Hi everyone,
I’m part of Nym Technologies team. We’re excited to introduce Nym, our mixnet, and NymVPN, our privacy-focused app, to this community. We’re eager to hear your thoughts and discuss the possibility of being featured as a recommended tool by Privacy Guides.
What’s Nym?
Nym is a mixnet, a new-gen anonymization networks similar to Tor and I2P. It’s built upon years of academic research in networking, privacy and cryptography, and is run by a decentralized community of hundreds of operators worldwide. It’s integrated, or in the process of integration, with other privacy-focused projects like Zcash and libp2p.
What’s NymVPN?
NymVPN is our official client for accessing the Nym mixnet. It works just like a VPN app, protecting your device’s traffic on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. It was briefly featured in previous Privacy Guides discussion. NymVPN offers two modes:
- Fast Mode: A dVPN mode using (client-side) AmneziaWG, a censorship-resistant WireGuard fork, perfect for everyday browsing.
- Anonymous Mode: A mode routing your traffic through the Nym mixnet, ideal for high-privacy activities like messaging or crypto transactions.
How does it work?
In the “Fast” mode, your traffic passes through 2 independently operated servers: the first sees your IP but not your activity, and the second sees your activity but not your IP. In the “Anonymous” mode, each packet is encrypted multiple times, mixed with others, hidden among fake trafic and routed through 5 nodes (at the expense of lower speed and higher latency).
Is it secure?
Nym and NymVPN are open-source, and licensed under GPLv3, with the source code accessible on our GitHub. Both have undergone security audits, including cryptographer JP Aumasson, Oak Security, Cryspen and Cure53 (see in our Trust Center). We plan to launch a vulnerability disclosure and bug bounty program in the first half of 2025.
Who is behind the project?
Nym Technologies comprises privacy advocates and researchers dedicated to advancing online anonymity. We collaborate with leading academic institutions (incl. KU Leuven and EPFL).
How much does it cost?
Both the Nym mixnet and the NymVPN app are free to use (for now). We will transition to a paid subscription model for NymVPN in March. Zero-knowledge proof-based access credentials (“zk-nyms”) will decouple payment information from online activity. We also aim to offer privacy-friendly payment options.
How can I get started?
You can download NymVPN and get a 30 days free credential from our website. Check our public NymVPN roadmap (the much-anticipated killswitch will be available by end of Q1). And check the Nym mixnet documentation on how to run a node or play with our SDKs.
We acknowledge that Nym and NymVPN are still WIP, and would love to get your feedback! Please share your thoughts, questions, or any issues. Thanks! Marc cc: @Jayapapaya