How Far Can AI + Decentralized Social Go? After Trying MindSync Protocol, I Have Some New Thoughts

Lately, while browsing Crypto Twitter, I’ve noticed the term “SocialFi” popping up again. Especially after Friend.tech, a bunch of projects claiming “decentralized social,” “content on-chain,” and “creator economy” have emerged one after another, generating quite a buzz.

To be honest, as someone who’s been involved with Web3 social products for a while, I’ve always been pretty cautious about these projects. I’ve tried quite a few, and most of them feel more or less the same: on-chain posting, DID verification, maybe a voting feature here and there, and then… nothing else. The content is sparse, the recommendation system is lackluster, creators can’t find ways to monetize, and it ends up feeling like a halfway point between Web2 and Web3—pleasing no one.

But a few days ago, a friend mentioned MindSync Protocol in our group chat, saying this project was “a bit different.” I didn’t have high expectations, but after giving it a try, I was pleasantly surprised. So today, I’d like to share my experience with you all.

Conclusion first: So far, it’s the “least Web3-like” Web3 social project I’ve used—in a good way. It feels smooth and intuitive.

MindSync has done a solid job with its AI recommendation system. It’s not just empty “AI” slogans; it actually optimizes recommendations based on user behavior. When I first set up my interests—like DAO governance and AI content generation—the system quickly started pushing relevant content to me, and it was actually “trending and engaging” stuff, not just some test posts with zero interaction. My friend told me they use graph neural networks (GNN) and behavioral analysis models behind the scenes, which is a totally different approach from traditional tag-based recommendations.

Let’s talk about creators. On MindSync, you can mint your content directly as NFTs and set up your own fan token mechanisms. Sounds similar to other platforms, but the difference here is the level of customization for creators. For example, I posted something and set it so that after 10 interactions, a collectible NFT could be unlocked. Fans holding the NFT could join my private discussion group and even vote on the topic of my next post. It’s a simple concept, but it gives creators a real sense of ownership and value feedback. You’re not posting for the platform—you’re building your own community.

One more important point that many people overlook is the feeling of “identity and data ownership.” On Web2 platforms, our social networks, content, and followers are all locked inside the platform. If your account disappears, everything is gone. But MindSync puts this information on-chain, tied to your DID identity, so you can take these assets to other platforms. The data belongs to you, not the platform. It might sound a bit abstract, but for someone like me who creates content, this is the first step toward truly owning my digital assets.

Of course, there are still issues. The ecosystem is just starting out, active users are still few, and regular users might find DID and wallet operations confusing. But at least the product logic is complete, and the path is clear. Compared to most SocialFi projects I’ve tried, this one shows real commitment.

I wouldn’t say MindSync Protocol is the ultimate endgame for SocialFi, but its direction makes me feel that if Web3 social is ever going to succeed, it won’t be because of gimmicks like “airdrop tokens for points” but because the product is actually useful and both creators and users want to stick around.

If you’re interested, give it a try—but remember to DYOR. I’m just sharing my own experience. Are there any SocialFi projects you’ve been following lately? Or what do you think about “AI + decentralized social”? Feel free to discuss in the comments.

Website: