Here’s the problem:
Every time someone buys a $6 coffee, about 25¢ goes to payment middlemen. That’s a big hit for a café with 5–10% margins.
So I built something simple.
A small NFC puck sits by the checkout.
A customer taps their phone → gets a Venmo reward (via USDC). No app to download. No pointless points to collect. Just: Tap. Ping. Reward.
Businesses pick the reward ($0.25–$1) and set the rules. They only pay when someone makes a purchase. It’s free, and they stay in control. Customers love it. Merchants get repeat visits.
The reward is just the start — it builds habit, trust, and a new kind of network.
As this network grows, customers can spend them back at any participating spot. The same puck becomes a payment point. It cuts out Visa/MC rails — no 3% swipe fees.
It runs on stablecoins, but no one has to touch crypto.
Here’s what’s under the hood:
- Hockey puck + NFC sticker (<$1)
- App clip w/ optional app download
- Solana onchain check-ins
- USDC as the reward rail
- Plaid for purchase verification
- Venmo as off-ramp UX
No POS integration. No merchant setup. Just plug and play.
I put all of it — the idea, roadmap, traction — into a short memo.
If you’re an investor, founder, merchant, potential co-founder or just curious — would love thoughts.
Open to intros, critiques, weird ideas. Email me — kunal@trykeychain.com