Rainchan

Rainchan (located at rain.meth.cat) is a niche anonymous imageboard and a sub-component of the broader meth.cat project, a community-driven “small-web” hub created by a developer known as nixx.

1. Key Dates and Registration

• Root Domain Registration: The domain meth.cat was registered in early 2021.
• First Appearance: According to the site’s own “About” section, the project has been active as an “anti-purpose digital goblin hole” since March 2021.
• Rainchan Launch: While the main site started in March 2021, the imageboard (Rainchan) appears to have been established as a secondary service shortly thereafter to provide a “cozy” space for the community to discuss interests in a traditional “chan” format.

2. What is the site?

Rainchan is a small, anonymous imageboard (using the vichan engine) that describes itself as a place for “funposting and good vibrations.” It is part of the “IndieWeb” or “Small Web” movement, which rejects mainstream social media in favor of decentralized, personal, and hobbyist-run platforms.

• The Ecosystem: Rainchan is just one part of the meth.cat network, which also includes:
  • IRC Network: A chat server (meth.cat:6697) with a primary channel called #autism.
  • Luanti Server: A hosted instance of Luanti (formerly Minetest), an open-source sandbox game similar to Minecraft.
  • Privacy Focus: The site offers Tor onion mirrors and encourages the use of privacy-centric tools.
• Culture: The site uses surreal and edgy humor in its self-description, calling itself a “seclusive reverse-political extremist network specializing in the pursuit of esoteric autismophrenic knowledge.” In reality, it functions as a relaxed forum for “otaku and nerds” to discuss tech, games, and niche culture.

3. What does the name mean?

The name is a playful and surreal combination of terms:

• Methylated Felines: This is the full name of the root domain (meth.cat). It is a nonsensical/abstract phrase combining “Methylated” (a chemical term often associated with spirits or substances) and “Felines” (cats).
• Rainchan: A combination of “Rain” (likely chosen for its “comfy” or “cozy” aesthetic association) and -chan (the standard suffix for imageboards like 2channel and 4chan).
• Digital Goblin Hole: A self-deprecating term used by the admin to describe the site’s role as a hidden, unpolished corner of the internet for social outcasts or “goblins.”

Images from 1-2026