Pacific Meta Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shota Iwasaki; hereinafter referred to as “Pacific Meta”) is pleased to announce its investment in 0xPPL (pronounced “Zero Ex People”), a Web3 social protocol.

Table of Contents

What is 0xPPL

Source: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GZW4UQsbYAAoxYv?format=jpg&name=4096×4096

0xPPL is a decentralized social network that organizes on-chain data, making it easy for users to discover and connect with each other visually.

This project was designed by Prasanna Sankar(hereinafter referred to as “Sankar”) , the founder of Rippling, which ranked in the top 100 U.S. based unicorn companies, with a valuation exceeding $13.5 billion.

In the world of Web3, people engage in various transactions daily, each reflecting individual interests and values. However, these experiences often remain buried and unshared with others.

0xPPL goes beyond traditional analytics tools by transforming on-chain transaction data, which reflects users’ interests and values, into a platform for discovery and interaction, unlocking new possibilities for people to connect.

About Prasanna Sankar

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myprasanna/

After winning a programming contest during his university years in India, Sankar became fascinated by the potential of startups. He then moved to Silicon Valley, where he founded the following companies:

LikeALittle

An anonymous message-sharing platform for college students, allowing users to send messages and communicate freely without revealing their real names.

With a simple interface, it enabled posting messages and interactions easily, making it especially popular for topics related to dating, friendships, and campus life. The platform gained significant traction, achieving 20 million views within about six weeks of its launch and was widely used by college students.

Press Release About LikeALittle▶︎https://techcrunch.com/2010/12/19/likealittle/

Rippling

An all-in-one platform that streamlines HR management and payroll processing for companies. Rippling offers a unified solution for onboarding employees, managing payroll, and handling benefits, enhancing corporate productivity.

Known for its simple, user-friendly interface combined with powerful features, Rippling has been adopted by many businesses. Since its founding in 2016, the company has raised a total of $450 million in funding and reached a valuation of $13.5 billion as of September 2024. Company

Information About Rippling▶︎https://www.hijojo.com/profile/rippling
Official Website of Rippling▶︎https://www.rippling.com/

Prasanna Sankar on the Vision of 0xPPL and the Potential of Web3

In this section, we will summarize key insights and perspectives on Web3 from Sankar, based on his interview in “The DCo Podcast Prasanna Sankar from 0xPPL.”

The Potential of New Business Models Unlocked by the Encounter with Blockchain

Source: https://0xppl.com/

Sankar shared that his interest in blockchain technology grew through his encounters with Bitcoin and Ethereum, highlighting the importance of protocols and new methods of consensus. He spoke about the new possibilities introduced by blockchain technology and how it has reshaped his expectations and thinking around existing business models.

His introduction to Bitcoin began when Metacovan (Vignesh Sundaresan) sent him the Bitcoin white paper. Inspired by Metacovan’s enthusiasm for Bitcoin, Sankar decided to invest half of his assets at the time, around $5,000, into Bitcoin. Initially, he believed it to be “the new money,” but 15 years later, he admits that this belief was not entirely accurate.

At the time, Sankar thought that considering Bitcoin’s network effect, no other cryptocurrency could compete. He was also skeptical about Ethereum’s ICO. However, during the DeFi Summer, he witnessed new forms of consensus and came to understand Ethereum’s potential.

He specifically pointed to the example of Uniswap, which grew its TVL (Total Value Locked) from zero to a scale of $10 billion within its first year and a half. He compared this achievement to Uber, which took eight years to gather $10 billion in investor funding, representing a consensus of belief and agreement among investors.

Sankar also recognized that the rise of DeFi could render existing business models, including his own, obsolete. He emphasized the need to explore new business models and opportunities. Reflecting on the historical context, Sankar stated, “When the U.S. Constitution was established, I wasn’t born yet. However, that Constitution still functions as a foundation for society today.” Given this reality, he expressed his excitement and anticipation as a developer to “build global smart contracts and to contribute to the reconstruction of the Internet.”

Keys to Building a Successful Social Product

Source: https://0xppl.com/

Based on his past experiences, Sankar emphasized three crucial factors for the success of social products: ‘user retention’, ‘momentum recognition’, and ‘steady growth’. He pointed out that once users are attracted to a product, it is vital for them to continue using it. High retention rates accelerate the product’s growth, and creating a strong “black hole” effect—where users are naturally drawn back to the platform—forms the foundation for a healthy project.

Sankar also highlighted the importance of identifying how a product grows and having the ability to steer its direction. For instance, BitClout launched with the concept of allowing speculation on accounts by pre-generating profiles for celebrities and influencers, enabling users to trade them. Although this generated temporary buzz, it did not achieve the expected impact, teaching him that explosive growth alone does not guarantee success.

Recognizing the value of gradual growth, Sankar cited projects like Farcaster and Lens as examples that focused on building communities around a core user base.

However, he noted that differentiating from a simple “Twitter-like app” can be challenging. He praised Farcaster’s shift towards offering features like app distribution and a framing function, considering it an intriguing evolution in the space.

The Potential of On-Chain Activity and User Experience Through Selective Disclosure

Source: https://x.com/0xppl_/status/1755285195232866595/photo/1

Sankar envisions 0xPPL as the “Google of the blockchain space,” focusing on organizing information across all blockchains and applications. He places particular emphasis on organizing data based on social accounts. As a concrete example, he mentioned compiling the status of ENS (Ethereum Name Service) registrations and linking them with corresponding Twitter account names.

Regarding privacy concerns, Sankar’s views have been shaped by his own experiences with the evolution of anonymity in social media.

He noted that during the rise of LikeALittle, anonymous social networks were popular, but over time, users began to share their identities more openly. Platforms like Facebook, for instance, demonstrated that users were willing to share personal details online.

Sankar believes this shift is also happening in the blockchain space, where users may selectively choose what information to share rather than disclosing all of their wallets. He cited examples like NFTs and ENS, comparing the ownership of these digital items to wearing a Rolex watch—they are meant to be seen. He suggests that as on-chain activity aligns with social demand and selective disclosure options, it will become more common for users to share aspects of their blockchain interactions.

Future Outlook

Source: https://x.com/0xppl_/status/1773696868402258379/photo/1
Source:https://x.com/0xppl_/status/1804137999715963294/photo/1

0xPPL aims to create a social network for people using cryptocurrencies, positioning itself as a trusted source of information in the Web3 space.

Currently, 0xPPL offers a portfolio feature that allows users to track their own and friends’ on-chain activities, as well as visualize assets across multiple blockchains. Additionally, it provides a multiplayer mode that enables users to interact with each other.

In this multiplayer mode, features such as “commenting on transactions” and “copying transactions” allow users to make decisions based on the activities of others. This design helps prevent fraud and provides new trade ideas by letting users learn from others’ actions.

Going forward, 0xPPL aims to expand this trusted network further, providing a platform where cryptocurrencies can be used safely. By enabling users to observe each other’s activities and gather information based on reliable groups, the company hopes to drive the adoption and use of cryptocurrencies.

Sankar expressed his commitment to the project, stating, “0xPPL will continue to grow and strive to promote safe cryptocurrency usage.”

Investment background

0xPPL offers a social network where members of the cryptocurrency community can safely share information with trusted peers, aiming to become the “Homepage of Web3” in the blockchain space.

We strongly resonated with this vision and approach, leading us to participate in this investment.

The founder, Sankar, is a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of successfully building multiple businesses, including “LikeALittle,” which achieved 20 million views within just six weeks of its launch, and “Rippling,” which ranked among the top 100 U.S. unicorns with a valuation exceeding $13.5 billion. His unwavering passion and persistence in pursuing new challenges continue to deeply impress us.

Through this investment, Pacific Meta looks forward to collaborating with 0xPPL to create new value in the world of cryptocurrencies and to pave the way for the future.

Investment Comments

About Pacific Meta Ventures

Pacific Meta Ventures is the investment division of Pacific Meta, which invests in Web3 projects both domestically and internationally.

With a desire to support Web3 projects when they face financial challenges and to contribute to problem-solving from the early stages of development, we are actively working to contribute to the Web3 industry’s ecosystem.

About Pacific Meta

Pacific Meta is a Tokyo based company that provides end-to-end support as a “Web3 Accelerator” for Web3 projects both domestically and internationally.

We support companies and projects challenging the Web3 space by leveraging our specialized expertise in Web3 to offer assistance in fundraising, consulting, business development, and marketing. Additionally, we help domestic projects expand overseas and assist international projects in entering Japan (and East Asia), making full use of our global team. Our office, Pacific Hub, also creates opportunities for the Web3 community to connect and collaborate.

If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

At Pacific Meta, we are looking for passionate individuals to join our team!

Join us in building a globally competitive company alongside our young and energetic members through the power of Web3.

If you’re interested in learning more about our business, organization, or team, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s have a casual conversation online! Feel free to contact us anytime.

Company Overview

Headquarters: Hamamatsucho PREX 8F, 2–2–12 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
CEO: Shota Iwasaki, President & Representative Director
Founded: August 10, 2022
Business Activities: Web3 Accelerator Services
・Investment
・Fundraising Support
・Consulting
・Marketing
・Partnerships
・Token Consulting
Capital: 150 million yen (including capital reserves)
Official Website: https://pacific-meta.co.jp/

Contact us

Contact Form：https://pacific-meta.co.jp/contact/
Email：info@pacific-meta.co.jp
Pacific Meta Magazine : https://pacific-meta.co.jp/magazine/