The decentralised social media ‘super app’ of Elon Musk’s dreams already exists, with growing interest in China

The Nostr social media protocol has elicited such enthusiasm in users that there are dedicated podcasts, newsletters and conferences, including in Hong Kong

The protocol’s lack of any central authority has attracted interest from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and whistle-blower Edward Snowden

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Nostr developers have adopted the ostrich as a kind of mascot for the decetralised social media protocol that has gained the backing of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 11:00am, 5 Oct 2023Updated: 1:39pm, 5 Oct 2023

An enthusiastic group of pro bono programmers strewn across the globe, including in Hong Kong, are building the open source, crypto-focused super app of Elon Musk’s dreams – but without the app.

For the past year, a dedicated group of developers have been working on a decentralised social media protocol, with new features rolling out at a pace that makes it hard to keep track. Updates made this year to the protocol, which was started in late 2020, and to related apps encompass everything from a marketplace with cryptocurrency payments to a TikTok-like short video feed.

The Nostr protocol has kindled such enthusiasm in a core group of users that they have taken to putting on conferences around the world, including an upcoming dual-city event called Nostrasia in Tokyo and Hong Kong from November 1 to 3.

While Musk has touted the free-speech bona fides of his new Twitter, which he renamed X, the crypto enthusiasts behind Nostr have built a platform that is censorship resistant and already allows for the instant transfer of bitcoin. It also has the backing of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and has attracted users like US intelligence whistle-blower Edward Snowden and Chinese-Malaysian singer Michael Wong. Interest has grown in mainland China, as well.

“I think the most amazing thing about Nostr is you have one identity on all platforms,” said Sherry, a programmer and data analyst from the mainland who organises Hong Kong Nostr meet-ups. She asked to go only by her English first name, which is not associated with her day job.

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