Recently, a16z proposed an interesting concept called "Staked Media." Considering that social media is now filled with AI accounts and fake news that looks just like the real thing, ordinary users simply do not have the time or energy to discern what is true and what is false.

The prediction of "Staked Media" is not a far-fetched idea. Perhaps it will emerge within the next two years.

So, what is Staked Media?

In simple terms, it uses cryptographic technologies like zk to allow media or individuals to prove their trustworthiness, similar to "establishing a written statement" online. This "statement" will be recorded on the blockchain and cannot be tampered with. Just establishing a statement is not enough; it also requires "staking something" as collateral. For example, using ETH, USDC, or other crypto tokens. This is to prove that the published content is true and reliable. If it is proven to be fake news, the staked assets will be forfeited. This creates an environment that encourages truth-telling.

Now, with AI-generated articles or videos everywhere and fake news rampant, Staked Media would make content publishers more cautious rather than speaking carelessly. For instance, if a YouTuber posts a video claiming a certain product is good, they would need to "establish a statement" on the Ethereum blockchain and stake some ETH or USDC. If the video is fake, the money is lost, giving the audience peace of mind. Another example: imagine you are a blogger recommending a smartphone; you would need to stake $100 worth of ETH on the Ethereum blockchain and establish a statement saying, "If the beauty function of this phone does not meet a certain effect, I will compensate." When the audience sees you have staked money, they find you trustworthy. If the video is AI-generated nonsense, the $100 is gone.

How can staking be implemented? One can imagine various possibilities.

Whether it's a major influencer/media or a smaller one, when publishing content, they need to "establish a statement" on-chain (just sign for verification) and deposit a certain amount of tokens (like ETH/USDT) into a specific smart contract. If the content is fake, this money will be forfeited (given to the victims or destroyed); if the content is legitimate, the money can be refunded after a certain period, and they might even receive rewards (like tokens issued by Staked Media itself or funds forfeited from other fake content).

The specific amount to be staked can be determined by the platform's rules. Major media/influencers staking important news would stake a larger amount of tokens, such as hundreds or thousands of dollars; smaller influencers posting everyday content might only need to stake a few dozen dollars. This could be linked to the content's influence (with a floating algorithm), where greater influence requires more staking.

For media, staking does increase the cost of funds, but it can also gain audience trust, which is a cost in the era of fake news.

However, how do we determine what is true or false? Through a dual verification system of community and algorithms. On the community side, users with voting rights (who need to stake crypto assets) would vote on-chain; if a certain percentage, say 60% or higher, deems it fake, it will be classified as such. Additionally, algorithms would analyze data to assist in this process. If the content creator disagrees, they can initiate arbitration, which would be handled by an expert committee. If it is found that voters manipulated the process maliciously, their staked funds would be forfeited. Both participating in voting and being a member of the expert committee would come with rewards. Rewards would come from forfeited funds and the media's own tokens.

Moreover, content creators can utilize zk technology to generate proof of authentic sources from the very beginning, such as generating videos with zk technology.

What if wealthy individuals cheat? Wealthy individuals could stake large amounts to create fake news, as long as the profits are substantial enough, they might go for it.

Here, there is not only staked capital but also a historical record and reputation system. Accounts with forfeited records will be tagged, and the staked funds for their future content will also increase. If an account has been forfeited three or four times, it becomes harder for people to trust their future content, and there could also be legal repercussions. Therefore, creating fake news comes with significant costs, not just financial but also in terms of time, trust, historical records, reputation systems, and real legal responsibilities.

Perhaps the Staked Media project is already on its way.

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