Introducing ICP Ad Network: A Decentralized Ad Platform for Web3 Developers – Now Competing in WCHL25 Regionals! 
Posted by: RichardHery | Date: Sep 10, 2025 | Category: Announcements, Tools & Integrations
Hey Dfinity and ICP community! 
I’m excited to introduce ICP Ad Network, a blockchain-powered advertising platform built entirely on the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP). If you’re a developer looking to monetize your web3 projects effortlessly while earning ICP or SOL rewards, this is for you. We’ve just placed 3rd in Nationals at the WCHL25 Hackathon and are now advancing to the regional round – but we need your feedback to make it even better!
In this post, I’ll give you a quick overview of the app, highlight its killer features (including Solana integration via Phantom wallets), share our business vision, and explain how it empowers “vibe coders” using tools like Replit or Caffeine. I’d love your thoughts on functionality, potential, and if you’re interested in beta testing or integrating it into your projects to start earning crypto revenue from ad views. Let’s build the future of decentralized ads together!
What is ICP Ad Network?
ICP Ad Network is a user-friendly app that lets developers monetize their web projects by embedding simple ad scripts, while advertisers create and distribute targeted ads (banners or full-page) stored securely on ICP canisters. Built with Construct 3 for the frontend and a combination of Rust and Motoko for the backend, it’s designed for seamless integration into any web app – no complex SDKs required.
- For Developers: Register your project, generate an embed script, and earn ~71% of ad revenue for verified views. Cash out in ICP or SOL anytime.
- For Advertisers: Create ads via an intuitive UI, pay low fees per view, and track authentic engagement on the blockchain.
- Core Goal: Compete with giants like Google AdSense/AdMob by offering lower costs, higher payouts, and fraud-proof verification – all powered by ICP’s efficient, decentralized infrastructure.
We’ve deployed it on ICP canisters (e.g., ad network at qanay-uyaaa-aaaag-qbbwa-cai) and integrated Solana bridging via the sol_poc_canister for cross-chain magic. It’s already functional for creating ads, displaying them, and cashing out – but it is currently gated and we’re iterating based on real feedback!
Key Features: Easy Monetization Meets Chain Fusion
What sets ICP Ad Network apart? It’s web3-native, low-friction, and future-proof. Here’s the highlights:
1. Seamless Authentication & Cross-Chain Payments
- Log in with Internet Identity, Plug Wallet, or Solana’s Phantom Wallet – your choice!
- Chain Fusion Magic: Pay for ads or cash out in ICP or SOL, regardless of your auth method. If you create an ad with SOL, devs earn SOL rewards (and vice versa). This prevents arbitrage and ensures sustainability. No more siloed ecosystems – it’s ICP-Solana fusion at its best, using the
sol_rpc_canisterfor bridging. - Pro Tip: Phantom users get SOL balances displayed directly, with payments handled via signed messages for security.
2. One-Click Embed Generation for Vibe Coders
- Generate a custom script tag (e.g.,
<script src="ad-network-embed.js" data-project-id="YourProject">) that you can paste into any web project. - Vibe Coding Integration: For folks using conversational platforms like Replit or Caffeine (where you build apps from prompts), we’ll soon include prompt templates! Just copy-paste something like: “Add an ad embed script from ICP Ad Network to monetize this page with banners, using project ID ‘MyApp’ and type ‘Horizontal Banner Portrait’. Handle views and payouts in SOL.” – and boom, your vibe-coded app starts earning crypto for every visitor who sees a verified ad.
- Why now? Vibe coding is exploding (e.g., Replit’s AI tools have 10M+ users), but monetization is an afterthought. ICP Ad Network makes it dead simple – earn ICP/SOL passively without touching code.
3. Fraud-Proof Views & High Payouts
- Ads are served with a 5-second view timer; blockchain tokens verify authenticity (no bots or fake clicks!).
- 71% Revenue Share: Advertisers pay ~$0.001/view (ICP) or $0.00015/view (SOL) + a one-time $0.25 service fee for storage/cycles. We keep 29% for ops, passing 71% to devs – way better than AdSense’s 68% cut.
- Ad formats: Banners (horizontal/vertical) and full-page (portrait/landscape), all responsive for mobile/web.
4. Developer-Friendly Tools
- Dashboard: Track views, earnings, and active ads.
- Cash-Out Anytime: Withdraw to your wallet (ICP or SOL) with authentication.
- Backend Efficiency: Low ICP canister costs mean we can keep fees minimal and scale infinitely.
Business Model: Profitable, Sustainable, and Dev-Centric
We’re not just building an app – we’re disrupting the $522B digital ad market (growing to $740B by 2027 per PwC). Traditional platforms like Google take massive cuts and struggle with fraud ($84B lost globally in 2023 per Statista). ICP Ad Network solves this with:
- Low Overhead on ICP: Canister storage costs ~$5/TB/year – enabling 71% payouts and rock-bottom prices.
- Revenue Streams: 29% commissions + service fees; future premiums like analytics ($5/month).
- Projections: Targeting web3’s $15B ad niche (to $50B by 2027). With 5K users in Year 1, we project $500K revenue and $300K profit (60% margins). By Year 3: $20M revenue, $14M profit – all while empowering devs.
- Sustainability Focus: Token association (pay in SOL → earn in SOL) prevents exploits. One-time fees cover cycles/storage, ensuring long-term viability.
- Vibe Coding Opportunity: With tools like Replit/Caffeine democratizing app creation, we’re positioned to capture the next wave of creators. Imagine: Prompt an app, prompt in ads, start earning – no barriers!
This model is hackathon-proven (3rd in Nationals!) and scalable. We’re bootstrapping via community integrations to hit 50K users by 2027.
WCHL25 Hackathon Update: From Nationals to Regionals!
Thrilled to share that ICP Ad Network took 3rd place in the National round of the WCHL25 Hackathon! We’re now in the regional competition, focusing on enhancing chain fusion and vibe coding prompts. This validates our vision, but we’re just getting started. Your input could shape the winner – feedback on usability, Solana integration, or monetization ideas is gold!
Call to Action: Feedback, Testing, and Early Integration
I’d love to hear from you:
- Functionality: How’s the Phantom auth? Embed script ease? Any bugs in ad creation/cash-out?
- Potential: Does 71% payouts + vibe coding prompts excite you? Ideas for features (e.g., video ads, AI targeting)?
- Interest: Want to beta test? Integrate into your ICP project and be among the first to earn ICP/SOL from ad views? DM me or reply below – I’ll share access when the app is ready for you and track your earnings!
Let’s make decentralized ads a reality. Check out the demo at [your-app-url] or fork the repo on GitHub. Feedback welcome – together, we can outpace Google in web3!
What do you think?
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