iYiYi — Digital ID - Secret Network Grant Application #199
Description
Program: Secret Network Grant Program: Secret Apps
Project Name: iYiYi — Privacy-First Proximity Social Network
Project Description
iYiYi is a proximity-based social networking application that allows users within approximately 150 feet to discover and connect with one another through digital nametags, social profiles, and localized content feeds. The app is designed for real-world interaction environments such as events, conferences, nightlife venues, business networking, and local marketplaces.
Unlike traditional social networks, iYiYi focuses on real-world discovery and in-person connections while maintaining user control over visibility and data sharing.
Secret Network is a strategic infrastructure partner for iYiYi because proximity-based applications inherently rely on sensitive data such as location, identity preferences, and behavioral patterns. Secret Network’s privacy-preserving smart contracts enable iYiYi to build a decentralized social layer where sensitive data remains confidential while still allowing verifiable logic and trustless interactions. Secret Network enables decentralized applications that remain private through encrypted smart contracts and confidential computing.
Problem / Solution
Problem
Proximity-based social and location-aware applications require access to highly sensitive user data, including:
Real-time location proximity
Social identity and profile information
Interaction history and behavioral patterns
Visibility preferences (public/private presence)
On transparent blockchains, this information becomes publicly visible, creating significant privacy risks and limiting adoption for mainstream users.
Additionally, users increasingly demand ownership and control over their data while still benefiting from social discovery features.
Solution
iYiYi leverages Secret Network’s private smart contracts to:
Store proximity verification data privately without exposing exact location data.
Enable encrypted identity layers where users control what information is revealed.
Protect social graph relationships and interaction metadata.
Execute AI-assisted tagging and recommendation logic without exposing raw user data.
Enable private marketplace and payment interactions between nearby users.
This enables a privacy-first social networking experience that cannot be achieved on transparent blockchain infrastructure.
Detailed Product Description
iYiYi consists of:
A mobile application featuring a 150ft digital nametag system.
A localized social grid displaying nearby users and content.
AI-powered autotagging camera and content aggregation.
Visibility modes (public, private, ghost).
Map-based discovery of nearby users.
Marketplace functionality for local transactions.
Crypto wallet integration and premium memberships.
On Secret Network, iYiYi will implement:
Secret smart contracts for encrypted proximity verification.
Private identity credentials tied to user-controlled permissions.
Confidential marketplace transactions using privacy-preserving tokens.
Private analytics for creators and businesses interacting with nearby users.
Secure AI-assisted recommendations using confidential computation.
Secret Network becomes the privacy layer responsible for handling sensitive user data, while the application layer remains optimized for mobile performance.
Go-to-Market Plan
iYiYi will onboard users to Secret Network through:
Existing Web2 users migrating to privacy-enabled social features.
Creator and influencer adoption in high-density social environments.
Event partnerships where proximity networking is essential.
Social media growth through short-form content and creator marketing.
Crypto-native onboarding through wallet integration and incentives.
Privacy-first social networking will serve as a key marketing differentiator, positioning iYiYi as a real-world alternative to traditional social media platforms that monetize user data.
Value Capture for the Secret Network Ecosystem
iYiYi contributes to Secret Network ecosystem growth by:
Introducing non-crypto native users through a consumer social application.
Demonstrating real-world use cases for confidential computing beyond DeFi.
Increasing transaction volume through marketplace interactions and premium features.
Showcasing privacy-preserving identity and location use cases.
Providing a flagship example of privacy-enabled social infrastructure.
iYiYi aligns directly with Secret Network’s mission to enable decentralized applications that protect sensitive data while remaining verifiable and trustless.
Team Members
(Fill in with your actual team structure — example below)
Colin Phillips — Founder & Product Lead
Mobile Development Team — Application Engineering
AI & Infrastructure Contributors — AI and backend integration
Team Experience
The iYiYi team has experience building consumer-facing mobile applications, social media growth strategies, and AI-driven content systems. The product is actively being rebuilt with expanded functionality including AI-powered tagging, localized feeds, and creator-focused tools.