Blockchain technology is emerging as a gamechanger in the loyalty rewards industry. Several major brands have in the recent past launched blockchain-based loyalty rewards programs, including the likes of Nike, Porsche, Louis Vuitton, American Express and Reebok. Luckily for these companies, they have enough resources for research and development.
But what about the smaller businesses that would like to leverage blockchain technology for advanced rewards models but lack in-house experts or the capital to outsource development?
Fortunately, there are quite a number of new Web3 platforms that are stepping in to bridge this gap, making it easier for companies to integrate blockchain rewards without needing deep technical knowledge. This article highlights the top five ecosystems enabling businesses of all sizes to tap into the benefits of web3 rewards with ease.
1. Me Protocol
The Me Protocol is one of the offerings by My AI Inc., a blockchain technology company whose goal is to create a global rewards economy with seamless interactions. At its core, the Me protocol is designed as an automated market maker (AMM) and features a modular infrastructure, allowing businesses to build trustless and interoperable rewards systems into their services or products.
The protocol’s simple API makes the process much easier for businesses. Whether an entity is launching a new rewards program or wants to integrate an existing one, Me Protocol’s plug-and-play development tools eliminate the technicalities involved. This allows anyone to instantly deploy interoperable rewards, also dubbed ‘Frictionless Open Rewards’, without limitations or the need to overhaul existing loyalty reward systems.
More importantly, the fundamentals of the Me Protocol token economy are based on a universal redemption model. Customers who receive rewards from brands that have launched on Me Protocol can redeem them with other brands in the ecosystem. This approach eliminates the usability barrier that both companies and consumers face in the current loyalty rewards models.
2. Hang
Hang is another Web3-powered platform that is focused on enabling businesses to launch personalized rewards programs and campaigns. The startup raised $16 million back in 2022 in a Series A funding round led by Paradigm. Brands with little technical knowhow or resources can leverage Hang’s Web3 infrastructure to curate NFT memberships to reward their long term customers in a trustless manner.
It is also worth highlighting that Hang combines Web3 with AI, making the most use of customers’ data. Companies looking to roll out personalized rewards programs can tap into Hang’s AI capabilities to automatically generate promotions or customized rewards programs. If a company is setting up a loyalty rewards program, all they have to do is set the key parameters and let Hang’s AI self-optimize the model or program.
Some of the notable brands that have launched loyalty rewards programs include San Francisco’s Boba Guys and Roam Artisan Burgers.
3. Sharingclub
Concordium’s Layer-1 blockchain is host to the SharingClub, a Web3 platform whose main purpose is to change the game of loyalty rewards programs. The platform allows merchants to list their stores as partners, creating an ecosystem where rewards can be redeemed from any of the featured merchants. But how exactly does it work?
SharingClub’s reward economy is powered by a native token dubbed $FASH; customers who interact with partner stores are issued with rewards which are then converted into $FASH tokens through Concordium’s blockchain technology. These tokens can be used by customers to purchase goods or services listed by other stores within the ecosystem.
The whole idea is to enable merchants to run more effective loyalty reward programs by offering their consumers a wider range of redeeming options. Notably, merchants who list on the SharingClub are also entitled to ecosystem rewards in the form of $FASH.
4. Blackbird Labs
Designed for the restaurant and food service industry, Blackbird Labs aims to solve the challenges in guest data optimization and loyalty rewards. Many are the times when businesses in the hospitality industry are limited to offering rewards programs that only include services in their menu.
Blackbird Labs changes this narrative by allowing restaurants to list on the platform and, in turn, incentivizing customers who check into these facilities through the platform with a native currency $FLY. The concept is pretty similar to airline points, but for the hospitality industry. Anytime a customer dines in a restaurant that is listed on Blackbird, they earn $FLY which can be used or redeemed across other service providers listed on the platform.
This model is not only beneficial to the customers who earn more flexible rewards but also to the restaurants that chose to leverage Blackbird’s technology to increase the utility or usability of their offerings/services.
5. Human Protocol
Human protocol is an open-source platform built to simplify the task management process. The platform allows anyone to launch automated tasks, providing a trustless ecosystem where one can evaluate and release payments upon completion.
Although primarily designed for automating different types of work, companies interested in launching blockchain-oriented loyalty rewards can use Human protocol’s infrastructure to do so. For example, an entity can initiate a micro-engagement or data sharing initiative targeting potential customers, and set rewards (payments) for different levels of engagement.
More importantly, HUMAN Protocol allows businesses and consumers to interact on a global level through its suite of applications and integrations. Instead of running loyalty rewards programs or campaigns locally, this protocol opens up avenues for businesses to scale through a decentralized approach to reward incentivization, among other areas.
Conclusion
While blockchain technology initially gained popularity through cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, its value extends far beyond traditional finance. The platforms highlighted in this article demonstrate how blockchain’s utility is reshaping loyalty rewards, making it accessible for businesses without requiring deep technical expertise.
As more companies adopt open-source blockchain architectures, loyalty programs are set to undergo a major transformation, offering a more transparent, interoperable, and scalable approach to customer engagement.
DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.