BitClout

Launched in March 2021, BitClout was introduced as a novel, crypto-powered social network. Its core feature was the creation of "creator coins" for public figures, allowing any user to buy and sell these coins, effectively betting on the social standing of that individual. The project generated significant controversy upon launch for pre-emptively creating profiles for approximately 15,000 top Twitter influencers without their consent. The underlying blockchain technology and vision have since evolved and been rebranded as the DeSo (Decentralized Social) protocol, a new layer-1 blockchain built to scale decentralized social applications. The DeSo Foundation now supports the growth of this ecosystem.