What is Blinks?

On June 25, the Solana Foundation released Actions and Blinks, tools designed to turn any website or application into a cryptocurrency transaction portal. This innovation aims to break the limitations of blockchain protocol access, enabling any website and application on the internet to become a distribution point for on-chain interactions, thus promoting the mainstream adoption of the crypto economy. The teams currently testing and using Actions and Blinks include Cubik, Sanctum, Tensor, Realms, Access, Jupiter, Helium, Truffle, Phantom, and Backpack on Solana.

So, what exactly are Blinks? Blinks, short for Blockchain Links, can transform any complex on-chain operation into a small card with an interactive button that can be embedded in any social media or website.

Source: dialect.to

As shown in the image below, an embedded Blink link simplifies buying WIF with SOL. Typically, we must navigate the website or exchange, register, connect our wallet, and then complete the token purchase. However, with a Blink link, we can directly see the purchase amount on the current page, enter a custom amount, and click buy. It will prompt our wallet for authorization and complete the transaction instantly.

Source: Twitter

Additionally, Blink supports other use cases, such as third-party software registration, donations, and NFT minting.

Source: Twitter

In summary, Blink’s presence on Twitter is similar to the embedded “shopping cart” feature on TikTok and Weibo, making it more convenient for users to conduct blockchain-related cryptocurrency transactions on the web and initiate Solana interactions anywhere online.

The Technology Behind Blink: Action

Currently, the technology stack behind Blink is called Action, the development configuration behind the interactive Blink links.

Source: dialect.to

On Solana, the relationship between Action and Blink is as follows: Action is a method that provides signable transactions and messages through an API. These transactions and messages can be shared via URLs. Action provides a standardized way to interact with Action providers via GET and POST requests, retrieve readable information, construct signable transactions and messages, and then submit them to the blockchain.

Blink can be seen as a tool that implements or utilizes Action. Through Blink, developers can more easily use the APIs provided by Action to create and submit transactions. Blink may offer additional features and optimizations to make interactions with Action providers more efficient and straightforward.

In summary, Action provides the fundamental APIs and standards, while Blink is a concrete implementation that leverages these APIs to simplify the development process and accelerate operations. Together, they offer powerful functionality and convenience.

Source: dialect.to

How to Build and Use Actions and Blinks

1. Preparation

1. Install a Wallet Supporting Solana: Use the Phantom wallet plugin or other wallets like Backpack. Here, we use Phantom as an example.
2. Use a Blink-compatible Browser: Ensure you have a browser that supports Blink (e.g., Chrome).
3. Basic Solana Tokens (SOL): Have some SOL tokens to cover transaction fees.

Source: dialect.to

2. Install Phantom Wallet

1. Open the Browser: Visit the Phantom website.
2. Add Phantom to Chrome: Click the “Add to Chrome” button and follow the prompts to add the Phantom plugin to your browser.
3. Setup Wallet: After installation, click the Phantom icon at the top right of the browser to create a new wallet or import an existing one. If creating a new wallet, securely store your mnemonic phrase and password.

3. Configure Phantom Wallet to Support Blink

1. Open Phantom Wallet: Click the menu button (usually three dots or lines) in the top right corner.
2. Access Settings: Select “Settings” from the menu.
3. Enable Experiments: Find and enable the “Experiments” option in the settings menu. Refresh the wallet page to ensure the settings take effect.

Source: Phantom Wallet Plugin

4. Generate a Blink Link

1. Visit the Blink Platform: Open your browser and visit the Blink official website or the designated developer platform.
2. Create an Action: On the Blink platform, create an action based on your needs (e.g., transactions, voting, payments, minting). Provide necessary information such as token address, transaction amount, etc.
3. Generate a Link: After filling in the information, the platform will generate a Blink link or QR code.
4. Share the Link: Embed the generated Blink link or QR code into your social media, website, or directly share it with other users.

Source: Dialect Plugin

5. Use a Blink Link

1. Click the Link: When users see the Blink link on social media or a webpage, they simply need to click the link.
2. Wallet Authorization: The system will automatically prompt the Phantom wallet for authorization. Users need to confirm the transaction details and authorize it.
3. Complete the Action: After authorization, the transaction or other action will be completed within the current page without navigating elsewhere.

6. Security Precautions

1. Ensure Link Source is Trustworthy: Only click and use Blink links from trusted sources to avoid phishing and malicious links.
2. Regularly Check Phantom Wallet: Ensure your Phantom wallet and plugin are up-to-date to receive the latest security patches and feature support.
3. Monitor Transaction Records: Regularly check your wallet transaction records to ensure all actions are authorized and legitimate.

7. Common Issues and Solutions

• Blink Link Not Recognized: Ensure your Phantom wallet is correctly configured and the “Experiments” feature is enabled. Try refreshing the page or restarting the browser.
• Not Usable on Mobile: Currently, Blink functionality primarily supports desktop browsers. Use a supported desktop browser.
• Transaction Failure: Check for sufficient SOL tokens in your Solana wallet to cover transaction fees. Ensure a stable internet connection and try the operation again.

8. Getting Support

If you encounter issues during use, you can get help through the following channels:

• Blink Official Support: Visit Blink’s official website help center or contact online support.
• Community Support: Seek help on Solana community forums, Discord, or Reddit platforms.
• Phantom Wallet Support: Visit the Phantom wallet help center or contact their technical support team.

By following these steps, users can use the Solana Blink feature effectively, achieving more convenient on-chain operations and interactions.

Disadvantages and Risks

Currently, there are two main disadvantages and risks associated with Solana’s Blink feature:

Difficulty in Distinguishing Genuine Links

Links like “blink” make it hard for users to distinguish between genuine and fake. Users may get their wallets emptied if someone forges a blink and the transaction/instruction behind it is malicious. According to current Dialect rules, only registered project teams can create such links. However, the registration rules are quite simple and lack strict restrictions, so the security of these links remains questionable. Although malicious projects are marked as such by the community after being reported or discovered, and warnings are issued on the page, this post-event manual marking mechanism cannot prevent users from suffering losses beforehand.

Limited to Web Version

The Blink feature is currently limited to the web version and cannot be used on mobile devices. Since 88% of Twitter users access the platform via mobile devices, the mobile functionality of Blink still needs to be expanded.

Conclusion

To summarize, Blink currently has three major functionalities:

1. Integrating Third-Party Platforms: Blink aggregates various third-party functionalities, including common applications like betting, voting, and donations. For instance, if it integrates with professional social platforms like LinkedIn, users can browse information and submit resumes with a single click.
2. On-Chain Interactions: Blink enables on-chain interactions such as token purchases, NFT minting, and claiming without requiring users to navigate away from the current page, providing a more seamless experience.
3. Enhancing Media Information Value: A typical scenario includes content tipping, where users can reward content they appreciate directly with tokens through their wallets. Another scenario involves subscription-based content on Twitter, where certain content is only accessible to wallets holding specific NFTs or tokens, allowing for personalized content delivery.

From an industry perspective, the emergence of Blink holds significant importance. Firstly, it represents a narrative innovation on Solana, filling a recent void in new concepts within the industry. Secondly, Blink serves as a form of innovation based on user experience and application scenarios, utilizing standardized technology to enable broader adoption and application of this interactive form in Web3. Furthermore, Blink helps more Web2 users transition seamlessly into Web3, lowering the cognitive barrier. Lastly, Blink enhances the value of media information flow, allowing users not only to browse information but also to interact with it.