
![Coupon code](/images/blog/promo-codes/coupon-code.png)

A little over a year ago, we introduced a [Hook to add discount codes to Unlock membership contracts](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/discount-codes). Today we’re proud to introduce the next iteration of this Hook, as well as a brand new UI for both managers and members!

First, let’s dive a bit into one of my favorite features of the PublicLock contract (the Unlock Protocol membership smart contract): **Hooks**. Generally, code hooks are like triggers or signals in a computer program that allow different parts of the program to communicate and work together.

Smart contracts are onchain programs, and the membership contract includes several hooks that can be triggered. The PublicLock contract has a hook called `onKeyPurchaseHook` that is triggered when the purchase function is called. This hook can be used to alter the behavior of the membership contract when a membership key is purchased. For example, the hook can do things like dynamically change the price that a user needs to pay to purchase an onchain membership as well as a wide variety of other related checkout behaviors.

The Unlock Labs team has created several hooks, include a Discount Code Hook. A Lock Manager can use this hook add discount codes (like `PROMO30` or `FRIEND&FAM` to their contract) and set a percentage-off associated with each discount code. These discount percentages can range from 0% to 100% (and anything in between). A Lock Manager can also set a “cap”, or a maximum number of uses for a particular discount code, like 10 or 300, after which the discount will no longer be applied!

## Configuring a discount code

A new section has been added to the `Advanced > Hooks` section of the Unlock Dashboard for discount codes. To add a discount code for a particular lock, select `Discount code` from the dropdown in `Advanced > Hooks`, enter the discount code you want to add (e.g. `HAPPYBIRD`), the corresponding percentage discount that customers will receive when using that discount code, and maximum number of uses. Then click `Add`.

![Manage discount codes](/images/blog/promo-codes/manage-discount-codes.png)

_The Discount Code hook configuration interface_

The smart contract will update to recognize the discount that will be applied when a customer enters the new discount code during checkout.

## How the discount code hook works at checkout

At checkout time, the Unlock checkout will automatically identify that a membership contract is using the discount code hook, and will show an additional screen as part of the checkout to let soon-to-be members enter a promo code. The checkout UI will also instantly show a visual confirmation of the discount applicable!

![Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 5.16.20 PM.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/aa493f73-7575-471f-b652-ac6b67d6530c/2262a5c8-5e8a-470a-b4b1-2d66030e1a2c/Screenshot_2024-01-15_at_5.16.20_PM.png)

![Checkout discount codes](/images/blog/promo-codes/checkout-discount-code.png)

## Wrapping up

The new Discount Code Hook for Unlock membership contracts offers an new way for Lock Managers to provide discounts to their users. By configuring discount codes with specific percentages and maximum usage limits, Lock Managers can customize the membership experience and incentivize new users to join. With the updated UI for both managers and members, the checkout process becomes seamless and visually confirms the applicable discount.

Unlock continues to enhance the membership contract with powerful hooks like the Discount Code Hook, making it easier than ever to manage and promote memberships and subscriptions onchain!


Unlock Labs introduces a new couponing and discount feature to delight your members with customizable discounts.

Unlocking the Power of Membership Savings

Discount Codes

<p><img src="/images/blog/promo-codes/coupon-code.png" alt="Coupon code"></p>
<p>A little over a year ago, we introduced a <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/discount-codes">Hook to add discount codes to Unlock membership contracts</a>. Today we’re proud to introduce the next iteration of this Hook, as well as a brand new UI for both managers and members!</p>
<p>First, let’s dive a bit into one of my favorite features of the PublicLock contract (the Unlock Protocol membership smart contract): <strong>Hooks</strong>. Generally, code hooks are like triggers or signals in a computer program that allow different parts of the program to communicate and work together.</p>
<p>Smart contracts are onchain programs, and the membership contract includes several hooks that can be triggered. The PublicLock contract has a hook called <code>onKeyPurchaseHook</code> that is triggered when the purchase function is called. This hook can be used to alter the behavior of the membership contract when a membership key is purchased. For example, the hook can do things like dynamically change the price that a user needs to pay to purchase an onchain membership as well as a wide variety of other related checkout behaviors.</p>
<p>The Unlock Labs team has created several hooks, include a Discount Code Hook. A Lock Manager can use this hook add discount codes (like <code>PROMO30</code> or <code>FRIEND&#x26;FAM</code> to their contract) and set a percentage-off associated with each discount code. These discount percentages can range from 0% to 100% (and anything in between). A Lock Manager can also set a “cap”, or a maximum number of uses for a particular discount code, like 10 or 300, after which the discount will no longer be applied!</p>
<h2>Configuring a discount code</h2>
<p>A new section has been added to the <code>Advanced > Hooks</code> section of the Unlock Dashboard for discount codes. To add a discount code for a particular lock, select <code>Discount code</code> from the dropdown in <code>Advanced > Hooks</code>, enter the discount code you want to add (e.g. <code>HAPPYBIRD</code>), the corresponding percentage discount that customers will receive when using that discount code, and maximum number of uses. Then click <code>Add</code>.</p>
<p><img src="/images/blog/promo-codes/manage-discount-codes.png" alt="Manage discount codes"></p>
<p><em>The Discount Code hook configuration interface</em></p>
<p>The smart contract will update to recognize the discount that will be applied when a customer enters the new discount code during checkout.</p>
<h2>How the discount code hook works at checkout</h2>
<p>At checkout time, the Unlock checkout will automatically identify that a membership contract is using the discount code hook, and will show an additional screen as part of the checkout to let soon-to-be members enter a promo code. The checkout UI will also instantly show a visual confirmation of the discount applicable!</p>
<p><img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/aa493f73-7575-471f-b652-ac6b67d6530c/2262a5c8-5e8a-470a-b4b1-2d66030e1a2c/Screenshot_2024-01-15_at_5.16.20_PM.png" alt="Screenshot 2024-01-15 at 5.16.20 PM.png"></p>
<p><img src="/images/blog/promo-codes/checkout-discount-code.png" alt="Checkout discount codes"></p>
<h2>Wrapping up</h2>
<p>The new Discount Code Hook for Unlock membership contracts offers an new way for Lock Managers to provide discounts to their users. By configuring discount codes with specific percentages and maximum usage limits, Lock Managers can customize the membership experience and incentivize new users to join. With the updated UI for both managers and members, the checkout process becomes seamless and visually confirms the applicable discount.</p>
<p>Unlock continues to enhance the membership contract with powerful hooks like the Discount Code Hook, making it easier than ever to manage and promote memberships and subscriptions onchain!</p>



We are releasing a new version of the core Unlock Protocol smart contracts. This upgrade includes improved mechanics for UDT token governance, several improvements in existing features, gas optimisations and bug fixes.

The main novelty is the new “swap and burn” feature that will allow fees collected by the protocol to be directly decrease the supply of UDT in circulation.

The new Unlock Version (v13) and PublicLock version (v14) will be released using a cross-chain DAO proposal that, once passed, will deploy the upgrade on multiple chains at once.

![UDT Swap and Burn](/images/blog/protocol-upgrade-unlock-v13/swap-burn-share.png)

## Swap and Burn: Linking governance tokens and protocol fees

The previous version of Unlock allowed for the collection of a fee by the protocol itself during the purchase of keys. This update introduces a way to use the collected fee to decrease the supply of UDT governance tokens that are in circulation - see https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/issues/11677 ).

### **How it works**

- Fees are collected by the Unlock contract when a membership or subscription key is purchased or extended
- Fees are kept by the main Unlock contract, and can be denominated in any native or ERC20 currencies
- By calling the `swapAndBurn` function, the collected fees are sent from the Unlock contract to a contract that will 1) convert the tokens for the collected protocol fees to UDT and 2) send those UDT tokens to a burn address

In order to use this new Unlock feature, a [proposal](https://www.tally.xyz/gov/unlock/proposal/100059804931848205636207929448466054900176756075596411717092086523182317853614?chart=0) was initiated to migrate the DAO’s UDT liquidity from the existing Uniswap V2 pool to a new V3 pool.

In earlier versions of the protocol, UDT governance tokens were distributed by the Unlock contract using a developer reward that is now deprecated and should be replaced by the protocol fee. The protocol fee is not enabled by default, and it will be up to the DAO to enable it now that the tools are in place.

## Other protocol changes in this protocol update

Several other changes and improvements have been implemented in this set of updates.

### Minor changes in features

These changes are user-facing and affect what Lock Managers can do.

- Introduces `setKeyExpiration` to allow a lock manager to update the timestamp of any existing keys freely ‣
- Modifies `getHasValidKey` so a hook has a final say while determining the validity of a key https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12543
- Allows a lock manager to always transfer keys, even when transfers are disabled ‣
- Disables fees for lock managers when transferring or sharing a key https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/13087

### Fixes, gas optimisations and refactoring

These changes are lower level and are noteworthy for advanced users and developers.

- Split code into a `governance` folder that contains all tools related to the maintenance of the protocol (deployments, contract verification, DAO proposals tooling, Uniswap tools, etc)
- Replace `UnlockUtils` dependencies by optimized Open Zeppelin implementation - https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12852
- Upgrade dev tooling (looking for more help on this, there is an open bounty !)
- Remove dev reward/cut when purchasing a key https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12700
- Add unchecked scopes on math operations (gas optimisation) https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12542
- New Solidity version 0.8.21 (creating issues on some chains that wont support new `PUSH0` evm opcode -see [https://www.zaryabs.com/push0-opcode/](https://www.zaryabs.com/push0-opcode/) ) https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12703
- Fix potential overflow when merging keys https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/issues/12553

## Upgrading across chains: The DAO proposal

The upgrade will be sent using a cross-chain proposal, following the [pattern recently introduced and tested](https://www.tally.xyz/gov/unlock/proposal/1926572528290918174819693611122933562560576845671089759587616947457423587439?chart=0) for Unlock Protocol governance across chains. Through a single proposal, the protocol upgrade will be carried on six different networks : Optimism, Gnosis, Polygon, Arbitrum, BNB Chain, and mainnet. The remaining chains will be upgraded through the secondary workflow using Unlock Labs multisigs.

### How the DAO proposal for a protocol upgrade works

The DAO proposal will contain all calls necessary to be executed on the supported chains. Before sending the proposal, we will deploy the implementation contracts for `Unlock` version 13 and `PublicLock` version 14, as well as the new `UnlockSwapBurner`contract. Then the DAO proposal contains 4 calls for each chain:

- Upgrade Unlock contract to the latest version (through `ProxyAdmin` contract)
- Call `addLockTemplate` to set v14 template
- Call `setLockTemplate` to update `publicLockVersion` default version to v14
- Call `setSwapBurner` to set `swapBurnerAddress` on Unlock

After/if the voting period ends successfully, the DAO proposal can be executed, sending all calls to their destination chains through Connext bridges. The call will be held for a cooldown period of 7 days. You can read more about the process in this [dedicated post](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/crosschain-connext-safe).

### Timeline for the next steps

- Mid January 2024: Deploy protocol upgrade on the Sepolia network for testing
- Late January 2024: DAO proposal submitted for production deployment

## Upgrading your lock contract

If you are a lock manager, you will need to upgrade your lock contract to take advantage of the new features and improvements. To do so, follow the instructions provided in the [Unlock documentation](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/lock-v12-release).

If you have any questions or issues with the upgrade process, please reach out to our support team at [support@unlock-protocol.com](mailto:support@unlock-protocol.com).


Improved mechanics for UDT token governance, improvements in existing features, gas optimisations and bug fixes

Unlock Protocol Upgrade Introduces Swap and Burn Mechanic

<p>We are releasing a new version of the core Unlock Protocol smart contracts. This upgrade includes improved mechanics for UDT token governance, several improvements in existing features, gas optimisations and bug fixes.</p>
<p>The main novelty is the new “swap and burn” feature that will allow fees collected by the protocol to be directly decrease the supply of UDT in circulation.</p>
<p>The new Unlock Version (v13) and PublicLock version (v14) will be released using a cross-chain DAO proposal that, once passed, will deploy the upgrade on multiple chains at once.</p>
<p><img src="/images/blog/protocol-upgrade-unlock-v13/swap-burn-share.png" alt="UDT Swap and Burn"></p>
<h2>Swap and Burn: Linking governance tokens and protocol fees</h2>
<p>The previous version of Unlock allowed for the collection of a fee by the protocol itself during the purchase of keys. This update introduces a way to use the collected fee to decrease the supply of UDT governance tokens that are in circulation - see https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/issues/11677 ).</p>
<h3><strong>How it works</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>Fees are collected by the Unlock contract when a membership or subscription key is purchased or extended</li>
<li>Fees are kept by the main Unlock contract, and can be denominated in any native or ERC20 currencies</li>
<li>By calling the <code>swapAndBurn</code> function, the collected fees are sent from the Unlock contract to a contract that will 1) convert the tokens for the collected protocol fees to UDT and 2) send those UDT tokens to a burn address</li>
</ul>
<p>In order to use this new Unlock feature, a <a href="https://www.tally.xyz/gov/unlock/proposal/100059804931848205636207929448466054900176756075596411717092086523182317853614?chart=0">proposal</a> was initiated to migrate the DAO’s UDT liquidity from the existing Uniswap V2 pool to a new V3 pool.</p>
<p>In earlier versions of the protocol, UDT governance tokens were distributed by the Unlock contract using a developer reward that is now deprecated and should be replaced by the protocol fee. The protocol fee is not enabled by default, and it will be up to the DAO to enable it now that the tools are in place.</p>
<h2>Other protocol changes in this protocol update</h2>
<p>Several other changes and improvements have been implemented in this set of updates.</p>
<h3>Minor changes in features</h3>
<p>These changes are user-facing and affect what Lock Managers can do.</p>
<ul>
<li>Introduces <code>setKeyExpiration</code> to allow a lock manager to update the timestamp of any existing keys freely ‣</li>
<li>Modifies <code>getHasValidKey</code> so a hook has a final say while determining the validity of a key https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12543</li>
<li>Allows a lock manager to always transfer keys, even when transfers are disabled ‣</li>
<li>Disables fees for lock managers when transferring or sharing a key https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/13087</li>
</ul>
<h3>Fixes, gas optimisations and refactoring</h3>
<p>These changes are lower level and are noteworthy for advanced users and developers.</p>
<ul>
<li>Split code into a <code>governance</code> folder that contains all tools related to the maintenance of the protocol (deployments, contract verification, DAO proposals tooling, Uniswap tools, etc)</li>
<li>Replace <code>UnlockUtils</code> dependencies by optimized Open Zeppelin implementation - https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12852</li>
<li>Upgrade dev tooling (looking for more help on this, there is an open bounty !)</li>
<li>Remove dev reward/cut when purchasing a key https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12700</li>
<li>Add unchecked scopes on math operations (gas optimisation) https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12542</li>
<li>New Solidity version 0.8.21 (creating issues on some chains that wont support new <code>PUSH0</code> evm opcode -see <a href="https://www.zaryabs.com/push0-opcode/">https://www.zaryabs.com/push0-opcode/</a> ) https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12703</li>
<li>Fix potential overflow when merging keys https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/issues/12553</li>
</ul>
<h2>Upgrading across chains: The DAO proposal</h2>
<p>The upgrade will be sent using a cross-chain proposal, following the <a href="https://www.tally.xyz/gov/unlock/proposal/1926572528290918174819693611122933562560576845671089759587616947457423587439?chart=0">pattern recently introduced and tested</a> for Unlock Protocol governance across chains. Through a single proposal, the protocol upgrade will be carried on six different networks : Optimism, Gnosis, Polygon, Arbitrum, BNB Chain, and mainnet. The remaining chains will be upgraded through the secondary workflow using Unlock Labs multisigs.</p>
<h3>How the DAO proposal for a protocol upgrade works</h3>
<p>The DAO proposal will contain all calls necessary to be executed on the supported chains. Before sending the proposal, we will deploy the implementation contracts for <code>Unlock</code> version 13 and <code>PublicLock</code> version 14, as well as the new <code>UnlockSwapBurner</code>contract. Then the DAO proposal contains 4 calls for each chain:</p>
<ul>
<li>Upgrade Unlock contract to the latest version (through <code>ProxyAdmin</code> contract)</li>
<li>Call <code>addLockTemplate</code> to set v14 template</li>
<li>Call <code>setLockTemplate</code> to update <code>publicLockVersion</code> default version to v14</li>
<li>Call <code>setSwapBurner</code> to set <code>swapBurnerAddress</code> on Unlock</li>
</ul>
<p>After/if the voting period ends successfully, the DAO proposal can be executed, sending all calls to their destination chains through Connext bridges. The call will be held for a cooldown period of 7 days. You can read more about the process in this <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/crosschain-connext-safe">dedicated post</a>.</p>
<h3>Timeline for the next steps</h3>
<ul>
<li>Mid January 2024: Deploy protocol upgrade on the Sepolia network for testing</li>
<li>Late January 2024: DAO proposal submitted for production deployment</li>
</ul>
<h2>Upgrading your lock contract</h2>
<p>If you are a lock manager, you will need to upgrade your lock contract to take advantage of the new features and improvements. To do so, follow the instructions provided in the <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/lock-v12-release">Unlock documentation</a>.</p>
<p>If you have any questions or issues with the upgrade process, please reach out to our support team at <a href="mailto:support@unlock-protocol.com">support@unlock-protocol.com</a>.</p>



We are introducing a new proposal to migrate the liquidity provided by the Unlock DAO’s treasury from Uniswap V2 to Uniswap V3. This migration should provide more efficient trading and routing capabilities.

The process will be split in two proposals. The first proposal is to initially transfer 10% of the existing V2 liquidity position to ensure the integrity of the migration process. Pending a successful migration of the first 10% of the position, a second proposal will follow to migrate the remaining 90% of the initial V2 position. This is done to reduce fluctuations in UDT price during and after the migration process and ensure a smooth transition.

## **Why the migration?**

Uniswap allows token holders to trade pairs and to exchange one token for another. Today, the UDT / WETH pair on mainnet primarily uses Uniswap V2, while the newer [Uniswap V3 pool](https://etherscan.io/address/0x22a0738bDe54050FfC04408063Fd5FbDc1205BDf) has very little liquidity.

Using Uniswap V3 allows more efficient trading and routing, making it easier to trade UDT for any other tokens available. Therefore, we propose that the DAO migrate most of liquidity from the existing V2 pool to the V3 pool.

## **Uniswap V2 vs V3**

The main difference between Uniswap V2 and V3 pools is the way liquidity is concentrated. In Uniswap v2, liquidity is evenly distributed across the entire price range while in [Uniswap v3](https://blog.uniswap.org/uniswap-v3), liquidity can be concentrated in specific price ranges, allowing for more efficient trading.

## Mechanism to m**igrate the Uniswap pool**

For the migration, Uniswap provides a contract called [V3Migrator](https://docs.uniswap.org/contracts/v3/reference/periphery/interfaces/IV3Migrator) to enable liquidity transfers. This contract will remove the liquidity from the existing V2 pools, execute the required allowance settings and token transfers to the new V3 pool, then mint a new position.

Uniswap maintains a deployed [version on mainnet](https://etherscan.io/address/0xA5644E29708357803b5A882D272c41cC0dF92B34) that can be used directly.

## **The Unlock DAO proposal(s)**

The current liquidity pool provision in the Unlock DAO's treasury on V2 pool contains approximately 5066.32 UDT and 30.96 WETH. This is a proposal to transfer the WETH and UDT tokens held by the DAO into the newer v3 pool in order to provide liquidity there.

The migration will be split in two separate proposals: first a migration of 10% of the existing position, then the remaining 90%. This is to make sure that everything works as expected.

Both proposals follow a similar pattern in two steps:

1. Set approval on the V2 pool to allow the Uniswap migrator contract to manipulate the existing position

and

2. Call the `migrator.migrate` function to carry out the migration

Once the call is executed, the V3 position will have been created and the Unlock DAO (timelock) address will receive a NFT representing it.

The code of the proposal is visible in the https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/13076.

## **Potential risks and challenges**

During the migration phase, users might experience a temporary reduction in liquidity and change in price. By splitting the liquidity transfer in two, we aim at reducing the potential change in UDT price that may occur.

All along the migration process, observers can monitor that all positions are transferred correctly and that UDT swaps can resume using Uniswap V3.


Transferring the existing UDT/WETH liquidity provision by the DAO's treasury in Uniswap V2 to the existing Uniswap V3 pool

Migrating the UDT Uniswap Pool to Uniswap v3

<p>We are introducing a new proposal to migrate the liquidity provided by the Unlock DAO’s treasury from Uniswap V2 to Uniswap V3. This migration should provide more efficient trading and routing capabilities.</p>
<p>The process will be split in two proposals. The first proposal is to initially transfer 10% of the existing V2 liquidity position to ensure the integrity of the migration process. Pending a successful migration of the first 10% of the position, a second proposal will follow to migrate the remaining 90% of the initial V2 position. This is done to reduce fluctuations in UDT price during and after the migration process and ensure a smooth transition.</p>
<h2><strong>Why the migration?</strong></h2>
<p>Uniswap allows token holders to trade pairs and to exchange one token for another. Today, the UDT / WETH pair on mainnet primarily uses Uniswap V2, while the newer <a href="https://etherscan.io/address/0x22a0738bDe54050FfC04408063Fd5FbDc1205BDf">Uniswap V3 pool</a> has very little liquidity.</p>
<p>Using Uniswap V3 allows more efficient trading and routing, making it easier to trade UDT for any other tokens available. Therefore, we propose that the DAO migrate most of liquidity from the existing V2 pool to the V3 pool.</p>
<h2><strong>Uniswap V2 vs V3</strong></h2>
<p>The main difference between Uniswap V2 and V3 pools is the way liquidity is concentrated. In Uniswap v2, liquidity is evenly distributed across the entire price range while in <a href="https://blog.uniswap.org/uniswap-v3">Uniswap v3</a>, liquidity can be concentrated in specific price ranges, allowing for more efficient trading.</p>
<h2>Mechanism to m<strong>igrate the Uniswap pool</strong></h2>
<p>For the migration, Uniswap provides a contract called <a href="https://docs.uniswap.org/contracts/v3/reference/periphery/interfaces/IV3Migrator">V3Migrator</a> to enable liquidity transfers. This contract will remove the liquidity from the existing V2 pools, execute the required allowance settings and token transfers to the new V3 pool, then mint a new position.</p>
<p>Uniswap maintains a deployed <a href="https://etherscan.io/address/0xA5644E29708357803b5A882D272c41cC0dF92B34">version on mainnet</a> that can be used directly.</p>
<h2><strong>The Unlock DAO proposal(s)</strong></h2>
<p>The current liquidity pool provision in the Unlock DAO's treasury on V2 pool contains approximately 5066.32 UDT and 30.96 WETH. This is a proposal to transfer the WETH and UDT tokens held by the DAO into the newer v3 pool in order to provide liquidity there.</p>
<p>The migration will be split in two separate proposals: first a migration of 10% of the existing position, then the remaining 90%. This is to make sure that everything works as expected.</p>
<p>Both proposals follow a similar pattern in two steps:</p>
<ol>
<li>Set approval on the V2 pool to allow the Uniswap migrator contract to manipulate the existing position</li>
</ol>
<p>and</p>
<ol start="2">
<li>Call the <code>migrator.migrate</code> function to carry out the migration</li>
</ol>
<p>Once the call is executed, the V3 position will have been created and the Unlock DAO (timelock) address will receive a NFT representing it.</p>
<p>The code of the proposal is visible in the https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/13076.</p>
<h2><strong>Potential risks and challenges</strong></h2>
<p>During the migration phase, users might experience a temporary reduction in liquidity and change in price. By splitting the liquidity transfer in two, we aim at reducing the potential change in UDT price that may occur.</p>
<p>All along the migration process, observers can monitor that all positions are transferred correctly and that UDT swaps can resume using Uniswap V3.</p>



[Magic Eden](https://magiceden.io) is a trailblazing NFT marketplace, supporting multiple blockchains including Ethereum Mainnet, Polygon, and others. A key part of the Magic Eden ecosystem is [the Magic Eden Launchpad](https://magiceden.io/launchpad), a dedicated platform for projects looking to vault into the spotlight during their launch phase. Magic Eden has been instrumental in helping projects gain traction and audience engagement, and now it's set to transform how membership programs are launched and managed.

Across the Unlock Protocol Locksmith ecosystem, we've had an increasing number of teams requesting guidance on how to launch their Unlock-powered membership programs via Magic Eden's Launchpad. Based on this demand, Unlock Protocol and Magic Eden have worked together to seamlessly integrate Unlock Protocol smart contracts into the Magic Eden Launchpad and marketplace, paving the way for more projects to bring their memberships and subscriptions to market through the Magic Eden marketplace. Projects such as [the CyberKitty Playhous](https://magiceden.io/collections/polygon/0x8dcd353c28a0686a57161f63340b91fca9db5a10)e have launched using this approach.

A key aspect of this integration revolves around the unique **`purchase()`** function in the Unlock smart contracts. This function, detailed in [Unlock's documentation](https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/smart-contracts-api/PublicLock#purchase), is tailored to mint NFT memberships with specific parameters such as the membership recipient, the value paid, membership managers (if applicable), a referrer address, and potentially additional data.

To streamline the purchase process, Unlock Protocol developed a backend API that simplifies the integration of these parameters for projects using Magic Eden's marketplace. In practice, this means projects can now more easily leverage the power of Unlock Protocol for their membership programs, tapping into a wider audience and unlocking new paths to community engagement and monetization thanks to increased visibility within the Magic Eden marketplace.

This partnership is more than just a technical integration; it's a shift in how NFTs are used for community engagement and membership models. By combining the strengths of Unlock Protocol's membership and subscription smart contract functionality and Magic Eden's Launchpad, we're opening up new opportunities for creators and communities to connect in novel and exciting ways.

For projects looking to explore this further, jump into the [Unlock Protocol Discord](https://discord.unlock-protocol.com)!


Prepare for launch — Unlock Protocol and Magic Eden have a new integration! 🚀

Minting Memberships with Magic Eden

<p><a href="https://magiceden.io">Magic Eden</a> is a trailblazing NFT marketplace, supporting multiple blockchains including Ethereum Mainnet, Polygon, and others. A key part of the Magic Eden ecosystem is <a href="https://magiceden.io/launchpad">the Magic Eden Launchpad</a>, a dedicated platform for projects looking to vault into the spotlight during their launch phase. Magic Eden has been instrumental in helping projects gain traction and audience engagement, and now it's set to transform how membership programs are launched and managed.</p>
<p>Across the Unlock Protocol Locksmith ecosystem, we've had an increasing number of teams requesting guidance on how to launch their Unlock-powered membership programs via Magic Eden's Launchpad. Based on this demand, Unlock Protocol and Magic Eden have worked together to seamlessly integrate Unlock Protocol smart contracts into the Magic Eden Launchpad and marketplace, paving the way for more projects to bring their memberships and subscriptions to market through the Magic Eden marketplace. Projects such as <a href="https://magiceden.io/collections/polygon/0x8dcd353c28a0686a57161f63340b91fca9db5a10">the CyberKitty Playhous</a>e have launched using this approach.</p>
<p>A key aspect of this integration revolves around the unique <strong><code>purchase()</code></strong> function in the Unlock smart contracts. This function, detailed in <a href="https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/smart-contracts-api/PublicLock#purchase">Unlock's documentation</a>, is tailored to mint NFT memberships with specific parameters such as the membership recipient, the value paid, membership managers (if applicable), a referrer address, and potentially additional data.</p>
<p>To streamline the purchase process, Unlock Protocol developed a backend API that simplifies the integration of these parameters for projects using Magic Eden's marketplace. In practice, this means projects can now more easily leverage the power of Unlock Protocol for their membership programs, tapping into a wider audience and unlocking new paths to community engagement and monetization thanks to increased visibility within the Magic Eden marketplace.</p>
<p>This partnership is more than just a technical integration; it's a shift in how NFTs are used for community engagement and membership models. By combining the strengths of Unlock Protocol's membership and subscription smart contract functionality and Magic Eden's Launchpad, we're opening up new opportunities for creators and communities to connect in novel and exciting ways.</p>
<p>For projects looking to explore this further, jump into the <a href="https://discord.unlock-protocol.com">Unlock Protocol Discord</a>!</p>



Join us as we take the wraps off the [2023 Unlock Protocol Advent Calendar](https://advent.unlock-protocol.com/), an exciting journey through the world of Web3!

![Advent Calendar](/images/blog/advent-calendar-2023.jpeg)

[Last year](/blog/advent-calendar-2022), we [gifted over 200,000 NFTs](/blog/advent-infographic) to the Unlock Locksmith community as part of the Advent calendar festivities. This year, we're taking it up a notch! Each day from December 1st to 24th, open a new door on our digital calendar to claim exclusive NFTs, engage in unique experiences, and uncover special surprises.

What makes this year's calendar even more exciting are our collabs with leading names in the Web3 world: [#BuildOnBase](https://base.org/), [Privy](https://privy.io/), [Decrypt](https://decrypt.co/), [Coinage](https://www.coinage.media/), and many others. Each day is a new NFT drop with a blend of insights, fun facts, and special rewards you won't want to miss.

## Features of the 2023 Unlock Protocol Advent Calendar:

- **Unique Daily NFTs**: A new NFT every day created by artist and designer [Chiali Tsai](https://chialitsai.com/), each with its own story and design.

- **Exclusive Content**: Collaborations with Decrypt, Coinage, Privy, and others bring you the best of the Web3 world.

- **Easy Minting**: Thanks to our deployment on Base, minting is easy and virtually cost-free.

- **Surprise Rewards**: Special giveaways and bonuses hidden throughout the month.

## How to Participate:

1. Visit [https://advent.unlock-protocol.com](https://advent.unlock-protocol.com) and access our Advent calendar.

2. Daily NFT Claim: Open a new door each day and claim your NFT for that day.

3. Engage and Learn: Enjoy the content, participate in challenges, expand your crypto knowledge — and you may even get some gifts!

## Keep the Spirit Alive:

Don't worry if you miss a day! You can catch up by claiming past NFTs, ensuring you're part of this festive blockchain celebration.

We at Unlock Protocol are excited to bring this experience back to the Locksmith community for a second year. Join us in counting down the days to the holidays and uncover the many surprises we have in store!

Stay tuned for more details, and get ready to unlock the wonders of this festive season with us!


Join us as we take the wraps off the 2023 Unlock Protocol Advent Calendar, an exciting journey through the world of Web3!

Advent Calendar

<p>Join us as we take the wraps off the <a href="https://advent.unlock-protocol.com/">2023 Unlock Protocol Advent Calendar</a>, an exciting journey through the world of Web3!</p>
<p><img src="/images/blog/advent-calendar-2023.jpeg" alt="Advent Calendar"></p>
<p><a href="/blog/advent-calendar-2022">Last year</a>, we <a href="/blog/advent-infographic">gifted over 200,000 NFTs</a> to the Unlock Locksmith community as part of the Advent calendar festivities. This year, we're taking it up a notch! Each day from December 1st to 24th, open a new door on our digital calendar to claim exclusive NFTs, engage in unique experiences, and uncover special surprises.</p>
<p>What makes this year's calendar even more exciting are our collabs with leading names in the Web3 world: <a href="https://base.org/">#BuildOnBase</a>, <a href="https://privy.io/">Privy</a>, <a href="https://decrypt.co/">Decrypt</a>, <a href="https://www.coinage.media/">Coinage</a>, and many others. Each day is a new NFT drop with a blend of insights, fun facts, and special rewards you won't want to miss.</p>
<h2>Features of the 2023 Unlock Protocol Advent Calendar:</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Unique Daily NFTs</strong>: A new NFT every day created by artist and designer <a href="https://chialitsai.com/">Chiali Tsai</a>, each with its own story and design.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Exclusive Content</strong>: Collaborations with Decrypt, Coinage, Privy, and others bring you the best of the Web3 world.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Easy Minting</strong>: Thanks to our deployment on Base, minting is easy and virtually cost-free.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Surprise Rewards</strong>: Special giveaways and bonuses hidden throughout the month.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>How to Participate:</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Visit <a href="https://advent.unlock-protocol.com">https://advent.unlock-protocol.com</a> and access our Advent calendar.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Daily NFT Claim: Open a new door each day and claim your NFT for that day.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Engage and Learn: Enjoy the content, participate in challenges, expand your crypto knowledge — and you may even get some gifts!</p>
</li>
</ol>
<h2>Keep the Spirit Alive:</h2>
<p>Don't worry if you miss a day! You can catch up by claiming past NFTs, ensuring you're part of this festive blockchain celebration.</p>
<p>We at Unlock Protocol are excited to bring this experience back to the Locksmith community for a second year. Join us in counting down the days to the holidays and uncover the many surprises we have in store!</p>
<p>Stay tuned for more details, and get ready to unlock the wonders of this festive season with us!</p>



*Editor's note: [Originally posted on the Darkblock blog](https://www.darkblock.io/news/unlock-subscriptions/).*

Today, we’re excited to announce [Darkblock](https://darkblock.io/) has integrated with Unlock Protocol to give creators more flexibility in how they deliver exclusive content to their fans. With this integration, creators can now harness the combined power of Unlock and Darkblock to sell recurring subscriptions to their content and enable other time-based access to onchain content.

NFTs have redefined digital ownership, extending far beyond the realm of digital art. The teams behind Darkblock and Unlock recognized this and have for years been building toward a shared mission — empowering creators with web3-native ways (i.e., permissionless, decentralized ways) to form and engage with their communities, moving them closer to creative sovereignty.

While Darkblock has been at the forefront of decentralizing content, freeing it from the walled gardens of web2 platforms by enabling creators to encrypt and permanently attach their multimedia files to NFTs ([creating token-bound content](https://www.darkblock.io/news/token-bound-vs-token-gated-content/)), Unlock’s unique contribution to this evolving space has been enabling creators to leverage NFTs to explore web3-native subscription and membership-based business models.

Giving creators access to both capabilities is why Darkblock’s integration of Unlock Protocol is so powerful.

## Flexibility and Customization

One of the key highlights of this integration is the freedom it provides to creators.

Stella Achenbach, founder of [The ALANA Project](https://www.the-alana-project.xyz/), sees all kinds of groundbreaking opportunities by integrating Darkblock and Unlock into her tech stack.

“The capabilities offered by utilizing Darkblock in combination with Unlock Protocol is something I’ve been seeking for a long time,” Achenbach says. “It provides us with the opportunity to build our community and sell subscriptions to exclusive content, all in a web3-native way that doesn’t rely on centralized platforms or solutions, which is a game changer for us.

“We’re beginning with selling subscriptions to ALANAmagazine and exclusive holder content, and we see the potential for so many more use cases as we continue to build and deliver value within our community.”

Watch the video below to see how creators can use Unlock Protocol to deploy a smart contract (referred to as a “lock”) and mint an NFT (referred to as a “key”) with specific conditions and time-based constraints on digital ownership, then use Darkblock’s no-code app to encrypt and attach multimedia files to those NFTs that, by virtue of a simple checkbox added to the workflow, will only be accessible to an NFT’s owner based on time constraints the creator set via Unlock.

<div style="position: relative; overflow: hidden; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6l0L7P4DtGo" title="Darkblock and Unlock Protocol Integration" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

## New Business Models Unlocked

This level of customization now available to creators empowers them to experiment with various, web3-native business models, whether it’s renting content or other digital assets or selling subscriptions or memberships that come with access to exclusive content.

### Subscription-Based Magazines

Imagine launching a subscription-based magazine powered by NFTs. With Unlock Protocol and Darkblock, creators can offer their readers exclusive content through NFT memberships. Whether it’s monthly issues, premium articles, or interactive multimedia experiences, this integration paves the way for innovative publishing models in the digital age.

### Web3-Native Patreon

Creators can take their memberships and subscriptions to the next level by building a web3-native Patreon-style platform. With Unlock Protocol’s NFTs, creators can grant members access to premium content for as long as they remain members. Darkblock’s integration ensures the content is encrypted, stored in a decentralized manner, and accessible in diverse ways.

### Time-Based Rentals

For creators such as musicians, filmmakers, or game developers, this integration introduces the concept of time-based rentals. Use Unlock Protocol to mint NFTs that grant time-based access to the token-bound music, film or 3D game assets enabled by Darkblock protocol.

## Enabling the Future of Web3 Content

The integration of Darkblock and Unlock Protocol marks a significant milestone in the world of NFTs and content distribution. It’s a powerful example of how blockchain technology can empower creators and revolutionize the way content is monetized and shared.

If you’re a creator looking to explore these exciting possibilities, we invite you to join us on this journey. Watch the video below that demonstrates how easy is it is for a creator to use Unlock to mint their membership NFTs, then use Darkblock to encrypt and attach content to those NFTs that will be accessible based on the time-based conditions set via Unlock.


With this integration, creators can now harness the combined power of Unlock and Darkblock to sell recurring subscriptions to onchain content.

Darkblock and Unlock Protocol Team Up to Enable Web3-Native Subscriptions to Content

<p><em>Editor's note: <a href="https://www.darkblock.io/news/unlock-subscriptions/">Originally posted on the Darkblock blog</a>.</em></p>
<p>Today, we’re excited to announce <a href="https://darkblock.io/">Darkblock</a> has integrated with Unlock Protocol to give creators more flexibility in how they deliver exclusive content to their fans. With this integration, creators can now harness the combined power of Unlock and Darkblock to sell recurring subscriptions to their content and enable other time-based access to onchain content.</p>
<p>NFTs have redefined digital ownership, extending far beyond the realm of digital art. The teams behind Darkblock and Unlock recognized this and have for years been building toward a shared mission — empowering creators with web3-native ways (i.e., permissionless, decentralized ways) to form and engage with their communities, moving them closer to creative sovereignty.</p>
<p>While Darkblock has been at the forefront of decentralizing content, freeing it from the walled gardens of web2 platforms by enabling creators to encrypt and permanently attach their multimedia files to NFTs (<a href="https://www.darkblock.io/news/token-bound-vs-token-gated-content/">creating token-bound content</a>), Unlock’s unique contribution to this evolving space has been enabling creators to leverage NFTs to explore web3-native subscription and membership-based business models.</p>
<p>Giving creators access to both capabilities is why Darkblock’s integration of Unlock Protocol is so powerful.</p>
<h2>Flexibility and Customization</h2>
<p>One of the key highlights of this integration is the freedom it provides to creators.</p>
<p>Stella Achenbach, founder of <a href="https://www.the-alana-project.xyz/">The ALANA Project</a>, sees all kinds of groundbreaking opportunities by integrating Darkblock and Unlock into her tech stack.</p>
<p>“The capabilities offered by utilizing Darkblock in combination with Unlock Protocol is something I’ve been seeking for a long time,” Achenbach says. “It provides us with the opportunity to build our community and sell subscriptions to exclusive content, all in a web3-native way that doesn’t rely on centralized platforms or solutions, which is a game changer for us.</p>
<p>“We’re beginning with selling subscriptions to ALANAmagazine and exclusive holder content, and we see the potential for so many more use cases as we continue to build and deliver value within our community.”</p>
<p>Watch the video below to see how creators can use Unlock Protocol to deploy a smart contract (referred to as a “lock”) and mint an NFT (referred to as a “key”) with specific conditions and time-based constraints on digital ownership, then use Darkblock’s no-code app to encrypt and attach multimedia files to those NFTs that, by virtue of a simple checkbox added to the workflow, will only be accessible to an NFT’s owner based on time constraints the creator set via Unlock.</p>
<div style="position: relative; overflow: hidden; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6l0L7P4DtGo" title="Darkblock and Unlock Protocol Integration" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<h2>New Business Models Unlocked</h2>
<p>This level of customization now available to creators empowers them to experiment with various, web3-native business models, whether it’s renting content or other digital assets or selling subscriptions or memberships that come with access to exclusive content.</p>
<h3>Subscription-Based Magazines</h3>
<p>Imagine launching a subscription-based magazine powered by NFTs. With Unlock Protocol and Darkblock, creators can offer their readers exclusive content through NFT memberships. Whether it’s monthly issues, premium articles, or interactive multimedia experiences, this integration paves the way for innovative publishing models in the digital age.</p>
<h3>Web3-Native Patreon</h3>
<p>Creators can take their memberships and subscriptions to the next level by building a web3-native Patreon-style platform. With Unlock Protocol’s NFTs, creators can grant members access to premium content for as long as they remain members. Darkblock’s integration ensures the content is encrypted, stored in a decentralized manner, and accessible in diverse ways.</p>
<h3>Time-Based Rentals</h3>
<p>For creators such as musicians, filmmakers, or game developers, this integration introduces the concept of time-based rentals. Use Unlock Protocol to mint NFTs that grant time-based access to the token-bound music, film or 3D game assets enabled by Darkblock protocol.</p>
<h2>Enabling the Future of Web3 Content</h2>
<p>The integration of Darkblock and Unlock Protocol marks a significant milestone in the world of NFTs and content distribution. It’s a powerful example of how blockchain technology can empower creators and revolutionize the way content is monetized and shared.</p>
<p>If you’re a creator looking to explore these exciting possibilities, we invite you to join us on this journey. Watch the video below that demonstrates how easy is it is for a creator to use Unlock to mint their membership NFTs, then use Darkblock to encrypt and attach content to those NFTs that will be accessible based on the time-based conditions set via Unlock.</p>



![linea-share-image.png](/images/blog/linea-launch/linea-share-image.png)

Unlock Labs is committed to ensuring that Unlock Protocol is accessible across a range of blockchain networks to meet the diverse needs of developers. 

Today, we are happy to announce that the Unlock Protocol has been deployed to the [Linea](https://linea.build) network, effective immediately.

## Why deploy on Linea?

Linea is a developer-ready zkEVM roll-up platform designed for scaling Ethereum decentralized applications (dapps). It provides low gas fees and low latency with high throughput while maintaining the security of Ethereum. 

Linea supports popular development tools and infrastructure, enabling seamless MetaMask distribution and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) equivalence.

## Unlock Protocol on Linea

We have deployed the contracts for Unlock Protocol on Linea, and starting now, you are able to create locks from the Unlock dashboard. 

The Unlock Protocol main contract on Linea can be found at the address [0x70B3c9Dd9788570FAAb24B92c3a57d99f8186Cc7](https://lineascan.build/address/0x70B3c9Dd9788570FAAb24B92c3a57d99f8186Cc7). Linea fully supports the key capabilities of the Unlock Protocol, including contract hooks.

**Linea chain/network id:** 59144

**Native currency:** ETH

**Linea explorer:** [https://lineascan.build/](https://lineascan.build/)

We are committed to continually expanding the networks where Unlock Protocol can be used by developers to deploy subscription NFT, on-chain events and other membership NFTs. The integration with Linea marks another step towards a more decentralized web. 

We invite developers to explore the capabilities of Unlock Protocol on Linea. If you have any questions, reach out to the Unlock Protocol community at [https://discord.unlock-protocol.com](https://discord.unlock-protocol.com).


**Note:** You can always find the up-to-late list of all the production and test networks where Unlock Protocol has been deployed at [https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/unlock/networks/](https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/unlock/networks/)


Unlock Protocol has been deployed to the Linea network, effective immediately.

Unlock Protocol Now Available on the Linea Network

<p><img src="/images/blog/linea-launch/linea-share-image.png" alt="linea-share-image.png"></p>
<p>Unlock Labs is committed to ensuring that Unlock Protocol is accessible across a range of blockchain networks to meet the diverse needs of developers.</p>
<p>Today, we are happy to announce that the Unlock Protocol has been deployed to the <a href="https://linea.build">Linea</a> network, effective immediately.</p>
<h2>Why deploy on Linea?</h2>
<p>Linea is a developer-ready zkEVM roll-up platform designed for scaling Ethereum decentralized applications (dapps). It provides low gas fees and low latency with high throughput while maintaining the security of Ethereum.</p>
<p>Linea supports popular development tools and infrastructure, enabling seamless MetaMask distribution and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) equivalence.</p>
<h2>Unlock Protocol on Linea</h2>
<p>We have deployed the contracts for Unlock Protocol on Linea, and starting now, you are able to create locks from the Unlock dashboard.</p>
<p>The Unlock Protocol main contract on Linea can be found at the address <a href="https://lineascan.build/address/0x70B3c9Dd9788570FAAb24B92c3a57d99f8186Cc7">0x70B3c9Dd9788570FAAb24B92c3a57d99f8186Cc7</a>. Linea fully supports the key capabilities of the Unlock Protocol, including contract hooks.</p>
<p><strong>Linea chain/network id:</strong> 59144</p>
<p><strong>Native currency:</strong> ETH</p>
<p><strong>Linea explorer:</strong> <a href="https://lineascan.build/">https://lineascan.build/</a></p>
<p>We are committed to continually expanding the networks where Unlock Protocol can be used by developers to deploy subscription NFT, on-chain events and other membership NFTs. The integration with Linea marks another step towards a more decentralized web.</p>
<p>We invite developers to explore the capabilities of Unlock Protocol on Linea. If you have any questions, reach out to the Unlock Protocol community at <a href="https://discord.unlock-protocol.com">https://discord.unlock-protocol.com</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> You can always find the up-to-late list of all the production and test networks where Unlock Protocol has been deployed at <a href="https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/unlock/networks/">https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/unlock/networks/</a></p>



![sepolia-share-image.png](/images/blog/sepolia/sepolia-share-image.png)

The [Sepolia testnet](https://moralis.io/sepolia-testnet-guide-what-is-the-sepolia-testnet/) has emerged as an important environment for developers who are creating dapps in the Ethereum ecosystem. In a move to help ensure that the Unlock Protocol is available wherever developers need it, Unlock Labs is thrilled to announce that the Unlock Protocol is now available on the Sepolia testnet, effective immediately.

## Why use a test network?

Test networks like Sepolia are crucial for experimentation and development. They function similarly to the main networks, except their coins are freely obtainable, usually via online faucets. Before deploying costly contracts and operations on a production network, it's prudent to test them in a nearly identical, yet cost-free environment.

## The Goerli testnet is scheduled to be sunset in 2023

Many developers are currently using [the Goerli testnet, which is scheduled to sunset by the end of 2023](https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/goerli-to-sepolia-transition).

Sepolia is the next primary Ethereum testnet for developers, and Sepolia is scheduled to be in operation until 2026.

## Unlock Protocol on Sepolia

The contracts for Unlock Protocol have been deployed on Sepolia and you are able to create test locks from the Unlock dashboard, starting now. The Unlock Protocol main contract on Sepolia lives at the address [0x36b34e10295cCE69B652eEB5a8046041074515Da](https://sepolia.etherscan.io/address/0x36b34e10295cCE69B652eEB5a8046041074515Da). Sepolia is an ideal environment to build custom logic for your lock, and supports key Unlock Protocol capabilities like contract hooks.

- **Sepolia chain/network id:** 11155111
- **Native currency:** ETH
- **Sepolia explorer:** [https://sepolia.etherscan.io/](https://sepolia.etherscan.io/)

## Sepolia online faucets

Here are two currently-available online faucets for obtaining Sepolia tokens for testing.

- [https://sepoliafaucet.com/](https://sepoliafaucet.com/) (Alchemy)
- [https://www.infura.io/faucet/sepolia](https://www.infura.io/faucet/sepolia) (Infura)

**Note:** You can always find the up-to-late list of all the production and test networks where Unlock Protocol has been deployed at [https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/unlock/networks/](https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/unlock/networks/)


As Goerli is being deprecated, the Unlock Protocol has now been deployed on the Sepolia Ethereum Testnet for developers.

Unlock Protocol is Now Available on the Sepolia Ethereum Testnet

<p><img src="/images/blog/sepolia/sepolia-share-image.png" alt="sepolia-share-image.png"></p>
<p>The <a href="https://moralis.io/sepolia-testnet-guide-what-is-the-sepolia-testnet/">Sepolia testnet</a> has emerged as an important environment for developers who are creating dapps in the Ethereum ecosystem. In a move to help ensure that the Unlock Protocol is available wherever developers need it, Unlock Labs is thrilled to announce that the Unlock Protocol is now available on the Sepolia testnet, effective immediately.</p>
<h2>Why use a test network?</h2>
<p>Test networks like Sepolia are crucial for experimentation and development. They function similarly to the main networks, except their coins are freely obtainable, usually via online faucets. Before deploying costly contracts and operations on a production network, it's prudent to test them in a nearly identical, yet cost-free environment.</p>
<h2>The Goerli testnet is scheduled to be sunset in 2023</h2>
<p>Many developers are currently using <a href="https://docs.chainstack.com/docs/goerli-to-sepolia-transition">the Goerli testnet, which is scheduled to sunset by the end of 2023</a>.</p>
<p>Sepolia is the next primary Ethereum testnet for developers, and Sepolia is scheduled to be in operation until 2026.</p>
<h2>Unlock Protocol on Sepolia</h2>
<p>The contracts for Unlock Protocol have been deployed on Sepolia and you are able to create test locks from the Unlock dashboard, starting now. The Unlock Protocol main contract on Sepolia lives at the address <a href="https://sepolia.etherscan.io/address/0x36b34e10295cCE69B652eEB5a8046041074515Da">0x36b34e10295cCE69B652eEB5a8046041074515Da</a>. Sepolia is an ideal environment to build custom logic for your lock, and supports key Unlock Protocol capabilities like contract hooks.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Sepolia chain/network id:</strong> 11155111</li>
<li><strong>Native currency:</strong> ETH</li>
<li><strong>Sepolia explorer:</strong> <a href="https://sepolia.etherscan.io/">https://sepolia.etherscan.io/</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Sepolia online faucets</h2>
<p>Here are two currently-available online faucets for obtaining Sepolia tokens for testing.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sepoliafaucet.com/">https://sepoliafaucet.com/</a> (Alchemy)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.infura.io/faucet/sepolia">https://www.infura.io/faucet/sepolia</a> (Infura)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> You can always find the up-to-late list of all the production and test networks where Unlock Protocol has been deployed at <a href="https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/unlock/networks/">https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/core-protocol/unlock/networks/</a></p>



![cross-chain-share.png](/images/blog/crosschain/cross-chain-share.png)

In service to the Unlock DAO, the Unlock Labs team has been working on [an ambitious project to implement cross-chain DAO governance](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/crosschain) to ensure consistent protocol behavior across variety of EVM-compatible networks where Unlock Protocol has been deployed. 

When the Unlock DAO approves a proposal that affects the operation of the core Unlock Protocol, those changes are propagated via bridges across the various chains to keep the protocol’s behavior consistent, regardless of which chain is being used to deploy an Unlock Protocol smart contract. 

Unlock Labs partnered with [Connext](https://www.connext.network/) and [Gnosis Guild](https://gnosisguild.org/) to create this first-of-its-kind architecture that passes not only tokens between networks. *It passes code changes across bridges*. 

Here’s a quick FAQ on why this matters and how it works.

### How does this integration simplify the governance process across different blockchain networks?

The cross-chain process makes the overall DAO management process more straightforward, as the Governor contract on the Ethereum mainnet becomes the single source of truth for Unlock Protocol. Once a proposal for a change is ratified there, the change will propagate to other chains directly.

Previously, each proposal had to be sent separately to a different multisig on each network to reflect changes, which was a detailed, cumbersome, and manual process.

### How does this integration impact the overall maintenance and workflow of cross-chain governance?

The maintenance of the protocol is simplified as steps to propagate a DAO decision from mainnet to other chains is now automated. Before, the manual steps could lead to errors or mistakes.

A single DAO proposal can now lead to a version upgrade in protocol contracts or a change in protocol settings that cascades across multiple chains directly. This previously required separate manual intervention to implement a change, for each and every network.

As part of this project, Unlock Labs also developed and improved tools to write, test, and submit DAO proposals. DAO proposals can now be written in the form of a full js script, allowing for different kinds of interactions (e.g. interactions with 3rd party libraries, contract deployments, and more) as part of the [proposal](https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12790).

### How does the implementation benefit the members of the Unlock DAO?

For members of the DAO, the cross-chain process allows them to gain more control and insight about what is happening across the entire protocol. Before this upgrade, the “upgrade” part of the protocol was partially centralized with Unlock Labs team. In the spirit — and action — of progressive decentralization, any Unlock DAO member can write and submit a proposal that can be reflected across the many chains where the protocol has been deployed.

### Does this implementation enhance security or efficiency in cross-chain DAO governance?

This new implementation helps the Unlock Protocol ecosystem execute more efficiently, since approved proposals will propagate more quickly across the various networks with reduced overhead. 

Security, as usual, is a double-edged sword. On one side, a single proposal can apply changes across multiple chains making audit and tracking of calls easier, and the protocol more consistent (for instance in case of an upgrade, which in the past could result in different protocol versions across different chains). 

Of course, the converse is also true — a potential error will propagate more quickly to the other chains. This upgrade includes multiple safeguards, including a cooldown process for transactions when they arrive on destination chains with the ability to cancel a malicious transaction during that cooldown period. A timelock allows quarantining a call after it has crossed the bridge. 

The main concern is to have a mechanism to prevent the execution of a malicious call in case the bridge itself is ever compromised.

### How does this implementation contribute to the broader goal of decentralization in web3?

Unlock Protocol's DAO (with a D as in “Decentralized”) aims at building tools for the community of Unlock Protocol developers, users and stakeholders to manage the protocol themselves, without intervention from the Unlock Labs core team. 

This cross-chain governance process puts management of contracts previously only managed by Unlock’s team multisig in the hands of the Unlock DAO. By doing so, Unlock also stands at the forefront of experiments in protocol governance by proposing a complete, auditable, and transparent way to make changes in the protocol when necessary.

### What was the role of Connext in this architecture?

Connext provides the bridge technology that is necessary for taking the calls contained in the DAO proposal from mainnet to the other chains. The Connext bridge effectively conveys the instructions to execute across chains.

### What was the role of Safe in this architecture?

Safe provides the receiving end of DAO proposals on destination chains. When a call is sent from the DAO’s Governor contract, it crosses the bridge towards a Safe that receives it.

Gnosis Guild’s Zodiac suite of modules allows for a Safe to 1) receive calls properly from the bridge and 2) put a call in quarantine for a cooldown period once it is received.

Unlock Protocol has historically relied on Safe for the management of the protocol contracts. By reusing and building on the same tech, the changes required for the protocol governance are kept to a minimum to avoid potential security issues.

### Things we learned along the way

There were multiple challenges along the way, as we were in radically unexplored technical territory. When we started [working on this idea earlier this summer](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/crosschain), Connext had recently been launched. At that time, each call took more than 5 hours to cross a bridge, making things a bit tedious to test sometimes. Also, the lack of some tooling on testnets made for some development challenges.

In the time since the first iteration of this architecture, Connext developed integration with the *extremely* helpful Zodiac module solution, which was audited and maintained by their own team.

We discovered a few issues integrating with the contracts during the process, and were able to work very closely with the Gnosis Guild team, who were incredibly responsive when issues arose during the development. 

### The bottom line: This is complex stuff!

As an industry, it’s clear that we are just at the beginning of this journey. There is still a long road ahead for DAO tools and lots to build, and projects like this require coordination and collaborative effort across many parts of the ecosystem.

Work on governance is hard, as tools are still in a very early stage. 

**Unlock Labs wants to give a big shout out to the teams at [Connext](https://www.connext.network/) and [Gnosis Guild](https://gnosisguild.org/), who are not only at the top of their technical game, but who are also a blast to work with!**


Unlock Labs partnered with Connext and Gnosis Guild to create this first-of-its-kind architecture that passes not only tokens between networks. It passes code changes across bridges.

Implementing Cross-Chain DAO Governance with Unlock Protocol, Connext and Gnosis Guild

<p><img src="/images/blog/crosschain/cross-chain-share.png" alt="cross-chain-share.png"></p>
<p>In service to the Unlock DAO, the Unlock Labs team has been working on <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/crosschain">an ambitious project to implement cross-chain DAO governance</a> to ensure consistent protocol behavior across variety of EVM-compatible networks where Unlock Protocol has been deployed.</p>
<p>When the Unlock DAO approves a proposal that affects the operation of the core Unlock Protocol, those changes are propagated via bridges across the various chains to keep the protocol’s behavior consistent, regardless of which chain is being used to deploy an Unlock Protocol smart contract.</p>
<p>Unlock Labs partnered with <a href="https://www.connext.network/">Connext</a> and <a href="https://gnosisguild.org/">Gnosis Guild</a> to create this first-of-its-kind architecture that passes not only tokens between networks. <em>It passes code changes across bridges</em>.</p>
<p>Here’s a quick FAQ on why this matters and how it works.</p>
<h3>How does this integration simplify the governance process across different blockchain networks?</h3>
<p>The cross-chain process makes the overall DAO management process more straightforward, as the Governor contract on the Ethereum mainnet becomes the single source of truth for Unlock Protocol. Once a proposal for a change is ratified there, the change will propagate to other chains directly.</p>
<p>Previously, each proposal had to be sent separately to a different multisig on each network to reflect changes, which was a detailed, cumbersome, and manual process.</p>
<h3>How does this integration impact the overall maintenance and workflow of cross-chain governance?</h3>
<p>The maintenance of the protocol is simplified as steps to propagate a DAO decision from mainnet to other chains is now automated. Before, the manual steps could lead to errors or mistakes.</p>
<p>A single DAO proposal can now lead to a version upgrade in protocol contracts or a change in protocol settings that cascades across multiple chains directly. This previously required separate manual intervention to implement a change, for each and every network.</p>
<p>As part of this project, Unlock Labs also developed and improved tools to write, test, and submit DAO proposals. DAO proposals can now be written in the form of a full js script, allowing for different kinds of interactions (e.g. interactions with 3rd party libraries, contract deployments, and more) as part of the <a href="https://github.com/unlock-protocol/unlock/pull/12790">proposal</a>.</p>
<h3>How does the implementation benefit the members of the Unlock DAO?</h3>
<p>For members of the DAO, the cross-chain process allows them to gain more control and insight about what is happening across the entire protocol. Before this upgrade, the “upgrade” part of the protocol was partially centralized with Unlock Labs team. In the spirit — and action — of progressive decentralization, any Unlock DAO member can write and submit a proposal that can be reflected across the many chains where the protocol has been deployed.</p>
<h3>Does this implementation enhance security or efficiency in cross-chain DAO governance?</h3>
<p>This new implementation helps the Unlock Protocol ecosystem execute more efficiently, since approved proposals will propagate more quickly across the various networks with reduced overhead.</p>
<p>Security, as usual, is a double-edged sword. On one side, a single proposal can apply changes across multiple chains making audit and tracking of calls easier, and the protocol more consistent (for instance in case of an upgrade, which in the past could result in different protocol versions across different chains).</p>
<p>Of course, the converse is also true — a potential error will propagate more quickly to the other chains. This upgrade includes multiple safeguards, including a cooldown process for transactions when they arrive on destination chains with the ability to cancel a malicious transaction during that cooldown period. A timelock allows quarantining a call after it has crossed the bridge.</p>
<p>The main concern is to have a mechanism to prevent the execution of a malicious call in case the bridge itself is ever compromised.</p>
<h3>How does this implementation contribute to the broader goal of decentralization in web3?</h3>
<p>Unlock Protocol's DAO (with a D as in “Decentralized”) aims at building tools for the community of Unlock Protocol developers, users and stakeholders to manage the protocol themselves, without intervention from the Unlock Labs core team.</p>
<p>This cross-chain governance process puts management of contracts previously only managed by Unlock’s team multisig in the hands of the Unlock DAO. By doing so, Unlock also stands at the forefront of experiments in protocol governance by proposing a complete, auditable, and transparent way to make changes in the protocol when necessary.</p>
<h3>What was the role of Connext in this architecture?</h3>
<p>Connext provides the bridge technology that is necessary for taking the calls contained in the DAO proposal from mainnet to the other chains. The Connext bridge effectively conveys the instructions to execute across chains.</p>
<h3>What was the role of Safe in this architecture?</h3>
<p>Safe provides the receiving end of DAO proposals on destination chains. When a call is sent from the DAO’s Governor contract, it crosses the bridge towards a Safe that receives it.</p>
<p>Gnosis Guild’s Zodiac suite of modules allows for a Safe to 1) receive calls properly from the bridge and 2) put a call in quarantine for a cooldown period once it is received.</p>
<p>Unlock Protocol has historically relied on Safe for the management of the protocol contracts. By reusing and building on the same tech, the changes required for the protocol governance are kept to a minimum to avoid potential security issues.</p>
<h3>Things we learned along the way</h3>
<p>There were multiple challenges along the way, as we were in radically unexplored technical territory. When we started <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/crosschain">working on this idea earlier this summer</a>, Connext had recently been launched. At that time, each call took more than 5 hours to cross a bridge, making things a bit tedious to test sometimes. Also, the lack of some tooling on testnets made for some development challenges.</p>
<p>In the time since the first iteration of this architecture, Connext developed integration with the <em>extremely</em> helpful Zodiac module solution, which was audited and maintained by their own team.</p>
<p>We discovered a few issues integrating with the contracts during the process, and were able to work very closely with the Gnosis Guild team, who were incredibly responsive when issues arose during the development.</p>
<h3>The bottom line: This is complex stuff!</h3>
<p>As an industry, it’s clear that we are just at the beginning of this journey. There is still a long road ahead for DAO tools and lots to build, and projects like this require coordination and collaborative effort across many parts of the ecosystem.</p>
<p>Work on governance is hard, as tools are still in a very early stage.</p>
<p><strong>Unlock Labs wants to give a big shout out to the teams at <a href="https://www.connext.network/">Connext</a> and <a href="https://gnosisguild.org/">Gnosis Guild</a>, who are not only at the top of their technical game, but who are also a blast to work with!</strong></p>



It is now obvious that L2 (and side-chains before that) represent a required step to “scale” blockchains. All transactions will not happen on the same “virtual machine”, but across dozens of them. This is the reason why the Unlock Protocol has been deployed on 12 networks (and more to come), including [Ethereum mainnet](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/announcing-v0), [Polygon](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/unlock-on-polygon), [Gnosis Chain](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/xdai) (neee xDAI), [Optimism](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/optimism), [Arbitrum](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/arbitrum) and more recently [Base](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/base).

This, however, also brings a new challenge for users: their wallets need to have tokens on each and every network they wish to use to transact. This meant a lot of manual bridging and a lot of headaches.

Today, the Unlock Labs team is excited to announce, in partnership with [Decent.xyz](http://decent.xyz), a whole new feature in our “checkout” tool: the ability to make **cross-chain purchases**. 

## What is Unlock’s checkout?

The [Unlock checkout](https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/tools/checkout/) is an interface that lets developers easily add the ability to purchase memberships from their sites, without having to write too much code. It already has the following features:

- Connecting wallets (any web3 wallet)
- Handling [Unlock accounts](https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/tools/sign-in-with-ethereum/unlock-accounts) for users without a wallet
- Supporting [metadata collection](https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/tools/checkout/collecting-metadata) (like email addresses or full names)
- Enabling [recurring onchain subscriptions](https://unlock-protocol.com/guides/recurring-memberships/)
- [Credit card](https://unlock-protocol.com/guides/enabling-credit-cards/) support (through Stripe or [Crossmint](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/crossmint-unlock-integration))
- [Swap and Pay](https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/swap-and-purchase)

and several more features that make it easy for developers to integrate memberships or subscriptions into their onchain applications.

Unlock has now partnered with the team at [Decent](https://decent.xyz) to introduce “**cross-chain checkout**”. 

## What is cross-chain checkout?

This new feature lets users send transactions from the chain of *their* choice to a different network on which a membership smart contract has been deployed. This is a major unlock (haha) to provide a better user experience. **Users do not have to bridge tokens, or even configure their wallets for that new chain**.

What to try it out by yourself on a live demo? [Use this checkout link.](https://app.unlock-protocol.com/checkout?id=cf572b45-5799-4e0d-9dce-d7f741063a5e)

![crosschain-checkout-screenshot.png](/images/blog/crosschaincheckout/cross-chain-checkout-screenshot.png)

In the example, a membership NFT smart contract has been [deployed on Optimism](https://optimistic.etherscan.io/address/0x82bc85aac5b8192d1ef835a9ae9e4bdb299a57ea#code). As a user, I want to purchase a membership, but I don’t have any tokens on Optimism. However, in my wallet, I **do** have some Ether on Arbitrum, Base and Ethereum mainnet. I also have some Matic on Polygon, but not enough to make the purchase, so this option does not show up.

Cross-chain checkout empowers me to use the tokens I do have to purchase the memberships I want, even if they are on other networks.

When I click purchase, Unlock and Decent are integrated to transparently handle all of the bridging and exchange needed to make this transaction as seamless as possible. (As you can imagine, this does have a slight gas cost and behind-the-scenes bridging time. For L2s like Arbitrum or Base, this takes less than one minute.)

At Unlock, we believe that to bring web3 to the masses, we need to remove friction wherever possible, and we’re really proud of this new feature! Please, [let us know what features](https://discord.unlock-protocol.com/) you would want to see being added to the Unlock checkout!


The Unlock Labs team has released, in partnership with Decent, the ability for users to make cross-chain purchases across the Ethereum ecosystem from the Unlock checkout.

You Can Now Do Cross-Chain Purchases with Unlock and Decent

<p>It is now obvious that L2 (and side-chains before that) represent a required step to “scale” blockchains. All transactions will not happen on the same “virtual machine”, but across dozens of them. This is the reason why the Unlock Protocol has been deployed on 12 networks (and more to come), including <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/announcing-v0">Ethereum mainnet</a>, <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/unlock-on-polygon">Polygon</a>, <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/xdai">Gnosis Chain</a> (neee xDAI), <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/optimism">Optimism</a>, <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/arbitrum">Arbitrum</a> and more recently <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/base">Base</a>.</p>
<p>This, however, also brings a new challenge for users: their wallets need to have tokens on each and every network they wish to use to transact. This meant a lot of manual bridging and a lot of headaches.</p>
<p>Today, the Unlock Labs team is excited to announce, in partnership with <a href="http://decent.xyz">Decent.xyz</a>, a whole new feature in our “checkout” tool: the ability to make <strong>cross-chain purchases</strong>.</p>
<h2>What is Unlock’s checkout?</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/tools/checkout/">Unlock checkout</a> is an interface that lets developers easily add the ability to purchase memberships from their sites, without having to write too much code. It already has the following features:</p>
<ul>
<li>Connecting wallets (any web3 wallet)</li>
<li>Handling <a href="https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/tools/sign-in-with-ethereum/unlock-accounts">Unlock accounts</a> for users without a wallet</li>
<li>Supporting <a href="https://docs.unlock-protocol.com/tools/checkout/collecting-metadata">metadata collection</a> (like email addresses or full names)</li>
<li>Enabling <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/guides/recurring-memberships/">recurring onchain subscriptions</a></li>
<li><a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/guides/enabling-credit-cards/">Credit card</a> support (through Stripe or <a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/crossmint-unlock-integration">Crossmint</a>)</li>
<li><a href="https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/swap-and-purchase">Swap and Pay</a></li>
</ul>
<p>and several more features that make it easy for developers to integrate memberships or subscriptions into their onchain applications.</p>
<p>Unlock has now partnered with the team at <a href="https://decent.xyz">Decent</a> to introduce “<strong>cross-chain checkout</strong>”.</p>
<h2>What is cross-chain checkout?</h2>
<p>This new feature lets users send transactions from the chain of <em>their</em> choice to a different network on which a membership smart contract has been deployed. This is a major unlock (haha) to provide a better user experience. <strong>Users do not have to bridge tokens, or even configure their wallets for that new chain</strong>.</p>
<p>What to try it out by yourself on a live demo? <a href="https://app.unlock-protocol.com/checkout?id=cf572b45-5799-4e0d-9dce-d7f741063a5e">Use this checkout link.</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/blog/crosschaincheckout/cross-chain-checkout-screenshot.png" alt="crosschain-checkout-screenshot.png"></p>
<p>In the example, a membership NFT smart contract has been <a href="https://optimistic.etherscan.io/address/0x82bc85aac5b8192d1ef835a9ae9e4bdb299a57ea#code">deployed on Optimism</a>. As a user, I want to purchase a membership, but I don’t have any tokens on Optimism. However, in my wallet, I <strong>do</strong> have some Ether on Arbitrum, Base and Ethereum mainnet. I also have some Matic on Polygon, but not enough to make the purchase, so this option does not show up.</p>
<p>Cross-chain checkout empowers me to use the tokens I do have to purchase the memberships I want, even if they are on other networks.</p>
<p>When I click purchase, Unlock and Decent are integrated to transparently handle all of the bridging and exchange needed to make this transaction as seamless as possible. (As you can imagine, this does have a slight gas cost and behind-the-scenes bridging time. For L2s like Arbitrum or Base, this takes less than one minute.)</p>
<p>At Unlock, we believe that to bring web3 to the masses, we need to remove friction wherever possible, and we’re really proud of this new feature! Please, <a href="https://discord.unlock-protocol.com/">let us know what features</a> you would want to see being added to the Unlock checkout!</p>
