CVP Proposal: 4thPillar; dMail & dChat Communication Super App on Metis L2

Rejected
1

What is 4thPillar (4P)?

Community-build dMail & dChat Application perfectly aligned with decentralized fundamentals;

:point_right:Decentralized, self-custodial & modular communication platform
:point_right:Immutable & on-chain; 1 email/message = 1 Metis transaction
:point_right:Self-custodial E2E encryption via Encryptor Extension
:point_right:Self-custodial decentralized storage via PollinationX storage NFTs

:bulb:Send your first dMail via Metis :arrow_right: Follow the user guide

Why 4thPillar (4P)?
:point_right: One-of-a-kind on-chain model; Moving communication on-chain ensures the immutability and traceability of emails and messages, introducing a level of trust and security unprecedented in legacy digital communication.
:point_right: Robust & Resistant; Natively resistant to Web2 data mining, data ownership loss, censorship, spam, phishing and ID theft.
:point_right: Modular & Self-custodial; In the case of the 4P downtime, anyone can spin up and run their open-source dMail & dChat client and access their communication data.
:point_right: Permissionless access; Native permissionless access prevents access restrictions and de-platforming use cases.
:point_right: Secure & Encrypted; By owning encryption keys, users can take control over their communication encryption in a true self-custodial way.
:point_right: Storage control; By utilising self-custodial decentralized storage NFTs, 4P enables users to retain data ownership, ensuring they retain full control over their communication data.
:point_right: Open source collaboration; Join our collective effort, submit issues, pull requests, or offer general feedback on GitHub.
:point_right: Next-gen Web3 UI/UX; One click connect and network switching with intuitive and modern dMail & dChat client.
:point_right: Awarded technology; In development from 2018, the underlying OCC (on-chain communication) Protocol powering 4P application received awards and recommendations from; the Adriatic Council, UNCEFACT, Edgeware, Solana, Tron and others.

Web3 Specific Features;
:point_right:On-chain W2W emailing and messaging
:point_right:Decentralization coefficient = Metis L2
:point_right:Permissionless access, no phone number required
:point_right:Decentralized storage NFTs
:point_right:Modularity; Network (chose between EVMs), Storage (self-custodial storage NFTs) & Encryption (self-custodial E2E communication encryption via Encryptor Extension)
:point_right:NFT/token gated on-chain group chat
:point_right:Option to charge an email correspondence fee

How does it work?
The dChat W2W message exchange happens on-chain as one short encrypted message represents one L1/L2 blockchain transaction. As dMail is data heavier, lite encrypted JSON objects are created to hold dMail metadata. The link to this encrypted metadata and checksum is recorded on the chain as a blockchain transaction. In both cases, the core primitive described by the formula applies; 1 email/message = 1 Metis TX

:link: dMail technical diagram
:link: dChat technical diagram
:link: Mail Smart Contract on Metis TestNet
:link: PollinationX storage NFT Smart Contract on Metis TestNet

:bulb:Audits will be available before MainNet

Native Four Token;
:point_right:4P Pro RTA (right-to-access)
:point_right:4P Discord RTA (right-to-access)
:point_right:Governance
:point_right:Grants
:point_right:Community incentives

Goals & WinWins;
:point_right:Introducing a non-financial blockchain utility in the form of on-chain email & messaging communication on Metis.
:point_right:Empowering users with email & messaging alternatives that are decentralized, modular, self-custodial and not based on the existing predatory model.
:point_right:4P on-chain model (1 email/message = 1 Metis transaction) empowers unparallel Metis transaction volume opportunity.

Why Metis?
:point_right:High throughput network
:point_right:Ethereum security
:point_right:Fast transaction finality
:point_right:Low transaction price
:point_right:Thriving community

Endorsement
:point_right:Recommended to the CVP by Metis founder Yuan Su.

Roadmap;
:gem:January 2024; PollinationX NFT integration
:gem:February 2024; dMail Early Testing Program on Metis
:gem:March 2024; dChat Early Testing Program on Metis
:gem:Q2 2024; 4P dMail & dChat Metis MainNet
:gem:Q2 2024; 4P Pro / $FOUR RTA Access;
:point_right:TestNet
:point_right:Sent mails
:point_right:Draft mail
:point_right:Group dChat Creation
:point_right:dChat Att
:point_right:White-label (p2)
:point_right:dMail & dChat dApp fee discount (p2)
:point_right:Option to charge an email correspondence fee (p2)
:point_right:NFT/token gated on-chain group chat (p2)

Official links;
:link: 4P Website
:link: 4P Docs
:link: 4P GitHub
:link: 4P Whitepaper
:link: 4P Twitter

2 Likes
2

Hello, thank you for your offer.
I want to ask you a few questions;

1-How Do Self-Custodial Storage NFTs Offer an Improved Storage Solution and What Benefits Does This Provide to Users on the Metis Network?

What Key Advantages Does the Collaboration Between 2-Metis and 4Ps Offer Users in Decentralized Communication and How Does It Differ from Traditional Models?

How 3-4P’s On-Chain Model Powers Metis Transaction Volume and Increases Users’ Control Over Communication Data

4-How Does PollinationX NFT Integration Contribute to 4P’s Storage Solution and What Security and Data Storage Benefits Does This Offer Users?

How Will 5-4P’s Early Testing Programs Contribute to the Metis Community and How Will Users’ Feedback Be Evaluated?

6-Low Transaction Prices and Fast Transaction Certainty, What Practical Advantages Does 4P Offer to Users and How Will This Synchronize with the Metis Network?

3

Interesting… However I have just a question for you!

What measures and how does 4thpillar ensure that there is a Robust & Resistant to Web2 data mining, data ownership loss, censorship, spam, phishing and ID theft?

4

Hello, thanks for the questions, let’s address them one by one;

1. How Do Self-Custodial Storage NFTs Offer an Improved Storage Solution and What Benefits Does This Provide to Users on the Metis Network?

PX storage NFTs enable access to specific decentralized storage quota (i.e. 100MB, 5GB, 10GB…). In contrast to traditional centralized storage servers still mostly used by the Web3 applications and operated by a single organization, decentralized storage systems data is kept across geographically distributed nodes connected via peer-to-peer (P2P) networking. There is also the matter of who holds the encryption keys of your data. In the current Web2 cloud-based centralized storage systems, the storage platform usually holds the encryption keys, which raises potential concerns for accessibility, transparency, and control of users’ data. This is not the case with PollinationX decentralized storage NFTs, where only the user holds and manages private data and storage access keys. The integration of PX storage NFTs enables 4P users to control and manage their decentralized storage and data used within the 4P dMail & dChat app in a self-custodial manner. The storage and data can be accessed and decrypted only with the user’s private keys. With the deployment of PX smart contracts on Metis, this service is also available for other ecosystem dApps.

2. What Key Advantages Does the Collaboration Between Metis and 4Ps Offer Users in Decentralized Communication and How Does It Differ from Traditional Models?

Legacy Web2 applications use centralized databases which are vulnerable to potential security breaches, data loss, and single points of failure. The risks of centralized databases include vulnerabilities to insider attacks and the potential for unauthorized access, modification, or deletion of data. Conversations can be E2E encrypted but usually the intermediary holds the master keys. Furthermore, intermediary platforms control and mine the data that is created by users, so in other words users are paying for the communication service in their data. Legacy communication applications are easy to access and seem »free« to use but keep in mind that if you are not paying for the product, you are the product.

As we progress it is essential to understand that by enabling big tech to use our data the world becomes exponentially more centralized and controlled. With all the algorithms that process and use our data to »personalize« our online experience, the world and you with it are becoming predictable and characterless. The shift to decentralized on-chain communication is one of the first steps towards digital communication data democratization. Every change is hard, but in the end, having a parallel choice is always good, while it all comes down to us making an effort to understand and utilize solutions like 4P.

4P embraces a decentralized model which differs it from the Web2 communication platforms and most of the Web2.5/Web3 competitors. This shift has groundbreaking implications for users’ communication access, control, privacy, and data ownership. Compared to many Web3 competitors, 4P has no long roadmap to decentralization, nor does it take any shortcuts. Due to its unique on-chain “1 email/message = 1 Metis transaction” model, the 4Ps decentralization coefficient is directly correlated to the decentralization of the underlying public blockchain network. While emails or messages are represented as Metis transactions, encrypted data files and bigger objects are stored on decentralized storage. This model enables “true” decentralized communication that is self-custodial, permissionless, immutable, and Web2 data mining-resistant, therefore the complete opposite of the Legacy centralized communication platforms that we use and depend on every day.

4P is a decentralized Web3 application with no centralized database where all data is controlled by the users. The dChat wallet-to-wallet message exchange happens on-chain as one short encrypted message represents one Metis transaction. As dMail is data heavier, lite encrypted JSON objects are created to hold dMail metadata. The link to this metadata and checksum is recorded on-chain as a blockchain transaction, while the encrypted data and media files are stored on decentralized storage that is represented as a dynamic storage NFT giving users complete control over their data.

3. How 4P’s On-Chain Model Powers Metis Transaction Volume and Increases Users’ Control Over Communication Data

Due to the 4P unique on-chain model (1 email/message = 1 Metis transaction), we could label the 4P application as “transaction heavy”. If we imagine 1000 users sending only 10 messages or emails, the same users produce 3.65 million Metis transactions a year.

4. How Does PollinationX NFT Integration Contribute to 4P’s Storage Solution and What Security and Data Storage Benefits Does This Offer Users?

This question is mostly already answered in the first answer. However, I’m adding additional information;

PX sNFT integration enables data and storage self-custody within 4P dMail & dChat. PX sNFTs represent the storage unit (e.g. 5GB, 10GB, 20GB, 100GB), while the dynamic NFT technology enables the NFT image to reflect the real-time storage capacity state. NFTs are available and programmed with predetermined storage capacity or can be minted according to specific needs. Key storage usage metrics are synced via [PX] smart contract. Based on the acquired storage in GB, the storage access PX sNFTs get minted.

5. How Will 4P’s Early Testing Programs Contribute to the Metis Community and How Will Users’ Feedback Be Evaluated?

Please see the Early Tester Program feedback form that includes all information: Sorry, we had to delete the link to the form due to the candidate forum rules

6. Low Transaction Prices and Fast Transaction Certainty, What Practical Advantages Does 4P Offer to Users and How Will This Synchronize with the Metis Network?

4P is introducing a non-financial blockchain utility in the form of on-chain email & messaging communication on Metis while empowering users with email & messaging alternatives that are decentralized, modular, self-custodial and not based on the existing predatory model.

1 Like
5

I love this proposal concept about dMail and dChat as decentralization is one of Metis’ vision but i have couple question to ask:

Can you explain the consensus mechanisms used in 4th Pillar’s dMail and dChat platforms to ensure trust and integrity of messages?

What are some of the challenges and trade-offs users might encounter, particularly in terms of user experience and adoption? And how does 4th Pillar plan to mitigate this challenges?

6

What measures and how does 4thpillar ensure that there is a Robust & Resistant to Web2 data mining, data ownership loss, censorship, spam, phishing and ID theft?

Thanks for the question, let’s dissect it and address each point;

It’s more than clear that all “free” Web2 communication is far from “free”! We trade the ease of access for our communication data. In contrast, 4P is an application perfectly aligned with decentralized fundamentals which in its core coding prevents Web2 data mining. This is achieved with component self-custody (described below) and communication encryption.
4P application and its accompanied protocols do not mine any user data! The metadata created between the user wallet and the dApp is still vulnerable, but with the development of “mixnets”, such as HOPR this issue is also being resolved.

Web2 email and messaging platforms are custodial and centralized by nature, where every action requires permissions. Closed siloed permissioned systems operate by the set of rules agreed upon by the users, so naturally censorship occurs. A key feature of the 4P application’s robustness and resistance lies in its permissionless access, ensuring everyone is included. Users can engage without the need for intermediary permissions and fear of censorship. Only a wallet and transaction gas are needed and you are good to go. Due to the fundamental nature of blockchain, the on-chain communication brings immutability of conversations, which ensures that once a message is sent, it remains permanent enabling transparency and trust within digital communication until now unseen in legacy platforms.

Self-custody is also playing a crucial part in application robustness. It solves data ownership loss that is common with using Web2 communication platforms. 4P application design is modular where users maintain self-custodial control on four main levels;

  1. Client self custody; The 4P app is open-source, so anyone with a little knowledge can spin up the app locally and run it themselves.
  2. Data portability; Compared to siloed legacy communication applications, the emails, messages and accompanying data within the 4P system are portable. 4P application acts only as a conduit enabling communication interaction.
  3. Storage self-custody; The integration of PX storage NFTs enables 4P users to control and manage their decentralized storage and data used within the 4P dMail & dChat app in a self-custodial manner.
  4. Encryption self-custody; Communication encryption is also managed by users, as they control and own the public and private encryption keys via Encryptor Extension.

4P in the form of on-chain communication is resistant to Web2 spam, phishing and ID theft. Because every message is represented as one Metis transaction, it requires a fee to be executed, significantly lowering the spam barrier. Further development can bring privacy features that could block non-whitelisted addresses.

Digital identity is in most cases represented by a legacy email address which can be easily accessible and exposed to theft. In the case of 4P, the user wallet acts as dID, making digital identity truly self-custodial and within the user’s control.

7

Please clarify. If this quota is increased, will an additional fee be charged in your native tokens when transmitting a message? Or is this the maximum value that can be used without any options to increase the capacity?

8

I love this proposal concept about dMail and dChat as decentralization is one of Metis’ vision but i have couple question to ask:

Can you explain the consensus mechanisms used in 4th Pillar’s dMail and dChat platforms to ensure trust and integrity of messages?

4P runs on the OCC (on-chain communication) Protocol. Mail and Chat smart contracts ensure trust and message integrity/immutability. Let me explain how it works;

Putting communication on-chain results in communication integrity and immutability. The dChat W2W message exchange happens on-chain as one short message represents one L1/L2 blockchain transaction. As dMail is data heavier, lite encrypted JSON objects are created to hold dMail metadata. The link to this metadata and checksum is recorded on the chain as a blockchain transaction. So again, the core primitive described by the formula applies; 1 email/message = 1 L1/L2-TX. Please check the links to the dMail & dChat technical diagrams available in the initial project announcement post

What are some of the challenges and trade-offs users might encounter, particularly in terms of user experience and adoption? And how does 4th Pillar plan to mitigate this challenges?

As we see it, there are two barriers to the adoption;

  1. Transaction fees, and;
  2. Web3 UI/UX.

First, let’s clarify by saying that on-chain communication represents a new mental model. It may be native to Web3 users who are used to paying for every transaction but can be very unnatural to Web2 users who are integrated into “Free” but mined platform models. It is hard to comprehend that paying with data can be compared to paying with money, data is money. Overcoming this state is and will be a challenge and there is nothing 4P can do about it.

Paying/settling for every message can also be a barrier to adoption. We believe that the solution will represent itself in the form of a transaction subscription. There are numerous Ethereum improvement proposals (i.e. EIP-758, EIP-1337, EIP-4885, EIP-5643) being written that could enable subscriptions on the blockchain. We are still very early and block space subscription is still evolving. It may look complicated and costly to access your block space now but it will become more accessible. It’s the same as with internet access, we don’t think any more about the MBs cost, we just use it. The same will be with block space, as blockchain evolves, access will become more organic, easy, and accessible, so a statement such as “on-chain is the future online” would fit here perfectly.

There is a lot of talk about Web3 UI/UX, with wallets being the main pain within the user-friendly UX. Smart wallets are coming, and if they are as good as promoted this could solve a lot of problems. For the past 2 years, we have worked on the 4P UI, it has overcome 3 major iterations. Every action was thought through, so we hope we nail it. We are still polishing the dChat UI, tuning every detail so it will be ready for the early tester program in March.

I hope that answers your questions:)

9

Hello,

Native token is used for RTA (right-to-access) models to 4P Pro, Governance… All email and message communication is paid with the token of the underlying blockchain (i.e. ETH). Every wallet can mint 100MB free PX storage NFT. If more storage is needed, the NFT can be upgraded or a new NFT minted with the desired storage quota. Users pay for the PX storage NFTs with the gas token of the underlying blockchain. Check the link for more info: https://wiki.pollinationx.io/overview/px-storage-nft

1 Like
10

Will the payment be the same as the price of 1 transaction in network? If so, don’t you think it might discourage users from paying such a high price for sending emails?

11

Hello.
I use several email projects on Web3. It is undeniable that Web3 technologies used in building chats and email clients are a step forward, a step towards decentralization and protection of our data.
I have a few questions for you:

  1. How and to what extent will our data be protected? After all, traditional data centers that use all Web2 solutions are not suitable in our case. Do you really have a decentralized email client?
  2. Problem with storing letters and files inside the mail client. How are you going to solve this problem?
  3. Our long EVM addresses, you will agree, are not very convenient for remembering and using as an indication of the addressee of the received letter. Will ENS support the name as a destination indication? Or do you have another way?
  4. How will letters be sent? Is it sending every debit email on the Metis network? After all, even taking into account the very low commissions on the Metis network, not everyone will decide to send letters and pay the commission. Will you implement a gas-free dispatch function?
    Thank you for your attention.
12

Yes, roughly the same as executing general token-related transactions. With low-cost modern L2s such as Metis, the communication transaction price is hardly noticeable. Remember, If you are not paying for the product then you are the product:)

If you scroll up in the thread, there is a question/answer dealing with this topic:)

1 Like
13

Thanks for the questions, Let’s address them one by one;

How and to what extent will our data be protected? After all, traditional data centers that use all Web2 solutions are not suitable in our case. Do you really have a decentralized email client?

Excellent question, yes we have built a truly decentralized email and chat solution. 4Ps decentralization coefficient = the underlying L1/L2 decentralization coefficient, so the more decentralized the network that runs the protocol, the more decentralized the service.

There are three main protection layers within the technology that 4P is using;

  1. End-to-end Encryption; 4P is utilising Encryptor Extension to enable users with the first truly self-custodial communication encryption. Remember if you are controlling the encryption keys, you are controlling the communication encryption. It is the same as with your wallet.

The Encryptor Extension is open-source, fully self-custodial, and enabled by choice. Encryption and decryption of the communication or shared data files are possible with the Encryptor extension, which adds the dMail and dChat communication encryption layer currently not supported in major wallets. Encryptor extension is used to enable the ECDH key agreement protocol. It creates an elliptic curve key pair and computation of the shared secret key of the receiver/sender.

  1. Underlying blockchain network; Because communication is on-chain (1 email/message = 1 L1/L2 TX), communication becomes immutable by its very nature, which ensures that once a message is sent, it remains permanent enabling transparency and trust within digital communication until now unseen in legacy platforms.

  2. Decentralized storage; Storing communication data on decentralized storage adds an unparalleled security layer. Only the user with his private keys can access the communication data, which is a complete opposite compared with centralized services where even if encrypted the communication platform stores and controls the data.

Problem with storing letters and files inside the mail client. How are you going to solve this problem?

We are solving this by integrating PollinationX decentralized storage NFTs that enable users to store their communication data in a true self-custodial manner. There are no centralized databases in the system. All communication data is under users’ control and accessed by users’ private keys.

Our long EVM addresses, you will agree, are not very convenient for remembering and using as an indication of the addressee of the received letter. Will ENS support the name as a destination indication? Or do you have another way?

Yes, we will be adding ENS support in the near future.

How will letters be sent? Is it sending every debit email on the Metis network? After all, even taking into account the very low commissions on the Metis network, not everyone will decide to send letters and pay the commission. Will you implement a gas-free dispatch function?
Thank you for your attention.

The users can already choose between several testnets. L1/L2 choice is after all a part of the platform self-custodial modularity thesis. To ensure true decentralized communication, our on-chain model does not enable a gas-free function, remember 1 email/message = 1 L1/L2 TX. If the underlying network were gas free, then also the communication transactions could be gas-free, but that’s a whole other debate:)

1 Like
14

Welcome 4P to Andromeda, and glad to see you guys apply for CEG!

Going through your proposal, a few questions came to mind;

  • Are you building 4p from scratch on Metis or integrating Metis? Also is 4P a fork of another project?
  • Any info on team?
  • The metis eco needs new shiny products with visionary teams to explore unfilled areas as regards products on the chain; What gap/impact do you guys see yourselves filling/having on metis?
15

Thank you for your complete detailed answer. It is very interesting.

1 Like
16

Thanks for the warm welcome, its good to be a part of the CEG community. Lets address questions one by one;

Are you building 4p from scratch on Metis or integrating Metis? Also is 4P a fork of another project?

4P dMail & dChat app is EVM based. We are focusing on L1s and L2s with fast transaction finality and low transaction cost (1 email/message = 1 L1/L2 transaction), while it is also crucial that the chain that we deploy on has a strong security foundation. That’s why we have chosen Metis to be one of the first L2s available for the 4P users.

In essence, the 4P app is a fork of the 4thTech white-label stack, but completely redeveloped, improving (inventing) on-chain communication UI/UX and adding the tokenization layer.

Any info on team?

4P is a natural result of three Crypto OG teams (4thTech, Immu3 & PollinationX) that stand behind the six years of on-chain communication research, development and innovation.

As a separate project, 4P focuses on the commercialisation and app layer of this unique on-chain communication technology, while serving as the first end-user iteration. Boosted by community developers 4P focuses on the best possible on-chain emailing and messaging UI/UX innovating new Client approaches. You can check contributors on the GitHubs of all related projects:)

The metis eco needs new shiny products with visionary teams to explore unfilled areas as regards products on the chain; What gap/impact do you guys see yourselves filling/having on metis?

As for filling the gap, 4P is introducing a non-financial blockchain utility in the form of on-chain email & messaging communication on Metis while empowering users with email & messaging alternatives that are decentralized, modular, self-custodial and not based on the existing predatory model.

Due to the 4P unique on-chain model (1 email/message = 1 Metis transaction), we could label the 4P application as “transaction heavy”. If we imagine 1000 users sending only 10 messages or emails, the same users produce 3.65 million Metis transactions a year, which could be recognized as a positive impact on Metis transaction volume.

17

Hello boys! Very good proposal for Candidac, congratulations.
I have some doubts:
To send each email or each message in the chat, will the gas to pay be as low as in the demonstration video? That is to say less than 1 cent USD?
Does the gas value change depending on the size of the attachments in the email?
I understand that the files are stored in a decentralized storage and communications are encrypted, could we say that this system is more reliable than traditional systems like Proton Mail?
Is it planned at some point to be able to send emails to common email addresses like @gmail.com?

Thank you 4thPillar! and good luck!

18

Hello Benjamin! Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful questions.

To send each email or each message in the chat, will the gas to pay be as low as in the demonstration video? That is to say less than 1 cent USD?

Parallel to the underlying L1/L2 transaction GAS cost, the PROTOCOL-FEE is also settled on the smart contract level and is applicable for every email or message transaction. Total user cost equals the sum of the L1/L2 transaction GAS and the PROTOCOL-FEE. Both the GAS and PROTOCOL fees converge and manifest as one end-user communication transaction fee. To PROTOCOL FEE is defined by the $ value approximation (e.g. ~0.0075$ ETH ≡ for the dMail and ~0.0025$ ETH ≡ for the dChat). Depending on the Metis transaction cost the communication transaction fees should be in the cent not dollar range.

Does the gas value change depending on the size of the attachments in the email?

No, the gas value does not change depending on the dMail attachment size. Lite encrypted JSON objects are created to hold dMail metadata (content, subject, URL to attachments). The link to this encrypted metadata and checksum is recorded on the chain as a blockchain transaction. Encrypted attachments are stored on decentralized storage. The user mints and manages their Storage NFT (i.e. 100MB FREE, 5GB, 10GB…) that holds the communication attachments.

I understand that the files are stored in a decentralized storage and communications are encrypted, could we say that this system is more reliable than traditional systems like Proton Mail?

If we are talking about reliability in the sense of email service uptime we must consider different factors. 4P email depends on the uptime of; the 4P UI client (run by the company), underlying blockchain and decentralized storage, while encryption is managed by the user. Because 4P is a true self-custodial application, users can run their own 4P UI client (open-source), choose between supported L1/L2s and manage their own storage. From that regard, 4P offers much more flexibility for users to reach a state of true reliability while still maintaining self-custody.

If your question regarding reliability was more focused towards the differences between legacy communication and 4P, here is detailed information;

Legacy Web2 applications use centralized databases which are vulnerable to potential security breaches, data loss, and single points of failure. The risks of centralized databases include vulnerabilities to insider attacks and the potential for unauthorized access, modification, or deletion of data. Conversations can be E2E encrypted but usually the intermediary holds the master keys. Furthermore, intermediary platforms control and mine the data that is created by users, so in other words users are paying for the communication service in their data. Legacy communication applications are easy to access and seem »free« to use but keep in mind that if you are not paying for the product, you are the product.

4P embraces a decentralized model which differs it from the Web2 communication platforms and most of the Web2.5/Web3 competitors. This shift has groundbreaking implications for users’ communication access, control, privacy, and data ownership. Compared to many Web3 competitors, 4P has no long roadmap to decentralization, nor does it take any shortcuts. Due to its unique on-chain “1 email/message = 1 Metis transaction” model, the 4Ps decentralization coefficient is directly correlated to the decentralization of the underlying public blockchain network. While emails or messages are represented as Metis transactions, encrypted data files and bigger objects are stored on decentralized storage. This model enables “true” decentralized communication that is self-custodial, permissionless, immutable, and Web2 data mining-resistant, therefore the complete opposite of the Legacy centralized communication platforms that we use and depend on every day.

4P is a decentralized Web3 application with no centralized database where all data is controlled by the users. The dChat wallet-to-wallet message exchange happens on-chain as one short encrypted message represents one Metis transaction. As dMail is data heavier, lite encrypted JSON objects are created to hold dMail metadata. The link to this metadata and checksum is recorded on-chain as a blockchain transaction, while the encrypted data and media files are stored on decentralized storage that is represented as a dynamic storage NFT giving users complete control over their data.

Is it planned at some point to be able to send emails to common email addresses like @gmail.com?

Bridging between legacy SMTP and on-chain communication is possible. It is a challenge that many teams are trying to solve so let’s see what the future brings:)