Tuesday, October 8, 2024

SEAL - Web3 Messenger

Alexander Drossel
Screenshot of the seal web3 messenger website.

Introduction
Seal.wtf is a web3 crypto messenger designed for crypto enthusiasts to explore the potential of blockchain technology beyond financial transactions. Built mainly as a fun experiment, Seal.wtf allows users to send encrypted messages to any crypto wallet, taking advantage of the same encryption protocols that secure digital assets like cryptocurrencies and NFTs.

The Challenge
In the decentralized world of web3, users are often anonymous, identified only by their wallet addresses. Seal.wtf aimed to bridge the communication gap by allowing direct, secure messaging between wallets. However, the development journey was not without its challenges. Integrating web3 wallets and implementing message decryption in a secure and user-friendly way was a significant hurdle. The process required in-depth theoretical knowledge of Diffie-Hellman key exchange to ensure that the same level of encryption used to protect funds could also be applied to personal messages.

Building Seal.wtf
Seal.wtf was built using a blend of modern web technologies: the web3 package, React for the front-end, and Firebase for backend services through Firestore and Cloud Functions. The team also utilized the eth-sig-util library for handling encryption and message signatures, ensuring that users' communications were as secure as their digital assets.

Outcome
Seal.wtf has not yet seen widespread adoption, but that was never the main goal. It was developed as an experiment—a playful dive into the capabilities of web3 technology. Despite the lack of user traction, the project provided valuable insights into the intricacies of web3 integration, wallet interactions, and the use of cryptographic protocols in real-world applications.

Conclusion
Seal.wtf is a testament to the spirit of exploration that drives the web3 space. It was built to test the boundaries of what's possible and to better understand the challenges of implementing secure communication in a decentralized, anonymous ecosystem. Although it hasn't yet found an audience, Seal.wtf has laid the groundwork for future projects that might further refine and capitalize on these ideas.

Technologies Used

  • Web3 package
  • React
  • Firebase Functions & Firestore
  • eth-sig-util

Key Takeaway
Sometimes the most rewarding projects are those built simply for the love of learning. Seal.wtf showcases the potential of web3 for secure, anonymous communication and provides a foundation for others to build upon.