Not like conventional platforms the place algorithms and gatekeepers dictate engagement, Cities permits customers to personal, govern, and monetize their areas instantly. With its personal native token TOWNS, robust backing from top-tier VCs, and a modular structure, Cities Protocol is positioned to turn out to be a cornerstone of on-chain communication and coordination within the Web3 period.
What Is Cities Protocol?
Cities Protocol is a messaging system that’s open for everybody to make use of and is constructed on the Base community. It combines a layer 2 chain that works with EVM and makes use of decentralised off-chain stream nodes and sensible contracts. Not like conventional platforms, it permits customers and communities to create programmable, ownable “Areas”—encrypted chat environments ruled by sensible contracts on Base.
Key options embody:
Finish-to-Finish Encryption of all messagesToken-Gated Entry through ERC‑20 tokens, NFTs, or wallet-based membershipsOn-Chain Memberships enabling fee-based subscriptions and reputation-based managementOn-Chain Social Graphs and Governance Mechanisms for clear moderation and construction.
With tens of millions of energetic “Areas,” 1.6M+ memberships, and 9,300 ETH in income generated throughout the protocol, Cities is already gaining traction within the Web3 social scene. Its structure empowers communities to monetize entry and retain governance autonomy—instruments sometimes reserved for centralized platforms.
How Does Cities Work?
Cities Protocol is a decentralized communication infrastructure constructed on Base Layer 2 that permits token-governed, sensible contract-based on-line communities. At its core, Cities permits customers to create programmable areas—much like token-gated Discord servers—the place entry, governance, and moderation are all enforced on-chain. These “Areas” function by hybrid structure: the on-chain layer handles permissions, subscriptions, and governance through Ethereum sensible contracts, whereas real-time messaging is streamed and saved off-chain to take care of excessive efficiency. This dual-layer system ensures decentralization and possession with out compromising consumer expertise.
Every Area can require possession of particular NFTs or tokens to achieve entry, and communities can cost recurring crypto subscriptions, implement voting mechanisms, or deploy customized moderation logic. The TOWNS token performs a central function by powering entry management, governance voting, staking incentives, and protocol sustainability. Charges collected from paid Areas are partially used to purchase and burn TOWNS tokens, introducing a deflationary mechanic to the ecosystem. Moreover, Cities offers builders with a full SDK to combine programmable chat into any Web3 software, DAO, or NFT mission, making it a foundational piece of decentralized social infrastructure.
Not like Web2 platforms akin to Telegram or Discord, the place centralized entities dictate management and retailer consumer knowledge, Cities shifts that authority to sensible contracts—guaranteeing censorship resistance, privateness, and group possession. With end-to-end encryption and cryptographically enforced guidelines, Cities presents a Web3-native various to group messaging, totally embedded throughout the blockchain ecosystem.
For extra: Cities Airdrop Information: SocialFi Mission Backed by a16z
Key Elements of Cities Protocol
At its core, Cities Protocol integrates three important elements: Cities Protocol (the foundational layer of sensible contracts), appTowns (the user-facing software), and daoTowns (its governance construction). Collectively, these layers create a full-stack, permissionless ecosystem that permits real-time encrypted messaging, on-chain interactions, and decentralized governance.
Cities Protocol (Composable Infrastructure Layer)
The protocol layer consists of Ethereum sensible contracts which are modular, extensible, and upgradeable. The infrastructure layer permits communities to outline their very own entry guidelines, content material moderation logic, privateness settings, and monetization methods. Not like inflexible Web2 architectures, these contracts allow dynamic interactions that mirror the particular wants of every group. From NFTs to DAO voting instruments, each piece is composable—which means builders can remix performance with out ranging from scratch.
Additional reinforcing its decentralization, Cities operates over a distributed proof-of-stake node community, making its real-time communication each tamper-proof and censorship-resistant. Finish-to-end encryption ensures that no central authority or infrastructure supplier has entry to messages or metadata.
appTowns (The Interface Layer)
The appTowns product is the protocol’s flagship front-end—a completely open-source, privacy-first software that brings its technical underpinnings to life. By way of a seamless and intuitive UI, customers can chat, vote, commerce, and construct—multi function place. appTowns instantly integrates with web3 wallets and id protocols, linking a consumer’s handle to their actions in a verifiable and safe method.
One of many standout options of appTowns is its tight integration with the broader Ethereum ecosystem. As an example, customers can work together with NFTs, provoke DAO votes, or carry out cross-chain actions instantly from their chat interface. Communities may embed video games or decentralized finance instruments, enabling a participatory economic system inside every City. Consider it as Discord meets Web3—solely decentralized and censorship-resistant.
daoTowns (Governance and Neighborhood Possession)
The daoTowns system represents the governance layer of the protocol. Managed by the Cities DAO, governance contributors embody builders, node operators, house house owners, and token holders. The DAO votes on core updates, treasury allocation, incentive fashions, and product route.
As an alternative of counting on centralized management, the Cities ecosystem is formed by the communities it serves. Contributors within the DAO have the power to recommend new options, allocate funds for growth instruments, and set up strategic partnerships. Moreover, their involvement ensures that Cities evolves in alignment with consumer wants, quite than platform revenue incentives.
Binance Airdrop and TOWNS Token Launch
Binance has unveiled TOWNS because the thirtieth mission in its HODLer Airdrops initiative, retroactively rewarding customers who held and staked BNB on Easy Earn or On-Chain Yields between July 14 and July 17, 2025 (UTC). Eligible customers will obtain a share of 305,848,461 TOWNS tokens, representing roughly 3.02% of the genesis provide.
Binance will checklist TOWNS on August 5, 2025, at 14:30 UTC, with buying and selling pairs together with TOWNS/USDT, USDC, BNB, FDUSD, and TRY. Buying and selling can be first accessible on Binance Alpha—a pre-launch platform—earlier than transferring to Spot markets. The asset will carry a Seed Tag, signaling that it might be a higher-volatility, early-stage funding.
For extra: Cities (TOWNS) Might be Listed on Binance HODLer Airdrops
TOWNS Tokenomics and Distribution
TOWNS launched with a genesis provide of roughly 10.13 billion tokens, and a max cap of 15.33 billion. At itemizing, circulating provide can be round 2.11 billion TOWNS (~20.8% of genesis).
$TOWNS tokenomics places the group first.57% of tokens gas airdrops, grants, and different group initiatives.Crew and Seed, Collection A/B buyers are locked for 1 yr by a 3rd get together, then vest linearly.Inflation is offset by a programmatic buy-and-burn. pic.twitter.com/BskbNslROc
— Cities Protocol (@TownsProtocol) August 2, 2025
TOWNS token contract:
BNB Chain: 0x00000000bcA93b25a6694ca3d2109d545988b13BEthereum: 0x000000Fa00b200406de700041CFc6b19BbFB4d13Base: 0x00000000A22C618fd6b4D7E9A335C4B96B189a38
The token allocation is designed round group distribution:
57% of tokens devoted to airdrops, grants, and ecosystem progress35% reserved for the group and early buyers (locked for one yr with vesting)8% allotted to node operators and delegators to bootstrap decentralized infrastructure.
Furthermore, customers who select to stake TOWNS might obtain a 50% bonus allocation, topic to a 30-day withdrawal lock—all in a transfer to spice up long-term engagement and decentralization.
A key mechanism is token buybacks and burns funded from protocol utilization charges. Since launch, Cities generated over $2.1 million in charges, virtually all used to repurchase and destroy TOWNS, making a sustainable suggestions loop between exercise and token demand.
The TOWNS token utility powers the protocol in three key methods:
Entry Management – Sure areas might require holding or staking TOWNS to affix.Governance – Token holders vote on proposals, together with protocol upgrades, treasury allocations, and price changes.Staking & Burns – TOWNS could be staked for incentives or rewards. Protocol charges (from paid Areas) are used to purchase again and burn TOWNS, decreasing provide over time.
Cities Protocol Crew, Traders & Fundraising
Cities was based in 2023 by Ben Rubin (co-founder of Houseparty) and Patrick Fives, who beforehand held govt expertise roles in shopper social apps.
Brian Meek (left), Ben Rubin (Center) and Patrick Fives (Proper)
The protocol has raised roughly $25.5 million in a Collection A (Feb 2023), $10 million in a Collection B (Apr 2025), $1.11 million from the ICO spherical of Echo with lock-up situations and an extra $3.3 million by the ICO spherical, Binance Holder Airdrop occasion—bringing complete funding to shut to $46M.
Cities has raised $46 million thus far from a16zcrypto, Coinbase Ventures, Benchmark, Framework, echodotxyz and different strategic angels.
Thanks to our companions who belief the imaginative and prescient that communication needs to be owned, not managed. pic.twitter.com/54pz0WDm9z
— Cities Protocol (@TownsProtocol) July 30, 2025
Main buyers embody:
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z Crypto)Coinbase VenturesBenchmarkFramework Ventures
Cities Protocol represents a novel step towards Web3-native communication infrastructure, providing communities a safe and decentralized various to Discord or Slack—whereas embedding financial incentives and governance throughout the structure. Its tokenomics are designed to reward energetic customers, create shortage, and grant significant management to creators and contributors.
For extra: Crypto Enterprise Capital Funds: High Crypto VC Companies in 2025
FAQs
What makes Cities Protocol totally different from different chat platforms?
Cities offers customers possession over their digital areas through sensible contracts, decentralized governance, and end-to-end encryption—options which are lacking in conventional platforms like Discord or Telegram.
What can communities construct with Cities?
Communities can assemble something from gaming hubs and DeFi communities to NFT marketplaces and governance areas. Cities is modular and composable, permitting customized rule units, integrations, and monetization buildings.
What are the use instances for the TOWNS token?
The TOWNS token serves a number of features: it’s used for governance voting, node incentives, entry management, and probably premium options inside Cities apps. Holding TOWNS grants affect over how the protocol evolves and the way its treasury is deployed.
