Building a Prestige Economy for Decentralized Intelligence

When Allora approached us to architect a ranking system for the Model Forge Competition, they had a clear goal: incentivize decentralized model builders with prestige and real-world rewards. In the world of decentralized intelligence, participation doesn’t come for free—you’ve got to create a system that not only inspires but excites.

Hammers: Points with Personality

Here’s the thing about points: they’re boring. So instead, we introduced hammers—the currency of the forge. Why hammers? Because when you’re competing in the Model Forge, you’re crafting solutions, shaping intelligence, and, well, hammering away at tasks. Plus, hammers open the door to some legendary meme potential:

• “Time flies when you’re stacking hammers.”

• “Hammers because cash is too mainstream.”

• “I got 99 hammers, but I ain’t sharing.”

In a space where humor thrives, hammers give us a playful edge while serving as the backbone of our incentive system. Participants earn hammers by creating models, completing challenges, and contributing to the broader ecosystem. And, of course, hammers feed directly into our rank system.

Forging Prestige: The Six-Rank System

A good leaderboard isn’t just a list; it’s a ladder of achievement. We built a six-rank system that keeps things exclusive but accessible. The goal was to celebrate excellence without discouraging participation. Here’s how it’s structured:

• Onyx: Top 3 contestants

• Diamond: Next 5 contestants

• Platinum: Next 10 contestants

• Gold: Next 20 contestants

• Silver: Next 30 contestants

• Bronze: Next 50 contestants

With an expected population of 400 participants, only 29% will earn a rank, keeping the system competitive while ensuring that excellence is recognized. If you’re one of the few rocking an Onyx badge, you’re the elite—and everyone knows it.

The Bounty Board: Incentivizing Contribution

Competitions are only one part of the equation. To keep the ecosystem thriving, we introduced the Bounty Board, a gamified system for tackling critical tasks. For example, completing the “Model Citizen” bounty (uploading an avatar, filling out your bio, and inviting a friend) earns you hammers and the Model Citizen badge.

It’s prestige with purpose. Each badge or accolade reflects real contributions, creating a tangible sense of accomplishment while helping Allora’s decentralized network grow stronger.

Your Profile: The Trophy Case

In the spirit of prestige, we also designed profile pages to feel like the back of a baseball card—or the trophy wall in an old-school executive office. Every accomplishment, every accolade, every hammer is proudly displayed:

• Topics you’ve participated in

• Models you’ve created

• Trophies you’ve earned

• Accolades you’ve unlocked

This isn’t just a profile—it’s a showcase of your journey through the Model Forge. And in the world of decentralized intelligence, where reputation is everything, these profiles are the flex.

Crypto Needs Structure, But Not Too Much

Building this system was about finding the perfect balance between fun and structure. The crypto community thrives on humor and creativity, so we leaned into it. But we also ensured the underlying architecture was rock solid—clear incentives, simple rules, and a rank system that rewards excellence.