# HOP Network

> decentralized VPN built from zero to cross-platform MVP. the "i can actually ship things" case study.

## tldr

| field | value |
|-------|-------|
| kernel | traditional VPNs exploit worry. HOP treats the internet like a place worth exploring, using decentralized node operators instead of centralized servers |
| hypothesis | a portal network relaying traffic through multiple hops, auto-selecting the fastest path worldwide, can deliver better performance and censorship resistance than centralized VPNs |
| status | shipped. cross-platform MVP live (iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Linux). 300 alpha testers, 15 countries |
| my role | cofounder and CEO. conceived the product, raised the money, hired the team, drove product and GTM |
| skills | 0-to-1 product launch, fundraising, team building, decentralized infrastructure, go-to-market, cross-platform shipping, EigenLayer / restaking, proof-of-bandwidth, brand design, growth marketing |

## the numbers

- 1.4B VPN users globally (TAM)
- ~$200K raised (angel + grants)
- 5-person global team (china, singapore, uk, nigeria, us)
- 8 months from zero to MVP
- 5 platforms shipped (iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Linux)
- 300 alpha testers across 15 countries

## how it works

user device -> registry (node discovery) -> decentralized nodes (multi-hop relay) -> open internet

everyday operators run nodes -> proof of bandwidth (EigenLayer) -> network revenue (compensate operators)

auto-selects fastest path worldwide.

## what i built and shipped

| component | status | details |
|-----------|--------|---------|
| iOS + macOS app | shipped | native apps with one-tap connect, country selection |
| windows app | shipped | desktop client with full feature parity |
| android app | shipped | cross-platform mobile experience |
| linux app | shipped | cli + gui options |
| node infrastructure | shipped | decentralized relay network with multi-hop routing |
| brand + website | shipped | hopnetwork.xyz, full 3D brand system, blog with 4 technical articles |
| proof of bandwidth | designed | EigenLayer integration, designed but not fully deployed |

## what i learned

- distributed teams work if you over-communicate: 5 people across 5 time zones, async-first with weekly syncs
- brand matters more than features in consumer crypto: the bunny mascot drove more signups than any feature announcement
- fundraising is a skill separate from building: ~$200K raised through technical due diligence and term sheet negotiation
- ship rough, iterate publicly: launched alpha with known bugs. 300 testers found issues we never would have caught internally
- GTM for consumer crypto is TikTok + communities: traditional B2B playbooks don't apply

## the team

| role | location | contribution |
|------|----------|-------------|
| CEO / product (me) | singapore | product direction, fundraising, GTM, partnerships, brand strategy |
| lead engineer | china | core networking stack, multi-hop protocol, cross-platform builds |
| design | uk | 3D brand system, UI/UX, marketing assets |
| community + growth | nigeria | telegram, twitter campaigns, ambassador program |
| backend engineer | us | node registry, infrastructure, deployment |

## why i moved on

- joined MegaETH as head of partnerships: the opportunity to work on L2 infrastructure at a bigger scale was the right next step
- the dVPN market is crowded: orchid, mysterium, sentinel, nym all exist. winning requires either massive distribution or a technical breakthrough
- the product worked, the market timing didn't: crypto consumer products need bull market energy for distribution

## honest self-assessment

| dimension | score | note |
|-----------|-------|------|
| execution speed | strong | zero to 5-platform MVP in 8 months with a 5-person team |
| fundraising | proved | ~$200K raised as a first-time founder |
| product-market fit | unproven | 300 alpha testers showed interest, not enough for PMF |
| competitive moat | weak | dVPN space is crowded, differentiation came from brand |
| team leadership | strong | recruited, retained, and shipped with a distributed global team |

## verdict

shipped, then leveled up. HOP proved i can take an idea from nothing to a live product: conceive it, raise for it, hire for it, build it, ship it. the decision to move to MegaETH was recognizing that the next best use of my time was at a bigger scale.