The Ephemeral Layer for the Decentralized Web #2015
Description
Open Grant Proposal: Ghost – The Ephemeral Layer for the Decentralized Web
Project Name: Ghost: Ephemeral-by-Design Messaging for the Post-Storage Era
Proposal Category: Other
Individual or Entity Name: Individual
Proposer: Lucieran-Raven
Project Repo(s):
Public Mirror: https://github.com/Lucieran-Raven/ghost-privacy
Primary (Private): https://github.com/ghostprivacy/ghost-core (access granted on request)
(Optional) Filecoin ecosystem affiliations: None
(Optional) Technical Sponsor: None
Do you agree to open source all work you do on behalf of this RFP under the MIT/Apache-2 dual-license?: Yes
Project Summary
We live in a world obsessed with storage. Every message, photo, and metadata trace is hoarded "just in case." But for journalists in Myanmar, activists in Iran, or lawyers under subpoena, storage isn't safety—it's a liability.
Ghost flips the script. What if data that shouldn't persist… never existed at all?
Ghost is the world's first browser-native, zero-knowledge messaging platform where conversations live only in RAM and vanish completely after a session. No servers. No disk. No forensic trace. If the conversation doesn't need to exist after it ends, it never did.
We're not building another encrypted chat app. We're proving that ephemerality is a valid, vital data state—complementary to Filecoin's vision of user-controlled persistence. In a decentralized web, users must choose not just where their data lives, but whether it lives at all.
Impact
The Pain Point:
Current privacy tools—even decentralized ones—assume data must be stored, encrypted, and retrieved. This creates attack surfaces: forensic recovery, legal subpoenas, metadata graphs. For high-risk users, any storage is failure.
Why Filecoin Cares:
Filecoin champions user sovereignty over data. Ghost extends that sovereignty to its ultimate expression: the right to never store. We're not replacing Filecoin—we're defining its ethical boundary. When should data not be committed to a network? Ghost answers that.
Risks of Inaction:
If the ecosystem only optimizes for better storage, we fail users who need no storage. Coercion, device seizure, and forensic analysis will keep exploiting the gap Ghost fills.
Success Looks Like:
- Ghost integrated as the ephemeral layer in Filecoin-powered collaboration suites
- Human rights NGOs using Ghost + Filecoin: sensitive coordination (ephemeral) + document archiving (persistent)
- A published whitepaper: "Ephemeral-by-Design: Rethinking Data Lifecycle in Web3"
- 5+ Filecoin/IPFS projects adopting Ghost's RAM-only model for real-time sessions
This isn't just a tool—it's a new design principle for the decentralized web.
Outcomes
Final Deliverables (12 months):
- Ghost v2.0: Production-hardened, with optional IPFS fallback for non-sensitive metadata (opt-in, never for messages)
- Developer SDK: For Filecoin/IPFS apps to embed ephemeral Ghost chat (TypeScript, React)
- Technical Whitepaper: "Ephemeral vs. Persistent: A Data Lifecycle Framework for Web3"
- Multi-Language Guides: Arabic, Farsi, Russian deployment docs for at-risk users
Success Metrics:
âś… Zero bytes of message content stored on Filecoin/IPFS
âś… 100% RAM-only message lifecycle (verified via forensic testing)
âś… 5+ integrations with Filecoin/IPFS projects
âś… 1 peer-reviewed publication or DevCon presentation
Data Onboarding
Not applicable.
Ghost's core philosophy is anti-storage. We do not onboard user data to any network. (Optional IPFS mode is for public, non-sensitive metadata only—e.g., session existence—not messages.)
Adoption, Reach, and Growth Strategies
Target Audience:
- Decentralized App Developers building collaboration tools
- Human Rights NGOs using Filecoin for document storage
- Privacy Researchers exploring data minimization in Web3
Current Traction:
- 500+ organic users on Netlify deployment
- Active GitHub community (security researchers, students)
- Partnerships in discussion with human rights orgs
Onboarding Plan:
- First 10: Offer free integration support to Filecoin hackathon winners
- First 100: Publish "Ephemeral Coordination for Decentralized Teams" guide on Filecoin Blog
- Beyond: Feature in Filecoin DevCon as a novel data lifecycle model
Development Roadmap
| Milestone # | Description | Deliverables | Completion Date | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Core Hardening & IPFS Experiment | Audit report, IPFS mode, Tor service | April 2026 | $15,000 |
| 2 | Ecosystem Integration | SDK, docs, demo app | July 2026 | $20,000 |
| 3 | Research & Launch | Whitepaper, pilots, DevCon talk | October 2026 | $15,000 |
| TOTAL | $50,000 |
Maintenance and Upgrade Plans
Post-Grant: Ghost remains AGPL-3.0 open-source
Sustainability: Revenue from Ghost Guardian (enterprise) funds core development
Community: Monthly Office Hours for Filecoin/IPFS developers
Upgrades: Quarterly security reviews, post-quantum roadmap, academic collaboration
Team
Team Members
- Lucieran Raven (Founder & Lead Developer)
Team Member LinkedIn Profiles
(Not applicable — using pseudonym for operational security)
Team Website
https://ghostprivacy.netlify.app/
Relevant Experience
- Built production-ready, RAM-only messaging platform with deniable encryption and forensic countermeasures
- National Top 5 Algorithm Solver (Malaysia, DSA 2025)
- Proven ability to deliver security-critical systems with AI-assisted workflow
- Deep understanding of Web Crypto API, browser security, and forensic anti-analysis
Team code repositories
https://github.com/Lucieran-Raven/ghost-privacy
Additional Information
How did you learn about the Open Grants Program?
Through research on decentralized privacy infrastructure funding.
Best email for grant discussions:
[email protected]
Additional notes:
Ghost is not a storage competitor—it's a complement. It proves that user sovereignty includes the right to ephemeral communication. We're excited to bring this ephemeral-first mindset to the Filecoin ecosystem and co-define the future of ethical data lifecycle design.