The crypto industry stands at the cusp of mainstream adoption, but complexities and security concerns have held it back.
Enter Solana Actions and Blinks, a toolkit revolutionizing the way we interact with blockchains by integrating seamless transactions into websites and social media platforms such as đť•Ź.
In this article, we’ll review how Solana Actions and Blinks are making crypto more user-friendly and paving the way for widespread crypto adoption.
Breaking down crypto barriers
In order to become more accessible and appealing to a broader audience, and thus paving the way for wider adoption and integration into everyday life, the crypto industry needs to overcome the following issues:
- Complexity and technical jargon: One of the most significant barriers to entry is the inherent complexity of blockchain technology. Terms such as “hash rate,” “mining,” “proof of stake,” and “smart contracts” can be overwhelming. Consequently, the steep learning curve required to understand how crypto works can deter many potential users from getting involved.
- Psychological barriers: Psychological factors also play a role in deterring new users. The novelty of crypto and its departure from traditional systems can create a sense of unease. People are often hesitant to adopt new technologies, especially when they involve their money. As such, self-custody—managing your own assets without intermediaries—can be daunting.
- Security concerns: Security is another major concern for potential crypto users. The news is often filled with stories of hacks, scams, and lost funds due to forgotten passwords or mishandled private keys. Also, the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions means that if something goes wrong, users have little recourse to recover their funds. This lack of safety net can make crypto seem risky compared to traditional systems, which offer fraud protection and customer support.
- Lack of user-friendly platforms: While there have been improvements in the usability of crypto platforms, many still require a level of technical proficiency that can be a barrier for new users. Setting up a wallet, securing private keys, and navigating exchanges can be complex—as user interfaces are often not as intuitive as those of traditional services, which can frustrate and discourage beginners.
Solana Actions and Blinks: Mainstream solution
To address the issues outlined, Solana introduced Actions and Blinks.
Actions enable developers to deploy Solana transactions via shareable, metadata-rich links (Blockchain links or “Blinks”) on 𝕏 and anywhere else on the internet—no app required.
This is a strong move for distribution, as it essentially transforms websites or social media platforms into a surface for on-chain transactions—enabling Solana to meet people where they are. This makes Solana more accessible and user-friendly for non-crypto users, which in turn helps crypto overcome barriers to adoption.
Actions and Blinks: Seamless crypto adoption
If you're new to crypto and don't have a wallet such as Phantom set up, clicking on a Blink will not start a transaction, it will redirect you to a fallback option instead.
For example, the Blink might take you to a website or popup of the application you’re engaging with and guide you through a wallet setup process or educational content about the transaction.
This makes it easier for new community members to start engaging with Solana and using blockchain applications.
Solana Actions and Blinks: Transaction safety
Regarding safety, the design principles of Solana Actions and Blinks closely mirror those used in the process of connecting wallets to regular applications such as Jupiter or Tensor.
When you click on a Blink, your wallet will simulate the transaction first, showing you all the necessary details before you approve it. This layer of transparency helps prevent unauthorized transactions and bolsters the security of Blink transactions.
Also, Dialect maintains a public registry—together with the help of the Solana Foundation and other community members—of pre-verified Actions and Blinks. As of launch, only Actions and Blinks that have been registered in the Dialect registry will unfurl in the 𝕏 feed when posted. If not verified, Blinks will be rendered as a typical URL. Applications and wallets can freely choose to use this public registry or another solution to help ensure user security and safety. With that said, Phantom will only render Actions and Blinks that are registered under the Dialect-maintained Actions Registry.
For extra security, it's also wise to only interact with Blinks from trusted domains. Much like with other Solana applications, make sure the site you're connecting your wallet to is reputable. Also, keep your wallet browser extension and mobile app updated to benefit from the latest security features.
Solana Actions and Blinks: Get involved with Phantom
As of June 2024, the Phantom Extension supports Actions and Blinks on đť•Ź.
If an Action URL is posted to đť•Ź, the Phantom browser extension can construct a UI to interact with the Blink directly from within your timeline.
This feature is disabled by default. You can opt-in to enabling this feature by navigating to Experimental Settings > Enable Solana Actions on X.com
How to bridge tokens to Solana with Phantom?
If you already have a crypto wallet but this is your first time using Solana, you might have most of your assets on other blockchains, such as Ethereum and Polygon. With our Cross-Chain Swapper, you can bridge tokens across Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon right in your Phantom wallet.
Here’s how:
For more, make sure to read our guide on how to bridge from Ethereum to Solana.
Disclaimer: This guide is strictly for educational purposes only and doesn’t constitute financial or legal advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.
