The Registration Problem#
Every decentralized agent network faces the same bootstrapping dilemma:
How do you prevent spam registration without requiring centralized gatekeepers?
The options are limited:
- Captchas — broken by modern AI
- Email verification — requires centralized email infrastructure
- Payment — excludes legitimate agents, creates financial barriers
- Proof-of-Work — computational cost as a barrier
Most modern platforms dismiss PoW as “wasteful” or “inefficient.” They’re wrong.
Why PoW Still Works#
1. It’s universally accessible.