Better

Better: Social Betting Meets Social Good

Better is more than just a betting app—it's a platform where the thrill of social wagering meets the transformative power of collective action. Built as a Telegram mini-app, Better makes betting fun, accessible, and meaningful for everyone, even for users new to crypto. Whether you're placing bets on sports, entertainment, or custom challenges, Better fosters a community-driven environment centered around friendly competition and social good.

The app takes betting to the next level with its unique focus on charitable giving. Participants not only bet on events but also nominate and vote on charitable organizations to receive a portion of the pool winnings. This democratic and transparent process ensures that vetted, impactful charities benefit from the platform, eliminating the risk of fraudulent organizations. Users have a voice in shaping where their contributions go, turning every wager into an opportunity to make a difference.

But the social engagement doesn’t stop there. When a bet's results are announced, a second round of interaction begins: a prisoner's dilemma-style game designed to challenge the winners. In this round, prize pool winners decide whether to keep their winnings, share equally with others, or act greedily and try to take the lion’s share. The twist? If all winners choose greed, the entire prize pool is forfeited and goes directly to the selected charity. This creates a thought-provoking social experiment where strategy and community values collide, turning every payout into a dramatic and engaging event.

Better’s design embraces inclusivity and accessibility. Users can connect with friends, create personal bets, and build a vibrant social circle within the app. Cross-chain functionality powered by 1inch Fusion+ swaps ensures users can seamlessly manage and track funds across different blockchain networks, enhancing the experience for diverse users.

Deployed primarily on Flow, Better benefits from its high adoption among both crypto-savvy and casual users. Flare’s decentralized oracle system adds another layer of reliability by providing trusted validation for off-chain data, ensuring the accuracy of bet results. Together, these technologies make Better a secure, scalable, and user-friendly platform for social betting with a purpose.

Better isn’t just about winning—it’s about fostering trust, encouraging generosity, and sparking meaningful social interactions. With its innovative features and focus on community-driven impact, Better transforms traditional betting into a force for good.

As for the mathematics and the logical reasoning behind the bets we tried to implement the following:

Conditional tokens and prediction markets offer a robust mechanism for tokenizing outcomes of future events, enabling users to speculate on uncertain scenarios using blockchain-based smart contracts. At their core, conditional tokens represent shares of outcomes for specific events, such as “Will Team A win the game?”. These tokens gain value only if their associated outcome materializes, making them a dynamic and efficient tool for betting and prediction markets.

The Basics of Conditional Tokens Conditional tokens operate by splitting a base collateral token into specific outcome tokens based on predefined conditions. For example, in a match between Team A and Team B, the base token can be split into two conditional tokens representing each team’s potential victory. These outcome tokens are traded, creating a market for predicting the likelihood of each event. This process involves the ERC-1155 standard, which enables efficient handling of multiple token types in a single contract. Users interact with these tokens by splitting their collateral into multiple outcome positions or merging positions to withdraw their collateral or claim rewards.

The mathematics behind conditional tokens lies in the concept of positions. Each position is uniquely defined by the event’s identifier (conditionId), an indexSet encoding the outcomes, and the base collateral token. By using functions like splitPosition() and mergePositions(), the smart contract manages the creation and resolution of these positions dynamically. Upon the event's conclusion, the results are fed into the system via oracles, which update the smart contract with the actual outcome, enabling users to redeem their positions for rewards proportional to the true outcomes.

Automated Market Makers in Prediction Markets Prediction markets benefit immensely from Automated Market Makers (AMMs), which ensure continuous liquidity and enable users to buy or sell outcome tokens at any time. AMMs like Constant Product Market Maker (CPMM) and Logarithmic Market Scoring Rule (LMSR) are commonly used in this context.

• CPMM operates on the invariant formula ( x \cdot y = k ), where ( x ) and ( y ) are the reserves of two outcome tokens, and ( k ) is a constant. This mechanism dynamically adjusts the price of tokens based on supply and demand, ensuring that the system can handle large trades without exhausting liquidity. For example, if more users bet on Team A, its outcome token's price rises, reflecting the increased market sentiment.

• LMSR, on the other hand, is specifically designed for prediction markets and uses a logarithmic scoring rule to determine prices. The cost of purchasing ( q[i] ) outcome tokens is calculated as ( C(q) = b \cdot \log(\sum e^{q[i]/b}) ), where ( b ) is a liquidity parameter. LMSR ensures better risk and volatility management, as it limits maximum losses and provides a smooth price curve for outcome tokens.

Application in Betting Pools In our implementation, we used the Gnosis Conditional Token Framework to create betting pools where users could stake their tokens on potential outcomes. By combining conditional tokens with AMMs, we dynamically adjusted odds based on the volume of bets placed on each outcome. For instance, if many users bet on a specific outcome, the AMM increased its price while reducing the odds for subsequent bettors. This ensured that our betting pools remained balanced and aligned with market sentiment. Moreover, we utilized oracles to validate event outcomes, ensuring that the resolution process was both transparent and secure.

Through these mechanisms, our betting platform leveraged the mathematical and technical robustness of conditional tokens and AMMs, creating a fair and engaging user experience for prediction markets.

Advanced Charitable Mechanics and Social Dynamics

The charitable aspect of Better extends beyond simple donations. The platform employs a vetted, open-source system for charity selection, where all participants review and vote on proposed charities to ensure transparency and legitimacy. Users can nominate their preferred organizations, and the community votes to determine which charity receives a portion of the prize pool. This decentralized approach fosters trust and aligns with the values of blockchain technology.

The prisoner's dilemma-inspired second betting round adds another layer of social dynamics to the platform. After the initial betting pool is resolved, winners face a strategic choice: either collaborate to split the prize evenly or act selfishly to maximize their individual winnings. The key twist is that if all winners choose greed, the entire prize pool is forfeited to the selected charity. This mechanic transforms payouts into a social experiment, where users must balance self-interest with collective responsibility. The game theory underpinning this feature encourages collaboration while providing a unique and engaging way to support charitable causes.

Technical Innovations and Integration

Better’s cross-chain capabilities are powered by 1inch Fusion+ swaps, which enable seamless token bridging and swaps across multiple blockchains. This integration ensures that users can participate in betting pools regardless of the blockchain holding their funds, making the platform accessible and inclusive. Additionally, Dynamic Wallet integration simplifies onboarding for non-crypto users by supporting social logins and providing a user-friendly interface.

For data reliability, Better utilizes Flare’s enshrined data protocols, including FTSOv2 for decentralized price feeds and oracles. These systems ensure that event outcomes are validated securely and trustlessly, eliminating the potential for tampered results. The combination of Flow’s user-friendly ecosystem, Flare’s robust oracle infrastructure, and cross-chain support creates a comprehensive technical stack that is both scalable and secure.

Social Connectivity and User Engagement

Better redefines the social betting experience by allowing users to create personal betting pools with friends, fostering a sense of camaraderie and friendly rivalry. The app’s integration with Telegram enhances accessibility, enabling users to participate via a familiar and widely used platform. This social integration also allows users to maintain cross-platform connections, whether they’re on desktop, iOS, or Android.

Additionally, the app encourages persistent user engagement through features like leaderboard rankings, achievement badges, and the ability to follow friends' betting activities. This gamified environment keeps users invested in the platform while maintaining a strong emphasis on community and ethical participation.

A Holistic Approach to Decentralized Betting

By blending advanced technical solutions, a strong focus on social good, and innovative user engagement mechanics, Better establishes itself as a pioneering platform in decentralized betting. Its unique mix of conditional tokens, automated market makers, and charitable contributions not only creates an engaging betting experience but also aligns with broader goals of trust, transparency, and positive societal impact.

Future Improvements and Long-Term Vision with AI Integration

Better envisions leveraging the power of Generative AI to transform the betting experience, making it more advanced, intuitive, and accessible for users across the globe. By incorporating AI-driven features, Better aims to create a smarter, more engaging platform that caters to both seasoned bettors and newcomers alike.

Future Improvements

1. AI-Generated Advanced Betting Scenarios

   • Use Generative AI models to create dynamic and complex betting scenarios, enabling users to wager on multi-layered outcomes or even simulated events (e.g., sports matches, hypothetical geopolitical outcomes, or virtual games).
   • Introduce personalized event suggestions by analyzing user preferences, past bets, and global trends, ensuring each user has a tailored experience.

2. AI-Enhanced Prediction Market Contracts

   • Incorporate AI-powered analytics to optimize odds and liquidity in prediction market contracts, ensuring markets remain fair, balanced, and reflective of real-world probabilities.
   • Use predictive modeling to provide real-time insights into market sentiment, helping users make informed decisions before placing bets.

3. Accessible User Onboarding with AI

   • Implement AI-driven onboarding assistants that guide new users through account setup, wallet integration, and the betting process, making the platform welcoming even for crypto novices.
   • Add a mock betting mode powered by AI simulations, allowing users to explore the app, place virtual bets, and gain confidence without financial risk.

4. AI-Driven Fraud Detection and Security

   • Deploy advanced machine learning models to detect and prevent fraudulent activities, such as multi-account abuse, fake charities, or manipulated betting patterns.
   • Use blockchain and AI together to vet charities in real-time, ensuring only legitimate and impactful organizations receive funds.

5. AI-Enhanced User Engagement

   • Add real-time betting insights and analytics powered by AI to provide users with strategic suggestions or alerts about significant market changes.
   • Use AI to analyze group dynamics in social betting pools and suggest optimal strategies for maximizing rewards in collaborative or competitive environments.

6. Natural Language Interaction

   • Incorporate chat-based AI interfaces, enabling users to interact with the app using natural language. Users could type or speak their queries, such as “What’s the latest bet on the World Cup?” or “How do I nominate a charity?”
   • Add AI-driven language translation features to make the app accessible to a global audience.

Long-Term Vision

1. Transforming Betting into a Smart Experience

   • Use AI to develop adaptive betting pools that automatically adjust parameters based on user activity, making the platform more intuitive and responsive.
   • Build AI-powered virtual betting advisors to offer strategic guidance tailored to individual users, improving their experience and outcomes.

2. Creating a Gamified Onboarding Journey

   • Introduce an AI-powered mock environment where new users can explore the app’s features, participate in simulated bets, and learn about the mechanics without any monetary risk.
   • Gamify the onboarding process with AI-generated challenges, tutorials, and rewards to ensure a fun and engaging introduction to the platform.

3. Advanced Market Dynamics and Simulation

   • Use AI to simulate complex multi-event markets, enabling users to bet on interconnected scenarios with cascading outcomes.
   • Integrate AI models trained on historical market data to forecast potential trends and offer insights for more informed bets.

4. Expanding Beyond Traditional Betting

   • Use AI to explore new prediction markets for areas like climate outcomes, financial trends, and cultural events, pushing the boundaries of what can be wagered on.
   • Introduce virtual sports leagues or AI-generated events, allowing users to bet on entirely synthetic scenarios powered by advanced generative models.

5. AI-Driven Social Experiences

   • Enhance the social aspect by creating AI-powered group dynamics analysis, helping users collaborate or compete more effectively in betting pools.
   • Add AI-generated content, such as visualizations of betting trends, interactive leaderboards, and storytelling elements that highlight user achievements.

6. Long-Term Accessibility and Inclusion

   • Develop AI-driven interfaces that adapt to different user abilities, including voice navigation for visually impaired users or simplified layouts for those new to technology.
   • Use AI to generate localized content and support in multiple languages, ensuring Better is inclusive and accessible to users worldwide.

7. Revolutionizing Charity Engagement

   • Use AI to predict the potential impact of donations to specific charities, helping users make more informed choices about their contributions.
   • Incorporate AI-driven feedback loops that showcase how donations are being used, creating a stronger connection between users and supported causes.

By integrating AI at every level, Better will evolve into a next-generation platform that combines cutting-edge technology with meaningful social impact. From advanced market dynamics to personalized user experiences, AI will be the driving force behind making Better the go-to platform for intelligent, inclusive, and impactful betting.

We started by building a web app for Better, focusing on creating a seamless and accessible betting platform. As we progressed, we transformed the web app into a Telegram mini-app to provide a lightweight, intuitive experience directly within a popular messaging platform. This shift enabled us to reach users across Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows devices effortlessly.

To ensure smooth onboarding and cross-chain support, we integrated the Dynamic Wallet. This allowed users to easily log in with social credentials, manage multiple wallets, and interact with our platform in a Web2-friendly way. We extended wallet support by incorporating Ledger hardware wallets, providing an added layer of security for users' funds.

We leveraged 1inch Fusion+ for cross-chain swaps, enabling users to consolidate "crypto dust" from multiple chains into a single balance for betting. This integration, combined with the Portfolio API, allowed us to build a cross-chain portfolio showing token balances, profit and loss (PnL), and aggregated user data—all accessible in a single interface.

To further enhance transparency, we integrated Blockscout as our blockchain explorer. This ensured all contract links and on-chain data pointed to Blockscout, where users could view pre-verified and verified contracts across various chains like Polygon, Flow, and Flare.

Our betting contracts were deployed primarily on Flow, utilizing its EVM compatibility to simplify contract development. We also incorporated Flare’s FTSOv2 oracle for price feeds and began experimenting with a new attestation type for verifying Solana transactions.

To efficiently query and index data, we deployed subgraphs using The Graph, which served as the backbone for managing bets, outcomes, and user activity. ENS integration further streamlined user identity, enabling participants to interact with our platform using their ENS domains rather than wallet addresses.

On the backend, we built oracles, off-chain bots, and additional infrastructure to automate and manage the betting processes. This setup ensured reliable execution, validation of off-chain events, and a smooth user experience.

Overall, Better combines a range of cutting-edge technologies to deliver a secure, cross-chain, and community-driven betting platform that makes social betting accessible to all. We’re proud of the hacky, creative ways we pieced everything together, such as adapting Telegram mini-apps, using FTSOv2 to verify events, and integrating multiple technologies into a cohesive experience.