What We Can Learn from KAITO’s Market Playbook?

Hyperion Guilds Marketing Guild
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Just spent some time digging into KAITO’s go-to-market model, and I think there are real takeaways here for anyone building marketing strategies in web3, especially for Hyperion-aligned projects.

Here’s what stands out to me from KAITO’s approach:

1. Platform focus = Traffic clarity

KAITO doubled down on X as their main funnel, treating it like top-of-funnel traffic in the consumer world. Why?

  • Public domain platforms (X, YouTube) scale virally and give real-time feedback loops.
  • Private domain platforms (TG, Discord) are more siloed and harder to measure/expand.

:repeat_button: Takeaway: Prioritize platforms where content spreads and signals quickly. X should be the heartbeat of most crypto GTM campaigns.

2. Learn from Yaps: Incentives that drive the right behavior

KAITO’s Yaps system goes beyond simple engagement farming. It rewards users based on:

  • Proof-of-Work: Are you actively contributing to crypto discourse?
  • Proof-of-Trade: Are your posts resonating with smart, relevant audiences?
  • Proof-of-Insight: Is your content original, timely, and thoughtful?

It’s a powerful incentive model that balances frequency + quality + influence.

:repeat_button: Takeaway: Any reward system we build (airdrops, bounties, etc.) should:

  • Encourage meaningful contributions, not just noise.
  • Weight engagement based on quality of network touched.
  • Promote insight > repetition.

3. KOL collaboration that’s actually collaborative

KAITO didn’t just run influencer campaigns, they partnered with KOLs to:

  • Share data insights with them
  • Co-create narratives (events, content, strategy)
  • Build long-term relationships rooted in aligned goals

It’s not just “post for us”, it’s “build with us.”

:repeat_button: Takeaway: Find creators who want to co-own the journey, not just rent their reach.

4. Token utility as a growth engine

$KAITO is used for:

  • Access to premium tools (data, APIs)
  • Yaps reward redemption
  • Governance and network shaping

Every campaign leads users back into the ecosystem loop through real utility.

:repeat_button: Takeaway: If your token is just a speculative chip, you’ll churn attention. If it’s a tool, you’ll compound engagement.

KAITO isn’t just another AI coin, it’s a masterclass in full-stack web3 marketing. From platform prioritization to social incentive design, there’s a lot we can adapt and remix.

Curious what others think, especially:

  • What kind of point or badge systems we could build on Hyperion
  • How to grade content quality fairly and transparently
  • Any examples of KOLs as collaborators, not just broadcasters

Let’s dissect and rebuild. :light_bulb:

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@Elenaisplaying are you interested building your own project on Hyperion based on those lessons (best practices) of Kaito?

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Hey @Elenaisplaying :waving_hand:

Thanks for the breakdown, some solid insights in there!

One thing I’d push back on though: I think you’re spot on about the campaign selection, but the real game-changer wasn’t just picking X as the platform. It’s how KAITO built their attribution system: every single tweet gets tagged with campaign data that flows straight through to wallet activity.

So their team literally watches a live CAC vs LTV dashboard broken down by influencer cohorts. They can see which creators are actually driving conversions, not just engagement, and pivot their messaging or test new angles based on what’s actually moving the needle.

That real-time feedback loop is pretty nuts when you think about it. Most campaigns are flying blind until way after the fact.

Curious what you think about that attribution piece? It seems like something we could potentially adapt for Hyperion if we got creative with the tracking setup.

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You’re totally right. The real win isn’t just using X, it’s how KAITO tracks every tweet down to wallet actions. That kind of live CAC vs LTV dashboard is gold for campaign decisions. But here’s what I think could be better?

What if attribution became a culture? A lightweight, daily interaction that lets users “tag” each other with appreciation:

“Thanks for the alpha.”
“Helped me debug my smart contract.”
“Dropped a killer thread.”

Each tag is:

  • Logged in a simple on-chain (or offchain) ledger
  • Publicly visible on profiles
  • Accumulates as token over time

Why I think this works:

  • People feel seen and valued even outside campaigns
  • It encourages everyday contribution, not just big milestones
  • We create a visible “Metis culture” of gratitude and collaboration
  • And yes over time, it powers attribution too
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My background is marketing so I don’t have the technical resources to build it myself right now.
I have ideas and I also wanna contribute on how we could make it simple, social, and native to the Metis culture. Would be super interested in contributing on the product/strategy side if someone’s down to cobuild.

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Now this is actually starting to sound like something that already exists:

Unlock the full potential of your community with reputation scores, rewards and deep insights

Praise is a community intelligence system that promotes active participation and collaboration through peer recognition and rewards. We help communities become more intelligent, productive and inclusive by providing a simple way for community members to acknowledge, praise and reward each other’s contributions.

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Yes I think there are several doing this. I first known about this approach when I used Slack. Back then we used a feature on the platform called “give taco” to show gratitude to our team members. But it’s quite limited to a private group. If we can scale and make it visible to anyone not just the Metis community (like on X), it might be something

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I loved giving and getting tacos on Slack! :slight_smile:

How do you think this might be scaled to broader platforms like X? For me this breaks down to a popularity contest when there’s very little connection between people, and the scaled up version already exists: likes.

Imho, the limitation on who can see, give, and receive kudos is a feature, not a bug. It’s waaaaay more meaningful to receive kudos from a closed group of elite coders than 1000 random points farmers. WDYT?

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Totally feel you! That’s why I think if we really want to build culture, we need something visible and social, like when someone gets a taco, everyone sees it and instantly knows “they’re part of the crew.”

But to keep it meaningful, not just noise. Imagine if tacos from OGs or influencers carry more weight, maybe unlock special perks or badges. That way, it’s not just about popularity, it’s about recognition from people you respect.

Feels more human, more fun and actually builds community, not just a leaderboard.

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Thanks for the detailed breakdown KAITO’s model is a solid blueprint for thoughtful Web3 marketing. I especially like the emphasis on quality over quantity with their Yaps incentives; rewarding meaningful engagement is key to building real community momentum.

Platform focus on X makes total sense for viral reach and measurement it’s where conversations move fastest. Also, the idea of co-creating with KOLs rather than just sponsoring them feels like a game-changer for authentic growth.

For Hyperion, a transparent badge system that rewards originality and impact rather than just activity could really motivate contributors. Grading content fairly might involve a mix of community votes and moderator input to keep it balanced.

Curious to hear others’ thoughts on making these incentive models both effective and fair!

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