HOPR is a privacy-preserving messaging protocol (HOPR protocol) and a decentralized network (HOPR network) with economic incentives (HOPR token) on blockchain. HOPR introduced the first-ever open incentivized mixnet, where anyone can earn tokens for running nodes.^[1]  

History

HOPR's founding team: Robert Kiel, Sebastian Bürgel and Rik Krieger
HOPR founders, Sebastian Bürgel and Robert Kiel first met the Binance team during the Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) in February 2019 in Paris. They learned about their Fellowship that supports open-source projects and were later chosen for their Binance-X Fellowship.^[2] 

In July 2020, Binance Labs led a $1 million seed round in HOPR, which also received funding from Focus Labs, Spark Digital Capital, Caballeros Capital and Synaitken.^[3] 

In July, HOPR said that the startup was preparing to launch the testnet and community support program. The event would feature rewards in MakerDAO’s stablecoin Dai (DAI). 

Overview

The team reported that the name HOPR (pronounced Hopper) came from the fact that metadata exchanged by our users will, essentially, “hop” from node to node, ensuring complete privacy. 

The HOPR network relies on multiple individuals running HOPR nodes over publicly available infrastructure. HOPR nodes can run in multiple devices and operating systems over the Internet. HOPR provides privacy by relaying messages through multiple “hops” via different relay nodes connected to the HOPR Network. These messages use the Sphinx packet format to avoid leaking any data about their contents, the sender, or the recipient.^[3] 

Nodes participating in the HOPR network get paid for their services via blockchain payment channels in the form of HOPR tokens. Every time a message hops through a different node, its maintainer is rewarded with a ticket with a certain probability of being redeemed on-chain for HOPR tokens. These HOPR tokens can be used within the HOPR network as a means of payment for requesting services from other HOPR nodes.^[1] 

HOPR Node PC

In August 2020, HOPR released an Ethereum hardware node that eliminates the need for individuals to rely on centralized cloud servers such as Alibaba and Amazon. Called the HOPR Node PC, this plug-and-play blockchain-ready node can be simply attached to any router for immediate use. Going at $440 USD for an initial release, the product has an 8GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage that allows users to run not only an Ethereum node but other nodes such as IFPS, Filecoin or even ETH2. Only 100 Node PCs are made available, but HOPR’s waiting list for this popular product more than doubled since its initial announcement.^[1][3] 

Säntis Testnet

In October 2020, HOPR announced the release of a public incentivized testnet for its mixnet on xDai, an Ethereum sidechain. A mix network or “mixnet” (taking its name from the proxy servers it employs, called “mixes”) obscures the metadata left behind when data passes through a network, which can be observed on most networks by state-level adversaries. Nicknamed HOPR Säntis (after a Swiss mountain) and running on the xDai chain, the firm said the testnet provided “fast transactions secured by Proof-of-Stake, while eliminating the high Ethereum transaction fees.” Transaction costs on the xDai network are lower than on the Ethereum mainnet. ^[2]

Participants in the program earned ERC-20 HOPR tokens for running a node. These tokens will be distributed when the HOPR mainnet launches in late 2020. 

Säntis resulted in more than 500 people installing a HOPR node - adding to the initial 100 HOPR Hardware Nodes purchased in 32 countries - to strengthen end-to-end, decentralized data privacy through the HOPR network.^[2] 

Basòdino Testnet

On October 20, 2020, HOPR and Matic, a leading blockchain scalability platform, announced the release of HOPR’s first incentivized testnet on Matic chain and introduction of a new proof-of-relay (PoR) protocol. The PoR mechanism is a first in the data privacy industry, which ensures network-level data privacy while protecting against those trying to game the system. Those relaying data packets through HOPR nodes will be validated by adjacent node runners in the sequence, using tickets which can be claimed on the Matic chain.^[3]

The HOPR Basòdino testnet went live on October 21st, 2020. The testnet will then run for two full weeks, until November 4th.^[1]

Team

Board of Association

• Dr. Sebastian Bürgel - President

• Dr. Catrina Luchsinger - Board Member

• Ronald Kogens - Board Member ^[1]

Partners

• Avado

• Froriep

• Elrond

• Sedimentum

• Swiss Medtech

• Health Tech Cluster

• Swiss Healthcare Startups^[1]