Within the past year, a growing number of decentralized applications (DApps) have begun operating on the Ethereum mainnet. Each DApp consists of its own unique blockchain, which means a bit of technical savvy (and a lot of hard drive space) is needed to maneuver through the initial download process in order to begin using the service. Unfortunately, this inherent need for technical understanding has created a barrier to mainstream adoption for DApps.

If these projects are to truly scale on a global level, the entire user experience must be as simple as a one-click download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store because, for many consumers in the modern world, convenience is king.

The Key to Mass Adoption

The Status Network aims to eliminate this barrier by creating a cohesive ecosystem of Ethereum DApps linked by a single DApp store. The project’s long-term goal is to become the primary gateway for mainstream blockchain engagement by attracting users with a decentralized, open source mobile messaging platform and web 3.0 mobile browser, in turn enabling free trade, peer-to-peer (p2p) payments, and encrypted p2p communication. The combination of these capabilities encompasses the core features of Status, the first ever decentralized mobile Ethereum client. The Status Network Token (SNT) is a utility token used to run the network, and can be used for the following purposes:

Push notification purchases

Network governance

Content curation

Fiat-to-Crypto exchange

DApp directories

Sticker markets

The emergence of messaging-as-a-platform has grown in countries such as China, but much of the Western world has yet to experience this trend on a large scale. Already the preferred means of digital communication for much of the world’s population, mobile messengers interact with more users than web 2.0 social networks. In addition, messengers consistently maintain incredibly high-retention rates making them excellent candidates for mass adoption.

What the Future Holds

Status released a new Alpha update and is the Universal Sponsor at this year’s Ethereum Foundation DevCon in early November. Regardless of the announcements and fanfare, the SNT price chart is worth taking note of, as it appears to be signaling a potential bullish reversal after a lengthy downtrend.