The mission of the Nostr Working Group (WG) is to develop standards to support decentralized, interoperable, and secure communication protocols. These protocols aim to empower users with control over their identities, messages, and data using the Nostr protocol. The Working Group will focus on defining core standards for communication, identity management, event handling, and interoperability between Nostr clients and services.
The Nostr Working Group will define technical standards to support decentralized communication and event logging via the Nostr protocol. The scope of the work includes but is not limited to:
- Identity Management: Standards for decentralized identity management and authentication using cryptographic keys.
- Message/Event Format: Defining formats for messages and events, ensuring compatibility and interoperability across different clients.
- Transport Mechanisms: Development of standards for message relaying, including best practices for bandwidth efficiency, data integrity, and privacy.
- Security and Privacy: Ensuring privacy-preserving mechanisms are in place, including end-to-end encryption, anonymous communication options, and minimizing data exposure.
- Incentivization Models: Guidelines on how systems like Bitcoin's Lightning Network or other cryptocurrency layers can be integrated into Nostr to create incentive mechanisms.
- Extensions and Protocol Upgrades: Providing mechanisms for backward compatibility, modular extensions, and upgrade paths for protocol evolution.
- Proprietary messaging platforms or closed ecosystems that do not align with open, decentralized principles.
- Specific implementation details of proprietary platforms or services that do not utilize Nostr.
- Standards unrelated to communication, identity, or event systems.
The Nostr Working Group is expected to produce the following deliverables:
- Nostr Identity Specification (NIS): A detailed specification for managing decentralized identities using cryptographic keys.
- Nostr Event Format (NEF): A specification for event and message formats that will enable cross-client interoperability.
- Nostr Transport Layer (NTL): Recommendations for transport layer standards, including relays and data transmission protocols.
- Nostr Security and Privacy Guidelines: A document outlining best practices for privacy-preserving communication using the Nostr protocol.
- Incentivization and Monetization Models: Guidelines for integrating cryptocurrencies for tipping, micropayments, or game mechanics like Nostr-based RPGs.
- Initial drafts of these specifications will be made available within 6 months of the group’s formation.
- A final Recommendation will be targeted for completion within 18 months.
- Broad industry adoption and implementation of Nostr standards in at least three major decentralized communication platforms.
- Demonstrated interoperability between different implementations of Nostr.
- Security reviews and validation of the Nostr security/privacy specifications.
The Working Group will collaborate with relevant W3C Working Groups and external bodies to ensure broad compatibility and avoid redundancy:
- Web Authentication Working Group: Coordination on cryptographic identity standards.
- Privacy Interest Group: Alignment on privacy and security practices.
- IETF: Liaison with the IETF to ensure alignment with networking and transport layer best practices.
This Working Group includes participants from organizations, independent developers, and industry experts who have an interest in decentralized communication and identity standards. To maintain transparency and encourage diverse participation:
- All participants are expected to contribute to discussions and help with drafting documents.
- The Working Group will hold public meetings and consultations with the wider community.
- Q1 2025: Kickoff meeting and initial draft of Nostr Identity Specification (NIS).
- Q2 2025: First public working draft of Nostr Event Format (NEF) and Nostr Transport Layer (NTL).
- Q4 2025: Final versions of all core specifications ready for review.
- Q2 2026: Final recommendations and publication.
The Nostr Working Group operates under the W3C Patent Policy to ensure that the specifications developed are accessible on a royalty-free basis.
All deliverables of this Working Group will be licensed under the W3C Document License.