# Ephemere Chat

Category: email · Encrypted Messaging
Grade: C
KYC: NO-KYC
Highlights: XMR, NO-KYC, TOR, E2E, EPHEMERAL, NON-FEDERATED
Features: xmr, no_kyc, tor, e2e, ephemeral, matrix
Web: https://ephemere.chat
Last verified: 2026-09-11
Operating since: 2026 (0y) — Brand-new (no Wayback tenure). Paid, no-custody comms service — not fund-holding, so the 6mo exchange floor doesn't apply. Retention guarantees operator-stated but mitigated by a live user-verifiable redaction panel. Grade C for new + claims-based; B- on tenure + demonstrated panel uptime.

> Non-federated, Hardened-Tor E2E messaging (Matrix-based) built for ephemeral use — automatic 12h message redaction, ~48h metadata purge, disabled backups, and a live user-verifiable redaction panel. No-KYC, pay in XMR. New.

## Review

**Ephemeral, non-federated encrypted messaging for high-discretion use.** Ephemere is an E2E-encrypted chat service on a **hardened, non-federated Matrix server** (Tor onion + clearweb options). "Non-federated" is the key design choice: unlike most Matrix homeservers — which sync data across the federation per each server's retention rules — Ephemere keeps everything on its own server, so your messages and social graph never leave it. It's built for people who need communication *without* a persistent record: activists, sources, high-risk groups.

**The ephemerality is enforced, and shown live.** Messages are auto-**redacted at 12 hours** (30-min sweeps), server-side social-graph metadata is **purged by ~48 hours** (60-min sweeps), backups are disabled, redacted messages are non-recoverable, and clients are force-logged-out weekly to limit local session residue. A **purpose-built deterministic redaction script** (not bots) enforces this. Crucially, there's a **live Technical Verification panel** on the site showing the real-time redaction schedule + next-run timer — any user can watch it, and a stalled/failed redaction shows up as stale receipts. That verifiability is a real trust plus. *(Note: the site's "Metadata Stored" checklist row is a red-X — it means that data is NOT retained.)*

**Access is no-KYC.** No PII; you pay a **small XMR fee** (also ZEC/Zano) via Trocador or a direct Monero address, with a 14-day no-questions refund. Paid tiers start at $10.

**Why C.** It's **brand-new** (no track record), a small operator, and the strong retention guarantees are — by nature — **operator-stated**; the live verification panel is the mitigant but it hasn't run long. Credit where due: the non-federated architecture, enforced auto-redaction, user-verifiable panel, XMR/no-PII access, and honest disclosure are all genuine. Climbs to B- on accrued tenure + a sustained, demonstrably-working panel. Legal-page surface is currently thin (a detailed FAQ, but /terms was not up at review).

Source: https://xmr.club/email/ephemere-chat