Ciarán Murray is the founder and CEO of Olas, an open protocol for sharing, interrogating, and aggregating trustworthy information.

Why you should listen

Olas is an ambitious open protocol aiming to revolutionize how we produce, verify, and consume information online. Unlike traditional media platforms driven by advertising and subscriptions, Olas operates as a decentralized, ownerless network designed to foster trust and accuracy through innovative economic and technological frameworks.​

At its core, Olas seeks to address the shortcomings of current media incentives. Traditional models often prioritize clicks and subscriptions, which can compromise content quality. Olas introduces a subsidy-based economic model, leveraging quadratic funding and tipping mechanisms to reward contributors directly. This approach ensures that high-quality information remains free to access while providing fair compensation to content creators.

Olas employs a combination of markets and reputation systems to maintain content integrity. Prediction markets, including opinion markets utilizing the Bayesian Truth Serum algorithm, incentivize honest reporting by rewarding accurate, albeit unpopular, viewpoints. Reputation scores track contributors' historical performance, guiding readers toward reliable sources.

To prevent manipulation and ensure accountability, Olas implements a decentralized identity layer. Users undergo Proof of Unique Human verification, confirming their authenticity while allowing for pseudonymity. This system safeguards against Sybil attacks and maintains the platform's integrity.

Contributors on Olas can publish various content types, from news articles to scientific research. They have the opportunity to receive funding through donor contributions and quadratic funding mechanisms. Additionally, creators can earn royalties from their work, especially when their content is reused or cited, ensuring ongoing compensation.

Olas features a sophisticated tagging system, enabling efficient content organization and discovery. Both system-generated and user-generated tags contribute to a comprehensive knowledge graph, facilitating easy navigation and searchability across the platform.

By reimagining the economics and governance of information dissemination, Olas presents a compelling alternative to traditional media systems. Its decentralized, incentive-driven approach aims to elevate content quality, promote transparency, and empower both creators and consumers in the digital information landscape.

Supporting links

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