Status (SNT) is an open source, decentralized messaging application, crypto wallet and Web 3.0 browser built on top of a blockchain network. The platform was launched by Carl Bennetts and Jarrad Hope in 2017. SNT is a utility token that offers holders a variety of privileges.
Aiming to be a “secure communication tool that upholds human rights”, Status operates as a light client node on the Ethereum blockchain, and is something like an operating system that gives users access to all of the decentralized applications (dapps) on the Ethereum blockchain. The target market is smartphone users - any of whom can access the Ethereum dapp directory through the Status application. The latter is available on both Android and iOS.
Status also emphasizes the social nature of the platform. Instead of advertisers or money pulling the strings when it comes to what content is shared, it is the holders of SNT tokens who become the major stakeholders in the network and decide how the network is governed.
There are a few areas that development can be broadly categorized into: core development, SNT utility, research and “essentials.” The team, which itself is quite decentralized, is currently working on particular goals in each of these categories, including network incentives, token economics, the browser and the wallet.
2019’s list of milestones include significant development on Nimbus, a client focused on scaling using the sharding technique, a dapp discovery feature and improvements to different versions of the Status application.