Why Blockchain?
Published: Feb 27, 2026 | Reading Time: 11 minutes
It’s the question we get asked most. If GetSmart were just about storing data, a database would be fine. But GetSmart isn’t about storage—it’s about trust.
The Central ProblemTraditional credentials require you to trust an institution. This is Centralized Trust. If the central authority fails, the entire system fails:
- ✗ Company goes bankrupt → Data lost
- ✗ Database hacked → Data altered
- ✗ Government censorship → Records deleted
Trust in Math, Not Institutions
CENTRALIZED (Database)Single source of truth. Must be trusted. Can fail.
“Trust us.”
DECENTRALIZED (Blockchain)Thousands of independent, redundant nodes.
“Math proves it.”
The Five Critical Properties
Blockchain provides five properties that standard databases simply cannot match:
Once written, records cannot be changed. In a database, an admin can backdate a badge. On a blockchain, it is mathematically impossible.
No single point of control. If the GetSmart company dissolves, your badges persist forever on the network.
Publicly auditable by anyone. An employer can verify a badge instantly on BaseScan.org without paying a fee or calling a company.
No authority can delete credentials. Records remain accessible globally, even if a government orders them erased from local databases.
Smart contracts execute automatically. Code, not humans, sends tokens and mints badges instantly upon approval.
Why Base Layer 2?We chose Base (Coinbase’s L2) to make mass adoption viable:
| Ethereum Mainnet: | $5–$50 per badge ✗ |
| Base Layer 2: | ~$0.01 per badge ✓ |
99.9% SAVINGS
Privacy: Disclosure by Choice
A common concern is that blockchains are public. We use a Pseudonymous Model:
| Public Information | Private Information |
|---|---|
| Badge #417 exists | Real Name |
| Ownership by Wallet Address | Home Address & Phone |
| Issuance Date & Sponsor | Government ID |
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Trust in Math: Mathematical proof replaces institutional trust.
- ✅ Economic Viability: Base L2 reduces costs to $0.01 per badge.
- ✅ Permanence: Decentralization ensures credentials outlive the company that issued them.
