Recently, Solana launched its latest feature – Blink, which quickly ignited discussions in the crypto community. Blink allows users to convert on-chain operations such as transactions, voting, payments, and minting into a shareable link or QR code. This feature enables users to perform on-chain operations directly on Twitter without redirecting to other pages. Since its announcement, this feature has been hailed as the most Web3 application and could potentially bridge the gap between the Web2 and Web3 worlds. Can Blink truly live up to its potential, or is it just another fancy plugin?
A game-changing tool for promoting Solana projects on Twitter
On the surface, Blink seems simple, but it is backed by a complex protocol developed by Dialect Labs. Dialect Labs previously developed Dialect, a protocol that enables message passing through smart contracts. Blink is an extension of Dialect. Through the Actions protocol, developers can create links for on-chain operations, which are displayed as Blink pages on the user’s end. This logic is similar to Web2’s QR codes, but Blink converts on-chain operations into a frontend page.
Developers no longer need to develop or invoke API interfaces for each page individually. They only need to create a link that can be used for all pages. When users see a Solana project on Twitter, they can complete the transaction process directly on one interface without copying the token address and opening a cryptocurrency exchange. This convenience greatly facilitates user operations.
All-powerful or just a simple upgrade?
While Blink appears to be a revolutionary tool, many crypto users believe it still has significant flaws that may cause its popularity to be short-lived. As a Web3 application, Blink relies on Chrome plugins and wallets. Essentially, Blink depends on a protocol embedded in Phantom and Backpack to identify whether Actions protocol exists on the web page. Only recognizable links can be displayed as Blink cards, and if the user’s chosen browser or application does not support wallet application plugins, Blink cannot be recognized.
Additionally, Dan Romero, the founder of Farcaster, commented, “They don’t work on mobile. 88% of Twitter usage is mobile.” Some netizens counter this argument by pointing out that the Solana ecosystem has its own Web3 mobile phones. The biggest highlight of this protocol is that it saves developers a lot of development processes. They only need to create a recognizable link that can be applied to various web pages.
Another widely discussed topic on social media is security. Many users are concerned that such an application protocol could become a gateway for phishing attacks or malicious teams. Dialect has taken this into consideration, and the current rules state that only registered project teams can create these links. However, investigations have found that the current registration rules are not strict, and this mechanism may only be a patchwork solution.
An imaginative attempt
Despite various issues, many users believe that Blink at least provides a more reliable solution for token distribution rewards. Integrating Blink into Solana Web3 phones could also become a prominent advantage for Web3 phones. As early as 2022, Dialect collaborated with Solana Web3 phone Saga to release the open-source messaging app Dial. Therefore, it is highly probable that Blink will be embedded into Solana Web3 phones.
Whether Blink can truly become a game-changing application remains to be seen. However, from its initial launch, it is an important attempt to expand Web3 applications. The Solana official team is also working hard to promote this application, and several important projects in the Solana ecosystem, such as Jupiter, Phantom, and Backpack, have integrated this feature from the beginning.
Conclusion
The launch of Blink has sparked heated discussions in the crypto community. Whether it can become a game-changing application remains to be seen, but its convenience for users and potential use cases have already revealed new directions for Web3 development. With the continuous expansion of the Solana ecosystem, the application and popularization of Blink may further accelerate the arrival of the Web3 world. As one Twitter user said, focusing on user experience may be the current focus of public blockchains.
