Instant messaging applications are everywhere, with little dominant communications in all four corners of the globe. This is the kind of dominance that worries some users. Should big tech companies have access to your private conversations? In some cases, this is not just access; Tech companies are monetizing private conversation data with ads.
Confidentiality? What a privacy.
One alternative is decentralized messenger apps. Instead of relying on the tech giant to connect you, why not use a peer-to-peer messenger to turn off the middleman for your data transfer?
Here are the top five blockchain-based decentralized messaging apps you can use right now.
1. Dust
Dust is a blockchain based messenger developed by Radical App. The app has a strong focus on privacy and security, with several features designed to protect your identity.
One of the main points of Dust is to delete messages by time, when your messages self-destruct after a certain time (up to 24 hours). Once a message has been deleted, it cannot be recovered.
The Dust app also comes with screenshot protection.
During its launch, Dust received a fair amount of media coverage, as Mark Kuban was one of the main investors.
2. Sense.Chat
Sense Chat uses the EOS blockchain for fast and decentralized messaging. Remember, the EOS blockchain is considered one of the fastest at present.
The Sense Chat app includes multiple chat channels on any number of topics, peer-to-peer video chat over the blockchain, and uses its user's EOS public keys to create secure, encrypted connections. Sense Chat also allows users to tip content creators and even regular posts for their contributions to chat channels.
“SENSE is building blockchain communication tools for everyone. We can see that Sense.Chat integrates into any EOS dApp with the community. We create tools for content creators, community managers, token holders and players. "
Crystal Rose Pierce, Founder and CEO of SENSE
The Sense Chat app uses basic yet secure encryption to validate every message. Sense Chat encrypts every message you send with the recipient's public key. The public key is stored on the EOS blockchain; Thus, you can check the sender and recipient addresses at any time. The Sense Chat encryption protocol "does not transmit or receive keys from the central server."
In addition, each EOS account is unique due to its associated EOS address.
Download: Sense Chat for Android | iOS (free)
3.e-Chat
e-Chat is one of the most famous blockchain-based messaging applications.
The app is more than a simple messenger. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, e-Chat can also handle Ethereum transactions, and the e-Chat app is equipped with a multi-coin cryptocurrency wallet.
E-Chat also has a content creation section where users can upload content and create subscription channels. Other users can donate to content creators using the native ECHT token, which allows the best creators to profit from their work.
You can also make free group calls using electronic chat, with up to ten people using the connection.
Download: e-Chat for Android | iOS (is free)
4. Sylo
Sylo focuses on decentralized messaging and social fintech.
This means the Sylo app is a decentralized messaging app with an integrated cryptocurrency wallet, among other things. Sylo also places great emphasis on privacy. Every dialogue uses decentralized alarm Sylo "To establish encrypted P2P connections on demand."
One interesting feature is Sylo Storage, a decentralized storage network that you access through the app. The Sylo Storage network is currently provided by companies already connected to the Sylo network. This will change in the future as more companies and even users can provide additional storage to the network. Those who provide storage receive Sylo tokens.
Like other decentralized messaging applications, Sylo comes with a variety of DApps, all built using the Sylo protocol. The Sylo app is comprehensive, covering payments, communications, apps and more. You can also use Sylo Tokens (SYLO) to unlock additional services and features, access and store content using Sylo Storage, handle DApp actions, and more.
5. Beechat
BeeChat is a South Korean messaging app that uses blockchain technology to secure your communications. BeeChat also includes an ecosystem of blockchain-based applications.
Interestingly, blockchain applications come from Ethereum and EOS. This is because BeeChat is compatible with various chains.
BeeChat also has some community building features similar to Telegram. For example, you can host a chat with up to 30 users using the messaging and video chat functions. Users can communicate with “key influencers” in each community, exchange and discuss cryptocurrency, blockchain and other technologies.
It's an interesting cross-section of blockchain apps, messaging apps and cryptocurrency wallet. However, the user numbers advertised on many sites are surprising.
For example, a Korean site The Investor states that "since the service went live in October [2018], BeeChat has registered 20 million users." That would be a phenomenal number for a blockchain-based messaging application, with South Korea as its main market. Please note that in Coinbase, the main platform for Bitcoin and cryptocurrency users, has about 14 million users, and you see the problem with that 20 million figure.
BeeChat is a blockchain messaging app with some potential. Just do not let yourself be fooled by extensive marketing data.
Download: BeeChat for Android | iOS (free)
Are decentralized messengers good?
Decentralized messaging applications are gaining momentum. Not only in the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, but also for “ordinary” users of messaging applications.
For others, controlling large personal companies over face-to-face communication means that a decentralized alternative is quickly becoming the only option. Attacks by technology companies and governments on messengers using encryption to protect user data are becoming too frequent. And when that happens, truly secure alternatives, such as these decentralized messaging applications, are waiting in the wings.
Messenger in the Utopia ecosystem is the most secure and anonymous