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International Business Times

Daiko Reinvents Dog Leashes, with a Crypto Twist (Yes, Really)

Daiko, a plucky pet-tech startup based in Ireland, is giving the humble dog leash a serious glow-up with a little help from the blockchain. At first glance, it might sound like a tech startup trying to wedge cryptocurrency into places it doesn't belong (looking at you, crypto fridges), but Daiko has its sights set on a surprisingly practical goal: solving everyday dog-owner dilemmas. We're talking poop bags, motivation for daily walks, and now, earning tokens for just doing your duty, literally. "I never set out to be in the dog leash industry, or in crypto for that matter," admits David Byrne, CEO and Founder of Daiko, "but I am hooked on solving real problems." Spoiler: he might have cracked it. At the center of Daiko's mission is its sleek patent-pending smart leash, which includes an integrated electronic transponder that connects to the Daiko mobile app. As you stroll through the park with your four-legged buddy, the app quietly logs stats like distance, duration, and frequency. Walk your dog, earn crypto. It's like Fitbit for Fido except with tokens instead of guilt. Of course, this isn't just about high-tech walk tracking. Let's talk poop. (Yes, we must.) Dog poop bags, while helpful, are environmental offenders in disguise. Most are made of non-biodegradable plastic and can stick around in landfills longer than most of us will. Even the ones labeled "biodegradable" often need fancy composting conditions that just don't happen in your local dog park. Enter the DooPod: a stylish, detachable container designed to carry your poop bags with class. "I didn't invent the leash or the poop pod," says David, "but I made them better. That's always been the key." It's basically the Swiss Army knife of dog walking accessories, minus the corkscrew. Attached to a next-generation retractable leash, the DooPod is more than just a fashionable poop pouch. It's part of an ecosystem. Using the mobile app, each walk is logged and rewarded. Pet parents earn points that can be converted into DAIKO tokens, a cryptocurrency created for the Daiko ecosystem. These tokens can then be redeemed for exclusive pet products, digital upgrades, and real-world rewards. It's a closed-loop system, kind of like your dog chasing its tail, but more productive. "Our smart leash connects to the Daiko app via RFID," David explains. "The more you walk, the more tokens you earn, and the more features you unlock." It's a win-win: dogs get their daily walkies, and owners get a little extra motivation and earn discounts on some stylish Daiko-branded accessories. While many hardware startups go through traditional retail, and wait years to scale, Daiko took a different path. "In crypto," says David, "the audience is instant and global. You can go from zero to community in a matter of weeks." And for a company looking to disrupt the very concept of the dog leash, that kind of agility is key. As for the DAIKO token itself, this isn't some pump-and-dump meme coin. Longevity is built in, as 20% of all Daiko net profits are earmarked to repurchase DAIKO Tokens, which are then redistributed into the user rewards pool. The result? A self-sustaining mini economy that actually gives back to the most active users, your dog would definitely approve. With the smart leash, DooPod, bag roll holder, anti-runaway innovation (yes, really), and a mobile app that rewards you for walking your dog, Daiko is set to launch by the end of the year. Crypto might not walk your dog for you, but Daiko will soon reward you for doing so.