- Network School acquired the platform from Neynar; financial terms remain undisclosed.
- Users accepting the new conduct rules receive an on-chain access NFT.
- Those declining face read-only access in the main app, with migration to another client planned.
Farcaster is changing owners for the second time in 2026, with Balaji Srinivasan’s Network School acquiring the platform from Neynar. Announced on October 15, the deal brings new participation rules and a planned Network State Protocol identity.
Users must accept a social smart contract to retain posting access through the main app. Financial terms remain undisclosed.
Farcaster acquisition brings another shift in ownership
Neynar co-founder Rish said the transfer covers the app, protocol repositories and related products. In his announcement, he described the platform as needing a different operating model after considering several offers.
Rish and fellow co-founder Manan will move on. Other Neynar employees will join Network School to continue development.
The transaction follows Neynar’s January purchase of Farcaster from original developer Merkle Manufactory. That earlier acquisition also included the Clanker token launchpad.
Clanker’s future remains unclear because Rish’s latest announcement did not address it. During a Thursday broadcast, GM Farcaster hosts said a separate buyer was being considered. No completed transaction was announced.
Farcaster users face new conduct and verification rules
An in-app notice describes the new direction as building voluntary digital societies that could eventually form physical communities. Participation in the main app will depend on accepting its social smart contract.
Users who agree receive an access NFT recording their choice on-chain. This represents acceptance of participation rules, rather than evidence of an ownership stake in the platform.
Prohibited conduct includes threats, scams, stalking, hate speech and repeatedly provoking fights. The rules also prohibit presenting AI-generated material as one’s own work.
The app plans to introduce AI moderation and human verification to reduce bot activity. These changes place greater emphasis on identity checks and content oversight within the primary client.
Under the announced arrangement, users declining the contract retain read-only access in the main app. Their keys, funds, followers and posting history would move to another client.
Some users have reported bans tied to older posts. Those claims remain unverified in the available reporting.
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