Decentralized Community Chat Server

[IMPACT]

I propose stake pool operators set-up and maintain a forked version of the Matrix server, which allows users to sign-up only if their staking address matches the corresponding stake pool. Stake pool operators have the technical knowledge to set-up and maintain a matrix instance, with the incentive being more personal community engagement, as they no longer have to use proprietary, centralized services like discord or slack.

Users will find benefit with the matrix instance, as sign-up only requires their wallet address and their staking address, no other additional information to be required. Users would also be able to maintain their matrix account across instances. Matrix is also e2e encrypted, making the user feel safe that their personal chat history is private and secure.

The Cardano community values decentralization, sustainability, and free and open source software solutions. With that said, majority of communities rely on proprietary networks/services for communication.

Sources: [1](https://sourcegraph.com/search?q=context:global+%28https://discord.com/invite/%28%5Ba-zA-Z0-9%5D%2B%29+OR+https://discord.gg/%28%5Ba-zA-Z0-9%5D%2B%29%29+select:repo+count:all&patternType=regexp)[2](https://sourcegraph.com/search?q=context:global+https://matrix.to/%23.%2B+select:repo+count:all&patternType=regexp)

Developing a secure, decentralized chat network will fit inline with the community values. Currently, the big issue with hosting decentralized/federated networks is the technical barrier to set one up, as well as the lack of incentive to maintain it.

Take Mastodon for example, which is in theory a decentralized network, but in practice very centralized, with the main Mastodon server home to 80% of the network. Same applies to Matrix/Element.

Providing FOSS communities with more options for secure, decentralized chat, will benefit the free and open source movement as a whole.

The project development will be communicated on a matrix chat room as well as on Discord via a bridge bot.

The main challenge is finding developers to collaborate with. While I have some programming background, I am still a novice, and is insufficient to carry out a project like this by myself.

Thankfully Cardano maintains community forums where I can meet like minded individuals to network with and form a team to produce the desired product.

Another risk is the matrix protocol is too complex, making it difficult to integrate a web3 sign-in process to replace the default email account registration.

There is a risk from setting up another server within a network, as that is another thing needed to be maintained by the SPO.

There is a risk that not enough users find interest in a federated/decentralized chat network.

There is a risk that the needed funds are over/underestimated.

[FEASIBILITY]

The Matrix server (synapse) and client (element)  are in a very mature state, with an active developer community. The same applies to Cardano. What will be needed is a developer that can implement a login process

10000 ada will be used to pay a developer to create the developer for their labor.

20000 ada will be used to set-up a stake pool which implements the matrix server, serving as a role model/mvp for the rest of the Cardano community.

I am a mechanical engineer with 5 years of experience, with 2 years of developing products. I have some programming background, though most of what I know is from self teaching using free and open source material.

I will need a more seasoned developer sharing similar values as I do (should not be too difficult given the people attracted to Cardano), as well as having the technical know-how to implement these types of changes.

The main thing that needs to be implemented is configuring user sign-up to be through a web3 wallet.

[AUDITABILITY]

The project will be hosted on Gitlab, it being a (mostly) free and open source version control software gui. Indications of progress will be shown through git commits and as video updates.

Success of the project will be when a user, who has staked their ADA into a stakepool, is able to register an account, using their wallet, onto the matrix server of the corresponding stakepool.

This is an entirely new proposal.