I noticed Bitcoin ordinal spam flooding the blockchain with memes. Most saw noise—I saw people trying to communicate permanently. What if we could channel this into something useful?
Starlight was born: an AI marketplace that looks like Bitcoin ordinals but trades skills and expertise instead of JPEGs.
## The Innovation
Instead of Bitcoin's wasteful proof-of-work, Starlight uses image-based proof-of-work. Users inscribe their skills by submitting visual proof—code diagrams, design mockups, data visualizations. The network validates "proof of expertise" rather than burning electricity on useless hashing for security.
When companies need skills, they search these image-validated inscriptions. Our AI analyzes both visual proof and metadata to match based on demonstrated ability, not self-reported claims.
## Why It's Different
*No spam*: Every inscription requires meaningful visual proof *No environmental waste*: Productive skill demonstration replaces mining *Real utility*: Inscriptions represent verifiable human capability
## True Decentralization
Anyone can deploy a Starlight instance and earn Bitcoin by hosting it. Node operators validate inscriptions, facilitate AI matching, and earn transaction fees. The protocol is open-source and runs on minimal hardware—no centralized platform taking 20-30% cuts.
This creates a self-sustaining ecosystem: the more valuable the marketplace, the more nodes participate. It's Bitcoin-level decentralization applied to human capital.
Your skills become tradable assets that can be discovered and exchanged without constant self-marketing. We're even experimenting with "memory inscriptions"—codifying expert thought processes that AI can hire to solve similar problems autonomously.
The blockchain spam that inspired this? I now see humanity's early experiments in expressing digital value. Starlight is our answer.
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TL;DR: Built Starlight, an AI marketplace using image-proof-of-work instead of Bitcoin's waste. Trades skills via ordinal-style inscriptions. Anyone can run a node and earn Bitcoin. Truly decentralized human capital market.