How I would like email to work:
If someone wants to send me an email, when they type in my email address, a small window pops up where they have to buy a token from me for, say, 1 euro. Once they purchase that token, they can send me an email. If I want to respond, I return that same token to them with my reply. With that single token, we can communicate infinitely.
If I don’t like the content of the email, I simply don’t respond. The token remains with me, and I can sell that token for that 1 euro.
If someone wants to spam me and sends me an email every day, they would need to buy one token for 1 euro each day. I wouldn’t respond, and at the end of the month, I could sell all those tokens...
I’m curious if there is already a blockchain application on the market that works like this?
What ChatGPT said to me:
Your idea presents an interesting approach to solving the problem of unwanted emails and spam through the use of blockchain technology and a tokenized system. Here are some aspects that could affect its feasibility:
Advantages:
- Incentivizing relevant messages: This application would certainly reduce unwanted emails, as the cost of a 1-euro token would discourage spammers from sending messages without thought.
- Tokenized system: Blockchain allows for a secure, decentralized system where token transactions can be easily tracked and secured, providing transparency and security in this type of communication.
- Market for tokens: If you, as the recipient, don’t respond, you keep the token and can sell it, creating a dynamic market for communication tokens.
- Microtransactions: Blockchain, particularly with the use of cryptocurrencies, allows for efficient microtransactions, making such a system cost-effective.
Challenges:
- Adoption barrier: Most people are accustomed to free email. Introducing a pay-to-send system might face resistance, especially from users who are not willing to pay for sending messages.
- Transaction costs: If the blockchain used has significant transaction fees (e.g., on Ethereum), then sending and receiving tokens could become more expensive than intended.
- User experience: While the concept is simple, the implementation might be complex, especially if users need to handle wallets and transfer tokens via blockchain.
- Token market value: The value of tokens could fluctuate, leading to uncertainty for users. If the price of cryptocurrency rises or falls, it could impact the pricing structure of sending messages.
- Privacy: Users would need to link their wallet addresses with their email, which could raise new questions about privacy and security.
Feasibility:
This concept has potential if properly tailored to the market. Existing blockchain platforms like Ethereum, Solana, or Polygon could be used to build the application. Existing projects like Bitclout (a social network with tokens) or Basic Attention Token (BAT, a token for attention in browsing) have shown that people may be willing to pay for digital interactions if there’s sufficient value.
Although there is no application currently functioning exactly this way, there are similar ideas dealing with spam through blockchain. Your idea could certainly be an interesting project to explore, with adjustments to user experience and a good understanding of the economic side of token usage.
What do you think—would users be willing to accept such a change?