Nym Technologies Launches NymVPN

Nym Technologies, the startup behind the privacy-preserving mixnet, has introduced NymVPN, a virtual private network designed to enhance online anonymity.

The Need for True Anonymity

According to the team, “Traditional VPNs have long been marketed as privacy tools, but they fall short of delivering true anonymity.”

Registration via Zero-Knowledge Cryptography

NymVPN uses zero-knowledge cryptography during the registration process. This method allows users to validate information without revealing their actual identities, enabling them to sign up anonymously.

Network “Noise” for Enhanced Privacy

The application incorporates “noise” into the network to obscure IP addresses and mask communication patterns, working similarly to the Tor browser.

The Mixnet Technology

Nym’s mixnet shuffles data across a series of network nodes, obscuring the origin and destination of information, including metadata like sent message timings and locations.

User Modes: Fast and Anonymous

Users can choose between two modes: fast mode, which prioritizes speed by using two servers, and anonymous mode, which employs five servers and includes noise and “novel onion encryption,” akin to Tor.

Staying Ahead of AI

Halpin emphasized the importance of advancing cryptography to keep pace with AI, which can increasingly identify users through web traffic patterns.

Backing and Innovation Fund

Founded in 2017 by cypherpunk Harry Halpin, Nym has secured funding from notable investors such as Andreessen Horowitz and Google Ventures. In 2022, they launched a $300 million innovation fund aimed at supporting projects focusing on privacy-preserving tools.