A Blockchain
Based Social Platform With Your Interests at Heart
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Whitepaper V 1.0 Updated: 19/02/2019
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Project
Abstract
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What - why - how - when
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Introduction
to Toqqn
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Problems
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Vision
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Challenges
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Decentralisation
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Quality of the communities
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Toqqn Withdrawals
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Toqqn
Platform
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Mission
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Privacy by default
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An ad-free social experience
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Crypto to the people
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Project Phases & Features rollout
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Phase I
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Phase II
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Phase III
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Future
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Project
Timeline
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Toqqn
Cryptocurrency (TQN)
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Allocation
Fundraising TQN Value
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Vesting Plan for the Team
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Funds Usage
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Team
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Mervik Haums (Founder, CEO)
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Sujathan R (CTO)
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He Yaohui (Senior Partner, Marketing)
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Shiju TV (Chief Architect)
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Amr Gawish (Blockchain Developer)
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Norma Tracy (Copy & Content)
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Marketing, Support & Advisors
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FAQ
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Abstract
What
is Toqqn: The Toqqn platform is a small step towards a big mission to
give users a privacy focused and ad-free social experience. As well, users are
rewarded with crypto every day, through a new activity-based ecosystem.
What’s unique
about Toqqn is that, it doesn’t intend to store any user data, it doesn’t track
you, nor does it follow you everywhere with ads.
Why
Toqqn: When every single
major social platform misuses user data for evil purposes, the relevance of a
platform that doesn’t store user data increases day by day.
At the same
time, we want to reach the masses with crypto, because we feel it is the payment system of the future. So instead
of exploiting users who contribute to our social platform, we reward them with
crypto. This gives anyone, from anywhere, the
ability to participate in the crypto economy without any financial
barrier to entry.
Toqqn
Platform Development: Toqqn is in development using the best of both
conventional and web 3.0 technologies. Conventional systems are used to make
Toqqn a user friendly platform. At the same time blockchain technology will be
adopted to decentralize user data. We want to build a social media where no
user data will be stored on our platform or servers.
This is to prevent any kind of
misuse or exploitation of people’s private data.
Timeframe:
Fundraising for the project’s development starts with a private sale on
November 2018. Platform development is already in full-swing. We aim to launch
the first version of our freelancers market place by the mid of next year and a
have fully functional beta of the platform by the end of 2019.
Toqqn’s
freelancers marketplace will enable people to buy and sell digital services
across the globe without any restrictions. This adds enormous value to the
native cryptocurrency TQN as a utility (which would be the primary payment
method.)
Introduction
According to Statistica1,
an online statistics clearinghouse, the total number of social media users is
projected to be approximately 2.77 billion people by 2019, a steady increase
since 2010.
Because of the
popularity of social media platforms they are highly attractive to advertisers.
This is due to the enormous amount of available user data that enables their
advertising targeting to be so effective.
The result is
users are constantly bombarded with ads, both on-and-off social platforms. They
are subject to behavioral and demographic advertising and remarketing campaigns
that hound them across the internet.
One reason user
data is so readily available is because developers have given too much leeway
in integrating social platforms their apps in the past. This allowed them almost carte-blanche access not only to
user information, but also to the data of user’s contacts, with far-reaching implications.
For users who
want relief from relentless advertising targeting the solution is to move a
social media platform that forbids advertising.
However, the expense of operating
a social network is not insignificant.
This means that
some other model of monetization besides advertising is necessary. While a subscription model is one
apparent way to monetize a social platform without advertising (Medium.com is
an example), this model denies access to those without financial means.
Now there is
an alternative for social users who crave privacy and the reassurance their
data won’t be sold to the highest bidder.
Toqqn, a 100% ad-free social platform, powered by blockchain
The Toqqn
social platform gives users the free social community they want without giving
up their security and privacy.
Blockchain
integration means that no user information will be stored on our or any
servers.
Users are rewarded with crypto, through a new
activity-based ecosystem
50% of the total supply of TQN (toqqn’s native crypto
currency) is reserved to reward users for their daily activities. Making one’s
social activities the new crypto mining.
As part of
Toqqn’s mandate to bring crypto to the masses, interactions on the platform
(such as posting, content shares and other activities like commenting,
moderating), is rewarded with our crypto, which is also named toqqn. The
overarching goal of our reward program is to help bring crypto to people who
could not otherwise access it.
According to
their activities, toqqn will be deposited to all user accounts every day. Users
can track their earnings via their personal dashboard, which can be withdrawn to
their wallets once in a week.
Plans are also
in place to create a services marketplace where users can provide digital
services to earn additional toqqn and spend what they’ve acquired already for good. This provides true utility to our
crypto token. Rewarding our users with crypto aids the adoption of
cryptocurrency as a cross-border payment method that eliminates unnecessary
third parties.
Problem:
When we sign
into social media now, our privacy is lost. But what’s even worse, we have also
lost all expectation of privacy. Like lambs lead to the slaughter, we meekly accept that we will be exploited every
time we log in.
Unfortunately,
the recent Cambridge Analytica scandal involving Facebook is only the tip of
the iceberg. Everyday there are new revelations of unethical ad practices.
We have handed
over personal data to apps designed expressly to scrape not only our own data,
but also the data of our contacts - all because we are eager for the dopamine
hit we get from answering a silly quiz.
Apart from being
subjected to scrapers disguised as quizzes and games, social media users are
also bombarded with non-stop advertising. Despite users not expressing interest
in particular goods or services, they may still be bombarded with ads in their
newsfeeds as part of ‘lookalike audiences’ targeting. Even when users leave
social media platforms, they have the unpleasant experience of being followed
around the internet with retargeting campaigns.
Who knows what
additional personal data is revealed when we register with social logins on
websites ?
Social media
platforms are free for users to join, which helps explain their popularity.
However, “free”
platforms cost their owners billions in server and security costs, development
expenses and more. In order to recoup costs, and deliver a healthy set of
financials to their shareholders, owners ruthlessly sell their users’ personal
data to advertisers.
What should
frighten social media users above all is the centralization factor in social media. So much power is concentrated in the hands of just a few companies.
Facebook has
acquired and merged with no less than 67 companies, including the highly
popular social platforms WhatsApp and Instagram. 2 Twitter has merged with and acquired more than
50 separate companies3 itself.
It is clear that
a free, decentralized alternative platform that respects users’ privacy, and
disallows advertising time has come. People can enjoy the benefits of
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2 Wikipedia. “List of
mergers and acquisitions by Facebook.” Accessed April 4, 2018.
3 Wikipedia. “List of
mergers and acquisitions by Twitter.” Accessed April 4, 2018.
interacting with
friends and family on social media, without fear they will be manipulated and
exploited at every turn just to generate more ad dollars.
We believe that
the solution to the problem of creating an ad-free social platform lies in the
blockchain.
Our Vision:
The expense of
operating a social network is not insignificant; therefore, monetizing the
social platform is necessary. While a subscription model is one way to monetize
a social platform without advertising, it denies access to those without
financial means. So we have come up the means to provide users with access to a
free platform where security and privacy are of the utmost concern, yet makes
the platform attractive for investors.
In order to fund the platform and attract investors, we have decided to
issue a crypto token, toqqn. But this token will not only provide a way to fund
our platform, it will also bring value to our
users.
As part of our
goal to bring crypto to the masses, interactions on the Toqqn platform will be
rewarded with points which can be exchanged for our crypto token (toqqn.) This
will ultimately increase the value of the token, as demand rises which will
bring new investors.
Challenges:
Decentralization - The biggest
challenge faced by the Toqqn team is how to completely decentralize our
platform. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate any user data stored on our
servers, thus completely decentralizing the platform, and ensuring that our
users’ data is never sold or hacked for profit.
The first
challenge is that current technology isn’t capable of creating a completely
decentralized platform. So we will combine the best of conventional and
blockchain technology to provide a secure platform that does not store user
data on our servers.
As technology
allows, we will fully integrate the platform with the blockchain to
decentralize all user data. Our plan is to run DAPP to accomplish this as soon
as the platform is stable.
Quality of Community Content: In order
to grow any community, the content needs to be top-notch. So the challenge is
to create a platform to attract a user-base that produces great content that
other users value and engage with.
The ability to earn rewards
in crypto is a powerful
incentive for users
to stay engaged
and contribute top-quality content. This ensures that useful,
thought-provoking content is contributed to the platform, and at the same time,
attracts a broad
user-base. More users and content will also cause an
increase in the amount of spam that gets added to the platform, we intend to overcome this by the ‘users are moderators’ feature.
Withdrawals: Because of the cost
involved per transaction, members will be permitted to withdraw the toqqns
they’ve acquired once per week initially. As the technology gets better we
intend to make daily withdrawals possible.
Project (Toqqn Platform)
Mission: Our
mission is to create a private and secure experience for social media users -
decentralizing user data. Because of current limitations in technology, Toqqn
will be built with the best of conventional and blockchain technology. This
ensures user’s privacy is respected, while helping to bring the adoption of
crypto to the masses.
Running the
platform entirely on the blockchain at this time isn’t feasible. In the near
future, we will be doing our best to transform the platform entirely to a DAPP
or decentralize maximum critical data, after a stable build is achieved.
A machine
learning algorithm will work on users’ crypto rewarding system (an
activity-based ecosystem).
In addition,
plans are in place to create a services marketplace where our users can provide
digital services to earn additional toqqns. This will provide true utility to
our crypto token, as well as help with the general adoption of cryptocurrency
as a cross-border payment method that eliminates unnecessary third parties.
Fees from this marketplace will also fund the platform.
Privacy by Default:
Because TOQQN is designed as a decentralized platform, user privacy is
ensured by default. No user data will be stored on our servers; therefore, user
data cannot be used in any ad campaigns or any other data exploitation. As
well, there is zero risk of user data becoming hacked for this same reason.
An Ad-Free Social Experience
TOQQN platform
users will enjoy a 100% ad free experience supported by sales of our crypto
(TQN). Additional revenue to support the platform will come from user fees for
our marketplace.
Crypto to the People:
As part of our
mission to bring crypto to the masses, users of the TOQQN platform will receive
rewards points which can be exchanged for our crypto tokens. This
means anyone,
regardless of financial standing can own crypto by sharing content on our
platform.
As well,
platform users can earn additional tokens by providing digital services in our
Marketplace. We are providing the Marketplace to aid in the further adoption of
crypto as a payment method.
Project Phases:
Phase I: A digital marketplace of the
platform is created using conventional web development technologies. Users will
be able to buy and sell freelance services using TQN as a payment service. The
team will be working to list toqqn on the maximum number of exchanges. This
will enable platform users to trade their toqqns for other tokens or fiat.
Businesses
seeking digital services can purchase toqqn crypto to pay for these services.
The Marketplace will enable these businesses to obtain needed services without
the complexities of dealing with financial institutions and cross-border
currency conversions.
The Marketplace
will create a real world purpose to toqqn as a cryptocurrency. Adding the
marketplace provides toqqn with a true utility value as a mode of payment for
services.
Phase II: Development to decentralise
user data begins. Also additional platform features such as private
communication added. All user data to be stored in the blockchain so only users
will have access to their personal data.
Phase III: To decentralise user
communication and the development of a Digital Services Marketplace using toqqn
as a payment method.
Future:
After Toqqn
has achieved a stable version, the next goal of the team will be the
establishment of mobile apps.
The
development team will continue focusing on moving the platform to a more
decentralised infrastructure. We will also be working on developing iOS and
android apps to increase accessibility of the platform on mobile devices.
Project Timeline
September 2017 - Initial Brainstorming
Ideas, drafts, calculations, charts and intense
discussions going long into the night leads to the blueprint for a
decentralized social platform that rewards its users with crypto.
January - March 2018 - Project Team
A group of experienced individuals join the development and marketing
teams to provide the experience needed to make the project a complete success.
An initial timeline draft is completed.
June 2018 -
Finalizing Project Details
Finalization of the project Team with highly skilled conventional, hybrid
and blockchain developers ready to tackle the project. Details of the project
timeline are created.
November 2018 - Fundraising begins
10% of toqqns’ total supply will be made available to be distributed
during the fund raising. A few private sale events will be conducted during
November - December period to acquire the funds for development. Exchange
listing process also starts during this time.
Q2 2019 - Toqqn Marketplace
We would like to bring a
freelancers marketplace by the end of Q2 of
2019.
TQN to be listed on more
exchanged during this period.
Q4 2019 - Toqqn Beta
Toqqn’s beta of the social platform with crypto rewarding feature for
user engagement is scheduled to be finished by Q4 2019 with a more stable
version of the platform. and a growing user base. Expected user base - 25k
Q2 2020 - Completion of Platform 1.0 (Phase 2,
Decentralization of user communications, as well)
Fully stable version 1.0
platform by Mar 2019. Target user base 50k strong.
Q4 2020 - Toqqn 2.0 Beta (Phase 3)
Toqqn apps, and other financial
services established..
Toqqn Cryptocurrency (TQN)
Our crypto
token (toqqn) will be an ERC20 compliant token (a subset of Ethereum.) ERC20
allows for seamless integration with other decentralized application on the
Ethereum blockchain, as well as Smart Contract integration. A strict limit of 1
billion TQN will be created and this is never to be increased. The listing and
exchange submission process will be started as soon as the fundraising is
finished.
Allocation:
Total supply: 1 billion toqqns (never to be increased)
10% to acquire
funding - unsold toqqns to be added to platform
reserve. 50% to distribute to the users of toqqn platform.
20% reserved for the team
10% for
Marketing, Bounties & Advisors 10% platform’s future development reserve.
Fundraising
The Toqqn project is unusual in a way that we only aim to collect the
funds that’s necessary for the platform development. We don’t aim to collect
funds in millions and hence only 10% of the total supply will be offered for
the investors.
We are aiming to
raise only to cover the actual costs of building the project. For us, the
primary purpose of Toqqn is to benefit our user base by decentralizing their
data, and to further the adoption of crypto as a payment system.
A total of 100
million toqqn (TQN) will be offered during the fundraising period, with a goal to raise at least $100,000. Investors
will be able to contribute to the projet from 1st week of November. Investors
and supporters can secure TQN with BTC, ETH, PayPal & Payoneer.
Toqqn Price:
Toqqn’s
initial value during the fundraising is set at $.001. Price will
increase per week from $0.002 to $0.005. Investors will receive toqqns within
the 1st week after the fundraising finishes. Later on TQN can be used as a
utility, a payment method to buy, sell services in the marketplace which comes
in Phase 3 of the project.
Vesting Plan for the Team:
To make sure the
platform is fully built with a strong team and make sure the team’s committed
to the project, we have a vesting plan in place to certain the smooth run of
development and commitment of the team. Only 25% from the toqqns allocated for
the team will be sent on a yearly basis to core team members. This is to ensure
stability and assures investors of our commitment to the project..
Initial
release:25% After 1st Year: 25% After 2nd Year: 25% After Third Year: 25%
Funds Usage:
60% of the raised funds will be
used entirely for the development of the platform.
10% of the funds
will be kept as a reserve to deal with any emergency situations that may
arrive.
20% of the
raised funds will be used for branding and other marketing activities. 10% of
the raised funds will be used for legal.
The Toqqn Team
Our Team has
decades of combined experience building and marketing complex web applications
and SaaS projects. This experience and problem-solving skills brings strength
and credibility to the project.
Team members also have extensive expertise and experience with blockchain
development. This Team has been handpicked by our CEO, Mervik Haums, to ensure
the Toqqn platform is user-friendly, stable and secure.
Mervik Haums (Founder, CEO)
Our
CEO is a cutting-edge developer and marketing
strategist - with
a Master’s degree
in Computer Science. He has over 10 years experience in building and marketing innovative software projects.
Starting his
journey as a developer with IM projects, he launched a number of revolutionary
SaaS projects for the E-commerce industry in the recent past.
Mervik has also trained hundreds of aspiring marketers and developers
through marketing masterminds. He was an early adopter of crypto and very
active in the crypto world since 2013. Mervik leads Toqqn’s project development as well as the branding
and marketing teams behind Toqqn.
Sujathan R (CTO)
Sujathan R, Chief Technology Officer, a
highly-regarded computer engineer with over seven years of experience
spearheads development of the Toqqn platform and blockchain integration.
He started his
career as a PHP developer and moved to various front-end technologies according
to industry demand. He spent 3 years working as a UI developer for media applications.
His immense
experience in both server side and client side technologies, makes him skilled
and
reliable in all
phases of a project. Sujathan has served as a senior software engineer in the
IT industry building SaaS projects, high level web architecture and
co-ordinating development and has long term association with Mervik.
Shiju TV (Chief Architect)
Shiju is an IT specialist with 12+
years of professional experience in web and hybrid application development.
Shiju served as an application architect & associated with Yahoo Media as a
lead developer in 2012.
He is an
expert in a wide variety of progressive technologies such as Python, Nodejs,
Python, AngularJs, ViewJs; Mysql and Postgrey SQl, and with application scaling
using Solr, Redis and AWS SQS.
His experience with hybrid application development is essential to the
development of the Toqqn platform.
He Yaohui (Senior Partner, Marketing)
Marketing expert, investor, and legal
advisor, He Yaohui has worked in the ecommerce industry for 9+ years.
In addition,
he created successful marketing strategies across various industries including
crypto, e-commerce. He also serves as IM legal advisor to several leading firms
in China and Hong Kong.
He Yaohui has
a long term marketing relationship with Mervik and has been an active
collaborator on Mervik’s earlier projects as well.
Amr Gawish (Blockchain Developer)
DLT / Blockchain Fullstack developer,
software programmer, gamification advocate, Amr brings his previous experience
as a Middleware Consultant to Toqqn.
He holds a
Bachelor degree in Maths and Computer Sciences from Al-Azhar University, Cairo,
Egypt. Amr has created incredible software applications using many different technologies
and infrastructures. Impressively, Amr has developed qualified applications to
multinational corporations such as Vodafone, Oracle and more.
Norma Rickman (Copywriter/Marketing Strategist)
Norma holds a Bachelor’s degree from
Gonzaga University in Spokane, USA and has 7 years experience as a copywriter
and marketing strategist.
Her copy has
featured prominently in a number of 7-figure product launches, primarily in the
software/SaaS industry. She recently completed her first crypto project.
She believes in the promise
of blockchain to build
a better future for humanity - as does the rest of the Toqqn team.
Marketing, Support Team & Advisors
Frequently Asked Questions
