Everyone knows that dating is a challenge in 2018. And when it comes to online dating–one of the only viable options these days, it seems, now that most people would rather read articles on their phone at a bar then gather up the courage to ask you out–that’s a challenge, too. With apps out there like Bumble and Tinder, sometimes we get lucky: everyone’s got that one friend who met her long-term boyfriend just with the magical swipe of her hand. But there are plenty of horror stories out there, ranging from the kind of horror story that’s hilarious over drinks the next day with your friends (“he looked nothing like his picture”) to outright dangerous ones. It’s a real problem.
However, there is hope, and we’re not just talking about the kind of hope The Supremes were singing about in “You Can’t Hurry Love.” Blockchain, the technology used for cryptocurrency transactions, is changing the world. Startups like Nanovision have already created a health records blockchain, and Fr8 Network has created a new freight coin for the US shipping industry–so it’s no surprise that online dating could be next on the agenda. Here’s how this technology is going to completely change the way online dating businesses work:
Verification
When it comes to online dating, there are always dangers involved. It’s always completely scary; after all, in our shared app, gig economy, it’s been proven time and again with companies like AirBnB and Uber that we can trust strangers more than we thought. But there are still the risks of being catfished (which is a waste of your time, and extremely heartbreaking for the victim), or the ability of matches on apps like Tinder to lie about their age, relationship status, and what they look like. But blockchain technology is going to change this.
For example, there’s the blockchain- and AI-based Viola.AI, which, according to Forbes, “not only boasts real ID verification on the blockchain using smart contracts and digital wallets to weed out fake profiles, the disruptive dating service is decentralizing love advisory-leveraging machine learning. Similar to cloud-based, voice-controlled Alexa, Viola aims to act as an intelligent personal relationship assistant with the goal of sustaining couples from courtship to marriage.” So whether you’re going out to a museum or drinking Pumpkin Spice K Cups in a local park to celebrate fall, your dates will go better with this technology.
It’s no surprise this revolution is happening: after all, the blockchain market is expected to be worth $20 billion by 2024, and that’s because it’s such an incredible tool for verification in all kinds of businesses.
Better behavior
Another problem with online dating is that it can cause people to have terrible behavior online. There’s something about the other person on the other end being a stranger that makes some daters act in a way they wouldn’t in person, whether that’s using lewd language, insulting the person on the other end, or even harassing them relentlessly. The fact that it’s so easy to “match” on apps such as Tinder may also be a reason–there are so many people out there that there’s not much of an incentive to be on good behavior.
Hicky, a dating app that’s based on cryptocurrency technology, has found a way to solve this problem. According to Influencive, it works like this: “Users on the Hicky platform will earn rewards for positive actions, like completing the verification process but also stand to be punished for sending inappropriate messages or being a no-show…All interactions within the Hicky network require Hicky Token (HKY); the cryptocurrency native to the platform. It’s HKY that powers the incentive mechanisms which create a high-quality dating experience on the Hicky platform. Users can earn HKY by voting on open disputes, referring friends to Hicky, and demonstrating good behavior.”
It’s estimated that 70 percent of us will have met our significant other online by 2040–so it’s refreshing to know that there are companies out there improving the experience for all of us.
More personalized dating with matchmaking
Finally, one of the coolest ideas out there, based on the use of cryptocurrency, is the new startup Ponder. The way it works, according to cryptopotato.com, is that they’ve “cut through the noise of online dating by allowing its users to ‘play matchmaker’ to pair up singles that they think would be suitable for each other. It even allows users to create groups centered around a certain hobby, interest, or preference to make it easier for like-minded individuals to find one another…To incentivize users to take part, matchmakers can even earn money for creating successful matches!”
Additionally, Matchpool works similarly, in which “matchmakers” create groups of people into pools who they believe could get along–and receiving compensation for this as well. This kind of matchmaking scenario also makes it more likely that people looking to date will take their prospects more seriously: after all, you aren’t going to stand up someone who’s a friend of a friend. In 2017, 19 percent of brides met their spouses online–and companies such as these, we believe, will drive those numbers up even higher.
So if you’ve lost hope when it comes to love–don’t! These blockchain- and cryptocurrency-based companies are changing everything.
What do you find most frustrating about online dating?