Merch
Cool digital Merch as event tracking record
Created on 25th October 2025
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Merch
Cool digital Merch as event tracking record
The problem Merch solves
Proof of Attendance Badges (POAPs) were meant to make digital participation meaningful, but the current system falls short.
Today’s POAP platforms are forgettable and uninspiring, offering little reason for users to care about collecting them.
They are often permissioned and paid, limiting access and creativity.
Instead of rewarding people that interact with them, most of the benefits flow back to the protocol, not the people who make it valuable.
At Merch, we believe everyone deserves the power to leave their mark and preserve their most meaningful memories.
Challenges we ran into
The project started with an interesting idea creating digital merchandise (collectibles). As we worked on the documentation, we discovered new features such as a secondary market and earnings distribution. These additions were exciting but introduced technical challenges that delayed development.
However, by working together as a team and clearly identifying the problem and blockers, each member contributed valuable ideas and technical solutions to overcome those challenges.
Link to the GitHub Repo of your project
Live URL of your project
What is your product’s unique value proposition?
The Merch Solution
A simple and fun way to remember and show you were part of an event:
Digital Merch: a unique digital item that proves you attended.
Premium Collectibles: get special digital items like jackets, pins, or jars to show your participation but in a stylish way.
Trade and Collect: keep your digital proof, or exchange it with others for different designs and styles.
It’s a win for everyone: creators can reward their audiences, event organizers can engage participants, and users get lasting memories and collectibles from each event.
Who is your target customer?
User Validation & Three-Way Revenue System
Merch operates through a three-way revenue and client flow connecting:
- Protocols integrate Merch to boost ecosystem activity and reward users through on-chain collectibles.
- Clients (Brands, Communities & Projects) use Merch to design and distribute digital merch that strengthens loyalty and engagement.
- Event Organizers monetize experiences by minting unique, culture-driven collectibles for their attendees.
- Each actor contributes to and benefits from the same cycle: they create, mint, and trade high-value collectibles, generating recurring on-chain activity and revenue for all sides.
Revenue Model:
- Protocols pay integration or usage fees tied to on-chain volume.
- Clients and event organizers pay per mint or through subscription tiers.
- Merch earns royalties from secondary trading and branded collaborations.
Validation:
- Through our experience as event organizers and community builders, we’ve seen firsthand the limitations of existing POAP systems poor design, high friction, and lack of accessibility for small communities.
- Thousands of grassroots organizers worldwide want collectibles that feel authentic, aesthetic, and truly owned.
Merch was built for them designed by builders, for builders and collectors.
We’re not just replacing badges we’re redefining how people commemorate experiences and build genuine connections through culture.
Who are your closest competitors and how are you different?
Main competitors
POAP (Proof of Attendance Protocol)
Galxe (formerly Project Galaxy)
Our value proposal
Reinventing Collectibles and Identity
Our distinction from POAP and OATs (like Galxe) is the shift from record to status symbol.
Merch is Cultural: We appeal to the collector, the fashion-conscious user, and the meme-driven community by offering 3D, visually superior assets. We are selling digital status and style, not just a data point.
Merch is Open: Our long-term vision includes AI-Assisted Design and a Designer Royalty Split, decentralizing the creation pipeline and inviting external artistic talent to contribute, ensuring an ever-refreshing, high-quality catalog that no single platform can match.
What is your distribution strategy and why?
Distribution Strategy
Our go-to-market strategy focuses on builders, communities, and live event exposure, prioritizing high trust and low acquisition cost channels over paid user growth.
1. Platform Leverage (Why Base):
Merch will be distributed natively through the Base App Mini-App, giving us direct exposure to millions of Coinbase-onboarded users already familiar with Web3. This placement ensures discovery, credibility, and frictionless onboarding.
2. Community-Driven Growth:
We target event organizers and community builders as our primary distribution force. Each organizer becomes a growth node motivated to distribute Merch to attendees thanks to built-in monetization via premium upgrades and royalties.
3. Real-World Activation:
We will socialize the product at events like Devconnect and Base meetups, onboarding builders, creators, and protocols directly through live demos. These early users serve as evangelists, showcasing Merch collectibles across Farcaster and Base social layers.
This hybrid approach platform-native, community-led, and event-driven fits our product and audience perfectly: builders and collectors who value culture, ownership, and visibility.