Alex
Building and maintaining trust on the internet is challenging. No single platform or protocol has fully cracked the code for a scalable, decentralized reputation system. Developers in the Arweave and AO ecosystem are experimenting with open-source solutions to incentivize genuine user participation. Two such systems recently integrated into Bazar, Vouch and Stamps, aim to address these challenges.
Vouch generates a “humanity score” by analyzing key data points from both Web3 and Web2, ensuring users are verified as real people. If you’re new to Vouch, check out my in-depth guide to learn how to vouch your Arweave wallet.
Once users are verified, a second layer is needed to reward meaningful participation. This is where Stamps, an open protocol for permaweb interactions, comes into play. Stamps act as a universal “like” button while also rewarding creators and sponsors through a tokenized system.
The Stamp protocol is a tool for providing feedback to permaweb content creators. Think of it as the “like” button for permaweb applications. When you “stamp” content, you signal appreciation and engagement, which benefits both creators and sponsors by rewarding them with $STAMP tokens.
A key advantage of Stamps is interoperability. Unlike Web2 likes, which are siloed to specific platforms, Stamps are composable across applications. Every stamped interaction is recorded as a signed transaction on Arweave, creating a shared social graph. This allows developers to integrate Stamps into new social applications, instantly leveraging existing user data and social engagement.
Stamping content is simple and works across supported applications. Here’s how:
Find Stamp-enabled content: Look for assets uploaded to platforms like Bazar that support Stamps.
Use your wallet: You’ll need an Arweave wallet connected to your profile to interact with the Stamp Protocol.
Stamp the content: Click the Stamp button to show your support. Each stamp contributes to the creator’s $STAMP rewards, which are earned daily.
When an atomic asset is uploaded to Arweave, a Stamp contract is attached when a user stamps the asset. This contract becomes a token permanently linked to the data. By adding this contract, creators invite sponsors to support their content and receive $STAMP in return.
Please note: Stamps on AO are experimental and will undergo changes as the protocol evolves.
The $STAMP token powers the Stamps protocol, creating a sustainable ecosystem for creators and sponsors. When users stamp content, the protocol distributes $STAMP tokens to creators and their sponsors daily. The more stamps a piece of content receives, the higher the rewards.
For example, on Bazar, a creator can upload their digital artwork as an atomic asset, and any user can “stamp” it. As more people stamp the content, the creator and sponsors receive more $STAMP tokens.
• Learn more about $STAMP tokenomics
Vouch and Stamps represent early steps toward creating a decentralized reputation system. These tools enable verification of users and incentivize quality content curation without relying on closed-source recommendation algorithms. At Bazar, we strive to avoid acting as the arbiter of truth and quality. Instead, systems like Vouch and Stamps offer decentralized, community-driven solutions.
As the permaweb evolves and user experiences diversify, I expect Vouch and Stamps to improve further, adapting to serve different applications. While still experimental, these systems are foundational to building the permaweb social media ecosystem.
