# Messaging

Joint is an interactive exchange protocol that organizes users and manages their interactions towards a successful trade.&#x20;

To complete an interactive trade, the counterparts often communicate through a messaging system. Their communication involves sharing payment information, payment status, and issues surrounding the trade.

## Messaging on Centralized Exchanges

Centralized peer-to-peer exchanges offer an insecure messaging service. Users’ messages are stored unencrypted and can be read by employees, exchange partners and other third parties or hackers if there is a breach.&#x20;

## Messaging on Joint Protocol

Joint Dapp includes a private messaging protocol built on [xmtp](https://xmtp.org/) to allow users to send encrypted messages to each other. &#x20;

With Joint's messaging system based on xmtp, a user's messages can only be read by the intended receiver and no one else.&#x20;