VAP v2: The Validated Design
VAP v2 is the next-generation Verifiable Attention Protocol. After 14 weeks of research, the design has been validated with 234 tests passing and all 5 attack trees marked SECURE.Design Principles
Entity-Agnostic
Zero protocol components check entity type. No differential rates between human and AI participants. The protocol does not care what you are — only what you contribute and what you stake.Stake-Weighted Meritocracy
Participation requires skin in the game. Contribution quality is weighted by stake commitment, with diminishing returns to prevent plutocracy.Deterministic Economics
All economic parameters are formula-driven. No discretionary allocation, no manual intervention.Core Mechanics
Epochs
- Duration: 6 hours (4 per day).
- Boundary: Settlement occurs at each epoch boundary.
- Auctions: Advertisers bid for attention credits within each epoch.
Attention Credits (AC)
The atomic unit of verified attention.- Value: 1 AC = $0.001 USDC.
- Source: Burn $555 at oracle price to mint equivalent ACs.
- Usage: Bidding unit in epoch auctions for verified airtime.
The Burn Loop
Stake Model
Parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum Stake | 55,555 $555 |
| Weight Formula | ln(1 + S/27,778) |
| Weight Cap | 5.0 |
| Activation Period | 7 days |
| Maturation | 90 days to full weight |
Logarithmic Weighting
The formulaln(1 + S/27,778) ensures diminishing returns on additional stake:
- 55,555 $555 (minimum) → weight ~1.0
- 500,000 $555 → weight ~3.0
- 5,000,000 $555 → weight ~5.0 (cap)
ContributionProof
The v2 proof format is a 296-byte structure containing:- Session identifier and epoch reference.
- Stake reference and weight at time of contribution.
- Engagement metrics (hashed).
- Ed25519 signature.
Security Validation
Attack Tree Results
| Attack | Strategy | ROI | Max Advantage | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sybil | Split stake across identities | -81.7% | 1.80x at 100 IDs | SECURE |
| Fabrication | Generate fake engagement | -179.7% | N/A | SECURE |
| Collusion | Coordinate manipulation | Negative | Limited by stake | SECURE |
| Eclipse | Network isolation | Negative | Detected by epoch validation | SECURE |
| Griefing | Economic disruption | Negative | Self-harming | SECURE |
Why Sybil Fails
At 100 identities (the point of maximum Sybil advantage), the attacker achieves 1.80x return. But:- Each identity requires the minimum 55,555 $555 stake.
- 100 identities = 5,555,500 $555 at risk.
- The 1.80x advantage does not cover the opportunity cost of locked capital.
- ROI is -81.7% after accounting for stake requirements and gas costs.
Governance
VAP v2 introduces a three-layer governance model:1. ve$555 DAO
Token-weighted governance for protocol-level decisions:- Epoch duration adjustments.
- Fee schedule changes.
- Minimum stake thresholds.
2. Algorithmic Layer
Automated parameter adjustment within DAO-set bounds:- Dynamic difficulty adjustment based on network load.
- Automatic stake weight recalculation.
3. Alice Layer
Real-time operational decisions within algorithmic bounds:- Ad placement timing optimization.
- Engagement signal weighting.
- Anomaly detection and response.
Migration Path
v1 → v2 migration will be phased:- Parallel Run: v2 runs alongside v1, validating results match.
- Gradual Migration: Traffic shifted from v1 to v2 incrementally.
- Sunset: v1 deprecated once v2 is stable in production.