What HOPR does

HOPR Association is a Zürich-based non-profit operating a decentralized, incentivized mixnet protocol that provides transport layer metadata privacy for Web3. The core technology obscures all metadata, including IP addresses, through probabilistic relay, stake-proportional cover traffic, and a Proof of Relay mechanism that rewards node operators. The HOPR Token (ERC20/ERC777 on Ethereum, with xHOPR and wxHOPR variants on Gnosis Chain) serves as the utility and incentive layer; total supply is 1 billion with an initial 130 million circulating, and node runners can earn approximately 10% APR for relaying cover traffic.

The company monetizes through three streams: (1) usage-based token payments for data relay, (2) one-time hardware sales of a Dappnode Special Edition node PC at €1,410 bundled with 1,000 HOPR bonus tokens, and (3) a free Docker option for self-hosted node participation. Distribution is community-led across Discord, Telegram, GitHub, Medium, and a self-serve staking hub, supplemented by token availability on Coinbase and CowSwap. Target segments identified are medtech companies, DeFi/crypto services, decentralized energy markets, and privacy-aware Web3 developers. The protocol is backed by strategic investors including Gnosis, Binance Labs, Stakely, 01 Caballeros, Spark Digital Capital, Focus Labs, Vendetta Capital, ANKR, Dusk Network, Harmony, and The Graph, and is operated by co-founder and CEO Sebastian Bürgel, co-founder and board member Robert Kiel, and head of engineering Tino Breddin.

Founded in 2020 and headquartered at Thurgauerstrasse 40, 8050 Zürich, HOPR operates as a non-profit association with 11–50 employees. The company has published a 2025–2029 roadmap spanning anonymity, decentralization, throughput, usability, and integration, signaling multi-year protocol development. Last disclosed funding was a $1M round in February 2022 from Ankr, Dusk, Edge & Node, and Harmony, following a $1M seed in July 2020 led by YZi Labs; no public revenue figures have been disclosed.

Name

HOPR

Legal name

HOPR Association

Website

https://hoprnet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HOPR Association operates a decentralized, incentivized mixnet protocol that provides transport layer metadata privacy for Web3 applications, serving crypto/DeFi users, medtech firms, decentralized energy markets, and privacy-aware developers via the HOPR Token, staking hub, and Dappnode-branded hardware.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Privacy Infrastructure

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Interoperability & Cross-Chain Infrastructure (Bridges, Messaging, Atomic Swaps) (FSAGAMAI)

Keywords

• Decentralized privacy network
• Mixnet protocol
• Blockchain privacy infrastructure
• Transport layer privacy
• Metadata privacy protocol

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Token Utility: HOPR tokens are used to pay for data relay services through the network. Users spend tokens to send data with complete metadata privacy. Node operators earn tokens by relaying data and cover traffic.
2. Node Hardware Sales: HOPR sells custom Dappnode hardware PCs pre-configured for running HOPR nodes, priced at €1,410.00 with bonus tokens included.
3. Staking Rewards Distribution: A quarter of all HOPR tokens are available only to stakers as rewards for relaying cover traffic. Token release happens over 4 years with 10% APR for node runners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HOPR operates a decentralized, incentivized mixnet protocol on the Ethereum network that obscures all metadata, including IP addresses, to provide transport layer privacy for Web3 applications. Users spend HOPR tokens to relay data through the network, while node operators stake tokens to earn rewards by relaying data and cover traffic. The company also sells pre-configured Dappnode hardware for running nodes and offers free Docker-based node software.

Product overview

HOPR is a blockchain-based privacy infrastructure company offering a suite of products centered on metadata-level data protection. The core offering is the HOPR Protocol, a decentralized incentivized mixnet that obscures all metadata for complete transport layer privacy. This is complemented by the HOPR Token (ERC20/ERC777 utility token on Ethereum), the Staking Hub platform for node operations, and token variants xHOPR and wxHOPR for cross-chain functionality on Gnosis Chain. Hardware options include Dappnode Special Edition node PCs, while the free Docker version enables software-based node participation. The ecosystem also includes Gnosis VPN as a related privacy product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HOPR Protocol A decentralized, incentivized mixnet that obscures all metadata including IP addresses, providing transport layer privacy for Web3 applications and developers building privacy-aware services.
• HOPR Token Utility token on the Ethereum network (ERC20, ERC777 standards) with 1 billion total supply. Used to pay for data relay through the network, stake for node operations, and participate in decentralized governance voting.
• HOPR Staking Hub Self-serve platform for staking HOPR tokens and running nodes to earn token rewards by relaying data and cover traffic through the mixnet, offering approximately 10% APR for node runners.
• HOPR Special Edition Dappnode A plug-and-earn mixnet node PC priced at €1,410.00 with Intel NUC i5 processor, 32GB RAM, and 2TB NVMe storage, pre-configured to run HOPR nodes and bundled with 1000 HOPR bonus tokens.
• HOPR Docker Node Free Docker-based software that allows users to run HOPR nodes on their own hardware, enabling participation in the mixnet without purchasing dedicated Dappnode hardware.
• xHOPR Bridged token from Ethereum Mainnet to the Gnosis Chain, enabling cross-chain functionality and lower transaction costs for HOPR token holders.
• wxHOPR ERC777 wrapped version of xHOPR on the Gnosis Chain, providing enhanced functionality and compatibility for token transfers across the HOPR ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% metadata privacy including IP address protection

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MultiversXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Beniamin Mincu stated that MultiversX is bridging to HOPR network for decentralized private end-to-end experience. Partnership enables entry-points with HOPR privacy integration.
• Sedimentum AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Founder & CEO Sandro Cilurzo stated HOPR is integrated in Sedimentum's privacy-preserving technology. Sedimentum uses HOPR to save lives without compromising privacy.
• DappnodecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOfficial partnership to sell HOPR-branded Dappnode hardware. Custom HOPR Special Edition node PCs sold for €1,410 with 1000 bonus HOPR tokens.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mysterium Network: Mysterium is a decentralized VPN using a token-incentivized node network (MYST token). It directly competes with HOPR in providing peer-to-peer privacy routing services with crypto payments.
• Orchid: Orchid runs a decentralized VPN/privacy network using a token-incentivized bandwidth marketplace (OXT token). It competes with HOPR on consumer/developer demand for privacy-preserving internet access via crypto-economic incentives.
• Sentinel: Sentinel is a decentralized VPN bandwidth marketplace using the DVPN token. It is comparable to HOPR's privacy/routing focus and token-based node incentive model, targeting similar consumer and developer segments.
• Helium: Helium pioneered token-incentivized decentralized infrastructure networks with hardware nodes earning crypto rewards. HOPR's Dappnode Special Edition + 10% APR model mirrors Helium's play, providing a structural comp for community-driven infrastructure networks.
• Nym Technologies: Nym operates a decentralized mixnet with token-incentivized node runners (NYM token) and is the closest direct competitor to HOPR's privacy mixnet model. Both projects pursue metadata-level privacy through incentivized relay networks and target Web3 and enterprise use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Filecoin: Filecoin is a large-scale token-incentivized decentralized storage network. While storage-focused, it shares with HOPR the model of token rewards for infrastructure providers and Web3 developer distribution.
• Oasis Network: Oasis is a Layer 1 blockchain with confidential compute via secure enclaves (ROSE token). It overlaps with HOPR on enterprise privacy positioning but executes privacy at the compute layer rather than the transport layer.

Emerging players

• Iron Fish: Iron Fish is a privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchain using zero-knowledge proofs to hide transaction details. Like HOPR, it targets Web3 users needing metadata and transaction privacy, and uses a similar token-incentivized node model.
• Secret Network: Secret Network is a privacy-preserving smart contract blockchain with encrypted inputs/outputs and a native SCRT token. It is comparable to HOPR as a Web3-native privacy infrastructure project with token-based economics.
• Avalanche (Blizzard subnet) / Aztec Network: Aztec is a privacy-focused ZK-rollup on Ethereum enabling encrypted transactions. While focused on on-chain privacy (vs. HOPR's transport-layer focus), both target Web3 developers needing confidential computation and data protection.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hoprnet
• GitHubgithub.com/hoprnet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2DzUtC90LXdW7TfT3igasA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hoprnet
• Facebookfacebook.com/HOPRnet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors13 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HOPR