Delphi, first Pythia and now Tholos: Creating a Flawless User Experience for Prediction Markets on the Blockchain

Brian P
Brian P
Jul 30, 2017 · 5 min read

Participating in decentralized prediction markets will never be as simple than with the groundbreaking interface that the world will soon see, deigned “Tholos”.

JULY 30, 2017 — While leveraging the world of decentralized apps to participate in prediction markets is an appealing concept for many, finding apps or platforms that are both functional and user friendly has proved difficult, and this has made the idea of participating in such markets on the Blockchain off-putting to most new users. With one brand new decentralized app, Delphi Markets, participating in prediction markets via Ethereum will be easier than ever.

Since their jolting entrance into the world of Blockchain and dApps, Delphi has unleashed a flurry of groundbreaking ideas and concepts that has the space abuzz. Their whitepaper paints a clear and enticing picture of a future where users all over the world can participate in a truly decentralized prediction market, one that will be invulnerable to government crackdown- a far graver risk than most give it credit for. The team has consistently delivered extremely high quality work and content, with a clear penchant for meticulous detail. Each piece that they’ve released has been seemingly enchanted with a unique tinge of articulation so far unseen from any other project in this space. While being a bit feisty at times, the team behind Delphi has demonstrated an incredibly deep level of understanding of the challenges of deploying a decentralized prediction market, and shown that they know their way around a terminal and are not just all talk.

Most impressive is the fact that Delphi very early on recognized one of the greatest hurdles that decentralized applications face in attaining widespread adoption: aesthetic appeal.

While the Blockchain truly offers many benefits and the potential to change the world through a variety of decentralized applications, users will never adopt those which are difficult to use or displeasing to the eye. This has been shown time and time again in the current world of corporations we live in, as each leader in the industry publicly spends millions upon millions of dollars for a user experience and design that is just slightly better than those of their competitors. In order for any decentralized application to even partially displace any current leader in any market (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Alphacast, etc.), they must be equipped and able to deliver a user experience and interface that can at least challenge those of their rivals, if they are to have any hope of even being on the same map. Regardless of the benefits that an application powered by the blockchain can offer; decentralization, immutability, liquidity, etc., most users simply will not want to conduct business on a platform that is unsightly or difficult to use for the average user, let alone one which which might force you to touch a terminal or know anything remotely advanced about Ethereum and the blockchain.

Cue Tholos, the weapon conceived by Delphi to solve this challenge. The name is a tribute to Tholos of Delphi, an ancient structure of the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. Tholos is the last stepping stone for launching Delphi Markets to the public, and will be entirely dedicated to creating a fluid and enchanting user experience and design that will allow users to freely engage with prediction markets. As architects studied the relics of Tholos, it was apparent that the creators were incredibly skilled and that the structures were built with excellent anatomical accuracy, to the point that the structures seemed out of place and ahead of their time. Similarly, the present day Tholos being constructed by the team behind Delphi will be aimed at creating a laser focused yet pleasing experience for users, on the level of if not greater than the platforms which we’ve become so familiar with today.

Tholos of Delphi, an ancient structure of the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia.

The fresh and exciting concepts introduced by Delphi have taken the world by storm and are ushering in the future with never-before-seen ideas that will change the way people view dApps and the decentralized economy forever. However at the end of the day like any project or startup, Delphi requires money and personnel in order to turn these ideas into reality.

As such, the team at Delphi has announced a single round of crowdfunding, starting on July 15 at 12:00 PM UTC, and ending on July 30 at 12:00 PM UTC. This crowdfunding event is the first of its kind in all of the dozens upon dozens of Ethereum based crowdsales, as it is the first ever completely anonymous project, where not even a single name of any team member is known by the public. Despite this fact and the heavy skepticism that the project has faced as a result, Delphi’s crowdsale has to date raised over 2,500 ETH, valued at over $500,000. This is an incredible feat, as there have been countless threads posted on a variety of online channels denouncing the project as a scam based on the fact that it is entirely anonymous. Interestingly enough, just as many supporters seem to have risen to take a stand for Delphi based simply on the merit and ability that the team has shown in everything they’ve delivered so far- a testament to the team’s capabilities and potential.

Delphi’s token sale has raised over $500,000 in Ethereum, despite being the first ever anonymous Ethereum crowdsale.

As of the publishing of this article, there are roughly two hours remaining in the crowdsale window. This may be our one and only chance to take a peek into the future, guided by the second coming of the Oracle of Delphi.

To contribute to the crowdsale, click here.

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