Starbucks has announced a new Web3-powered experience that will allow Starbucks Rewards members and partners (workers) in the United States to earn and purchase digital collection goods. The “Starbucks Odyssey” initiative will unlock access to new perks and immersive coffee experiences.
Starbucks is a “Third Space,” a place between home and work where people connect over coffee and experience a sense of community and belonging. According to Brady Brewer, executive vice president, and chief marketing officer of Starbucks, Odyssey aims to extend the Third Place relationship to the digital world.
He emphasized that the coffee chain’s objective is to establish a space where its digital community can gather over coffee, participate in immersive experiences, and celebrate Starbucks’ history and future.
Starbucks Odyssey Overview
Starbucks Odyssey will be a digital extension of the industry-leading Starbucks Rewards program, which members can access using their Starbucks Rewards login credentials.
Once hooked in, users may go on Starbucks Odyssey’ journeys,’ which consist of activities such as playing interactive games or completing interesting tasks to expand their knowledge about coffee and Starbucks. Members who complete journeys will be rewarded with a digital collectible ‘journey stamp’ (NFT).
Members may purchase ‘limited-edition stamps’ (NFTs) through the Starbucks Odyssey online app experience’s built-in store. All members can purchase limited-edition stamps directly using a credit card. There will be no need for a crypto wallet or cryptocurrency, making the Starbucks Odyssey experience fun and simple for members to access this new technology and claim an ownership interest in their Starbucks loyalty.
Polygon’s proof-of-stake network, a scaling technology that acts as Layer 2 on the Ethereum network, will be used to build the application. Polygon and other scalers allow DApps (Decentralised Applications) to avoid a high gas fee and slow transaction speeds imposed by Ethereum’s main network congestion.
The collaboration comes as Polygon allegedly hires 200 managers, engineers, and Web3 developers, growing its employment by 40%.
Starbucks is one of the first firms to combine non-fungible tokens (NFTs) at scale with an industry-leading loyalty program while also developing a digital community that will allow Starbucks to connect with its members and partners in new ways.
Customers and partners may join the waitlist beginning September 12 for a chance to be among the first to obtain access to the Starbucks Odyssey experience, which will premiere later this year.
