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What is Gari Network (GARI)?
Quick Facts
- Token: GARI, native token of the Chingari app
- Blockchain: Solana (SPL standard), also deployed on Aptos
- Launched: January 2022
- Founders: Sumit Ghosh (CEO), Biswatma Nayak (CTO), Aditya Kothari (COO)
- Core model: Create-to-earn, watch-to-earn, engage-to-earn
- Governance: DAO — GARI holders vote on platform direction
- Key feature: Creator Pools for staking and fan investment
Introduction
Gari Network is a Web3 social media ecosystem built around the Chingari short-video application. Its native token, GARI, powers a creator economy where users are rewarded with cryptocurrency for creating, watching, and engaging with content.
Chingari is widely regarded as India's answer to TikTok, combining the viral appeal of short-form video with the transparency and ownership benefits of blockchain technology.
History & Background
The project originated in 2021 when Chingari received a $300K grant from Solana to begin blockchain integration. This was followed by a $4 million seed round and a $15 million private sale, reflecting strong early investor confidence.
In late 2021, a successful IDO raised $6 million, and a pre-sale added a further $12.3 million. GARI officially launched in January 2022, backed by investors including Village Global, Republic, Tencent, and the Solana Foundation.
How Gari Network Works
GARI operates as a utility and governance token on the Solana blockchain, chosen for its high transaction speeds and low fees. Users can earn GARI through three core mechanisms:
- Create-to-earn: Publishing short videos on the Chingari app
- Watch-to-earn: Watching videos and engaging with content
- Engage-to-earn: Liking, sharing, and commenting
A unique feature is Creator Pools, which combine staking, automated market makers (AMM), and bonding curves. Fans can stake GARI to support their favourite creators and receive pool shares that appreciate as more participants join.
Tokenomics
GARI is allocated across public sale participants, staking rewards, the Chingari DAO Treasury, and team advisors. The token's economic design centres on a circular economy — users contribute value to the platform and receive GARI in return, aligning the interests of creators, fans, and long-term holders.
Staking is a core mechanism, enabling both passive rewards and access to exclusive platform features.
|
Circulating Supply
| 762.59 million GARI |
|---|---|
| |
|
Total supply
| 972.42 million GARI |
|
Max supply
| -- GARI |
Ecosystem & Use Cases
Within the Chingari ecosystem, GARI serves multiple roles:
- Tipping: Users tip their favourite creators directly in GARI
- NFT marketplace: Videos can be minted as video NFTs (vNFTs) and traded
- Social commerce: Viewers can purchase products advertised in videos using GARI
- Live streams: Access to live content is gated by GARI staking or NFT ownership
- Premium content: Token holders unlock exclusive features and creator content
The network also expanded into Web3 gaming on Aptos, featuring voice-interactive mobile games where players earn GARI tokens.
Team, Governance & Community
The team is led by Sumit Ghosh (CEO), Biswatma Nayak (CTO and co-founder), and Aditya Kothari (COO and chief of strategy). The team brings experience in building and scaling social media and B2C applications.
Governance is handled through a DAO structure, where GARI holders vote on platform upgrades and the strategic direction of Chingari. This model is designed to return decision-making power to the community of creators and users.
Advantages
- Direct creator monetization without reliance on advertising revenue splits
- Multi-chain presence on both Solana and Aptos broadens accessibility
- Creator Pools create a novel way for fans to financially back their favourite creators
- Large existing user base on Chingari provides a real-world audience for token adoption
- DAO governance gives the community a direct voice in platform development
Risks & Challenges
- Platform dependency: GARI's utility is tightly coupled to Chingari's continued user growth
- Competitive market: The short-video space is highly competitive with well-funded centralised rivals
- Regulatory risk: Crypto-based social rewards face evolving regulatory scrutiny in key markets
- Adoption friction: Onboarding mainstream users to a token-based economy requires significant education
Long-Term Vision
Gari Network's long-term goal is to build a fully decentralised social media economy where creators own their content and audiences, and where value flows directly between contributors rather than through centralised intermediaries. By expanding into gaming, live commerce, and multi-chain infrastructure, the project aims to evolve beyond a single app into a broad Web3 content platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GARI used for?
GARI is the native utility and governance token of the Chingari app. It is used for tipping creators, accessing premium content, staking in Creator Pools, trading video NFTs, and voting in the platform's DAO.
- What blockchain does GARI run on?
GARI primarily runs on the Solana blockchain using the SPL token standard, selected for its fast transactions and low fees. The project also has a presence on the Aptos blockchain for its gaming features.
- What is Chingari?
Chingari is a popular Indian short-form video application often described as India's TikTok alternative. It integrates GARI to allow users and creators to earn cryptocurrency directly through their activity on the platform.
- How can users earn GARI tokens?
Users can earn GARI by creating and publishing videos, watching content, liking and sharing posts, and participating in platform engagement programs. Staking GARI in Creator Pools also generates rewards.
- What are Creator Pools?
Creator Pools are a unique Gari Network feature that lets fans stake GARI tokens behind their favourite creators. The staked pools use AMM and bonding curve mechanics, and the value of pool shares grows as more participants join.
- Who founded Gari Network?
Gari Network was co-founded by Sumit Ghosh (CEO), Biswatma Nayak (CTO), and Aditya Kothari (COO). The team has a background in building and scaling social media and consumer technology products.
- How does governance work in Gari Network?
Gari Network uses a DAO (Decentralised Autonomous Organization) model where GARI token holders can vote on platform developments and strategic decisions, giving the community a direct role in shaping Chingari's future.
- What are video NFTs (vNFTs) on Chingari?
Each video published on Chingari can be minted as a video NFT (vNFT). These digital assets can be bought and sold on the platform's NFT marketplace, and holders can earn a share of the revenue generated by a creator's engagement.