The crypto market has been under pressure lately, with broad declines dampening investor sentiment. Yet amid the downturn, one project has sparked fresh excitement — time.fun, a SocialFi platform built on Solana that's turning heads with its bold take on time tokenization. In a stunning 2-hour span, the personal time token of Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko — known as toly's minutes — surged to nearly $20 million in market cap**, peaking at **$190 per minute.
Toly himself acknowledged the buzz on X (formerly Twitter), endorsing the concept by stating: "Business communication is one of the most promising crypto use cases I’ve seen."
But what exactly is time.fun? And could this be the spark needed to revive SocialFi and redefine how we value digital attention?
👉 Discover how time is becoming the ultimate digital asset in Web3.
What Is time.fun? The Rise of Time Tokenization
time.fun is a SocialFi platform built on the Solana blockchain, pioneering a model where personal time becomes a tradable digital asset. At its core, the platform allows creators, founders, and influencers to tokenize their time, offering users the chance to buy access through purchasable tokens — each representing a set duration of interaction, such as one minute of video call or direct message access.
Here’s how it works:
- Sign Up & Fund Wallet: Users register and connect an integrated wallet, then fund it with USDC.
- Browse & Buy: Explore available time tokens from creators. Each token equals one minute of their time.
- Redeem or Trade: After purchase, users can either schedule a direct interaction or hold and trade the token on secondary markets.
- Guaranteed Access or Refund: If the creator doesn’t respond within a set window, buyers are eligible for a refund — adding a layer of trust.
Each creator is capped at 100,000 minutes (about 69 days) of tokenized time — creating a built-in deflationary mechanism. Once all minutes are sold, no more can be issued.
This model blends utility, exclusivity, and speculation, making it more than just a booking tool — it’s an evolving marketplace for influence and attention.
Dual Markets: Primary and Secondary Trading
One of time.fun’s most intriguing features is its dual-market structure:
- Primary Market: Users buy directly from creators to secure actual time.
- Secondary Market: Tokens can be traded like any other digital asset, allowing price discovery based on perceived future value.
This mirrors dynamics seen in other meme-driven ecosystems but adds tangible utility: owning a piece of someone’s time isn’t just speculative — it’s actionable.
For example, early believers in a rising founder could buy their minutes cheaply now and later redeem them for strategic advice — or sell high if demand spikes. It’s like getting early-stage equity access, but in time instead of shares.
👉 See how decentralized platforms are reshaping digital ownership and value exchange.
Built-In Philanthropy: Aligning Incentives for Good
Beyond commerce and speculation, time.fun integrates social impact into its design. Creators can choose to donate 10%, 25%, 50%, or even 100% of their proceeds to nonprofit or charitable organizations.
Notably, members of the Solana Foundation have joined the platform and pledged to donate 100% of their earnings, reinforcing Solana’s commitment to public good and transparency.
This feature not only enhances brand reputation but also attracts mission-driven users and creators — helping build a more sustainable and ethically grounded ecosystem.
Who’s On Board? Key Figures Driving Adoption
The success of any SocialFi platform hinges on early adopters — particularly high-profile individuals whose participation drives traffic and credibility. So far, time.fun has attracted several notable figures from the Solana and broader Web3 ecosystem:
Anatoly Yakovenko (toly)
- Role: Co-founder of Solana
- Token: toly's minutes
- Impact: His entry triggered the platform’s viral moment, drawing massive attention and validating the concept at the highest level.
Mert Mumtaz
- Role: CEO of Helius Labs, a major Solana infrastructure provider
- Token: mert's minutes
- Significance: Represents strong ecosystem support and technical credibility.
Kawz
- Role: Founder of time.fun
- Token: Kawz's minutes
- Strategy: As both creator and builder, his involvement ensures long-term platform alignment.
These early adopters aren’t just selling minutes — they’re signaling confidence in a new paradigm where time is the ultimate scarce resource.
Can time.fun Revive SocialFi?
SocialFi once had its moment in the spotlight — most notably with friend.tech, a Base-chain platform that let users buy “keys” to interact with influencers. It exploded in 2023 but faded quickly due to lack of sustainable engagement and over-reliance on hype.
time.fun aims to learn from those missteps. As founder Kawz noted:
"Friend.tech proved that crypto infrastructure is ready for social applications — low-cost L2s, embedded wallets, fiat on-ramps. Now, we’re building on that foundation by pricing access through time itself."
By anchoring value to something universally finite — time — rather than abstract tokens or clout, time.fun introduces a real-world utility layer that previous platforms lacked.
But challenges remain:
- Can it retain users beyond initial speculation?
- Will creators consistently deliver meaningful interactions?
- Can it scale beyond elite circles to include mid-tier influencers?
The answers will determine whether this is a fleeting meme or the start of a new attention economy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is time tokenization?
Time tokenization converts personal time into digital tokens that can be bought, sold, or traded. Each token grants access to a specific amount of one-on-one interaction with the issuer.
How does time.fun make money?
The platform likely takes a small transaction fee on primary sales. Secondary market trades may also generate revenue through royalties or platform fees.
Is buying someone’s time safe?
Yes — time.fun includes a refund policy if creators don’t respond within a defined period. This protects buyers and encourages accountability.
Can anyone create a time token?
Currently, access appears limited to vetted individuals, especially those in tech and Web3. Wider rollout may come as the platform scales.
Why is Solana used for this project?
Solana offers fast, low-cost transactions — essential for micro-interactions and frequent trading. Its growing ecosystem also provides strong developer and user support.
Could this model work outside Web3?
While possible, blockchain enables transparent ownership, instant global payments, and secondary markets — features difficult to replicate in traditional systems.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Attention as an Asset
time.fun isn’t just another meme coin play — it’s an experiment in redefining value in the digital age. In a world overflowing with content but starved for genuine connection, access to expertise may become more valuable than ever.
By turning time into a tradable, verifiable asset, time.fun taps into core Web3 principles: decentralized ownership, direct creator-audience relationships, and programmable value.
Whether it evolves into the "Web3 version of a Buffett lunch" — where early supporters gain life-changing insights — depends on execution, sustainability, and community growth.
But one thing is clear: in the attention economy, time is no longer free.
👉 Explore how blockchain is transforming personal value and digital interaction today.