Decentralized Matrix protocol has sixty million users worldwide

The decentralized Matrix protocol has sixty million users. In 2021, the network grew by 71 percent, the makers say. The Element app is the main driver in this, but the German healthcare sector was also an important step.

It is not clear whether this refers to daily or monthly active users, or the total number of users, but in a press release the makers mention that the number of users worldwide is sixty million. 25 million of these arrived on the platform in 2021, the makers say. It concerns all users of the protocol, regardless of which application they use. Matrix is ​​a decentralized chat protocol that makes it possible to have encrypted conversations with other Matrix users, regardless of which application they use. The most popular application is still Element. It was built by the founders of Matrix and is still the main app that uses the protocol, but in principle anyone can make such an application.

The creators of Matrix say the growth is because Element has gained more users. This was particularly the case with governments and government institutions. Parts of the US, UK and French governments pay for the premium version of Element. Another important driver for the new number of users is the German health industry, according to the makers. Last year, the health consortium gematik mandated the use of Matrix. As a result, more than 150,000 health care institutions would start using the protocol. That is Element in particular, but other app makers are also working with the protocol.

The developers also point out that more and more software is being integrated for Matrix, such as mail client Thunderbird. According to the makers, this can lead to even faster growth. They say they are getting ready for a hundred million global users. For this purpose, the One app, which enables integration with WhatsApp and Signal, is being further developed, but the makers are also working on their own metaverse platform based on the protocol.