How Synapsis is Different
Synapsis is built from the ground up with two core innovations: Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and the Swarm network.
The Problem with Traditional Federation
On platforms like Mastodon, your identity is @username@server.com. If your server shuts down, or you want to move to a different one, you effectively lose your identity. Your followers have to re-follow your new account, and your post history doesn’t come with you.
The Synapsis Approach
DIDs: True Identity Ownership
When you create an account on Synapsis, you’re assigned a unique DID (Decentralized Identifier) — a cryptographic ID like did:key:z6Mk....
This DID is your true identity. Your human-readable handle (@alice) is simply a friendly pointer to that DID.
The Swarm: Native Node Communication
The Swarm is Synapsis’s peer-to-peer network that connects all nodes together. Unlike legacy federation protocols, the Swarm provides:
- Instant interactions — likes, follows, and reposts are delivered in real-time
- Full profiles — see complete user profiles from any node
- End-to-end encrypted chat — true private messaging, not just limited-visibility posts
- Automatic discovery — nodes find each other through gossip, no manual configuration
What This Means for You
- You own your identity. Your DID is generated from a cryptographic key pair that only you control.
- Authenticity. Every post you make is cryptographically signed, proving it came from you.
- True portability. Move to any Synapsis node and keep all your followers.
- Better experience. Real-time interactions and full cross-node features.