How Foodie Passion and Crypto Excitement Are Cooking Up a New Community
A new fusion of cryptocurrencies and food lovers is simmering online, and it smells so good. The blend may seem unexpected or even exotic, but crypto enthusiasts and foodies have many things in common. For starters, the first time cryptocurrency was used to buy a real-life good was pizza.
Tastes Like Crypto
This eventful day entered history as “Pizza Day.” It happened in 2010 when Laszlo Haniecz, one of the few Bitcoin miners around then, purchased two Papa John’s pizzas for the bagatelle of 10,000 BTC, or over USD 1 million today. Nowadays, nobody questions the importance of cryptocurrency in the real world, nor the value of a good old pizza.
It’s easy to buy food with crypto today in retailers, coffee shops, or fancy restaurant chains. More recently, food tokens like FOOD (FoodCoin Ecosystem) emerged, using Ethereum technology to create a digital global marketplace where investors can trade food and agricultural products on the platform 1000 EcoFarms.
Not so recently, a new funky crypto made it to the headlines: Bananacoin. Despite the name, it’s not a memecoin. In fact, this token, released in 2017 in Laos, was linked to the export price of bananas. It was an initiative to fund banana plantations in the country; it could be used as a payment system for export transactions, while offering potential returns to investors.
The project was later abandoned, but it was pretty innovative nonetheless. Bananacoin (BCO) shouldn’t be mistaken for Banana Coin (BANANA). The latter is a BEP-20 token native to Binance Smart Chain, created to promote charitable donations for educational projects. Meanwhile, crypto betting is nearly like pizza: everybody loves it, including foodies.
Just like Bitcoin itself, crypto betting platforms have faced skepticism for a long time. Nowadays, there are plenty of high-end options, such as Sportsbet. There, players will find the juiciest promotions and markets and countless slots inspired by all kinds of food.
Cheesy Bytes
Food-focused (or inspired) tokens have been around for a while. For instance, Bistroo (BIST) was released in 2019. It was still a beta version (but a very promising one), having received several updates since. In 2022, it was already listed on the Bittrex Exchange, supported by over 150 wallets, and a scaled-up infrastructure. Bistroo uses blockchain technology to create a digital marketplace for food and beverages where consumers and merchants (like restaurants and coffee shops) meet.
Meanwhile, the Degen Distillery (DRINK) token was released in 2024 by (that’s right) Degen Distillery. It gives exclusive virtual and physical benefits, from digital events in the metaverse to live concerts. More importantly, DRINK allows the company to release new products directly to consumers. Degen Distillery also invests in NFTs, strengthening its ties to a growing tech-savvy community.
However, users don’t need to acquire food-focused tokens to enjoy a tasty experience. Some of the most popular restaurant chains worldwide operate with Bitcoin and other mainstream cryptocurrencies. Quite curiously, Papa John’s still doesn’t accept cryptos. Learn more about the chains below.
Burger King
The global burger chain has a friendly, yet confusing, approach to cryptocurrencies, with each branch doing its own thing. It started in 2019, when the German branch began to accept orders with Bitcoin.
The Russian branch attempted to cook its WhopperCoin, albeit unsuccessfully. Meanwhile, in Brazil, Burger King began to support payments with Dogecoin. Branches supporting Bitcoin payments aren’t hard to find and can soon become the norm.
Subway
Papa John’s owns the title of first restaurant to accept crypto payments, but Subway didn’t take much longer to follow. The sandwich chain has accepted Bitcoin since 2013, when many were still skeptical about cryptocurrencies. Customers can even enjoy special discounts and purchase gift cards in branches like Moscow.
Starbucks
Starbucks doesn’t accept cryptocurrencies directly, but customers can still pay for a delicious coffee with terribly misspelled names with BTC. The coffeeshop mogul has partnered up with a crypto wallet (Bakkt App) that allows users to top up Starbucks gift cards. As crypto adoption rises worldwide, Starbucks could start supporting direct transactions soon.
Steak ‘n Shake
Steak ‘n Shake is one of the most popular American fast-food chains, and the United States is one of the global leaders in the crypto ownership ranking. So, the integration of Steak ‘n Shake into the crypto ecosystem was bound to happen. The great news came out last May, and now, over 100 million customers around the country can use BTC to pay for their meals.
Food-Based NFTs
Food-based NFTs ride on the rising trend of “phygital disruption,” seamlessly blending virtual and real-life experiences. Options range from traditional bakeries to chocolate factories; more users have been looking for these non-fungible goodies. They are collectible and entertaining, and they also give access to extra perks in the real world. More importantly, they are transforming loyalty programs by adding new levels of benefits and unique experiences.
Here are the tastiest combinations in the market right now. Some can be found right around the corner, and all can be found online.
Cronut(R)
Chef Dominique Ansel’s pastries are already at an award-winning level in real life. The Cronut(R) line of NFTs tries to bring the same success to the virtual world. It’s a limited edition collection, as the bakery has only released a few of them to celebrate its ninth birthday.
The brand’s most popular flavors are all represented there: Guava & Orange Blossom, Salted Dulce de Leche, and Burnt Vanilla & Smoked Caramel. The best part is that those who own Cronut(R) tokens can skip waiting lines in physical shops, try new releases first, and even get a free real-life version, providing a perfect example of “phygital disruption.”
Bored & Hungry
Everyone gets hungry at some point, even the funky primates from the Bored Ape Yacht Club. Here, foodies and NFT enthusiasts have fun with 10,000 unique tokens portraying the Bored Ape devouring burgers, French fries, and even vegan-friendly options, always paired with soft drinks. Bored & Hungry tokens can only be purchased with US dollars and a couple of cryptocurrencies, including the Ethereum-based ApeCoin.
CHFTY Pizzas
CHFTY Pizzas are Ethereum-based NFTs portraying funny pizza cartoons promoting the brand. The whole collection comprises 2777 NFTs, with lifelike pizza slices doing all kinds of stuff. More than a laugh, they are also worth real-life pizza parties, cooking classes, and exclusive giveaway promotions. CHFTY Pizzas’ non-fungible tokens result from the joint effort of two celebrity chefs and a pool of highly talented designers and content creators.
OneRare
OneRare claims to be the first-ever “food metaverse” or “foodverse.” It creates an NFT gaming zone where food brands and celebrity chefs promote their names and dishes. Users can farm and trade ingredients and create their own non-fungible dishes. They can also earn new tokens by engaging with one of their mini-games. The foodverse experience includes different geographical locations like beaches, rainforests, and mountains.
BurgerDAO
BurgerDAO is the perfect crossover of the passions for food and crypto. It’s the first-ever decentralized burger franchise, offering a tasty menu of hamburger-themed NFTs that give much more than free meals. BurgerDAO owners also have voting rights in decisions that may affect the brand, naming rights for franchise locations, and access to members-only Discord channels.
Final Course
So, while the blend of crypto and cuisine might once have seemed an exotic experiment, it’s now a vibrant reality in the virtual landscape. From the legendary roots of the Pizza Day to global restaurant chains jumping onto the crypto wagon, the landscape for digital coins and food lovers has never been so favorable.
Food-focused tokens like DRINK, BIST, and FOOD have revolutionized the market, nearly breaking the barrier between physical and digital experiences. Additionally, food-inspired NFTs create innovative menus and engaging reward systems, fostering a sense of community between consumers.
This fusion isn’t just about payment novelty or passing trends; it’s actively cooking up entirely new communities where the passion for food and digital assets live together in the same blockchain. It’s a powerful combination, allowing for developing cutting-edge initiatives like the world’s first decentralized hamburger chain, where NFT owners can claim voting and naming rights, adding a whole new flavor to digital governance.
Meanwhile, NFT gaming platforms like OneRare add yet another layer, turning recipes into interactive assets, not to mention the abundance of food-themed games available at crypto gambling and betting platforms. As both worlds continue to collide, this unique recipe is bound to thrive, fostering even tastier innovations.
