beenz.com

Beenz.com was an early internet virtual currency and rewards program, active primarily from 1998 to 2001. The company, Beenz.com Inc., was founded by Charles I. Cohen and focused on providing an alternative online payment system.

Users could earn "beenz" by shopping at participating online retailers, completing surveys, or interacting with sponsored content. These beenz could then be redeemed for products or services from other participating merchants. The system aimed to incentivize online activity and build customer loyalty.

Beenz.com garnered significant attention and investment during the dot-com boom, but faced challenges related to scalability, merchant adoption, and ultimately, consumer acceptance. The complexity of converting rewards to actual value, coupled with the rise of more straightforward loyalty programs and payment options (such as PayPal), contributed to the company's decline.

The company was eventually acquired by Carlson Marketing Group in 2001, effectively marking the end of the beenz.com virtual currency. While short-lived, beenz.com is remembered as a pioneering effort in the development of online rewards systems and virtual currencies, and serves as a notable example from the dot-com era.