Lypp

Lypp is a decentralized, privacy-focused social communication protocol and accompanying client ecosystem. Intended for individuals and communities, Lypp enables users to publish text, images, and links, form private groups, and interact via replies and reactions while minimizing centralized data collection. The design prioritizes user sovereignty over data through end-to-end encryption, client-side content processing, and optional retention policies controlled by each user or group.

Lypp originated as an academic project in the mid-2010s and grew into an open-source effort coordinated by the Lypp Foundation. The first public releases established core concepts such as cryptographic identity, content-addressable storage, and a federation-like network for cross-client interoperability. Over subsequent years, updates added ephemeral content, enhanced moderation tools, and broader device support.

Technologically, Lypp operates as a decentralized network where posts are stored in a content-addressable form and replicated across participating peers. Identities are built from cryptographic keys, and posts reference content by hash, allowing data to be retrieved from multiple peers. The platform emphasizes client-side processing, optional encryption for sensitive materials, and community-driven moderation policies that can be enforced at the group or user level.

The ecosystem includes official clients such as Lypp Core servers, mobile applications for iOS and Android, and several desktop and web-based clients, along with a variety of third-party implementations due to an open protocol model. Adoption remains niche but active among privacy-conscious communities, with ongoing efforts to improve accessibility and interoperability.

Reception is mixed: advocates credit Lypp for greater user control and reduced data resale risk, while critics cite fragmentation, moderation challenges, and slower content discovery compared to centralized networks.