Delegation Node: Your Community’s Path to Secure, Scalable Messaging

Communities need secure, private ways to connect and share. We offer the Delegation Node — a decentralized messaging solution tailored for communities focused on privacy, autonomy, and scalability. With Delegation Nodes, members can communicate in real time, enjoying full control over their data without compromising on performance or security.

Why Do Conventional Messaging Solutions Fall Short?

Let’s take a quick look at the main types of messaging platforms available today and why they might not be ideal for communities prioritizing privacy and autonomy.

• Centralized Messaging (e.g., Telegram)
  Ever felt overwhelmed by spam or worry of data privacy on centralized platforms? Services like Telegram keep your data on their servers, which, while convenient, makes users dependent on the platform’s policies and government compliance. Recently, the arrest of Telegram’s CEO raised alarms for privacy advocates, as it highlighted the risks faced by centralized platforms: comply with government demands or face serious repercussions. Users are left with little choice, and their privacy is at the mercy of the platform’s decisions.
• Federated Messaging (e.g., Matrix, Mastodon)
  Federation decentralizes some control, distributing user data across multiple servers. This model reduces reliance on a central authority, yet it’s not without limitations. Your data often remains tied to the specific server where you registered, making switching a challenge if you find a more reliable server later.
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Messaging
  P2P networks create a decentralized web of communication by directly connecting users, with no central server. This model keeps things private and trustless but often struggles with performance. High traffic could lead to network congestion, causing delays and dropped messages. And without incentives, nodes in P2P networks can go offline without warning, making the network unreliable. The unpredictable availability of nodes in the network lowers the quality and makes it harder for people to trust and depend on the network.

Delegation Node: A Community-Oriented Alternative

The Delegation Node solution offers a middle ground, leveraging a real-time P2P relay system while allowing communities to host trusted Delegation Nodes for efficient, scalable messaging.

Imagine each user hosting their own “post office” (Local Node) on their device, like a laptop or phone. This node encrypts and routes their messages securely through a decentralized network of “postmen” (Relay Nodes).

However, in a community setting, expecting every member to host a node isn’t practical. Not everyone wants to manage data storage, and when a community grows to thousands — or even millions — of users, handling individual nodes becomes a costly, logistical nightmare.

Enter the Delegation Node, a trusted, community-run node that handles message storage and dispatching. Users simply connect to this Delegation Node, which acts as a secure hub for the community’s messages without actually centralizing control.

How Delegation Nodes Work: Efficiency Meets Privacy

Think of a Delegation Node as a remote, trusted “local node” hosted by your community. Here’s why it’s a game-changer:

• Privacy, Preserved
  Messages are encrypted on each user’s device and sent to the Delegation Node, which securely stores a copy of message history. Privacy remains intact, as the node holds only encrypted data and doesn’t actually “see” users’ messages.
• Scalability for Large Communities
  In large group chats, rather than each member sending messages individually, they can connect through the Delegation Node, which knows where to send messages directly. It’s efficient, avoids congestion, and cuts out unnecessary relay steps, ensuring fast and seamless communication.
• Flexibility and Resilience
  Users can switch to a new Delegation Node as wished. If a Delegation Node faces issues, members can migrate to a different one without losing their data, keeping the community’s messaging stable and secure.

Real-World Example: ZuChat for the Zuzalu Community

ZuChat, developed for Zuzalu, showcases Delegation Nodes in action. Built on SendingNetwork, ZuChat provides real-time messaging with Zuzalu’s commitment to privacy and autonomy at its core. Members use ZuPass (Zuzalu’s ID verification method) to connect to the Delegation Node securely, allowing them to share updates, coordinate events, and manage large group chats without centralized oversight.

Messages are encrypted, and large group chats scale seamlessly without the need for constant user management or extra infrastructure — just the privacy and autonomy Zuzalu members prioritize.

Why Choose Delegation Nodes for Your Community?

Here’s what makes Delegation Nodes stand out:

• Flexible Privacy Options
  Users can choose to run their own local nodes for complete data control or connect to a trusted Delegation Node for ease and efficiency. You can message anyone connected to any node at any time.
• Decentralized, Scalable, and Secure
  Delegation Nodes provide the best of both worlds: user data stays encrypted, and communities can manage message storage and scalability with complete control.
• Cost-Efficiency at Scale
  For large communities, Delegation Nodes reduce the costs of relaying messages by acting as a direct line for community members. Delegation nodes allow free communication within the node (DM or group chats with over 200,000 members).

Pricing and Deployment Options

The Delegation Nodes adapt to any community size. Pricing is completely customizable and flexible, allowing community owners to offer free or subscription-based messaging. Options include subscriptions based on message volume or pay-as-you-go.

Setting up a delegation node is straightforward, with tutorials available to guide community owners. Whether users need their own private node or plan to connect to an existing community node, We provide the tools to create a robust, decentralized messaging environment that scales with community needs. Feel free to select the “Beginner” node within the SendingMe application and try it out. It’s currently free to use. Explore decentralized messaging services today!