XMPP is the oldest open source real time messaging system, the one with the longest track record of being proven secure and it is the only one built into the internet[1] itself. XMPP so secure that is used by the NSA[2], NATO[3] and militaries around the world. It ‘s core feature is that is extensible, so we can modify it – including for use by credit unions.
From “Jabber” to the Global Standard: A History of XMPP
In the late 1990s, the “Instant Messaging Wars” were in full swing. AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, and MSN Messenger dominated the landscape, but they had one major flaw: they were “walled gardens.” If you were on AIM, you couldn’t talk to a friend on ICQ.
1. The Birth of Jabber (1998–1999)
In 1998, developer Jeremie Miller began working on a project called Jabber. His goal was radical at the time: create a messaging system that worked like email. He wanted a protocol where no single company owned the network, and anyone could host their own server to communicate with the rest of the world.
2. Standardization and the IETF (2002–2004)
To ensure the protocol could be used for mission-critical applications (like banking and enterprise communication), it needed formal oversight. The Jabber community contributed the core protocols to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
In 2004, the IETF formalized the protocol under a new name: XMPP. This move solidified its technical foundations:
- Extensible: It used XML, allowing developers to add new features (like voice or file transfer) without breaking the core.
- Secure: It integrated TLS encryption and SASL authentication from the start.
3. The Era of Mass Adoption (2005–2013)
XMPP became the “silent engine” behind the world’s biggest platforms. If you used the internet during this decade, you were likely using XMPP without knowing it:
- Google Talk (GTalk): Launched in 2005, it was entirely built on XMPP.
- Facebook Chat: Originally allowed users to connect via third-party XMPP clients.
- WhatsApp: Built its massive scale using a customized version of XMPP (Ejabberd).
4. The Modern Pivot: Privacy and IoT (2014–Present)
As Big Tech moved back toward closed systems to monetize data, XMPP returned to its roots as the champion of sovereignty and privacy.
Today, XMPP is the go-to protocol for industries that require high security and “federation” (the ability for different organizations to talk to each other securely). It is used heavily in:
- The Military: For secure tactical chat.
- IoT: For real-time communication between devices.
- DeFi & Open Source FinTech: Because it allows institutions to keep 100% control over their data.
Why this matters for Credit Unions
For a credit union, XMPP isn’t just “chat software.” It is a philosophy. By using XMPP for open-source credit union software, you are opting into a legacy of:
- Interoperability: The ability for different branches or institutions to communicate without being locked into a single vendor.
- Privacy: Unlike proprietary tools, XMPP allows for end-to-end encryption (via OMEMO) that ensures member data stays between the member and the credit union.
- Resilience: Because it is decentralized, there is no “central server” that can go down and take the whole network with it.
The Bottom Line: XMPP has survived decades of tech shifts because it was built on the principle of openness. For an open-source credit union project, it provides a foundation that is as community-oriented as the credit union movement itself.
XMPP is