Glossary/Activation
Activation — definition
Activation is the moment a free ProofSwap project becomes visible in Browse, Match, matching digests, embeds, and public walls. New free listings start pending; submitting one proof for another founder flips them to activated. Paid plans activate instantly at creation so the listing can earn proof without waiting.
Why it matters for indie developers
Indie developers often ship a landing page and wait for strangers to find it. On ProofSwap, activation is the opposite of that hope: you earn visibility by helping someone else first. That give-first gate keeps the marketplace full of people who actually participate.
If your project is still pending, match and give one proof — activation is immediate on submit, not after someone verifies you. Paid tiers skip the wait when you need the listing live on day one.
Related terms
Go deeper: Find a project to help (and activate yours)