DApps (decentralized applications) require a lot of foundational work before becoming as efficient as Web2 products. The methods by which they control access to exclusive features are also subject to innovation. One of the most innovative access control methods emerging in Web3 is profile gating, a concept made possible by Plurality’s smart profiles.
Profile gating eliminates the traditional challenges associated with token gating, offering a gasless, secure, and private alternative that revolutionizes how developers and users interact with decentralized platforms.
What is Token Gating?
Token gating is a popular way to manage access control in dApps. Due to token gating, access to certain functionalities, features, or content based on token ownership may be restricted. The users have traditionally been issued with user NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) or SBTs (SoulBound Tokens). These tokens in wallets prove the user’s eligibility to access exclusive content or any functionality within a dApp.
- NFT Gating: Users are given NFTs as proof of access, which can be transferred to other wallets. However, this transferability can be problematic when it comes to ensuring secure access.
- SBT Gating: Unlike NFTs, SBTs are non-transferable and permanent. While they ensure users cannot transfer their access, they can become a burden if they no longer wish to keep that information in their wallets. If dApps use SBTs for access control, wallets can become an SBT graveyard, with hundreds, if not thousands, of SBTs lying around.
Despite their popularity, token gating has several inherent limitations affecting developers and users.
The Challenges with Traditional Token Gating
Token gating methods come with several challenges that can detract from the overall user experience and introduce inefficiencies:
- Gas Costs: Minting and transferring NFTs or SBTs on the blockchain can incur significant gas fees, especially on networks with high congestion. This makes token gating a costly process for both developers and users.
- Issues with Transferability: NFTs can be transferred between wallets. While this may be useful in some cases, it poses several security risks when the original holder’s access is intended to be exclusive and non-transferable.
- Permanent and Transparent Data: SBTs are permanent and visible to anyone. This transparency might be undesirable for users who don’t want to publicly showcase certain information, such as membership or activity details, in their wallets forever.
- Administrative Burden: Developers must manage the minting, distribution, and verification of these tokens, adding complexity and administrative work.
Introducing Profile Gating with Plurality
These challenges can be overcome with the rise of Plurality’s smart profiles. Profile gating introduces a more efficient way of controlling access to dApps without needing tokens or blockchain transactions. By connecting a Plurality Profile to a dApp, the application can access the user profile data and use it to enforce access control. Explore the core protocol of smart profiles.
The working principle is simple. When a user logs into a dApp with the smart profile, the dApp validates the attested profile information. The information is useful in determining if the user is eligible to access certain content and features. It is significant to mention that no gas fees are involved in the entire process because it does not require any on-chain transactions. Users cannot transfer their data to another wallet to ensure greater security and privacy.
Key Benefits of Profile Gating
- No Gas Fees: Traditional token gating methods often incur gas fees, especially when minting or transferring NFTs or SBTs. Profile gating eliminates this cost by relying on off-chain data stored within the user’s profile.
- Enhanced Privacy: Since profile data is stored securely and cannot be transferred to other wallets, users retain control over their information and ensure their access details remain private.
- Efficiency for Developers: Developers no longer need to worry about minting, distributing, or verifying tokens. Profile-based access control’s simplicity makes implementing and managing dApps easier.
- Customizable Access: Profiles allow for granular control over what users can access. This can be particularly useful for dApps that offer different levels of content or functionality based on user behavior or preferences.
Use Cases for Profile Gating
- Exclusive Content Access: Content creators or service providers can use profile gating to restrict access to premium content for verified users, all without the hassle of token distribution or on-chain transactions.
- Community-Driven Access Control: Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) or other community-based platforms can leverage profile gating to allow members to access certain features or governance tools based on their profile data, ensuring a seamless, secure user experience.
- Private Events: Profile gating can manage access to private virtual events or exclusive online experiences. Hosts can verify attendees without relying on token transfers or third-party platforms.
Comparing Profile Gating to Other Methods
When compared to traditional token gating methods, profile gating offers several distinct advantages:
- Profile Gating vs. NFT Gating: Unlike NFTs, which can be transferred between wallets, profiles are locked to the user’s identity, ensuring secure and private access. Additionally, profile gating eliminates the need for gas fees, while NFT gating often involves costly on-chain transactions.
- Profile Gating vs. SBT Gating: While SBTs are non-transferable, they are permanent and publicly visible in a user’s wallet. In contrast, profile gating ensures that data stays private and is only accessible to authorized dApps. Users can also opt out of sharing certain data, offering a more flexible and private solution.
Future of Profile Gating in Web3
A more seamless access control system in Web3 is yet underway, and profile gating is beginning to become one of the most reliable control systems. In managing multiple decentralized solutions and making Web3 more accessible, profile gating will ultimately become the go-to solution for access to dApps. The reason behind its game-changer utility is significant for reduction in costs, enhancement of privacy and security, and simplification of developer workflows.
Conclusion
Profile gating is poised to transform access control in decentralized applications. By using Plurality’s smart profiles, dApp developers can offer users a seamless, gasless, and secure way to manage access without the limitations of traditional token gating methods. As Web3 evolves, profile gating will become a standard for privacy-preserving, efficient access management across the decentralized web.
If you’re a dApp developer or a Web3 enthusiast looking to explore the future of access control, consider implementing profile gating with Plurality’s smart profiles. It’s the smarter, simpler, and more secure way forward. Our Partner program can help you integrate the smart login solution in your dApps.
