How Identity & Trust Works
Last updated: December 2025
Our trust system helps buyers feel confident when making a purchase. Higher scores indicate sellers who have verified their identity, built a reputation through reviews, and demonstrated commitment to their customers.
For Buyers
When shopping on Agorist.Market:
- Check the trust badge — Higher tiers indicate more established sellers
- Read reviews — See what other buyers experienced
- Look for verification — Verified email and public contact info are good signs
- Use your judgment — Trust scores are a guide, not a guarantee
The Trust Score (0-21 Points)
Every listing has a trust score from 0 to 21. This score is calculated from four components:
Multiple Paths to Trust
You don't have to verify everything to earn trust. There are multiple ways to build your score:
The Verification Path
Verify your email, add a public phone number, link verifiable social accounts. Great for new sellers who want to establish credibility quickly.
The Reputation Path
Earn 5-star reviews from happy customers. Each great review adds points. Perfect for sellers who let their work speak for itself.
A seller with minimal verification but stellar reviews earns the same trust as someone who verified everything. Privacy is available, but transparency is rewarded.
Core Identity Scoring (0-10 points)
| Method | Listed | Public | Verified | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +1 | +1 (shown publicly) | +1 (magic link) | 3 | |
| Phone | +1 | +1 (shown publicly) | +1 (SMS future) | 3 |
| Nostr | +1 | — | +1 (NIP-05) | 2 |
| Domain | +1 | — | +1 (DNS/file) | 2 |
✏️ Review Threshold: Reaching 3 core identity points (e.g., verified email + public contact) allows you to leave reviews for other sellers. This ensures reviewers have minimal verification while keeping the bar accessible.
Social Links (0-12 points)
Link your social accounts to earn additional points. Some platforms allow cryptographic verification, earning more points:
Non-Verifiable (1 point each)
- Telegram
- Signal
- Session
- Matrix
- Discord
- Twitter/X
Verifiable (2 points each)
- Mastodon — rel="me" link verification
- Bluesky — domain handle verification
- GitHub/GitLab — verified domain in profile
- Keybase — cryptographic proofs
⚠️ Anti-Gaming Rule: Social points are capped at Core Identity × 1.5. This prevents someone from creating dozens of fake social accounts to inflate their score. Build your core identity first, then social links add value.
Review Scoring
Customer reviews add (or subtract) from your score:
Only visible, approved reviews count toward your score. Reviews can add unlimited raw points, but your total score caps at 21.
Trust Tiers
Your score determines your tier and badge:
| Score | Tier | Badge | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 | New | 🌱 | New to the directory, limited track record |
| 3-4 | Verified | ✓ | Basic verification complete, building history |
| 5-9 | Trusted | 🛡️ | Established presence, positive engagement |
| 10-14 | Established | ⭐ | Strong track record, community recognized |
| 15-21 | Pillar | 🏛️ | Highly trusted, significant investment in reputation |
For Sellers
Improve your trust score by:
- Verify your email — Click the magic link we send (+1-3 points)
- Make your phone public — Shows you're reachable (+1 point)
- Add Nostr with NIP-05 — Decentralized verification (+2 points)
- Link verifiable social accounts — Mastodon, Bluesky, Keybase (+2 each)
- Provide great service — Earn 5-star reviews (+2 each)
- Join the banner exchange — Become a partner for additional visibility
Questions?
Contact us if you have questions about the trust system or need help improving your score.
Contact Us