RTFKT’s CloneX NFTs Return After Cloudflare Blackout, Paving Way for Decentralized Hosting
25.04.2025 09:28
More than 19,800 CloneX digital avatars developed by RTFKT Studios have reappeared after Cloudflare restricted access to the NFTs for allegedly violating its Terms of Service. Samuel Cardillo, RTFKT’s head of tech, explained that the issue was due to changes in the current Cloudflare setup and refuted earlier claims of a missed payment. In response to the incident and complaints from high-value CloneX holders, Cardillo announced plans to move CloneX to a decentralized storage solution using Arweave and work with ArDrive to avoid future outages. This move comes as part of a broader industry trend, with several notable NFT marketplaces recently shuttering amid declining trading volumes. The shift underscores RTFKT’s commitment to ensuring reliable access to its digital assets despite the company operating as a one-man show post its closure announcements.
The move to decentralize NFT hosting through Arweave is likely to boost AR’s network usage and investor confidence, contributing to potential short-term price appreciation. The decision reflects growing demand for secure, decentralized storage solutions, which historically has led to positive sentiment for projects like AR. In the long term, as adoption in the NFT and broader digital asset space increases, AR could benefit from continued utility and broader institutional interest.