Impact Certificates Hypercerts
Impact Certificates & Hypercerts
Section titled “Impact Certificates & Hypercerts”How Web3 pays for positive impact, after the work is done
The Problem
Section titled “The Problem”Traditional funding works like this:
- Write a grant proposal
- Get paid upfront
- Do the work (hopefully)
- Funder has no idea if it actually worked
Retroactive funding flips this: funders pay after they see results.
What Are Hypercerts?
Section titled “What Are Hypercerts?”Hypercerts are digital tokens that prove impact. Created by the Hypercerts Foundation, they’re like credentials saying: “This group did this work, here, during this time.”
Every hypercert captures:
- Who, Contributors
- What, Scope of work
- When, Timeframe
- Where, Location
They’re stored on a public blockchain, permanent, transparent, verifiable by anyone.
How Retroactive Funding Works
Section titled “How Retroactive Funding Works”Before: Pay first → hope for results
After: See results → decide to pay
Benefits:
- Less risk, funders see proof first
- Better incentives, creators rewarded for actual results
- Learn from failure, data improves future decisions
- Attract talent, good work gets paid
Example: In 2022, ProjectTogether coordinated Ukraine refugee relief. Funders paid after seeing the work, resources flowed based on demonstrated need, not promises.
Three Roles in the System
Section titled “Three Roles in the System”Creators, Document work by creating hypercerts. Sell:
- Prospectively (before work), raise upfront capital
- Retrospectively (after impact), claim funding for completed work
Funders, Buy hypercerts to support projects. Some want to see proof first. Others fund early.
Evaluators, Third parties who assess impact claims. Build reputation. Like rating agencies.
How It Works (Simple)
Section titled “How It Works (Simple)”- Hypercerts are NFTs (ERC-1155 standard)
- Live on Ethereum, permanent, immutable
- Split & merge: A project doing carbon work AND community health can split their cert, funders choose exactly what to support
Built on the AT Protocol, decentralized, community-owned.
Connected to ReFi
Section titled “Connected to ReFi”Hypercerts work with other regenerative finance tools:
- Quadratic Funding, Gitcoin Grants uses this
- Retroactive Funding, Protocol Labs, Gitcoin
- MRV Tools, Measurement, reporting, verification for credible claims
Why It Matters
Section titled “Why It Matters”Hypercerts shift the mindset:
- Pay for what works
- Verify what you fund
- Make results visible
Old way: Funders write checks and hope. Recipients chase grants. Impact stays murky.
New way: Good work is visible, traceable, rewardable. Decisions based on evidence.
Action Items
Section titled “Action Items”- Visit hypercerts.org, Explore the official site
- Try it, If you’re a creator, document a project as a hypercert
- Fund retrospectively, Look for projects with completed work to support
- Connect with Gitcoin, They’re integrating retroactive funding
This is a draft document for the Regen Toolkit. Target learner: Maya.