Open call for proposals 📣 Bring NymVPN to OpenWRT!

News & Announcements
1

Problem & Opportunity

Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and IoT devices can’t run VPN apps, leaving privacy gaps in home networks. OpenWRT users want advanced privacy but are limited to traditional VPN solutions, which is why OpenWRT support has been among the most commonly requested feature by the Nym community!

This project brings NymVPN’s unique 5-hop mixnet technology to router-level deployment, protecting every device automatically while tapping into OpenWRT’s extensive hardware ecosystem.

Feasibility and viability:
nym-vpnd already supports ARM builds, OpenWRT has mature package management, and there’s strong community overlap between privacy and OpenWRT users. This project leverages existing work and infrastructure rather than building from scratch.

Immediate Benefits:

  • Whole-Home Privacy: Every WiFi device automatically protected - no per-device setup
  • Hardware Reach: Access OpenWRT’s thousands of supported device models

Deliverables

  1. OpenWRT Package: Cross-compile nym-vpnd daemon for ARM hardware with proper UCI integration
  2. LuCI Web Interface: Management UI for mnemonic entry, connection status, mode selection (Fast/Anonymous), and diagnostics
  3. Documentation: Installation guides and hardware compatibility testing

Suggested technical approach

  • Leverage existing nym-vpnd daemon architecture (already runs on Linux)
  • Package for OpenWRT’s opkg system with init scripts
  • Create mobile-responsive LuCI module for configuration
  • Support both Fast Mode (2-hop) and Anonymous Mode (5-hop mixnet)

Estimated implementation timeline: 4 months

  • Month 1-2: ARM compilation, OpenWRT packaging, UCI integration
  • Month 3: LuCI interface development and multi-device testing
  • Month 4: Documentation, community launch, repository setup

Success metrics and requirements

  • fully open-source codebase
  • 20+ verified compatible ARM devices
  • all functionality outlined above working reliably and as intended
  • Integration into OpenWRT official repositories

Budget: 75 000 NYM

  • Development and integration: 40 000 NYM
  • Hardware testing: 25 000 NYM
  • Documentation and community: 10 000 NYM

Visit this page to learn more and see the full list of missions.

:inbox_tray: How to apply?

If you or your team have the skills to make NymVPN on OpenWRT a reality, we want to hear from you! Submit your proposal below, or if you know someone who could deliver, please share this call with them.

This is one of the most requested features from the Nym community, and with your help, we can bring whole-home privacy to thousands of devices worldwide!

4 Likes
3

Hello Nym Community!

dial0ut (@hans1337 and @code-zm ) would love to make this happen!

Why us:
We previously delivered nymCHAT for Nym, so we’re already familiar with the ecosystem and know how to ship. We are both users of OpenWRT so we know it well. We’ve got the background needed for this - embedded systems, OpenWRT hacking, etc. We understand the nym-vpnd architecture and what it’ll take to integrate it properly into OpenWRT with a clean LuCI interface. We are both the target audience of this, and developers

Timeline: 2 months
We can deliver this faster than the suggested 4-month timeline. We’ll handle:

  • ARM cross-compilation, OpenWRT packaging, and UCI integration
  • LuCI web interface with mnemonic entry, connection status, mode selection (Fast/Anonymous), and diagnostics
  • Multi-device hardware testing
  • Documentation and installation guides

Deliverables:

  • OpenWRT package for nym-vpnd
  • LuCI interface for configuration and monitoring
  • Testing across 20+ ARM devices
  • Complete documentation
  • Fully open-source codebase

We’re starting immediately and will post regular updates here and on Telegram!

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7 Likes
4

I trust you guys and I think you can do it.