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POP Protocol

The POP Protocol (Proof of Participation) allows event organisers, communities, and platforms to issue verifiable on-chain credentials to participants — permanently anchored on Starknet.

What is a POP Credential?

A POP credential is a soulbound NFT — a non-transferable token that acts as a verifiable record of an event or achievement. Unlike regular NFTs, soulbound tokens cannot be sold or transferred. They are permanently associated with the wallet that claimed them.

Examples of what a POP credential can represent:

  • Attendance at a concert, conference, or community event
  • Completion of an online course or challenge
  • Membership in a DAO or creator collective
  • Early supporter or beta tester status
  • Achievement of a milestone (e.g., first sale, first 100 collectors)

How It Works

The POP Protocol has two roles: Providers and Participants.

Providers (Event Creators)

Approved providers can create POP events. Each event has a name, description, image, and an optional claim window. Providers define who is eligible to claim — open events allow anyone with the link, while gated events require provider approval or an allowlist.

Participants (Claimants)

Any Medialane user can claim a POP credential for an active event they participated in. Claims are free (gas-sponsored) and completed in seconds. The credential appears immediately in the holder's wallet and portfolio.

Claiming a POP Credential

To claim a credential, navigate to the POP Protocol section under Launchpad → POP Protocol. You will see a list of active events. Click Claim on any event you participated in, confirm with your PIN, and the credential is minted to your wallet.

Each credential can only be claimed once per wallet. Duplicate claims are rejected by the smart contract. There is no cost to claim — gas fees are sponsored by Medialane.

Creating an Event (Providers Only)

To create POP events, you must first apply to become an approved provider. Approved providers have access to the Create Event button in the POP Protocol section. When creating an event you define:

  • Event name and description
  • Credential image (uploaded to IPFS)
  • Claim window (start and end dates, or open-ended)
  • Maximum number of credentials (optional cap)

The event is deployed as a smart contract on Starknet. Each credential issued is a soulbound NFT under a unique on-chain collection associated with your event.

Why On-Chain Credentials?

Traditional credentials — conference badges, certificates, Discord roles — are controlled by the platform that issued them. If that platform disappears or revokes your access, the credential is gone. On-chain credentials are permanent and self-sovereign: they live in your wallet and cannot be taken away.

POP credentials are publicly verifiable. Any application can query the Starknet blockchain (or the Medialane API) to confirm whether a wallet holds a specific credential — opening up token-gated experiences, DAO voting, and reputation systems built on trustless proof.