Disclosed are various embodiments for implementing a decentralized messaging system that allows users to exchange messages via an inbox maintained through a distributed ledger. A messaging inbox can be created for a user in a distributed ledger using an inbox address that includes a string of alphanumeric numbers without an identifying domain name or identifying information about the user. Furthermore, a user may define content preferences associated with the inbox that can be used by the distributed ledger to filter content received in the inbox to minimize unwanted or undesired content provided to the user.