The Current State of Social Protocols: Farcaster & Phaver | TKX Weekly

by @Guaaronnnn, Stephen
editor @uuwagyuu
sponsor TKX CAPITAL

In an era where mainstream social platforms like Facebook and Twitter are under scrutiny for data privacy and other concerns, the emergence of decentralized social protocols like Farcaster and Phaver offers a new narrative. These protocols aim to shift the control and ownership of social data back to the users, embodying the principles of decentralization inherent in the Web3 paradigm. As we delve into the ecosystems of Farcaster and Phaver, we explore the potential of a new, user-centric social web landscape.

Farcaster

Introduction

Farcaster is a platform designed to help build new social apps, similar to the way Facebook or Twitter operate, but with a significant distinction. Unlike traditional platforms, Farcaster operates on a unique architecture that gives individuals more control over their data and facilitates an open environment where anyone can create and enhance apps without requiring special permissions.

Its architecture is a blend of on-chain and off-chain systems. On the on-chain front, Farcaster utilizes Ethereum to manage crucial elements like user identities, usernames, and storage through smart contracts. This ensures a decentralized, secure environment for users and their data. On the off-chain front, Farcaster employs a peer-to-peer network of servers known as Hubs to manage and propagate user messages quickly across the network. This division not only enables rapid data transmission but also maintains a robust, user-controlled framework.

Ecosystem

Warpcast
Warpcast, the official client of Farcaster, offers a user experience similar to Twitter, with some minor differences. It incorporates web3 related topic tags and on-chain trending data tracking features, enriching the traditional microblogging experience with blockchain-enabled functionalities.

Alertcaster
Alphacaster is a voting and governance tool for DAOs and NFT communities. It organizes communities based on user assets, allowing only asset holders to join discussions. This promotes engagement and aligns discussions with members’ interests and investments.

Eventcaster
Facebook Events for On-Chain Communities.

Farcaster Network
Metrics for the Farcaster ecosystem include trends in user activity, engagement, and more.

Frens
A blockchain-based messaging app for friends.

Kiwi News
A decentralized Hacker News, built on Farcaster.

Searchcaster
Use APIs or a GUI to search for anything on the Farcaster protocol.

Phaver

Introduction

Phaver, leveraging the Lens Protocol, ushers in a gamified social media realm where users are rewarded for both creating and curating content. It stands apart from traditional platforms by granting users ownership of their social graphs and content through on-chain profiles, fostering interaction within a decentralized ecosystem. The unique “Staking” mechanism allows users to cast daily “Stakes” on favored posts, akin to “super likes,” promoting quality content and rewarding active engagement. Additionally, Phaver’s decentralized moderation invites community participation in content moderation, further ensuring a quality-driven, user-centric social platform.

Ecosystem

Lens Protocol Integration:

• Phaver leverages Lens Protocol to create on-chain social graphs, allowing users to have on-chain profiles that ensure ownership of their social graphs and content.
• It facilitates on-chain interactions like posting, following, and commenting, with an option for users to choose whether to post on-chain to Lens or just on Phaver.
• Lens’s NFT-based mechanism for creating on-chain relationships among profiles, followers, and posts is utilized, enhancing the user experience on Phaver.

CyberConnect Integration:

• The integration with CyberConnect significantly expands Phaver’s reach by providing access to a new pool of crypto-native users and connecting to different social protocols. This multi-protocol access allows users on Phaver to view content from various social protocols seamlessly.
• CyberConnect’s recent integration is a part of Phaver’s ongoing initiative to bridge the gap between traditional social media users and the crypto community. By adopting a Web 2.5 approach, Phaver facilitates a more user-friendly interaction, making it easier for users to transition into the decentralized social media landscape.
• Phaver’s integration with CyberConnect also enables users to link various assets like Clique SBT, Galxe Passport, DegenScore Beacon, and PFP NFT to their Phaver account, thereby earning Phaver Cred and Phaver Points on a daily basis. This not only enhances user engagement but also fosters a more rewarding user experience as they interact with the platform and contribute valuable content.

Comparison

Phaver and Farcaster both bridge the Web2-Web3 divide but in divergent ways. Phaver works with Lens Protocol and CyberConnect to make a fun social platform that rewards users for interacting and creating content. It focuses on letting users interact on the blockchain and promoting good content through a staking system and community-led moderation. It’s built for everyday users, making it easy for them to jump in and start interacting. On the other hand, Farcaster is built for developers, giving them tools to create their own decentralized social apps, with a focus on keeping user data private and owned by the user. So, while Phaver is about directly engaging users in a fun environment, Farcaster is about giving developers the tools to build their own user-friendly decentralized social networks. Each project is taking its own path to help move social media onto the decentralized web.

Summary

Farcaster and Phaver are two platforms aiming to redefine social interactions in the decentralized web space. Farcaster is developer-centric, offering tools to build decentralized social applications with a focus on user data privacy and ownership, facilitated by Ethereum and a peer-to-peer network. On the other hand, Phaver is designed for everyday users, providing a gamified social platform through integrations with Lens Protocol and CyberConnect. It encourages on-chain social interactions and content creation by rewarding users, thus promoting a user-friendly and engaging decentralized social ecosystem.

Reference

https://phaver.gitbook.io/white-paper-phaver/
https://www.farcaster.xyz/apps#ecosystem
https://docs.farcaster.xyz/