The golden arches are getting a pastel makeover for the holiday season. Fast food giant McDonald’s and Web3-native brand Doodles revealed a collaboration Thursday, featuring custom cups that showcase the Ethereum NFT collection’s colorful, hand drawn style. On top of that, customers can unlock digital collectibles and content, as well as access co-branded physical merchandise.
Dubbed the “GM Spread Joy” campaign, the marketing initiative is being billed as an immersive experience that pays homage to the Crypto Twitter mantra. Available to customers in the U.S., the promotion can be accessed at participating stores among McDonald’s 13,500 restaurants.
The limited-edition cups, emblazoned with pinks and blues amid holiday-themed tableaus, allow customers to access a “pack ripping” experience, McDonald’s said in a press release. Dovetailing with Doodles’ digital avatars, they contain accessories and apparel for Doodles characters, among other goodies, like access to music videos and Doodles’ animated series. In addition to the original Ethereum NFT collection, Doodles has launched an avatar creation “Stoodio” app on Ethereum layer-2 network Base, where the digital items can be used.
Outside the U.S., where NFT projects haven’t faced intense regulatory scrutiny, the burger chain has used NFTs to promote its purple icon Grimace and launched a metaverse game called My Happy Place. What’s more, McDonald’s tapped The Sandbox, an Ethereum-based metaverse game, to pay tribute to its chicken nuggets. McDonald’s collaboration with Doodles may represent its biggest step into the NFT space since its American division unveiled McRib-inspiredNFTs in 2021. Effectively, McDonald’s was an early adopter of using digital assets as a way to reward customers and cultivate brand loyalty.
Earlier this year, Doodles teamed up with the sportswear powerhouse Adidas, introducing virtual swag packs that let buyers claim exclusive physical apparel. As Doodles’ Chief Brand Officer, some collectibles paid homage to a song created with musician Pharrell Williams. As part of its holiday promotion, McDonald’s customers can access a track produced by Williams called “Good Mornin,” sung by artist Marley Bleu. Williams, who once worked at McDonald’s, was inspired by internet culture and “viral ‘GM’ memes,” McDonald’s said.
