Social Layer: Returning to the Essence of Socialization

Introduction

In the world of cryptocurrency, incentive mechanisms have always been one of the core topics. This concept originates from Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus mechanism, which incentivizes miners through block rewards to attract their participation and enhance system security. With the emergence of Ethereum, programmability has brought about a wealth of on-chain applications, transforming simple incentive models into complex theories of token economics.

Many DApp developers regard token economics as a top priority, believing that excellent design can maximize the overall benefits of the ecosystem while users pursue their individual interests. However, an excessive emphasis on incentives may overlook the core value of the application itself. Taking public chains and social DApps as examples, for public chains, the incentive mechanism is inseparable from the consensus mechanism, which jointly ensures the consistency of the ledger. As for social DApps, the primary focus should be on the realization of the basic functions of a decentralized platform and the ownership of user data, before considering whether additional incentive schemes are needed to drive development.

For a long time, the social track has been performing mediocrely. It wasn't until certain projects created a sensation in the bear market through simple and crude incentive methods. Although these projects achieved short-term success, if the incentives are not sustainable and rely solely on FOMO to attract users, the long-term operation of the project will face challenges as the incentives diminish.

Social First, Finance Second

The essence of socializing lies in finding like-minded people or forming circles. Web2 social software takes advantage of the convenience of the internet to help users quickly form social circles, but these circles often become islands of information and value. Web2 platforms also often exploit user data for their own benefit, while users themselves do not own their data.

The characteristics of Web3 have the potential to change existing social models. Although some popular Web3 social applications have achieved short-term success, their strong financial attributes make the social experience less prominent. Rationally, applications that can truly attract users in the long term should prioritize social aspects before considering financial attributes. Social Layer is a protocol built on this concept.

The concept of Social Layer originated from a discussion on how to build contribution records and incentive mechanisms for communities. It utilizes blockchain to provide data recording anchors, and its openness helps users break down social circle barriers and quickly expand their social networks. In terms of incentives, Social Layer chooses to use non-quantifiable badges to indicate users' value in the social network, rather than directly providing quantifiable economic incentives.

Core Components of the Social Layer

The Social Layer includes several key components, here are a few innovative points worth noting:

1. Identity System: Includes personal identity tokens and organizational identity tokens used to carry descriptive information about users or organizations. These tokens are non-transferable, ensuring the uniqueness and security of identity.

2. Social Tokens: Including various types such as badges, NFTs, gift cards, private badges, and points. These tokens can be flexibly combined to meet the needs of different social scenarios.

3. Merging and Wrapping Functionality: Allows multiple social tokens to be merged into a new token or wraps tokens from other protocols into a form that can circulate on the Social Layer. This greatly enhances the system's scalability and interoperability.

Looking to the Future

Social Layer is exploring its application in internal collaboration between DAOs. Based on a programmable blockchain architecture, this protocol has the potential to continuously expand its features and broaden its use cases. If it can sustain development and navigate market cycles, Social Layer is expected to become the infrastructure for a trusted social collaboration network, bringing a new experience to Web3 social.