Welcome to Proof of Existence. This guide walks you through the full flow — from login to submission — with no crypto knowledge required.
Sign in with Google → enter the canvas → draw for 10+ seconds → click "Submit Proof" → choose Standard Proof (free). Done. Your trail gets recorded on the Polygon blockchain at UTC 00:00 each day.
What Do You Need?
Just a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge). No wallet, no upfront funds, no technical setup.
Step 1: Log In
Visit proofexistence.com and click "Login / Connect Wallet" in the top right corner.
Social Login (Recommended for beginners)
Sign in with an existing account: Google, Facebook, Apple, Line, or X (Twitter).
Web3Auth automatically creates a secure blockchain wallet for you. You don't need to understand how that works or save any private keys — it's just like logging into a regular app.
External Wallet
If you already have MetaMask or another Web3 wallet, you can connect it directly instead.
Step 2: Enter the Canvas
Click the canvas to enter the 3D space. You'll see a dark, infinite environment — this is the shared Global Canvas where your trail will live permanently.
Step 3: Draw Your Light Trail
- Click and hold to start drawing
- Move your mouse (keep holding) to extend the trail
- Release to pause
- Draw for at least 10 seconds to create a valid proof
Don't overthink it. Your first trail doesn't need to mean anything in particular — it's a timestamp of your movement at this moment, and that's enough.
Step 4: Submit Your Proof
Once you've drawn for at least 10 seconds, click "Submit Proof" and choose a proof type.
Standard Proof (Free)
Your trail gets batched with everyone else's that day into a Merkle Tree, then submitted to the Polygon blockchain at UTC 00:00. The protocol covers all gas fees. You also earn Time26 tokens as a record of participation.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Verification | Daily batch at UTC 00:00 |
| Technology | Merkle tree aggregation |
| On-chain | Yes, via daily batch settlement |
| Token reward | Time26 |
Perpetual Proof (Paid)
Mints an NFT immediately and writes your data to Arweave (decentralized permanent storage) in real time. Good for collectors who want instant, tradeable ownership.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | POL or TIME26 tokens |
| Verification | Instant (within seconds) |
| NFT | ERC-721, minted to your wallet |
| Storage | Arweave permanent decentralized storage |
| Badge | Exclusive collector badge |
Pricing: base fee + per-second rate for trails over 45 seconds (first 45 seconds included in the base fee).
Not sure which to pick? Start with the free Standard Proof.
What's Next?
- View your proof on the Explore page
- Find it in the Cosmos 3D visualization
- Share it on X, Threads, or Instagram
- Download a screenshot
FAQ
Is it safe to log in with my social account?
Web3Auth uses MPC (multi-party computation) to create your wallet — it never stores your private key, and it doesn't access your social account's content. The login flow goes through official OAuth only.
What's the difference between Standard and Perpetual Proof storage?
Standard Proof data is temporarily held on the protocol's servers, then uploaded to Arweave in a daily batch. Perpetual Proof data is written to Arweave immediately at the time of minting — it doesn't depend on our servers. Both end up on-chain, but Perpetual is faster and fully independent.
What happens if I draw for less than 10 seconds?
The submit button won't activate until you've reached 10 seconds. This minimum is enforced at the contract level, not just in the UI.
What is Time26?
POE's native token. You earn it through Existence Mining (Standard Proof participation). It can also be used to pay for Perpetual Proof at a 20% discount vs. USD. See the whitepaper for details.
Can I use this on mobile?
Yes. Desktop gives you the best drawing experience, but the canvas works on mobile touchscreen too.