Remember when your tweets, posts, and viral videos made platforms rich while you got nothing but likes? Those days are numbered. In 2025, SocialFi (social finance) is flipping the script, letting users actually own their content and earn from their online presence. It's not just a buzzword anymore, it's becoming a legitimate way for creators and users to monetize their digital lives.
What Exactly Is SocialFi?
Think of SocialFi as traditional social media's financially savvy cousin. Instead of scrolling through feeds that only benefit big tech companies, you're engaging with platforms where your likes, shares, and posts can actually put money in your pocket. It's the marriage of social media and decentralized finance (DeFi), built on blockchain technology.
Here's what makes SocialFi different from your typical social platform:
You Actually Own Your Stuff: Your content, your data, your digital identity—it's all yours, not locked away in some company's servers.
Getting Paid for Being Social: Every interaction has the potential to earn you tokens, cryptocurrency, or other digital rewards. That viral meme you shared? It could literally pay your bills.
Community Has a Voice: Instead of faceless executives making platform decisions, users vote on changes and improvements through decentralized governance.
The numbers back up the excitement. According to CoinGecko, SocialFi coins have a combined market cap of over $4.6 billion and a 24-hour trading volume of over $215 million as of early May 2024. More recent data suggests the market for SocialFi, valued at USD 2.5 billion in 2024, is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 17.5% from 2026 to 2033, achieving USD 10 billion by 2033.
Why Solana Is the Perfect Home for SocialFi
If you've ever tried to use blockchain-based social apps and got frustrated with slow loading times and expensive fees, you'll appreciate why Solana has become the go-to choice for SocialFi platforms. With its lightning-fast transactions and fees that cost pennies rather than dollars, Solana makes it practical to earn small amounts from social interactions.
Some interesting SocialFi projects are already thriving on Solana:
Kaito is an AI-powered Web3 search engine that turns scattered crypto data into clean insights. You can track narratives, tokens, and influencers across platforms — it’s like having ChatGPT for onchain and social intelligence in one place.
Glympse.fun turns social engagement into a prediction game where users can bet on which content will go viral. It's like having a crystal ball for internet trends, except you can profit from your predictions.
Tapestry acts as your decentralized social identity that follows you across different apps. Think of it as owning your social graph rather than being trapped in one platform's ecosystem.
Getting Started with SocialFi
Step 1: Set Up Your Wallet
Begin your SocialFi journey by setting up a Solana-compatible wallet through Backpack:
- Download the Backpack app or browser extension
- Create a new wallet or import an existing one
- Secure your seed phrase and enable security features
- Fund your wallet with SOL for transaction fees
Step 2: Explore SocialFi Platforms
Start with small amounts to understand different platforms:
- Research platform tokenomics before participating
- Understand reward mechanisms and payout structures
- Review governance proposals to gauge community health
- Test functionality with minimal investments initially
Step 3: Engage Strategically
Maximize your SocialFi experience by:
- Creating quality content that adds value to communities
- Participating in governance to influence platform development
- Building genuine connections rather than purely transactional relationships
- Diversifying across platforms to reduce concentration risk
The Role of Backpack in SocialFi
Backpack simplifies SocialFi participation through:
- Integrated wallet and exchange: Seamless asset management and trading
- Multi-chain support: Access to Solana and other blockchain ecosystems
- User-friendly interface: Designed for both beginners and experienced users
- Security features: Advanced protection for your digital assets
The platform's comprehensive approach reduces barriers to entry while maintaining the security and functionality required for active SocialFi participation.
The Reality Check: Challenges and Opportunities
Let's be honest—SocialFi isn't perfect yet. SocialFi, the fusion of social networks and decentralised finance, is redefining online interactions. However, this sector faces challenges related to scalability and adoption.
Many platforms are still in their early stages, user interfaces can be clunky, and the learning curve is steeper than traditional social media. Plus, the regulatory landscape is still evolving, which creates uncertainty for both platforms and users.
But here's the thing: every transformative technology starts with these challenges. The internet had similar growing pains, and look how that turned out. The early adopters who figured out how to navigate these platforms while they're still rough around the edges often benefit the most when mainstream adoption arrives.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Social Finance
As we move through 2025, SocialFi is evolving from a niche crypto experiment into something that could genuinely change how we think about social media. The idea that users should benefit from the value they create isn't radical—it's common sense.
The platforms that succeed will be those that make the experience as smooth as traditional social media while delivering on the promise of user ownership and fair compensation. Solana's infrastructure and tools like Backpack Exchange are making this vision increasingly achievable.
Whether SocialFi becomes the dominant model for social media or remains a parallel ecosystem for crypto-savvy users, one thing is clear: the conversation about user ownership and fair value distribution in social media is here to stay. And for the first time, users have real alternatives to platforms that treat them as products rather than partners.
The question isn't whether SocialFi will impact social media—it's whether you'll be part of the transformation or watching from the sidelines.
Learn more about Backpack
Exchange | Wallet | Twitter | Discord
Disclaimer: This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Backpack. Please read our full disclaimer for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Backpack is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice.
