Chums Chat – Messenger for people and AI agents | TRC-8004 · x402 · Matrix

TBL
1

:satellite_antenna: Basic Information

Project Name: Chums Chat | Messenger for people and AI agents

Project Track: consumer-social

Team Name: Chums Team

Team Members: 6, primary contact @chumschat

Social Info:
Website | Telegram | Devpost

:speech_balloon: Project Overview

:rocket: Project Goal

Chums is a chat app for people and AI agents.

People use it like any modern messenger: they send messages, share files, make calls, and chat in groups.

Agents are AI services built by independent teams, living as full participants in chats. A user finds an agent, talks to it, and pays for what it does.

Chums is built on Matrix, an open and federated communication protocol with end-to-end encryption.

Everything else runs on TRON:

  • TronLink is the wallet and the point of entry. A user signs in via TronLink, with no separate account needed.
  • TRC-8004 is how agents are registered on-chain and given a Web3 name.
  • x402 is the protocol that lets users pay agents directly in chat. Each transaction is settled on-chain, with no gas fee for the user.

Developers can build agents and ship them within hours. Creators bring those agents into their own work. Users interact with them inside Chums.

We believe Chums can help bring TRON’s Agentic AI vision to everyday users.

:sparkles: Unique Value Proposition

For TRON, the most direct value is implementation. Agentic AI is one of the directions the network is building toward, and Chums brings a working product to it, with the full stack visible end to end.
Other teams thinking about similar products can see how the pieces fit together.

Chums is also the only product in the Matrix ecosystem that operates on TRON.
Matrix has been adopted by governments in over 60% of EU countries as their sovereign communication platform.
Its users and builders can enter TRON through Chums.

For developers, the agent SDK and server components are open source, and the stack uses open standards.
They can build an agent and run it on tron.mx, or host the server themselves for full independence.

For creators publishing AI characters or paid experiences, Chums combines a chat interface with direct payments.
Users pay in USDT to the creator’s wallet, and the creator keeps control over content, pricing, and audience.

:video_game: Project Demo

Chums has native and web versions.

The web version at tron.mx already runs the full TRON Agentic AI stack:
TronLink sign-in, chat with agents, TRC-8004 identity, and x402 payments.

Native apps are available across major platforms:
App Store | Google Play | APK | Windows | Linux

They support messaging and token-based features via an in-app TRON wallet developed during HackaTRON S7.
Once this wallet is replaced by TronLink, native apps will offer the same Agentic AI experience as the web version.

The first AI agent is live on tron.mx and ready to chat.
Registered on TRON Mainnet via TRC-8004 (ID=13). View on TronScan.

Direct chat:

Direct chat with an agent
Direct chat with an agent1583×1123 142 KB

Group chat:

Group chat with an agent
Group chat with an agent1583×1123 219 KB

:light_bulb: Expected Completion Date for 2026

Chums has been in active development since January 2024 and is a long-term product rather than a fixed-scope project.

Throughout 2026, our focus is on opening the platform to external teams, building partnerships with AI projects, and improving UX to attract users from other Matrix clients.

:construction: Current Progress ~ 70%

We launched Chums in 2024 as a Web3-native messenger, exploring NFT rooms, Web3 domains, meme tokens, quests, and dedicated ecosystem servers.
Venom Quests became the first time all of this came together as a single onboarding experience with real users.

In parallel, we were experimenting with AI agents inside Matrix, not as chatbots but as actors with their own identities, permissions, and context.
As the AI ecosystem matured, much of what we’d built for Web3 communities turned out to apply directly to agents.
When TRON introduced its Agentic AI direction, the pieces fit.

The core platform is in place. The work ahead is expansion, not foundation.

Numbers:

:brick: Technical & Governance Details

:microscope: Project Test Instructions

Expected testing time: 3–5 minutes.

Note:
All testing runs on TRON Nile Testnet. If you don’t have TRX or USDT, message @honoka:tron.mx.

Prerequisites:

  • TronLink browser extension installed and unlocked
  • Alternative: TronLink mobile app with its built-in browser (less polished)
  • ~3 TRX in wallet (for one-time setup gas)
  • At least $0.10 USDT (TRC-20) for paying the agent

Steps:

  1. Open tron.mx in a browser.
  2. Click “Connect TronLink” and confirm in your wallet.
  3. New account: choose a username → @yourname:tron.mx
  4. Sign two prompts in TronLink: one for sign-in, one for chat encryption setup.
  5. Look up “13.tron” in the search bar → add @himari:tron.mx to contacts to start a conversation.
  6. Send any message. The agent replies in a thread asking you to top up the balance for this room.
  7. Top up the agent’s balance. Default is $0.10; for a custom amount use !himari topup <number>.
  8. First time only: in TronLink, approve the x402 setup and set a USDT spending limit for the smart contract (~3 TRX gas).
  9. Once credit confirms, send a new message. The agent replies in a thread under it.

How it works:

  • Wallet acts as identity, no password.
  • Agents discovered by on-chain ID: search “13.tron” finds TRC-8004 ID=13.
  • Conversations run in threads under starting messages, keeping context clean in busy rooms.
  • Agents can be invited into group rooms.
  • Agent balance is per-room. In groups it’s shared: anyone can top up for the whole room.
  • After the initial x402 setup transaction, future top-ups are gas-free.

:gear: Technical Details

Architecture:

TRON Integration:

  • TronLink for wallet-based auth
  • TRC-8004 for on-chain agent identity
  • x402 protocol for in-chat USDT (TRC-20) payments
  • Documentation:
    https://docs.bankofai.io/

Agent Layer:

  • Built on a fork of baibot:
    https://github.com/etkecc/baibot/
  • Each agent is a full Matrix account with its own room logic
  • Added x402 plugins and other improvements; open-source release planned

:compass: How is the Project Governed?

The project is currently governed by a core team of contributors.
All decisions regarding product development and partnerships are made internally.

:chart_increasing: Funding & Business Model

:money_bag: Funding Request

Funding period: June-December 2026.

Category Monthly 7-Month Total
Development $20,000 $140,000
Marketing & Partnerships $10,000 $70,000
Infrastructure $2,000 $14,000
Total $32,000 $224,000

:deciduous_tree: Revenue Model

1. White-label clients. We customize our client for projects running their own Matrix server. Web frontend is the entry tier, native apps are available for larger projects.

2. Server support. We set up dedicated servers for projects that need isolated infrastructure but use our default client.
Example: creators bring audience from TikTok (AI content restrictions) or Telegram (Stars-only monetization) to their own server, with full control over moderation and direct x402 payments without platform commissions.

3. Agent marketplace. Featured placement and discovery tools on our hosted servers like tron.mx, with x402 enabling per-interaction monetization.

:yin_yang: Interested in TRON Having a Stake?

Yes, we’d welcome this.

With Chums building directly into the Agentic AI vision, a strategic investment from TRON would be a natural fit, creating long-term value for both sides.

:handshake: Preferred Collaboration Method

Beyond financial support, here’s where TRON’s involvement matters most:

  • Establishing partnership with Bank of AI
  • Inclusion in the TRON DAO ecosystem
  • Visibility through official channels and ecosystem marketing
  • Presence at TBL and other TRON ecosystem events
  • Introductions to TRON ecosystem partners

:satellite: Ecosystem Impact

:puzzle_piece: Partnerships

Unstoppable Domains. A Web3 domain provider where users register readable names like alice.crypto as NFTs.
We integrated UD as the identity layer in Chums. 3rd place at the UD x AWS hackathon.

Venom Network. We built Echo Arcade, a universal Web3 onboarding mechanism, tested in production through Venom Quests.
Ready to deploy for TRON projects.

:three_o_clock: Time on TRON

Shipped TRON support in September 2024 (Chums v1.0.29) and took 2nd place at HackaTRON Season 7 (Web3 track).

:world_map: Project Milestones

:round_pushpin: Project Milestones

In this fast-moving market we plan in short cycles. Below is what we’re shipping in the next few months across two tracks.

TRON track:

  • Polishing the web version that runs inside TronLink mobile (June 2026)
  • Agent SDK and Chums Web3 modules for Synapse (July 2026)
  • Native apps: replacing the in-app TRON wallet with TronLink integration, adding x402 support (August 2026)

Matrix track:

  • Bringing notifications and calls to the web version, matching native apps (July 2026)
  • Spaces, the last Matrix feature we haven’t implemented (July 2026)

:crystal_ball: Project in 5 Years

In five years, AI agents are part of everyday communication.
Chums is one of the main interfaces where this happens, with TRON as the financial and identity layer.

5 Likes
2

I am welcoming you to the tbl, in you’re funding request you are setting aside $240k for marketing and that is plenty money, please how are you going to go about the marketing, thank you

1 Like
3

Welcome to TBL, striking submission you’ve here, more striking that you seem like you’ve been around in the forum for a while. After carefully reading your lengthy submission, I’ve a question pertaining to onboarding flow for new users, is there going to be guides for new users to create wallets, add funds, and understand every other needed steps?

2 Likes
4

Hey hello and welcome to TBL.

I just noted your submission is a bit too big to say something. In a nutshell can you describe in a couple of lines what is it about? I just got lost in the text. Thanks!

2 Likes
5

Hi! :waving_hand: We’re glad to be back — and thanks for the question!

We’re not asking for a fixed lump sum “for marketing.”
This is a resource plan with monthly cost assumptions: $10k/month in 2025 and $20k/month in 2026.

These are projected, not fixed, costs. The plan is intentionally flexible, since priorities may shift depending on traction, ecosystem needs, and collaboration opportunities.

We included 2025 and 2026 because we’re building for the long term :tear_off_calendar:.
The total may seem large, but it reflects our intent to stay active and grow consistently across the rest of this year and all of next.

Depending on focus, this may include:
– launching and growing a TRON-native server
– working with community builders in win-win formats
– presence at Web3 events
– testing growth hypotheses (e.g. decentralized socials like Farcaster)
– onboarding partner projects

We don’t rely on paid ads — we grow through real interaction, community activity, and shared value :seedling:.

With support from TRON DAO — visibility, events, co-marketing — many of these goals can be achieved together, helping us scale impact while keeping costs efficient.

6

This is a good way to do things, so are you going to be hosting like competition in your community to be able to boost their participation, thank you

2 Likes
7

Hey, come on — I really put time and heart into that text :sweat_smile:
Hard to explain it all in short — but here’s the core:

Chums is like Discord, but built for Web3 from day one.
It’s not just chat — it’s rooms with roles, tokens, bots, dApps, access logic, identity.

And that’s not even all — there’s federation, interoperability, quest mechanics, and more.

Better just download it — that’s more fun anyway :hugs:
And for convenience, here’s a QR below :backhand_index_pointing_down::wink:

chums-qr
chums-qr300×300 10.2 KB

8

Thanks — really glad to connect :call_me_hand:

1 Like
9

Absolutely! Onboarding is something we’re continually improving and simplifying — it’s a focus for us, not just a task :compass:.

What you mentioned aligns well with the direction we’re heading.
Step-by-step :footprints: mini-guides are on our near-term list — they’ll make things clearer and help us collect better feedback from new users.

And since Chums is federated, each server can extend the onboarding experience — adding their own steps, guidance, or logic based on what fits their community.

1 Like
10

Ok, still about guides cos I really wanna be clear, how much control will each server have over customizing their own onboarding guides?

1 Like
11

Thanks a lot for your response. Yes, I can see the effort, yet the project description is lengthly. Anyway, congrats for bringing a nice project to TBL.

Regarding the revenue model, you state that:

Can you please explain a bit what do you mean by interaction and how exactly such interaction equals to some sort of economic value? Thanks!

1 Like
12

@ines_valerie @manfred_jr @lumison
Hey guys! Thanks for the questions. The past couple days were a bit crazy — gonna sleep a bit and get back soon! :sweat_smile::person_in_bed:

1 Like
13

The body needs rest always, so I clearly get it.

1 Like
14

Hey! :waving_hand: And sorry for the slow ping — just catching up now!

Yes, definitely — community-driven participation is part of the plan.

We already have basic TRON support.
Next step is to explore which mechanics might be meaningful here, and fill in what’s missing — at the very least, token-gated rooms.
We’d love to talk with you all and get a better sense of what fits.

From there, we’d carefully test a flow with active community members and projects.
If it clicks — we’d be happy to explore that path together with the TRON DAO marketing team and turn it into a proper track.

We focus on presence across aligned communities — Matrix users, quest platforms, Farcaster network, and other Web3 ecosystems.
That gives us a connected user layer across chains — some people may discover TRON by entering from elsewhere.

At the same time, we want to support native community growth — directly inside the TRON ecosystem.
What matters is building shared spaces where interaction has meaning — and we’re here to grow that together :wink:

1 Like
15

Hey, thanks for the follow-up :purple_heart: — happy to clarify!

Right now, each server can configure its onboarding surface:
– custom homepage
– recommended rooms, apps, and bots
– pinned messages and a basic navigation layout for newcomers

Servers can already create support rooms for TRON-related projects — public or private — each with its own materials and structure.
Bots currently work in 1-on-1 chats, but adapting them for group rooms is relatively straightforward if needed.

There’s clear potential to take this further — not just improving onboarding, but making it part of the experience layer:
– onboarding as a mission with visible progress
– milestone-based drops (NFTs or community tokens)
– different entry paths depending on how someone joins (event, partner link, token ownership)
– dynamic visibility: rooms or content unlocking over time
– role progression tied to actual participation
– guild-like thematic spaces that users grow into

A dedicated TRON server is where all of this can take shape — with structure, roles, and logic built to fit the ecosystem :call_me_hand:

16

You’re welcome, always

Quite an insightful reply, but I’m wondering, will you include a progress tracker for newcomers to see what’s next?

1 Like
17

Okay that is no problem at all

1 Like
18

Okay I get it now thank you for you’re reply

1 Like
19

Thanks for the question :handshake: — happy to explain how we approach this:

When we say “interaction”, we mean real activity inside a shared environment:
people talk, react, show up, complete tasks, unlock access, support others, and move through roles.
This isn’t passive content consumption — it’s contribution with visible effects.

Over time, this activity forms a structure:
– some users lead conversations, others follow
– certain rooms become active hubs
– roles and achievements signal who’s done what
– attention starts to concentrate around specific people, flows, or topics

That structure creates context — meaningful patterns where others can plug in:
– a project might sponsor a mission in a room that already has ongoing engagement
– a token community might use their asset to gate access or unlock visibility
– a partner tool might embed where people already act and respond

This is where economic value becomes possible:
not by selling ads or inflating numbers, but by giving others a place where people are already active — and making it possible to build something useful on top.

We don’t extract value from users — we create structure that people and projects can use, build into, and benefit from together.
That’s how sustainable revenue takes shape over time: through partnerships, embedded tools, and services that grow from real participation.

1 Like
20

Good question — a progress tracker is super useful for onboarding and mission flows, so some form of it will definitely be part of the experience.

Whether it’s a visual checklist or unlocking steps one by one as users move forward — it helps keep things clear and motivating :world_map:

1 Like