diff --git a/src/papers/smart-token-paper.md b/src/papers/smart-token-paper.md index 1ab9296..44e48eb 100644 --- a/src/papers/smart-token-paper.md +++ b/src/papers/smart-token-paper.md @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ --- title: "Smart Token: The Building Block for the Next-Generation Token-Centric Web" -date: "1st October, 2023" +date: "13th November, 2023" abstract: | The evolution of the Web has been marked by significant shifts, from Web 1.0's flat architecture, where the Web was primarily seen as an information repository akin to books, to Web 2.0, where the Web transformed into an application platform. This transformation led to a "reverse pyramid" structure, with contemporary internet behemoths forming the narrow, foundational base. Such centralisation has stifled the Web's innovative potential, hindering the democratic spirit that underpins the Internet. As the number of users and websites has surged, the past decade has witnessed a plateau in transformative platforms or groundbreaking innovations, with the digital terrain largely commandeered by a few familiar giants. This paper delves into the root causes of this innovation drought, emphasising the indispensable role of trust anchors in nurturing a vibrant web ecosystem. We introduce the concept of a Token-Centric Web, a vision for the next-generation Internet that decentralises trust and enables an ecosystem of integrations. In this context, we propose "Smart Tokens," leveraging smart contracts, as an architectural choice to instantiate trust anchors in this Token-Centric Web to amplify user experience, bolster privacy, reduce dependence on monolithic Internet titans, and foster a new wave of web innovation. The paper further probes the potential for transformative shifts across various web dimensions and delineates the technical challenges, potential pitfalls, and adoption hurdles. We argue that the democratisation of trust anchors through Smart Tokens can pave the way for a more equitable and participatory Internet, turning it into a public good that benefits all. ---