Datavault AI Inc., a leader in AI-driven data experience, valuation and monetization, announced a strategic licensing agreement with GFT Rewards to deploy ADIO®-enabled, Web 3 mobile rewards across major distribution channels from airports and retail chains to movie exhibitors, college campuses and Ride-Hailing networks.
GFT Rewards is a pioneer in web 3 promotions and rewards, transforming how shoppers discover and redeem offers across mass diverse distribution channels from grocery stores, stadiums and movie theatres, to college campuses and Ride-Hailing Networks. By partnering with major brands like T-Mobile, Kroger, Toshiba, Marvel and others, GFT Rewards reinvented reward creation, distribution, redemption and reimbursements, making it frictionless and profitable for retailers to hyper-scale, target and personalize their rewards and loyalty platforms, while making it easier and much more abundant for consumers to engage and reap the benefits.
In its latest initiative, GFT Rewards has teamed up with Datavault AI and ADIO® to set a new standard for programmatic reward distribution, from coupons and rebates to web 3, tokenized loyalty incentives. Leveraging ADIO’s patented inaudible-tone technology, this collaboration enables retailers and brands to deliver cash-redeemable or tokenized loyalty offers directly to consumers’ mobile devices. Under the terms of the agreement, Datavault AI will receive a fee for every reward redemption managed and redeemed through GFT’s platform with ADIO.
Datavault AI has licensed its proprietary audio-based ADIO® solution to GFT Rewards to trigger secure mobile reward redemptions through ultrasonic tones embedded in advertisements and digital media. These rewards are instantly redeemed at the point of sale, offering real-time incentives to shoppers. GFT Rewards will utilize its GFT Cash App to execute revenue-share payments to partners with AI analytics and redemption reporting built into its dashboard.
“Retailers are experiencing a growing demand for frictionless, instant savings and rewards tied to digital ads and proximity triggers,” said Jonas Hudson, Co-CEO of GFT Rewards. “This partnership combines our financial infrastructure and marketplace with Datavault AI’s ultra-targeted, tone-based ad delivery system to enable the next generation in Web 3 rewards, sales and ROI for brands, distributors and IP.”
The global mobile coupon market continues its rapid ascent. Valued at $603.3 billion in 2023, the market is projected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2030, reflecting accelerating digital adoption and evolving shopping habits among global consumers.
“These numbers show that while coupons are ubiquitous, their impact lies in how strategically they are delivered and redeemed,” said Jonas Hudson, Co-CEO of GFT Rewards. “Brands that optimize their loyalty and incentive strategies—particularly via mobile—stand to gain significant consumer engagement and revenue lift.”
As shoppers increasingly expect instant, low-friction experiences, retailers and brands are moving toward technologies that enable real-time engagement, automated delivery and seamless integration within everyday media. This shift is fueling demand for promotions that can be activated passively, in the moment and in response to media exposure—precisely the type of delivery model ADIO® supports.
Unlike legacy solutions reliant on barcodes or QR codes, ADIO® operates via encrypted, high-frequency tones that can be layered into any audio environment—streaming services, television broadcasts, retail PA systems or social video. The technology enables fully passive activation, with coupons appearing as notifications or digital wallet entries the moment the tone is detected.
“By integrating ADIO® technology into the cash ecosystem of GFT, we’re giving advertisers a way to turn impressions into transactions instantly,” said Nathaniel Bradley, CEO of Datavault AI. “ADIO® is an ideal solution for this kind of performance marketing, and we expect significant velocity in adoption as retailers and brands look to reduce friction in the promotional funnel. GFT’s system is already rolling out across select banners with national reach, and we anticipate this model becoming a standard for performance-based in-store media.”
The agreement expands Datavault AI’s channel access in key sectors, including consumer packaged goods (CPG), fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and high-volume grocery retail, all of which are facing increased pressure to demonstrate ROI on every promotional dollar. The ADIO® + GFT Rewards software delivers SKU-level tracking, geo-anchored performance reporting and immediate economic attribution, creating a new standard for coupon campaign accountability.
“Our mission is to make every touchpoint actionable,” continued Nathaniel Bradley. “This partnership delivers on that goal – bridging content, location and purchase in one seamless loop. Retailers benefit from increased footfall and basket size, while consumers experience real value without extra steps and friction.”
The licensing deal with GFT Rewards positions Datavault AI at the center of a rapidly modernizing retail marketing environment. As legacy couponing continues to decline and media fragmentation grows, ADIO® promises a path forward for brands seeking to integrate promotional spend with content strategy and real-world sales outcomes. The technology also opens new monetization avenues for media owners, streaming platforms and retail audio networks.
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