What is Sign Protocol? ETHSign builds a cross-chain verification empire, complete analysis of SIGN Token.

Sign Protocol is a decentralized full-chain proof protocol that allows users to freely prove and verify any information on the chain. The protocol was founded by Xin Yan, Potter Li, and Jack Xu, creating a universal standard for verifiable proofs through blockchain technology and zero-knowledge cryptography. The ecosystem includes EthSign (document signing) as a key product.

What is Sign Protocol? Solving blockchain trust fragmentation

Every day, we face various claims and assertions made by entities in the real world and online, and we must engage with them. Typically, we resort to the classic trust assumptions and relationships of the systems we operate within, such as the honesty or authority of entities, to validate such claims. In a rapidly evolving world and online environment, simple trust becomes increasingly less effective, while the verification of everything becomes more crucial.

Sign Protocol provides a set of tools, infrastructure, and standards to create a future where all claims and assertions about the network and the world around us are driven by verifiable proof. It achieves this goal by leveraging modern technologies such as decentralized blockchains and data storage solutions, as well as employing new technologies like zero-knowledge cryptography and digital signatures.

Sign Protocol is excited to see a future we can trust, but more importantly, it also uses verifiable proofs to validate everything in order to achieve improved governance protocols, point systems, reward distribution systems, trust and recommendation networks, etc. Sign Protocol is designed as a full-chain verification system aimed at simplifying the way users, developers, and businesses confirm the authenticity of digital information.

The Four Core Problems Solved by the Sign Protocol:

Trust Fragmentation: Establish a unified cross-chain verification standard to replace isolated islands of verification.

Cross-chain verification barriers: Data verified on one blockchain can be accessed on other chains without the need to repeat the process.

Verification Accessibility: Simplifying complex procedures to allow non-technical users to easily create and verify proofs.

Document Authenticity: Ensuring the authenticity of documents and statements through permanent and immutable cryptographic verification.

The agreement is built around the concept of a schema, which serves as a template for data structures and validation methods. Before establishing proof, it must adhere to the registered schema to ensure that all parties understand and agree on the format of the information. These proofs can be fully stored on-chain for maximum security or partially stored off-chain to reduce costs while maintaining verifiability.

The Four Core Products of Sign Protocol

The Sign Protocol ecosystem consists of four closely integrated products that together build a complete verification infrastructure. EthSign is a blockchain-based document signing platform that brings trust to a trustless network by connecting real-world legal agreements with decentralized identities. Users can upload documents, create signature fields, customize annotations, invite co-signers, track signing status, and view the entire agreement lifecycle through cryptographic verification. Importantly, EthSign ensures that digital signatures are legally binding in jurisdictions with technology-neutral laws, including the United States, China, Australia, and others.

TokenTable is an on-chain solution for token distribution and management, aimed at simplifying the registration and allocation of token ownership. This includes Airdrop Pro (which handles claims for over 40 million users across EVM networks, TON, and Solana), Airdrop Lite (a small edition for up to 100,000 users), and Unlocker (designed for fine-tuning token unlocks with customizable schedules). TokenTable has processed over 13 billion USD in token distributions, a figure that itself attests to its technological reliability and market recognition.

Schema Registry serves as a central repository for proof models, providing standardized templates for various verification needs. This enables developers to create compatible and composable proofs that operate seamlessly across the ecosystem. Standardization is a key advantage that distinguishes the Sign Protocol from other verification solutions, as it ensures interoperability and consistency.

SignScan is a proof browser and verification tool that enables users to intuitively explore and validate proofs. It provides visual exploration for non-programmers and offers powerful REST and GraphQL APIs for developers to query proof data. This dual interface design makes the Sign Protocol user-friendly for regular users while being attractive to developers.

SIGN Tokenomics and Airdrop Mechanism

$SIGN is the native cryptocurrency that powers the Sign Protocol ecosystem, serving as the core utility token for all Sign applications and infrastructure. It supports operations such as creating proofs, accessing decentralized storage, and participating in ecosystem services. In addition to its utility, SIGN also plays an economic and governance role, allowing community members to earn rewards, stake tokens, spend within the network, and help shape the future of the protocol through holding and participation.

The total supply cap of SIGN is 10 billion tokens, with an initial circulating supply of 12%. The allocation structure prioritizes community incentives, ecosystem development, and the sustainability of the project. Major allocations include 40% for community incentives, 20% for early investors, 20% for the sustainable development efforts of the Sign Foundation, and the remaining portion for the team, advisors, and ecosystem development.

SIGN Token Distribution Structure:

Community Incentives: 40% (Rewards for ecosystem contributors, developers, and users)

Early Investors: 20% (including lock-up period, supporting early development)

Sign Foundation: 20% (protocol operations, ecological expansion, decentralized measures)

Others: 20% (team, advisors, partners, etc.)

The Sign airdrop is an early distribution activity for the $SIGN token, aimed at rewarding the project's first supporters, ecosystem contributors, and community members. During the token generation event (TGE), 10% of the total $SIGN supply has been allocated to the airdrop, and all tokens are fully unlocked and available immediately. Eligibility for the airdrop is determined through an on-chain snapshot taken on April 25, 2025, which captured participants active in key blockchain activities or communities.

In addition to the initial airdrop, Sign Protocol retains another 30% of the total token supply for future community rewards and incentive programs. These releases will be rolled out over the next few years and may include new unlocking strategies, such as price-based releases via TokenTable. This long-term incentive mechanism is designed to continuously attract developers and users to participate in ecosystem building.

The Technical Architecture and Working Principle of Sign Protocol

The Sign Protocol operates based on a clear structure for creating, verifying, and managing proofs across multiple blockchain ecosystems. First, a schema must be created; the schema must be defined before any proofs can be made. The schema serves as a blueprint outlining the types of information that will be included in the proof, defining the data fields, formats, and relationships. Developers can create their own schemas or use publicly available ones.

Once the infrastructure is ready, users can create proofs, which are signed attestations that certain information is valid. These proofs include actual data and a digital signature to ensure authenticity. The Sign Protocol supports hybrid storage solutions: smaller proofs can be fully stored on-chain for maximum security, while larger proofs can store the main data off-chain (on Arweave or IPFS) and return to the blockchain via encrypted links. This flexibility helps balance security, cost, and accessibility.

There are several methods to easily retrieve proofs: direct smart contract reading, decentralized storage access (extracting main data from Arweave or IPFS), and the SignScan service (a dedicated browser and API that indexes proofs, allowing users and developers to search, filter, and retrieve data more efficiently).

One of the main features of Sign Protocol is its cross-chain capability. Whether on Ethereum, Solana, TON, or other networks, users and developers can seamlessly create proofs and interact with them. This cross-chain support allows Sign to act as a bridge between different blockchain ecosystems, providing a consistent way to manage verifiable information. By setting universal standards for proofs, Sign Protocol aims to make blockchain-based trust systems more accessible, scalable, and reliable in a broader decentralized economy.

Competitive Advantages and Application Scenarios of Sign Protocol

The competitive advantage of Sign Protocol in the blockchain verification market is first reflected in its comprehensive cross-chain support. Unlike competitors that are limited to a single blockchain or environment, SIGN operates as a truly full-chain protocol, supporting Ethereum, Solana, TON, and more. This universal approach eliminates the fragmentation that plagues other verification systems.

The verified practical implementation is the second major advantage. Through products like EthSign and TokenTable, the Sign Protocol demonstrates real-world applications in document signing and token distribution. TokenTable has processed tokens worth over $130 billion for more than 40 million users, a scale of achievement that is extremely rare in the industry, proving the protocol's ability to address real business problems.

The flexible storage architecture provides a third major advantage. The Sign Protocol's hybrid storage approach allows users to optimize for their specific needs: on-chain storage for maximum security, Arweave integration for permanent and cost-effective storage, and a hybrid solution that balances efficiency and security. This flexibility surpasses competitors with rigid storage models.

Built-in legal compliance is the fourth major advantage. Unlike purely technical solutions, the Sign Protocol incorporates legal compliance into its design, ensuring that signatures are legally binding in jurisdictions with technology-neutral laws. This dual approach of technical and legal verification creates a more comprehensive solution.

The concept of open protocols is the fifth major advantage. Sign Protocol places openness as a core principle, allowing everyone to use authentication technology, not just businesses or exclusive networks. The democratization of verification technology creates a more inclusive ecosystem than closed competitors.

The application scenarios cover multiple fields. DeFi protocols can use Sign Protocol to verify financial credentials, regulated enterprises can implement KYC/AML compliance solutions, educational institutions can establish academic credential verification systems, supply chains can build proof frameworks, and medical institutions can verify medical records. These practical use cases demonstrate that Sign Protocol is not just a technical concept, but also a business solution that can be deployed immediately.