Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin plans to focus on decentralized social media in 2026, prioritizing platforms that support user interests over engagement metrics. He criticized SocialFi projects for rewarding speculation over content quality, advocating for decentralized ecosystems to create a competitive online space for constructive discourse and high-quality content.

Decentralized social media, known as SocialFi, operates on open or blockchain-based networks to avoid single-company control. While protocols like Lens and Farcaster have shown promise, mass-market adoption remains a challenge. Neynar acquired Farcaster from Merkle to revitalize the platform, while Lens transferred stewardship to Mask Network for advancing onchain social applications. Farcaster boasts over 2 million users, while Lens has around 506,000 users.

Read more at Cointelegraph: Vitalik Buterin Says He Will Return Fully to Decentralized Social in 2026