Paula Pettit and I ran a masterclass for the BIMA Web 3 Council in March 2023 on something I’m genuinely passionate about: POAPs – Proof of Attendance Protocol tokens.
POAPs are digital mementos. NFTs minted to celebrate life’s remarkable moments. And they’re one of the most practical, human-centered use cases for blockchain technology that actually exists today.
So yeh. Let me walk you through what we covered.
What Are POAPs?
POAP = Proof of Attendance Protocol
It’s a free, open-source protocol that lets event organizers distribute digital collectibles (NFTs) to attendees. Each POAP is a unique NFT on the Ethereum blockchain (specifically on Gnosis Chain, formerly xDai, for super low fees).
Think of them as digital badges or tickets – but ones you actually own, can keep forever, and that become part of your permanent on-chain identity.
Every POAP has:
- Unique artwork – custom-designed for the specific event
- Event metadata – what, when, where
- Proof you were there – minted to your wallet as evidence of attendance
- Collectibility – part of your growing collection of life experiences
The genius is in the simplicity. No financial value. No speculation. Just: "I was there, here’s proof, and now I have a cool digital memory of it."
Why POAPs Matter
Here’s why I think POAPs are brilliant:
They make NFTs accessible. No need to understand DeFi, trading, gas fees, or any of the complex stuff. Just: "Scan this QR code, get a free digital collectible." That’s it.
They solve real problems. Event organizers want to reward attendees, create community, and prove who participated. POAPs do all three.
They build on-chain identity. Over time, your POAP collection becomes a verifiable record of where you’ve been, what you’ve attended, what communities you’re part of. Not controlled by any platform – it’s your data.
They enable token-gating. Own a specific POAP? Access exclusive content, Discord channels, future events, or special perks. Utility built on proof of participation.
They’re fun. People collect them. Show them off. Compare collections with friends. The gamification aspect works.
The Masterclass: How to Create Your Own POAP
Paula and I walked the BIMA community through the entire process – from concept to minted POAP.
Step 1: Design Your POAP
POAPs are circular images. 500x500px. The artwork should:
- Represent your event or community
- Be visually distinctive and memorable
- Work at small sizes (they’ll be displayed in wallets and galleries)
- Follow POAP’s quality guidelines
We showed examples of great POAP designs – conference badges, meetup graphics, milestone celebrations. The creativity people bring to this is fantastic.
Step 2: Create Your Event
Go to POAP.xyz and create an event:
- Event name – What’s the occasion?
- Date and time – When did/will it happen?
- Location – Virtual or physical address
- Description – What was the event about?
- Website – Link to event page or organizer site
Upload your circular artwork. Set your mint date window (usually the event date, but can be flexible).
Step 3: Choose Distribution Method
This is where it gets interesting. You have options:
QR Code – Most common. Attendees scan code at the event to claim their POAP. One-per-person limit built in.
Mint Links – Generate unique claim links. Send to attendees via email, Discord, or however you communicate. Each link works once.
Secret Word – Announce a word at the event. Attendees go to the POAP app, enter the word, get the POAP. Good for virtual events.
POAP Delivery – Upload a list of wallet addresses and deliver POAPs directly. Good for token-gating or specific recipient lists.
We demonstrated each method and discussed pros/cons. QR codes at physical events are magical – instant gratification, people love it.
Step 4: Distribute and Celebrate
Launch your POAP at your event. Watch people claim them in real-time. The collection starts growing immediately.
What’s particularly cool: if your attendees already have POAPs from other events, you’re now connected through the broader POAP ecosystem. Mutual recognition. Shared experiences. Community formation.
Real-World Use Cases
We shared examples of how organizations are using POAPs:
Conferences and meetups: WordCamp events, Ethereum conferences, local crypto meetups – almost every Web3 event now has a POAP. It’s become expected.
Company milestones: Teams celebrating product launches, hiring anniversaries, company offsets. Internal culture building with blockchain receipts.
Educational courses: Proof of course completion. Verifiable credentials that live in your wallet, not on a platform that might disappear.
Virtual events: Webinars, Twitter Spaces, Discord AMA sessions. Proof you participated even though you were remote.
Community access: Own the POAP from our first event? You get access to the exclusive channel. Provable membership without centralized databases.
Why BIMA Cared About This
BIMA is the British Interactive Media Association. The audience was marketers, agencies, digital professionals – not crypto natives.
But here’s the thing: every organization runs events. Product launches. Client dinners. Internal training. Annual conferences. Awards ceremonies.
POAPs give those events a digital dimension. They create ongoing engagement beyond the event itself. They enable community formation. They provide data on who’s actually showing up to your stuff.
And crucially, they let you experiment with Web3 technology in a low-risk, high-value way. No financial speculation. No complex tokenomics. Just: "We made a cool digital thing for our community, and they love it."
That’s the kind of Web3 adoption that actually matters – technology solving real human needs.
What I Learned
Running this masterclass with Paula reinforced something I already believed: the best Web3 use cases are the simple ones.
Not complex DeFi protocols. Not multi-million-dollar NFT speculation. Just: "I was there, here’s proof, now I’m part of this community."
The participants were excited. They immediately saw applications for their own events and communities. Several set up POAP accounts during the session and started designing their first POAPs.
That’s the moment when Web3 stops being abstract and becomes real – when someone creates their first on-chain thing and realizes: "Oh, this is actually useful."
My POAP Collection
I’ve been collecting POAPs for years. They’re a timeline of my experiences in this space:
- Conferences I’ve spoken at
- Meetups I’ve attended
- Virtual events I’ve participated in
- Communities I’m part of
Looking at my collection is looking at a map of my journey through Web3. Every one has a story. Every one represents people I met, ideas I encountered, moments that mattered.
That’s the magic. Not speculation, not investment – just memory and community, now verifiable and permanent.
Get Started
Want to create your own POAP?
Visit: POAP.xyz
Learn: POAP Documentation
Explore: POAP Gallery – browse POAPs from around the world
If you’re organizing an event – any event – consider making a POAP for it. Your attendees will appreciate it, your community will engage with it, and you’ll be participating in one of the most human-centered things happening in Web3 right now.
Event: BIMA Web 3 Council Masterclass – Create Your Own POAP NFT
Date: March 21, 2023
Co-hosts: Paula Pettit, Dave Lockie
Organization: BIMA (British Interactive Media Association)
My role: Co-chair, BIMA Blockchain Council; Web3 Lead, Automattic
Find me: Contact form, @divydovy most places, hi@divydovy.com
Note: I co-chair the BIMA Blockchain Council and work at Automattic as Web3 Lead. These are my personal views on technology I use and love. POAPs are free to create and distribute – there’s no financial aspect to them, which is exactly why they work so well.
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