Designing On‑Chain Loyalty & Referral Programs That Actually Work

Web3 doesn’t reward whoever yells the loudest; it rewards whoever shows up. A good loyalty/referral system turns that into a flywheel: consistent actions → status → better perks → more actions. Do it badly and you’ll just feed farmers.

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Core architecture

• Identity graph: Support multi‑wallet users. Map wallets to a single profile (email/Telegram optional) with opt‑in proofs.

• Actions taxonomy: Bucket tasks by value: Learn (docs depth, quizzes), Use (on‑chain interactions), Build (PRs, integrations), Advocate (threads, tutorials), Govern (votes, proposals).

• Points that aren’t transferable: Keep “points” or “reputation” non‑tradeable to reduce mercenary behaviour. Convert to perks or vested rewards, not instant tokens.

• Tiers:

  • Explorer → onboarding + basics

  • Power User → consistent product usage

  • Contributor → code/content/partnerships

  • Governor → credible governance participation

• Decay: Let inactive points slowly decay so the leaderboard reflects current commitment.

Anti‑Sybil tactics (stack signals, don’t rely on one)

• Account age + activity diversity: Older addresses touching multiple contracts score higher.

• Velocity caps: Daily/weekly ceilings on identical actions; randomise task windows.

• Ref quality gates: Only count referrals after the referee completes qualified actions (e.g., 3 product tasks over 14 days).

• Device/behaviour heuristics: Rate‑limit obvious automation; avoid heavy fingerprinting without consent.

• Appeals & audits: Publish a light policy; maintain a review path for false positives.

Dynamic NFTs (status that evolves)

• Upgradable metadata: Traits unlock as users reach tiers (e.g., “Power User” adds a badge). Consider soulbound status traits + transferable cosmetic layers.

• Time‑gating: Certain traits require holding actions for N consecutive weeks.

• Utility hooks: Trait gates can unlock fee discounts, allowlists, early feature flags, or governance weight multipliers.

Vesting & payouts

• Point→reward bridges: Convert end‑of‑season points into NFTs, credits, or token allocations that vest (e.g., linear over 3–6 months) with clawbacks for policy abuse.

• Claim windows: Tight windows reduce farm‑and‑dump dynamics.

• Per‑tier caps: Avoid whales gaming early seasons.

Reward real contribution

• Code: PRs merged, issues triaged, audits reported (weighted by impact).

• Content: Tutorials, translations, independent reviews (not copy/paste threads).

• Community: Moderation hours, high‑quality support replies, verified meetups.

• Governance: Proposal authorship, rationale quality, turnout consistency.

Referral design that doesn’t spam

• Two‑sided value: Referrer gets a small bonus after referee hits a quality checkpoint; referee gets starter perks.

• Tiered boosters: Higher‑tier referrers unlock better multipliers, but cap them.

• Cooldowns: Stop “blast 100 invites in a day” behaviour.

“Connect‑to‑earn” without the cringe

Ask users to connect multiple identities (wallets, Farcaster/Telegram, email) to unlock analysis features and tailored tasks. Reward the outcomes those connections enable, not the connection itself.

90‑day blueprint (Season 0)

• Weeks 1–2: Publish policy, actions taxonomy, and anti‑Sybil overview. Soft‑launch Explorer tasks.

• Weeks 3–6: Add Power User tasks + first dynamic NFT drop. Start referral with quality gates.

• Weeks 7–10: Introduce Contributor/Governor tasks. Run a build sprint with bounties.

• Weeks 11–12: Snapshot, convert points→vested rewards, publish season recap + leaderboard.
  
  

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