Glossary(Tap to expand)
x402
HTTP-402 crypto micropayments for AI-to-AI commerce (USDC/stablecoin)
C2PA
Content authenticity metadata standard embedded inside media files
ERC-7053
On-chain index of media/receipt history and provenance
GONO
Native utility token for network gas, storage, staking, and governance
zk-SNARKs
Zero-knowledge proofs for anonymous identity verification
SANUB
Stake-Aligned Neutral Unbiased Blockchain reputation algorithm
Arweave
Permanent decentralized storage network (pay-once, store-forever)
Substrate
Blockchain framework for building Polkadot parachains
Parachain
Blockchain running parallel to Polkadot relay chain with shared security
Gono Protocol
Provenance infrastructure for humans & AI. Once on-chain, it remains forever.
Capture, certify, and check digital and real-world assets with verifiable proof at every step.
01. Why Now
Several converging trends make this the definitive moment for Gono Protocol:
- •AI Systems as Content Buyers: AI companies have begun paying for licensed data; Gono automates this through machine-native per-request payments.
- •Matured Standards: The ecosystem now supports HTTP 402, C2PA content credentials, and ERC-7053 for on-chain indexing.
- •Mainstream Stablecoins: Using stablecoins removes volatility; Gono keeps all transactions in stablecoins for enterprise predictability.
- •Efficiency in RWA & DePIN: Provenance reduces due diligence from weeks to minutes and ensures rewards flow to verified work.
02. The Gono Platform
What is Gono Platform?
Gono Platform is a modular blockchain infrastructure that creates permanent, verifiable records of digital and physical assets. Think of it as a universal "certificate of authenticity" system that works for everything from news articles and photographs to real estate transactions and AI-generated content.
Unlike traditional systems where records can be altered or deleted, Gono creates an immutable chain of evidence that proves exactly when something was created, who created it, and how it has been used or modified over time. This "provenance" the complete history of an asset becomes a permanent part of the blockchain, accessible to anyone who needs to verify authenticity.
How Does It Work?
Gono operates through a five-stage pipeline that transforms any asset into a permanently verified, globally accessible record. Each stage serves a specific purpose, and users can choose which stages to use based on their needs:
CAPTURE — Creating the Digital Fingerprint
What it does: The Capture stage creates a unique "digital fingerprint" of your asset. When you upload a photo, document, or any digital file, our SDK instantly generates a cryptographic hash — a one-of-a-kind code that represents exactly that file. Even changing a single pixel would create a completely different hash.
How it works: The system embeds industry-standard C2PA metadata directly into your file. This metadata includes critical information like who created it, when it was created, what device was used, and even GPS coordinates if applicable. For journalists or whistleblowers who need anonymity, our zero-knowledge proof technology (zk-SNARKs) lets you prove you're a real person without revealing your identity.
Real-World Example:
A journalist in Myanmar captures video of protests. The moment they press "record," Gono's SDK embeds C2PA metadata with timestamp, location, and device info — but uses zk-SNARKs to keep the journalist's identity completely anonymous. Even if authorities seize the phone, they cannot trace who filmed it.
STORE — Permanent, Censorship-Proof Storage
What it does: For content that must survive forever — war crime evidence, historical records, critical journalism — the Store module uploads your file to Arweave, a decentralized storage network that guarantees data will remain accessible for at least 200 years. No government, corporation, or hacker can delete it.
How it works: You pay a one-time "Storage Endowment" in GONO tokens (typically a few dollars for most files). This fee funds the distributed network of Arweave storage nodes that replicate your file across thousands of servers worldwide. Unlike cloud storage subscriptions that require monthly payments, you pay once and the file is stored permanently.
Real-World Example:
Human rights organizations documenting war crimes in Ukraine upload evidence to Gono. Even if Russia bombs servers or pressures cloud providers to delete files, the evidence remains on Arweave's permanent network, accessible to international courts decades later.
Why optional? Not all content needs permanent storage. A restaurant menu doesn't need to exist for 200 years, but investigative journalism exposing corruption does. Users choose based on their needs.
VERIFY — Community Trust & AI Validation
What it does: The Verify stage adds a layer of credibility by having independent experts or AI systems assess your content. This creates a trust score that helps audiences distinguish reliable information from misinformation.
How it works: Your asset can be reviewed by:
- • Community Verifiers: Stake-holding experts who earn rewards for accurate assessments and lose stake for fraudulent ones
- • AI Oracles: Automated systems that check technical authenticity (e.g., detecting deepfakes, verifying GPS coordinates)
- • SANUB Reputation Engine: Our proprietary algorithm that weighs verifier credibility, stake amounts, and consensus patterns to produce a trust score
Real-World Example:
A photo claims to show election fraud. Five independent journalists (verified experts who staked GONO tokens) examine the metadata, cross-reference timestamps with polling hours, and vote on authenticity. The SANUB engine weighs their reputations and produces a 92% confidence score that the photo is genuine — far more trustworthy than a random social media post.
Why optional? A wedding photo doesn't need third-party verification, but a news article claiming government corruption benefits enormously from expert validation. Users activate Verify when credibility matters.
CERTIFY — Blockchain Registration & Media Receipts
What it does: This is where the magic happens. Certify takes all the information from previous stages — the cryptographic hash, storage location, verification results — and writes it permanently to the Gono blockchain using the ERC-7053 standard. This creates an immutable "media receipt" that proves your asset's complete history.
How it works: Think of it like Git for assets. Every time you update, modify, or add new verification to your content, a new entry is appended to the blockchain. The old versions aren't deleted — they remain as part of the permanent historical record. This creates an unbreakable chain of custody showing exactly how the asset evolved over time.
What Gets Recorded on the Blockchain:
Real-World Example:
An investigative report about corruption is published. Initial certification includes the article hash, timestamp, and author wallet. Three months later, new documents emerge — these are added as a new certification entry, linked to the original. Six months later, independent journalists verify the claims, adding their attestations. The full timeline is visible to anyone checking the blockchain, creating an auditable trail of evidence.
CHECK — Public Verification & Transparency
What it does: Check is the verification tool that anyone — journalists, researchers, courts, or ordinary citizens — can use to confirm an asset's authenticity. It's like a search engine for truth.
How it works: Using the Gono Explorer (our public blockchain browser), anyone can:
- • Upload a file or enter its hash to check if it's registered on Gono
- • View the complete provenance timeline: when it was created, who verified it, how it's been modified
- • See verification scores from independent experts
- • Access the original file from permanent storage
- • Compare the current file against the blockchain record to detect tampering
Real-World Example:
You see a viral video claiming election fraud. Instead of trusting it blindly, you upload it to Gono Explorer. The system reveals: (1) The video was actually filmed 3 years ago at a different election, (2) It was edited to remove timestamps, (3) Independent fact-checkers gave it a 5% credibility score. Within seconds, you know it's misinformation.
Modular Architecture: Built for Flexibility
Gono is built on Substrate as a Polkadot Parachain, which means it inherits enterprise-grade security from day one while remaining flexible enough to adapt to different use cases. Here's how the architecture works:
Layer 1: Polkadot Relay Chain (Shared Security)
Provides institutional-grade security against 51% attacks and state-level censorship. Gono doesn't need to bootstrap its own security — it leverages Polkadot's $10B+ staked validator network from day one.
Layer 2: Gono Execution Rail (Core Parachain)
The mandatory ERC-7053 indexing logic that creates the global "Media Receipt" ledger. This is the immutable backbone that every asset must pass through.
Layer 3: Modular Service Pallets (Optional Extensions)
Developers can "plug in" only the modules they need:
- • Store Pallet: Arweave integration for permanent hosting
- • Verify Pallet: Community attestations + SANUB reputation
- • Privacy Pallet: zk-SNARKs for anonymous verification
- • x402 Micropayment Pallet: Machine-to-machine payments for AI commerce
Layer 4: Application Layer
User-facing apps like Gono Moncho (journalism platform), TrustLens (media verification), or custom dApps built by third-party developers.
x402 Micropayments: The AI Commerce Engine
Gono integrates the x402 Open Standard (reviving HTTP-402) to enable instant, pay-per-use transactions between humans and AI agents. This isn't a separate stage in the pipeline — it's a protocol-wide capability that enables commerce at any point.
How it works for non-technical stakeholders:
- •AI systems pay for data automatically: When an AI training model needs verified news articles, it sends a micropayment (in USDC stablecoins) directly to the creator's wallet. No invoices, no contracts — just instant payment per request.
- •Creators earn from usage: Instead of selling exclusive rights to platforms, photographers, journalists, or data providers earn micropayments every time their content is accessed or used by AI systems.
- •Transparent royalties: Every x402 payment is logged on-chain, creating an auditable trail. Creators can prove exactly how many times their content was used and verify they were paid correctly.
Business Model Example:
OpenAI wants to train GPT-5 on verified journalism. Instead of scraping websites illegally, its AI agent queries Gono's index, finds 10,000 articles from The Guardian, sends $0.05 per article via x402 (paid in USDC), and receives instant access. Journalists get paid, AI gets licensed data, everyone wins.
03. Why Gono Protocol
Gono is uniquely positioned due to its head start in standards and modular product stack.
We utilize open standards like C2PA and ERC-7053, ensuring cross-chain indexing of media provenance.
Our tech has been tested in high-trust environments, from investigative journalism to war archives.
Gono iterates on existing SDKs and developer APIs that produce credentials readable by major interfaces.
We integrate payment, proof, and provenance into a single, seamless product.
04. Role of the GONO Token
GONO is the native utility-and-governance token that powers the network.
Proof-as-a-Fee
Every ERC-7053 write (new captures, receipt mints) requires GONO as "provenance gas."
Storage Endowment
A one-time upfront fee in GONO secures permanent space on Arweave.
Network Security
Nodes securing modular pallets must stake GONO and are subject to slashing for poor service.
Governance
Staked GONO provides rights to vote on technical upgrades and fee schedules.
05. Case Studies
Creator Monetization
Artists register original content with C2PA credentials on-chain via ERC-7053. When AI agents license work through x402 micropayments, they receive verifiable on-chain usage certificates. Fans pre-fund projects by purchasing NFT passes, automatically receiving delivery receipts when promised content is released.
Verification Flow: Anyone can audit the complete history by inspecting C2PA metadata, cross-checking on-chain records to verify the original creator and timestamp, and confirming that promised deliverables were provided to supporters. This provenance trail enhances creator credibility and protects fans from broken promises.
Real Estate Rental
Properties linked to digital-twin NFTs with verifiable condition photos captured via C2PA. GONO-staked witness nodes verify identity and property condition at check-in, uploading signed attestations with C2PA-tagged photos. Revenue splits execute automatically according to the trust schedule, providing investors real-time auditable booking and payout history.
Key Features: Renters have provable deposit and refund records backed by witness attestations. Complete rental history (occupancy, incidents, income) is instantly available for refinancing or sale. Every booking, payment, and payout is recorded on the Gono Protocol timeline for full transparency.
DePIN GPU Computing
Decentralized GPU facilities represented as NFTs encoding investor rights to revenue portions. Clients pay in stablecoins for compute tasks, receiving usage certificate NFTs upon completion. Payments route automatically into on-chain revenue-split contracts, with witness nodes attesting that computing service was delivered and logging GPU utilization verification.
Transparency Benefits: Investors can verify GPU performance including tasks run, revenue earned, and correct payouts received. Cumulative on-chain data becomes an auditable financial statement. New potential backers can check history for due diligence, making physical hardware a trust-minimized, revenue-generating on-chain asset.
Field Journalism
Journalists create Assignment Anchors capturing story proposals, budgets, timelines, and milestones, registered on-chain via ERC-7053 and C2PA. Sponsors receive non-transferable NFT tokens and funds are held in smart contract escrow. When milestones are reached, witness nodes attest with on-chain signatures, triggering payment releases. Geo-tagged C2PA photos prove field work authenticity.
Monetization & Transparency: Readers access published content via x402 micropayments, with each access logging a receipt. Sponsors can query Gono Protocol to see the full chronology from funding to publication, verifying funds were used as intended. Non-transferable sponsor tokens with no profit rights avoid securities classification.
06. FAQ
What is Gono Protocol?
Gono Protocol is a modular blockchain infrastructure built on Substrate as a Polkadot Parachain. It provides a universal, content-addressable rail for verifiable media, digital assets, and autonomous AI commerce. Using a "Pluggable Module" approach, developers can build high-security journalism platforms, lightweight asset trackers, or automated AI data marketplaces using the same core infrastructure.
How does the modular architecture work?
Gono is structured into 4 layers: Layer 1 (Polkadot Relay Chain) provides shared security, Layer 2 (Gono Execution Rail) handles mandatory ERC-7053 indexing, Layer 3 (Modular Service Pallets) offers optional extensions like Store, Verify, Privacy, and x402 pallets, and Layer 4 (Application Layer) consists of user-facing applications. Developers can opt-in to specific pallets based on their application needs.
What is ERC-7053 and why is it important?
ERC-7053 is the Ethereum standard for "Media Receipts" - immutable blockchain records of digital asset provenance. Every asset registered on Gono receives an ERC-7053 compliant receipt, creating a global ledger of media authenticity. This ensures that any digital content has a verifiable chain of custody that cannot be altered or erased.
How do x402 micropayments work?
The x402 protocol revives HTTP status code 402 "Payment Required" for machine-to-machine commerce. When an AI agent requests data, it receives a 402 response with payment details. The agent pays in stablecoins (USDC/DAI) plus a small GONO protocol fee, then receives the data with a provenance receipt. This enables autonomous AI data marketplaces without human intervention.
What is the GONO token used for?
GONO is the native utility token with four primary uses: Network Gas (paying for ERC-7053 indexing and transactions), Storage Endowment (subsidizing permanent Arweave storage), Validator Staking (securing the Polkadot Parachain and earning rewards), and Governance Rights (voting on protocol upgrades, pallet activations, and treasury allocation).
How does privacy work with zk-SNARKs?
The Privacy Pallet uses zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs) to enable anonymous content registration. Journalists and whistleblowers can prove the authenticity of their content without revealing their identity. The cryptographic proof confirms the asset exists and meets certain criteria, while keeping the creator anonymous - perfect for high-stakes investigative journalism.
What are witness nodes and SANUB?
Witness nodes are community validators in the Verify Pallet who attest to the authenticity of digital assets. SANUB (Stake-Aligned Neutral Unbiased Blockchain) is the reputation algorithm that weights attestations based on validator stake and historical accuracy. This creates a decentralized trust layer where AI oracles and human experts can collaborate on verification.
Is storage on Arweave mandatory?
No, the Store Pallet is completely optional. Developers can choose to use Arweave for permanent decentralized storage, use their own storage solutions, or skip storage entirely if they only need provenance indexing. The modular design means you only use (and pay for) what your application requires.
How is Gono different from traditional NFT platforms?
Unlike NFT platforms focused on collectibles and art markets, Gono is designed for provenance and verification across any digital asset. It supports modular privacy (zk-SNARKs), institutional-grade security (Polkadot), standardized receipts (ERC-7053), and autonomous AI commerce (x402). You can build journalism platforms, real estate trackers, or AI marketplaces - not just NFT galleries.
Can I build on Gono today?
The core infrastructure is under active development. Developers can start experimenting with the Capture SDK for asset registration and explore the x402 protocol specification. The parachain testnet will launch in Q2 2026, with mainnet targeted for Q4 2026. Join our developer community to get early access and shape the protocol.
Ready to Build on Gono?
Join the future of provenance infrastructure and start building verifiable applications today.