Objective: Our ultimate aim is to create an infallible system where each Gitcoin account corresponds to a unique human user, thus eliminating Sybil attacks.
The current Gitcoin Twitter stamp certainly offers a level of certainty, but its parameters might not be stringent enough. At present, to attain the highest rank, a Twitter account requires:
More than 10 Tweets
Over 5000 followers
Given that the cost of forgery, as detailed in the Quick Start Guide, stands at a mere $100, it is an attractive proposition for Sybil attackers, especially considering potential airdrop gains, power over Gitcoin grants pool allocations, and the reusability of fake accounts.
We've considered augmenting the stamp's thresholds, proposing that:
Your followers should possess followers with more than 100 followers each
Your followers should maintain original usernames
However, the cost to manufacture a Twitter account that meets these criteria, when purchased in bulk, drops to less than $0.02. This method simply slightly increases the cost of attack, and also risks excluding legitimate users, resulting in false positives.
So how do we resolve this issue? What's the key to eliminating Sybil risk without inadvertently disadvantaging genuine users?
The answer lies in shifting our focus from quantity to quality.
It's virtually impossible for an attacker to feign genuine influence on Twitter. For example, a fake account might boast 10,000 followers, but it's unlikely to be followed by you, me, or influential figures like Vitalik Buterin. In contrast, an account followed by Vitalik is likely to be contributing value to the Ethereum community.
Therefore, instead of mere follower count, we propose evaluating the value and influence of an account within its community. For the Ethereum community, this could be achieved by analyzing the community graph. We could examine factors such as whether the account is followed or mentioned by seed community members, like Vitalik. The top 10,000 accounts, as determined by this analysis, would then receive a positive binary score.
In conclusion, by shifting our focus from quantity to quality, we can ensure the integrity of our Gitcoin Passport Twitter Stamp, thereby reinforcing our commitment to fostering a genuine and value-driven community.