Why are airdrops always being exploited?
Why is voting in governance becoming increasingly meaningless?
Why do many 'free dApps' end up unable to survive?
The reason is actually very simple: the system doesn't know if you are a real person.
We are all familiar with the Web2 solutions: phone numbers, real names, KYC, facial recognition... In essence, it's a simple statement: trading privacy for certainty. But this path cannot be taken by Web3.
Recently, something that Polkadot is advancing, I think even if you don't agree, is worth a serious look: Proof of Personhood
Note, this is not 'identity'.
It's not about who you are, where you come from, or what you are called.
But it only answers one question: are you a real, unique person?
Gavin named this system,
It's called Project Individuality.
It sounds idealistic, but the logic is actually very realistic. It doesn't try to give you an 'on-chain identity' but allows you to be forever unlinked and differentiated across different applications.
In simple terms: others know you are a person, but they don't know you are 'the same person'.
To prevent witch attacks, Polkadot did not bet on a single solution but implemented several 'human verification mechanisms':
There are one-time strong commitments (like tattoos, which are real).
There are also continuous participation types (regular real-person interactions).
There is also one that hasn't been announced, rumored to be 'immune to AI'.
Although this concept and logic are not the most perfect, at least the thinking is clear: make 'number brushing' increasingly uneconomical.
What truly sparked the discussion was that $3 million guidance program.
Money is not sent to the market or intermediaries,
but directly gives to 'people' verified through personality.
Early participation has rewards.
Continuous participation has rewards.
Lotteries have limits to avoid being exploited.
You can question the execution, but it's hard to say it's 'data processing'.
If this system really works, the impact will be significant:
Airdrops are finally not just 'professional player internal loops'.
Only dApps can truly achieve zero transaction fees.
Governance has a chance to not just look at who has more money.
Games and social interactions are no longer ruined by bots.
To put it bluntly, this is to补补 the underlying capabilities that Web3 has always lacked.
Of course, there are many problems as well:
Will AI catch up quickly?
Could it be subject to 'paid delegation' large-scale attacks?
Isn't getting a tattoo too radical?
How should metrics actually be measured?
These doubts are valid.
But one thing I am increasingly certain of is:
If Web3 never solves the problem of 'people',
No matter how many chains or TPS, it's just more efficiently self-indulgent.
Polkadot is at least trying a path that no one is willing to take.
You don't have to support it, but I suggest you don't ignore it.
If you want to truly understand what Polkadot is doing,
The article below is one of the best reads for you to understand Project Individuality.
Article🔗:https://polkadot.com/blog/proof-of-personhood-polkadot-project-individuality/
