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HOPR is a protocol that provides privacy for data transmission in the web3 ecosystem through a scalable and incentivized mixnet. It allows any type of data to be sent without exposing metadata. Unlike many projects, HOPR does not have its own blockchain; instead, node operators earn HOPR tokens on Gnosis Chain and Ethereum mainnet. Developers can build decentralized applications on top of HOPR, giving users control over their personal data. The HOPR token was launched in February 2021, with proceeds managed by the HOPR DAO. The protocol's development is guided by the HOPR Association, a privately funded entity separate from the DAO.

HOPR addresses the issue of privacy in decentralized systems. While web3 aims to offer freedom and fairness, it often lacks transport-level privacy, making it less private than traditional web services. Metadata exposure can lead to disruption, exploitation, and censorship, even when using VPNs. HOPR provides scalable transport-level privacy, enabling the creation of private, trustless, and secure applications for web3.

HOPR stands out as the first scalable and incentivized mixnet, unlike earlier technologies like Tor. This innovation allows for the development of private decentralized applications at a scale suitable for web3. The uniqueness is driven by HOPR's proof-of-relay mechanism, a cryptographic system that rewards node operators only after they successfully relay data, while maintaining their privacy.

Yes, HOPR launched RPCh in the first quarter of 2023, which is its first commercial product built on the HOPR network. RPCh enhances privacy for crypto wallets and decentralized finance by hiding metadata associated with RPC calls, including IP addresses. It is already integrated into the privacy wallet BlockWallet, with additional wallet integrations planned. RPCh can be used with most wallets on any EVM-compatible chain with minimal effort.

The HOPR network is secured through proof-of-relay, a cryptographic mechanism that incentivizes a private mixnet for the first time. Node operators receive HOPR tokens only after fulfilling their mixing and relay responsibilities. The protocol is designed so that only the sender can know the details of their data and its path through the mixnet, ensuring privacy.

The HOPR token is an ERC20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, adhering to the widely adopted token standard. It serves three main purposes: users pay with HOPR tokens to send data privately through the network, node operators earn tokens for correctly relaying data via proof-of-relay, and token holders can participate in governance through the HOPR DAO.

Sebastian Bürgel is the founder of HOPR and president of the HOPR Board. He earned a degree in information technologies and electrical engineering from ETH Zurich in 2008 and a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering in 2010. In 2016, he co-founded SONECT, an ATM-as-a-service company, serving as CTO until 2017. He also worked as CTO at Validity Labs before starting HOPR in 2020. Rik Krieger is the co-founder and head of marketing, with 20 years of business development experience. He co-founded Sonect, which was listed in FinTech50 in 2019 and received multiple awards.

HOPR can be traded on various decentralized exchanges. The main platform is Uniswap v3, where you can trade DAI for HOPR. Additionally, on Gnosis Chain, you can use Swapr to trade wxDai for xHOPR, and CowSwap, a DEX aggregator, also supports wxDai to xHOPR trades on Gnosis Chain.