OWN App beta testing ended: Here’s what testers discovered.

OWN App beta testing completed: A new chapter in secure identity management

The OWN App is a next-generation, gamified social media platform that officially entered its beta testing phase in June 2025. It is designed to empower creators by enabling them to own their content, audience, brand, and earnings. OWN operates on decentralised infrastructure, giving users control and security over their creative output while removing intermediaries from the monetisation process.

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What is the OWN App?

OWN App is built around three core principles:

Creator-first design: Creators are central to the platform, not just contributors.
Performance-based visibility: Content goes viral based on merit, not followers or ad spend.
Full content ownership: Users retain complete rights to what they publish, backed by blockchain technology.

The app uses a merit-based discovery system that ranks and rewards content in real time, rather than relying on traditional social media algorithms or paid promotion. This system levels the playing field so that even creators with no existing following can go viral if their content performs well.

OWN App is not another clone of existing platforms. It redefines the economic relationship between platforms and users. The architecture supports self-sovereign identity (SSI), secure digital interaction, and decentralised payments. The result is a tool where creators have more power, fewer restrictions, and a bigger share of the value they produce.

Who is the target market?

OWN App primarily targets:

1. Digital creators (18–35 years old)

This includes:

TikTokers
YouTubers
Instagram influencers
Independent artists
Gamers
Podcasters
Writers

OWN is especially attractive to Gen Z and young Millennials who value authenticity, fairness, and decentralised ownership. The platform’s merit-based structure appeals to creators who feel limited by the pay-to-play dynamics of traditional platforms.

2. Early Web3 adopters

OWN App’s blockchain-based infrastructure, tokenised rewards, and decentralised identity features appeal to those already invested in Web3 technologies and philosophies. This includes crypto investors, NFT artists, DAO community leaders, and privacy advocates.

3. Disenfranchised creators from other platforms

OWN App welcomes users who feel overlooked, demonetised, shadow-banned, or suppressed on mainstream platforms due to their content style, niche, or social views. It offers a space where their content is judged by engagement—not algorithms or advertisers.

How do creators make money on OWN App?

OWN App offers five built-in monetisation streams and other creator-focussed features designed to enable fair earnings:

1. Performance-based rewards

Creators earn money directly from the real-time engagement their content receives. This includes likes, shares, views, and other engagement metrics that are calculated without bias. Content that performs well is rewarded regardless of the creator’s follower count or region.

2. Tipping

Fans and followers can send creators direct tips in the form of tokens or other supported digital currencies. This mechanism supports both micro-tipping and larger contributions, depending on user preference.

3. Brand sponsorships

OWN App allows brands to connect directly with creators for promotional content, with full transparency. Because OWN records creator performance and engagement data on-chain, brands can verify reach and authenticity before partnering.

4. Content licensing

OWN App provides tools that let creators license their content directly to other users or platforms. This ensures creators can monetise their intellectual property without intermediaries.

5. OWN shops (merch and services)

Creators can open in-app shops to sell physical or digital products, including merchandise, courses, presets, ebooks, and services. This feature integrates with the content flow, allowing users to convert audiences into paying customers easily.

6. Tokenised rewards and Creator Fund

OWN is developing a tokenised economy where creators receive tokens for impactful content. A Creator Fund, tied to the platform’s native token, is designed to support early adopters and high-performing creators. These tokens may be used for purchases, exchanged, or staked for additional benefits within the platform ecosystem.

7. Audience ownership and off-platform monetisation

Creators on OWN App own their audience data, allowing them to export, email, or retarget their fans outside the app. This breaks the walled-garden model of traditional platforms and allows for independent monetisation, such as launching their own products or platforms.

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Why OWN App’s model stands out

OWN’s revenue model is fundamentally different from traditional social media platforms, which often:

Take a large cut of creator earnings
Require high follower counts for visibility
Obscure performance with algorithmic manipulation
Censor or throttle certain types of content

By contrast, OWN App promotes:

Equal pay for equal impact, regardless of geography or follower size
Transparent and decentralised rewards, recorded on blockchain
Total ownership, including monetisation rights, content control, and audience portability
Open integration, with plans for API access, analytics tools, and third-party partnerships

OWN App’s combination of creator-first ideology, privacy-by-design architecture, and multi-channel revenue support is aimed at reshaping the power dynamics of social media. It does not rely on the typical ad-funded model. Instead, it offers creators a self-sustaining, fairer alternative.

Own App beta testing

In June 2025, the team behind the OWN App officially concluded its private beta testing phase, marking a significant step forward in digital self-sovereignty. This app, created by OWN, a US-based startup, offered a new way for users to manage their online identity, credentials, and payments without the need for intermediaries.

With the conclusion of this testing period, the app’s developers turned their attention to refining its features and preparing for a broader release, having received extensive feedback from early users around the globe.

The OWN App was designed to be a self-sovereign identity (SSI) wallet that combined digital ID creation, secure verification, and decentralised credential management into one streamlined interface. What set OWN apart from other digital ID solutions was its core principle: the user should retain full control over their digital identity, their data, and the sharing of their credentials.

Through the use of advanced decentralised identifiers (DIDs) and verifiable credentials, OWN allowed users to prove who they were online or in person without sharing excessive or unnecessary data.

Private beta testing phase launched in February

OWN’s private beta programme began in February 2025 and ran for four months. It was made available by invitation only, targeting early adopters, developers, Web3 communities, and those already familiar with digital wallets.

Participants came from a range of countries and backgrounds, ensuring that the feedback would reflect diverse use cases. The aim of the beta was not only to identify bugs and stress test the app’s features, but also to validate whether everyday users could intuitively understand and use the app’s identity protocols.

Feedback collected during the beta testing phase indicated a high level of interest in the app’s ability to let users manage their credentials independently of central authorities. Testers were able to use the app to create digital IDs, receive verifiable credentials from issuers, and selectively disclose specific pieces of information when required. All of this was done without relying on cloud-based identity providers, giving users unprecedented control and privacy.

Key features tested in beta

Throughout the beta testing phase, OWN tested a wide range of its core features. Among the most notable was the creation of self-sovereign digital identities using DIDs. These identities were generated and stored on users’ devices and not on centralised servers, ensuring enhanced security and privacy. Users could then receive digital credentials such as proof of age, education, or association from various verified institutions and store them within the app.

The app also supported verifiable presentations, which allowed users to present specific information such as “over 18” or “employee at XYZ” without exposing their full identity. This selective disclosure mechanism proved especially valuable to beta testers concerned about privacy, as it enabled interactions based on zero-knowledge proofs and privacy-preserving technology.

Beta testers also evaluated the app’s integration with payment systems. While payments were not the primary function of the OWN App, the inclusion of a crypto wallet meant that users could receive tokens or digital assets linked to credential-based interactions. For example, a user could receive a reward for verifying their attendance at an event or for participating in a digital poll using their identity.

User feedback and technical challenges

As is typical in any app beta testing phase, OWN’s team received both positive and critical feedback. While the core functionalities were praised for their security and forward-thinking design, some users reported difficulties with onboarding and the terminology used throughout the app.

Concepts such as “verifiable credentials” and “DIDs” were unfamiliar to many users outside of the Web3 community. As a result, the development team took note of the need for clearer user guidance, onboarding tutorials, and simplified language.

Additionally, while decentralised systems offer significant privacy benefits, they can pose usability challenges. For example, users had to be responsible for securely storing their cryptographic keys, with no “password reset” option available. The OWN team addressed this by testing multiple recovery methods, including social recovery mechanisms and secure backup options.

The team also noted feedback around the app’s integration with existing ecosystems. Many users expressed interest in seeing OWN connect with government services, educational institutions, and financial platforms that could act as credential issuers. OWN’s roadmap includes plans to expand these partnerships following the beta.

Why App beta testing matters for identity apps

Beta testing is a critical stage in the development of identity-focussed applications. Given the sensitivity of personal data, any digital identity solution must undergo rigorous security testing, user interface evaluation, and usability studies. For OWN, the beta test not only validated the app’s underlying technology but also helped shape the direction of the product to suit real-world needs.

The lessons from OWN’s beta testing phase highlighted the importance of balancing security with accessibility. A technically sound app may still fail to gain traction if users find it difficult to understand or use. The beta programme allowed the OWN team to discover these potential bottlenecks before launching to a wider audience.

OWN’s beta testing process also reinforced best practices for digital identity apps: transparency in data handling, education on key privacy principles, and the ability to operate independently of central authorities. These are now widely recognised as essential features for any app hoping to offer self-sovereign identity at scale.

Preparing for public launch

Following the successful conclusion of the private beta in June 2025, the OWN team moved into the next phase of product development. This included implementing user feedback, expanding compatibility with other platforms, and preparing for a public release. The team confirmed that a global rollout was being planned for late 2025, with additional languages, documentation, and ecosystem partnerships to be introduced.

OWN also committed to an open development model. As part of this effort, technical documentation and open APIs were expected to be shared with third-party developers, enabling integrations with other digital wallets, platforms, and credential issuers. This move aimed to establish OWN not as a closed product, but as part of a broader movement towards open, decentralised digital identity frameworks.

In line with this, OWN joined several identity-focussed working groups and open-source initiatives, helping to shape standards and policies for secure, user-controlled identity systems across industries.

Global impact and the future of digital identity

While digital identity apps are not new, the completion of OWN’s beta testing phase marked a meaningful evolution in the sector. Instead of centralised databases or social media-based logins, OWN’s app placed the power back in the hands of individuals. The implications of this shift were especially relevant in regions where access to official identity documents is limited, and where trust in centralised institutions remains low.

By allowing anyone with a smartphone to create and manage a secure digital identity, OWN aimed to offer a new tool for digital inclusion. From remote job applications and online banking to voting in decentralised communities, the potential applications of this technology were broad and far-reaching.

OWN’s approach also aligned with global regulatory trends. Privacy legislation such as the GDPR in Europe and various data protection frameworks in the Caribbean and Latin America encouraged the use of systems that minimise data collection and storage. With its emphasis on local data storage, selective disclosure, and user control, OWN appeared well positioned to meet and exceed these regulatory expectations.

A new standard in app beta testing

The beta testing of the OWN app served as a case study in how to build a secure, decentralised, and user-friendly identity solution from the ground up. The project demonstrated the importance of engaging a global, tech-savvy audience during testing, listening to user feedback, and iterating on features that balance security and usability.

As the app moved beyond the beta phase, its developers remained committed to refining the user experience and growing its ecosystem of trusted credential issuers. OWN’s success could pave the way for similar solutions, ultimately contributing to a more secure, privacy-conscious internet where individuals have control over their data.

For companies exploring digital ID solutions or privacy-focussed app development, OWN’s beta testing approach provided a benchmark. By investing in a thorough and user-focussed beta testing strategy, the app developers were able to avoid critical missteps and build a product that reflected the needs and concerns of its future users.

OWN’s beta test may have ended, but the momentum it generated was only just beginning.

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