We’re joined by Annelise Osborne, Chief Business Officer at Kadena and author of the book “From Hoodies to Suits: Innovating Digital Assets for Traditional Finance”. With 25 years in traditional finance and a front-row seat in Web3 innovation, Annelise brings unique insight into how blockchain is transforming retail, investments, and brand loyalty.

In this episode, we get into some of the most exciting real-world use cases for blockchain—from DeFi and retail to community-building and connecting with Gen Z. We also talk about how blockchain is reshaping investment and creating new paths for wealth distribution.

Tokenization and Authenticity in Retail

Retail is quickly becoming one of the most promising blockchain use cases. From product authenticity and loyalty programs to fractional investments and traceability, blockchain has the potential to overhaul nearly every part of the retail experience.

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“Luxury brands aren’t the only ones exploring this. Everyday brands are also adopting blockchain to ensure trust, quality, and traceability in their supply chains”.

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Unlocking New Value in Everyday Products

Tokenization isn't just for blue-chip art or million-dollar real estate anymore. We're seeing a shift toward fractional ownership of everything: music, farmland, even fashion.

Green Retail and Loyalty

Retailers are also exploring tokenization for sustainability. Brands are experimenting with blockchain-powered systems that allow customers to build rewards based on ethical choices.

Another exciting direction: utility-based investing. Imagine buying shares in a brand and receiving perks. That’s the kind of creative intersection between investment and customer experience blockchain can power, especially when combined with tokenized assets.

While some retailers are still treating blockchain as a trend, the smart ones are leaning in, using it to solve real problems and offer genuine value. Tokenization and authenticity are building blocks for the next generation of customer trust, investment, and loyalty.

Blockchain’s role in retail is just beginning. And as Annelise puts it: “The ideas coming in are exciting.”

🎧 Listen to the full episode: "How Blockchain is Changing the Game: Gen Z, Inoperability, and Real-World Applications" — now available wherever you get your podcasts.