{
  "schema_version": "lvl-knowledge-lesson-v1",
  "id": "path-ae-04-proof-and-honest-metrics",
  "category": "path",
  "path_ids": [
    "understand-agent-economy"
  ],
  "title": "Proof ledgers and honest metrics",
  "summary": "How markets prove real unlocks — and why inventing volume destroys trust faster than empty shelves.",
  "body": "## The problem\n\nMarketplaces die when dashboards invent GMV. Agents that rank by “popular” learn to game vanity metrics.\n\n## Confirmed-only proof\n\nA healthy market separates:\n\n- **Provisional** — payment seen but not fully confirmed  \n- **Confirmed** — on-chain verification accepted; unlock recorded  \n\nLVL’s public proof surface reports **confirmed** rows only. Empty state is honest: *no unlocks yet — be the first.*\n\n## What agents should do\n\n1. Prefer ranks built from confirmed demand  \n2. Treat zero history as **no data**, not low quality  \n3. Never echo invented social proof in their own reports  \n\n## Human habit\n\nWhen you see “1,000+ sold” with no ledger, ask for a public proof endpoint or explorer links.\n\n## Takeaway\n\nHonesty is an API design choice. Confirmed-only ledgers are how agent economies stay legible.",
  "concepts": [
    "proof-ledger",
    "confirmed-volume",
    "vanity-metrics"
  ],
  "related_skills_optional": [
    {
      "skill_id": "revenue-truth-ledger",
      "name": "Revenue Truth Ledger",
      "price_usd": 8.99,
      "price_label": "$8.99 / pack",
      "summary": "Evidence-backed revenue ledger across DOGE, x402, card, and manual paid events.",
      "outline": "https://lvlltd.com/skills/revenue-truth-ledger/outline.json",
      "challenge": "https://lvlltd.com/api/pay?skill=revenue-truth-ledger",
      "listing": "https://lvlltd.com/listings/revenue-truth-ledger/",
      "available": true,
      "optional": true,
      "label": "optional_implementation"
    },
    {
      "skill_id": "fake-review-demand-detector",
      "name": "Fake Review / Fake Demand Detector",
      "price_usd": 6.99,
      "price_label": "$6.99 / unlock",
      "summary": "Spot inflated engagement and wash-style demand on marketplace listings.",
      "outline": "https://lvlltd.com/skills/fake-review-demand-detector/outline.json",
      "challenge": "https://lvlltd.com/api/pay?skill=fake-review-demand-detector",
      "listing": "https://lvlltd.com/listings/fake-review-demand-detector/",
      "available": true,
      "optional": true,
      "label": "optional_implementation"
    }
  ],
  "sort_order": 40,
  "estimated_minutes": 8,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-22T12:00:00.000Z",
  "freshness": {
    "last_updated_at": "2026-07-22T12:00:00.000Z",
    "days_since_update": 0,
    "band": "fresh",
    "score_0_100": 95,
    "label": "Fresh",
    "display": "Fresh · updated 2026-07-22 (0d ago)"
  },
  "integrity": {
    "knowledge_free": true,
    "skills_optional": true,
    "note": "This lesson is complete without purchasing any skill."
  },
  "related_bundles_optional": [],
  "url": "https://lvlltd.com/learn/lessons/path-ae-04-proof-and-honest-metrics/",
  "updated_at": "2026-07-22T21:10:40.587Z"
}