Protokol Innovation Labs
About the Innovation Labs
Protokol Innovation Labs is the research division of Protokol, a web3 development partner building production blockchain systems for projects and organisations. We publish comprehensive research that makes complex blockchain technologies accessible and actionable, exploring emerging web3 systems (from stablecoins and DeFi protocols to digital identity and scaling solutions) through rigorous analysis backed by experimental code and working prototypes.
Every research paper is freely available and openly licensed, contributing to industry-wide understanding rather than serving proprietary interests. We publish what others keep behind paywalls because we believe widespread adoption requires widespread knowledge. Our work serves diverse audiences: individuals seeking to understand how these technologies function, businesses evaluating use cases, policymakers shaping regulation, educators building curricula, and developers exploring implementation.
This research is grounded in real-world practice. When we publish research, we're not theorizing. We're documenting what we've validated through code, tested through prototypes, and proven through deployment.
Research Disclaimer: All research is for educational purposes only. Not financial, investment, or legal advice. Digital assets involve significant risks.
Why We Publish Openly
Every research paper is freely available under Creative Commons BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)—free to use, share, and build upon with attribution. We publish what others keep behind paywalls because widespread adoption requires widespread knowledge.
Our research serves:
Individuals seeking to understand how these technologies function
Businesses evaluating use cases and implementation strategies
Policymakers shaping balanced regulation
Educators building accurate, unbiased curricula
Developers exploring implementation approaches
This isn't theoretical. When we publish research, we're documenting what we've validated through code, tested through prototypes, and proven through deployment.
Learn more about our open licensing →
Research
Stablecoins: From Fundamentals to Systemic Impact
🟢 Status: Published
Stablecoins have grown from a niche cryptocurrency tool to a $200+ billion market reshaping global payments, financial inclusion, and monetary policy. This comprehensive paper examines how stablecoins work, their real-world applications across retail payments and DeFi, practical guidance for new users, and the emerging regulatory frameworks shaping adoption worldwide. Essential reading for individuals, businesses, policymakers, and investors navigating the future of digital money.
The Token Taxonomy: A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Asset Categories
🟡 Status: Research in Progress
The blockchain ecosystem uses "tokens" to represent currencies, governance rights, digital art, and real-world assets, but the terminology is confusing. This comprehensive guide establishes a clear taxonomy across fungible tokens, NFTs, governance tokens, utility tokens, security tokens, and stablecoins. Covering Ethereum, Solana, Binance Smart Chain, and Bitcoin with dozens of real-world examples, this paper helps diverse audiences navigate digital assets with confidence.
Technical Guides
Creating Your First ERC-20 Token
🟢 Status: Published
Learn how USDC, LINK, and UNI actually work by building one yourself. This hands-on tutorial guides you through deploying a working ERC-20 token to Ethereum's test network in 60-90 minutes. You'll write secure smart contracts using OpenZeppelin's audited libraries, implement dual-testing strategies, and deploy to a public blockchain. Essential for developers, product managers, and entrepreneurs who want to understand token economics through practical experience rather than theory.
Minting Your First NFT Collection with ERC-721
🟢 Status: Published
Deploy a complete NFT collection from smart contract to marketplace in 90-120 minutes. You'll implement paid minting, upload artwork to IPFS, write tests covering the full project lifecycle, and see your tokens live on Rarible. This tutorial covers what makes NFTs different from regular tokens: individual ownership tracking, off-chain metadata, and the payment mechanisms generating millions in project revenue. Practical experience with the technology behind Bored Apes, Pudgy Penguins, and Azuki.
Build a Multi-Token Game Economy with ERC-1155
🟢 Status: Published
Build the infrastructure for a complete blockchain game in 90-120 minutes. This guide teaches you to deploy an ERC-1155 contract that handles everything from currencies to unique artifacts. You'll implement gas-saving batch operations, write robust tests for complex economies, and master the metadata patterns used by Enjin and The Sandbox. A complete technical walkthrough for scaling beyond simple collections.
Build Your First Solana NFT Collection with Metaplex Core
🟢 Status: Published
Discover how Mad Lads, DeGods, and Okay Bears work under the hood by building your own collection. This 90-120 minute tutorial walks you through deploying NFTs on Solana using the Metaplex standard, the same infrastructure powering billions in trading volume. You'll learn why Solana NFTs cost less than $0.01 to mint (compared to $50-150+ on Ethereum), how the account model replaces smart contracts, and why permanent Arweave storage became the ecosystem default. Essential for developers exploring Solana's architecture or comparing approaches across chains.
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