The Origins of Ethereum Push Notification Service

Ethereum Push Notification Service (EPNS) is a revolutionary protocol bringing decentralized push notifications to the Web3 ecosystem. Founded by Harsh Rajat and Richa Joshi, EPNS aims to solve a critical infrastructure gap in blockchain applications by enabling dApps to communicate directly with users.

The idea for EPNS emerged from Harsh's background as a mobile developer. Having worked with Apple's push notification service in 2010, he recognized the need for a similar communication layer in the decentralized world of blockchain and Web3. As Harsh explains:

"When you come to blockchain and Web 3.0, I mean it's so so new that there was no communication layer built for it. People were trying to solve a lot of things - speed, scalability, security and all those other aspects which will help blockchain grow. But once we got to the point where innovation started happening, people quickly realized that this communication is missing."

This realization led Harsh and Richa to start ideating on EPNS in late 2019. Coming from backgrounds in fintech and product management, they saw an opportunity to leverage their skills to build critical infrastructure for the emerging Web3 space.

The Need for Decentralized Push Notifications

In the Web2 world, push notifications are a fundamental part of how applications communicate with users. Whether it's an Uber ride update, an Amazon delivery notification, or a Twitter mention, these real-time alerts keep users engaged and informed.

However, the blockchain ecosystem lacked this basic communication layer. As Richa points out:

"If you look at dapps, we have notifications for everything in our daily digital life right - your Amazon deliveries, your bank, any payments that need to go out, or even your calls, WhatsApp, FaceTime - everything is a notification. But when you look at the decentralized or Web3 ecosystem, this communication is sort of missing at this point of time."

This gap in user experience was holding back adoption and usability of decentralized applications. EPNS aims to close this gap by enabling seamless push notifications for Web3 platforms.

How EPNS Works

At its core, EPNS is a decentralized communications protocol built on Ethereum. It allows any dApp, smart contract or backend service to send notifications to user wallet addresses.

Some key aspects of how EPNS works:

• It uses smart contracts to define the rules and governance of the notification system in a decentralized manner.
• Any service can integrate EPNS to start sending notifications to users.
• Users opt-in to receive notifications from specific services/dApps.
• Notifications can contain text, images, videos, call-to-actions etc.
• The protocol is content-agnostic, allowing for flexible use cases.

As Harsh explains: "We imagined it to be something which can be infinitely flexible. The way we structured it is that you can send almost anything as a notification - it's just content independent."

This flexibility allows EPNS to potentially support a wide range of use cases beyond simple text notifications - from decentralized video calls to multi-factor authentication.

Use Cases for Web3 Push Notifications

The EPNS team envisions numerous potential applications for decentralized push notifications in the Web3 ecosystem. Some examples mentioned in the podcast include:

• DeFi alerts: Notifying users of changes in interest rates, liquidation risks, etc. on protocols like Compound.
• Governance notifications: Alerting users about proposals and votes for DAOs.
• Multi-sig transaction requests: Notifying other signers when a multi-sig wallet transaction needs approval.
• dApp updates: Informing users about new features or important changes in decentralized applications.
• Social notifications: Alerts for decentralized social networks (once they emerge).

The flexibility of the protocol allows for creative implementations beyond these initial use cases. As the Web3 ecosystem evolves, EPNS aims to be the backbone for all decentralized communications.

Bootstrapping a Web3 Startup

One of the most inspiring aspects of the EPNS story is how Harsh and Richa bootstrapped the project from scratch, with no prior connections in the crypto world. Their journey offers valuable lessons for aspiring Web3 founders.

The team's first step was simply reaching out to the Ethereum Foundation via email. As Richa recounts:

"We wrote to them that we have this idea and what do we do. We were very nervous back then because this whole concept of reaching out to somebody out of the blue and asking what do we do - it's such an un-Indian thing to do."

To their surprise, they received a detailed response with feedback and resources to help them get started. This open and collaborative spirit of the Ethereum community would prove instrumental in EPNS's growth.

Leveraging Hackathons and Community Support

Hackathons played a crucial role in EPNS's early development. The team used these events to build their initial proof-of-concept, get feedback from the community, and make valuable connections.

As Harsh advises aspiring Web3 builders: "Start with a hackathon. That's the best way to start. We started with a hackathon."

These events allowed them to explain their concept to experienced Web3 developers and project leaders, helping refine their ideas. The connections made at hackathons also opened doors to further support and mentorship.

Funding Through Gitcoin Grants

A key milestone in EPNS's journey was receiving funding through Gitcoin Grants. This platform uses quadratic funding to support open-source projects based on community interest.

EPNS's first grant round resulted in $17,000 of funding - their first earnings after 8 months of building. As Harsh explains:

"215 community members donated to our project and because of the matching grant formula, we got $17,000 from Gitcoin. So that was the first time we actually earned after building for 8 months."

This community validation, beyond just the funding, provided a huge morale boost to the team. It demonstrated real interest in their project and the problem they were solving.

The Power of the Ethereum Community

Throughout their journey, Harsh and Richa were consistently amazed by the support they received from the Ethereum community. From project feedback to pitch practice, established players in the ecosystem went out of their way to help this fledgling team.

One particularly impactful interaction was with Yaniv Tal, founder of The Graph protocol. As Harsh recounts:

"This guy basically offered that here's my calendar, set up a one-hour call, send me your deck. I'll come, you can show me your deck and you can tell me all about your pitch and I will try to help you out."

This level of support from successful founders in the space was instrumental in EPNS's growth. It exemplifies the collaborative, pay-it-forward mentality that permeates the Ethereum ecosystem.

The PUSH Token and Tokenomics

As EPNS evolved into a full-fledged protocol, they introduced the PUSH token to enable decentralized governance and incentivize network participants. The token serves several key functions:

1. Governance: PUSH token holders can vote on protocol upgrades and changes.
2. Rewards: Token holders can claim a share of protocol fees once implemented.
3. Incentives: Tokens are distributed to encourage third-party developers to build on EPNS.

Harsh emphasizes that the token is designed to align incentives across all ecosystem participants:

"Whenever we activate the fee or whenever the governance token holders decide that we are going to charge a fee, then there will be a fee pool that will be again decentralized in that protocol. These token holders of people who are holding these tokens, they basically also become part of the rewards pool."

This approach aims to create a sustainable, community-driven protocol that can evolve to meet the needs of the Web3 ecosystem.

Scaling and Multi-Chain Future

While EPNS started on Ethereum, the team recognizes the importance of scaling and multi-chain interoperability. They see layer 2 solutions and sidechains as crucial for Ethereum's growth.

Harsh expresses particular enthusiasm for Polygon (formerly Matic Network):

"I'm a very big fan of Polygon, partially because I'm friends with them as well. But yeah, also like zk rollups, optimistic rollups - I think Polygon is trying to encompass them as well."

The team believes that in the short to mid-term, solutions like Polygon will be key for Ethereum scalability. Long-term, they see potential in Ethereum 2.0 combined with various rollup technologies.

India's Role in Web3 Development

An interesting perspective shared by the EPNS founders is their belief that India is well-positioned to lead in Web3 development. Harsh attributes this to India's strong background in IT services:

"We were service leaders. A lot of Indian people already know exactly what goes into software or how there's a software update. I know that Web2 and Web3 - people are going to build most of the things that are on Web2, they are going to basically build it on Web3."

This existing knowledge base, combined with India's large pool of engineering talent, creates a unique opportunity. As more developers transition from Web2 to Web3, India could become a powerhouse for blockchain and decentralized application development.

Advice for Aspiring Web3 Builders

For developers and entrepreneurs looking to enter the Web3 space, Harsh and Richa offer several pieces of advice:

1. Participate in hackathons: These events provide learning opportunities, community connections, and a chance to build MVPs quickly.

2. Be open about your ideas: Unlike in traditional startups, the Web3 community encourages openly sharing and discussing ideas.

3. Leverage Twitter: The crypto community is highly active on Twitter. It's a great place to share ideas, get feedback, and make connections.

4. Don't be afraid to ask for help: The Ethereum community is incredibly supportive. Reach out to established projects and founders for guidance.

5. Focus on building: With lower barriers to entry in Web3, the best way to succeed is to create valuable products and contribute to the ecosystem.

The Future of Web3 Infrastructure

Looking ahead, Harsh and Richa see enormous potential for growth in Web3 infrastructure. They highlight several areas ripe for innovation:

• Decentralized video solutions
• Decentralized social networks
• Identity and authentication protocols
• Scalability solutions

As Harsh notes, "We have passed our early stages, but we are at the build phase. Not a lot of things have been built right now."

This presents a huge opportunity for developers and entrepreneurs to create foundational technologies that will shape the future of the decentralized web.

Challenges and Opportunities in Bear Markets

While the crypto market is known for its volatility, the EPNS team takes a long-term view of their project. They emphasize the importance of building regardless of market conditions.

As Harsh advises: "If your project has potential, if you think there's a real use case for the project, it's just to start that project. The reason why you raise is because you prepare for the bear market. You prepare so that you have at least two or three years of runway."

This mindset of focusing on long-term value creation rather than short-term price movements is crucial for sustainable growth in the Web3 ecosystem.

The Liberating Nature of Web3 Development

A recurring theme in the conversation is how liberating and exciting it is to work in the Web3 space. Richa emphasizes the open, collaborative culture:

"Every time we talk to people in terms of the community and the ecosystem, folks who are there - just the culture and the tech, both are extremely, extremely welcoming and they are very open."

This openness, combined with the rapid pace of innovation and the potential for global impact, makes Web3 an attractive field for developers and entrepreneurs seeking meaningful work.

Bridging Web2 and Web3

While EPNS is built as a decentralized protocol, the team recognizes the importance of bridging the gap with existing Web2 infrastructure. They've created solutions to ensure EPNS notifications can be delivered through traditional channels like Apple and Google's notification systems.

As Harsh explains: "We do have a Web2-Web3 bridge which ensures that these notifications make their way to Google and Apple ecosystem. Because in the end, you need to make sure that you encompass this entire system."

This pragmatic approach ensures that EPNS can provide value to users regardless of their level of crypto sophistication, helping to drive mainstream adoption of Web3 technologies.

The Role of Decentralized Communication in DeFi

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is one of the most prominent use cases for Web3 technologies, and EPNS sees a crucial role for decentralized communications in this space. From notifying users about interest rate changes to alerting them about potential liquidations, push notifications can significantly enhance the user experience in DeFi applications.

As Akshay, one of the podcast hosts, points out: "If I want to be notified when the interest rate drops below a certain level, there's no way for me to do that [in current DeFi apps]."

By enabling these types of alerts, EPNS can help make DeFi more accessible and user-friendly, potentially driving greater adoption of these protocols.

Lessons from Traditional Startups

The EPNS team's background in traditional tech startups provided valuable lessons that they've applied to their Web3 venture. However, they also note significant differences in the startup experience between Web2 and Web3.

Richa highlights how Web3 breaks down traditional barriers:

"Sitting in India, sitting in a small town, you build something and then you raise from investors across the globe. It's not just that you're raising locally, but you are also reaching out to funds, to folks who are like - I mean who you either connect to on Twitter or you connect through introductions, but you're raising from across the globe."

This global, permissionless nature of Web3 creates unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurs, regardless of their location or background.

The Importance of Community in Web3

Throughout the conversation, the importance of community in the Web3 ecosystem is repeatedly emphasized. From receiving mentorship to securing funding through community grants, EPNS's journey illustrates how crucial community support is for success in this space.

Harsh reflects on this, saying: "This entire project of ours, it's basically the accumulated effort of like 100 or 150 people, some of them are like community leaders, and all of them basically help you out without asking anything in return."

This collaborative, community-driven approach sets Web3 apart from traditional tech and creates a uniquely supportive environment for innovation.

Balancing Decentralization with User Experience

One of the challenges in building Web3 applications is balancing the principles of decentralization with the need for seamless user experiences. EPNS tackles this by creating a decentralized protocol that can still integrate with traditional notification systems.

This approach allows them to maintain the benefits of decentralization - such as censorship resistance and user control - while still providing a familiar and accessible interface for users. It's a model that other Web3 projects could potentially follow to increase mainstream adoption.

The Evolution of Internet Technologies

The EPNS team draws interesting parallels between the current state of Web3 and the early days of the internet. Harsh notes:

"When internet was launched, people had no idea what you can do with it or what to do with it. So you know, you went through so many phases - you went through people trying just to open professional websites, and then you know, to social, and then to e-commerce, and so much other things."

This perspective helps frame the current state of Web3 as the beginning of a long evolution, with much innovation and development yet to come.

The Potential for Decentralized Social Media

While discussing future use cases for EPNS, the potential for decentralized social media emerged as an exciting possibility. As centralized social media platforms face increasing scrutiny over data privacy and content moderation issues, there's growing interest in decentralized alternatives.

EPNS could play a crucial role in such platforms by providing the notification infrastructure needed to keep users engaged. This aligns with their vision of being a flexible protocol that can adapt to the evolving needs of the Web3 ecosystem.

Funding and Valuation in the Web3 Space

An interesting anecdote shared during the podcast highlights the unique dynamics of funding and valuation in the Web3 space. Harsh recounts:

"When we were raising our seed round, we were trying to evaluate ourselves at 2.5 million. Then this investor came and the investor basically said, 'Guys, 2.5 million is really, really less for something what you guys are trying to do. I'll tell you what - you double this valuation to 5 million and I will make sure that I back you up.'"

This story illustrates how the potential of Web3 projects is often valued differently from traditional startups, with investors sometimes pushing for higher valuations based on the long-term potential of the technology.

The Role of Tokens in Web3 Business Models

The introduction of the PUSH token highlights how cryptocurrencies are integral to many Web3 business models. Unlike traditional startups that might rely solely on equity, Web3 projects often use tokens to align incentives across their ecosystem.

Harsh explains that the PUSH token serves multiple purposes:

"It's about governance, it's about rewards and incentivization split or the fee split from whenever the protocol starts earning, and then the third is about incentivizing all the third-party developers to come and build on top of the protocol."

This multi-faceted approach to tokenomics is a key differentiator for Web3 projects and requires a different mindset when it comes to building and scaling a business.

The Global Nature of Web3 Development

One of the most striking aspects of EPNS's story is how it illustrates the global, borderless nature of Web3 development. Despite being based in India, the team was able to connect with mentors, secure funding, and build partnerships with projects around the world.

This global accessibility is a key feature of the Web3 ecosystem, enabling talented developers and entrepreneurs from anywhere in the world to contribute to and benefit from the growth of decentralized technologies.

The Future of Work in Web3

The conversation touches on how Web3 is changing not just technology, but also how people work and collaborate. Richa notes:

"Now with all the lockdowns and everything, we are pretty much working from home and we are talking to people who are sitting across the globe. We are building with teams that are fully distributed."

This distributed, global approach to work aligns well with the decentralized nature of Web3 technologies and could represent a significant shift in how teams are formed and managed in the future.

Conclusion: The Promise of Web3

The story of EPNS serves as a compelling case study for the potential of Web3 technologies and the unique ecosystem that's growing around them. From the collaborative nature of the community to the innovative approaches to funding and business models, Web3 presents exciting opportunities for developers, entrepreneurs, and users alike.

As the space continues to evolve, projects like EPNS will play a crucial role in building the infrastructure needed to make decentralized applications more user-friendly and accessible. Their journey from a simple idea to a valued protocol highlights both the challenges and the immense potential of building in this new paradigm.

The future of Web3 is still being written, but it's clear that teams like EPNS are laying the groundwork for a more open, accessible, and user-centric internet. As more developers and entrepreneurs enter the space, we can expect to see continued innovation and the emergence of new applications that leverage the unique properties of blockchain and decentralized technologies.

Facts + Figures

• EPNS (Ethereum Push Notification Service) was founded by Harsh Rajat and Richa Joshi in late 2019.
• The project aims to create a decentralized communication protocol for the Web3 ecosystem.
• EPNS received its first funding of $17,000 through Gitcoin Grants, with 215 community members contributing.
• The project has partnered with major DeFi protocols including Aave, Uniswap, and Compound.
• EPNS introduced the PUSH token to enable decentralized governance and incentivize network participants.
• The team sees Polygon (formerly Matic Network) as a promising scaling solution for Ethereum in the short to mid-term.
• EPNS has created a Web2-Web3 bridge to ensure notifications can be delivered through traditional channels like Apple and Google's notification systems.
• The project's initial valuation during seed funding doubled from $2.5 million to $5 million at an investor's suggestion.
• EPNS envisions supporting various use cases beyond simple text notifications, including decentralized video calls and multi-factor authentication.
• The team emphasizes the importance of hackathons in the early stages of Web3 project development.
• EPNS received mentorship and support from established projects in the Ethereum ecosystem, including The Graph and Ceramic/3Box.
• The founders see India as well-positioned to lead in Web3 development due to its strong background in IT services.
• EPNS is designed to be content-agnostic, allowing for flexible implementation across various Web3 applications.
• The project aims to solve the communication gap in blockchain applications, enabling dApps to communicate directly with users.
• EPNS uses smart contracts to define the rules and governance of the notification system in a decentralized manner.

Questions Answered

What is EPNS?

EPNS stands for Ethereum Push Notification Service. It is a decentralized communication protocol built on Ethereum that enables dApps, smart contracts, and backend services to send notifications to user wallet addresses. The protocol aims to bring the familiar push notification functionality from Web2 applications into the Web3 ecosystem, enhancing user experience and engagement for decentralized applications.

How does EPNS work?

EPNS works by using smart contracts to define the rules and governance of the notification system in a decentralized manner. Any service can integrate EPNS to start sending notifications to users who have opted in to receive them. The protocol is content-agnostic, meaning it can send various types of notifications including text, images, videos, and call-to-actions. Users maintain control over which services can send them notifications, ensuring privacy and preventing spam.

Who founded EPNS and what is their background?

EPNS was founded by Harsh Rajat and Richa Joshi in late 2019. Harsh has a background in mobile development and had previously worked with Apple's push notification service. Richa has experience in fintech and product management. The duo met in college and had been working together in a fintech startup before conceiving the idea for EPNS.

How did EPNS secure its initial funding?

EPNS secured its initial funding through Gitcoin Grants, a platform that uses quadratic funding to support open-source projects. In their first grant round, 215 community members donated to the project, which resulted in $17,000 of funding due to the matching grant formula. This was the team's first earnings after 8 months of building and provided crucial validation for their concept.

What role does the PUSH token play in the EPNS ecosystem?

The PUSH token serves multiple purposes in the EPNS ecosystem. Firstly, it enables decentralized governance, allowing token holders to vote on protocol upgrades and changes. Secondly, token holders can claim a share of protocol fees once implemented. Lastly, tokens are distributed to incentivize third-party developers to build on the EPNS protocol. This tokenomics model aims to align incentives across all ecosystem participants and ensure long-term sustainability of the protocol.

How does EPNS plan to handle scalability and cross-chain functionality?

While EPNS started on Ethereum, the team recognizes the importance of scalability and multi-chain interoperability. They are particularly enthusiastic about layer 2 solutions and sidechains, with a focus on Polygon (formerly Matic Network) in the short to mid-term. Long-term, they see potential in Ethereum 2.0 combined with various rollup technologies. The team aims to make EPNS accessible across multiple chains to serve the broader Web3 ecosystem.

What advice do the EPNS founders give to aspiring Web3 builders?

The EPNS founders offer several pieces of advice for those looking to enter the Web3 space. They strongly recommend participating in hackathons as a way to learn, build MVPs, and make connections. They encourage openly sharing ideas and leveraging Twitter to engage with the crypto community. They also emphasize the importance of asking for help, noting the supportive nature of the Ethereum community. Lastly, they advise focusing on building valuable products and contributing to the ecosystem, as the barriers to entry in Web3 are lower than in traditional tech.

How does EPNS bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3?

While EPNS is built as a decentralized protocol, the team has created solutions to bridge the gap with existing Web2 infrastructure. They've developed a Web2-Web3 bridge that ensures EPNS notifications can be delivered through traditional channels like Apple and Google's notification systems. This approach allows EPNS to provide value to users regardless of their level of crypto sophistication, helping to drive mainstream adoption of Web3 technologies while maintaining the benefits of decentralization.