Hey! You remember 2018? That ICO wahala, everybody dey shout say blockchain go change even your toaster. Na so Hicky show face—dating app wey promise to kill Tinder with decentralization and protect our romance pics from bad companies. No lie, I was hyped! But after 7 years… Where this project dey now? Was e worth our money? And crucially—the idea still dey relevant today? Make we dissect am, no sugarcoating.
Part 1: Hicky – Quick Refresh (Wetin Dem Promise Back Then)
Simply put, Hicky yarn big:
- No Censorship or Spying: Your chats, preferences, pics—no dey for any company server (hello, Facebook scandals!), but dey exchange peer-to-peer (P2P) between you and your match. Encryption must dey. To be sincere, this still sweet well-well, especially after all the data leaks we don see for Jumia and others.
- War on Fakes (Catfish) & Bots: Here na the killer feature. Registration require:
- Face Verification: No be to upload old picture from Bar Beach. Na real-time selfie wey dem compare with your ID (international passport, driver license). Too much? Yes o. But no more Uncle Sule showing up instead of Adesuwa.
- Voice Verification: Ehen! You must talk to the app to prove say you no be bot. “Hey Hicky! I be human!”—you fit imagine?
- “Guardian Grandpa” (DAD): The craziest idea—Decentralized Autonomous Dating (DAD). If your online love turn to real-life scam (no-shows for Cafe Neo, bad behavior), you fit complain to “DAD.” Autonomous arbitration system (smart contracts + community?) go settle am. Controversial? Well well. But na interesting concept.
- Tokens (HKY) for Accountability: Want to meet? Both of una go stake HKY tokens as “date deposit.” If all well—tokens return. Scammed? DAD fit give your tokens to the victim. Basically, motivation to no be oloshi. Tokens here act more like behavioral deposit than money.
My 2025 Take: The main wahala (fakes, safety, privacy) na big. Hicky try solve am with blockchain and strong verification. But ehn… (see below).
Part 2: Hicky for 2025 – Where E Dey? Wetin Happen? (The Real Update)
Here na where things get interesting (and sad for 2018 investors). Short version:
- ICO 2018: Dem raise ~12,000 ETH (miss 36,000 ETH Hard Cap but pass 3,000 ETH Soft Cap). At current rate na about ₦30 billion. HKY tokens share give investors.
- 2019-2021: The app kind of work small. Few reviews dey. Main complaints: registration too complex (verification dey scare users, abeg!), users no plenty (few fakes, but real people sef no reach), DAD no clear (how arbitration dey work?).
- 2022-Present: Radio silence. Official site hicky.io don turn digital ghost town. Social media abandon. HKY tokens practically dead—near-zero trading volume, price don flatline. Na wa o, the project don flatline. Startup don quench. Why?
Why E Fail (My Thoughts):
- UX Nightmare: Intl passport + voice verification for dating? Seriously? Big barrier. People want quick swipes for Opay data bundle, not bank-level KYC. Dem overdo security sacrifice usability.
- Token With No Real Value: HKY na ONLY for date staking (lock crypto collect reward). No discounts, premium features, or exclusive access for Lagos events. Tokenomics weak. Why buy/hold am?
- DAD – Idea vs Reality: Who go judge “him come late 15 mins” vs “her pic no resemble”? Autonomously? Implementation too jaga jaga. Users no trust the vague “Grandpa.”
- Marketing & Mass Adoption: To get critical mass for niche blockchain app hard well well. No users = no dating. Na vicious cycle.
- Competition: Tinder, Bumble, etc., no sleep. Dem add profile verifications (still dey improve) and better privacy. Blockchain argument alone no convince users.
My 2025 Take: Hicky don turn cautionary tale. E tackle real pain points but fall for UX, tokenomics, and over-engineer innovations (DAD). Blockchain no be magic bullet.
Part 3: Wetin Dey Now? Blockchain Dating for 2025 – Person Still Dey Use Am?
The idea of decentralized, safe dating no die! But approach don change. Wetin dey relevant now (25 June 2025):
| Feature / Problem | Hicky (2018 Approach) | Current Trends (2025) | Examples (If Available) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verification | Face+Voice+ID (Complex) | AI Profile Scoring + Social Linking (Simpler), zk-Proofs (Private! Proof without revealing secrets) | Fresco, Salsa |
| Data Privacy | P2P + Whisper (Encryption) | Decentralized Storage (IPFS, Arweave) + zk-Proofs | — |
| Fake Profile Prevention | Strict Verification (Barrier) | Reputation Systems (Soulbound Tokens?), AI Behavior Analysis | — |
| Economics / Tokens | Date Staking (Narrow Use) | Token Subscriptions, Premium Feature Access, Gamification, RWA Discounts (Real Dates! Real things wey you fit touch) | LoveToken (Hypothetical) |
| Conflict Arbitration | DAD (Vague) | Decentralized Courts (Kleros-like) OR Reputation-Based Systems | — |
| Key Focus | Technology (Blockchain) | CONVENIENCE + Safety + Better Matching (AI!) | Flirtual (VR Dating, dey grow) |
My 2025 Take: Blockchain now—no be star, na backup tool. Focus dey on AI for matching/profile analysis, zk-Proofs for super private verification (prove you be human without show everything), and tokens with REAL use (discounts, exclusives). RWA (Real World Assets) trend: imagine tokens dash you discount for date at Radisson Blu! Dat one go motivate. Convenience na king. Complexity go kill am.
Checklist: How to Spot Living Web3 Dating App vs “Next Hicky” for 2025
My guy, if you see new blockchain-Tinder, use this list (from bitter experience):
- Registration: E take >3 minutes and need passport scan? Run comot! zk-Proofs suppose make verification safe AND simple like buying Airtel data bundle.
- Token Utility: Why e dey? Only for date staking? Or get real use cases (discounts, premium features, voting, event access)? No utility? No wahala… forget am
- Real Users: Get actual humans or just bots? Check project socials/reviews (but shine your eyes!). Empty app = dead project.
- Tech Stack: Dem dey shout ONLY about blockchain? Or dem get AI, zk-Proofs, smooth UX? Blockchain na tool—no be main selling point.
- Arbitration: How dem dey settle fight? Clear system (even if decentralized)? Or vague “Grandpa”? No clear? Risk!
- Roadmap: Dem get plan for their site? Dem update am? Blog don die? Red flag.
If >2 points dey worry you—e no go survive 2026. No repeat history!
Conclusion: Hicky Lessons & The Future of Decentralized Love for Naija
Hicky teach us crucial but painful Web3 lesson:
- Real problems (fakes, privacy) dey. Demand for solutions dey real too.
- Tech for tech sake no work. Blockchain must solve problems without stress for users.
- UX sacred. Complexity dey kill adoption.
- Tokens must USEFUL. If not, na wash.
- To execute complex ideas (like DAD) hard. Start small small with tested ideas.
This one dey relevant for 2025? The idea—YES, pass before! But approach must better:
- Invisible Blockchain: Use zk-Proofs for private verification, decentralized storage—without stress for user.
- AI as Matchmaker: Make neural networks find perfect match, check profiles for fakes, give killer recommendations. Na real magic!
- Tokens = Utility + Fun: Date discounts, exclusive events for Lagos, gamification (mutual likes = tokens?). Real-world integration (RWA) na key!
- Safety + Simplicity: Find balance like CBN eNaira. zk-Proofs go help.
My Final Verdict: Hicky get good idea but poor execution. New projects get better chance now—if dem learn from mistakes. Technologies (AI, zk) don mature. Demand for safe, real dating don increase. I dey wait for better one! For HKY tokens? Make dem dey gather dust for your wallet as 2018 ICO souvenir. To be sincere? E get spirit!
Useful Resources for Nigerian Crypto Enthusiasts
- Nairametrics – Crypto & financial news
- TechCabal – African tech & crypto insights
- Bundle Africa – Social payments app
- Flutterwave – Crypto-friendly payments
- Paga – Local crypto on/off ramp
- eNaira – CBN digital currency
- Quidax – Buy crypto with Naira
