Proof of Social Capital

Definition ∞ Proof of Social Capital is a conceptual consensus mechanism or identity verification method where an individual’s reputation, network influence, or verifiable social standing contributes to their credibility or authority within a decentralized system. Unlike economic stake or computational work, it relies on community-derived trust and established social connections. This approach aims to foster more equitable participation and deter Sybil attacks by valuing human relationships. It represents an alternative framework for establishing trust and governance in digital environments.
Context ∞ The state of Proof of Social Capital is primarily theoretical and in early experimental stages within Web3 and decentralized autonomous organizations. A key discussion involves the objective measurement and aggregation of social capital in a way that resists manipulation and protects user privacy. Future developments might see its application in reputation systems, decentralized identity, and novel governance models for online communities. News often covers academic research and early-stage projects exploring this concept as a means to address issues of wealth concentration in token-based systems.