---
title: "Starbucks Is Exploring a Cryptocurrency Strategy"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/b98dd11c-2104-4b6e-ad0c-9a5b914ee09f
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/starbucks-is-exploring-a-cryptocurrency-strategy-2709368
category: "Coffee & tea"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Coffee & tea"
topics: ["Technology"]
published: 2019-03-08T15:10:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:30:02.350Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/f6011c6c8c7c6cb2b040355a4f7140f34442.jpg
---

# Starbucks Is Exploring a Cryptocurrency Strategy

**TL;DR:** Starbucks is exploring a cryptocurrency strategy by partnering with Bakkt to develop a card and app that will allow customers to buy products using digital assets. The partnership will enable Starbucks to serve as Bakkt's first merchant-on-platform without holding any digital assets directly.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2019-03-08. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/starbucks-is-exploring-a-cryptocurrency-strategy-2709368).*

## Story

Cryptocurrency: much discussed, difficult to implement. Starbucks appears to be on its way to trying, though.

While the coffee giant isn’t accepting Bitcoin in exchange for its products anytime soon, Starbucks did receive significant equity in a newly-formed digital asset company called Bakkt, according to The Block . Starbucks is not a cash investor in the company, the article makes a point to note.

As a result of the partnership, Starbucks is heavily involved in developing the card and app that will allow it to serve as Bakkt’s first merchant-on-platform, the article explains. QSR Magazine noted that Bakkt’s software will be used as a third-party intermediary system to buy products using cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, meaning Starbucks skirts risk by not holding any digital assets directly.

The success of this strategy could open the door for other brands, franchises included, to explore similar software that accommodates these alternate forms of payments down the road.

Maddie has spent her career in the media industry, serving in various editorial roles before migrating into a hybrid content strategy and PR role with No Limit Agency. Her passion for storytelling and love of writing help her create meaningful content on behalf of her clients and fulfill No Limit Agency’s mission to tell people-driven stories. Maddie is a graduate of Saint Louis University, where she studied Communications with a focus in journalism and media studies as well as Sports Business.

In her spare time, Maddie can be found exploring Chicago’s food scene, watching an NBA game or lamenting over her middling fantasy baseball team.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- partnership (topic)
- Starbucks (company)
- Block (company)
- digital payments (topic)
- cryptocurrency strategy (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/starbucks-is-exploring-a-cryptocurrency-strategy-2709368). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/b98dd11c-2104-4b6e-ad0c-9a5b914ee09f).