What are Soulbound Tokens?

Quick Bites

• Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) are a foundational element of the emerging Web3 trend known as "Decentralized Society (DeSoc)."
• Unlike regular NFTs, SBTs are non-transferable and can be publicly verified.
• SBTs offer expanded use cases for NFTs, serving as immutable records for employment history, work experience, and academic credentials.
• SBTs find application in various fields such as education and professional spaces, functioning as digital resumes and proof of attendance for significant events.

In the world of blockchain assets, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have gained considerable popularity. These unique tokens enable individuals to assert ownership over various tangible and intangible items. However, NFTs are not inherently tied to specific individuals, and their primary allure often lies in their potential for financial gain. Recent projects like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club have witnessed exorbitant resales, fostering a market driven by the highest bidder.

Nonetheless, a groundbreaking concept called Soulbound tokens (SBTs) emerged in May 2022, proposed by Vitalik Buterin, Eric Glen Weyl, and Puja Ohlhaver. This article aims to delve into the intricacies of SBTs, elucidating their nature and functionality as a solution to the existing limitations of NFTs and decentralized structures.

Understanding Soulbound Tokens

Finding its origins in the popular MMOPRG game World of Warcraft, SBTs represent a paradigm shift in the world of digital assets. Unlike traditional NFTs, which can be bought and sold freely, SBTs are inextricably linked to a specific individual and cannot be transferred between parties. They stand as enduring and non-transferable NFTs, firmly rooted in one's private blockchain wallet, resistant to being relinquished or taken away. This intrinsic feature of SBTs fundamentally alters the dynamics of ownership, ushering in a new era of digital representation and trust.

What makes Soulbound Token special?

Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) serve as a testament to the true ownership of an item, be it a tangible asset or an intangible concept. By binding a digital token to a specific individual, the concept of ownership becomes inseparable from personal identity. This unique characteristic adds a layer of authenticity and permanence, instilling confidence and trust in the digital realm. SBTs are typically also immutable, eliminating the risks associated with counterfeit or fraudulent credentials while also facilitating a transparent and reliable system for credential validation.

Use Cases of Soulbound Tokens

Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) can offer a wide range of applications that have the potential to reshape various sectors and establish a decentralized society built on trust and verifiability, as we will explore further:

1. Building Verifiable Digital Reputations based on Past Actions

SBTs enable individuals to establish verifiable digital reputations based on their past actions. By linking positive contributions, achievements, or trustworthy behavior to their SBT, individuals can build a reputation that is publicly accessible and can not be easily manipulated. This reputation system can aid decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms in assessing an individual's creditworthiness and determining their eligibility for borrowing or lending.

2. Introducing Reputation-based Voting for Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) Governance Models

SBTs can play a pivotal role in reputation-based voting systems within decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). By utilizing SBTs to represent an individual's reputation within the community, DAOs can ensure that voting power is allocated based on participants' past contributions and demonstrated trustworthiness. This approach mitigates the potential for Sybil attacks, where individuals create multiple identities to manipulate voting outcomes, thereby promoting fair and effective governance.

3. Storing Digital ID Cards or Memberships

SBTs can function as digital ID cards or membership certificates. By associating identity-related information with an individual's SBT, it becomes possible to securely store and verify personal identification documents on the blockchain. This could simplify processes such as age verification, access to restricted areas, or membership authentication for various services.

4. Certifying Achievements, such as Job History or Education

SBTs can be utilized to certify an individual's achievements, including their job history or educational qualifications. By linking these accomplishments to their SBT, individuals can present verifiable and tamper-proof records to potential employers, educational institutions, or credential verification services. This promotes transparency and mitigates the risks associated with fraudulent credentials.

5. Verifying Attendance to an Event

SBTs can be employed to verify an individual's attendance at events, conferences, or programs. By issuing SBTs to participants, event organizers can ensure an immutable and publicly verifiable record of attendance. This enhances accountability, facilitates event planning, and offers participants a trusted proof of their presence.

Limitations of Soulbound Tokens

Despite the novelty of the concept as well as its promising use cases, however, it is essential to recognize that Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) are not without potential drawbacks and risks. In the wrong hands, these tokens could be exploited by malicious actors to identify, target, and harm individuals belonging to specific communities. This concern becomes particularly alarming when considering their potential utilization by governing bodies. For example, holders of a particular SBT could face discriminatory practices such as denial of access to facilities, refusal of medical care, restriction of travel permits, revocation of voting rights, and other adverse consequences.

Additionally, there is also a risk of potentially losing your SBT.

If the private keys associated with your SBT are lost or hacked, the data and SBTs stored within it may become inaccessible. However, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a solution to address this concern.

Community Recovery: Rescue your lost SBT

Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) introduce a recovery mechanism known as "community recovery," which shares similarities with social recovery. This robust method establishes a link between a SBT's recovery and its memberships across various communities, providing a wide range of real-time relationships to enhance security. As covered earlier in this article, SBTs represent an individual's memberships in diverse communities, encompassing both off-chain associations like clubs or religious organizations, as well as on-chain engagements such as participation in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) or protocol governance. In the community recovery model, regaining access to a SBT's private keys necessitates the consent of a qualified majority from its affiliated communities.

In simpler terms, members from the communities associated with a particular SBT can assist in the recovery of lost private keys. This collaborative approach ensures a decentralized and collective effort to restore access and safeguards against the risk of sole reliance on individual key management.

Soulbound Tokens: Your Ticket to the Future?

Let us return to the foundation of the concept. The objective of blockchain extends beyond mere value storage; it revolves around empowering ordinary individuals with control over their data and its utilization. With the advent of Soulbound Tokens (SBTs), individuals are now entrusted with the authority to manage their data and determine its accessibility. Although this may appear insignificant at first glance, it signifies a remarkable advancement away from the prevailing centralized data storage paradigm.

In essence, SBTs embody the logical progression of blockchain technology towards genuine decentralization. This prompts us to contemplate the potential trajectory these tokens will chart. Where do you envision SBTs leading us?

Bitget Wallet (Previously Bitget Wallet (Previously BitKeep)) BSTB

Bitget Wallet (Previously Bitget Wallet (Previously BitKeep)) recently introduced its inaugural Soulbound token called the 'B' Soulbound Token - Buddy (BSTB) on April 24th. Serving as the initial phase in a series of Soulbound tokens by Bitget Wallet (Previously Bitget Wallet (Previously BitKeep)), BSTB aims to recognize and honor users' active participation and contributions to the platform, symbolizing their loyalty and engagement. This milestone token launch signifies Bitget Wallet (Previously Bitget Wallet (Previously BitKeep))'s appreciation for the platform's growth achievements alongside its user community, enabling BSTB holders to demonstrate their value during diverse Bitget Wallet (Previously Bitget Wallet (Previously BitKeep)) community events.

Looking ahead, Bitget Wallet (Previously Bitget Wallet (Previously BitKeep)) plans to bestow exclusive rewards to BSTB holders based on their notable contributions. These rewards encompass a range of incentives, including airdrops of platform tokens, premium assets, and airdrop exchange credentials for trending projects.

Follow Bitget Wallet (Previously Bitget Wallet (Previously BitKeep)) to stay up-to-date with all of our latest events, findings, and promotions, and let Bitget Wallet (Previously Bitget Wallet (Previously BitKeep)) be your premier gateway into the Web3 space.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]