Towns is a novel messaging protocol built on Base, Coinbase’s Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum. Leveraging blockchain technology and the River Protocol, Towns aims to provide users with a secure and private messaging experience. Launched on October 15, 2024, Towns is currently focused on development and has no immediate plans for a token launch.
Table Content:
Understanding Towns’ Operational Model
Built upon the River Protocol, Towns inherits key functionalities designed for messaging applications. River facilitates:
- Spaces: Enabling users to create groups with on-chain data storage, ensuring immutability and transparency.
- Membership: Allowing users to subscribe to Spaces, similar to subscriptions on platforms like YouTube or Twitch, with membership data also stored immutably on-chain.
River’s architecture comprises four core components:
- River Smart Contract: Deployed on the Base network, this contract allows dApps on River to utilize Space and Membership features.
- River Association (River DAO): Governs protocol updates and future direction through community voting using the RVR token.
- River Node: Validates data and transactions on the River network. Becoming a node requires approval from the River Association.
- River Clients: Enables developers to build dApps on River. Currently, Towns and LateCheckout are two prominent examples.
Functionally similar to Discord, Towns allows users to join existing channels or create their own. Creating a channel involves:
Step 1: Navigate to the Towns homepage and select “Create a Town.”
Step 2: Define the channel name, description, and avatar. Customize participation settings, including member limits and access fees (free or paid).
Key Features of Towns
Several key features distinguish Towns:
- User-Friendly Interface: Designed for intuitive navigation, especially for Web3 users familiar with platforms like Discord and Slack.
- End-to-End Encryption: Utilizing robust encryption, ensuring messages are only decipherable by the intended recipient, enhancing privacy.
- Bot Mitigation: Leveraging channel customization to minimize bot and spam interference, creating a cleaner user experience.
The Team, Investors, and Partners Behind Towns
The Team
Towns is developed by Here Not There Labs, led by:
- Ben Rubin: Co-Founder and CEO, with prior experience at Sequoia Capital and as Co-Founder of Houseparty.
- Brian Meek: Co-Founder and CTO, bringing extensive management experience from Microsoft and Skype.
Investors and Partners
In February 2023, Towns secured $25.5 million in Series A funding led by a16z crypto, with participation from Framework Ventures and Benchmark.
Exploring Similar Projects
Other projects in the decentralized social media space include:
- Farcaster: A social networking protocol on Ethereum enabling familiar social media interactions like posting, reacting, and commenting.
- Lens Protocol: A decentralized social graph on Polygon, empowering users to own their social media profiles and content.
