Sign is a blockchain-based Web3 electronic signature and protocol management platform that uses encrypted wallets, blockchain notarization, and decentralized technology to make Web3 contract signing secure, transparent, and user-friendly.
What is the Sign project?
Sign is a protocol signing and management platform specifically designed for Web3, aiming to solve trust issues in on-chain and off-chain collaboration. Its core products include EthSign Signatures (electronic signatures), TokenTable (token management), and Sign Protocol (cross-chain proof protocol). With these tools, Sign allows users to sign contracts using wallets like MetaMask, with documents encrypted and permanently stored on Arweave, and signatures verifiable on the blockchain.
Core Functions of Sign
Sign's functions revolve around making Web3 contracting smoother, with several core components:
Contract Signing (EthSign Signatures): Log in with a wallet, upload a PDF or use a template, and set who signs and where to sign. Documents are encrypted, only the signers can view them; once signed, they are stored on Arweave, permanently preserved and verifiable. Supports multi-chain wallets like EVM, Solana, Bitcoin, TON, and also allows login via Google and Twitter, making it easy for Web2 users.
Token Management (TokenTable): Helps project parties manage token distribution and ownership, such as how many tokens individuals should receive and when to distribute them, providing transparency and peace of mind, especially suitable for Web3 startup teams.
Cross-chain Proof (Sign Protocol): Records the 'digital fingerprints' of signatures and agreements, verifiable across different blockchains, increasing transparency and trust, suitable for cross-chain collaboration.
Security and Privacy: Utilizing asymmetric encryption (AES-256-GCM + ECIES), even the Sign officials cannot see the contents of the documents. Signatures can be publicly verified, and operation records are on-chain, ensuring transparency.
What are the important nodes of Sign?
Starting in 2020, it has gone through several key milestones over five years:
2020: Yan Xin, Porter Du, and Jack Xu met at the ETHOnline hackathon, giving rise to the idea of Sign, and the initial project was born.
2021: Ethereum Signature officially established with the mission of 'global trust layer, sign everything on-chain'. Reached the finals of the DoraHacks hackathon and secured seed funding from a colleague at Draper and HashKey Capital.
2022: Secured seed round funding led by Peak XV (Sequoia), Sequoia Capital, and Amber Group, with a total funding amount reaching $28.65 million. Initiated TokenTable development, with EthSign products supporting multi-chain, and technology becoming more mature.
2023: Launched TokenTable Beta, focusing on token fundraising and distribution. Released the Sign Protocol, creating a full-chain proof layer to add trust to on-chain and off-chain collaboration. Also launched the Ethereum Signature Bot, the first mini application on Telegram.
2024: Ethereum Signature is renamed to Sign, fully multi-chain, with contracts synchronized to the Sign Protocol as proof. The TokenTable unlocker goes live, supporting the secondary market for prescription drugs. Sign also signs agreements with Sierra Leone and the UAE to launch on-chain ID verification.
2025 (ongoing): A round of financing led by YZi Lab. Promoting the signing of the Asimov Protocol, expanding cooperation with the governments of Thailand and Barbados, with plans to cover 20 countries.
Future of Sign
Next, it will deeply explore Web3 scenarios, launching customized features such as DAO voting protocols and NFT collaboration contracts to attract more DeFi and NFT projects; at the same time, by showcasing cases and enhancing legal support, it will entice traditional enterprises to see blockchain contracting as both secure and cost-effective. The $SIGN token is the 'engine' of the community, activating users through airdrops, staking, governance, and new features (like paying signing fees). Sign will also collaborate with more blockchain and DeFi protocols to shape the Sign Protocol into the 'standard configuration' for Web3 proof. In terms of revenue, Sign plans to strengthen income through enterprise subscriptions, API services, and customized charges to break free from reliance on TokenTable. However, low demand for Web3 contracts and traditional enterprises' unfamiliarity with blockchain are roadblocks; Sign must rely on both technology and community to navigate challenges in the Web3 world!
Summary
Sign is a pioneer in Web3 contracting, with robust technology and practical functions. Its EthSign Signatures, TokenTable, and Sign Protocol features are solid, growing steadily from the 2020 hackathon to global collaborations in 2025, becoming the trust foundation for Web3 collaboration.
