POAP Closes Doors After Five Years of Digital Collectibles

The Proof of Attendance Protocol is officially shutting down after five years. Co founder Isabel Gonzalez announced the news, noting that the project struggled to find a sustainable business model that did not conflict with its original mission. POAP became a staple in the space by turning events, hackathons, and community votes into digital badges recorded on the blockchain.

Since its start at an ETHDenver hackathon in 2019, the project grew to issue 7.6 million badges across 46,000 different issuers. Major global brands including Adidas, Porsche, and Coinbase used the technology to engage with their communities. The team transitioned the project to maintenance mode earlier this year to limit new signups while keeping existing collector tools functional.

Gonzalez shared that the difficulties of building in a fast changing market made it hard to keep the company running while protecting its core identity. While the protocol is closing, all existing badges remain on the blockchain and will stay tradable for collectors. This move follows a broader trend of crypto projects choosing to wind down as the market faces tough fundraising conditions.