If Web3 and blockchain technology have a common criticism, it is that data is extremely hard to make sense of. It sometimes feels as though developers speak a completely different language as they discuss their findings on Etherscan or any other block explorer, and this is a major cause of friction for newcomers into the Web3 space.

After all, the quicker Web3 grows, the greater the need for avenues of understanding the data that comes out of it.

Enter KNN3. KNN3 is a direct result of this environment, providing simple-to-understand explanations of on-chain relationships in graphic/pictorial form. Although it is primarily a backend protocol, KNN3’s existence enables and facilitates generations of developers to build on an easy-to-translate interface, effectively lowering the barrier of entry to build consumer-facing dApps.

Ultimately, KNN3 aims to be completely community-driven, in order to unlock greater applications of on-chain data collaboration.

KNN3 is a social graph protocol. This means that as users generate footprints on blockchains, KNN3 aggregates these to interpret the connections among users, converting them into relational connectors. All 100% verifiable on-chain.

Next.ID, on the other hand, is a Decentralized-Identity-as-a-Service (DIaaS) protocol that aggregates digital identities across Web2 and Web3, allowing users to create permissionless DID (decentralized identifiers) called Avatars.

With the permissionless integration of Next.ID and the introduction of Next.ID’s Avatars, KNN3’s graphs are given brand new life:

• there is now an identity-first component to the data

• Avatars provide off-chain identity data for more comprehensive profiles

KNN3 aggregates data in a neutral manner, allowing for the eventual empowerment of social dApps and AI analytics. Next.ID provides a subjective perspective of the data, with a focus on streamlining identity.

This allows for work done with KNN3 to take on a completely new dimension, using the synergy between KNN3 and Next.ID to create new forms of social graphs and networks.

As KNN3 is focused on aggregating blockchain data, Next.ID covers one blindspot by providing access to Web2 data as well. If users’ Avatars are connected to their Web2 accounts like Twitter and Discord, KNN3 will now have access to these connections, allowing it a much more comprehensive view of the social graph.

Based on the Avatars’ associations of users’ Web2 (Twitter) and Web3 (blockchain wallets) accounts on Next.ID, KNN3 can now provide users with social graphs mapped across Web2 and Web3. With these graphs, developers, and users will have a more streamlined experience of Web3, as well as access to previously unheard of usage scenarios like social relationship discovery/recommendation and a robust reputation system.

Contributed by: @zengjiajun and @sohchris