Core Concepts

Introduction

Vi creates crypto wallets for social media users and binds them to specific social identities like X usernames. These wallets exist in a pre-generated state and are only accessible by the verified owner of the corresponding social media account.

At its current pre-alpha stage, Vi supports the Base L2 Network and X as the social media platform. We plan for rapid expansion in the future to additional chains and social media platforms, with Solana and TikTok being the immediate next items on the roadmap.

When users want to claim their wallet, they verify ownership of their social media account by logging in through OAuth (”Sign in with Google, Sign in with X”). Upon logging in they are able to make swaps between different assets or withdraw their assets to an exchange wallet or custodial wallet that they own.

API

Developers access Vi's functionality through a REST API. The API provides endpoints for looking up wallets by social media identity and verifying whether a given wallet address is a valid .vi address. This allows applications to interact with any social media user's wallet, while ensuring only verified account owners can access and control their assets. Developers currently can apply for early access to an API key by emailing [e-mail]

Vi Core

Additionally, Vi provides a set of first party applications known as Vi Core. These are first party applications built for all to use. At launch, Vi Rolodex and Wallet are the first core applications.

Rolodex is a global crypto address book. It provides search page where anyone can search a X/Twitter username and see their social bound addresses, the .vi Solana and Base addresses associated with that username.

Vi Vault is an online wallet that supports send, receive, and swap functionality which is linked to social media account access. If someone looks up your social bound address on rolodex and sends crypto to you, you can access it through your Vi wallet. You would simply login with X or your other social media account. As a mental model, Vi Vault can be considered like a public PO box or safety deposit box. Anyone can send crypto to your address, but only you have the key. The key in this case comes in the form of the login to your X account.

This opens up on chain interaction with any user on X. Use your imagination for all the possibilities that this unlocks. You could use this to send crypto to your favorite creator. If you are a project lead, you could reward followers who create valuable content or engagement.

We anticipate that Vi Core, with its combo of a global address book and social-bound wallet, will dramatically empower builders and enable substantially new paradigms around crypto x social.

Security

Security is our absolute highest priority and essential for the functioning of Vi.

All wallet addresses are stored securely in encrypted fashion. Access to sensitive information such as private keys are sharded among multiple custodians to mitigate the threat of compromise. Best practice security architecture principles are followed for all storage and access.

Critically sensitive information such as seed phrases are never submitted over HTTP. This model works on a similar principle as existing apps such as Bonk bot or Photon.

Note that if your social media account such as X account is compromised, then the hacker will be able to access your Vi Wallet as well. We recommend all users protect their social media accounts with multi factor authentication and transfer assets out to self custodial wallets where appropriate.