What Are Social Tokens? Examples and Top Coins to Watch
For years, social networks have been dominated by a traditional Web2 model, where large corporations control content, monetisation, and user data. This has left creators dependent on platforms and advertisers, with fans acting as passive consumers.
However, a powerful shift is underway, driven by the Web3 creator economy. The technology empowering this change is social tokens (also known as SocialFi tokens). These unique digital assets allow creators and communities to build their own economies, monetise their influence directly, and give fans a way to own a piece of the value they help create.
This article will serve as your guide, explaining what social tokens are and providing a list of top social tokens to watch. Ready? Let's get started, then!
What Are Social Tokens?
Social tokens are a type of fungible cryptocurrency issued by individuals, creators, influencers, or communities on smart contract blockchains like Ethereum or Solana. Their purpose is to monetise content, build a Web3 ecosystem, and create a deeper, more engaged fan base. Unlike non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are unique, social tokens are interchangeable, meaning one token is identical to another, just like traditional currency.
Creators issue these tokens, and fans can acquire them to unlock special community-oriented services. Once acquired, holders can store them in a digital wallet and use them to gain access to a range of exclusive benefits.
There are several real-world social tokens examples that showcase their utility. For fan engagement and exclusive access, the Grammy-winning artist RAC issued the RAC token, which was distributed to his early supporters and granted them access to a private chat group and early merchandise drops. In the case of governance, the community Friends with Benefits (FWB) uses its token to grant access to a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO), where members can vote on decisions and help shape the community's future.
The key benefits of this model are that it provides a new revenue stream for creators while offering rewards and loyalty acknowledgements to fans, creating a symbiotic relationship.
However, there are also risks. The sector faces legal and regulatory uncertainty, and the high price volatility of these assets makes them high-risk for traders and investors. Security is another concern; because social tokens may have centralised points of control, they can be vulnerable, as demonstrated by the 2021 Roll hack, where an attacker compromised private keys and stole millions in creator tokens.
Top Social Tokens: 3 SocialFi Coins for 2025
While the social tokens crypto list is long and varied, this article will focus on three prominent and technologically distinct examples that represent the sector well. The following social tokens list explores Gravity (G), Decentralized Social (DESO), and the Steem token (STEEM), each offering a unique approach to building a decentralised creator economy.
1. Gravity (G)
Gravity (G) is the new native token for the Gravity and Galxe ecosystems, representing a migration from the previous Galxe (GAL) token. Gravity is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain built by Galxe, which is a Web3 credential data network with over 22 million users. This connection gives the G token a massive, built-in user base from day one.
The G token has four primary functions. It is used for staking to secure the Gravity network and for governance, allowing G holders to vote on proposals in the G DAO that affect both the Gravity and Galxe ecosystems. It also serves as the native gas token for all transacting on the Gravity Chain. Finally, it acts as the primary utility token for payments across the vast Galxe ecosystem, which includes popular applications like Galxe Quest and Galxe Passport.
With a total supply of 12 billion tokens, Gravity's value proposition is uniquely tied to two major ecosystems: a new, high-performance blockchain designed for scalability and the largest existing Web3 credential network, positioning it as one of the top social tokens crypto projects.
2. Decentralized Social (DESO)
Decentralized Social (DESO) is a unique Layer 1 blockchain custom-built from the ground up to power storage-heavy social media applications. Unlike general-purpose blockchains, DESO's specialised architecture is designed to make social transactions—like posting, following, or liking—thousands of times cheaper than on networks like Ethereum or Solana. The core vision of the project is to decentralise social media and return data ownership to the users, making it one of the best social tokens platforms for building a true Web3 social experience.
DESO stands out for its native, on-chain social features that are built directly into the protocol. These include Creator Coins, where every user profile automatically gets its own tradable social token; Social Tipping, a feature known as diamonds that allows for direct monetary tips on posts; and Social NFTs, which integrate social engagement directly into the NFT ownership experience.
The flagship application built on the network is Diamond (diamondapp.com), often described as a "Decentralised Twitter." The Deso token is the native coin used to power the network and its features, with a maximum supply of just 10.8 million tokens.
3. Steem (STEEM)
Steem (STEEM) is one of the original and longest-standing social blockchains, having launched back in 2016. The Steem blockchain is designed to grow communities by rewarding users with cryptocurrency for creating and curating content. It operates on a unique algorithm called Proof-of-Brain, which uses the collective wisdom of the crowd (through upvotes) to determine how to distribute rewards from a daily token pool.
The platform has a unique three-asset ecosystem. The Steem token (STEEM) is the fundamental, liquid token of the network. Steem Power (SP) is STEEM that has been staked, or powered up, for a long-term period, which grants the holder greater influence and voting power on content curation. Finally, Steem Dollars (SBD) is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, designed to give content creators an immediate, stable form of reward for their work.
Its main application is Steemit, a decentralised blogging and social media platform that was one of the first successful examples of a crypto-powered social network. Key features of the Steem blockchain include fast (3-second blocks) and feeless transactions, which are essential for social applications. Its long history makes it a true pioneer in the top social tokens crypto space.
Buy SocialFi Tokens on VALR
Social tokens and SocialFi tokens represent a fundamental shift in the creator economy, moving power from centralised platforms to the creators and communities who build them. By enabling direct monetisation and creating new ways for fans to engage, these assets are paving the way for a more open, equitable, and user-owned internet.
Ready to explore the future of the creator economy? Create an account on VALR to get started!
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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author and should not form the basis for making investment decisions, nor be construed as a recommendation or advice to engage in investment transactions.