Every revolutionary idea begins with a spark, an aha moment that changes everything. For STEPN GO co-founders Yawn and Jerry, that moment came unexpectedly one afternoon when Jerry made a seemingly ordinary cup of coffee for Yawn.
As they discussed the successes and limitations of their first project, STEPN, the conversation turned to how they could improve its potential. In the midst of laughter, caffeine, and napkins filled with sketches, the idea for STEPN GO was born.
It was during these countless coffee meetings that the founders of FSL realized that while STEPN successfully utilized the potential of mobile and earning models, it lacked social engagement and community functionality, which are crucial for broader and more sustainable user interactions.
Additionally, as the economic model is the foundation for a viable project, they also considered how to improve this aspect. In the STEPN project, sneaker inflation had always been a major issue, so they focused on researching how to address this problem by designing a sustainable token economy.
With a passion for community and a desire to make Web 3 more accessible to people, Yawn and Jerry created STEPN GO. They envisioned a platform that not only promoted physical exercise but also brought people together.
STEPN GO was imagined as a space where deeper social connections enriched every step of the fitness journey. It was not exclusive to crypto nerds but open to everyone, allowing each user to feel a sense of participation, achievement, and inclusivity.
To make this vision a reality, Yawn and Jerry designed several new features aimed at creating the best social fitness application:
1. Easy onboarding with the Haus system: This social feature ensured a smooth entry for new users. Active players could lend their sneakers to friends and family, allowing them to experience the app without any knowledge of cryptocurrency. The more, the merrier.
2. Social interaction: By walking or running with their sneakers, users could earn equipment shards and use them to customize their 3D avatars. These avatars could interact flexibly on an interactive map within the app, allowing everyone to engage with the entire community.
3. Energy system: In addition, Yawn and Jerry designed a sustainable economic model where users had to burn their own sneakers to obtain energy and use the application, ensuring the stability of asset value.
The decision to create STEPN GO instead of expanding the existing STEPN platform was driven by a clear vision that required starting from scratch. While the initial STEPN system had been successful, it primarily focused on the mobile and earning models, limiting the inclusion of robust social and interactive elements without compromising the existing user experience.
Integrating complex social features would require a fundamental restructuring that could jeopardize the stability and security of the platform and user assets. In essence, the creation of STEPN GO was a bold step forward, leveraging the lessons learned from STEPN to bring something entirely new to the Web 3 space.
In conclusion, this is an innovation story sparked by a simple cup of coffee, proving that great ideas often stem from humble beginnings. With STEPN GO, the team will continue to move towards a more interconnected world, inviting everyone to join and experience the evolution of social fitness.
Importantly, this does not mean abandoning STEPN. STEPN remains a valuable and functioning platform, ensuring that both applications can thrive and play their unique and complementary roles within the ecosystem. Additionally, while GGT is introduced as the utility token for STEPN GO, GMT remains the primary governance token in the ecosystem.
STEPN is and will continue to be the place for users to mint new GMT tokens while running, and the team will add more use cases through STEPN GO and future products.
