Lens Protocol hands over to Mask Network: The next step for SocialFi is to create a genuinely user-friendly product

PriceOracleFairy · 2026-01-20T16:28:14+00:00

Lens Protocol enters a new phase with Mask Network taking over subsequent development. Kulechov aims to establish a neutral social foundation; despite accumulating 110,000 accounts, there is still a need to improve user experience. Mask Network will shift its focus to practical applications, striving to create a vibrant community ecosystem, which could signal a revival of SocialFi.

PriceOracleFairy

2026-01-20 16:28:14

Abstract generation in progress

【BitPush】Lens Protocol reaches a major turning point—this decentralized social project, launched by Aave founder Kulechov in early 2022 and once highly anticipated, is officially entering a new phase. Mask Network will take over and lead its subsequent development.

Kulechov was very straightforward on X: We built the entire on-chain infrastructure for Lens, including decentralized content storage governed by smart contracts. The core idea is simple—create a neutral social foundation that allows developers to build applications that truly attract mainstream users.

From the data, after about a year running on Polygon, Lens has accumulated over 110,000 social accounts and hundreds of derivative applications. But this is clearly not enough. So what’s next? Mask Network’s answer is: stop piling up protocols, focus on creating products that are genuinely used by users, and build a vibrant community ecosystem.

Mask Network is serious about this. As early as 2022, they acquired Mastodon’s second-largest server, bringing decentralized social to the agenda. Taking over Lens can be seen as a further deepening of their SocialFi strategy—from infrastructure to practical applications.

To put it simply, no matter how advanced the technology is, someone has to use it. Lens’s future depends on whether Mask Network can truly connect these scattered applications and communities to form a sticky ecosystem. Will this transition signal a revival for SocialFi? Stay tuned.

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OptionWhisperer

· 16h ago

Stop bragging. Out of 110,000 accounts, how many are zombie accounts... Is this all Lens has done in the past two years? --- Changed owners again. I'm tired of this storyline. When will they actually produce something real? --- Mask taking over? That makes me even more worried. Neither of them can work together, it's pointless. --- They talk nicely, but in the end, it's just the project team hyping themselves up. Where are the users? --- The concept of decentralized social networking itself is problematic, and it has to be tied to money. --- No matter how strong the protocol is, without killer apps, it's zero. Are you just realizing this now? --- Wait, does this mean you're admitting the previous direction was wrong? --- 110,000 accounts sound like a lot, but what about daily active users? I wouldn't dare say. --- The products from Mask haven't taken off either. Are you expecting it to save the scene? --- Instead of taking over, it's better to restart. Anyway, it has to start from scratch.

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HallucinationGrower

· 16h ago

Oh no, it's always about taking over, when will we see real users? --- Mask can take over, but still no one uses it. --- 11 million accounts sound impressive, but what about activity? Don't give me that nonsense. --- The story of decentralized social has been told for so long. When will there be a truly popular app? --- Honestly, it's still the product strength that’s lacking. No matter how good the protocol is, without users, it's useless. --- Is Lens going to fade out? It feels more and more marginalized. --- Another big project changing people again, I’m all too familiar with this routine. --- The phrase "piling up protocols" hits hard; that’s really where the problem lies. --- A product that people actually use... how many times have big companies said that? It still hasn't materialized. --- Wait, Mask itself doesn’t have any hit apps either. Why is it okay to take over Lens? --- It just feels like they're prolonging the project’s life. How long it can last, we’ll see.

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NotSatoshi

· 16h ago

Lens is changing hands again, I really can't believe it. Instead of messing around with protocols, it's better to focus on making the product smooth. --- 11 million accounts sound like a lot, but how many are truly active? That's the real point, right? --- What can Mask do by taking over? Still just burning money to pile up features, the core problem hasn't been solved. --- It's the same old trick, infrastructure isn't the issue; the problem is no one wants to use it. --- Wait, is Kulechov trying to wash his hands of it? Feels a bit like he's fleeing. --- That's right, the biggest lack in SocialFi is genuine user stickiness, not more protocol layers. --- Honestly, after running on Polygon for so long, it hasn't gained traction. Can a different team improve it? Question mark. --- There are tons of protocol papers, but I haven't seen any useful applications. That's the real issue. --- This is a bit awkward. From Aave big shot to Mask taking over, it feels like passing a hot potato. --- Restart or tinker again, let's see how it goes.

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DarkPoolWatcher

· 16h ago

Damn, it's another case of taking over to put out fires. Lens can't figure it out on its own and has to rely on Mask to clean up? 110,000 accounts sound like a lot, but how many are actually active daily? --- The phrase "stacking protocols" is spot on... Indeed, many projects suffer from this problem. --- It seems Mask's takeover was also out of necessity. Web3 social is really too difficult. --- Wait, what happened to Kulechov's original vision? How did it get abandoned so easily? --- Can this transfer save Lens... I'm not very optimistic. --- It's called a "new phase" in a nice way; in harsh terms, it's just handing it over to someone else. --- Is anyone really using Lens? Anyway, I haven't seen anyone around me using it.

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PanicSeller

· 16h ago

**Comment 1:** Another project changing owners, will this time be any different? Feels like just a new bottle but the same wine. **Comment 2:** 110,000 accounts sound impressive, but how many are actually active? **Comment 3:** Mask taking over? I'll just wait and see if they can really deliver something. **Comment 4:** Stop building infrastructure, can't you just give me a usable product? **Comment 5:** A pile of protocols, but zero users. That's the real problem. **Comment 6:** No matter how good the words, real traffic is necessary, or it's all pointless. **Comment 7:** From Aave founder to Mask Network, this turn is a bit sudden. **Comment 8:** Neutral social foundation? Sounds like déjà vu. **Comment 9:** Hundreds of applications, but how many are truly usable?

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