Decentralized, Offline-Resilient Mesh Networking with Built-In Incentives

FreeFlow is a protocol and system for creating resilient, anonymous, and censorship-resistant communication networks using mobile and portable devices.
It operates without internet access, without centralized servers, and thrives even in environments with weak or no connectivity.

At its core lies the economic layer PoCCA (Proof-of-Contact Credit Architecture) — a mechanism that rewards devices for participating in the network by connecting, relaying, and storing data, allowing FreeFlow to expand organically.

• Enable device-to-device communication during internet shutdowns or censorship.
• Use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, and local radio protocols to build mesh clusters.
• Implement store-and-forward propagation for disconnected regions.
• Ensure privacy and anonymity through cryptographic identities and onion routing.
• Reward participation using decentralized credits (not blockchain-dependent).

Local networks formed between nearby devices using short-range radio. Devices exchange identity, presence, and routing hints.

Devices that link separate clusters — physically (couriers, drones) or via long-range radio — enabling data transfer between isolated zones.

Nodes do not know the global topology. Instead, they maintain a small list of known clusters and use probabilistic or shortest-path routing based on available data.

If no route exists to the destination, data is encrypted and stored locally, then forwarded once a valid path appears.

An incentive model that generates cryptographic proofs of network activity and rewards useful behavior.

• Proof of Contact (PoC): Two devices connect and exchange signed contact logs for credit.
• Proof of Relay (PoR): Relay nodes sign the packet path and earn credit.
• Proof of Store (PoS): Nodes that store data offline and later deliver it also gain credit.

Each node maintains a local ledger of its actions, which synchronizes and verifies when connecting to a wider mesh. Credits can be used for priority transmission, service access, or peer exchange.

ClusterID:NodeID.SessionID

A3xh:g7h6.bbqh

ClusterID — short hash of the cluster’s public key.
NodeID — short hash of the node’s public key.
SessionID — one-time identifier for each session or packet.

• All messages are signed using Ed25519 keys.
• Onion routing hides the complete route and encrypts each hop.
• Session IDs prevent replay attacks and spoofing.
• Trust is built using locally signed logs and PoCCA proofs.

{
  "from": "A3xh:g7h6",
  "to": "Jk92:kf45",
  "session": "bbqh",
  "type": "onion",
  "payload": "encrypted_blob",
  "signature": "sig_by_private_key",
  "hops_left": 5
}

• Python developers
• Rust developers
• Kotlin / Android developers
• Swift / iOS developers
• Cryptography & Protocol Engineers
• Distributed Systems Researchers
• C / C++ developers (ESP32 & embedded runtime)

When the internet is blocked, shut down, or unavailable, people still need to communicate. FreeFlow allows individuals to stay connected, share information, and remain free.

Communication must be decentralized, anonymous, and unstoppable.

© 2025 – ermoluk