Ethereum’s Buterin backs decentralized social media’s second act as Lens handover unfolds

Ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin expressed his renewed commitment to decentralized social media, stating he plans to be "fully back" to it in 2026, emphasizing the need for tools that serve users' long-term interests over maximizing short-term engagement. This announcement coincides with the stewardship handover of Lens Protocol—a blockchain-based social graph allowing users to own their data—from Aave to Mask Network. Buterin believes decentralization, via a shared data layer, is crucial for fostering competition among social clients. He criticized crypto social projects that prioritize speculative tokens over core utility, praising teams like Aave and Mask Network for focusing on social interaction and technology. Buterin encouraged the community to engage more with platforms like Lens and Farcaster to move beyond the current centralized information environment.

(Source：The Block)