If you’ve been paying attention to the world of cryptocurrency lately, you may have noticed that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are all the rage. But what exactly are non-fungible tokens, and how do they work? In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at one type of NFT in particular—the proof of authenticity protocol, or POAP.

This post explains the Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP) and its use cases.

What is a POAP?

A POAP is an acronym for proof of authenticity protocol. It’s basically a digital certificate of authenticity for any item, whether it be physical or virtual. This could include things like art or collectibles, but it could also refer to digital assets such as cryptocurrencies or even software licenses.

The Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP), or the Protocol of Attendance Test, was born with commemorating experiences through collecting badges in NFT format. 

In either case, you may want a souvenir to commemorate an event, conference, or another gathering you attended. Well, something new is filling the gap: the Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP).

Indeed, event planners and attendees can use the POAP website to host or join events. By the way, you use your location data or scan a QR code to check in when you arrive at the event. This creates a time-stamped attendance record securely recorded in a Smart Contract on the Ethereum Blockchain.

The main difference between a regular certificate of authenticity and a POAP is that the latter is stored on the blockchain. This ensures that the certificate can’t be altered or forged, giving it more legitimacy than traditional certificates of authenticity.

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What is the Proof of Attendance Protocol?

Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP) is a non-fungible token (NFT) that proves that you have attended an in-person or virtual event. These digital badges are sent to your wallet as a reward for attending such events.

Specifically, it is a protocol that creates digital or collectible badges through the use of Blockchain technology. They are minted via Smart Contract as non-fungible NFT tokens on the Ethereum Blockchain. That is, they are ERC-721 tokens created to celebrate and record attendance at an event.

Either way, POAPs were initially minted and distributed on the Ethereum mainnet. First it was created at the Denver Convention in 2019 to reward hackers who attended and participated in the hackathon event.

POAP offers a new way for event organizers to participate and interact with their community. Event attendees can typically earn these unique NFT badges via QR codes at the event and join additional activities on the POAP platform, such as community surveys, raffles, and the POAP leaderboard.

How Does POAP Work?

The idea behind these non-fungible tokens is pretty simple; each token contains data about its associated item, such as its origin and ownership history. This data is then cryptographically hashed and stored on the blockchain, which allows anyone with access to view the information associated with that token. As long as someone has access to the blockchain, they can verify that the token is genuine and its data accurate.

This means that when someone buys an item with a POAP attached to it, they can rest assured, knowing that it is authentic and backed by immutable evidence on the blockchain. In addition, because these tokens are stored on a public ledger, buyers can easily keep track of their purchases without having to worry about losing them or having them stolen from them.

POAPs are quickly becoming an essential part of many transactions involving digital assets and physical items. By ensuring provenance and providing transparency around ownership histories, these tokens make transactions more secure while protecting buyers from counterfeit items in the process.

With their increasing popularity among crypto enthusiasts, both large and small alike, NFTs such as POAPs will continue to provide valuable benefits in facilitating transactions in various industries worldwide.

How can POAPs be distributed?

In any case, POAPs can be distributed in various ways, both in digital and physical formats.

Digital: Participants can connect their crypto wallet and claim their badge in the place where the event determines. Another option would be to send the POAP via email.

Physical: The most common way is to distribute the POAP through a QR code. For example, the event organizer can encourage attendees to download the POAP wallet, scan the QR and thus get their badge.

Who has used the POAP Protocol?

Several major brands and companies have used the Proof of Attendance Protocol to plan events and engage community members.

• Decentraland is known for providing POAP within its Metaverse.
• Estée Lauder: The acclaimed beauty brand unveiled an exclusive NFT Wearable, Advanced Night Repair, at Metaverse Fashion Week held March 23-27, 2022.
• Adidas: Adidas POAP serves as a way to recognize its most devoted fans.
• Lottie London hosted the first Metaverse prom in Decentraland. Participants could fully immerse themselves in the event thanks to the Proof of Attendance Protocol which directed users to the Lottie London Walmart shopping website.
• SushiSwap sent POAP to his AMA attendees and to those who voted for his governance proposals

As more event planners experiment with POAP, its popularity will likely evolve beyond lived experience storage and attendance verification.

What Is The Future Potential of POAPs?

In the future, POAP may expand its use cases beyond proving support. For example, it can be used to recognize contributions or offer privileges to community members. 

The POAP compilation could also work as a trusted Blockchain resume for people to prove their experience and educational background.

Let’s say goodbye with this phrase from Bill Gates: “The key to success in business is to detect where the world is going and get there first.”