How The SimpleX Crypto App Went From Chat To Crypto Sales

Friend, The SimpleX Crypto App Got Weird

I want to talk about something that surprised me. The SimpleX crypto app started as a quiet private chat tool. Now it sells tokens and NFTs on the side. The private messenger part still hides your ID, but the path got strange. You don't need a trench coat to get privacy. The SimpleX crypto app began as a messenger with zero user IDs, then tacked on quantum-proof code. Now it's flogging tokens but honestly, you can just keep chatting private.

SimpleX Chat is a private and encrypted messenger without any user IDs. Not even random ones. You make a private connection via link or QR code to send messages and make calls. The network design puts privacy first to protect human rights defenders, journalists, and everyday users who value their privacy. That part I really like.

How The SimpleX Crypto App Went From Chat To Crypto Sales

The SimpleX project began as a prototype of a messaging server on 22 Oct 2020. A terminal chat app showed up in May 2021. The iOS public beta came in Feb 2022. For a long time it was just chat. Then things shifted. SimpleX Channels and a network consortium arrived later, with community crowdfunding to preserve free speech. That opened the door to crypto token and NFT talk.

Here is the weird part. A Privacy Guides forum thread from Nov 2025 carried the title "SimpleX Chat is now a crypto project selling tokens and NFTs". One user said the token was not from the SimpleX team and was likely a scam. Another user said it was on the SimpleX site and the team likely changed stance. Both views sit in the thread. I don't know the truth. But the SimpleX crypto app name now shows up next to crypto sales in a way it did not before.

lyricism (Nov 2, 2025): "If you use SimpleX, just ignore the crypto stuff and stick to the official app and site."

Some users talk about creating nft artwork as a side thing they saw near the chat tool. Others mention creating nft art to sell when they read the forum posts. I am not saying the chat app makes you do it. But the line between private chat and crypto market got blurry fast.

No User IDs Was The Whole Point

The App Store listing says SimpleX is the first messaging network without user identifiers of any kind. Not even random numbers. It is 100% private by design. Security reviews by Trail of Bits happened in 2022 and 2024. That is a real fact from the source and it matters.

Unlike other apps, SimpleX uses no phone numbers or any other identifiers. This hides who you talk to from SimpleX servers and from outside observers. You cannot be contacted unless you share a one-time invite link or an optional temporary address. That stops spam and abuse before they start.

What the private design gives you

Anonymous User 51869 (2024): "Love the concept of no user IDs and no personal information used. No registration. No phone numbers. No email addresses. Multiple profiles. In these regards it’s better than Signal."

Quantum Proof Code Came Later

The SimpleX crypto app added quantum resistant end-to-end encryption in v5.6 and v5.7. They took the Signal double ratchet and made it quantum resistant. This was a major upgrade for a chat app. The source says it uses a post-quantum hybrid approach, which experts suggest right now.

Messages get encrypted with open-source code. Files get their own encryption too. The developer said they are not rolling their own crypto anywhere in the app. A standard NaCl secret_box construction is used for each file. That is good to know if you care about real security and not just talk.

The Chat Features Still Work Fine

If you just want to chat, the SimpleX crypto app has a lot. Quantum resistant encrypted messages with edit, reply, delete. Disappearing messages with opt-out per contact. Message reactions. Delivery receipts you can turn off. Multiple chat profiles with hidden ones.

There is also app access and self-destruct passcodes. Incognito mode is unique to SimpleX. Encrypted images and files. Voice messages up to 5 minutes. Live messages that update as you type. Secret chat groups where only members know it exists.

Core chat tools in the app

FredFredBurger#432 (2023): "Loving it so far, fast and very easy to use. The only thing I feel is missing that I need is the ability to either include images with the groups welcome message..."

Some Real User Gripes

Not everything is perfect. One user said calling needs work. No ringing tone. Delay after pickup before audio starts. Another said if the recipient has not opened the app in days, messages do not get delivered. So the privacy plan is strong but the feel can be rough.

A blind user said the iOS VoiceOver navigation is hard. Ten swipes to get from one message to the next. That is bad for access. Another user worried about self-deleting messages and local file protection. The dev replied about encryption per file and trade-offs with notifications. Fair points on both sides.

Little Blind Girl (2024): "Great concept and the basic stuff works for me in a functional sort of way. However, the interface makes navigating through the thread of messages using iOs Voiceover nearly impossible."

The Crypto Side Is A Different Simplex

Okay, this part confused me and might confuse you. Simplex with no X is a separate crypto payments brand. Simplex provides buy crypto, turnkey onramp, coin listing, NFT help, and APIs. It is not SimpleX Chat Ltd. The legal entity is Nuvei Liquidity, UAB in Vilnius, Lithuania. BitPay partnered with Simplex to let people buy crypto with cards and Apple Pay.

So when you see "Simplex crypto app" in some write-ups, check which one they mean. The chat app is UK based and open source. The payments brand is a crypto onramp. They share a name but not a team. That name overlap is exactly why the SimpleX crypto app story got weird.

Where NFTs And Tokens Show Up

The chat app community saw talk of tokens and NFTs in late 2025. Some users said just ignore it and use the official app. Others dug into a funding plan using smart contracts for server capacity. One user noted Tor succeeded without a token. The SimpleX design uses enforceable smart contracts instead. That is a choice I question.

If you wander into crypto spaces, you might read about making nft for free on some platform. Or you may look at trust wallet com to hold tokens. The SimpleX chat app itself does not force you into that. But the brand noise around it does pull curious users toward crypto.

making nft for free trust wallet com

gothic939 (Nov 5, 2025): "Looks like the token is not from the SimpleX team. They’ve already said they are not releasing any token and that this one is likely a scam. If you use SimpleX, just ignore the crypto stuff and stick to the official app and site."

Wallets And Self Custody Chatter

People in the thread also named wallets. You might see trust coin wallet mentioned as a place to keep tokens. Or coinbase self custody wallet as a big name option. Google trust wallet shows up a lot in crypto how-tos. None of these are the SimpleX crypto app, but users mix them up because of the name.

A Phantom Wallet write-up says it is non-custodial for Solana and more. You hold your keys. That is the real meaning of self custody. If you ever touch crypto from a SimpleX link, know which wallet you use. The chat app does not give you a wallet by itself.

trust coin wallet coinbase self custody wallet google trust wallet

Making Your Own Coin Questions

Some folks ask how do you make your own cryptocurrency after seeing SimpleX token talk. Others ask how do you create your own cryptocurrency in forum posts. The source does not say SimpleX Chat built a coin. It says a token showed up near the project and users argued about it.

If you want free crypto to test, you may see where can i get free crypto in guides. Be careful. The SimpleX private chat tool is not a free crypto faucet. Keep those two ideas separate in your head.

how do you make your own cryptocurrency how do you create your own cryptocurrency where can i get free crypto

Privacy Advocacy From The Team

SimpleX Chat has spoken out on privacy. They opposed digital IDs that break law and lead to mass surveillance. They said protecting kids needs end-to-end encryption. One post said privacy should be a non-negotiable duty of tech providers, not something users consent away. I agree with that strong line.

A Wired piece focused on neo-Nazis moving to SimpleX after Telegram changes. SimpleX said the article was biased and missed the point. The design prioritizes privacy for human rights defenders, journalists, and everyday users. That context matters when people frame the app as only a bad actor tool.

SimpleX (16 May 2024): "SimpleX: redefining privacy by making hard choices - no user accounts, privacy over convenience, network decentralization, funding/profitability, company jurisdiction."

Funding And The Shift To Crypto

SimpleX Chat Ltd is a commercial company but the software is open source. Early money came from Portman Wills and Peter Briffett. Angel investors joined. Village Global put in pre-seed around $370,000. User donations passed $25,000. In Aug 2024, Jack Dorsey and Asymmetric invested.

The plan was basic free, sponsors get badges, higher file limits later. Then SimpleX Channels and a consortium arrived with crowdfunding. That is when the crypto token and NFT talk got loud. I get the need to fund servers. But the move from chat to crypto sales is a big turn for a privacy app.

What The Architecture Actually Does

SimpleX uses SMP relays. Each message includes a hash of the previous one for integrity. That is a blockchain style idea but not a crypto coin. The network is decentralized with no central authority. It uses transport-level addresses, not a shared app space like some blockchains.

The double ratchet gives forward secrecy and post-compromise security. SimpleX adds more layers. Extra encryption per queue. Padding to hide size. Queue rotation. MITM mitigation via offline cert check. It is defense in depth, not one trick.

Key architecture points

You Can Just Keep Chatting Private

The main word here is simple. The SimpleX crypto app still works as a private messenger with no user IDs. Even as the broader Simplex brand sells crypto, you can open the app and just talk. Community posts say you may see token or NFT prompts but can ignore them.

My take is this. If you want private chat, SimpleX Chat is still a strong pick. If you want crypto, go to a clear exchange and a known wallet. Don't let the name overlap pull you into something you did not plan to touch. The chat part is good. The crypto part is a side show.

ignoramous (Nov 7, 2025): critiqued SimpleX "Why not existing Crypto?" section as ignoring stablecoins and UK legal exposure on 40% cut; noted footer disclaimer "details are subject to legal review".

App Store Facts You Should Know

The app needs iOS 15.0 or later. It runs on iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple Vision. Size is about 190 MB. It supports 17 languages. Age rating is 13+ due to mild profanity and cartoon fantasy violence. The seller is SimpleX Chat Ltd. The privacy label says the developer does not collect any data.

Reviews sit at 4.3 from 259 ratings. People like the no-ID concept. They complain about call audio and access. That is a normal app story. The crypto twist is not in the store page much, which is why users got surprised by the forum talk.

Release Timeline In Short

The app grew slow and steady. v2.0 in May 2022 sent images and files. v3.2 added incognito mode. v4.0 added encrypted local database. v5.6 brought quantum resistance. v6.0 turned on private message routing by default. Each step built the chat tool first.

Later versions added groups, spam control, and public channels. The channels update is what tied into the consortium and crowdfunding. That is the bridge from chat to crypto talk. Before that, the SimpleX crypto app was mostly a messenger with extra privacy.

Big version moments

Why The Name Confusion Hurts

Simplex payments and SimpleX Chat share letters but not control. BitPay works with Simplex payments, not the chat app. Phantom Wallet articles are from the payments side ecosystem. When a reader sees "SimpleX crypto app" they may think the chat tool holds coins. It does not.

This is why I write the full name a lot. SimpleX Chat for the messenger. Simplex for the crypto onramp. If you mix them, you may send crypto to the wrong place or trust the wrong team. The source is clear they are separate legal entities.

Anvil (Nov 2025): "VC funding prone to enshittification; skeptical of in-house crypto utility; noted Signal more sustainable via donations."

My Plain Take On The Weird Turn

I like the chat app. The no-ID model is rare and good. The quantum code is a plus. But the slide into tokens and NFTs makes me raise an eyebrow. You can stay in the chat and ignore the rest. That is the safe path.

If you see crypto prompts near your SimpleX crypto app, check the source. Use the official site. Don't trust a token just because a forum says it is from the team. The conflict in the thread shows even users can't agree. When in doubt, chat private and skip the coin.

Simple Summary Of The Split

The SimpleX crypto app name covers two things. One is a private messenger with no user IDs and strong encryption. The other is a crypto payments brand that sells onramps and NFT help. The chat app stayed private even as crypto talk grew around it.

You don't need to join the token crowd to use the good parts. Make a link, scan a QR, talk safe. If you want NFTs or coins, go to a clear wallet and a known exchange. Keep the chat app for chat. That is the clean way to use it today.