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Towns Protocol is a decentralized communication infrastructure designed to empower developers to build real-time messaging applications without centralized intermediaries. Combining blockchain technology with decentralized networking, Towns offers a unique model for programmable, community-owned group chats called Spaces. These Spaces can integrate encryption, monetization, staking, and governance directly into their messaging environments.
The protocol is built on an EVM-compatible Layer 2 blockchain and supported by decentralized off-chain stream nodes for message delivery. It also features modular smart contracts deployed on Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 network. This architecture enables scalable, real-time communication while maintaining security and privacy through end-to-end encryption.
Towns Protocol was developed by the team behind the Towns application, founded by the creators of the social video app Houseparty, which was acquired by Epic Games. The project is backed by prominent investors including a16z crypto, Coinbase Ventures, and Benchmark.
The native token, $TOWNS, plays a central role in securing and powering the network:
The Towns Protocol operates through three main components:
Unlike traditional social platforms, Towns does not control user data, monetization, or access. Instead, each Space is fully autonomous, allowing its operator to implement staking-based incentives, membership fees, or custom moderation rules.
This design introduces a novel participation model in which users can stake $TOWNS to a Space they support, earning rewards, gaining exclusive access, or participating in governance decisions specific to that Space.
Towns Protocol launched with a total supply of 10 billion $TOWNS tokens, distributed as follows:
$TOWNS is deployed on Ethereum and Base. It is available on select centralized and decentralized exchanges, and can also be earned by participating in Spaces, staking, or contributing to the protocol’s development.
Towns Protocol is pioneering a shift in how messaging platforms operate — placing ownership, control, and economic opportunities directly in the hands of communities. By integrating programmable logic, on-chain governance, and staking incentives into communication infrastructure, it opens the door to a new era of decentralized, user-owned social applications.
