The Nature and Function of Nostr Protocol Relays
Nostr protocol relays, a fundamental component of the decentralized social network platform, play a pivotal role in ensuring the network’s functionality and resilience. These relays receive and forward messages, creating a distributed and censorship-resistant network. They operate on a voluntary basis, incentivized by the possibility of profit-sharing through fees attached to messages.
Relays are responsible for routing messages across the network, determining the most efficient path for message delivery. They also store a history of messages, providing a decentralized, tamper-proof archive of the network’s communications. Additionally, relays contribute to the network’s security by validating messages and identifying malicious actors.
