Discover how we, as artists, can leverage custom smart contracts to secure future blockchain rewards, like airdrops and retroactive funding, while taking control of our metrics and earnings.
In the world of crypto, we artists have more opportunities than simply selling our works. Airdrops and retroactive funding reward us for past contributions to a platform or ecosystem, potentially leading to significant rewards. The difference between benefiting from these opportunities or missing out often lies in how our smart contracts are deployed.
Airdrops and Retroactive Funding for Us Artists
We already know the value of airdrops, which reward engagement within a blockchain ecosystem. Retroactive funding, similarly, rewards us for past contributions, like supporting platform growth or meeting certain usage metrics. Understanding the mechanics behind our contracts can make the difference between accessing these rewards or losing out.
However, we creators must be aware of the smart contracts we use on various platforms, as the setup can impact our eligibility for airdrops or retroactive rewards.
To clarify, we can politely ask:
"Is my artwork being minted on a default custom contract that could make my activity ineligible for retroactive rewards?"
Or,
"Am I receiving credit for the transaction activity my mints generate on your platform?"
Understanding Smart Contracts: Factory vs. Custom Contracts
Many platforms operate using factory smart contracts. These simplify the deployment process at the outset but often direct valuable activity metrics to the platform rather than to us. While we still get our work on the blockchain, the platform operator collects most of the key data, potentially disqualifying us from airdrops or retroactive funding tied to these metrics. Platforms like Sound.xyz, Zora and others often operate using contracts where the platform rather than the creator absorbs the benefit of being eligible for retroactive and other rewards.
In contrast, when we use platforms like Thirdweb, we can deploy custom smart contracts, ensuring we retain ownership of the data our work generates. This allows us to control our metrics directly, increasing our chances of benefiting from future rewards like airdrops and retroactive funding. Deploying our own custom smart contract means that we, not the platform, are more likely to benefit from the rewards tied to our work.
Why This Matters for Us Creators
If we rely on retroactive funding or hope to receive an airdrop, it's essential to understand whether we are capturing the activity metrics tied to our work. Platforms using factory smart contracts often retain this data themselves, potentially leaving us ineligible for future rewards based on our platform activity.
The Benefits of Using Custom Contracts
By deploying custom contracts, we ensure that the activity linked to our work stays directly connected to us, not the platform. This is where a platform like Thirdweb becomes a powerful tool for artists like us, helping secure future rewards tied to our work. Using Thirdweb to deploy custom contracts bypasses the limitations of factory contracts and puts us in full control of our project's data.
Things to Consider When Launching a Project
When launching on a blockchain platform, particularly with an intrinsic goal of securing retroactive funding or airdrops, we must research the deployment method for clarity. It's vital to know whether we are using a factory contract or custom contract because this will affect our eligibility for future rewards.
Artists using blockchain platforms like Optimism, Base, or Shape should be wary of factory contracts that divert valuable metrics to the platform. Opting for custom contract deployment through solutions like Thirdweb gives us more control over our work's future, ensuring that our metrics and efforts are accurately rewarded.
Custom vs. Factory Contracts: What It Means for Our Work
While factory smart contracts offer convenience, they often limit our control over key metrics that could lead to future funding opportunities. As creators in the blockchain space, understanding the difference between factory and custom contracts is crucial. Platforms like Thirdweb empower us to take control of our smart contract deployment, preserving the ability to capture the metrics that may unlock future rewards.
By making informed decisions about who gets credit for the network activity surrounding our work, we can position ourselves to fully benefit from the innovative funding opportunities within the blockchain ecosystem.
If you're ready for the hard liquor, unfurl the galpha.
▼The Galpha (That's alpha from a gal)
When reviewing smart contract code to verify if your wallet is receiving credit for network activity, here are specific elements to look for:
Owner or Beneficiary Address:
solidityCopy codeaddress public owner = "your_wallet_address";Royalties or Payment Distribution:
solidityCopy codefunction royaltyInfo(uint256 tokenId, uint256 salePrice) external view returns (address receiver, uint256 royaltyAmount) { return (your_wallet_address, salePrice * royaltyPercentage / 100); }Payment Splitter:
solidityCopy codeaddress[] private payees = ["your_wallet_address", "platform_address"];Mint or Transaction Fees:
solidityCopy codefunction _mint(address to, uint256 tokenId) payable { require(msg.value > feeAmount); // Transfer fees to creator's wallet payable(your_wallet_address).transfer(msg.value); }
