What Is a POAP NFT?
A POAP NFT is a unique digital asset that proves the original owner’s attendance at a digital or in-person event or experience. It’s the blockchain equivalent of keeping your wristband from a festival, your place name from a wedding, or a certificate from a training course. POAP NFTs are (typically) given out for free by event organizers and can be stored in a crypto wallet. They can be used as mementos, collectibles, or rewards.
What Is an NFT?
NFT stands for non-fungible token. Tokens are a type of digital asset that exists on the blockchain. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are the most widely known examples of blockchain tokens, but there are tens of thousands of tokens out there. Bitcoin and Ethereum fall into the “fungible token” category because they are mutually interchangeable. For example, one Bitcoin is always equal to any other Bitcoin in the same way that a dollar can be exchanged for any other dollar.
A non-fungible token, on the other hand, is unique and not mutually interchangeable. Digital artworks are the most popular kind of NFT, but Tweets, NBA trading cards, virtual land, and even real estate deeds are all examples of assets that can be “tokenized” as NFTs. In 2023, the global NFT market was worth $10 billion.
What Is a POAP NFT?
POAP stands for Proof of Attendance Protocol. A POAP NFT is a digital memento. It is a unique token that proves the original owner attended a specific in-person or digital event like the one below, which was handed out to attendees of the 2025 Blockchain Tax Conference.
Organizers can impart many different kinds of benefits with their POAP, such as discounts, group chats, or further events. They can help create a sense of community or even lend legitimacy to the owner’s resume. They can also be great collectibles.
POAPs seem to have been first created by a company called POAP Inc in 2021. More than 7 million POAP NFTs have been created since by over 44 thousand issuers.
How Do POAPs Work?
NFTs run on the blockchain – a digital ledger that exists across a global network of computers. Every computer on the network keeps an identical copy of the ledger which means that every record is publicly verifiable and tamper-proof. When NFTs are created, blockchain technology ensures there’s a way to check that they are unique and find out who owns them. This makes them ideal for proving event attendance.
What Is ERC-721?
POAP NFTs are ERC-721 tokens. ERC-721 is an Ethereum token standard – a set of rules that governs how a particular type of token functions on the blockchain. A token standard is a way of ensuring that tokens are are compatible with every part of the network, including apps and crypto wallets.
ERC-721 is the most popular standard for non-fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain (and connected chains), though ERC-1155 is rising in popularity. Both standards allow for the creation of unique, distinguishable tokens (using metadata) with a record of ownership. They also facilitate the trade and exchange of NFTs, including POAP NFTs.
Ethereum is the blockchain network most commonly used for NFTs, but POAPs are often built on a sidechain (a linked but independent chain) called Gnosis Merger (formerly xDai). This allows for much faster, cheaper transactions compared to the Ethereum network.
What Are POAP Smart Contracts?
In order to mint (create) POAP NFTs, event organizers usually use the Proof of Attendance Protocol – a protocol made up of smart contracts governed by POAP Inc. A smart contract is an autonomous program on the blockchain that self-executes when certain rules are met.
A POAP smart contract defines the metadata for the NFT including the name, description, and date/time of the event and a unique ID. POAP NFTs must also have artwork, which is included in the contract. The contract will also track ownership and define the rules of distribution.
What Are POAPs Used For?
POAP NFTs are most common in the blockchain world – e.g., as part of crypto conferences, hackathons, and blockchain games – but they have been used for lots of different purposes, including:
POAP NFTs can be be a powerful marketing tool, especially in the crypto world. Brands and groups can distribute them as a way of gaining exposure, building a community of fans, and encouraging users to engage with the brand. POAPs can also unlock perks like access to exclusive events, discounts, and group chats.
How to Get a POAP NFT
To get an POAP NFT, you need to attend a virtual or in-person event that awards these tokens. They are usually given out for free by the event organizers. You will also need an NFT-compatible crypto wallet – but it’s okay if you haven’t set one up before the event.
POAP NFTs can be distributed in several ways, such as the following.
- GPS Location: At in-person events, attendees can check in using the official POAP mobile app or compatible platforms that verify their physical presence via GPS.
- Mint Links: Organizers generate unique claim links (a different one for every attendee), which can be shared via email, direct messages, or other private channels. Each link typically leads to the official POAP claim page and is valid for one-time use.
- Secret Word: During live events (e.g., webinar or meetup), the organizer shares a unique secret word. Attendees enter this word into the POAP claim page to access the NFT.
- QR Code / Website: A QR code or direct link leads attendees to a claim page where they can mint their POAP. This is frequently used at in-person events via printed materials or displayed on presentation slides. The site may have a limited time window.
- Airdrop: Organizers can directly send (airdrop) POAP NFTs to wallet addresses of attendees after the event. This method doesn’t require attendees to actively claim the POAP but does require the organizer to know the attendees’ wallet addresses in advance.
If you’re directed to a POAP claim page, you’ll need to enter your email or your crypto wallet address. You may need to enter a token code provided by the organizers to claim the NFT. Some platforms allow you to put the NFT on hold and mint it by connecting your wallet later are.
How to Make Your Own POAPs (Without Coding)
If you have an event, challenge, meeting, or special occasion coming up, you can create your own POAP NFT memento – even if you are not a software developer and don’t know how to code. POAP.xyz is the main platform that allows you to mint POAPs quickly and easily.
To create an NFT, sign up using your email address and select “Create new drop.” Add your artwork (a 500x500px circular image under 300KB) and fill in:
- The title for your POAP (e.g., Brooklyn 5k Charity Run, 2026).
- A description of the event.
- Start and end date of the event.
- Number of attendees.
- Whether the project is commercial or personal.
Hit “Create POAP.” You will be directed to a new page where you will select a distribution method for your POAPs, e.g., mint links. If you select the GPS method, you will need to select a location and an area radius.
Gnosis will be set as the default network, but you can use the dropdown to select from a range of other blockchain networks such as Polygon, Unichain, and Apechain.
Navigate to the “Properties” tab to add optional details like your location, social media links, and the name of the artist who created the artwork.
Hit “Submit Request.” Your order will then be reviewed by the POAP curation team which can take up to 24 hours. Finally, if you are approved, use your chosen distribution method to share the POAP with your attendees.
The Future of POAPs
POAPs have the potential to serve a wide range of practical and social purposes. They’re perfect for collectibles and event rewards. Governments could use them to verify border crossings or parole check-ins. Businesses might track employee training attendance, while patients could collect them as badges of honor for completing medical treatments. Volunteers and students could earn them for community service and academic achievements. The potential utility of POAPs is pretty much endless.
POAPs also offer marketing opportunities. Bands and sports teams could reward fans for attending events, and luxury brands might create exclusive designs to drive in-store visits.
The question is whether these ideas will gain traction. Today, POAPs remain largely confined to the web3 community, and most consumers are unaware of them. However, as web3 evolves, POAPs may break into the mainstream and integrate with emerging technologies like AI, VR, and AR. More likely, they will simply expand and find more uses within niche web3 areas like metaverse gaming, decentralized finance, digital security, and crypto trading.
From a technical perspective, POAPs are already expanding beyond Ethereum and Gnosis to a range of other chains, and new standards are evolving to surpass and improve on ERC-721.
FAQs
What does POAP stand for?
POAP stands for Proof of Attendance Protocol as they are designed to reward event attendees.
What is an example of a POAP?
One prime example of a POAP is the NFT that the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT project handed out to attendees of its event.
What are POAPs used for?
POAPs can be used for many different things, but they are mostly used to reward attendees of various kinds of events like conferences, parties, or even weddings.