In a recent episode of the Decentralize Me podcast, Matt welcomed Wasil from Tōdai to discuss the new self-sovereign social network built on ArcBlock’s platform. Tōdai, with its tagline “One Network, no emails, no passwords, no tomorrows, only Tōdai,” aims to redefine online interaction by prioritizing user control, decentralization, and simplicity. The conversation explored Tōdai’s vision, technical innovations, and its role in the evolving landscape of decentralized technology. Here’s a concise overview of the key insights from the discussion.
The Vision Behind Tōdai#
Tōdai emerged from Wasil’s frustration with permission-based systems in traditional social media and even some Web3 platforms. The goal was to create a network where users can freely express themselves, make peer-to-peer transactions, and interact without algorithmic restrictions or centralized oversight. Wasil emphasized the importance of a permissionless environment, allowing users to post and transact seamlessly. The tagline reflects this ethos: no emails or passwords means effortless onboarding, while “no tomorrows” underscores a focus on immediate, authentic interaction. Unlike platforms like X or Meta, Tōdai avoids being an “everything app,” instead focusing on core functionalities that empower users.
Overcoming Decentralized Challenges with ArcBlock#
Building a decentralized social network posed significant hurdles, particularly around identity management and data sovereignty. Tōdai leveraged ArcBlock’s DID Wallet and platform to streamline development, reducing a potentially years-long process to just one month. The DID Wallet provided a unique decentralized identity for each user, eliminating the need for traditional usernames or passwords while ensuring secure verification. Wasil highlighted how ArcBlock’s infrastructure tackled complex issues like credential storage and verification, allowing Tōdai to maintain a cohesive user experience. The platform’s byte storage (integrated with IPFS) supports decentralized data management, though Wasil noted ongoing efforts to optimize storage for full user ownership.
Driving Adoption and Community Engagement#
To attract users, Tōdai employs creative strategies inspired by early PayPal tactics, such as rewarding daily posts with 100 ABT (ArcBlock Tokens). Wasil shared an anecdote about spontaneously distributing 1,000 ABT to ten users, sparking excitement and organic promotion on X.
Tōdai’s design choices, like omitting likes and view counts, encourage authentic content creation over metric-driven imitation. The platform features a newsfeed for followed users, an explorer tab for discovering posts, and a profile page with a built-in link tree, enhancing user interaction. Wasil’s vision is to make Tōdai a refuge for those tired of restrictive platforms, fostering a community that values freedom and creativity.
Competing in a Crowded Landscape#
Tōdai positions itself against giants like X and Meta, as well as Web3 platforms like Forecaster. Wasil acknowledged X’s $44 billion scale but emphasized Tōdai’s lean, agile approach, built for $7,000 by a small team. This nimbleness allows rapid feature iteration without bureaucratic delays. To stay innovative, Tōdai plans to integrate features like NFT galleries and translation tools, leveraging ArcBlock’s ecosystem. Wasil also teased Atlas, a forthcoming crime-mapping network that uses decentralized identity to empower citizens as “detectives,” showcasing Tōdai’s commitment to pushing boundaries beyond social networking.
Measuring Success and Broader Impact#
Success for Tōdai goes beyond user numbers. Wasil envisions it as a sanctuary for free expression and unrestricted transactions, measuring impact through user empowerment and data sovereignty. For Atlas, success means safer communities through citizen-driven crime analysis. Wasil sees both projects contributing to the blockchain 3.0 movement, removing adoption barriers and challenging centralized control. He hopes that in a decade, platforms like Tōdai and Atlas will inspire trust in decentralized tools over traditional institutions, reshaping how people interact online and in the real world.
Lessons for Builders#
Wasil’s advice to developers is to think beyond industry trends and draw inspiration from history, philosophy, and great thinkers like Socrates or Marcus Aurelius. He encourages builders to take small, consistent steps toward their vision, embracing the unknown with confidence. Tōdai’s development, driven by Wasil’s user-focused perspective and Vinny’s technical expertise, exemplifies how persistence and a clear goal can yield remarkable results. As Wasil put it, “Build it, throw it into the ocean, and just keep going.”
Looking Ahead#
The podcast closed with Wasil’s call to action: try Tōdai, follow @wasildbro, and join the ArcBlock community to explore decentralized innovation. With plans for new features and the ambitious Atlas project on the horizon, Tōdai is poised to lead the charge in self-sovereign networking. As Wasil hinted, “Everything’s about to change,” signaling an exciting future for decentralized technology. Check out https://www.arcblock.io and https://todai.did.life to learn more.