<p>German sportswear giant Adidas said Thursday it was releasing its first range of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), joining a wave of brands buying into the excitement over virtual assets.</p>.<p>Adidas Originals vice president Erika Wykes-Sneyd called the emerging digital market a "natural place" for the brand to be.</p>.<p>The NFT scene was "a wild world where possibilities are truly limitless and where anyone can express and be rewarded for their most original ideas," Wykes-Sneyd said.</p>.<p>The items, which go on sale Friday, were developed alongside established NFT names, including the Bored Ape Yacht Club, whose cartoon portraits of primates are highly sought after by collectors.</p>.<p>The clamour over virtual goods comes over feverish predictions that the "metaverse" -- a virtual reality version of the internet -- will eventually replace the web of today.</p>.<p>Adidas is just the latest brand to jump into NFTs, which have become a mainstay of auction houses and the art market, where virtual works have fetched multi-million dollar prices.</p>.<p>On Monday, competitor Nike announced the purchase of digital sneakers-maker RTFKT -- pronounced "artifact" -- and already has a virtual marketplace on the Roblox platform.</p>.<p>Adidas's digital products be displayed in a virtual showroom, the Bavarian company having acquired a virtual plot in the metaverse on platform The Sandbox.</p>.<p>Adidas NFTs will be purchased in crypto-currency and cost 0.2 Ethereum (716 euros) a piece.</p>.<p>NFTs have generated huge interest over the past year, with enthusiasts predicting they will become a widespread form of ownership.</p>
<p>German sportswear giant Adidas said Thursday it was releasing its first range of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), joining a wave of brands buying into the excitement over virtual assets.</p>.<p>Adidas Originals vice president Erika Wykes-Sneyd called the emerging digital market a "natural place" for the brand to be.</p>.<p>The NFT scene was "a wild world where possibilities are truly limitless and where anyone can express and be rewarded for their most original ideas," Wykes-Sneyd said.</p>.<p>The items, which go on sale Friday, were developed alongside established NFT names, including the Bored Ape Yacht Club, whose cartoon portraits of primates are highly sought after by collectors.</p>.<p>The clamour over virtual goods comes over feverish predictions that the "metaverse" -- a virtual reality version of the internet -- will eventually replace the web of today.</p>.<p>Adidas is just the latest brand to jump into NFTs, which have become a mainstay of auction houses and the art market, where virtual works have fetched multi-million dollar prices.</p>.<p>On Monday, competitor Nike announced the purchase of digital sneakers-maker RTFKT -- pronounced "artifact" -- and already has a virtual marketplace on the Roblox platform.</p>.<p>Adidas's digital products be displayed in a virtual showroom, the Bavarian company having acquired a virtual plot in the metaverse on platform The Sandbox.</p>.<p>Adidas NFTs will be purchased in crypto-currency and cost 0.2 Ethereum (716 euros) a piece.</p>.<p>NFTs have generated huge interest over the past year, with enthusiasts predicting they will become a widespread form of ownership.</p>