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Blockchain technology continues to evolve and come up with new ideas that transform the landscape of digital ownership and identity management. Two such words in this category are Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). NFTs have been worldwide popularized for their ability to identify unique digital assets, while SBTs are a new kind of token with different aims and purposes. Knowing how they differ is essential to knowing the future of digital identity in the decentralized world.
Soulbound Tokens are non-fungible, immutable digital tokens on a blockchain. Unlike NFTs, which can be traded, sold, or bought, SBTs are permanently bound to an individual or entity. Similar to the "soulbinding" game mechanic where items are bound to a player character and cannot be transferred, SBTs attempt to capture attributes like credentials, achievements, or reputation in a decentralized world.
SBTs aim to establish an identity and trust system on Web3 by allowing individuals to build a digital representation of themselves through verifiable tokens that denote their capabilities, expertise, or qualifications.
Soulbound Tokens are directly transferred into one's or an organization's blockchain wallet and will remain there forever. That SBTs can't be transferred is something special compared to other blockchain assets. They are a decentralized record of ownership or accomplishment. The tokens won't be traded or transferred to other wallets, so they will remain with the person or entity to whom they are tied.
Transparency of blockchain enables SBTs to be verifiable and immutability, with which one can use them to attest to one's record, experience, or qualification without resorting to centralized control. Decentralized reputation schemes and identity management will also find this new system of verifiable credentials instrumental.
Soulbound Tokens and Non-Fungible Tokens are both on the blockchain, but they are for different uses and differ in many crucial ways:
Transferability: NFTs are transferable tokens that may be bought, sold, or traded on various marketplaces. They may be transferred by their owners to others, allowing a liquid market for unique digital assets. SBTs, as non-transferable, are forever stuck with the owner or institution that possesses them.
Purpose: NFTs are generally utilized in digital art, collectibles, and other exchangeable goods. SBTs are intended to represent individual achievements, identity, or qualifications with the aim of building trust and reputation within decentralized communities.
Ownership Model: NFTs bestow ownership of content on the internet, i.e., artwork, videos, or songs. Soulbound Tokens are linked with ownership of untradable assets, i.e., diplomas, certificates, or work history. These assets are utilized to build a person's decentralized identity for non-monetary purposes.
Marketplace Interaction: NFTs prospered in dynamic marketplaces where collectors were able to buy and sell unique works of art or other digital items. Soulbound Tokens exist outside of the marketplace and possess inherent value because they represent a symbol of an individual's history or qualifications.
The non-transferability of Soulbound Tokens opens up many interesting use cases, especially for decentralized reputation and identity management systems.
Education Qualifications: Institutions and universities can award diplomas, certificates, and degrees as SBTs. These tokens would be a provable indication of one's education qualifications, hence making credentials immutable and difficult to counterfeit.
Professional Milestones: Companies and organizations can award SBTs to their staff as a method of celebrating milestones, achievements, or years of service. The tokens can serve as a decentralized resume, with proof of an individual's verifiable work experience and skill set.
Web3 Reputation Systems: SBTs may be employed in decentralized communities to determine trust by tracking a person's contributions or reputation. Contributions of a developer towards open-source or community member towards governance, for example, may be tokenized into SBTs as proof of their involvement and reliability.
Personal Identity: People can build their decentralized identity in Web3 with SBTs that summarize their ability, accomplishment, and relationships. This would render centrality-based verification systems, such as social media or third-party groups, obsolete to ascertain trust and reputation.
Soulbound Tokens are a step forward for blockchain technology with a solution for decentralized identity and credentials management independent of speculative NFTs. While NFTs remain the crème de la crème today as digital collectibles and art, SBTs provide a lasting, verifiable means of representing human merit, ability, and reputation. By way of these new technologies, Soulbound Tokens can transform ongoing digital identities that individuals rely on throughout the decentralized internet.
