We’re thrilled to announce two exciting upgrades to the UTU Protocol TestNet that brings us closer to our vision of a more trustworthy internet. This update introduces the first version of our paywall for accessing trust signals via simple subscriptions using Unlock Protocol! We’ve also re-released our upgraded MetaMask Snap (Wallet Extension) for MetaMask Flask!

Why These Changes Matter

Strengthening the UTU Economic Model

The introduction of subscription-based access to trust signals, denominated in $UTU, represents a crucial milestone in implementing UTU Protocol’s economic model as outlined in our white paper. This paywall creates a sustainable economic loop that rewards users for contributing to a more trustworthy internet.

Here’s how it works: 

For users to access UTU trust signals, they need to acquire $UTU to buy their membership. While the monthly subscription cost is intentionally kept low to encourage widespread adoption, the typical transaction costs on exchanges naturally encourage users to purchase larger amounts of $UTU at once. This dynamic creates conditions where users are likely to hold $UTU, spending only a little each month, contributing to its long-term stability and value.

The subscription fees flow into UTU Protocol’s economic engine. After sharing revenue with UTU Technologies for development, these fees capitalize the $UTU reward pool. This pool is the source of rewards distributed to users who contribute valuable trust signals and help others make better decisions online. 

It’s a virtuous cycle: users pay for access to trusted information, and those who help create that trust get rewarded for their contributions. Check this infographic for a helpful reminder on the economics of UTU.

Improving Access to $UTU with Unlock Protocol

When this goes live on mainnet, through Unlock protocol’s “swap and buy” widget, a user who clicks the feedback details button will be able to buy $UTU from Uniswap directly within the flow of the UTU app! For now you’ll just have to get $UTU Mock (Sepolia) from us via the request form linked below. What’s more, when this hits Mainnet, you will even be able to buy $UTU with your credit card! 

Ensuring that users can easily acquire $UTU to gain access to UTU Trust signals without leaving the app will help us drive conversion and usage by new users of the UTU Trust Browser Extension, a new version of which, with some major upgrades, is forthcoming.

UTU Signals directly inside MetaMask Flask

Another key upgrade in this release is the rebuilt and expanded UTU Snap for MetaMask. This wallet extension works just like our browser extension, providing you just-in-time trust signals about wallets, tokens, and d-apps, directly inside your wallet, at the exact moment when you’re about to interact with them. 

Direct integration of UTU at the wallet layer provides maximal user safety as it ensures that the signal you’re viewing is about the actual asset/address that your wallet is about to interact with; no bait and switches possible. Try the UTU Trust Snap for MetaMask Flask here!

For those that don’t know, Flask is a developer version of MetaMask. Once we’re sure that the UTU Trust Snap is working correctly in Flask, we will make it available for the regular version MetaMask.

What’s New in This Update?

Subscription-Based Trust Signals via Unlock Protocol

We’re introducing a new subscription model that makes accessing trust signals simpler and more convenient. We’re starting with monthly access, and based on community feedback, we’ll soon add annual, daily, and pay-per-view options to give you more flexibility in how you engage with the protocol.

An Improved Version of the UTU Trust Snap for MetaMask Flask

The MetaMask Snap architecture is developing fast and UTU Protocol Developers have been at the forefront of pushing for increased functionality and have even contributed code to the cause. This new version of the UTU Trust Snap takes advantage of expanded Snap capabilities like the inclusion of images and links directly in the Snap. UTU will continue to push the edges of Snap functionality to provide users with the safest way to navigate web 3 for themselves and their networks. 

Getting Started with the UTU Protocol Testnet

Step 1: Set Up Your Wallet

First, you’ll need a web3 wallet like MetaMask connected to the Sepolia testnet. If you haven’t done this before, here’s what you need to do:

1. Install MetaMask 

2. Switch to Sepolia test network on your MetaMask:

   – Click the network-chooser drop-down on the top left

   – Enable the switch to “Show test networks”
  – Choose “Sepolia”

Step 2: Get Test Tokens

To use the testnet, you’ll need two types of tokens:

1. Sepolia ETH for gas fees which you can get from the Alchemy faucet

2. $UTUM (UTU Mock) tokens for subscriptions ($UTU on Sepolia)

Currently, you can request $UTU Mock tokens by:

1. Filling out our token request form: $UTU Mock Form

2. Including your wallet address and intended use case

3. The team will send you the tokens within 24 hours in most cases. Feel free to ping us on telegram if you don’t receive your $UTU Mock.

A public faucet for $UTUM is coming soon to make this process even easier! We’ll be offering a bounty for anyone that builds it in fact. 

Step 3: Subscribe to Access Trust Signals

Once you have your $UTU Mock tokens:

1. Browse on over to the UTU TestNet D-app

2. Connect your wallet and request signal on any web domain or blockchain address! You’ll hit this paywall:

3. Subscribe and click through the payment screens:

4. Approve the $UTUM token spend in your wallet

5. Complete the subscription transaction

Your subscription will activate immediately after the transaction is confirmed, giving you access to trust signals across the platform. 

What to Test?

We encourage UTU Trust Guardians and community members to test out these key features:

1. Purchase an UTU Monthly Subscription via Unlock Protocol

Go to the UTU Testnet D-app (Sepolia) and view signal for any on-chain address, the d-app should ask you to purchase an UTU subscription via Unlock Protocol. 

2. View trust signals for different entities on the web using the UTU TestNet D-app

Experience how subscriptions control access to detailed UTU trust signals for web 2 and web 3 assets.

3. Install the UTU Trust Snap (TestNet) and try giving and viewing signal 

for on-chain addresses/assets directly in your MetaMask Flask Extension. 

Need Help? We’re here to support your testing journey:

Join our Discord and Telegram for real-time support

Share Your Experience

Your feedback is crucial for improving UTU Protocol. After testing, please share your experience in our Discord and Telegram channels so we can keep improving!

We’re excited to have you test these new features and help shape the future of decentralized trust. Your participation and feedback are invaluable as we work toward launching these features on UTU mainnet.

About UTU

UTU is building the trust infrastructure of the internet to help people interact in an easier, safer, and more trustworthy way. At our core, we are a decentralised reputation and reviews protocol with a non-tradable, stakeable reputation token (UTT) that yields rewards in both UTT and $UTU (our tradeable token) when users’ UTT-staked endorsements help others get good outcomes from their online interactions.

Starting with Web3 and DeFi apps, we provide AI-powered curation of trust signals from your network at just the right places and times to help users connect, send, swap, stake, and borrow with confidence.

A suite of trust tools have already been built atop UTU Protocol, including $UTU, UTU Trust Token (UTT), UTU’s Browser Extension for consumers, and Trust API/SDK for developers. We can’t wait to see what you’ll build atop UTU, to bring better trust to the internet.

UTU is proudly based in Nairobi, Kenya with trust guardians all over. Learn more about UTU on our website, Twitter, Telegram, Discord, LinkedIn, Reddit, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.