Every now and then the stars align. That just happened to us when two massive product updates collided:

Direct questions w/ bounties (from us)

Frames (from Farcaster)

With these powers combined (🌈), we're introducing a brand new type of question on Ponder - one that's bringing real ETH contracts into the Farcaster universe.

Questions + Rewards = Fun

Imagine you've got a question that's a little bit spicy; requires specific expertise; or is just kind of...personal. Now imagine you'd really like an answer, but @dawufi is simply not inclined to tell you about his first kiss. Well, you've now got a new tool in your arsenal to overcome his objections - direct questions.

How It Works

1. Craft your question. Visit the direct question page and submit your question. You can specify the recipient, attach an image (optional), and select the channel.

2. Set your bounty. Decide on the reward amount in Base Ethereum. There's a .002 ETH min ($5) and no maximum.

3. Preview and submit. Your question will preview in real time as you complete the fields. Once complete, submit it to the queue and it will fire out at the next set interval.

The respondent has 48 hours to answer your question. Once they do, they can claim it directly to their connected wallet - or donate it to Purple - all with a few taps of the frame.

Remember, the quality of the response hinges on asking people you trust.

Reward Mechanics

Once the question is answered, the respondent can simply tap the relevant Claim bounty button in the frame. They can choose to keep it, donate it to Purple, or split it. And here's the kicker: no need to return to the web app - the fund automagically get deposited in your Farcaster-connected Base ETH wallet. Ponder covers the gas!

This isn't just a feature; it's a new way to leverage Base for seamless value transfer, with zero friction for the respondent earning the bounty. These are effectively peer-to-peer transfers with zero fees (for now).

We hope this powers new kinds of interactions on Farcaster. As high-profile casters become increasingly sought-after, the value of direct, incentivized communication will rise accordingly. Expect spicier, more personal, or piercing questions with higher bounties.

Next steps

We're beyond excited to launch this, but keep in mind - it's new. We recommend starting with smaller ETH amounts as we roll out test questions in the coming weeks. Frames are uncharted territory, so let's take some baby steps together here.

Get started by submitting your first survey here

This is just the beginning of what's in store. Stay tuned, and let's start asking some thought-provoking questions, shall we?