Nostr is an open protocol that lets people send and store short, signed messages using a network of relays. It is designed for building social apps and other services without any single company in control.
Nostr stands for “Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays.” The goal is to create a standard that any developer can use to publish content, build apps, or run a server that stores and forwards messages. The protocol is not an app itself, but a set of rules that apps use.
A developer called Fiatjaf introduced Nostr in 2020. The early goal was to build a communication system that could resist censorship and avoid relying on one company’s servers. Since then, many apps and tools have been created using the protocol.
Nostr uses public and private key pairs for identity and signing messages. Users or apps make a private key to sign messages. These signed messages go to relays, which are simple servers that accept, store, and forward them. Clients are the programs people use to read and send messages. Since relays use a simple format, anyone can run one and share their content.
On Nostr, accounts do not use email or phone numbers. Instead, they are linked to cryptographic keys. The private key lets you access your account and must be kept safe. If you lose it, you cannot recover your account. The public key is what others use to find or follow you. This makes identity simple and easy to use across different apps.
Relays are simple servers that store and share messages. They do not have global rules and can decide which messages to accept or reject. Clients connect to one or more relays to post and read content. Running a relay is meant to be easy, so anyone can host one and help keep the system working.
Nostr has three main strengths: easy cryptographic verification, a simple protocol that is easy to use, and built-in resistance to central control. Since the protocol is small, developers can build new apps quickly, and users can switch between apps without changing accounts.
More and more apps use Nostr for social timelines, messaging, and sharing content. Some projects link Nostr with Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, so users can send small payments or tip authors directly. These features help content creators earn money without using ads.
Messages on Nostr are signed, making it easy to see who sent them. The protocol does not include end-to-end encryption for every message, so private messaging needs extra tools on the client side when privacy is important. Since relays can log or delete data, users who want strong privacy should choose their relays and clients carefully.
Developers use Nostr to build decentralized social clients, chat apps, and systems that avoid single-point censorship. The protocol is also good for trying out new ideas that combine social features with payments, like tipping through Lightning, where identity and payments connect without a company in the middle.
Since anyone can run a relay and anyone can post, the network sometimes deals with spam and low-quality content. Relays have different rules, which makes moderation and finding good content harder. Also, because accounts rely only on cryptographic keys, users must be careful to protect their keys.
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