuristic watches. The NFTs were minted on the Ethereum blockchain with a limited supply of 2,000 units for each design. Buyers had the opportunity to mint up to three units per design for a total of six NFTs each. The mint took place on December 16 on the brand’s project website, and each NFT was priced at 0.1 ETH, which was approximately $230 at the time of the launch.

🎈Advance sales period for VIRTUAL G-SHOCK NFT has started!〰️

Mint site(intl) is available here:https://t.co/TfGcNdALMj
Limited to 2,000 pieces (1,000 for VGA-001, 1,000 for VGA-002), so make sure to get yours early!

VIRTUAL G-SHOCK NFT website:https://t.co/AoiBu44J3t pic.twitter.com/rKyoSHlueK

— VIRTUAL G-SHOCK (@VIRTUALGSHOCK) December 16, 2023

The Creator Pass was a free mint, covered on the ETH-layer-2 blockchain, Polygon; however, it’s important to note that minting assets of this collection on Ethereum incurred a gas fee. The ~US$5 to US$20 fee was paid in ETH, which was an additional cost on top of the purchase price of the NFT itself. Casio advised minters to prepare for this extra gas expense, which varied on the basis of how congested the Ethereum blockchain was at the time of purchase.

Unlike Casio’s soul-bound Creator Pass NFTs, holders of the G-Shock NFTs are allowed to buy, sell, or trade their NFTs on the secondary market (Casio’s default marketplace for secondary market activity is OpenSea).

Fans of @GSHOCK_OFFICIAL — stoke your passion and join the community.

With their NFT you can:
-Tour Casio's endurance testing lab
-Get a copy of the design manual
-Pre-purchase the next drop

Visit their updated collection page on OpenSea to pick one up! 👇

— OpenSea (@opensea) December 19, 2023

Holder Benefits

Virtual G-Shock NFTs were advertised on the project’s website to include a series of exclusive benefits for holders, creating a sense of added value to these digital collectibles. Holders are granted the right to visit the G-Shock endurance testing laboratory to catch a rare glimpse into the brand's development process, which is scheduled for a yet-to-be-announced date in 2024. Casio will provide a special tour of the laboratory (free to NFT holders, excluding travel expenses).

Another perk includes participation in a roundtable discussion with the creators of the VGA-001 and VGA-002 designs, where holders can delve into the creative and production processes behind these models. Moreover, Casio will distribute a "Virtual G-Shock NFT VGA-001/002 design manual," giving insight into the designers' thoughts and methodologies.

Holders also receive the right to pre-purchase the next Virtual G-Shock product before it becomes available to the public, ensuring they remain at the forefront of Casio's digital offerings.

According to Oh Takahashi, Casio’s Senior General Manager of Timepieces, these initiatives are designed to deepen engagement with the G-Shock community and integrate them into the brand's innovation process. By offering exclusive benefits and creating a platform for direct interaction with fans, Casio aims to blend its blockchain innovation with the physical world, reinforcing its commitment to both realms.