Building on the Base Network: Token-Gated Links and Replacing Airdrops with Gameplay

I’ve been building a two-part application in the Base ecosystem that combines token-gated link management with a gamified creator coin distribution mechanism. This post covers the architecture, implementation details, and technical decisions behind both components.

Part 1: bse.bio - Token-Gated Link-in-Bio Platform

🟦 bse.bio is a Base-native mini app that enables creators to deploy token-gated link-in-bio pages using Zora creator coins as access control. The platform functions as a Web3-native alternative to traditional link aggregators, with on-chain verification and Base ecosystem integration.

Token-Gated Premium Content

Creators can unlock exclusive links and premium content based on creator coin holdings. The platform dynamically reveals additional tiers and links as users’ token balances increase.

Key Features

Token Gating with Creator Coins The platform implements a tiered access control system based on Zora creator coin balances. Creators can define multiple access tiers with different token thresholds (e.g., 100 coins for early supporters, higher thresholds for premium content). The system performs real-time on-chain balance checks via wagmi hooks and conditionally renders links based on ownership verification.

Base Identity Integration Profile data is automatically resolved from the Base ecosystem using Farcaster’s on-chain identity system. Base names and avatars are fetched via API calls, eliminating the need for manual profile configuration. This integration leverages Base’s native identity infrastructure for seamless user onboarding.

Secure Link Encryption All gated URLs are encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption. Decryption occurs server-side only after successful token balance verification. The client never receives encrypted link data—only metadata indicating which links are locked and their respective tier requirements. This prevents URL extraction through client-side inspection.

Mobile-First Design The application is architected for Base mini app deployment, with responsive design patterns optimized for mobile wallet integration. It supports deep linking from Coinbase Wallet and other Base-compatible wallet applications.

Architecture

Tech Stack:

• Backend: Next.js 16 App Router with API routes (Big fan of Next.js)
• Database: PostgreSQL with Prisma ORM for data persistence
• Web3: wagmi v2 for wallet connections and on-chain interactions
• Encryption: Node.js crypto module for AES-256 link encryption
• Deployment: Base mainnet for all on-chain operations

Part 2: Base Stop - The Puzzle Game

To create a more engaging distribution mechanism for creator coins, I developed Base Stop — a reaction-based circular puzzle game with on-chain payout integration. The game serves as a gamified airdrop mechanism that rewards players with creator coins upon reaching specific milestones.

Access: The game is available at bse.bio/basestop and must be accessed through a Base-compatible wallet application (Base Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, Zora, etc.) to enable Web3 functionality and payout processing.

Game Mechanics

The game implements a reaction-time challenge where players must click at precise moments to stop rotating circles. Difficulty scales through speed multipliers:

• Level 1-2: Introduction phase (115% base speed)
• Level 3-5: Intermediate difficulty (120-160% speed multiplier)
• Level 6-10: Expert mode (165-210% speed multiplier)

The system implements rate limiting with a 10-second cooldown after every 50 attempts to mitigate spam and reduce database write operations.

Payout System

The game implements three on-chain payout milestones:

• Level 2: 2,600 tokens (~$0.05 USD equivalent)
• Level 6: 2,600 tokens (~$0.05 USD equivalent)
• Level 10: 15,600 tokens (~$0.30 USD equivalent)

Payouts are processed automatically via viem contract interactions when level completion is verified. Each transaction is logged in the database with status tracking and error handling.

Technical Implementation

Batched Attempt System: For levels 3+, attempts are batched in groups of 5 before database writes, reducing write operations by ~80% while maintaining accurate progress tracking. This optimization significantly reduces database load during high-traffic periods.

Key Technical Components:

• Server-side validation: Attempt verification occurs server-side to prevent client-side manipulation
• Transaction processing: viem-based contract interactions with 120-second RPC timeouts for reliability
• Profile caching: Redis-like caching layer to minimize Farcaster API calls
• Admin dashboard: Real-time monitoring of game sessions, payout status, and transaction logs
• Retry mechanism: Automatic retry logic for failed payout transactions with exponential backoff
• UI/UX: React-based responsive interface with CSS animations for smooth gameplay

Technical Insights & Design Decisions

This project demonstrates several practical Web3 development patterns:

1. Token-Gated Access Control: Implements a scalable tiered access system using on-chain balance verification, enabling creators to monetize content through token ownership requirements.

2. Gamified Token Distribution: Replaces traditional airdrops with an engagement-driven distribution mechanism, creating user acquisition value while distributing tokens.

3. Base Ecosystem Integration: Leverages Base’s low transaction costs, fast finality, and native identity infrastructure (Farcaster) for optimal user experience.

4. Transparency & Auditability: All payout transactions are on-chain with full transaction logging, enabling transparent verification of distribution mechanics.

Future Development

As the Base ecosystem continues to mature, applications like this that combine practical utility with engaging user experiences will be critical for mainstream Web3 adoption.

Want to join Base? Get started with my invite code.

Built with Next.js, TypeScript, Prisma, wagmi, and a lot of coffee. Running on Base.