Proof of Participation (PoP): Explained

We recently launched TAIKAI’s v3 - a platform update bringing plenty of new features to our hackathon platform.

One of the key features we implemented is Proof of Participation, PoP for short. 

Today, we’ll go over what PoP is, how it works and how users and organizations can benefit from it.

What’s Proof of Participation?

Proof of Participation is a system that allows all hackathon participants to receive on-chain NFTs that showcase the projects they were involved in.

In its essence, a PoP works like a digital certification badge, awarded to individuals who have participated in a hackathon event.

“This new feature will provide every hackathon stakeholder - such as participants, juries, or mentors - with a tangible and verifiable way to demonstrate their participation and the projects they worked on, evaluated, or mentored”, said Henrique Macedo, Head of Product.

Also, we will be allowing participants to mint NFTs from past hackathons through our Retroactive Minting feature!

What information is listed in my PoP?

Each proof of participation NFT contains data associated with the user's involvement in the hackathon, as well as detailed information about the organizer and promoters.

Participant metadata

• Challenge name, logos, year and attendance and participation mode
• Organizers and sponsors name, website and logos
• Project name, URL, image, position on the final result and amount o votes received by the project

Jury metadata

• Challenge name, logos, year and attendance and participation mode
• Organizers and sponsors name, website and logos

Mentor metadata

• Challenge name, logos, year and attendance and participation mode
• Organizers and sponsors name, website and logos

How to claim your PoP

Setting your account to enable Proof of Participation is quite easy. Once you’ve registered at TAIKAI and participated in a hackathon, here’s what you need to do:

Register at TAIKAI

First step is to create an account at TAIKAI. Click “log in”, choose the “create account” option and enter via email and password, Gmail, github or social media.

Connect a wallet

PoPs are non-fungible tokens, which means you’ll need to connect your crypto wallet via Metamask. To do this, simply head over to your account settings and click “Connect wallet”. Follow the instructions and you should be set.

Join a hackathon

Once you’re all set up and ready, browse our hackathons page and join a hackathon of your choice. If you’re already engaged in one, don’t worry. You can connect your wallet at any time.

Submit your project

PoPs are only attributed to those who complete their participation in a hackathon. This means that as a participant, you’ll need to submit your project and receive a positive validation from the hackathon organizer (regardless of whether you win the hackathon or not). Every participant with a valid project submission will be able to mint their PoP.

For juries and mentors, the PoP will also be available once the hackathon has ended.

Mint your PoP!

Congratulations on your effort! It’s time to showcase your PoP to the world. Simply head over to your dashboard and mint your PoP.

And…Retroactive Minting  😱

For those that have participated in a hackathon at TAIKAI before, you can also claim your PoP! These will be listed and ready to mint on your dashboard page.

Why are PoPs important?

The Proof of Participation NFT has several benefits for our users:

1. Credibility and validation: PoPs serve as a digital badge of distinction that can be displayed on participants' online profiles, resumes, and portfolios. This helps to validate their participation and showcase their skills and achievements to potential employers, customers, or peers.
2. Immutable record: PoPs are based on blockchain technology, which means that the records are tamper-proof and cannot be altered. This ensures the integrity of the hackathon and the participants' achievements.
3. Recognition and reward: PoPs can serve as a reward for participants' hard work and dedication, and can help to motivate them to continue participating in hackathons and other tech events.

What can I do with my PoP?

You can showcase your PoP in several ways:

• Display it on online profiles, such as LinkedIn, GitHub, or your personal website.
• Include them in your resume or CV to showcase your participation in the hackathon and the skills you’ve developed.
• Use them as a way to prove participation in hackathons for future job or educational opportunities.
• Use them as a form of digital collectibles.

Summary

To recap, TAIKAI's v3 platform update has introduced a new feature called Proof of Participation (PoP). 

PoP allows hackathon participants to receive on-chain NFTs that showcase the projects they were involved in, acting as a digital certification. The PoP feature also allows participants to mint NFTs from past hackathons through the Retroactive Minting feature. 

PoPs offer several benefits for hackathon stakeholders such as credibility and validation, an immutable record and recognition and reward. PoPs can be displayed on online profiles, included in resumes, used to prove participation in hackathons for future job or educational opportunities and as a form of digital collectibles.

Do you want to organize a hackathon for your company?

Talk with us today, we are here to help you with the process. For participants, browse our latest hackathons right here!