Social-Fi Tribe.Run Surges in Popularity on Solana: Could it Be the Next FriendTech?

Tribe.Run Gains Traction in Social-Fi as a New Blockchain-Based Social Media Platform

Social-Fi is on the rise once again in the crypto sector, with Tribe.Run emerging as a platform to watch after a surge in activity over the weekend.

Tribe is a Solana-based social media platform that bears a resemblance to FriendTech, enabling users to buy and sell tokens for access to private chatrooms.

Developed under the guidance of Alliance DAO, a well-known crypto accelerator, Tribe offers a unique spin on the Social-Fi model by providing more options for creators.

These creators can set specific requirements for users to enter their chatrooms, such as owning a certain number of social tokens, and even buy their own tokens before they officially launch.

Tribe's Founder Shares Key Stats

Founder and developer of Tribe, Bill Zheng, revealed that the platform has recently experienced an impressive spike in activity.

Between 23 and 26 January 2025, the protocol processed record traffic.

While no public data has been released, Bill mentioned that Tribe reached over 3,000 unique users by 25 January, a substantial increase from around 1,400 users in December 2024.

Platform's Retro Aesthetic and Access Model

Tribe’s interface harks back to the late '90s and early 2000s, offering a nostalgic feel with its retro PC-style design.

The platform’s dApp first went live in October 2024, and since then, the invite-only system has been ramped up.

A referral from an existing Tribe user is required for new users to access the platform, adding an element of exclusivity to its growing community.

Tribe’s Creator-Focused Features Set It Apart

Tribe’s approach provides more flexibility for creators than what’s seen on FriendTech.

Beyond controlling access to their chatrooms through social token ownership, creators can buy as many of their own tokens as they like before the public launch.

This option addresses one of the issues faced by FriendTech, where creators had to rely on third-party services to acquire a sufficient number of their own tokens.

Referral System and Token Pricing Drive Growth

Tribe also boasts a generous referral system, rewarding users with 150 social tokens for each new member they bring on board.

Bill’s personal token, which is the most expensive on the platform, is currently priced at 0.991 SOL, or around $235 per token.

This high value reflects the platform’s growing reputation and the appeal of its unique model.

Insight from FriendTech Users Boosts Tribe’s Appeal

Bill and his co-founder of Alliance DAO, Qiao Wang, shared in their X posts that they spent a year researching and reaching out to 5,000 former FriendTech users before launching Tribe.

The goal was to gather feedback on user experience and improve Tribe’s offering.

According to both, this step helped shape Tribe into a more user-friendly platform that’s now gaining traction in the Social-Fi space.

Clout Launches, Giving Social-Fi a Boost

Tribe’s recent spike in activity coincided with the launch of another Alliance-backed project, Clout, which brought more attention to the Social-Fi sector.

As more projects emerge, Tribe’s future seems bright, especially with its expanding user base and features designed to support creators.