The wide-spread coffee chain Starbucks has partnered with the Polygon blockchain to build its recently announced Web3 experience, Starbucks Odyssey.
Starbucks Rewards loyalty program members and Starbucks employees in the US will be able to earn and purchase digital collectible stamps in the form of NFTs via this new venture.
The stamps will feature iconic Starbucks artwork co-created with Starbucks partners as well as outside artists. The stamps will be limited edition and can be purchased via a credit card.
Thus, no crypto wallet or cryptocurrency will be required making the Starbucks Odyssey experience a fun and easy way for members to access this new technology and claim an ownership stake in their loyalty to Starbucks.
The experience will also give users access to immersive coffee experiences from unique merchandise and artist collaborations to invitations to exclusive events.
The waitlist to access the Starbucks Odyssey experience starts on September 12. The experience will be launched later this year and will be powered by the low fees and high transaction speeds on the Polygon PoS network.
Starbucks’ upcoming Web3 initiative was previously announced during the company’s Q3 2022 earnings call by interim CEO Howard Schultz. He stated that this initiative will give Starbucks new ways to engage with customers and expand the “digital third place community.”
Ryan Butz, VP of loyalty, strategy and marketing for Starbucks said, “building Starbucks Odyssey using technology that aligns with our sustainability aspirations and commitments is a top priority.”
“We took a very thoughtful and thorough approach when evaluating which blockchain to utilize and Polygon’s fast, low-cost, and carbon-neutral network is the perfect foundation for our first digital community.”
Sandeep Nailwal, Co-Founder of Polygon believes they are the ideal launchpad for Starbucks’ entry into Web3. He said, “Polygon is a natural choice for Starbucks as both companies place tremendous importance on diversity, accessibility and sustainability.”
