Generative imagery is now so realistic that a single tweet can spark panic before anyone checks the source. We need tools that prove whether a photo or video is the original moment or a synthetic look-alike. Numbers Protocol already offered one answer with Capture, the first blockchain camera for NFT creators. ProofSnap extends that work, giving journalists, inspectors, and everyday users a stripped-down camera that seals evidence the instant it is shot.
Deepfakes are cheap; authenticity cannot be
Cheap diffusion models can fake explosions, CEOs, or election footage in minutes. Once the clip circulates, the burden shifts to viewers to decide what is real. We flip that model. ProofSnap stamps each file with:
- An immutable content ID and cryptographic hash written to Numbers Mainnet at shutter press.
- GPS, time, and device metadata that cannot be swapped in later without tripping verification.
- A C2PA 2.x manifest. Any site that supports content credentials, LinkedIn’s new CR-pin, for example, can confirm origin with one tap.
Because the proof travels inside the file, anyone can store, forward, or archive the media without losing the chain of custody.
ProofSnap: shoot, seal, share
The app keeps only three flows:
- Shoot the image or video.
- Seal it; the blockchain write completes in seconds.
- Share directly to a C2PA-aware platform such as LinkedIn.
There is no wallet setup, seed phrase, or token balance required. We hide the cryptography so that the camera feels familiar while the proof is ironclad.
Why did we build a new app instead of updating Capture?
Capture began in the NFT boom. It still excels at gallery management, marketplace listings, and token rewards. Trying to bolt every provenance feature onto that codebase would have produced bloat and risked breaking creative workflows. Starting fresh delivered three benefits:
- Single-purpose UI. ProofSnap skips galleries and filters, so inspectors and reporters reach the “share” button faster. Capture keeps its richer toolset for creators.
- Clean architecture. Engineers wrote ProofSnap around Numbers Mainnet and C2PA v2.x from line one, which means smaller binaries, faster security patches, and simpler App Store reviews.
- Regulatory sandbox. Upcoming rules such as the EU AI Act demand provenance pilots. ProofSnap lets us iterate weekly without disturbing Capture’s 100 000-plus installs. Battle-tested features can always flow back to Capture once stable.
Two doors into the same vault
Both apps mint identical Content IDs on the same backend. A field engineer can document a cracked bridge joint in ProofSnap, then open the asset in Capture later to mint or auction an NFT of the same file. Nothing is siloed; users simply pick the icon that fits today’s task.
What comes next
- ProofSnap roadmap: LinkedIn CR-pin roll-out, video chain of custody, newsroom CMS plug-ins.
- Capture roadmap: refreshed gallery, NUM rewards, social feed improvements.
Authenticity is becoming a baseline expectation, just like the way HTTPS became table stakes for websites.
By offering two focused cameras on one secure network, we prepare our community for that reality. Shoot with truth, publish with confidence - Snap once, Prove forever.
