The problem Giftify solves

Giftify addresses the challenge of supporting content creators with transparency and ease, especially in the crypto space. Traditionally, platforms like YouTube allow fans to support creators through features like SuperChat, but there are uncertainties regarding how much of the donation actually reaches the creator. Moreover, sending crypto tokens to creators who may not have a wallet poses another challenge.

How It Works

Giftify provides a seamless solution for sending crypto donations to content creators, even if they don't already have a crypto wallet. Here's how it simplifies and enhances the process:

1. Crypto Donations with Transparency: Users can send crypto to Giftify's escrow contract along with the creator's username.

2. Automated Notifications: Once the event is emitted, Giftify automatically notifies the creator that they have received crypto and provides a claim link.

3. Real-Time Data Accessibility: The Graph's subgraph allows Giftify to access up-to-date information about donations and claims, ensuring that users have the latest data at their fingertips.

4. Easy Claim Process: The creator is directed to a claim page where they can view all donations. If they don't have a wallet, they can easily create a Coinbase smart wallet on the spot.

5. Secure Ownership Verification: The creator chooses the username-linked account and submits a proof of ownership using zk proof technology (provided by Reclaim). This proof is verified on-chain.

6. Gas Fee Sponsorship: The smart wallet covers the gas fees, ensuring the creator receives the full donation amount without incurring additional costs.

Supported Platforms

Giftify currently supports donations to creators on two major platforms:

• Twitter
• GitHub

By leveraging Giftify, supporters can easily and transparently send crypto donations to their favorite creators, making the process simpler, safer, and more efficient.

Challenges I ran into

Building Giftify came with its set of challenges, each requiring unique solutions:

1. Ensuring Secure and Transparent Transactions

One of the primary concerns was ensuring the security and transparency of transactions. The challenge was to create a mechanism that guarantees the integrity of the donations while maintaining user trust.

Solution:
We implemented a robust escrow contract to hold the donations securely. By leveraging on-chain verifiers and zk proofs for ownership verification, we ensured that only the rightful owner could claim the funds, thus maintaining transparency and security.

2. User Notification and Engagement

Another hurdle was effectively notifying creators about the received donations and guiding them through the claim process. We needed a system that was both automated and user-friendly.

Solution:
We developed an automated notification system that alerts creators as soon as a donation is made. The notification includes a direct claim link, simplifying the process and improving user engagement.

3. Seamless Wallet Integration

Many creators might not have existing crypto wallets, and the process of setting one up could be daunting, potentially discouraging them from claiming their donations.

Solution:
We integrated with Coinbase to allow easy creation of smart wallets directly from our platform. This integration ensures that even creators without prior crypto experience can easily set up a wallet and claim their funds.

4. zk Proofs Implementation

Implementing zk proofs for ownership verification was a complex task that required a deep understanding of cryptographic principles.

Solution:
We collaborated with Reclaim, a service specializing in generating zk proofs on the client side. This partnership allowed us to leverage their expertise and integrate a reliable proof of provenance system into our platform.