Towns Protocol provides a permissioned messaging layer on Base L2 that integrates on‑chain DeFi functions directly into private group chats. By authenticating users with crypto wallets, it enables token‑gated access, instant tipping, escrow payouts, and staking without leaving the conversation, while offering end‑to‑end encryption and a developer SDK for rapid integration.
Funding
$3.3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
BEEFounders
Product
Problem
Community platforms on Web3 often separate chat functionality from on‑chain financial tools, forcing users to switch between disparate apps to discuss, tip, or trade assets. This fragmentation reduces engagement, increases friction for creators seeking to monetize, and limits the ability of groups to enforce token‑based access controls.
Solution
Towns Protocol delivers an open, permissioned messaging layer built on the Base L2 that embeds DeFi primitives directly into private group chats. By authenticating participants with their crypto wallets, the protocol enables instant on‑chain tipping, token‑gated entry, escrow‑based payouts, and integrated staking without leaving the conversation. Smart‑contract‑driven message routing ensures cryptographic integrity and end‑to‑end encryption while leveraging Base’s low‑fee rollup for scalable transaction throughput. A developer‑friendly SDK and pre‑styled UI components let dApp teams launch branded group experiences in minutes, and a governance token layer provides on‑chain voting for community upgrades. The combined stack turns any chat into a revenue‑generating, financially interactive hub, reducing user churn and simplifying monetization for creators.
Target Audience
The primary users are crypto creators, community managers, and Web3 product teams that need a unified chat and on‑chain finance experience, as well as decentralized finance enthusiasts who want to interact financially within private groups.
Features
- Base L2 smart‑contract architecture that guarantees Ethereum‑level security with sub‑dollar transaction costs.
- Wallet‑based identity and signature verification for seamless, password‑less login and on‑chain authentication.
- Native on‑chain tipping, token swaps, escrow payouts, and staking mechanisms embedded in the chat UI.
- Token‑gated group access and role‑based permissions enforced by programmable smart contracts.
- End‑to‑end encrypted message transport with optional IPFS/Arweave off‑chain storage for immutable archives.
- TypeScript/React SDK and UI kit for rapid integration of chat and financial widgets into existing dApps.
- On‑chain governance module powered by the TOWNS token, supporting proposals, voting, and parameter tweaks.
- Real‑time analytics dashboard for group admins, showing tip volume, member growth, and token flow metrics.