Application for Filecoin ProPGF Batch 3

js-libp2p

https://github.com/libp2p/js-libp2p

https://libp2p.io

Daniel Thompson, Maintainer. Preferred contact: Slack tabcat (Filecoin Slack)

js-libp2p is the JavaScript/TypeScript implementation of libp2p, the modular peer-to-peer networking stack that the IPFS and Filecoin networks are built on. It helps developers build novel peer-to-peer applications across both native and browser environments, bringing libp2p connectivity directly into the browser client. Its primary dependent is Helia, the standard JavaScript IPFS implementation, which builds entirely on js-libp2p. Through Helia, effectively every browser- or Node-based application that stores, provides, or retrieves content-addressed data relies on js-libp2p, making it foundational to the dapp developers building the user-facing applications that drive Filecoin and IPFS usage.

Fully Open Source

N/A. js-libp2p is fully open source, dual-licensed under MIT and Apache-2.0, with all development conducted in public on GitHub.

Over a 3 month term this grant funds two deliverables plus ongoing maintenance of js-libp2p, the JavaScript/TypeScript implementation of libp2p and the networking layer beneath Helia. The deliverables: 1. migrate maintenance of yamux (stream multiplexing) and noise (the Noise security handshake) from ChainSafe 2. finalize and implement the WebRTC-Direct v2 spec, which lets browsers dial public libp2p nodes directly; v2 is needed because Chrome is removing the ICE credential munging that v1 relies on Alongside them we sustain day-to-day maintenance (triage, bug fixes, releases) across the monorepo. We have maintained js-libp2p part-time and unpaid since taking over in February 2026 (see the activity below); the grant funds dedicated work, beginning as soon as it is accepted (milestone dates assume a mid-August start). The grant can optionally be extended at any time by one month and $5,000, covering broader maintenance plus a QUIC transport built on the Node.js QUIC implementation (node:quic). **All of this has been delivered unpaid and part-time, by two volunteer maintainers, since we took over in February 2026:** | Activity | Count | | --- | ----- | | Pull requests merged | 100 | | Issues closed | 24 | | Releases (across 48 monorepo packages) | ~546 | | Contributors | 11 |

$15,000 USD (3-month term)

Indirect

N/A

N/A

**Output:** a maintained js-libp2p with the yamux and noise migrations complete and WebRTC-Direct v2 shipped, giving JavaScript and browser apps reliable, gateway-independent connectivity. **Outcome:** this is a key enabler of client-provisioned applications, where the developer runs no infrastructure and the client (an agent or preset logic) finds the resources it needs to serve the user. Together with filecoin-pin and the Filecoin Onchain Cloud for storage, js-libp2p provides the networking layer of that model. **Impact:** lowering the barrier to building these apps brings more real, user-facing activity onto Filecoin, which indirectly supports Objective 1 (Drive Paid Onchain Deals).

N/A. js-libp2p is networking infrastructure and does not directly move onchain metrics.

- Cayman Nava (GitHub: @wemeetagain), ChainSafe. ChainSafe currently maintains yamux and noise, which this grant migrates to us; Cayman can speak to the handover and to our work. - Alex Potsides (GitHub: achingbrain), previous lead maintainer of js-libp2p. Can vouch for our stewardship.

- **Daniel Thompson**: js-libp2p maintainer (GitHub: tabcat). Day-to-day maintenance lead since Feb 2026. - **Steven Jones (Ste)**: js-libp2p maintainer (GitHub: dozyio). Active co-maintainer since Feb 2026.

- **Spec stalling:** the WebRTC-Direct v2 spec ([libp2p/specs#715](https://github.com/libp2p/specs/pull/715)) is still a draft and has not yet received review feedback. Finalization depends on the libp2p community and go-libp2p maintainers engaging; if review stalls, the spec milestone could slip even though the implementation is within our control. - **Adoption:** if the Filecoin ecosystem does not converge on js-libp2p for building dapps, outside contributions and usage could decline, weakening the project's long-term sustainability and the case for browser-based connectivity. Part of our aim is to demonstrate and grow that usage. - **Funding continuity:** this is a 3-4 month grant; sustaining the same level of maintenance afterward depends on follow-on funding. - **QUIC transport (optional extension only):** the optional one-month extension includes a QUIC transport built on Node.js's QUIC implementation (node:quic), which is still experimental and not yet stable in a released Node.js version.

We understand this work is not directly related to the network objectives, but we believe it is important to application developers: js-libp2p is the networking layer their browser and JavaScript apps depend on, and the foundation IPFS Helia, the standard JavaScript IPFS implementation, is built on. How Helia depends on js-libp2p, from Helia's own manifest and docs: > "The core of Helia will be very focused on use as a library: just js-libp2p, a datastore, and a blockstore that transparently uses js-bitswap to load any requested blocks not already in the blockstore from the network and/or to transfer them to network peers." ([Helia Manifesto](https://github.com/ipfs/helia/wiki/Manifesto)) The core `helia` package depends directly on `libp2p` and its modules: ``` IPFS Helia (npm: helia) │ ├─ libp2p the p2p node every Helia node runs on ├─ @libp2p/interface the libp2p API Helia is written against │ ├─ security @chainsafe/libp2p-noise noise() ◀ grant M2 (noise) │ @libp2p/tls tls() (Node) ├─ muxing @chainsafe/libp2p-yamux yamux() ◀ grant M1 (yamux) │ @libp2p/mplex mplex() ├─ transports @libp2p/tcp @libp2p/websockets @libp2p/webrtc ◀ grant M3 (WebRTC-Direct v2) ├─ routing @libp2p/kad-dht @libp2p/bootstrap @libp2p/mdns ├─ NAT/relay @libp2p/circuit-relay-v2 @libp2p/autonat @libp2p/dcutr @libp2p/upnp-nat ├─ identity @libp2p/identify @libp2p/ping @libp2p/keychain └─ misc @libp2p/http @libp2p/config ``` Helia's default libp2p config wires these up (`connectionEncrypters: [noise(), tls()]`, `streamMuxers: [yamux(), mplex()]`), and its Bitswap block exchange runs over libp2p streams. Sources: [helia package.json](https://github.com/ipfs/helia/blob/main/packages/helia/package.json), default config [node](https://github.com/ipfs/helia/blob/main/packages/helia/src/utils/libp2p-defaults.ts) / [browser](https://github.com/ipfs/helia/blob/main/packages/helia/src/utils/libp2p-defaults.browser.ts), [IPFS docs](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/libp2p/).