Blockchain messaging is going to replace Telegram and Discord
A new era of messaging applications will soon cross the chasm of Web3 mass adoption. Web3 messaging applications will become an integral part of the blockchain ecosystem, allowing users to communicate with each other and interact with decentralized applications (DApps) and the protocols themselves in a secure, direct, decentralized manner. This editorial will discuss the benefits and challenges of Web3 messaging applications and their impact on the future of communication.
Web3 messaging protocols, such as the Extensible Message Transport Protocol (XMTP), are implemented on a decentralized communications network, using a peer-to-peer architecture to facilitate communication between verifiable identifiers such as an Ethereum public address or an Ethereum Name Service domain . Unlike traditional messaging platforms such as Telegram or Discord, which are centralized and rely on central servers to route messages, Web3 messaging protocols use decentralized networks to create a trustless environment where users can communicate without intermediaries through the wallet.
One of the advantages of Web3 messaging protocols is their decentralized nature, which ensures the security of messages. With traditional messaging platforms, messages are often stored on centralized servers, making them vulnerable to cyber attacks and data breaches. In contrast, Web3 messaging protocols use encryption algorithms to protect messages from unauthorized access, making them virtually impossible to intercept or decrypt.
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Furthermore, it is easy for the recipient of a message to prove the authenticity of the message sender. If you look at Twitter or Discord, they are full of scammers and phishing attacks through “official” fake accounts. Proving the authenticity of a sender is extremely easy when using Web3 messaging applications and significantly reduces the chance of falling victim to a scammer, as it can be quickly verified on-chain.
Another advantage of Web3 messaging protocols is their ability to enable micropayments for messaging services. Micropayments can help fight spam and trolling, as spammers are less likely to waste their money on low-quality messages.
Of course, users don’t have to pay anything if they don’t want to when sending messages, but they have the feature of requiring senders to pay a fee to send them a message to reduce spam and also as a way to generate revenue. One could imagine a feature where if someone who is not in your contacts wants to contact you, they are required to pay a certain amount in tokens that are locked and can be returned by the sender if the message is genuine and not spam. This can solve the spam problem of Web2.
However, there are also challenges associated with Web3 messaging applications. A major issue is scalability, as the current infrastructure of most blockchain networks cannot support the high volume of messages that traditional messaging platforms handle. Additionally, Web3 messaging protocols currently require a certain level of technical skill to use, which may deter less tech-savvy users from adopting them.
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Both of these issues have been resolved or will be resolved soon. With more and more scaling solutions on the market, the scalability problem will be solved – or in some cases already has been. Account abstraction solutions are being invented that do not require the average user to be technically savvy to interact with them.
Furthermore, there is a risk that Web3 messaging protocols could become a communication method for criminals, as the network’s decentralized nature makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track and trace illegal activities. As a result, clear rules and guidelines are needed to ensure that Web3 messaging protocols are not exploited for malicious purposes.
Despite these challenges, the potential of Web3 messaging applications is enormous. As the world becomes increasingly digital, the need for secure, decentralized communication will only continue to grow. Web3 messaging applications have the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate, opening up a new level of privacy, security and transparency. Discord and Twitter will become obsolete as data moves on the chain.
Web3 messaging protocols are a promising development in the blockchain ecosystem, offering a secure, decentralized way to communicate between users, DApps, and protocols. Although there are challenges associated with their use, such as scalability and the risk of misuse, the benefits of Web3 messaging protocols outweigh the risks. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more innovation in Web3 messaging, paving the way for a new era of communication that renders the old apps obsolete.
Darius Moukhtarzadeh is an entrepreneur and consultant with a focus on decentralized social media applications. He is the co-founder of memester.xyz, an NFT meme platform on the Lens Protocol, and previously worked as a researcher for Sygnum, a digital asset bank. He also worked for Ernst & Young in blockchain consulting and for several startups in the Swiss crypto valley.
This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed herein are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
