What is Ethereum Push Notification Service (PUSH)?
Quick Facts
- Original name: Ethereum Push Notification Service (EPNS)
- Rebranded to: Push Protocol
- Token symbol: PUSH
- Token type: ERC-20, deployed on Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Smart Chain, and Arbitrum
- Co-founders: Harsh Rajat and Richa Joshi
- Core function: Decentralized notification and messaging layer for Web3
- Token utility: Governance voting and protocol incentives
Introduction
Ethereum Push Notification Service — commonly known by its original acronym EPNS and now rebranded as Push Protocol — is a decentralized middleware protocol that brings native notifications to the Web3 ecosystem. It allows dApps, smart contracts, and traditional services to send real-time alerts to users' crypto wallets without relying on centralized platforms.
The protocol fills a critical communication gap in Web3: until EPNS, there was no standardized, decentralized way for blockchain applications to reach users directly.
History & Background
Co-founders Harsh Rajat and Richa Joshi identified communication fragmentation as a major pain point in Web3. Users had to manually check dozens of platforms — exchanges, DeFi protocols, governance forums — to stay informed. EPNS was built to solve this.
The project gained early traction with integrations from well-known protocols including Uniswap, MakerDAO, Decentraland, and Polygon. It later raised a Series A funding round backed by notable investors such as Jump Crypto and Polygon Studios. The project eventually rebranded from EPNS to Push Protocol to reflect its broader, chain-agnostic vision.
How Ethereum Push Notification Service Works
Push Protocol operates as a platform-agnostic notification layer. Services or dApps create notification channels by staking DAI, which joins a shared staking pool. Subscribers opt-in to receive alerts from channels they care about.
When predefined on-chain or off-chain conditions are met — such as a loan nearing liquidation or a governance vote starting — the channel sends a notification payload to subscribed wallet addresses. These notifications can be delivered to mobile apps, web browsers, or any platform that integrates the Push Protocol SDK.
The protocol supports several notification types: broadcast (all subscribers), targeted (a single subscriber), and secret (encrypted, private alerts).
Tokenomics
The PUSH token is the native asset of the Push Protocol ecosystem. It serves two primary roles: governance and incentivization. Token holders can vote on protocol upgrades and parameter changes, making PUSH a classic DAO governance token.
Beyond governance, PUSH is designed to reward ecosystem participants. Subscribers who opt-in to receive notifications earn token incentives, and the protocol's fee pool structure is intended to be opened to the broader community through future governance decisions.
|
Circulating supply
| 99.33 million PUSH |
|---|---|
| |
|
Total supply
| 100.00 million PUSH |
|
Max supply
| -- PUSH |
Ecosystem & Use Cases
Push Protocol targets a wide range of Web3 applications:
- DeFi: Alerts for liquidation risk, impermanent loss warnings, and limit order completions
- DEXes: Price movement alerts and trade execution confirmations
- NFTs: Bidding updates and price fluctuation notifications
- Governance: Proposal and voting reminders across DAO platforms
- ENS: Expiry reminders for Ethereum Name Service domains
This breadth makes Push Protocol relevant to virtually any Web3 user or application.
Team, Governance & Community
The project was founded by Harsh Rajat (CEO) and Richa Joshi (COO), who continue to lead the protocol's development. Governance is managed through PUSH token holders, who vote on protocol changes and treasury decisions in a DAO-style structure.
The community is active across Discord, Telegram, Reddit, and Twitter, with an open-source codebase hosted on GitHub under the push-protocol organization.
Advantages
- Decentralized and opt-in: Users control which services can reach them, eliminating spam
- Platform-agnostic: Notifications reach wallets across any integrated platform or device
- Incentivized participation: Both senders and receivers are rewarded, encouraging adoption
- Cross-chain support: The protocol extends beyond Ethereum to multiple networks
- Battle-tested integrations: Partnerships with major DeFi and Web3 protocols
Risks & Challenges
- Adoption dependency: Value is tied to how widely dApps integrate the SDK
- Competition: Centralized alternatives like Discord and Telegram remain dominant communication tools
- Ethereum gas costs: On-chain interactions can be costly during periods of high network congestion
- Token utility depth: PUSH governance utility depends on meaningful, active DAO participation
Long-Term Vision
Push Protocol aims to become the universal communication layer for Web3 — the decentralized equivalent of push notification infrastructure in traditional mobile ecosystems. By expanding cross-chain support, growing its channel ecosystem, and deepening DAO governance, the protocol seeks to make decentralized notifications a standard building block for every Web3 application.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Ethereum Push Notification Service (EPNS)?
EPNS, now rebranded as Push Protocol, is a decentralized protocol that enables dApps, smart contracts, and services to send real-time notifications directly to users' crypto wallets. It acts as the communication layer for Web3, allowing opt-in, platform-agnostic alerts.
- What is the PUSH token used for?
PUSH is the governance token of Push Protocol, allowing holders to vote on protocol upgrades and parameter changes. It also serves as an incentive mechanism, rewarding users who opt-in to receive notifications from channels.
- How does a service send notifications using Push Protocol?
A service creates a notification channel by staking DAI, which enters a shared staking pool. When specified on-chain or off-chain conditions are met, the channel broadcasts notifications to opted-in wallet addresses.
- What blockchains does Push Protocol support?
Push Protocol is deployed on Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Smart Chain, and Arbitrum. Its design is intended to be chain-agnostic, enabling cross-chain notifications across integrated networks.
- Who founded Push Protocol?
Push Protocol was co-founded by Harsh Rajat and Richa Joshi, who identified fragmented communication as a key problem in the Web3 ecosystem and built EPNS to address it.
- What kinds of notifications can Push Protocol deliver?
Push Protocol supports broadcast notifications (sent to all channel subscribers), targeted notifications (to a single subscriber), and secret notifications (encrypted and private). Use cases include DeFi liquidation alerts, governance reminders, NFT bid updates, and price movement alerts.
- Is Push Protocol the same as EPNS?
Yes. Ethereum Push Notification Service (EPNS) was rebranded to Push Protocol to reflect its broader, multi-chain vision beyond Ethereum. The PUSH token and contract address remain the same.
- Who are the notable backers of Push Protocol?
Push Protocol raised a Series A round backed by investors including Jump Crypto and Polygon Studios, among others, and has established integrations with major protocols like Uniswap, MakerDAO, and Decentraland.