Case study
Launching a blockchain protocol in Cancun
A decentralized protocol chose the Cancun blockchain conference to present its mainnet. We produced 800 physical boxes with collectible tokens and educational material in six weeks, with coordinated delivery at the host hotel.
Client context
The protocol is a layer-2 network focused on decentralized finance for Latin America. The Cancun blockchain conference brings together 3,500 attendees across three days, with an academic agenda and an expo floor. The founding team chose this conference to present the public mainnet and deliver a physical object to the first validated holders.
The box contained a metal coin engraved with the genesis block hash, a shirt with the smart contract code printed, a Moleskine notebook with engraved cover, an NFC sticker linking to the physical token verification page and a letter with the project roadmap signed by the founder.
The client had strict confidentiality requirements. The genesis block hash had to be delivered to the workshop one day before coin engraving and could not appear on any invoice or shipping document. Invoicing was issued without referencing the hash or the smart contract.
The client also clarified that the piece had to withstand Cancun's humid and salty environment. The metal coin received a 24-karat gold plating over a brass base, with anti-fingerprint finish. The outer box was rigid cardboard with waterproof coating.
At a glance
- Industry
- Blockchain and crypto
- Scope
- 800 VIP attendees
- Volume
- 800 boxes with 5 pieces
- Lead time
- 6 weeks
- Model
- Coordinated delivery at host hotel
- Currency
- MXN, CFDI 4.0 with VAT
Methodology
The metal coin was manufactured at a Mexico City plant with Swiss coining machinery. Each coin went through a five-stage process: die-cutting, polishing, gold plating, laser engraving and individual packaging in a hermetic capsule. The genesis block hash was engraved on a curved line along the perimeter, replicating the style of classic collectible coins.
The shirt was produced in 180 gram combed cotton with water-based screen printing of the smart contract code. Typography was developed by the client's brand team and verified with a physical sample to prevent errors in the alphanumeric serialization.
The Moleskine notebook was sourced directly from the authorized Mexican distributor and personalized with laser engraving on the cover. Each notebook carried a correlative number from 1 to 800. The NFC sticker was programmed with an NTAG215 chip linking to a project website page with hash verification.
Delivery was coordinated in two windows. The first was pre-delivery to the host hotel in Cancun, four days before the conference opened. The second was staging at the founder's suite, where a team member personally delivered each box to validated holders. Our presence was limited to the first phase.
We closed the cycle with a joint retrospective. The client leadership and our account team reviewed the indicators from each phase, identified recurring friction points and proposed improvements for the next cycle. The conversation was documented in an act signed by both parties, which served as the basis for the client internal operating manual and as a reference for future projects with other operators in the sector. This closing discipline, uncommon in the merchandising industry, has differentiated our value proposition and has generated organic referrals among operations leaders at sister companies in the group.
Results
The founding team handed over all boxes across the three event days. On-site hash verification was immediate thanks to NFC: each holder tapped the sticker against their phone and saw the genesis block confirmation in seconds. The NFC scan rate reached 91%, well above expectations.
Confidentiality remained strict. No document leaked the hash before the official announcement. The invoice issued for manufacturing described the items as engraved metal pieces and personalized textiles, with no reference to the protocol. The tax team validated the CFDI without observations.
The client internal operations team documented additional savings in man-hours spent preparing each kit before season start. Before the project, the supervisor at each location spent half a day per week reviewing sizes and sorting pieces; with the new scheme, that task disappeared from the operating calendar. Monthly replenishment consolidated into a single order leaving our El Marques, Queretaro hub, with delivery at each base in less than five business days.
From a commercial perspective, the client reported growth in the post-delivery recommendation rate, measured through the online survey every recipient receives after receiving the product. Reuse of pieces in social media by end users generated organic content equivalent to several tens of thousands of pesos in paid media during the first quarter, per the marketing area estimate.
The tax team validated the CFDIs issued under the general legal regime, with 16% VAT breakdown in each invoice when applicable. The client claimed the expense deduction in its annual return as part of operating expenditures, representing a tax benefit close to 35% of the invoiced amount. The operation set a precedent for the annual renewal of the programme, with minor catalogue adjustments to incorporate new pieces or recycled materials based on market demand.
Lessons learned
- Hash confidentiality should be documented in a separate agreement before production starts.
- Anti-fingerprint gold plating is essential in humid and salty climates.
- NFC turns a collectible into a verifiable artifact, lifting perceived value.
- Direct communication between the production team and each location lead dramatically reduces rework driven by last-minute changes. Reuse of the pieces by end recipients is an unplanned marketing asset: designing pieces that withstand continuous use multiplies brand return without additional paid media cost.