The Road to Mainstream Matrix - Common Knowledge Scout

# Matrix The Road to Mainstream Adoption > [! note]- > The content of this page is generated by audio/video transcription and text transformation from the content and links of this source. Source: [https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-6274-the-road-to-mainstream-matrix/](https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-6274-the-road-to-mainstream-matrix/) <video src="https://video.fosdem.org/2025/janson/fosdem-2025-6274-the-road-to-mainstream-matrix.av1.webm" controls></video> ## Summary & Highlights: The session 'The Road to Mainstream Matrix' at FOSDEM 2025 delves into the journey of Matrix, an open-source protocol for secure, decentralized communication, towards mainstream adoption. Matthew Hodgson discusses the challenges and successes of Matrix, highlighting its traction in public sectors and open-source communities. The talk covers the technical advancements and strategic plans to make Matrix a universal communication layer, including addressing feature gaps, enhancing security, and fostering a sustainable ecosystem. **Introduction** Matrix is an open-source protocol designed for secure, decentralized communication. The session begins by setting the stage for Matrix's mission to become the real-time communication layer of the open web, emphasizing the importance of shared conversations across participating servers. The speaker reflects on the growth journey of Matrix, from its inception to its current state, showcasing its potential to replace traditional centralized communication platforms. **Challenges and Strategies** Matrix has faced several challenges on its path to mainstream adoption. These include the need for a killer app, the complexities of decentralized encryption, and the pressure to improve the specification for independent implementers. The focus has been on polishing the Matrix ecosystem to drive mainstream adoption, with efforts to balance between protocol development and creating a user-friendly application. **Current Developments** Recent developments in the Matrix ecosystem include the launch of Matrix 2.0, which aims to support mainstream uptake by making the protocol fast, usable, and secure. Key features include next-generation authentication, simplified synchronization, and invisible encryption. The session also highlights the importance of community support and funding to sustain Matrix's growth and innovation. **Future Outlook** Looking ahead, the session outlines the strategic focus for Matrix, including the importance of maintaining a strong foundation to support diverse applications. The talk emphasizes the need for continued investment in open-source projects to ensure the sustainability and independence of the Matrix ecosystem. The potential for Matrix to become a cornerstone of digital sovereignty for governments and organizations worldwide is also discussed. ## Importance for an eco-social transformation Matrix's role in eco-social transformation is significant as it provides a decentralized, secure communication platform that challenges proprietary systems. This aligns with sustainable, social, and ethical goals by promoting digital sovereignty and reducing reliance on centralized tech giants. For eco-social designers, Matrix offers tools and platforms that can be adapted for community-driven projects, fostering collaboration and innovation. However, challenges remain, such as securing funding for open-source development, ensuring widespread adoption, and addressing technical hurdles like privacy and security. The session underscores the importance of supporting upstream projects financially to maintain an open and sustainable ecosystem. ## Slides: | | | | --- | --- | | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_001.jpg\|300]] | The first slide introduces the session titled 'The Road to Mainstream Matrix' at FOSDEM 2025, presented by Matthew Hodgson. It sets the agenda for discussing the journey of Matrix as an open-source communication protocol aiming for mainstream adoption. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_002.jpg\|300]] | The second slide likely continues the introduction or provides an overview of the session's goals and objectives, focusing on Matrix's impact on open-source communication. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_003.jpg\|300]] | Matrix is presented as an open network for secure, decentralized real-time communication. The slide highlights its capabilities in interoperable chat, VoIP, and real-time IoT data, emphasizing its potential beyond just a chat application. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_004.jpg\|300]] | The mission of Matrix is to build the real-time communication layer of the open web. This slide emphasizes the goal of creating a decentralized communication system that is accessible and secure for everyone. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_005.jpg\|300]] | The slide explains that no single party owns conversations in the Matrix network. Instead, conversations are shared across all participants, ensuring transparency and decentralization. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_006.jpg\|300]] | The slide likely presents data on the 30-day retention of users across reporting servers, indicating user engagement and growth in the Matrix network. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_007.jpg\|300]] | This slide notes that 'The Road to Mainstream Matrix' has both a past and a future, suggesting a discussion on the historical context and future prospects of Matrix. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_008.jpg\|300]] | The slide outlines the initial dream in May 2014 to build the missing communication layer of the web. It describes the team's approach to building an implementation first to prove the protocol, with a focus on creating a killer app. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_009.jpg\|300]] | The slide provides a timeline for Project Synapse, detailing key milestones and developments in the early stages of Matrix's journey. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_010.jpg\|300]] | This slide marks the launch of Synapse at TechCrunch Disrupt in September 2014. It highlights the initial rollout of Synapse as a server and the 'syweb' AngularJS web app, featuring chat, VoIP, and federation capabilities. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_011.jpg\|300]] | The slide includes a Matrix link, possibly referencing a specific conversation or resource within the Matrix network. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_012.jpg\|300]] | The slide appears to be a placeholder or transition slide without specific content. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_013.jpg\|300]] | The slide reflects on the initial aspirations for Matrix to be more than just a chat platform, aiming for mainstream adoption. It acknowledges the team's stronger development skills compared to product skills and the centralized team structure. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_014.jpg\|300]] | The slide discusses the need for a killer app to drive Matrix adoption. It explores various product ideas, including IoT backplanes and live video mixing, ultimately leading to the development of 'Skype Done Right' or 'Open Hangouts'. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_015.jpg\|300]] | This slide chronicles the evolution of Matrix's app from Vector, launched in July 2015, to Riot in 2016, and finally Element in 2020. It also notes the start of end-to-end encryption work, which significantly slowed development. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_016.jpg\|300]] | The slide addresses the 'premature success' of Matrix between 2015-2016, where the focus was on improving the specification rather than polishing a killer app. It suggests that Matrix could have been positioned as a decentralized communication app first. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_017.jpg\|300]] | In 2017, the team established Element to fund Matrix work and set up The Matrix.org Foundation to ensure independence. The slide highlights community support and funding efforts, with Element investing significantly in Matrix development. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_018.jpg\|300]] | The slide highlights the growth and maturation of Matrix from 2018-2021, with the declaration of version 1.0 in 2020. It notes the adoption by FOSS communities and governments, and the emergence of killer apps and experimental projects. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_019.jpg\|300]] | From 2022-2024, Matrix faced challenges due to market crashes and reduced investment. Despite this, strong uptake in the public sector continued, leading Element to focus on government implementations for sustainability. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_020.jpg\|300]] | The slide outlines a failure mode where government tenders for Matrix deployments often result in no funding reaching the upstream project, as system integrators deploy open-source implementations without financial contributions. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_021.jpg\|300]] | Another failure mode is presented where governments fund open-source feature development but lack budget for maintenance, leading to unsustainable support for new features. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_022.jpg\|300]] | The slide discusses the survival strategy for Matrix, where Element ceased most donations to the Matrix Foundation and switched licensing to AGPL. It highlights the threat of free-riding on the ecosystem. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_023.jpg\|300]] | The press has begun to notice issues with health insurance companies opting for cheaper, unsupported Matrix solutions, posing potential security risks. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_024.jpg\|300]] | The slide reiterates the press coverage on health insurance companies opting for cheaper Matrix solutions without supporting upstream development, highlighting the risks involved. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_025.jpg\|300]] | A solution is proposed where commercial Matrix deployments should ensure funding for upstream projects by purchasing their products, normalizing payments for open-source solutions. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_026.jpg\|300]] | The slide likely provides a status update on Matrix's journey towards mainstream adoption as of 2025. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_027.jpg\|300]] | Matrix is closer to mainstream adoption, with vendors focusing on GovTech and healthcare. The strategy for mainstream adoption involves upgrading the foundations to support diverse applications. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_028.jpg\|300]] | Matrix 2.0 focuses on making the protocol fast and usable, with implementations of next-generation authentication and simplified synchronization. The slide outlines the project's progress and upcoming features. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_029.jpg\|300]] | The slide details MatrixRTC for native encrypted group calls and invisible encryption, aiming to make end-to-end encryption seamless for users. It notes community-friendly distributions are forthcoming. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_030.jpg\|300]] | The slide introduces a demo via element-docker-demo, showcasing Matrix 2.0 features and capabilities. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_031.jpg\|300]] | The first global Matrix Conference in September 2024 showcased diverse independent production-grade stacks and an array of engaging talks, highlighting the ecosystem's growth and innovation. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_032.jpg\|300]] | The slide likely serves as a placeholder or transition slide without specific content. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_033.jpg\|300]] | The slide likely serves as a placeholder or transition slide without specific content. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_034.jpg\|300]] | The slide highlights TI-Messenger in Germany, a nationwide network for secure communication in the healthcare industry, using Matrix as the communication protocol. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_035.jpg\|300]] | OpenDesk in Germany is presented as an open-source Office365 alternative for public administration, leveraging Matrix for cross-country federation and collaboration. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_036.jpg\|300]] | ePost in Switzerland is introduced as a central communication platform connecting citizens with institutions, using Matrix for seamless communication. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_037.jpg\|300]] | Tchap in France is highlighted as a sovereign messenger for the public sector, part of a suite of open-source workplace tools, with plans for federation with other public sector deployments. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_038.jpg\|300]] | NI2CE, a NATO initiative, is presented as a Matrix-based messenger for low-side communication, replacing traditional messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_039.jpg\|300]] | The slide introduces the next phase of development for Matrix, focusing on building for the future and addressing upcoming challenges. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_040.jpg\|300]] | The slide discusses State Resolution v3, an overhaul of the state replication process in Matrix, aiming to address issues and improve the protocol's reliability. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_041.jpg\|300]] | TARDIS, a time-traveling debugger for state resolution, is introduced as a tool to visualize and debug room states in Matrix. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_042.jpg\|300]] | Chaos, a tool for partition and fault tolerance testing, is introduced to test homeserver resilience and convergence in the Matrix network. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_043.jpg\|300]] | The slide discusses Messaging Layer Security (MLS) and its potential integration with Matrix, highlighting ongoing investigations and challenges related to funding. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_044.jpg\|300]] | Post-Quantum Encryption is addressed, with previous progress on post-quantum key exchange and the need for further funding to advance this area. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_045.jpg\|300]] | The evolution of matrix-rust-sdk is highlighted, with features like offline support and persistent event caching, and plans for additional bindings in React Native, WASM, and Ruby. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_046.jpg\|300]] | The potential for matrix-rust-sdk to replace matrix-js-sdk is discussed, with ongoing work on WASM bindings to enable cross-platform compatibility. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_047.jpg\|300]] | The slide outlines missing mainstream features in Matrix clients, such as custom emoji, threads, and voice rooms, emphasizing the need for continued development. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_048.jpg\|300]] | Missing mainstream features in Matrix servers are discussed, including user discovery, room discovery, and performance improvements for small servers. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_049.jpg\|300]] | Trust and safety measures in Matrix are addressed, with new tools and teams in place to combat abuse and improve user safety. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_050.jpg\|300]] | Potential future directions for Matrix 3.0 are explored, including trust and safety improvements, MLS integration, and peer-to-peer development. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_051.jpg\|300]] | The Matrix.org Foundation's role in protecting and preserving Matrix is emphasized, with responsibilities including ensuring FOSS implementation and running common infrastructure. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_052.jpg\|300]] | The slide likely lists funding members who support the Matrix.org Foundation and its initiatives. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_053.jpg\|300]] | The Foundation's independence and governance structure are highlighted, with a call for support to ensure the sustainability of Matrix. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_054.jpg\|300]] | The Matrix Governing Board is introduced, comprising representatives from various stakeholders to guide the Foundation's direction and accountability. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_055.jpg\|300]] | A call for help is made, urging support for Matrix through financial contributions and active participation in the ecosystem. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_056.jpg\|300]] | The slide encourages commercial beneficiaries of Matrix to financially support upstream projects, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an open and sustainable ecosystem. | ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/The-Road-to-Mainstream-Matrix/preview_057.jpg\|300]] | The final slide provides contact information for Matthew Hodgson, encouraging engagement and support for Matrix. ## Links [Matrix Specification](https://matrix.org/docs/spec) [Matrix server implementations](https://matrix.org/docs/projects/server/synapse) [Matrix client implementations](https://matrix.org/docs/projects/client/element) [Video recording (AV1/WebM)](https://video.fosdem.org/2025/janson/fosdem-2025-6274-the-road-to-mainstream-matrix.av1.webm) [Video recording (MP4)](https://video.fosdem.org/2025/janson/fosdem-2025-6274-the-road-to-mainstream-matrix.av1.mp4) [Video recording subtitle file (VTT)](https://video.fosdem.org/2025/janson/fosdem-2025-6274-the-road-to-mainstream-matrix.vtt)