CryptoKaiju, a UK blockchain company, is shipping its second collection of Ethereum-based collectible figures this week. The new toys, called Jaiantokoin, each carry tamper-resistant NFC tags linking
CryptoKaiju, a UK blockchain company, is shipping its second collection of Ethereum-based collectible figures this week. The new toys, called Jaiantokoin, each carry tamper-resistant NFC tags linking them to unique tokens on the blockchain. Each figure corresponds to an ERC-721, a non-fungible token.
The launch builds on the momentum of CryptoKaiju's debut, Genesis, the world's first vinyl toy with full blockchain traceability. Those figures sold out in 40 days. Collectors then resold them on secondary markets for as much as $280, compared to the original $55 price. Oliver Carding, co-founder of CryptoKaiju, attributes the secondary market activity to sustained demand. "The demand was so high that people were still requesting Genesis up until last month," he said. "Months after selling out we are still receiving weekly requests from people looking to buy one."
The Jaiantokoin figures incorporate lessons from Genesis. Each token carries metadata describing traits like birth date, gender, color, and two personality attributes, such as intelligence or creativity. That design prevents duplication, counterfeiting, and forgery. Carding notes that the team revised the foot design from the original prototype to strengthen NFC security. "We used the feedback from our customers and everything we learnt from our first collectible to improve the product," he said.
The market for blockchain collectibles exploded in 2017 when CryptoKitties launched. That Ethereum game let users breed and trade digital cats, with rare specimens fetching over $100,000 each. CryptoKitties uses the ERC-721 standard, authored by the CryptoKitties team. Jaiantokoin runs on the same protocol.
The collectibles space has expanded beyond games. In February, New York City hosted NFT.NYC 2019, the first major US event dedicated to non-fungible tokens. The conference drew more than 450 participants from across 15 countries. Its 85 speakers came from gaming, sports, and art.
The timing aligns with mainstream interest in blockchain authentication. LVMH, the luxury goods conglomerate, is building AURA, a blockchain platform to verify high-end items and track their journey from raw materials through secondary sales. The company expects to launch AURA in May or June, according to CoinDesk. AURA runs on Quorum, a private version of Ethereum.
CryptoKaiju, developed by members of MiningPool and Block Rocket, releases Jaiantokoin starting March 27 at $55 per figure. The figures come as a giant Bitcoin monster or scarcer giant Ethereum monster, limited to 250 pieces total. Shipping begins April 2.
