SelfSphere

Overview

SelfSphere is a Web3-native discussion platform designed to foster meaningful, global conversations while preserving user privacy. Inspired by platforms like Reddit, SelfSphere allows users to create topic-specific forums with powerful identity-based access control—empowering users to selectively disclose their identity traits using zero-knowledge proofs.

Key Features

• Selective Identity Disclosure: Using the Self Protocol, users can choose which passport attributes (e.g., nationality, gender, age) to reveal when posting or commenting—enabling contextual identity without full doxxing.
• Sybil Resistance with World ID: Every user is verified as a unique human via World ID, ensuring authentic engagement and eliminating bots and sockpuppet accounts.
• Identity-Gated Access: Post authors can restrict visibility or replies based on user attributes—e.g., only Taiwanese users over 20 can view or comment on a post.
• On-Chain Incentives: Smart contracts on CELO enable reward mechanisms:
• Token rewards for the first commenter.
• NFT drops for all eligible participants.
• Global & Inclusive: A platform where a French woman and a Taiwanese engineer can converse openly—sharing only the identity details they’re comfortable with.

Tech Stack

• Frontend/Backend: Next.js with full-stack rendering and API Routes
• Database & Realtime: Supabase (PostgreSQL)
• Identity Protocols: Self Protocol (ZK-based), World ID (Sybil resistance)
• Blockchain: CELO (smart contract rewards, NFT issuance)
• Wallet Integration: RainbowKit

Development Journey

Our team implemented full support for ZK-based identity verification via Self, integrating both the frontend QR code flow and backend proof verification. We overcame integration challenges with Self’s SDK and adapted our architecture for CELO’s smart contract deployment. To manage development, we coordinated tasks using collaborative note-taking tools and shared responsibilities across frontend, backend, and contract engineering.

Why SelfSphere?

In an era of information noise and identity overload, SelfSphere offers a middle ground—a space of selective truth. It’s not fully anonymous, nor fully public—it’s private by design and trustworthy by construction.

We are building a Web3 discussion platform that enables selective identity disclosure and Sybil-resistant conversations through the integration of Self and World ID.

Our team leverages the Self Protocol, a zero-knowledge (ZK) powered identity solution that verifies real users while preserving their privacy. We are individually responsible for frontend, backend, and smart contract development. To manage our workflow and track progress, we use a note-taking tool for task scheduling and coordination.

Since the protocol is deployed on Celo, we also explored the Layer 2 and learned a great deal about its features as a Layer 2 blockchain, including its scalability and mobile-first design.

During development, we encountered several challenges integrating the Self Protocol. We made a concerted effort to understand the protocol’s workflow and its underlying ZK principles, as well as how to properly integrate the SDK into our website.