Welcome to METAZ

The post-pandemic hangover is officially over. According to StockX’s latest data, the sneaker market entering 2026 has matured into a landscape defined not by blind hype, but by "scarcity, storytelling, and community." Here is where the real money and attention are flowing right now.

In a one-two punch that rattled both Web3 evangelists and traditional retail investors, headlines broke that Nike is quietly winding down its NFT acquisition, RTFKT, at the same time its subsidiary, Converse, reported a staggering 30% revenue drop.

The sneaker world was recently rocked by the sentencing of Michael Malekzadeh, the owner of Zadeh Kicks, to 70 months in prison for a fraud scheme totaling over $80 million.

When you ship a sneaker internationally, you aren't just paying for FedEx or DHL. You are triggering a complex web of customs duties and import taxes.

Trading sneakers on traditional resale platforms can often feel like a "goldmine for enthusiasts and resellers". You see a market price of $300, you buy a pair for $220, and on paper, you have made a clean $80 profit.But when the payout finally hits your account, that number looks very different.

For years, the strategy was simple. Camp out (physically or digitally), secure a general release, and flip it for double the price by the next morning.