As payments, cash withdrawals and exchange rates can be a hassle for international travellers dealing with multiple currencies, the beach town of Agnes Water in Australia is utilising cryptocurrencies to help draw the attention of a global niche of tech-savvy travellers to its shores.

An Australian start-up has created a wage service that lets anyone receive their salary in bitcoin. By making the cryptocurrency more accessible to consumers, the software is likely to appeal to growing interest in bitcoin and other digital currencies – but at an environmental cost.

There’s plenty to dissuade people from using reward schemes – whether it’s forgetting one’s card at home or not wanting to pull out a discount coupon in front of a date. With the help of its own cryptocurrency, Liven helps Aussies seamlessly save when they’re dining at their favourite restaurants.

Non-fungible tokens offer a way for people to digitally own everything from a tweet to a GIF of an NBA play via blockchain technology. How might they forge meaningful connections between fans and their idols? And how can brands sustain engagement with the tech beyond the initial hype?