With the onset of autumn, café goers are reveling in the arrival of the season’s iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte. Adding to the festive spirit is the news that the popular American giant, Starbucks, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of this much-loved beverage though non-fungible token (NFT) collectibles. A unique entry point into the world of the blockchain is the coffee retailer’s web3 rewards and loyalty platform, the so-called Starbucks Odyssey.
Just today, digital Pumpkin Spice Latte stamps are made available to Starbucks Odyssey members. Those outside this circle will have to content themselves with joining the waitlist. Tagged “The PSL Collection: Spiced Stamp,” these NFTs are interestingly priced at $20 each. The payment spectrum is vast, ranging from ETH, Nifty Gateway or Gemini balance, to the more conventional credit card or buy now, pay later provisions.
Four different varieties of NFTs are set to grace the marketplace, each serving as a tribute to fall’s most iconic drink: Spiced, Iced, Steamed, and Whipped. There is a caveat though; each member can hold a maximum of 4 NFTs from the collection. To add to the intrigue, designs will only be disclosed to the buyers by October 10, 2023.
It seems like an amusing twist on their traditional model – the more stamps one has, the more points one earns. Buy four designs, and the promise of an enticing and mysterious opportunity awaits. The use of the Ethereum scaling network, Polygon for minting Starbucks’ NFTs and the platform of Nifty Gateway for sales shows a leap into using advanced technology for enhancing customer experience.
Starbucks bloomed into the blockchain world with the launch of the Starbucks Odyssey platform in a closed beta version in December last year. The platform offered a host of activities, ranging from interactive games to quizzes, wherein members earned digital collectibles termed as ‘journey stamps’. With several NFTs presently up for grabs, it will be interesting to see how Starbucks expands its cryptocurrency presence.
Brady Brewer, Starbucks’ Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, views this blockchain embrace as a unique expression of their brand. He believes that the move deepens member association with Starbucks, a connection built around the immersive world of coffee. With such giants making big bets on Web3 and NFTs, the future of blockchain technology seems all the more fascinating, albeit shadowed by a hint of uncertainty.
Source: Cryptonews
