# Пов'язані статті щодо Protocol

Центр новин HTX надає останні статті та поглиблений аналіз на тему "Protocol", що охоплює ринкові тренди, оновлення проєктів, технологічні розробки та регуляторну політику в криптоіндустрії.

From Fragmented Components to the Super Layer

In recent developments within the decentralized social space, Farcaster and Lens have both undergone significant strategic transitions, highlighting a broader shift toward platformization and operational specialization. Farcaster’s co-founder announced that Neynar, a major infrastructure provider and client, will acquire the protocol. This move reflects a growing consensus that long-term sustainability depends less on protocol-level iteration and more on professionalized infrastructure and execution. Neynar has abstracted away the complexity of running hubs and provides APIs that allow developers to focus on product development rather than protocol mechanics. Similarly, Lens announced that Mask Network will take over as the protocol’s next “steward,” shifting focus from infrastructure to consumer-facing products. Both Lens and Aave emphasized that the transition involves no change in ownership or governance—only a reallocation of responsibility toward productization and user experience. These cases illustrate that as protocols mature into platforms, the key challenge is no longer adding features, but clearly defining roles and optimizing the full operational stack—infrastructure, tooling, and distribution. The trend points toward the emergence of “super layers,” where tightly integrated technical and operational capabilities become essential to compete at scale. The movement signals that Web3 is entering an era of mature ecosystem competition, where independent teams and clear operational division are critical.

marsbit01/27 02:14

From Fragmented Components to the Super Layer

marsbit01/27 02:14

How Did the Idealism of Western Founders Get 'Taken Over' by Chinese Buyers?

Over the course of two days, two major decentralized social protocols, Lens Protocol and Farcaster, were acquired—by Mask Network and Neynar, respectively. Combined, these protocols had raised over $200 million, with Farcaster recently valued at $1 billion. This follows the earlier acquisition of Steem by Tron in 2020, meaning two out of three prominent decentralized social protocols are now been taken over by Chinese-led teams. The author explores why Chinese buyers are stepping in. One reason may be pricing: these acquisitions often target once-prominent projects now in decline. For instance, Farcaster’s monthly revenue has dropped over 95%, and Lens has only 50,000 monthly active users. Another factor is cultural: while Western founders often approach decentralized social with idealism—emphasizing user-owned data and censorship resistance—Chinese acquirers tend to view it as a business opportunity, prioritizing usability and growth over ideology. Suji Yan, founder of Mask Network, explicitly aims to move “decentralized social from the lab to daily life.” However, past acquisitions like Steem—which led to a community fork—highlight risks when new ownership clashes with original values. The piece questions whether true decentralization is possible when protocols can be sold, suggesting that technical decentralization doesn’t prevent centralized commercial control. Ultimately, the piece argues that the vision for a better social infrastructure remains, but the builders and operators may increasingly be pragmatic, commercially-driven teams—many from China.

比推01/22 12:42

How Did the Idealism of Western Founders Get 'Taken Over' by Chinese Buyers?

比推01/22 12:42

Web3 Social: Still Dominated by the Chinese

In a span of two days, two major decentralized social protocols, Lens Protocol and Farcaster, changed ownership. Lens was taken over by Mask Network, led by Chinese founder Suji Yan, while Farcaster was acquired by Neynar, one of its clients. Combined, these protocols had raised over $200 million, with Farcaster valued at $1 billion last year. This follows the earlier acquisition of Steem by Tron’s Justin Sun in 2020, meaning two out of three prominent decentralized social protocols are now been taken over by Chinese-led teams. The author suggests that Western founders often approach decentralized social with idealism—emphasizing user-owned data and censorship resistance—while Chinese acquirers tend to view it as a business opportunity. Both Lens and Farcaster have seen declining engagement, making them attractive targets for pragmatic operators focused on usability rather than ideology. However, past acquisitions like Steem—which led to a community fork—highlight the risks of centralized control over “decentralized” protocols. Mask Network has framed its role as “stewardship” rather than outright ownership, but the very idea of a “decentralized” protocol being acquired raises questions about how much these platforms are truly user-governed. Ultimately, the piece questions whether these acquisitions will lead to a more practical and widely adopted social web or simply repeat past conflicts between idealism and commercial reality.

marsbit01/22 04:11

Web3 Social: Still Dominated by the Chinese

marsbit01/22 04:11

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