GIP-122: Advancing Gnosis VPN

DAOs Gnosis gnosis Theresa Ejiogu March 7, 2025 0 Comments

GnosisDAO recently deliberated on GIP-122, a pivotal proposal to support the next development phase for Gnosis VPN, an innovative, trustless, and decentralized VPN service. With an overwhelming 98% of votes in favor, the proposal shows a strong community backing for this groundbreaking initiative.

The Vision Behind Gnosis VPN

Gnosis VPN, built on the HOPR network, has already demonstrated its potential through a proof-of-concept (PoC) phase, surpassing expectations. Designed to ensure anonymity and censorship resistance, the VPN operates without reliance on centralized infrastructure, offering a superior alternative to traditional VPN services. With enhanced privacy measures and a user-focused design, it aligns with GnosisDAO’s mission to decentralize digital infrastructure.

Key Objectives of the Next Development Phase

To transition from PoC to a fully functional, market-ready product, Gnosis VPN will undergo a 24-month development roadmap. This phase will focus on four primary objectives:

From PoC to MVP: Enhancing accessibility by eliminating the need for users to run their own HOPR node.
MVP to Market Readiness: Refining the user experience to accommodate non-technical users within the Web3 space.
Scaling the HOPR Network: Optimizing the network to meet the demands of a global VPN service.
Strengthening Privacy: Ensuring maximal censorship resistance across all components.

Investment and Development Strategy

GnosisDAO has committed $4.8 million over two years to HOPR, alongside 500 GNO tokens to incentivize node runners. The funds will be allocated strategically to:

Develop a seamless, user-friendly interface.
Implement decentralized incentives for network participants.
Expand infrastructure to support widespread adoption.

Bridging the Gap: Usability and Decentralization

The current PoC, while effective, remains developer-oriented and requires technical expertise. Over the next six months, improvements will simplify the onboarding process, extending access to a broader audience. By integrating with Circles v2 for authentication and trust management, the team aims to deliver an intuitive experience without compromising security.

Towards an Uncensorable VPN

Beyond anonymity, true censorship resistance is a core challenge. While HOPR’s mixnet ensures that network participants remain anonymous, the challenge lies in securing exit nodes against restrictions. The next phase will:

Increase the number of globally distributed exit nodes.
Implement countermeasures against server-side blocking.
Develop economic incentives for sustained node operation.

A Decentralized Future

Unlike traditional VPN providers, Gnosis VPN follows a unique model—no fees, no centralized control, and no proprietary ownership by HOPR. Instead, value accrues directly to node runners and contributors within the ecosystem. By leveraging open-source principles, Gnosis VPN is set to redefine online privacy and accessibility in the Web3 era.

Next Steps

With development already underway, Gnosis VPN is expected to evolve in three key stages:

PoC Refinements (Next 6 Months): Expanded usability and accessibility.
MVP (9 Months): A functional product with integrated user incentives.
Stable Release (18 Months+): A scalable, market-ready VPN solution.

The overwhelming support for GIP-122 signals strong confidence in Gnosis VPN’s potential to revolutionize online privacy. With funding secured and a clear roadmap ahead, the next phase promises to deliver a truly decentralized and censorship-resistant VPN for the modern internet user.

Key Project Deliverables

Phase A: Transforming the Developer PoC into an MVP for End Users

The current PoC demands significant technical expertise, requiring users to install, configure, and maintain a HOPR node, manually set up WireGuard, and use command-line tools. To create a more user-friendly experience, the MVP will introduce:

Elimination of Dedicated HOPR Node Requirement: Supporting edge nodes to allow more users to run HOPR nodes on personal devices.
Automated Onboarding: Streamlining the setup process to minimize user input.
User-friendly VPN Application: Handling all configurations and logic behind the scenes.
Cross-Platform Support: Initially focusing on macOS and Linux, with further expansions planned.
One-Click Installation: This simplifies the installation process for end users.

Phase B: Evolving the MVP into a Market-Ready Product (Version 1.0)

To reach a broader audience, Gnosis VPN must support multiple platforms, particularly mobile devices. Key enhancements include:

Mobile Support: Native applications for iOS and Android.
Expanded Desktop Support: Better integration for macOS and Linux.
Fast Setup Time: Ensuring users can establish a VPN connection within two minutes.
Circles v2 Integration: Using decentralized identity methods to streamline onboarding and service discovery.

Phase C: Scaling the HOPR Network for Gnosis VPN Growth

As user numbers grow, the network infrastructure must scale accordingly. This phase focuses on:

Expanding the HOPR Network: Increasing node capacity from 500 to thousands.
Optimizing Bandwidth Efficiency: Enhancing relay node performance.
Incentivizing Node Runners: Offering rewards to encourage participation in the network.

Phase D: Strengthening Privacy and Censorship Resistance

To ensure long-term viability, Gnosis VPN will enhance its privacy mechanisms:

Decentralized Exit Nodes: Distributing VPN infrastructure across multiple independent operators.
Permissionless Server Registry: Allowing operators to self-register and be discovered.
Abuse Protection Measures: Implementing configurable abuse prevention settings for exit nodes.

Justification for the Proposal

The demand for a decentralized VPN is greater than ever. With increasing digital privacy threats and restricted access to web services, a trustless and censorship-resistant solution is crucial. The PoC demonstrated that an anonymous VPN is feasible and performs better than anticipated. Additionally, the VPN aligns with Gnosis 3.0’s vision of broadening the ecosystem while tapping into the lucrative VPN market, projected to reach $500 billion by 2034.

Development Timeline and KPIs

The project spans 24 months, with quarterly progress reports. Major milestones include:

Month 6: Unrestricted PoC with improved onboarding.
Month 9: MVP release.
Month 18: Version 1 launch with mobile support.
Month 24: Version 2 launch with enhanced privacy features.

User adoption KPIs:

Month	Version	Monthly Active Users
6	PoC	Support for all HOPR nodes
12	MVP	100 MAU
18	Version 1	150 MAU
24	Version 2	500 MAU

About HOPR

HOPR is a Swiss-based organization developing privacy infrastructure for Web3. The HOPR network is a decentralized mixnet incentivized through the HOPR token. Having successfully completed Phase 1 of Gnosis VPN development, HOPR is well-positioned to lead Phase 2.

Funding Request

HOPR is requesting $4.8 million, disbursed in four installments of $1.2 million, contingent on milestone completion. Additionally, 500 GNO tokens will be allocated to incentivize node operators.

By advancing Gnosis VPN, HOPR is setting a new standard for privacy-focused, censorship-resistant internet access. With a clear roadmap and the expertise to execute it, this project will redefine how users interact with VPN technology in a decentralized world. You can read more on this forum page.