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Introduction to Waku

Waku is a family of robust, censorship-resistant, peer-to-peer communication protocols that enable privacy-focused messaging for Web3 applications, allowing you to integrate decentralised communication features into your dApp without compromising security or privacy.

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Check out our Learn section, YouTube channel, and Blog to dive into how Waku works behind the scenes!

What isn’t Waku?​

  • Waku is not a blockchain but a network composed of protocols designed for Web3 communication, operating without the need for gas fees.
  • Waku is not just for messaging applications; it supports the development of complex applications that require secure and private data transmission.
  • Waku is not a long-term data storage network; it focuses on short, ephemeral, real-time messaging.

What can Waku be used for?​

  1. Chat Messengers: Waku can be used to build private, decentralised chat apps resistant to censorship.
  2. Voting and Proposals: Exchange votes on proposals off-chain via Waku to save gas fees, then submit aggregated results to the blockchain.
  3. NFT Marketplaces: Use Waku to handle off-chain NFT bids and offers for gas savings, and to integrate social interactions like likes and comments.
  4. State Channels: Establish and maintain state channels with Waku, facilitating seamless message exchanges and updates without blockchain interaction.
  5. Signature Exchange for Multi-Signature Wallets: Allow multi-signature wallet owners to exchange signatures privately and securely through Waku.
  6. Game Mechanics Communication: Implement Waku as a communication layer for decentralised, peer-to-peer gaming, avoiding centralised infrastructure.
  7. Layer 2 Coordination (Open Market, Spam Protected Mempool): Broadcast and aggregate Layer 2 transactions via Waku to enhance privacy and scalability, reducing network load.
  8. Social Media Platforms: Beyond chat messengers, use Waku for decentralised, censorship-resistant social media platforms like news feeds and multimedia sharing.
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Looking for what to build with Waku? Discover a collection of sample ideas and use cases for inspiration, curated by our community at: https://ideas.waku.org/ and Awesome Waku.

Case studies​