ADR 001: Custom Protocol Over Pure Nostr

Date: 2026-02-28 Status: Accepted

Context

We need a decentralized social network protocol. Nostr exists and has an active ecosystem of relays, clients, and users. We could build purely on Nostr, fork it, or design something new.

Decision

Design a custom protocol from scratch that maintains interoperability with the Nostr ecosystem, minimizing transition cost for existing Nostr users and infrastructure.

Consequences

• We can innovate beyond Nostr's constraints where needed
• Existing Nostr relays and clients can bridge to our network
• We inherit the benefits of Nostr's key/identity model
• We take on the cost of designing and documenting a new protocol
• We need to maintain a clear NIP compatibility map