Balaji’s ‘Singapore of social media’ begins with a wave of bans
Reported by Cointelegraph · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Balaji Srinivasan's Network School has acquired the decentralized social platform Farcaster and rebranded it as the Network State Protocol. Soon after, a wave of bans affected users whose previous posts violated new rules, sparking backlash from community members who saw this as contrary to decentralized social ideals. Srinivasan framed the bans as part of establishing "law and order," aiming to create a positive-sum community akin to "the Singapore of social media."
Why it matters
The source highlights this development as an attempt to foster a community governed by a shared code of conduct that encourages "pro-social behavior" while restricting disruptive actions, signaling a shift in moderation practices on decentralized platforms. The initiative is linked to broader plans of evolving this online community into offline meetups and even startup cities, potentially impacting how decentralized social networks operate in both digital and physical spaces.
Key context
Farcaster is undergoing its second ownership change in the year, reflecting ongoing challenges in finding sustainable management and governance. The platform had 250,000 monthly active users as of December 2025. Network School introduced a "social smart contract" requiring users to agree to its rules, which apply retroactively. Enforcement is assisted by AI and human moderators, with an appeals process available. Users retain control over their keys, allowing them to use alternative clients if they reject the new terms.
Key numbers and entities
Balaji Srinivasan and Network School are the new operators of Farcaster, now renamed Network State Protocol. Farcaster had 250,000 monthly active users as reported by co-founder Dan Romero. The platform faced management changes with acquisition from Neynar. Malaysian authorities revoked Network School's Forest City business license prior to this acquisition. No specific user or banned accounts numbers were disclosed.
What remains unclear
The source does not specify the exact criteria or examples of posts that triggered the bans or the detailed mechanics of the appeals process. It is also unclear what specific rewards "pro-social behavior" users might receive and how widespread or effective the AI moderation system has been so far. The business model or financial terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed.