XMTP: Decentralized Messaging for Web3

XMTP (Extensible Message Transport Protocol) (https://xmtp.org/) is a decentralized protocol and network for Web3 messaging. It enables secure, private, and censorship-resistant communication directly between crypto wallet addresses—no central servers or intermediaries.

XMTP is open source. The entire XMTP stack — protocol, apps, and developer tools — is fully open to inspect, modify, and improve, creating a trustworthy foundation for developers to build on with confidence.

Developers can integrate end-to-end encryption for 1:1 chats, group conversations, notifications, and even AI-agent interactions. Think of it as SMTP for email or XMPP for instant messaging, but blockchain-native: messages are stored in decentralized formats, support flexible payloads (text, JSON, etc.), and offer quantum-resistant protection.

Funding and Adoption

XMTP has raised over $40M in total, including:

$20M Series B (July 2025) at a $300M valuation from Union Square Ventures, a16z crypto, Lightspeed Faction, Coinbase Ventures

$20M Series A (2021) from a16z crypto, Balaji Srinivasan, Coinbase Ventures

Seed round (undisclosed amount)

Already integrated into apps like Base App, Farcaster, and ENS.

How to Contribute

For Developers

Contribute to public repos in XMTP GitHub or EphemeraHQ GitHub.

Submit improvement proposals via XIPs.

For Non-Coders

Join the XMTP Community Forum to share ideas and feedback.

Earn exclusive POAPs for accepted contributions.

Events

Follow XMTP events on Luma — next one is September 9.

Resources

Contribution guide available for all roles.

No Discord yet, but early contributors may be rewarded if/when it launches.

Run a Node

Want to get hands-on with XMTP? You can set up your own node and help power the network. The XMTP node setup guide walks you through everything from prerequisites to deployment.

Running a node is a great way to engage directly with the protocol and contribute to its decentralization.

XMTP Node Operator Overview

Run a Node in the XMTP Network

Operator Criteria

XMTP selects 20 high-performance node operators based on technical readiness, community trust, and alignment with decentralization and privacy values.

Diversity matters: operators are chosen across geography, industry, and organization type to ensure neutrality and resilience.

Misbehavior or underperformance may result in reevaluation or replacement by the XMTP Security Council.

Full criteria available on the XMTP Community Forum.

Apply to Operate

Once deployed, submit your application to become a registered XMTP node operator.

Use the official XMTP Node Application Form to submit your candidacy.

Strategic Angle

“Messaging Without Middlemen: Why XMTP Is the Web3 Communication Layer to Watch” Explore the shift from centralized messaging to wallet-native communication

Highlight XMTP’s developer incentives and community engagement

Position XMTP as a foundational protocol for decentralized social and AI interaction

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