《Analyzing the 'Consumption Mechanism' of Alpha Points from the Perspective of Human Nature - Speculations on Future Gameplay》
Recently, the point system of BN Alpha has become increasingly competitive. You may have also noticed:
Airdrops are frequent, and point distributions are aggressive, but the actual 'satisfaction' is continuously declining.
As we enter the era of 'intense competition + high-frequency distribution' for airdrops, the point mechanism of BN Alpha faces growing challenges, and it’s no wonder many people say they can't continue playing.
When I first saw the point consumption mechanism, my immediate reaction was that it was useless, but after thinking about it all night, I believe that if done well, it could greatly extend the lifecycle of Binance's airdrop benefits and create stronger user engagement.
This article will discuss: why incorporating a 'point consumption mechanism' might be a clever move.
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1. The original model is becoming more like a 'routine'
The current logic is:
Interaction → Earn points → Wait for rewards.
This model was effective at first, but as frequency increases and projects multiply, two problems easily arise:
• The number of eligible users is increasing, but the cake is not big enough to share: To ensure the specifications of each benefit, some genuine users must be left out;
• Diminishing returns on dopamine, user perception weakens: Frequent coin listings and point distributions turn 'rewards' into a routine, user participation expectations become overly certain, and emotional fluctuations diminish.
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2. The core of point consumption: Creating uncertainty and sunk costs
Human nature does not sustain excitement for 'fixed rewards,' but it does invest energy in 'random games.'
Have you noticed how easily people can become addicted to uncertain opportunities? The popmart blind box craze that went from domestic fame to global, the national lottery frenzy, the once-coveted sneakers in the crypto circle, and RACA egg cracking.
All addictions are closely linked to human physiology/psychology.
In systems theory, the human brain is viewed as a Complex Adaptive System, one of whose operational goals is to maximize resource acquisition and survival probability through feedback loops.
• Certain rewards: Clear feedback paths allow the system to quickly optimize strategies and tend toward 'stability'—leading to boredom.
• Uncertain rewards: Blurred feedback paths trap the system in 'exploration mode,' where continuous probing keeps the system in a highly active state—leading to excitement.
This explains why certain rewards become boring quickly, while uncertain rewards can be addictive.
In my view, if the point consumption system is executed well, it can significantly enhance user initiative and engagement.
For example:
• If you lose points every time you use them, or if participating this time prevents you from participating next time, will you be more careful about how you use them?
• If you choose to participate in one event and earn a $20 airdrop, while a friend chooses another and earns a $200 airdrop, will you invest more effort in researching projects?
The consumption mechanism = gives you choices and a sense of cost, no longer just waiting to be fed.
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3. The awkward situation of Alpha can indeed be broken with this strategy
Alpha's current contradictions are quite apparent:
• To retain users, new project benefits must be continually issued;
• But issuing too quickly puts immense pressure on background research, and once quality control slips, the reputation suffers.
Introducing a point consumption mechanism can alleviate this pressure to some extent:
• BN is responsible for basic due diligence, ensuring it’s not a poor project, but does not guarantee significant airdrop returns (e.g., at least a $20 return); users need to choose good projects for themselves to invest in;
• The number of participants in each project will inevitably decrease, automatically controlling the number of people sharing the benefits;
• No need to excessively guarantee the effectiveness of airdrops, reducing controversy.
• Introducing competition increases discussion heat, and occasionally can lead to big wins, enhancing event benefits.
Project parties will also be more proactive in promoting and storytelling to attract participants, as most still want to continue climbing the Binance listing ladder, thus activating the entire ecosystem's 'self-circulation.'
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4. Room for further upgrades: More 'variables' can be added in the future
Currently, there is a common dissatisfaction among BNB holders: why is there no bonus for those who hold more?
It’s simpler now, and in the future, new adjustable variables could be introduced:
• Hold more BNB → Earn more basic points/discounts;
• Hotter projects → More consumption, obscure projects → Cheaper bets;
• New users → Given more initial resources to prevent overwhelming competition.
For the mechanism of points participating in new projects/airdrops, @virtuals_io has already started testing it. Personally, I am a heavy user of Genesis and have previously written dedicated analysis posts.
I have managed to accumulate points over a week, which can be fully bet on a new project. If the project performs well, it’s a 10x return; if it performs poorly, I might just break even, which forces me to try to earn points through trading/yap/holding more virtual assets while also carefully selecting the projects to participate in.
They are also constantly adjusting, and BN Alpha can definitely take inspiration from this to do even better. @everythingempt0 nice try !
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5. Final words:
Binance has artificially created a wave of benefits through wallet airdrops and IDOs, providing countless retail investors with certain returns in a challenging market, which is commendable and benevolent.
However, the ultimate goal of the points system is certainly not just to distribute candy evenly; a communist-style distribution will ultimately not be sustainable. Increasing the fun of distributing points, retaining the majority of users, while allowing those who truly understand choices and possess judgment to have more room than others.
You cannot satisfy everyone by simply distributing money, but you can ensure that those who work hard receive basic returns and that those who 'make the right choices' feel greatly rewarded.
Let everyone make decisions within strategies, find excitement in wins and losses, and chase dopamine in uncertainty—
This is what constitutes a good system, the foundation for sustainable engagement.
