What is a POAP badge? Here's how to collect them!
POAP has the ability to help people reshape their identity in the crypto industry, thanks to its low barrier to entry and numerous uses.Original Title: 《What Is POAP And How To Claim It?》
Original Author: Regiena Regunathan
Translated by: Dong Yiming, Chain Catcher
POAP stands for "Proof-Of-Attendance Protocol," a mechanism for distributing crypto badges that records and commemorates the occurrence of specific events. POAP tokens serve as easily verifiable evidence that a user was present at the event.
Just as people can believe you are a die-hard fan of a singer by knowing you collect concert tickets and attend multiple meet-and-greets, collecting badges can also represent your participation in many different events.
There are primarily two types of users for POAP:
- Event Organizers: Event organizers can arrange events and create and distribute POAP tokens to participants.
- Collectors: Collectors can use personalized, unique NFT badges to commemorate special moments in their lives or to indicate their attendance to others.
By providing personalized experiences, POAP helps event organizers better engage with their audience. POAP not only features unique designs but also various built-in functionalities, such as raffles and private chat rooms. For example, at our recent GeckoCon event, VIP ticket holders received a special POAP that allowed visitors to enter different raffles and a VIP-only Discord channel.
Users can create their own POAP collections to showcase their travel experiences. Organizers can modify their appearance and the items offered to participants by creating their own events on the POAP platform. To obtain badges and participate in various events, users need to search for QR codes at POAP-sponsored events.
What is the history of POAP and how does it work?
The history of POAP dates back to the ETHDenver conference held in 2019. The event was primarily organized by volunteers who relied on donations from influencers, developers, and organizer groups to host the event. The event organizers designed POAP to reward hackers who attended and participated in their hackathon.
The goal was to show people that Ethereum could achieve something that other tech stacks could not, such as attendance badges like POAP. The project is 100% volunteer-driven, meaning that contributions from top coders, organizers, and influencers are continuous throughout the process.
The ERC-721 standard used for building NFTs is also used for creating all POAPs. However, to be classified as a POAP, the NFT must meet a set of conditions:
- It must first be created using the official POAP smart contract.
- It must provide information about a specific time or date, lasting no longer than one year.
- All POAPs must be paired with images.
While POAPs were initially issued on the Ethereum blockchain, they have been generated and distributed from the Ethereum sidechain xDai since October 2020. Since xDai is built for fast, low-cost transactions, the minting cost of POAPs can be relatively low. Therefore, POAPs are often given away for free to all eligible individuals.
If users pay gas fees, POAPs can be transferred from xDai to Ethereum. Due to the high fees on Ethereum, most users prefer to keep their POAPs on xDai, where they can view them through the POAP app.
How do we obtain a POAP?
Each badge is unique, and the only way to obtain a badge is through the following steps provided by the event organizer (usually via a web link or QR code provided by the project). Crypto enthusiasts can quickly collect unique POAP collections that document their adventures in the crypto world.
You can claim your POAP in various ways, depending on how they are delivered. We will discuss how to claim your POAP using a website. Please remember that the website name changes after each event, so make sure you visit the correct site. Here are the four simple steps to apply for one.
Step 1: Visit a valid POAP website
Step 2: Enter your email address or Ethereum address to reserve a POAP for later collection
Step 3: You can mint it for free on the xDai network, while gas fees are required on the mainnet
Step 4: Click the "Get POAP" button
That's it! You have successfully obtained your POAP. You can view your collected POAPs on the app available on Google Play or downloaded from the Apple Store.
Why do we collect POAPs?
POAPs provide a unique way to embody your contributions to Ethereum. Collecting these blockchain badges is definitely fun, and they may have even greater undiscovered potential.
Users have recognized the practical uses of blockchain badges. Especially for veterans deeply involved in the crypto market, POAP collections can be seen as a form of decentralized identity since each person's POAP collection may be unique. However, for this to work, POAP issuers must ensure that participants do not receive more than one POAP and that non-participants do not receive them. As long as issuers act as trusted value intermediaries, each issuance of POAP will enhance the strength and validity of all POAP collection identities.
POAPs are also likely to evolve into valuable collectibles in the future. Think of the first ticket issued by Disneyland or the first ticket from a Michael Jackson concert; these tickets could fetch astronomical prices as they are considered rare collectibles. Similar to POAPs, those who own the first few issued POAPs may be sitting on a gold mine, but only time will tell their value. POAPs released during early Ethereum events have the potential to hold high value in the future.
In summary:
Since the project's inception, the use of POAP has gradually increased. POAP has the potential to help people reshape their identities in the crypto industry, thanks to its low barrier to entry and numerous uses.
The world of NFTs is an endless source of interesting functionalities, providing new possibilities for creating value. Compared to some of the crazy costs people are willing to pay for certain NFTs, POAPs are quite reasonable and are often available for free (except for occasional gas fees). While they may not have "uniqueness," they are a simple way to get started with NFTs.
So, the next time you attend a crypto event, keep an eye out for QR codes to claim your POAP and start your collection journey!
