Starbucks’ Web3 loyalty program Odyssey has announced a new collaboration with non-fungible token (NFT) collection Aku for its next digital collectible Stamp. The Aku collection, created by former Major League Baseball player Micah Johnson, is focused on empowering young kids to dream big and has been purchased by celebrities such as Trevor Noah, Pusha T, and Tyra Banks. On July 17, Odyssey members will be able to embark on a mission with Aku through the new Journey called Aku Adventure. The Stamp is designed by Aku and the Journey will be available until August 13, 2023. Starbucks will also be donating $100,000 to Blessings in a Backpack, a non-profit tackling food insecurity among children, as part of the launch.
The drop was met with such high demand that some eager collectors complained of slow wait times and technical glitches, said Starbucks regarding their previous NFT releases. The coffee chain has been rolling out limited-edition NFTs to members of the invitation-only Odyssey loyalty program for several months.