The Session model

Session is decentralized, making it both technically and organizationally unique. This article explains how Session’s decentralization works, the role of the Session Technology Foundation, and how infrastructure and development costs are managed.

Typically, a messaging service is run by a single organization that collects revenue to pay for the cost of employees, servers, and third-party services, while keeping or redistributing the leftover profits to its shareholders. Session is radically different—there is no single person or company who pays for Session’s development or infrastructure.

Instead, the work and costs required to create and operate Session is decentralized. The project has a community of contributors from all around the world, with contributions ranging from individual community members providing translations and localisations, to server operators running nodes for the Session Network, or the Session Technology Foundation contracting full-time developers. This design is intended to foster an ecosystem that is open, resilient, and protects your privacy.

Session’s steward, the Session Technology Foundation (STF), is a Swiss foundation which guides and supports Session through funding for development and advocacy. Although the STF is a key contributor to Session, there are key limitations to its role to prevent control of Session from becoming overly centralized.

Development costs

Both the Session client and server code are open sourced through STF-managed GitHub repositories. This allows for independent individuals or collectives to contribute to the development process and bring improvements, updates, or changes to Session. This may be done altruistically or with the support of funds from a sponsor or bounty.

The STF has also outlined key development goals in its ecosystem vision, which are designed to benefit Session, Session users, and the overall ecosystem. In order to achieve these specific goals, the STF contracts a capable full-time development team. In addition to this, the STF also plans to award grants to researchers and developers to pursue specific Session-related projects.

In the future, other organizations or parties may also provide developer time, funding, or other resources due to their interest in privacy or the Session ecosystem.

Infrastructure costs

Session uses distributed ledger technology to incentivize the operation of servers for its network. This primarily hinges on the cryptocurrency Session Token*, a utility token used for securing and rewarding Session Nodes.

In order to register a Session Node on the network, an operator must stake a fixed amount of Session Tokens and prepare a node (in common terms, a ‘server’) for the network. The operator is responsible for covering the costs of their node, including equipment, electricity, internet, and labor. Once nodes are successfully registered on the network, they start receiving rewards (denominated in Session Token) for their work and effort.

Under this model, instead of one company covering the bill for hundreds of thousands (or even millions) in server costs each year, each node operator covers the comparably low cost of their own node. They are then rewarded with Session Token.

Any nodes operated by the Session Technology Foundation also follow these rules, staking Session Token and receiving rewards.

*Session Token is not yet generated, the Session Network currently runs using the Oxen cryptocurrency. The transition to Session Token will occur in Q1 2025.

Quick questions about the Session Technology Foundation

While we believe strongly in Session’s model, the details of the STF and how it functions remain important to ensure it effectively upholds Session’s decentralization principles. Here are the answers to common questions about the Session Technology Foundation’s place in the Session ecosystem.

What is the Session Technology Foundation’s role?

The Session Technology Foundation is Session’s current steward.

It is responsible for some administrative duties that cannot be decentralized, such as:

• Publishing Session to app marketplaces
• Managing GitHub repositories
• Maintaining the Session website.

The STF also contracts full-time developers to work on areas which it sees as strategic for the Session ecosystem, and full-time communications professionals to raise awareness about Session and produce educational materials

Is the Session Technology Foundation non-profit?

The Session Technology Foundation is a Swiss foundation with a non-profit structure. It has no shareholders or beneficiaries, and its funds are used to pursue its stated mission—to promote digital innovation and digital rights.

Where does the Session Technology Foundation get its funding?

The Session Technology Foundation has received a token allocation under the Session Token genesis distribution.

In addition, the funds acquired from the Strategic Token Sale, which will be undertaken by the Session Technology Foundation, will be controlled and utilized by the foundation.

Long term, the foundation plans to participate in the Session Network on parity with community node operators. It is intended that the tokens earned from running Session Nodes will be able to support and sustain the ongoing work of the foundation.

How many nodes does the Session Technology Foundation run?

While the exact number of nodes operated by the STF may vary, it will never operate more than 10% of the nodes in the Session Network. For example, if the network had 2,000 nodes, the STF would operate <200 nodes.

This is a self-imposed limit to prevent centralization of the network.

Who are the developers?

Session contributors are located around the world in hybrid and remote teams. However, the STF respects the privacy of the developers it contracts with and will not disclose their personal details. Some members, such as co-founder Kee Jefferys, maintain public profiles and can be followed for insights and updates on their development.

Where can I find out more? I have further questions

If you have further questions or would like more information on any of the above topics, you can contact the foundation via social media or reach out via email.