SmartMedia Technologies has launched a global platform that lets consumers use loyalty points like cash. Through a new integration with Visa and stablecoin provider Bridge, the company’s Pay with Points Tokenized Loyalty Network allows points to be converted into tokens and spent anywhere stablecoins are accepted.
The system uses StablePoints™, a branded, fungible token developed by SmartMedia, which can be redeemed in real time through a tap-to-pay experience. Consumers earn points through purchases or brand interactions, convert them into StablePoints™, and use them at participating merchants, where the tokens are automatically converted to stablecoins and then fiat currency.
“Visa and SmartMedia Technologies continue to lead the way in making Web3 easy, safe, and valuable for both consumers and enterprise,” said Tyler Moebius, CEO of SmartMedia Technologies. “With StablePoints™, we’re turning siloed loyalty programs into a cross-program value exchange, where loyalty becomes an interoperable currency, and brands can acquire, engage, and reward in entirely new ways.”
Real-Time Redemption
The integration with Visa and Bridge enables loyalty points to function as a real-time payment method at checkout. According to SmartMedia, users who pay with points are also automatically enrolled in the accepting merchant’s loyalty program, with consent managed through its platform.
For loyalty program managers, the new system is pitched as both a liability reduction tool and a method to increase engagement. Many companies carry significant liabilities from unused loyalty points, which can remain unredeemed for years. By enabling those points to be used more freely, SmartMedia aims to shift them from dormant rewards to active currency.
Programmable Rewards
At the core of the system is a token architecture that allows companies to define how their loyalty programs interact with others. Through SmartMedia’s platform, loyalty managers can:
-
Set redemption and exchange rates between point systems
-
Promote offers across multiple partner programs
-
Tokengate benefits for cross-brand campaigns
-
Acquire new users through secure, consent-based data sharing
This flexibility could allow brands to collaborate more easily or target promotions to customers outside their direct ecosystem.
Proven in Large-Scale Pilots
The platform was previously tested during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Fans were rewarded for engaging with partner activations through My.OlympicRewards.com, where they could redeem points for merchandise, digital collectibles, and experiences.
“The 2024 Paris games proved that there was demand from both brands and fans for new ways to reward deeper engagement,” Moebius said. “Now with StablePoints™, we will be able to make those rewards even easier to issue and activate, reinventing how brands build loyalty and fans redeem rewards across the globe.”
Industry Context
The move reflects broader trends in the loyalty and payments industries, where brands are looking to modernize programs that often remain siloed, opaque, and difficult to use. According to industry analysts, loyalty points worth billions go unspent each year in the U.S. alone.
SmartMedia’s system is one of the first to tie loyalty redemption directly into existing payment infrastructure, effectively making loyalty function like currency. With StablePoints™, consumers may not need to switch apps or wait days to redeem rewards, instead, they tap and pay in seconds.
Still, adoption will depend on how widely the system is accepted and whether brands are willing to let points flow freely across program boundaries.
SmartMedia Technologies provides enterprise Web3 infrastructure for Fortune 500 brands in sectors including finance, travel, CPG, and sports. Its ecosystem includes the SmartWallet™, SmartPlatform™, and StablePoints™ technologies.
