If you’ve visited the Selene Network install on this website (hint) this link:
The first thing you’ll notice is that you’ve got to connect Metamask for the code to actually work. The core code uses the functionality of Metamask to let the user interact with blockchains. Specifically, the Theta Mainnet, so hook up that blockchain network.
So, once you connect, the next thing you’ll see is a prompt to buy a Participant NFT. The UI looks kinda cheesy, but it’s the text in the blue section that you’ll want to understand. Because this is new technology, I’ve built in a little guidance to help stir you in the right direction.
Yet, what’s being presented to you is that you have to buy a Participant NFT in order to unlock the Selene Network core code.
The logical response would be, do I have to buy something before I can see it in action? In other words, was this written by Nancy Palosi? … Thank God, no.
The code in action
Just below the blue information section you’ll get to see the code in action. The section, which looks like the image here, is a demonstration of the code. It’s already interfaced with the Participant NFT on the blockchain and shown you information about it.
The top section (title trough total NFTs), which contains the NFT image is the project description section. Every Selene Network compatible NFT provides this basic info. This is the key part that allow the core code to interface with the smart contract.
Just below that is the minting section. The core code fetches the current price of tfuel so that it can show you 50 cents worth of tfuel. That’s the cost of unlocking this project for the visitor. When you click the mint button, the code launches Metamask to request payment.
If you choose to put a Participant NFT in the account that you linked to this website (might want to call it your Selene Network account), every time you visit any Selene Network compatible server, it will detect that you already own this NFT and unlock the code.
You can say that the Selene Network is tokengated on a Participant NFT.
Why is it designed this way?
Not only does the high-level code perform a Participant NFT check, but all Selene Network compatible smart contract NFT projects do too. Key functionality within the project NFTs check to make sure that you are from the Selene Network. If you don’t hold this NFT in the wallet that is interacting with the Selene Network compatible project, it will reject the key function requests.
The second reason is that this is one of the ways that the Selene Network designer gets paid. It’s not a lot, but if enough people use the network, it will add up.
Is there anything else the Participant NFT is used for?
Yes. Another key aspect in the design of the Selene Network is that in order to incentivize sales people to get involved, there needs to be some limits on how many agents can sign up. The network wants the right sales people, not just anyone.
So, inside the minting of the Agent NFTs, which are used to sign up sales agents, the minting code has a check that makes the mint relative to the number of Participants using the network. As the number of Participants grow, the numbers will allow for new Agent NFTs to be minted.
Summary
So, when you’re presented with the prompt to buy a Participant NFT, I’m saying thank you right now for that purchase. The code you’re using to mint that NFT is the Selene Network core code and it will deliver the key that allows you to be a participant in the Selene Network – which is software that anyone can run on this server.