Episode description
In this episode of the Applied Blockchain Podcast, Adi Ben-Ari speaks with Pedro López-Belmonte, former Head of Technology Innovation at Richemont (parent company of Cartier, Montblanc, and IWC), about blockchain’s real-world applications in the luxury and retail sectors.
Pedro shares deep insights from nearly a decade at the forefront of blockchain, Web3, and emerging technologies - including how digital product passports, NFTs, and privacy-preserving loyalty are reshaping customer engagement and combating counterfeits.
They discuss:
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Blockchain’s role in transparency and IP protection
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Digital product passports for proof of ownership & authenticity
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The challenge of linking physical and digital assets
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Why many loyalty NFT projects fall short, and how to fix them
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Case studies from IWC, Porsche, eBay, and Vestiaire Collective
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Community-based loyalty, secondary markets & real value delivery
Resources Mentioned
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Bitcoin White Paper: bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
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Purple Cow by Seth Godin
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Vitalik Buterin’s blog: vitalik.eth.limo
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POAP: poap.xyz
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Animoca Brands: animocabrands.com
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Richemont on choosing a public blockchain: ledgerinsights.com/cartier-owner-richemont-why-it-chose-a-public-blockchain
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Music shout-outs: Frank Zappa & Brian Eno 🎵
