Today, we’re excited to announce the launch of Towns: a decentralized, permissionless group chat app that allows anyone to build their own digital town square, entirely by their own rules. Towns represents the future of community building, where you control the space, the members, and the experience. There’s no permission needed, no centralized control, and it all runs on the River Protocol, providing a feature-rich, onchain messaging experience owned and operated entirely by its members.
Why Permissionless Group Chats?
Traditional platforms restrict and control your communities, holding the keys and making changes without your input. With Towns, you own the conversation. Decide who joins, how the group grows, and how members interact. It's about ownership, decentralization, and freedom. Enjoy end-to-end encryption for all messages—your conversations are private and secure.
Built for Trust in a Changing World
As online trust erodes due to misinformation and the rise of AI, Towns moves beyond self-attestation to proof-based participation. Members can't just claim shared experiences; they provide onchain proof. Gate access using ERC20 tokens, NFTs, ETH, or specific wallet addresses. Vet members by their actions, not just words. Imagine a Town for fans who've purchased verified tickets onchain or for those who've made similar moves on Polymarket. Interact based on proof of participation.
Unlock New Opportunities for Growth and Revenue
Own and monetize your space in Towns. Create exclusive areas by charging membership fees, turning your community into a revenue stream. Gate access with tokens, NFTs, or custom entitlements. You decide how your Town is accessed and how it grows. It's perfect for starting your membership-based chat or broadcast channel.
The Future of Group Chats is Here
Unlike platforms driven by advertising and algorithms, Towns returns ownership to you. It's about communities growing and connecting in ways that make sense to them. And building intimacy without shrinking the internet. The future of group chats is permissionless, decentralized, trusted, and entirely in the hands of the people who build them.
We're launching today. We can't wait to see how you use Towns.
