Status is an open-source mobile and desktop application combining a private peer-to-peer messenger, Ethereum wallet, and Web3 browser into a single interface — built around the Waku protocol (a fork of the Ethereum Whisper messaging protocol) to enable censorship-resistant, surveillance-resistant communications with no central servers. SNT is the utility token powering in-app features: acquiring usernames on the Ethereum Name Service (ENS), accessing curated content, participating in community governance, and enabling decentralized reputation systems. Founded in 2014 by Jarrad Hope and Carl Bennetts, Status was one of the original Ethereum ecosystem projects with a $100M+ ICO in 2017.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | SNT |
| Price | $0.01 |
| Market Cap | $39.58M |
| 24h Change | +1.6% |
| Circulating Supply | 3.96B SNT |
| Max Supply | 6.80B SNT |
| All-Time High | $0.68 |
| Contract (Ethereum) | 0x744d...5b9e |
How It Works
Waku protocol:
Status messages route through the Waku decentralized messaging network — a peer-to-peer overlay network where no central server stores or routes messages. Messages are ephemeral and encrypted.
Ethereum wallet:
Status includes a full multi-chain Ethereum wallet with hardware wallet support, token management, and DeFi interaction capabilities.
Web3 browser:
The built-in DApp browser allows users to interact with Ethereum DApps directly from the Status interface without needing a separate browser extension.
SNT utility:
SNT is used for:
- ENS username registration within Status
- Tribute-to-talk (anti-spam: users can require SNT payment to contact them)
- Community curation and moderation stakes
- Governance voting via SNT
Status Communities:
Encrypted group chat communities with token-gated access — similar to Discord servers but P2P and accessible via SNT token gates.
Tokenomics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Max Supply | 6,804,870,174 SNT |
| ICO | $100M+ raised (2017) |
| Usage | ENS registration, governance, access gates |
| ATH | ~$0.67 (January 2018) |
| Circulating | ~3.5B SNT |
Use Cases
- Username registration — SNT used to register ENS names within Status
- Anti-spam — Tribute-to-talk requires SNT payment to message strangers
- Community governance — SNT holders vote on Status protocol decisions
- Token-gated access — SNT gates access to Status Communities (encrypted group chats)
History
- 2014 — Status founded by Jarrad Hope and Carl Bennetts
- Jun 2017 — SNT ICO raises $100M+ in under 3 hours; one of the largest crypto crowdsales at the time
- 2018 — Status app launches on iOS and Android; Whisper messaging protocol implemented
- 2019 — Waku protocol development (improved messaging efficiency)
- 2020–2021 — Status 2.0 development; community governance features
- 2021 — SNT ATH revisit; Status repositions as private messenger amid Signal’s popularity surge
- 2023 — Status 2.0 launches with Communities feature; Keycard hardware wallet integration
- 2024 — Waku protocol matures; Status focuses on privacy-first decentralized social
Common Misconceptions
“Status is just a crypto wallet.” Status combines messaging, wallet, and Web3 browser — it’s positioned as a full decentralized alternative to apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, not just a wallet.
“SNT has no real utility.” SNT has on-chain utility for ENS registration and tribute-to-talk — it’s not purely speculative, though uptake of those features has been slow relative to the total supply.