FAQ

Basics

1. What is 4thPillar?

In short, 4thPillar or short 4P is the email and chat for Web3. 4P super app allows crypto wallet owners to email and message each other, while remaining in complete control over their data and communication.

2. Why is on-chain communication important?

In 4P, each email or message is an L1/L2 transaction, while larger files are stored on decentralized storage. This model enables true decentralized communication that is non-custodial, permissionless, immutable, and resistant to Web2 data mining, contrasting sharply with traditional off-chain centralized communication.

3. What is the difference between legacy Web2 communication platforms and 4P Super App?

Legacy email applications use centralized databases and often lack E2E encryption. Users pay with their data, which is mined by the app. This Web2 model leads to data ownership loss, potential de-platforming, identity theft, spam, spoofing, and privacy loss.

The 4P Super App is a decentralized Web3 application with no centralized database, giving users full control over their data. Messages are exchanged on-chain, with each message as a L1/L2 transaction. The 4P App uses an Encryption Extension for self-custodial encryption, preventing Web2 issues like data mining, ownership loss, and de-platforming. It ensures secure, permissionless, immutable, self-custodial P2P on-chain communication.

4. Who can use it?

The app has permissionless access so anyone can use it. Users connect their MetaMask, Coinbase or Wallet Connect-supported wallets and access the world of on-chain communication within the polished Web3 UI.

5. What is the cost of using 4P Email & Messaging?

Parallel to the underlying L1/L2 transaction gas cost, the service fees (i.e. protocol fees) are also settled on the smart contract level and is applicable for every email or message transaction. Total user cost equals the sum of the L1/L2 transaction gas and the service fees. Both the gas and service fees converge and manifest as one end-user communication transaction fee. Read more.

Technical

6. How does it work?

The message exchange happens on-chain as one short message represents one L1/L2 blockchain transaction. As the emailing process is data heavier, lite encrypted JSON objects are created to hold 4P email metadata. The link to this metadata and checksum is recorded on the chain as a blockchain transaction. So again, the core primitive described by the formula below applies;

• 💡1 email/message = 1 L1/L2-TX

7. Which blockchain can I use to connect to 4P?

4P is supporting all EVM (e.g., Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Polygon, etc.), but is adding deployments in a planned timeframe. The first batch of deployments include Fantom Opera, Oasis, Zeta, Edgeware, Arthera and Immu3 blockchains.

8. Is Firefox browser supported?

The 4P Super App can be accessed with any modern browser that supports extensions. For end-to-end encryption, it uses the Encryptor Extension, which is currently unavailable for Firefox but works with all Chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome, Brave, Opera, Microsoft Edge, and others that support Chrome Extensions.

9. Where is my data stored?

Your emails and attachments are encrypted and stored on both decentralized storage and your local device, while encrypted messaging data is stored on-chain.

User Experience & Features

10. Can I send images, videos and attachments through 4P?

Yes, you can send any type of data file as an email attachment through 4P. Data and media file sharing via 4P messaging will be added in the future. In the Pro version, there is no limit to email attachment size or data sharing within chats; the user's PX sNFT determines storage availability (e.g., 100MB, 1GB, 10GB, 20GB). The Basic version has a 20MB limit.

11. What is the PX sNFT and do I need it?

PX sNFTs (PollinationX Decentralized Storage NFTs) let users mint self-custodial storage units with specific capacities (e.g., 100MB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB, 100GB) for upload bandwidth. PollinationX offers the first 100MB sNFT of storage for free. Users can upgrade their storage with larger PX sNFTs. Unlike centralized storage, which often mines and sells user data for "free" plans, PX sNFTs ensure your data remains private. If you're only using text messaging without data or media file exchanges, PX sNFTs are not needed.

12. Why do I need to install the Encryptor Extension into my browser?

Encryptor Extension adds the communication end-to-end encryption layer within 4P Super App that is currently not supported in major wallets. It enables user encryption self-custody not available before in any digital communication.

13. How do I enable Pro version?

4P Pro unlocks advanced email and chat features like the send email tab, email whitelisting, and chat group creation. It is automatically enabled when your wallet has 10,000 Four Tokens. The tokens must be native to the blockchain you're using. For example, if you use Fantom Opera, you need Four Tokens native to Fantom Opera.

14. Can I create a group chat in 4P?

Yes, Pro users can create encrypted on-chain group chats. They can create unlimited group chats with any number of participants and manage groups by adding or removing member wallet addresses.

15. How does Email address whitelisting work?

Email address whitelisting is a smart-contract feature that allows you to whitelist specific wallet addresses, giving them permission to contact you. This provides an ultimate filter and true security tool. It is available in the 4P Pro version.

Other

16. The Team behind 4P?

4P Project is an open-source collection of protocols created by a community of contributors.

17. How can I contribute?

Contributions from the development community are highly encouraged and appreciated. Feel free to submit GitHub issues, pull requests, or offer general feedback.