Twelve years ago, Matrix set out to solve one of the internet's hardest problems: how to build an open communication network that wasn't owned by any one company. Since then, it has grown into one of the world's largest decentralized messaging ecosystems, used by governments, enterprises, open-source communities, and millions of individuals.

In this fireside conversation, Matthew Hodgson looks back on the journey from ambitious experiment to global infrastructure. What were the pivotal breakthroughs that allowed Matrix to succeed? Which technical bets paid off—and which didn't? What lessons were learned about federation, governance, moderation, security, sustainability, and growing an open ecosystem?

The discussion will also explore the harder questions. Why has decentralized communication remained such a challenge? What tradeoffs proved unavoidable? Where did expectations collide with reality? And what would Matthew build differently if he were starting today?

Finally, we'll turn toward the future. As peer-to-peer networking, local-first applications, AI, and personal ownership of data reshape the web, what role should Matrix play? What pieces of the decentralized stack are still missing? And what will it take to create communication systems that are resilient, interoperable, and genuinely controlled by the people who use them?

This is a candid conversation between fellow P2P technologists about twelve years of successes, setbacks, and hard-earned wisdom—and what they reveal about the next generation of the decentralized internet.

Lets be silly! This session we'll be on our feet playing games and telling stories together. All human shaped monkeys welcome. No experience required. Session may contain traces of laughter.

Lets be silly! This session we'll be on our feet playing games and telling stories together. All human shaped monkeys welcome. No experience required. Session may contain traces of laughter.