REKT DRINKS By REKT Nft Launched Web3 YouTube Series

Rekt Drinks launched a YouTube series titled “Get Rekt or Die Trying,” with the first episode announced on May 28, 2025. The series is described as an unfiltered and raw look inside the Rekt Drinks brand, which produces flavored sparkling water with zero alcohol and zero caffeine. The launch was shared via a post on X by @rektdrinks directing viewers to watch the first episode on YouTube.

Additionally, posts on X indicate engagement with influencers and community members, suggesting the series may feature behind-the-scenes content and collaborations to boost brand visibility. The launch of Rekt Drinks’ YouTube series, “Get Rekt or Die Trying,” announced on May 28, 2025, carries several implications for the brand and highlights a potential divide in its audience reception, particularly given its non-alcoholic beverage focus and Web3 community roots.

The series strengthens Rekt Drinks’ brand identity by leveraging its Web3 community, built around the Rektguy NFT project. With 222,000 cans sold in 48 hours, the brand has demonstrated strong community support, which the YouTube series can amplify through visual storytelling and influencer collaborations. By showcasing behind-the-scenes content, the series aims to deepen engagement with its “die-hard” Web3 audience while attracting new viewers unfamiliar with the crypto space.

The 50% fiat purchases of Rekt Drinks suggest a broader appeal beyond crypto enthusiasts, which the series could further expand. The use of platforms like YouTube aligns with Rekt’s strategy to bridge digital and physical markets, potentially onboarding “normies” (non-crypto users) into its ecosystem, as noted by co-founder Ovie Faruq.

Positioning itself as a zero-alcohol, zero-caffeine beverage, Rekt Drinks taps into the growing trend of sober and health-conscious lifestyles, particularly among Gen Z, who drink 20% less than Millennials. The series could highlight this ethos, appealing to audiences seeking alternatives to alcohol-focused content. The series may emulate successful influencer-driven beverage launches like Prime by KSI and Logan Paul, using YouTube’s reach to replicate their model of cult-like followings, though Rekt’s community is smaller.

The series could integrate Web3 mechanics, such as rewarding viewers with DRANK points for engagement (e.g., liking or sharing content), similar to the rewards system used for Rekt Drinks purchases. This gamification could drive viewership and loyalty but risks alienating non-Web3 audiences unfamiliar with such systems. Potential monetization through YouTube ads, sponsorships, or merchandise could diversify Rekt’s revenue beyond beverage sales, building on the $1.5M seed funding secured in November 2024.

Although Rekt Drinks is non-alcoholic, the brand name and its slogan, “Get Rekt Responsibly,” could evoke associations with alcohol or reckless behavior, potentially raising concerns about normalizing drinking culture on platforms like YouTube. Studies on alcohol-related YouTube content show 89% of such videos glorify drinking, with minimal age restrictions or warnings, suggesting Rekt must navigate content portrayal carefully to avoid scrutiny.

The series’ unfiltered, raw style may attract younger viewers, but without clear messaging about its non-alcoholic nature, it could face backlash from regulators or advocacy groups concerned about adolescent exposure to drinking-adjacent content.  Rekt’s core audience, rooted in the Rektguy NFT project, is likely to embrace the series as an extension of the brand’s rebellious, crypto-native ethos. The use of DRANK points and potential airdrops (e.g., the REKT token launch) will resonate with this group, who are accustomed to Web3 incentives.

Non-crypto audiences, drawn by the beverage’s health-conscious appeal, may find the Web3 jargon (e.g., NFTs, airdrops) or the “Rekt” branding confusing or off-putting. The 50% fiat purchases indicate a significant non-Web3 customer base, but the series’ crypto-heavy tone could alienate them if not balanced with accessible content. Rekt Drinks’ zero-alcohol, zero-caffeine formula aligns with the rise of sober-friendly content on social media, appealing to Gen Z and health-focused viewers. The series could emphasize this to capture the growing low-alcohol trend.

The brand’s name and “Get Rekt” slogan, combined with YouTube’s history of glorifying alcohol in videos (e.g., 92.8% of sulbang videos depict binge drinking), may lead some viewers to assume the series promotes partying or drinking, creating a misaligned perception. This divide could spark criticism from those advocating for stricter regulation of alcohol-adjacent content. Research shows 83.1% of surveyed adults support regulating alcohol-related social media content, particularly among older viewers and women, due to its impact on adolescents.

If the series’ edgy branding is mistaken for alcohol promotion, it could face calls for restrictions, especially given YouTube’s lax age-restriction enforcement (only 0.6% of drinking videos are age-restricted). Rekt’s Web3 and influencer-driven audience may resist perceived censorship, valuing the series’ unfiltered style as authentic. Heavy drinkers, who are less likely to support regulation, may align with this view, creating tension with public health advocates.

The launch of Rekt Drinks’ YouTube series is a strategic move to amplify its Web3-rooted brand while tapping into broader markets through a health-conscious, non-alcoholic beverage. It offers opportunities for community engagement, cultural relevance, and monetization but risks widening a divide between crypto-savvy fans and mainstream viewers, as well as between those who see the branding as fun versus those who view it as problematic.

To mitigate this, Rekt should ensure the series clearly communicates its non-alcoholic identity, balances Web3 elements with accessible content, and adheres to responsible content guidelines to avoid regulatory pushback. By doing so, it can bridge the divide and maximize the series’ impact.